Lots of Moving!!!

Hello all! I've discovered that not too many people read my weblog, so I'm going to start copying what I post and pasting into an email message for most of my family. But I'm not going to quit posting, I know that several people do come visit the site.

Anyway, not too much going on these days, just lots of stuffy noses, and less sleeping because of it. This nasal congestion is the worst part of this pregnancy for me. It set in right after we found out we were pregnant, and has been a daily thing so far. It would wake me up at night, because I had to breathe through my nose. That would make me dehydrated and the discomfort of a dry mouth and tongue would wake me at 3:00am. Then of course I'd get hungry and have to eat a granola bar before going back to bed. I tried all kinds of different sleeping positions, but nothing helped. I finally bought some Breathe Right strips, and they have helped immensely. Even though it's better not to, I have to sleep on my back to breathe the best, but so far, that's not caused any problems. Some days, though, I still wake up dehydrated and have issues breathing during the day. Yesterday was one of those days. I just felt like I could not get enough oxygen, even breathing through my mouth. I got out of the house, and the cool air helped, along with the bottle of water that is never far away. Trying to drink the amount they say I'm supposed to is a daily battle.

It seems like that is the only pregnancy discomfort I've been experiencing. I'm not constipated, like a lot of women get. I can eat anything I want, as long as I eat small meals throughout the day. Smells get to me more than usual, but I've always had a sensitive nose. I'm not nauseous since the first trimester, and even that wasn't very bad. I do find myself going to the bathroom more often, but that can't be avoided, even in the best pregnancy. Plus, all the extra water I have to drink helps with that detail.

This has been a nearly uneventful pregnancy for us. All of our tests so far have come out great, no problems. I even had an early glucose screen because of the family history of diabetes, and that was fine. The baby seems to be growing okay. I did have to go to Urgent Care because of a pain I was experiencing, I was worried it might be appendicitis. But the doctor told me it was likely just a bowel backup because of the position of my uterus. I've had no problems since. And it makes things seem to be going so incredibly slowly!!!

The only real news I have as I hit the halfway mark (FINALLY!!!) is that I'm feeling baby moving around a lot this last week. I usually only feel it at night, when I'm relaxing in front of the TV and when I'm trying to sleep. Last night I was sitting on the couch, and it felt like baby was doing somersaults in my stomach! Most of the sensations are in my lower abdomen, it feels like baby is punching down at the bottom, trying to make more room. I would feel one movement toward the right, then one in the middle, and one on the left. And the baby is just as vigorous at night when I'm trying to sleep. I have been able to feel the movements with my hand over the right area, but Bryan's hands aren't quite as sensitive, and he hasn't been able to feel it. He doesn't seem too upset by it, though, he knows he'll be able to feel more once baby gets bigger.

We're hoping to be able to find out the gender soon, but we don't know if that will happen or not. Military insurance only pays for ultrasounds when there is a medical necessity for one. Finding out the gender does not qualify. We go back for our 24-week visit on February 20th, but I imagine we will only get an ultrasound if the heartbeat can't be detected with the Doppler machine again. If we don't find out by the end of March, we may go to a local college and pay for one to find out the gender. Baby showers are going to be held in April and May, and we really want to know. I want so badly to give this child a name. It seems so impersonal calling the baby an "it," and I feel I'm not as attached to it as I would be if I could call it T.J. or Aurora. Plus, I want to be able to walk into the newborn clothing and imagine what a certain outfit would look like on this baby. It's really difficult not knowing right now.

Anyway, I guess that's all for this update. I know some of this is repetition for a few people, but I felt it might be good to have a synopsis as I reach the halfway point.

TTFN!!!