August 3, 1999 - (7 weeks, 5 days) Well, this weekend we finally told our immediate families.  On Saturday we had dinner with my parents, grandfather, brother, aunt and cousin.  Since it was my grandfather's birthday, I gave him a birthday card with a note at the bottom that read "Since you've been such a good grandfather, in March we're promoting you to GREAT GRANDFATHER!".  It took him a while to get it, as my birthday is also in March so he was a little confused.  Then he looked at me and said "Is that so?  March huh?"  And I said yes.  Then I asked him to hand the card to my parents as they might want to read it also.  They read the line a few times also before it really sank in and then in was announced at the table.  Turns out our due date of March 17th is also the date my parents got engaged.   Pretty soon, several of their friends began arriving for dinner also at the same restaurant, and as they were introduced to the table, I was either "the one expecting" or the pregnant one, and my parents were getting grandma and granpa all night.  They've decided they don't want to be called grandma or grandpa.  I guess they'll have to figure something out themselves.

On Sunday, Frank went over to his sister's and broke the news to her.  She broke down in tears.  Then that evening we had dinner with his parents.  I was waiting all night to see how he'd tell them, until I was convinced he wasn't going to tell them.  He said he kept dropping hints, but they we're very vague.  So, as we prepared to leave the house his dad reminds us that we are meeting for dinner next Saturday at 6:30pm.  Frank says "Ok, so that's 7 for dinner next Saturday?"  His parents look at him confused, okay you want to make it 7pm?  No, he says 7 people.  Still, they have no idea what he's talking about so he reaches over and pats my stomach.  "Are you serious?".  Yes, I tell them he is and they are ecstatic.  So, that's how we left them, to ponder the grandparent idea.  We get a call that night, they want to make sure they can tell other people.  Yes, that's fine with us.

So, the word is now out.  I'm about 7weeks 5 days or so and less than a week until my August 10th doctor's appointment.  I can't wait.  Although, I'm pretty disappointed that Frank won't be able to be there with me.  He broke the news to me yesterday that he'll be out of town from August 8th through the 17th.  Well, hopefully it will all go well and I can tell him the good news that evening by phone.

Well, my heartburn seems to be a little less severe.  Of course, it could be because I have very little appetite lately, just no desire for anything even though I know I have to eat.  Still getting lots of water and eating soup which seems okay for me.    I finally did some shopping this weekend, checked out some local thrift stores and bought 3 pairs of pregnancy jeans for about $1.25 each.  Bargain!  I also got some elastic waist pants and went to KMart for some elastic waist shorts, as many of my clothes are just too uncomfortable.  Rachel gave me a bag of her clothes, but many of the dresses don't fit because of my large chest.  However, she did give me a pair of overalls which fit much better than mine right now.  Hopefully what I've got will last me until the fall.  Last night I put away a lot of my clothes for summer and fall because I know I won't be able to wear them this year.

August 10, 1999 - (8 weeks, 5 days) - FIRST APPOINTMENT FINALLY!  Maggie, a nurse practitioner, asked me a lot of questions about family history, etc. and did a complete exam where everything looked good.  The had me do another urine test for proof and the nurse proclaimed "the third one was positive too!" since I told them I had taken two tests in July.  Basically, I just got an overview of the practice and what will be happening in the next 9 months.  I was given the same due date I had already calculated, but when she did the exam she felt that I might be measuring a little large so she decided I should have an early ultrasound for better dating purposes.  I'm pretty sure about the date, but I'm not arguing because I'd love to see that little peanut and the little heartbeat and she agreed it is nice to be able to see it this early even if it's not much.  So, I've scheduled that for this Friday August 13th and Frank will be going with me.  It should be cool.  Other than that, I have to go have bloodwork taken and my next appointment will be on September 3rd with Dr. Lahom who is the doctor that will be there for the delivery.  I can select one of the 2 midwifes they have at the practice as well, but in any case Dr. Lahom has to be there for the delivery.

Anyway, it was nice to have everything confirmed and I'm really excited about the upcoming ultrasound.  I'll talk more about that on Friday!

August 12, 1999 - (9 weeks) - Well, I now have less than 24 hours until my first ultrasound and I can't wait!  Last night I had a dream and in it I think I had a little girl.  So, I'm starting to lean more towards the fact that I might be having a girl.  Well, we've got at least 11 weeks to go before we can find out.  That's going to be a long 11 weeks! I've been taking the prenatals since Tuesday and I'm taking them at night because they instruct you to avoid dairy products for 2 hours and I always drink milk in the morning.  Something about the calcium depletes the extra iron in the vitamin.  They haven't made me sick (yet, knock on wood) so hopefully I'll be able to continue them as I had heard that they tend to make people sick.  Guess I'll have much more to say tomorrow hopefully!

