Thursday, November 12, 2009

Week 13 - oh yeah, I'm pregnant....

No more sickness, appetite slowly returning, energy level ok.....am I really pregnant? HA! I've been feeling really good the past few days.  I'm really looking forward to the holidays now! I'm also excited to be in the last week of my first trimester.  Time is flying by. 

Not much else to report this week.  All is good! :)

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Week 12 - bye bye morning sickness!

Ahhh....finally! I think I'm over the morning sickness.  I still don't have an appetite and I do get a little queasy from time to time, but nothing like before.  Everyone keeps telling me how awesome the second trimester will be and I can't wait.  I'm ready to start feeling better, pigging out, and wearing maternity clothes! Hubby's in trouble.

I'm amazed at how tired I am - ALL THE TIME!! I knew to expect this, but it is still weird to deal with.  I've usually been the type to stay up until 11:30 on a "school night" and get up at 6:00 the next morning.  I can't keep my eyes open past 10:00! And that means I have to start getting ready for bed at 9:00.  The other night I saw it was 8:10 and I thought "hmmm....is it too early to go to bed?" And...I take naps most days!

Growing a kid is so exhausting! :)

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Week 11 - Dr. Appt Update

We had an appointment yesterday.  Here's what happened:

We got to hear our baby's heartbeat!! That was very exciting.  I cried, and Jeff was just amazed.  It was quick - about 155bpm - which is very normal.  Our doctor wasn't sure if we would be able to hear it, so I was very happy it worked out. 

Physical exam - oh fun.   When the nurse was putting all of the implements on the counter, Jeff said "I don't like that."  Especially after the nurse left and he actually picked up the speculum (it was in a plastic bag).  "I really don't like this."  I said "you and me both!" What amazed me is that Jeff stayed in the room during the exam. He couldn't see anything the doc was doing, and it was nice that he stuck through it for me. At one point he asked me if I wanted him to hold my hand. I laughed and said I was ok, I've been through it before

H1N1 vaccine - they only have doses at my clinic for pregnant ladies and they had just gotten them in - so no piggy flu for me!

Blood drawn - I'm surprised I have any left! They drew 5 1/2 viles of blood.  The lab tech had to try both arms to get the flow goin.  I was fine since I usually only get light headed if I actually see the blood flowing into the tube - yuck.  Oh, and my favorite....got to pee in a cup again.  fun times, fun times. 

So everything is going well.  Our next appointment is in 4 weeks.

Week 10 (catching up)

I'm sorry, but I really didn't feel like updating this blog last week, so here's "week 10". 

Feeling a little better...random queasiness is subsiding.  Still not much of an appetite. 

Here's what's happenin to baby this week:

•Baby is now called a fetus in "medical terms". You, however, may have chosen the name "peanut," "angel," "jumping bean" or simply "miracle."

•The most critical part of your infant's development is complete. Now you are headed into a period of rapid growth.

•While a bit strange to envision, your baby's head is now about half its length - Soon the rest of the body's growth will catch up but this area is prepared to keep up with the rapid brain development!

•Eyelids fuse shut and irises begin to develop - Eye color is also determined by this point.

•Placenta begins to function this week or next - The placenta is the organ responsible for both the provision of nutrients along with the removal of waste to keep your baby growing strong!

•Your baby will be about 1.22 inch long (3.1cm) and weigh 0.14 ounce (4gm) at the end of this week

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

9 Weeks - status quo

I feel exactly the same as last week, only maybe a little worse.  It's hard work making a kid!

My new favorites: Starburst and Lemon Drops.  They ALWAYS taste good and make me happy. 

I miss hotdogs.  I wanted a corn dog the other day so bad! Some people have been giving me a hard time about my "rule following".  But I look at it this way.....if there is something that could potentially harm my baby - even if it's 1/1000th of a percent, why would I do it?  Therefore, I am following the guidlines in my Preganancy Bible, and that my doctor reccomends.   Here's some interesting info:

What are the foods I should avoid during pregnancy?



Raw Meat: Uncooked seafood and rare or undercooked beef or poultry should be avoided because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.

Deli Meat: Deli meats have been known to be contaminated with listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which may be life-threatening. If you are pregnant and you are considering eating deli meats, make certain that you reheat the meat until it is steaming.

Fish with Mercury: Fish that contain high levels of mercury should be avoided. Mercury consumed during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage. A sample of these types of fish include: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Canned, chunk light tuna generally has a lower amount of mercury than other tuna, but still should only be eaten in moderation. Certain types of fish used in sushi should also be avoided due to high levels of mercury. Please see Mercury in Fish for specific types of fish and further information on how to calculate mercury levels.


Smoked Seafood -Refrigerated, smoked seafood often labeled as lox, nova style, kippered, or jerky should be avoided because it could be contaminated with Listeria. (These are safe to eat when they are in an ingredient in a meal that has been cooked, like a casserole.) This type of fish is often found in the deli section of your grocery store. Canned or shelf-safe smoked seafood is usually OK to eat.


