Funny Baby Story

The cutest little thing happened when I went visiting teaching Tuesday night. The sister we were visiting has a cute, nearly 6-month-old baby boy. I asked her if he had any baby milestones she wanted to share. Right after I said that, her baby started crawling for the first time! It was so cute how it suddenly came to him with little effort, as if he were waiting for my cue and to show off in front of an audience. I couldn't believe it! Of all moments! And I got to see it. He's not even mine and I was so proud of and happy for him.

Engagement Anniversary

Last week Wednesday was our three-year engagement anniversary. I was feeling terrible all day, and Justin had mutual that night, so we didn't celebrate. Friday night, around 7, I felt ok enough to go out. We went to the Macaroni Grill, where we were eating when Justin proposed, and got some gelato afterward. Everything was really good and didn't upset my tummy. And it was nice to go out and spend time together away from home. We hadn't had a date night for a long time!

Then Tuesday night I was washing a dish (when washing lots, I take my rings off) and noticed my engagement ring was missing! It hadn't gone down the drain, because the holes in the drain are too small. I knew I had it before I left the house to go visiting teaching. Other than that, I had no idea when or where I lost it. I finally found it today hidden in the towels in the closet; it must have come off when I was folding them. (The ring is really loose, but I don't want to get it fitted because I'm sure it will stay on better once my body swells from pregnancy.) I'm happy Heavenly Father answered my prayer and led me to look in the linen closet!

Good News!

Justin got a job! He will be doing outside service at a country club golf course in Scottsdale (meaning big tips!). This job will also be his internship, so he won't be taking classes this year, though he did go to school yesterday just in case. He admitted he will actually miss some of his classes because they seemed fun. But he really wanted this job. We're both really happy and relieved.

As for me, it's the same old story: feel like crap, force food and water down my throat, work, sleep, wake up at 3 a.m. to go to the bathroom, move to the couch because Justin is snoring or my tummy kills, puke in the morning, stay on the couch watching TV and napping the whole day, and so on. Luckily this has been ok since I usually work every other day, meaning I puke on my days off. Until this morning. This week I was supposed to work 3 days in a row. My body said, "Nope! I need my day off. *Barf*." And it's been the worst today in a long while. My whole house smells terrible.

Anyway, focus on the positive: finally two incomes again!

Nurses Are Vampires

Today we went back to the Medical Center to pick up my prescriptions and get my lab tests done (the midwife didn't recomment I do it the first day since I was feeling so sick). First I had to drink a cup of oh-so-yummy-NOT fruit punch syrup for a glucola test. For my ladies who have never been pregnant, just a warning: it tastes like straight-up snow cone syrup, three times as concentrated and sweet. I felt like throwing up but kept it down for the necessary hour. In the meantime we picked up the prescriptions (prenatal vitamins, calcium, vitamin B to help prevent nausea, and two nausea medications) and browsed Goodwill down the street. Once back, the lab nurse started pulling out a million viles.

"How much blood are you going to take?" I asked her in disbelief.

"Well, we're doing a full prenatal screening."

Wonderful. Suck the life support out of my little body. And better yet, she had to prick me twice because I wasn't giving her enough blood the first time. And I hate how incredibly tight all nurses tie the rubber band around my arm! Sometimes that hurts more than the needle does. Fortunately, after the blood sucking was over, all I had left was a urine sample and then we left. Needless to say, I still feel gross from the fruit punch and I have a small bruise on my arm.

I'M PREGNANT!

Warning: Content may contain too much personal information. Reader discretion is advised.

Yep, it's true. I found out last Wednesday and saw the doctor today. I'm about 7 or 8 weeks along, due in August. I've had terrible morning sickness 24/7, so much that I was in the ER today for 3 hours hooked up to an IV to treat me for dehydration. My physical misery has made it hard to be enthusiastic, but I am definitely excited. Most of the time I can't believe it, though sometimes it sinks in. I hope the baby is a girl; Justin wants a boy.

Late November we suspected due to weight loss, breast tenderness, and missed periods. I took a test the first week of December, but it came out negative. I think I didn't pee enough on it or something. My symptoms increased while in Wisconsin: more weight loss, breast tenderness and slight enlargement, constipation (partially the fault of holiday goodies, haha), congestion, fatigue, headaches, and finally, nausea. Justin's mom bought us a pregnancy test. I took it last week. Here's a mini diary of it all:

Wednesday: First thing I did when I woke up was take the test. To avoid error, I peed in a cup first. Immediately the "+" sign appeared, but I still waited the designated time to be sure. I woke up Justin and told him the news. We were both excited but kind of in disbelief: we had joked about it so much that now it didn't feel real, like The Boy Who Cried Wolf. But we weren't surprised; it explained all my symptoms. We decided not to tell anyone yet. What to do in the meantime? I was not good at hiding my symptoms; his family already suspected. And that day happened to be the worst, ironically. I cried because I wanted to throw up so badly but couldn't. We couldn't get a doctor's appointment at the Indian Health Services here, so I called the one in Phoenix and made an appointment for next Thursday. The rest of the day was terrible.

Thursday: I really wish the Stork were real. I am so sick of this already! I hate being hungry all the time and having to snack all day; I'm used to eating 3 meals a day. If I don't eat, I feel sick. I feel ok while I eat. Then after I eat, I feel sick again and have a nasty aftertaste in my mouth. It hurts to go number 2, I'm incredibly bloated (or getting fat), and I'm super gassy out both ends. I can't sleep although I'm really tired and I always have a headache. I forced myself to go to dinner with the family. Uneventful but also unenjoyable. Now I'm home instead of at Gramma's for New Year's festivities. I am not looking forward to the flights home on Tuesday. Or going back to work. Yuck.

All weekend I mostly stayed in bed. I finally puked on Monday and it was nasty. I also puked on the second flight home, once we got home, and yesterday evening. No surprise I was dehydrated! And the IV was terrible: I was so cold and starving, but it did help. I just hope the nausea will pass soon so I can get back to life and enjoy the pregnancy!