Darrell and I chatted about the future today. If this baby is a boy we might try for another as early as when it’s 6 months old. My eggs and my fertility are not getting any younger and the odds of Down’s Syndrome and stuff jump higher every year. We both agree that 3 is our limit. But if it’s a girl- we are probably done because of money issues. That this may be my last pregnancy makes me sad. Once being sick is past, I love being pregnant. How many people can stop and think of their current situation and grin- every day?? And then after pregnancy you get a BABY!

I was asked why I want a VBAC so I think I’ll copy that answer here as well.
1. It is something I really want to experience. I know it isn’t for everyone but it would be a challenge and very rewarding to me to be able to give birth naturally. This isn’t a passing fancy- deep down I really want it. It’s a dream for me.
2. Even though my c-section and recovery were a piece of cake- the epidural made me itch all over my body horribly for the next day and a half. I had to have shots of Nubain every 6 hours or so to control it. Those shots made both me and Brendan very dopey. A day that should be a great memory is a blur to me. Both of us slept constantly (or I was awake but not all there) and Brendan wouldn’t wake up to feed properly. By the time he woke up on day 3, we had serious breastfeeding issues and he was peeing red blood crystals instead of urine. I wish to avoid the whole mess.

Brendan came up to us last night and had his hands folded like he was in prayer. He had us put our hands the same way and then he proceeded to tell us how we could open then up side by side and make a butterfly! His directions were really pretty clear- I sure wish I could remember exactly what he said. And know where on earth he learned this. Could he have possibly made it up?

I realized yesterday that this pregnancy is 25% done! ACK! Not too far off from the 200 day milestone!
This baby length and weight chart has been exactly right. Some of my books are saying the baby is the size of a plum already- I just don’t think many plums are 3.1 cm. It’s fun to see how much the baby is going to grow in the next week.
I have officially lost 1.5 pounds to date. That’s excellent for me. Last pregnancy it was -7 pounds at 11 weeks.
I had to decline a genetic test for Cystic Fibrosis. The reason is they have to take blood from both genetic parents. Ummm… totally not possible. LOL.
I am totally flipping out that the gender ultrasound is in just 2 appts! 8 weeks! I will probably have the tech write the gender on a piece of paper and stick it in an envelope for us. If it is a boy I want to deal with it privately (please don’t criticize me on this- we probably won’t be able to afford any more children and I can’t see myself being a mother to only boys) and if it is a girl I don’t want to make the poor tech deaf. I’m sure Bren’s vote would be for a brother though!
It was very reassuring to see such a small baby moving around and being so active. Every mother wonders if their baby is healthy and whole and this image did a lot to reassure me. And it was absolutely hilarious to see it bopping itself on the head!!!
I am *much improved* in the morning sickness department. Today and yesterday have been great- almost normal. The few days prior to that I had some nausea but it seems to let up by dinnertime. I am still a bit tired- but improved- and I get dizzy when I stand up from either lying down or bending over. Oh, I get headaches often too. I physically feel pregnant already. I know I am bigger but with me being overweight it’ll be awhile (a long while) before the general public notices. I need to get some obviously maternity clothes- you know, like the shirts with the ties at the waist. LOL. Favorite current maternity outfit- my JCPenney’s “snap to fit” pants. These don’t look maternity at all with a shirt hanging over the waist band. It rides too high in front still and fits me slightly too big still on the tightest snaps but very comfy. It’s the only maternity clothes I have worn so far. I still fit in my elastic waist pants but jeans have been out the door since Christmas. I think I’ll break out my low rise maternity shorts today though. It’s mid-January and 78 outside!!!
I can’t stand to drink cola type drinks so my diet cokes have been gone from my diet for several weeks. I guess that means I am totally caffeine free since I don’t crave chocolate either. I’d drink those bottles of Starbucks Frappacinos if they weren’t so darn expensive. Suppose that’s a good thing. It’s hard to be tired though.
Brendan is going through a “nope” stage. The answer to every yes/no question is nope. Sigh. And he is back to being rebellious. Does NOT want to get his diaper changed. Does NOT want to get his teeth brushed.
OMG! He just now pulled on his first item of clothing! He came over and asked me to take his shirt off- so I did. The he took his diaper off- he does that if I don’t notice he has wet it right away. But he just put it back on! LOL. Now to get him to put on a new one…
My hubby is coming home early just for fun! Brightens my whole day when he does something unexpected like that! 😀 We have a new frozen custard/burger place called Culver’s and we are going to go check it out. Mmmm.

10w0d. The first half went great! Even though the nurse had me undress completely and the doctor never touched me… [rolls eyes]. I think me being unnecessarily unclothed got me an ultrasound, lol.
Baby was wiggling and moving and waving its hand and hitting itself on the forehead and everything! 😀 It was so cool to see- far better than any early u/s with Bren! Baby measured spot on 10 weeks and is 3.1 cm.

The second half of the appointment was difficult. She wants me to have a repeat c-section and I DO NOT! She’s willing to let me try a VBAC as long as signs are favorable and I go into labor on my own. And after I sign a bazillion waivers. UGH.
And even though she agreed to discuss it with a peri, she does not want me to continue the Metformin past 14 weeks. UGH!
Gave 4 vials of blood and a pee cup. Next appointment is February 16th at 2:20 pm. The appointment after that (18 weeks) is the big ultrasound! Wahoo!

