The second half of Pregnancy

Jeremy knew it would be all along. He said he just had a feeling. 

I was hoping it would be a boy so that ONE thing in my life plan that I made when I was 12 would actually come true. 

We are thrilled to have a healthy baby that the doctor says has my nose! Crazy!

Here is my pic just before we went and had the 20 week ultrasound.

Later that day, we went to the Lake and did a little gender reveal with silly string, it was fun :)

(I've never up loaded a movie before so hopefully it works!)

We have been doing some more nesting around here. Finished baby room painting and got a crib! Also finished the guest room painting, its purple, I love it.

These are coming in the mail for baby room, I love them!

I've been keeping up with my exercising. I have read the many benefits of exercising throughout pregnancy and hope to keep it up when school is in and I'm back working again. That being said, there is obviously no hope for a 6 pack but you can see the remains of my top two pack moving to the sides to make room for my sweet growing baby that is 10 inches long now!!! It is crazy how much my body is changing to accommodate baby. I don't mind!

Here is my 21 week bump :)

I have now gained 12 lbs.

AAnd speaking of bumps... It seems that Jeremy is just as achy as me! Look at all those pillows propping up is body during his nap! Yes, he needs naps and has cravings and wakes up feeling sick and has gained some weight and got emotional while watching American Ninja Warrior. 

My sweet man is sharing my symptoms!

I've read some good books so far this summer but have not yet found a great TV show to get into- this doesn't stop me from putting my feet up on the couch though... Plus I am terribly uncomfortable. I thought you only get uncomfortable when you are huge in your third trimester... nope, it's now. Between the aches, pains, food aversions, sore tummy, headaches, hot body temp, terrible sleep, pinched nerves in my back and peeing every 20 seconds, I'd say this baby is already governing my life!

And this oatmeal and granola.... this is at 2AM. 

Waking up sick in the middle of the night with a seemingly empty stomach. I keep having to wash the sheets because of all the crumbs I'm making!

But LOOK!!!!!!

here is her gender

A tiny little foot!

A strong leg

And her face :D

 At 22 weeks I went to Wenatchee for a relaxing time! I learned a new meaning of relaxing! I lazed about and it was quite glorious. Jer had to stay home to work. He is such an amazing provider. I can't wait to see him become a dad! :)

Normal clothes are struggling to fit over my belly and they are feeling quite tight.

Carrie (SIL) said she's done having babies and gave me a bunch of her maternity shirts= AWESOME!!!

We Kayaked on the Columbia River and found wild Mulberries and blackberries!

Since I was taking a week off from the gym the girls joined me in some prenatal yoga! :D

And Griz joined me for some walks along the loop trail!

 Of coarse I had to get my Cafe Rio salad fix! And boy did it do the trick.. I'm still not eating right or enough, but I'm gaining weight so oh well. This was definitely the most I've ate in months!

We headed to the Cabin in Lake Chelan for some time in the sun and to work on my tan!!

Mer made sure I was covered in SPF 70 all day, but the Chelan sun still did the trick!!

I wanted to be outside- how could you get tired of these views? Plus, I had a good book I was reading!

Out on the wave runner for a good time

How about a paddle board bump picture?

Then of coarse, the week came to an end and I had to go home. It was a long way of traveling by myself but I was home from LAX just before 2AM and happy to see Jer and my bed!

(Side note: being pregnant= no [comfortable] sleep)

Jer has been working close by so I've gotten to take him some lunch or a cold drink and ride on his buggy with him. He's been working so hard, I'm so proud of him and everything he is accomplishing with his business. I always know he will be successful in everything he does, he's just cool like that.

I'm 23 weeks along (July 27) and work/school is starting in 2 weeks AAAAAAAAHHH

My tummy is hard and heavy and doesn't like me to be in one position for too long. It doesn't like a lot of food still, it doesn't let me bend over or tie my shoelaces very easily. I have now gained 15LBS- It's a lot more weight than I'm used to carrying around. My back hurts a lot- I got a massage a few days ago and it was glorious! My headaches have eased up (Halleluja!) instead of every day I only get 1 or 2 a week now= huge relief! My hair, skin and nails are doing great and I've heard "You've got the glow" on many occasions. This makes me so happy and proud to be carrying a sweet miracle.

July 29, our 5th year anniversary! Jer took the day off and we had a fun beach day. I couldn't boogie board on my tummy to he blew up a tube and pulled me around in the waves. It was pretty hilarious!

As summer has come to an end, I have been getting a bit bored, like all i'm doing/accomplishing is growing a baby and Jeremy has been crazy busy, but I go out with him sometimes when he has to go back out in the evenings.

...and clean up a lot of asphalt when he comes home looking like this!

Before my 24 WEEK appointment

Wearing my first maternity shirt! 