August 13, 1999 - (9weeks 1 day) - All I can say is, WOW!  We saw the little peanut on ultrasound this morning and it was truly amazing.  Watching that little heartbeat on the screen blipping away at 190 bpm was just so incredible and such a relief!  There is only one baby, and the measurements are pretty close to what has already been determined so I don't think they'll change the due date at this point.  We got our first pictures as well, though there isn't too much to see, it's just nice to know that there is something there and it's really alive.  I just can't stop thinking about that heartbeat.  I can't wait to see the little one again - a whole 11 weeks away until the 20 week ultrasound!  By the next appointment, September 2nd, we should be able to hear the heartbeat and I'm sure that will also be amazing.

August 20, 1999 - (10weeks1day) - Well, another whole week has gone by and not too many changes to talk about.  Last weekend, I experienced my first morning sickness although I didn't actually get sick.  I fought it off pretty hard for about an hour and then fell asleep.  Frank made a dinner creation which had a lot of garlic, which I usually LOVE (in fact, I usually use MORE than he does) and the smell of it in the room made me very ill.  It was very odd, considering just that week we had ordered pizza at Bertucci's with lots of garlic and I had no problem eating that.  Anyway, I haven't had any other bouts of that so hopefully it was just a one time thing.  My appetite has fallen off dramatically, and I think my stomach is much smaller now.  I find that I'm hungry every 2 hours but I can't ever decide what I want as nothing sounds good to me.  I usually just end of eating something to get me past the stomach growling and I'm never really happy to be eating.  It's very strange how something so small can affect you in such a big way.  Other than that, not really a lot to say other than the fact that I'm really looking forward to our next appointment September 3rd to hear the heartbeat.  I still haven't told work yet, and was going to wait until after that appointment, but I now have a review scheduled for Tuesday August 24th and I just might let the cat out of the bag then.  I'm trying to get information about my benefits and coverage when I decide to take leave without pay and would like to know how that will work before I tell my supervisors about my plans.

August 24, 1999 - (10weeks5days) Well, morning sickness finally hit me this morning.  The past few mornings I've noticed when I brush my teeth in the morning, I sometimes start gagging.  I've always had a sensitive gag reflex, but this is strange.  This morning I started brushing my teeth and it didn't take long before I was gagging.  I tried to rinse really quick and stop but it was too late.  Before I knew it I was dry-heaving into the toilet, I hadn't eaten breakfast yet so not much happened.  I tried drinking some water but that didn't help too much.  It finally passed and then I was afraid to eat or drink anything.  I managed to get some lemonade down, and then at work I found I was so hungry but couldn't find anything I wanted to eat.  I bought some cookies in the vending machine, I know GREAT breakfast, but even they don't seem to be going down too easily.  I'm feeling pretty blah and just hope I can hang on until lunch and hopefully by then I'll be able to eat something.  I decided that it must have something to do with the fact that I am finally wearing maternity jeans this morning, as none of my other jeans fit me anymore.  With the shirt I'm wearing, they don't really look like maternity jeans, but they feel so much better than my other jeans.   I only have 10 days until my next appointment and can't wait.  I need some more assurance that everything is still okay and hope to hear that little heartbeat!

I finally told my immediate supervisor, although I was really bad about it.  During my review, she kept talking about how short-staffed we were and what a good job I'm doing, and at the end I mentioned that I had some bad news.  Ok, not a real good way to start a conversation.  She said "Don't tell me you're leaving" and my response was "Well, not yet".  Ok, still not good.  I then said "I'm pregnant" and she said "That's GOOD news!" and we both started tearing up.  I explained that I would try to work until March, but that in addition to my 12 weeks Family Medical Leave, I was going to request an additional few months off to stay home with my new baby, probably returning in September or October and she said she could completely understand.  I asked her not to tell anyone else around yet, as I'd like confirmation from my doctor that everything is still okay, which I will get on September 3rd, and she had no problem with that.  It's nice to have that off my shoulders.

I received a call later that afternoon from my nurse.  She said all of my bloodwork and tests came back fine, except for the thyroid scan that they did which came back with one test slightly off.  They would like me to see an endocrinologist about it, which I have no problem with, and they will recommend someone for me.  I've read about thyroid conditions, which are quite common, and treatment is pretty easy and won't affect the baby so I'm not too worried.  It's just one more doctor to visit next month.  I'll get the information and the results from my doctor on September 3rd.

August 27, 1999 (11 weeks, 1 day) - Well, my eating habits still have not improved although I am still extremely thankful for the lack of morning sickness!  I still cannot decide what I want to eat most of the time, and even when I'm starving I don't know what to eat.  It would almost be easier if someone else would decide for me, since I don't get much enjoyment out of food anymore.  Last night I really wanted corn on the cob, so we got some from Kentucky Fried Chicken, along with some chicken, and I ate one chicken leg and a few rows of corn and was stuffed.  I forced myself to at least finish the corn.  I've never had such a little appetite in my life.  Also, another nice twist yesterday was that my heartburn returned with a vengeance and I ended up popping tums every few hours until bedtime, as much as I dislike them.  Today I seem better, but I ended up taking my prenatal vitamin this morning instead of last night and I've been tasting it all morning.  Two days ago I felt a little spasm that I just swore was movement, but everything I read tells me it is too soon for that.  I can't wait until I do actually feel some movement.