9w6d. Tomorrow is my first OB appt. It’ll be a happy occassion no doubt- I’ll get a lot of congratulations. I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t look forward to telling her about the bleeding or the fact that I took a hard fall yesterday. Might get me another ultrasound though. It feels like ages since I last got to see my baby and it has only been 2 weeks!
But the thing I am least looking forward to is trying to convince her that I want to remain on the Metformin medication throughout pregnancy and nursing. I see 2 possible positive outcomes for this:
1. As a blood sugar regulator, Metformin might help me to grow a somewhat smaller baby. Brendan was 8 lbs 6 oz at birth and some time between my 39th and 40th week, he disengaged himself from my pelvis and free floated again. This fact had a lot to do with me having a c-section. The other half was that he was wrongly estimated to be 10 1/2 lbs.
2. I’ve been researching low milk supply issues and it turns out that 1/3 of those with PCOS have problems of this nature. Women with PCOS produce too many male hormones which interferes with prolactin (the milk making hormone) receptors. Metformin reduces the amount of males hormones (which is why is helps me with my monthly cycle and ovulating).
Wish me luck- I absolutely abhor confrontations. She was pretty adamant that I stop the Metformin after 14 weeks last pregnancy. My hope is to just hand her the folder with my research and ask her to read it in her free time and discuss it next month. I am sure she has much better access to appropriate research anyway.
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Bren says and does some of the cutest things! He loves to rub my cheek softly when we are laying down for a nap. He tells me both “You’re so beautiful!” and “You’re so smart!” 😉
This morning when he woke up, he grabbed his ears, let out a laugh and stated, “I love my ears!” LOL.
Also, if you ask him if he wants something to eat he’ll 90% of the time say he wants “a sandwich with cheese and pickles”. Occassionally he wants a taco, burger or cookie though. I have him convinced that Cocoa Puffs cereal bars are cookies, haha.

I finally found the envelope where I scribbled this sentence Bren said on Christmas day. He was playing with a box of packing peanuts and having a ball.
“Come on Anthony, let’s play in the snow!”
That’s 8 words!! 🙂
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9w3d. I’ve felt much better these past 3 days than I ever thought I would. So we cleaned house today. And I killed my back by mopping. UGH!!
The baby is the size of an olive- about 2.5 cm. My uterus is the size of a grapefruit.
4 days til first OB appt. Even though the lady who scheduled my appt said I wouldn’t get an ultrasound, I wonder if the Dr. will give me one anyway if she can’t find the heartbeat? I really want to hear or see it!!
On one of my Due in August boards, we decided to name our group the “August Sunflowers”. I made a little nonblinking blinkie for it.

TMI!
8w6d. This is the day I started the actual puking in my last pregnancy. Very memorable day. Could keep nothing down until dinner. It was the start of weeks upon weeks of throwing up at least 3 days a week and feeling especially miserable otherwise. The day it all began.
Why am I not surprised then, that after 2 weeks of completely keeping it down, that today is the day I start back up again? I must be manufacturing some very important parts right now. Forget digestion- all energy must be focused on the baby.
After eating, I got immediately weak and very cold. I put “Swim” on the tv for Bren and laid on the bed shivering, under a sheet, a quilt AND a comforter and closed my eyes until the entire movie was over. My mistake was getting up.

Thanks for the responses so far! Keep ’em coming! We’ll be here all week. LOL. I am amazed at how many of you have followed from my first preconception and pregnancy diaries. WOW! If you don’t have a clue what I am talking about, try the link on the right labeled “Preconception Diary”. I am honored to see you here.
I forgot to mention- if you click the delurking sign, you’ll go to the blog of the woman who thought up “Delurking Day/Week”.

Welcome to delurking week! This is the week that I hope my readers will take 15 seconds to leave a comment for this post. I know lots of you are out there- please say hi (or whatever you want, really)! If you are worried about privacy, fake your information! Just say something, please! Looking forward to reading your comments!
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A few Bren-bits:
Bren calls wheels “weegles”
While talking to DH on the phone yesterday, Bren asked him, “What you doing?” DH replied, “Not much. What are you doing?” Bren answered, “Nothing.” Since then I have noticed Bren playing with his animals and stuff asking them what they are doing. 😀
I’ve noticed in the last several weeks that Bren suddenly knows his colors. At least pink, orange, red, blue, green, yellow & black. We are working on white and purple.
He adores The Little Mermaid movie. He calls it “Swim”. LOL. He imitates Scuttle perfectly in his romantic “song” right before the “Kiss the Girl” scene. He’s just hilarious with his “Wah, wah wahhhhhhs!”
He likes to pretend to get stuck places and have me rescue him.
He says both thanks and welcome (“a-come”) regularly and has for some time.
He got a set of dinosaurs for Christmas from Uncle Dave and Aunt Tammy and now knows what dinosaurs are. He loves them!
He calls the playstation/X-Box controller the “M” because of its shape.