The doctor said that baby is perfect, healthy, good heart beat, in the middle percentile which was perfect- she is just where she needs to be.

I voiced my concerns about my food aversions and she was not happy with my weight gain and told me to straighten up, eat better and to eat less carbs. I've gained 18 lbs now. I have mixed feelings- I know I need to eat well and give my body the proper nutrients, on the other hand I just eat what I can stomach to survive!

Belle has been different and so sweet with me. I've read that dogs can sense your hormones, so she probably knows something is up. I love it when I catch her sunning her belly it's so dang cute!

I can start to tell  my regular clothes are getting tighter and I have more water retention (uuggghhh)

I've finally figured out a system for sleeping after trying out 5 different pregnancy pillows. I sleep almost sitting up and on my back with my feet elevated then if I move to my side I have a pillow propping up my belly and between my legs and a pillow behind me supporting my oh so sore back. My own pillow fort. 

At least I get SOME sleep this way, as comfortable as I can be hauling a bowling ball every way I turn. I have also been waking up in the night or morning with leg cramps- these are a very rude awakening if you ask me!

I went out for a girls night and it was a great time. I look at this picture and can't help but see my big belly poking out. I feel huge for only being in my 6th month of pregnancy!

Mom came to visit on August 4th!

It was great, she looked after me, cooked for me, helped me with shopping and crafts, and made me 20 freezer meals!!!!! We also got some beach time in!

Binkie chain clips!

I felt so crafty!

25 weeks

Still loving our Jetski's!

I now need an adult mens large life jacket to fit over my bump, and I start on my knees instead of my belly. I don't go as fast or as crazy as I'd like to, but I've got to protect my baby. She likes it when her mamma is happy on the water though. Love me some stand up jetski  endorphins!

My belly is hard and I've struggled getting used to moving different ways for things. Tying my shoes seems to cut off my air supply and is the hardest chore!

I'm still going strong at the gym but fear that will change as I go back to work.

Baby room is coming together and I love going in there!!

25 WEEKS, 15 TO GO

I started work on Friday (August 12) and felt like my belly was the elephant in the room! It was like people couldn't not say something when they saw me haha.

It was really great to be back. I love my job, I love everyone I work with, I love my school.

I had a minor break down about working vs. staying home with my baby, but my sweet friend Heather reminded me that I will know the right thing to do when baby is here.

My feet swelled for the first time, and I was just working in my classroom and attending meetings- It makes me nervous for when I'm actually teaching and on my feet a ton. I'm sure I'll figure something out to make it more bearable.

My top baby girl names this week are:

Ivory/Ivy

Cora/Nora

Lundin

Rosalin

Aria

Wren

Robin

WEEK 26!

School started this week for the kids (August 17)

I love all my students and have very few RSP or IEP kids this year which definitely makes things easier for me. I have been 100% exhausted after work. I get home, change, sit on the couch, and pretty much don't move until bedtime! Hopefully I'll have a bit more energy throughout the day as I get used to working again.

#deserved

I am super happy to be doing my teaching Science thing again. I love going to work, I love being at work. It's the best. Plus my kids are still in honeymoon mode, so they're on their best behavior still!!

Week 27

Jer had the weekend off of work so we loaded up our bikes and Belle after work on Friday and headed out to Morro Bay. We just had the BEST time! We went on walks, played around on the rocks, went for bike rides, ate good food, and enjoyed out fancy hotel room with a fire place and a beach view!

Here are my two loves!

Belle LOVES going on Road trips in the car and she is a great traveler. The back seat looks a bit squishy, but she was comfy, I promise!

As we were riding our bikes along the trail, we found a dead snake on the side... so, naturally, Jer decided to booby trap the trail while we waited in the bushes near by to watch peoples reactions!! mwahahaha

We enjoyed some Clam Chowder, fish and chips and Oysters with some live music to entertain us. 

The best part was that Belle could be there too!

We went up to Carmel on our last day to get some lunch and Pie at Lynn's, and stopped for a tour at the Nitt Witt Ridge house. This guy built his house completely out of garbage and concrete!!!

Week 27 & 28

The weeks are flying by. Working is harder when pregnant, but it sure helps the time go by quicker!

I still LOVE every thing about my job. The second year teaching is 100000X easier and better. 

This is totally my thing.

I have continued to wake up early to exercise before work, because after work I am WAY too tired. When 4 o'clock hits, my body is like "I'm out"... on the couch until bedtime. Anyway so Body pump, yoga and Spin class are still my favorites- they are all, however, getting harder and harder to do with my big bump in the way. I have felt the benefits of exercise so much, my back pain has felt the greatest relief! I'm down to two workout shirts that fit over by belly, time to get some more!!

