Cold Cuts

Week 6

This weekend was our Ladies’ Retreat at Lone Oak Ranch in Gainesville, Texas. My friend, Randi, and I had already planned on riding together and I started thinking about sharing our news with Randi. I knew that she would listen and I trusted that she would not tell anybody our news. It is so nice to have friends that you can trust. I also knew that she would be praying for us and I really wanted someone else to be praying for our pregnancy. I talked to Chris about it and he really was not ready to tell anyone. I explained that I really needed someone to confide in and that I had so many questions to ask. My friend had recently had a baby, so I knew that she would have answers. Chris agreed to let me tell Randi and was very understanding. When I told her, she was so excited for our baby news. I was able to tell our story, ask questions, and I felt like I now had someone I could talk to about my silly questions.

We had signed up for the bunkhouse because it was $40 cheaper. I remembered from the previous year that the bunks were not very comfortable, but I had forgotten that it was basically a thin mattress with chicken wire beneath. Picture a mattress in a hammock. Fortunately, nobody was sleeping above me. : ) It was quite entertaining to try and move to get comfortable. The metal squeaked like crazy and made me giggle every single time I moved. I was the first to bed and the first to rise. We had been doing a craft and the fumes were getting pretty strong. I also avoided the late night coffee. There are so many little changes already.  When I awoke super early, I got ready and then went to pet the horses. Then I went and had time alone with God and observed His creation. It was so nice to have some quiet time and to get to really absorb this new plan for us.

I have been really good about eating healthy and packing healthy snacks. I have avoided caffeine and anything on the forbidden food list. As a matter of fact, on the last day of the retreat, they were having sandwiches. I knew this would happen. You are not supposed to eat sandwich meat unless it is warmed up to avoid bacteria called Listeria. There was no way to make that happen. I wanted to avoid the line and wait to go last so nobody would see my plate. Randi saved the day and we went to check out a chapel and the wedding decorations to kill a little time. When we returned, the line was gone and I was able to make a bread, mayo, and cheese sandwich. Yum! Nobody noticed.

We had our first appointment on Monday, February 27th. Chris and I both took a half day and had lunch together at Z Pizza. We went to our appointment and did not have to wait long at all. We were in the room and Dr. Paroski walked in and gave us both a big hug. She asked me if I had been sick at all and I told her that I had been feeling good. She was a little surprised we were in so early, but that was when they scheduled us. She answered a ton of questions and Chris sat with his pen and paper ready to take notes on my questions and he added several of his own. I think we caught her a little off guard, even though she deals with pregnant couples every day. We were already feeling better and had a lot of our questions answered. The doctor took us into the sonogram room and we were able to see you for the first time. I thought that I would cry, but I just stared amazed at your tiny flickering heart beat. I can’t believe that you are the size of a bean and that you have a heartbeat at 6 weeks. Your father and I got our first picture of you today. You are beautiful! It was reassuring and wonderful to go in this early and get to see you. Our next appointment will be at about 10 weeks on March 23^rd.

Baby Size- lentil

Developments- Nose, mouth, and ears are developing this week!

Cravings- I had to go pick up pizza again on Wednesday night. I was eyeing everyone’s pizza in the teachers’ lounge this week. Ifratelli may have been the first official craving pick up. It did give me heartburn later, so I regretted it promptly.

Symptoms- I am feeling a little light headed at times and I need to sit a lot at work. My energy has vanished. I have also had frequent visits to the bathroom at work. This isn’t easy when you teach little munchkins!