Some thoughts

I think of posts I would write all day, only to get a few minutes on the computer at night and totally blank out. So I am forcing myself not to give up. Let's see what I can come up with...

* We heard the baby's heart beat today for the first time. We had seen it twice before, but hadn't yet heard it. I had a simple check-up today so we were able to listen. Of course, it took a minute to find it and I found myself saying a Hail Mary before hearing the slow beat of mine become the very quick beat of the baby's. It was pretty incredible.

* I am still on progesterone and waiting to hear what my most recent blood test results were and whether I can stop the shots. My OB today informed me that I should be stopping them by now. Oh how I wish all doctors were on the same page. How I wish all OB's recognized how incredibly helpful progesterone is in pregnancy. And my doctor is at least one of the good ones who uses progesterone support (vaginal suppositories) in some patients. I could have gotten a doctor who didn't believe in it all together. But even she doesn't actually test for it (at least that's what she told us.. I guess she prescribes it in certain circumstances [history of miscarriage perhaps?] yet doesn't do blood draws to see if it's helping). Does that make sense to anyone? What's wrong with a simple blood draw to check the level? Why aren't all doctors doing this?

* She also told me that my Vitamin D dose is too high. I am currently taking 2,000 iu. I tested low for it in February and Dr. S recommended I take a certain amount at my six week appointment in April, but what the amount was I'm not sure. I didn't commit it to memory at the time because all I could focus on was the ultrasound I was about to get. I think it was a range - 1,000 to 4,000 perhaps? So I picked 2,000. From what I've read, this is a pretty safe amount. You can go much higher and still be fine (prenatal vitamins have some, but mine is only like 400 iu, so technically I'm getting 2,400). I plan to keep taking the 2,000.

* I still love my OB. And we loved her even more today after we got into a little discussion about health care at the end of the appointment. Let's just say that we were all on the same page.

* I also love Old Na.vy. Any store where I can buy maternity clothes and still fit in my pre-pregnancy size is pretty cool in my book. Keep in mind I have gained somewhere between 10 and 15 pounds and I would guess that 90% of that is sitting in my thighs. And I don't care if they are sizing big just to make pregnant women buy from them. It works for me.

* Yes, that's right. I bought maternity clothes. I started by buying a couple things this weekend because we were visiting Ryan's family and I went shopping with my sister-in-laws and mother-in-law. I figured I might as well buy stuff when I have people to shop with, since at home I'm all alone with no one to ask for opinions. Actually, there's a funny story about shopping with them in one store on Saturday. I was looking at bras and the saleswoman asked me how far along I was. I said three months, only to have my sister-in-law interject that I had been trying for five-and-a-half years and after adopting suddenly found out I was pregnant, a miracle (she didn't want the saleswoman to think this was just another pregnant lady). She was crying, my other sister-in-law also started tearing up, as did I, and then we all started laughing. We laughed for the rest of the day at our little moment in the bra aisle!

* So anyways, I bought some stuff and a friend let me borrow a bunch of stuff, and while I probably won't wear a lot of it for a little while longer, I am currently wearing my Old Na.vy maternity capris. They are comfortable. Really comfortable. My regular clothes make me feel like I do after eating Thanksgiving dinner.

* I had some nausea this weekend and I thought morning sickness was back, but I feel fine today. And my energy is still up. I'm tired, don't get me wrong, but I don't feel like I have to lay in bed every day. My self-imposed bed rest has been lifted.

* Clara is six months old today! She deserves a post dedicated entirely to her, which I will try to write tomorrow (and I don't want to give anything away, but there just might be a little Clara slide-show in the works). There is so much to say. She is amazing, doing more and more each day and constantly making us laugh. She has such a little personality now! Ahh.. I just love her. I can't get enough of her. Here are some recent pics:





* Ryan learned you don't let baby's feet with their delicate baby skin touch the bottom of the kiddie pool (see middle picture). The poor thing rubbed some skin off the bottom of her big toes, mainly because she had just discovered that she could bounce and jump that same day. Ryan was way more traumatized by it than she was. In fact, it didn't seem to hurt her at all.

* One more thing, If you get a chance, please say a prayer for a friend of ours, J. She's in her mid-twenties and was diagnosed with cervical cancer and is having surgery tomorrow (Wednesday). I appreciate it.