At my 28 week (Hello third trimester!) appointment, Dr. Kinsey scared me in to taking better care of my nutritional needs. Double my iron, eat more vegetables and since I failed the 1 hour glucose test, I have to go back and take the 3 hour one to test for gestational diabetes...LAME

So I started taking better care of myself this saturday after the gym by getting a pedicure!

Then I went to the store and loaded up on fruit and vegetables.

I love my Nutribullet because it's like juicing but it keeps all the pulp and everything so you get more out of your food. I figured since I don't eat my veggies, I'll at least start drinking them...

bottoms up!

Being pregnant is harder than people make it seem. The whole weight gain thing, the eating thing, the getting enough nutrients and water thing, the crazy hormones, being uncomfortable ALL the time, not feeling pretty because well I'm huge or my clothes don't fit nicely, the toll on my joints and muscles, feeling exhausted, my digestive system is all messed up (let's just not get into those details), feeling the greatest urge to pee every 10 minutes (when all that comes out is a small trickle), uncomfortable and interrupted sleep, walking like a 90 year old because of loose ligaments, the swelling (ooh the swelling!), not feeling like I can breathe because there's a little someone putting pressure against my diaphragm, the heart burn, not being able to concentrate because of constant stabs, wiggles and hiccups from baby. Feeling like the only thing people have to talk to you about is the elephant in the room which is your belly. Making sure everything is ready for baby's arrival. Dealing with the worries of labor and birth and breast feeding and being a new mom.

Some days I don't feel good enough, or that I can do this with a smile on my face. I'm worried that I'm too selfish to be a mother and the thought of becoming a Stay-at-home-mom sounds 100% awful to me. So many fears, so many anxieties.

And this is as just a normal pregnancy people! There are no high risks or preclampsia or sickness that would make it so much worse!!!

I'm sure hoping that the whole "mom instinct" kicks in to help me out with what's still to come.

I've always wanted to have kids, things are just getting more real now, so it's scary.

On the other hand, my body is growing a perfect little human being from heaven, who Heavenly Father sent to us and will trust us to raise and do a good job with raising her (still a lot of pressure!). The more and more I feel her, the more I love her already. Then these sacrifices seem smaller and not just worth it in the end, but worth it now and tomorrow and the next day.

80 more days until we get to kiss her sweet face :)

Here's to the next 12 weeks!

GROWING!

I'm sneaking in another picture of Belle, just because her days as the apple of my eye are numbered, and she is so cute!

29 weeks

Jeremy has introduced baby to the world of hard core hiphop/rap haha

She loves it and kicks to the beats

30 weeks

31 weeks

Jer has been gone to WA to spend time with his mom and family, so I went down to San Diego for the day to see Lexie and meet her new baby Rivers. We stopped by the San Diego Safari park and it was a great time!

32 weeks

This is me smiling, but the BRAXTON HICKS are no joke. Sometimes they completely take my breath away. Some days are harder than others, but at this point- let's get real-

I literally just Peed and feel like I have to pee again. My late night snack is a tums because of my intense acid reflux. Not only do I feel like I can never breathe in deep enough, but my bruised rib makes every breath I take excruciating. My feet are as swollen as Jabba the Hut's face and my legs have constant cramps like balls of fire. My loosened ligaments have caused my bladder to malfunction into letting out pee every time I cough or sneeze. I change my clothes six times before leaving the house because everything I put on makes me look and feel like a swollen hot dog that's been cooked in the microwave for too long. I have constant pit sweat because I feel like  my body is a literal oven. Having a good poop is something rare and celebrated in my house because my entire digestive system is squished under my left floating rib. I take pills and vitamins and stress about everything I eat or drink wondering if it's good enough, the right amount or healthy enough. I have knots down my spine from constantly carrying around extra weight. I get up from a sitting position like a 90 year old geriatric woman because the ligament pain is too much to handle. I'm pretty sure my babies favorite position is Leonardo da vinci's anatomical man because I can feel her in every corner of my belly. Everything hurts all.the.time. I have literally lost my mind, my students think I've gone crazy while I'm trying to teach them how the metric system works mixing up all the decimals myself. I sleep on a soft bed surrounded by 5 pillows, very uncomfortably. Happy 32 weeks to me. 

33 Weeks

Feeling MUCH better

Already love my baby girl fiercly

She is a part of me

I am getting excited to meet her

This dress was on sale at Target, so naturally, every pregnant woman now owns it.

Once us pregnant gals at work figured this out, we had to coordinate for a matching photo-sesh!

I have been feeling lots of love from my friends. Jenifer brought me a soda to get through the day at work, Mindi G found Skore bard which I've been craving- I barely mentioned it and she remembered and brought some over. And of coarse, the good advise and constant support from my homies. I feel very very blessed and lucky.

34 weeks

Sleep is totally hit and miss, sometimes I get lots, sometimes none at all.

I'm generally a good sleeper, so it's a hard thing for me to start having to get used to.

