It's A Girl!!!

Today was the anatomy ultrasound! The baby started out spine up in a ball, but quickly responded to all that pressing and moved a ton for us. Ben and my mom where with me again this time. My sister Sarita was with Michelle in the waiting room. The head looked good, heart beating strong (148), no cleft lip. Arms and legs work very well...and ITS A GIRL!!! We were all glowing, it was a different feeling this time - last time it was like "Whoa! This is the direction are life is going!" Now its like "Wow this will enhance our life!" So more just happy and enjoying the ride with much less suspense and wonder, which I like! At first I really thought I saw male parts for a sec, and in my mind I was like "Ok, lets do this! I can work with a little boy!" But then of course when I heard girl I felt this calm, I always feel like I know but this time it was more like I felt that a girl would be right, it just fit. But either was going to bless us and make our family more complete! So we're soooo happy!
The only thing is the Dr felt that the baby was very petite, I am 99% sure of the conception, so we're looking at a small baby. Healthy, but tiny - but you know we're used to that! ;)
We ended our night looking at the US pics from this baby and Michelle. It was cool to see some similarities and differences! It looks like the mouth is the biggest difference (more Ben this time)
No names picked out yet, I've always loved the name Scarlett, and we like the name London. But I haven't set a "list" or anything. I was so set on Michelle since I was a kid, and was lucky that Ben liked it too, but I wanted to enjoy looking at names together and feel a connection with it the same time instead of me just having a list since childhood and giving Ben no say! LOL But we'll keep you posted! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during some of these stressful hiccups along the way(in our Dr visits, not the baby's LOL)

Dr Apt

At this apt, they did extra blood work, my blood pressure is 124/80 the babies heart rate is 150, everything is good! So I'm healthy and on track, the only thing is surprise surprise I may have antepartum depression. My hormones are way more out of wack then what is normal. I've freaked out about how if I'm told something the least bit upsetting, I could be up all night crying hysterically, (its embarrassing but true) It got that bad twice. I'm also so much less tolerant for things that annoy me. I hate venting over stupid little things, but now I freak out if I don't let out my feelings! I'm soooo sorry for the moodiness! I feel like a total brat on a daily basis. When I see the actual DR (she's on maternity leave) they'll talk to me about treatment if needed. But I don't think its that serious, I'll probably just be more aware of whats going on, which might help me calm down a bit! Which if anyone is confussed or lost - here's the drama with the insurance crud.
So there has been major drama this pregnancy with healthcare. Basically we waited forever to get me on Ben's insurance the day we found out, so I was a mth along. But it would take most of his check to add Shell and I, and me going back to work had the same outcome. Plus they considered pregnancy a pre-existing condition.We thought, maybe we would qualify for medicaid, in the meantime apts where self pay and at a small clinic which I hated. I kid you not working with medicaid took about 2 mths only to find we make too much. This insurance we have has a deductible, but Shell and I are covered, but guess what since I was high risk last time they won't cover a C-section or anything serious which I need a c this time also. Anyway...we had major complications with the insurance giving us a quote that included Ben and it took many calls many days to get the correct one, we made the payment, but since it was the end of the month the next week we had to pay again in order to get my cards, even though I had technically had coverage for a month. So thats the story behind that drama, and when I had my apt scheduled with my new dr, they had to keep rescheduling me since I didn't have my cards, then they told me last week that since I was past 20 weeks they couldn't keep me as a patient! Luckliy my old drs office (which my dr retired a year ago) had a new dr that said she would definetly take me, and they worked with my situation.

4-5 Months

All has been well, I'd have to say nothing has been too crazy still! I have a new Dr, she's great! Dr. Rodriguez who will deliver the baby at St.Davids Round Rock. Blood pressure is perfect!!! Everything is healthy!
These past 2 months still no being sick or anything like that. The hard things are still heartburn, and lately I've been very soar after sitting for too long. My belly feels very tight, and my back has started to hurt but Ben has the magic touch.
I'm super emotional all the time too which is hard on everyone too I'm sure...ok well I know! But its hard on me more then anything, I can randomly reach these points of depression at any given moment.

I have so much support it helps see me through, Michelle is getting more and more aware of babies and enjoying their company. We have her dolls call her "big sister" and she changes the diapers, feeds them and things like that...but this is all for pretend so I still don't know how she'll feel of a permanent baby. But we have faith that everything will work out.

