Week 12: Light at the end of the tunnel?

I'm very happy to say that the morning sickness has improved enough to allow me to function at a slightly higher level... I can't say I'm 100%, or even 80%, but I'm going to take what I can get. I'm not sure if I should give credit to things just running their course, the steriods my GI put me on, or lots of positive thinking, or maybe all three, but I'm pleased to be able to get out of bed for longer periods of time. And the timing couldn't be better with AnneMarie coming in town this weekend and the Halloween party next Saturday.

My belly is starting to get bigger as well as my clothes tighter, so I guess that's also a good sign. Next week I'll post my first belly picture!! I have to say that it's more like I've just lost my waist as opposed to actually showing, because I can tell my uterus isn't that big... Is that normal?

Week 11: Introductions

So, yesterday was my second prenatal visit and Matt and I had a pleasant surprise... When the doctor tried to find the heartbeat, he wasn't having any luck, so he decided to do an ultrasound!! We got to see our little monster flipping all over the place (and yes, there was only one in there)! I didn't get any pictures to take home, but we couldn't really tell what we were looking at anyways... We did see the heart beating as well as what the doctor told us was a head. That's about it. But I have my next ultrasound in December, at which time we will be able to tell the gender. I hope time goes by fast...

As far as my digestive issues go, he said that he wanted to follow my GI's lead. I'm getting blood work to rule out active Crohn's, but I suspect that it is just the troubles of early pregnancy, made worse by my already delicate situation. I learned the hard way that I was doing myself more harm than good by attempting OTC relief. I believe that I just wasn't careful enough in the beginning and allowed the bad bacteria in my gut to run amok. So, my advice to everyone out there contemplating pregnancy... Eat lots of fiber and stay away from refined carbs. Even if that's all you want to eat... Those delicious frozen pretzels and spaghetti's Os were totally not worth all this trouble.

Week 10: Graduation

Our little embryo is all grown up into a fetus! Yesterday I even thought my uterus had begun to stretch past my pelvis, but not so much today, so it must've just been gas... Ah, the joys of pregnancy. I've actually been kinda concerned lately because I have been in so much pain. It's hard to say if it's just pregnancy, pregnancy with a complicated and irritated gut, or actual Crohn's. But hopefully I can get some answers soon. There just doesn't seem like there is an end in sight and I can't afford to keep staying home from work. I'm pretty sure there was something else I planned on blogging about, but can't remember for the life of me. So, hopefully I'll remember and be able to add more later.

Week 9: Patience is a Virtue...

...that I possess very little of right now. This post is partly an update, partly an apology. As my digestive system got angrier and my brain became less coherent this week, I became acutely aware that my patience is also wearing thin. Anything from too-long conversations to social activities to the food in the fridge has begun to piss me off. Nothing personal towards the pork chops, but I just don't want to deal with them. And God bless Matt for being my buffer! While my tolerance has been faltering; his has been thriving. So, thank you everyone for putting up with me... I'm keeping my eye on the prize of that blissful 2nd trimester that is only weeks away!!

On another note, I'm a bit sad to say that we won't get to see our little monster for another couple of months. I called the doctor's office today and inquired about my first ultrasound appointment. Unless something seems strange, our first view won't be until 18-20 weeks. How awful is it that I hope something seems peculiar next week so that I will be granted an ultrasound? I don't want anything to be wrong, per se... But I could really use some reassurance that it has 2 arms and 2 legs, rather than larms. (Thank you, dear for putting another horrifying birth defect in my head.)