This week was FULL of surprises. Merilyn surprised me by coming up for my baby shower, so Mattie and Lexie and the boys and Mer were there at my house when I got home from work on Friday (Oct 14, 2016) It was awesome. Jer had gone to costco to grab a pack n' play and then surprised me by buying me a keyboard piano!!!!!! Gosh I was just overwhelmed with how lucky I am!

So SO SO SO SO awesome to have a piano in the house again. I have played it every day since getting it!

At 36 weeks Laurel and McKenzie threw my baby shower.

It was a perfect day, I felt overwhelmed by all the love I received! It was beautiful and elegant. McKenzie flew all the way down here from school just to come and do it <3

35 weeks... and 35 days until my due date WOAH!

Baby is about the size of a honey dew melon. She's about 18 inches long and about 5 lbs. She is still moving and hiccuping a lot. She moves when she hears Jeremy's voice, when I'm trying to sleep, or after a good meal. I'm okay through the day at work but then totally crash when I get home. I'm used to being a busy body and getting things done all through the day and I'm struggling mentally to let go of things or to let Jer take care of stuff. I'm sure it will get better.

I got a diaper bag and stocked it, I really like it- Petunia Pickle Bottom brand.

I ordered some things from target and found a car seat I like. Things are moving along. I have a feeling she may come a bit early so I'm thinking I need to get the nursery done and pack a hospital bag etc. etc. Thank goodness for to do lists!

Life is definitely already changing, but we are still finding time to do other stuff.

We have really been liking the Bakersfield escape rooms!

Pumpkin carving with our cute neighbors Jenna and  Derek 

and getting into the Halloween spirit.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jer more and more as he so sweetly looks after me. He cooks and cleans and looks after the yard. He makes sure we check things off our lists, he never complains about the price of all the baby stuff we are purchasing, he always holds my purse, comes to appointments with me, rubs my feet, cleans my car, makes sure that I rest, plays the piano with me or makes sure I'm playing a song for him. He helps me get some exercise and He walks super slowly so I can keep up with him. How can I not love a man who enjoys going to world market and costco with me!?

He is THE best <3

I had my work baby shower on October 25th

WOW! the people I work with are so awesome and generous, I am SO lucky.

I got some really awesome stuff and lots of gift cards, and a beautiful cake!

Belle Belle has not left my side when I'm home. I think she knows something is up. Last night when I was playing the piano she came down and lay over my feet right on the pedal haha When we sit on the couch, she wants to be right up there with us. I am REALLY hoping she won't freak out when we bring a new baby home! She is so sweet and good but we won't ever leave baby with Belle, don't want to take any chances.

36 WEEKS!

I am HUGE!

I am fully realizing why people say "get things done in your second trimester"! I constantly ache, I get only a few hours of sleep in the night because I wake up every few hours-> either to pee, or because my hips are so achy being on my side, then I try to sleep sitting up and by 4AM I give up and just get up. I get about 15-20 braxton hicks a day, lots of cramping. I want to yell "call 9-1-1" every time I use the bathroom. I am 30 lbs heavier now. I am so grateful to have a healthy baby and a normal pregnancy. I love to feel her kick and move around a get the hiccups- she reminds me she is alive and well. She is my little buddy already by being my constant companion!!! (even when she's keeping me up in the middle of the night, it's okay)

I think women need to feel so terribly uncomfortable at the end of their pregnancies so that they will actually WANT to go through labor and delivery!

In the last little wile I've started to look more like a puffer fish than a plain whale. My face, my legs and feet, my hips. Everything is swollen. Everything. My hips are SOOOO wide, my feet look like fat stubs and my boots are too tight to wear over my huge calves. I am so ready to lose this weight and feel more like me again. I know I need to be more patient.

For now, I got these awesome color changing candles and soak in a nice warm bath every once in a while. It's nice.

Baby room is pretty much done now :)

I painted little plants in my shadow boxes and I love it!

My appointments are now once a week. 

Everything is looking good and normal, YAY!

37 WEEKS

I come home from work and put on my gown now. The end.

Sara took our maternity pictures at Hart Park this week and they turned out great!

I was featured in the school newspaper, if you can zoom in on the article you will find it hilarious!

"Mrs. Warner will be skinny when she returns to work"... haha that's a lot of pressure these kids are putting on me!

Speaking of school- this week has been a really hard week, I've been dealing with parents trying to make a formal complaint at the district office and having tons of meetings on top of my usual stuff, plus getting my sub plans ready. It's been crazy! So by Friday, I stayed late to get some more stuff done and then went right to my doctor appointment. Baby seems to be moving much less. Doctor did an ultrasound, things looked okay but she wanted me to go to the hospital to have a stress test for baby just to be on the safe side. So-That was my Friday night.

