Hello! So we are through the first week. My nausea comes and goes. The first 5 days was constant but the last two days or so has been come and go. Which is nice because I have finally been able to eat! I am not expecting it to last, but we will see. I am really digging spicy foods (i.e. mexican!) and garlic? YUCK.

 I have also been getting exhausted! It's not really something that just "Pushing through" helps. So I lay down for a bit (can't go to sleep though), and in an hour or two, I feel good enough to get back up. I had similar feeling with LD, so it's not unfamiliar, just another symptom:).

Another thing happening to me right now, is that I am bloated. Very bloated. Enough that my skinny jeans are not comfortable. So I am rocking my leggings for now. I also have caught myself using my rubber band to keep my pants together. So, that's a new feeling.

I finally purchased a few things today. Mostly for our trip for Thanksgiving, but I picked up some books to! So, besides boost protein drinks, throw up bags (for the airplane, I thought I would rather be safe then sorry), and little candies called "Preggie pops" (don't get me started on that name!), I count this as my actual first purchase. So here it is:

Some obvious um, stomach things. I bought this in advanced as I don't want to have any, um "Issues" while on vacation. I bought some Burt's Bees Chapstick, some Sea Bands to help with nausea, two books and sunscreen. I did some research (read reviews and asked friends) and found that the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy was an all around good book. I will give my review after I read it, but I am sure I will buy many more books! I heard this was the most informative with the most accurate information. I also heard it doesn't make you feel guilty about things (skipping a vitamin, drinking caffeine). I also bought a book that looked interesting about a "Green" pregnancy. I live healthy and try to eat and use natural things, so it's only natural that would extend into my pregnancy. I am not going to go all  extremist on you, but I will be substituting things in my life that are more natural than normal. For instance, suncreen. I feel pretty strongly about it. Your skin is one of the biggest organs in your bosy. Whatever you put on it, goes into your body. So if I am going to lather up on sunscreen, I would rather it be with the least amount of harmful ingredients. So I found THIS website to be very helpful and beneficial in choosing what's best my myself. I will never judge any person who chooses the regular sunscreen, or products. This is my own ( and Ned's) decision, but one I am not wavering on.


Alright, hope you had a great weekend!

WE ARE EXPECTING!

I would like to shout it from the rooftops, but seeing as how we are still early in the game, I will whisper it for now:). So, here we are. Many of you know the background, so I won't get into that, but for those of you who don't, this has been a LONG time coming.

How we found out:
Monday November 12th, I was nauseous all day. I was working on getting a new house insurance and car insurance quote, as well as taking our car in to get fixed. I got car sick even while I was driving. It is usual for me to get carsick, but not when I drive. Sunday, the day before I even felt more car sick then usual but I didn't think anything of it. Looking back, I know why! I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me and I refused to believe or even entertain the thought I was pregnant. I picked Ned up from work and told him how I felt. He said "You are pregnant." I told him "No, please don't say that, I can't get my hopes up." He said "No, but really, I think you are." So I told him "We will see." We got home. I made dinner, put it to my mouth, and got immediately unappetized. I then started getting a headache. I was thinking about taking a naproxen but was putting it off because I was thinking maybe I should test to make sure I wasn't indeed not pregnant. Ned then said, "Just go take a test." I had been taking one the previous few mornings (when your hormones are most concentrated in your body). It's funny because I was seeing a line, but I hadn't timed it. I thought they were just evaporation lines and showing up after the time limit. I think that I started seeing them EARLY, like maybe Friday. I don't know why I didn't think to take my watch in to test with me.

 So I finally agreed to take a test. I took it, 2 seconds later, no line. I told Ned from the bathroom "Nope." But this time, I DID take my phone with me for a stop watch. Sure enough, 2 minutes later, a poitive. I didn't believe it. I came out and said "Um, hold on, I don't...know?!?" He looked at me, I looked at him. I got back in bed to watch tv. I said I just don't know... He said "GO TAKE ANOTHER TEST!!"

I then consulted some friends as to the time rule. They all convinced me that a line was a line and if it showed up within three minutes, I am indeed pregnant. Well, I decided to test agin, with a more expensive test. Sure enough, Big Fat Positive, right away. I looked at Ned, and said "Um, what did we do?!? Is this for real?" I was just NOT expecting it. I then got back into bed and just stared at him. I didn't know how to think. Was I happy? Excited? Nervous? Freaked out? Yes, all of the above. And much much more.

Our lives just changed in that nano second.

I started shaking. Tears were in my eyes, but no crying. I started realllllly shaking. I had just downloaded some relaxation Mp3's and was frantically trying to find them on my phone (which I still haven't found)! I then called the only person I knew was still up (it was 11 or so eastern), Tricia. She cried, then I cried...then I had to go lol. I hate crying. We later called everyone in the family and there were many tears, smiles, laughter, excitement. I could not sleep a wink Monday night. Like, maybe 3 hours? I took some benedryl, but that didn't do ANYTHING.

My symptoms:
I finally woke up, Tuesday to BAD nausea. Wednesday got a little better and today, Thursday, is even a little better. I keep getting hungry, eating a few bites, then wanting to throw it up. My mom told me to go get some Boost protein drinks, and those have helped tremmendously. I also have been noticeably bloated in the evenings. Sweating has increased, a lot. Which is weird because that's not normally something I do a lot of. I started yoga on Sunday night and LOVE it. It has really helped with my anxiety and sleep. Sleep has been a bit of an issue, but nights after yoga are amazing. I also apparently have a nose like a dog:).

I got a blood test On Tuesday. They test for my Beta's. This is a description to what they are:

 When baby first starts growing in your belly, your body begins to produce a hormone called hCG, or humanchorionic gonadotropin. You might hear this hCG stuff referred to as the “pregnancy hormone” -- it’s the same hormone that a pregnancy test searches for in your urine. It takes a few days(around 11 to 14) after conception for enough hCG to show up in your urine, but whenit does you're pregnant.

When the doctor measures your “beta hCG” levels, it means she’s checking to see just how much hCG is running through your blood. Any hCG level above 25mIU/ml is considered positive for pregnancy, but your doc may check your beta hCG levels for other reasons, like to determine if your pregnancy is progressing the way it should. (In about 85% of normal pregnancies, hCG levels double every 48 to 72 hours until they drop down and level off after around 8 to 11 weeks.)

My first test was 370.  A very good number! So I take my second one today to watch for a good spike. I will keep you posted.

Ned is so excited. It's kind of sort of consuming our thoughts. We know it's still very early, but we can't help but be excited. This is such a new adventure and we are so excited. Thanks for reading and I hope to keep y'all posted.

Oh, and...I'm going to be a MOMMY. Ned's going to be a DADDY. I just. I just can't believe this is happening.