I love being pregnant and am feeling so excited about doubling my love for a child, for having and extra smile with us in our bed on Saturday mornings. I'll worry about the hard stuff as it comes, and just keep the faith!!

IntelliGender

My Dr's office told me last week that there was a super long wait for the ultrasound, so they re-scheduled my appointment for this next week.
I was super bummed because I wanted to find out the gender!
Last night I bought a Parent magazine and found a section that was all about alternative ways to find out what the baby is. I was about to ignore it since most of the test I've been told are dangerous. But this one is a urine test, so I read about it online since it said the test was 85-90% accurate as soon as 10 weeks!

Here is the website to find out more info in case you want to know for yourself, or if your the type who fears I've done something totally selfish and dangerous...

http://www.intelligender.com/pages.php?pageid=5

We read up on the website for about a half and hour or so, enjoying the information including all the old wives tales myths I hate since they're all over the place, but fun yes.

So in the spirit of having fun with myths and Chinese calenders (Myths quiz say boy, Calendar says girl) Ben and I decided to give it a shot and he went to a late night Walgreens to pick one up!

We had fun seeing how "Lab like" the test was, and ten minutes later we got a very bright orange color which = girl!!!

They say to never ignore the importance of ultrasounds, so of course I'll still get one this week and have them give me their prediction. They also can be wrong too, but the odds are about the same. If both are wrong I'd probably wait again and re-do both later.

But for now that would be exciting huh? Another girl, a sister, another princess! If you think this means not so much shopping, I'd say it would be a more dangerous way of shopping, nothing I would need, all what I would want! LOL I'll keep you posted!

Fat or Pregnant?

I feel so bad for my fellow preggie moms who feel like the weight they've put on during the 9 mth stretch, makes them over-weight and un attractive.
Maybe its because I was never super thin, I won't say I was a fat teen cause I was never over weight then but I was much curvier then my less "blessed" friends.
So for me when my belly gets rounder and heavier I'm nothing but happy, people don't judge me, if they do they're freakin idiots. If you're eating bad foods that cause extra weight gain, then don't blame the pregnancy blame your over eating self.
May sound harsh, sorry, just lately I feel like all the sad comments about pregnant girls and their growing bodies being a bad thing, brings me down a little.

I do have complaints of my own, like I've broken out EVERYWHERE! Sorry TMI but its something I'm not used too, I never had bad skin, ever. After Michelle it was bad too, but now its been through the whole 4 mths so far, but I suck it up and know its not something I've done to myself and I invest in better skin stuff, and get over it.

My skin is also super dry all the time, my scalp, my arms, legs, FEET! I just need to learn to drown myself in lotion, and guess what? It helps.

I have heart burn like crazy, last night I cried and Ben had to help me sleep sitting up--ouch.

And lately I'm having huge fears about the actual labor, which last time I was just curious and calm. Now I'm in panic!

So there you go - I love how I look pregnant, its a result of nothing un-healthy. And if I feel bigger, hey! There's always cute clothes, hair and make-up! An effort can always be made ladies!

Sorry for the moody blog - I'm going to go distract myself now.

3 mths and counting!

This was taken on my birthday 3mths and 1 week

So I'm alive and very well! Only threw up once (we were in London) cause I ate late and way too fast! But I conisder myself very lucky!

They only stress has been with Dr offices (I have to change again 2nd time!) and insureance. So we're getting on a different family plan. Pray for us its been such a pain the stress from it alone makes me depressed! But Sep I'm looking forward to finding out what the baby is! That keeps me going!

Other then that I feel so so blessed that I feel this good! I thank God for it every day!

8 weeks

So, sometimes I feel sick, but food and heartburn meds seem to be the cure! I'm super greatful about that.

No pants fit me! I thought it was a myth that you grow faster the 2nd time, but the Dr says thats not the case many times. Like the night before I found out it felt like my pants where tight, and I wasn't eating more than normal. So as of yesterday I started wearing maternity pants, which actually feel amazing compared to strapping a bella band around my jeans. Its definelty different since last time I didn't need to get rid of my jeans until about the end of the 5th mth.

Other then that things have been stable! Every time I see baby stuff now, instead of panic or anticipation, I feel calm and just happy. Its not that this is not just as exciting, its just like the stress isn't there from the first one. I'm not watching the calender a billion times a day wondering if I'm that much closer. Instead, I'm just spending time watching Michelle grow and doing tons of housework which I feel numb to now.

Well thats it for now, not too exciting, but I'm super happy!