This was my very first time EVER in my LIFE going to the hospital for myself. I've been to hospitals to visit people before (not much though) so I was a bit overwhelmed, but knew that everything would be fine with baby. Jeremy was at the hockey game with Jay so if I needed him, he was close by BUT that triage room was small, cold and terribly uncomfortable. I was all "could someone throw me a pillow or something". I got hooked up to a monitor to test babies heart rate and movements and she moved about 500 times while i was there making a complete liar out of me. Anyway, I was so bored. And then my phone died. It was 7:45 before I could go and I hadn't eaten lunch since 11AM so I was HANGRY on top of it all. Of coarse I went to McDonalds to get food, but what I really wanted was ice cream and their ice cream maker was out (insert crying face emoji). 

It was all fine in the end, I went to Lindsey's and she painted my nails.

It's always fun to come home to cute Belle and her new ball that hasn't left her side for days now!

Front row parking? Oh yes I did!

This was last night, November 5th, 18 days until my due date.

I looked down at my feet which felt sore and NO WONDER! THEY ARE HUGE!!!!

It looks like I have two sprained ankles!

I'm tipping the scales at 144lbs. 29 pounds gained.

I've blown up this past week into a swollen fat lady. I probably need to feel this way so I'll actually WANT to go through labor and delivery just so I don't have to be pregnant anymore.

Needless to say and much to my dismay, doctor is making me go on Maternity leave this week. She said I really shouldn't even be going back for one more day but I told her I had too much to do still and needed at least one more day, which I'm hoping to turn into two more days. We will see how it goes. I know it's for the best that I stop working now because I am EXHAUSTED every day after work and if I go straight from being exhausted at work to having a baby and being exhausted, then I will never have a break to feel ready and rested.

WEEK 38

Happy maternity leave for me at exactly week 38!

I'm actually REAAAALLLY glad to not be working right now.

My first few days of mat leave I deep cleaned the house, made a huge check list to get things crossed off that I never had the energy to get done after a long day of work. By the third day I.was.bushed.

I'm just not sleeping well... 2-3 hour increments.

Jer and I went to a few basketball games at CSUB, they are actually really fun! We are living up being able to leave and have dates whenever we want to- at the same time, we are SO ready for baby's arrival.

Love being able to facetime with my cute dad!

The nursery is officially done!

 Most of my maternity clothes are actually too small for me now- CRAZY! this dress is one of the only things that still fits. a lot of my Tshirts are too short to fit over my belly. What did my body look like before? Gosh, I don't even remember!

39 WEEKS

Belly is definitely lower now. "cervix is soft", baby's head is down and positioned. I have been really sick and nauseous and still exhausted, getting little sleep. Jer was at the store buying me saltine crackers at 3:30AM a few nights ago- bless his heart. My iron is still low. These last few weeks of pregnancy have been really rough. My joints and ligaments are in constant pain, I've been having real contractions mixed in with my braxton hicks contractions. They hurt like a pain I've never felt before. Last night I had them every 5 minutes for an hour and then they went away-Darn it! I am being teased.

My sweet adorable amazing friends surprised me with a girls night Mani-Pedi sesh. I am SO blessed and lucky to have so many cool friends that make me feel so loved and special. I thought I was just going with Lindsey and Sara, but they secretly got everyone together to celebrate me <3 They had snacks and drinks and more gifts and advise and even paid for my nails! Kaisa noticed I've been sick and brought me over some flowers tonight. Lindsey and Erin made me go walking with them to try and get baby to come. Gosh I'm just so lucky!

My days now consist of chores, resting, walking, checking something off, resting, resting, and resting. That's a lot of resting... but I'm still tired!

COME ON BABY! 

I suppose we have waited a long time for this little girls' arrival... what's a few more days?

I have been extremely nauseous and sick, hardly can eat anything, nothing sounds good. I'm exhausted and terribly uncomfortable.

Here is my belly the night before I went into labor at 39 weeks and  4 days: 

Stay tuned for what happens the next day!!

PREGNANT!..Finally!!!

I'm laying it all out!

It all started a few days before our Spring break bike trip where I wanted to be prepared with a full and ready to use inhaler because my asthma can act up in the wind... 

bicycle + the coast = lots of wind. 

March 16, 2016

So I quickly made an appt. with my family doctor to fill the prescription. I ran over during my lunch break and while I was visiting with doctor I asked her about some other symptoms I'd been having... Back pain, some cramping, tender boobs (sorry, this may be TMI but then stop reading because this is my blog and I can do what I want.). Basically I felt like I was having a period, but with no bleeding. So the doctor was all "when was your last period" and I was a bit late, but I haven't had a very regular cycle like ever and although I am on Metformin, I haven't been super trying to have a baby because I needed a break from all the emotional up and down and fertility meds and hormone craziness that trying to conceive brings. So the doctor says "why don't you take a pregnancy test?" and I said, "um no I don't take pregnancy tests because they are ALWAYS negative and I don't really feel like another disappointment today." She peer-pressured me into doing it anyways.

I waited in the doctors room, for the negative result, doctor comes in a few minutes later and says...

"YOU'RE PREGNANT"

Then I said

"no, I'm not"

Then she said

"Yes, you are"

Then I said

"no, I'm not"

Then she said

"Yes, you are"

Then I said

"That's impossible"

Then she said

"Obviously not"

Okay, you get it, but I was half trying not to cry and half in shock and disbelief at this point.

Then I hurried along back to work and tried my best to concentrate on my students without them thinking I was a weirdo as I would smile and cry a Denzel tear while holding my newly pregnant belly at random intervals during my lesson.

I got home and tied a note to my dog Belle's collar that said "hey daddy, I'm going to be a big sister!" so that when she ran up to Jeremy he would see it. He admitted that at first he was like "seriously Tessa, you got another dog?" but a few seconds later caught on... It's just the most unexpected thing and the furtherest thing from our minds almost!

Now, just to make sure, I went and bought a pregnancy test... mostly just to be like 

"Who's positive now, pregnancy test!?"

Is it weird that I needed to see this more than I trusted my pee test at the doctor?

Since I have a plethora of problems with my dumb body, doctor suggested I keep calm and book an appt at my OBGYN asap. The appt was AFTER our bike trip, so I took it pretty easy. 

Look, I know that women have babies in wars and crack houses, but they usually haven't been trying for 4 years to do so, so I resolved to do everything I can to do everything right. I talked to a nurse that said "if it's a good pregnancy, it will stay" which gave me hope.

On a personal note (let's get real, this is all personal), Jer and I had started saving our $$ bills to do InVetro fertilization this coming October. We saw another fertility (4th one) specialist in January that suggested we skip the laparoscopy surgery and IUI's and go straight for the one that is most expensive but that also has the highest chance of success. Doctor said that I could go on birth control until then which would help regulate my hormones and then I wouldn't experience periods from the devil himself each month and my other nasty side effects that come with having PCOS and endometriosis. I was all "sign me up!" but Jeremy was all in tune with a little personal revelation saying "let's keep trying the natural way if you can get through the pain". Little did we know that one month later this would happen 

<3

On March 30th we went in and saw this:

A tiny tiny little lentil with a strong heart beat.

I measured only about 5 weeks along, so I found out super early, which is really good i think... who know's maybe I would have pushed myself too hard on our bike trip or sat in the hot tub too long or done something dumb if I didn't go in for a new inhaler! I definitely did not think I was pregnant. Have a said that yet?

I got the list of things not to eat. I took a blood glucose test that was high- women with PCOS have a higher risk of gestational diabetes. I peed in a cup. I got my first UTI- no wonder I was peeing on the hour, every hour! I found out I am anemic and need more iron. I'm working on getting my body in tip top shape, don't worry.

On April 13th I went in again.

BTW, have you met the wand? {insert crying face emoji}

My lentil is now a walnut with little flaps for arms and legs and here, I was 8 weeks and 2 days along with EDD of November 23rd.

Baby has a very strong heart beat, it implanted in a good place and everything looks perfect. I am hopeful for a successful pregnancy. My cysts on my ovaries are gone, my endometriosis sores are healing and my pregnancy hormones are taking over! Because of my reverted uterus and it seeming to double in size with a STAB STAB STAB  to my stomach every day, I do get a bit more cramping than most.

While I am highly sensitive to smells and am as bloated as a whinnie the pooh shaped bear balloon, I have only thrown up three times in my 9 weeks (with bouts of nausea throughout the day) and cannot eat meat or anything with a strong smell. No cravings yet. My UTI is all good now and I'm feeling much better. I can't tell if I am tired at the end of the day because I've been at work or because I'm growing a person. 

I'm actually glad to be working in the beginning of my pregnancy because it helps me power through feeling pretty awful at times.Otherwise I would just be sitting at home feeling icky and happy and being all emotional about it.

Here is me looking exhausted and nauseous after getting poked with a needle 4 times over 3 hours while I fasted and took a glucose test. (which I passed, wahoo!) BTW If I start feeling sick, and I quickly eat something it goes away, so this glucose test was HELL, and if I threw up it wouldn't count and I'd have to do it again. #staydownthrowup

And then...

 my first baby bump pic that's mostly bloat picture at 9 weeks :)

[At the end of the day and after a good dinner, 

you'd better believe I looks 5 months pregnant already!]

I'll keep posting up dates until we are ready to tell the world around 14/15 weeks. our close friends and family already know... we've been bursting to tell because miracles do happen!

Review:

I tried natural supplements; essential oils, seeing a homeopathic Doctor, taking iodine, saw palmetto, dong quai, chaste berry, maca, inositol, evening primrose oil, and tribulis. I tried drinking spearmint tea three times a day. Then I tried red raspberry tea. I tried bio identical hormone replacement therapy. I tried yoga and no stress and smelling babies. I tried no dairy. I tried juicing. I fasted, prayed and hoped. I tried taking my temperature every single day for years. I tried clomid- 11 rounds!!!! I tried Metformin. I tried clomid + Metformin. I tried the Paleo diet. I tried timing. I tried keeping my legs elevated, I tried standing on my head. I've seen 7 different doctors. It's been 4 years. I've had all blood tests done. I've had numerous pelvic ultra sounds   I've had iodine injected into my Fallopian tubes. I suffer unbearable pain every month. I've watched friends, sisters and teenagers have healthy babies. I've cried, I've been okay. I've been given the odds of a 2% chance of natural conception. I have Polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis and reverted uterus. I have nasty symptoms and side effects. I planned on invetro this October! I've had early miscarriages.  

I know miracles happen. 

I had hope. And... MY EGGO IS PREGGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Hallelujah! 

Due November 23! Miracles do happen! 

#gottogoihavetopee        #a2%chanceisstillachance 

I felt pretty crummy around 10, 11, 12 weeks. Gagging every time I brush my teeth, bouts of nausea, aches and terribly tired. 

ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS I HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG TO FEEL! 

I'm all gagging from some strong smell and smiling because I LOVE it 

Or getting a sharp pain in my tummy because it's growing and smiling because I love it

Or feeling so terribly tired but still happy because I love the reason why!!!

This pic below is my new mantra. But seriously.

I feel like the laziest person in the world!

Here is my little belly at 10 weeks.

So at this point NO FOOD SOUNDS GOOD. EVER.

I ended up eating pancakes for 3 days.

Raisinets for breakfast. Don't judge me.

I went in for the genetic testing at 12 weeks. No news is good news and we've had no news, wahoo!

Here is a nice profile picture of baby.

Mothers day this year was a happy occasion in in our home for the first time in years :)

Here is a pic of me at 12 weeks on Mother's day.

13 weeks.

14 weeks

No bump, just my happy smiling face

Still really struggling to find things that sound good to eat.

On this day, giant pizza seemed like a good option though.

Also a good visual of me getting home after work, sitting on the couch and not moving until I move to my bed. #LAZY

Side note: I left the (gas) stove burner on all night long, the garage door open, loose my keys 5 times a day etc. This whole pregnancy brain is a real thing. I've turned into a big idiot!

 Jeremy has seriously bee so amazing, I am so lucky! Before he left for his trip he made sure I had everything I needed and had even woke up in the middle of the night to get me something to eat or drink a few times. (I have lots of crumbs in my bed because I wake up feeling terribly sick and know I just have to eat haha) Anyway...

I had a bit of a scare on Thursday (5-26) Just barely 14 weeks along.

Jeremy was in Alaska fishing for the whole week- bad timing because i'm useless without him right now!!!

I had some spotting and really bad cramping- I could barely stand up without it hurting. I ended up getting a sub during 2nd period and came home to rest. After a little nap, I was still crampy so I went in to the Urgent Care for some peace of mind. I got a really awesome, thorough doctor. She took my vitals, took lots of blood, had an ultrasound-saw baby moving around and its heart was beating! (huge relief!) They then gave me an IV for some extra fluid and I did feel much better (after peeing 600 times!) It was a big wake up call to slow it down even more- a difficult task while teaching 12 & 13 year-olds all day long. I rested all day long and the cramping is more like a dull pain and only hurts more when I move. It was a scary day mostly because I was alone.

I do, however, have awesome friends and little angels in my life that came to care for me. Daniel and Brad came and gave me a blessing, Sara brought me dinner. Leslie brought me dinner and a popsicle and sat and talked with me for some company and helped calm me.

I guess I'm just feeling and experiencing all these new things so quickly. 

Needless to say, I did nothing for 3 days straight after this.

Pretty much all of my students have figured out that I'm pregnant and not just getting super fat. So before he heard it from someone else, I went in and told my principle during week 14. My students are seriously so sweet, very excited for me, they've been great and love asking me lots of questions!

One of them, came up to me with this box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates and said "When my mom was pregnant with my baby brother, all she wanted to eat was these chocolates, so we went to the store last night and got you some" MELT MY HEART! Sooooo sweet!!

I have gained 2 lbs this week, I'm now 117lbs, and my belly is so big and tight I don't know how it's going to get any bigger!!!

I have ordered some new clothes that will be more comfortable for me- I can't do the zips or buttons of any of my pants and everything feels so tight against my belly.

I did not think that life would change so much even when you are just pregnant and don't even have the baby yet. Keeping something alive is already my 24 hour job. #momalready

Here is me at 15 weeks :) 

happy, happy, happy

It's about to be the last week of school, so I have been busy preparing my classroom for the summer and next year and also a long-term-sub.

Now anyone can come in, open my draw, find the week we are in, grab the folder, follow the plans, and teach my class!

My fortune was correct! School is out and summer is here! 

I can take more time to look after myself and relax!

My baby is as big as a lemon!

I'm excited to be out of my 1st trimester and into my 2nd!

The average temperature in the Bakersfield summer is 100* (38*C) and it is hot hot hot. When we aren't swimming with friends or floating the river... we improvise to stay cool! #instyle  hahaha

16 WEEKS

Went in for a check up- the doc totally could have told me baby's gender but only listened for that strong little heart beat, beating at 150BPM :) My blood pressure is low 100/40 which explains my dizziness, my iron, calcium and potassium could be better... I'm working on it.

I'll have to wait for my 20 week ultrasound to find out the gender, I'm not really in a rush- I'm not going to buy blue or pink everything... mostly I'm stressed about giving my child a NAME. I want to change my dog Belle's name all the time, how will I be able to name a person? sheesh!

Nothing fits!!! Plus, it's hot.... I went shopping, tried on the whole store and only left with the black dress (insert eye rolling emoji)

I am so so so happy to be pregnant and carrying this miracle, but it seems more of a miracle to find something that fits over my belly these days!!!

I have been going to the gym every day since school got out- It's been 3 weeks now and I'm going strong. I'm feeling good and have a lot more energy. Each day I do some cardio and lift weights (safely) I enjoy spin classes, I can't really run anymore so I do the elliptical or stair stepper. Then i switch days doing my back and biceps, chest and triceps, and legs and shoulders. Notice, there are no ab workouts in there!! I also make sure to do some yoga or zumba once in the week.

Gym clothes are even getting tighter at

17 WEEKS

I also treated myself and got a new hair do :)

Before -> after

A lot of my PCOS symptoms have calmed down, most noticeably my "male patterned balding"

Wahoooooooo!!! 

I feel like a woman!

We've been "nesting" and working on some fun projects in the house.

Jeremy made this beautiful Wayne's coating trim in the living room.

I've been working on the baby room mountain mural... finished pictures will come later

We made a bench for the dining table- now we can fit more than 4 people around it!

I went to a healthy pregnancy class and learned some new things... one of them was that you should avoid eating Halibut fish while pregnant... oopsy! I've been eating a lot since Jeremy came home from Alaska with 100lbs of it!

Honestly, I'm still having major food aversions. The only thing that ever sounds moderately good to eat is raspberries, pancakes and occasionally pizza... which I threw up the other day, so maybe i'm off pizza for a while too- the list is narrowing!!! I always thought I'd look after myself so well and to get as many nutrients as possible, but eating is the biggest chore.

At almost 18 weeks I'm STILL getting headaches every single day. Some days it's just a dull pain and others it seems more like a migraine. I've been getting a headache that lasts the rest of the day every day around 2/4pm since my 12th week of pregnancy. I've tried massage, essential oils, tylenol, cold cloth, dark room, sleep- you name it. I got so sick of it the other day that I went out and bought a coke. I drank half the bottle and it actually did the trick! My headache went away!

I don't usually drink caffeine and definitely haven't had any since I got pregnant BUT

I was sitting on the couch starting to feel better, and what did I feel?

A little TAP TAP TAP, POKE POKE POKE!!!! On the inside!!!

Baby likes Coke... or he/she was just all jazzed from the caffeine! Since recognizing the actual feeling of baby's movement, I have felt it move quite a lot and I love it!!!

I'm now 18 WEEKS

Do my bike shorts make my BUMp look fat?

and feeling pretty good- I'm not complaining BUT I threw up so much yesterday that I lost 3 pounds. Today, I am slowly sipping on water and watered down powerade and snacking on all things healthy. I will be taking it easy if you need me! I'm 123 lbs now (usually) and doctor says that's great. Weird to gain 8 lbs in 4.5 months and be okay with it.

Brian, Lexie and Kai came for a visit. I am so glad that our little bean will have two cousins born in the same year as him/her!

19 Weeks

Feeling great! Feeling lots of kicks and movement. They are so distracting! I'll be talking to someone and I'll be like "shhhh hold on, baby is moving, I have to concentrate!"

20 WEEKS!!!!

HALF WAY THERE ALREADY!

We find out the gender on Wednesday, that is 3 more sleeps and I am Sooooo excited!!!

I will start a new blog post for the second half of my pregnancy and when we know if we are having a boy or a girl. Jeremy thinks it's going to be a girl. I don't care what it is as long as it's healthy :)

Always remember: 

MIRACLES HAPPEN <3