Fish Exposed to Industrial Pollutants: Avoid fish from contaminated lakes and rivers that may be exposed to high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls. This is primarily for those who fish in local lakes and streams. These fish include: bluefish, striped bass, salmon, pike, trout, and walleye. Contact the local health department or Environmental Protection Agency to determine which fish are safe to eat in your area. Remember, this is regarding fish caught in local waters and not fish from your local grocery store.

Raw Shellfish: The majority of seafood-borne illness is caused by undercooked shellfish, which include oysters, clams, and mussels. Cooking helps prevent some types of infection, but it does not prevent the algae-related infections that are associated with red tides. Raw shellfish pose a concern for everybody, and they should be avoided altogether during pregnancy.


Raw Eggs: Raw eggs or any foods that contain raw eggs should be avoided because of the potential exposure to salmonella. Some homemade Caesar dressings, mayonnaise, homemade ice cream or custards, and Hollandaise sauces may be made with raw eggs.
If the recipe is cooked at some point, this will reduce the exposure to salmonella. Commercially manufactured ice cream, dressings, and eggnog are made with pasteurized eggs and do not increase the risk of salmonella. Restaurants should be using pasteurized eggs in any recipe that is made with raw eggs, such as Hollandaise sauce or dressings.

Soft Cheeses: Imported soft cheeses may contain bacteria called Listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening. You would need to avoid soft cheeses such as: Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Feta, Gorgonzola and Mexican style cheeses that include queso blanco and queso fresco, unless they clearly state that they are made from pasteurized milk. All soft non-imported cheeses made with pasteurized milk are safe to eat.

Unpasteurized Milk: Unpasteurized milk may contain bacteria called listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening. Make sure that any milk you drink is pasteurized.

Pate: Refrigerated pate or meat spreads should be avoided because they may contain the bacteria listeria. Canned pate, or shelf-safe meat spreads can be eaten.


Caffeine: Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation is OK, there are others that show that caffeine intake may be related to miscarriages. Avoid caffeine during the first trimester to reduce the likelihood of a miscarriage. As a general rule, caffeine should be limited to fewer than 300 mg per day during pregnancy. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it helps eliminate fluids from the body. This can result in water and calcium loss. It is important that you are drinking plenty of water, juice, and milk rather than caffeinated beverages. Some research shows that large amounts of caffeine are associated with miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and withdrawal symptoms in infants. The safest thing is to refrain from consuming caffeine.

Alcohol: There is NO amount of alcohol that is known to be safe during pregnancy, and therefore alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can interfere with the healthy development of the baby. Depending on the amount, timing, and pattern of use, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or other developmental disorders. If you consumed alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, stop drinking now. You should continue to avoid alcohol during breastfeeding. Exposure of alcohol to an infant poses harmful risks, and alcohol does reach the baby during breastfeeding.

Unwashed Vegetables: Yes, vegetables are safe to eat, so you still need to eat them. However, it is essential to make sure they are washed to avoid potential exposure to toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis may contaminate the soil where the vegetables were grown.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

8 Weeks - Hormones = Poison

Yesterday marked my 8th week.  I've been battling the dreaded morning sickness.  However, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worst) I would say I'm usually between a 5-6.  I've heard some real horror stories about illness, so I count myself lucky.  I've found the key for me is to allow my body to wake up naturally.  I don't respond well to the violent 5:30AM alarm blaring wake-ups.  I've adjusted my hours at work so I usually get in around 9AM.  That has worked for this week. 

Food has become the enemy.  Nothing ever sounds good to eat.  I feel like I'm constantly forcing myselft to eat.  Crackers are not my friend.  I can't stand eating crackers.  I do love chocolate milk, grapfruit juice, pickles, and oatmeal creme pies.  Oh, and french fries sprinkled with lot's of pepper and a dash of garlic salt - YUM!!! It's so wierd, because something that tasted amazing to me yesterday grosses me out today. Or tasting wonderful when I start eating it, and 10 mins later I can't take another bite because it repulses me.  Being pregnant is the strangest thing I've ever dealt with. :)

Friday, September 25, 2009

Spreading the News

It's so fun letting people in on the big secret!

Timing is everything!

Jeff's Grandpa Anderson was recently visiting from Texas so this past Sunday we all got together for a family dinner. Jeff and I went to his parents house early in the afternoon to watch the Vikings game and visit with the family. We had decided that we would tell everyone, but it was Jeff's decision as to how and when. At around 4:00 everyone was in the living room with the exception of me and my mother-in-law Kathy. Jeff called for us to join everyone in the living room. I went and sat down by him and started to play with Frankie, mostly because I was nervous that I was going to start crying. Jeff looked at me and said "well, are you going to tell them?" I stared back and tried to look confused - oh no you don't! You're not throwing me under the bus! I replied "what are you talking about?". He said "you know, your news." I said, "hey, this is your deal, I don't know what you are talking about." I could see a somewhat confused look on my sister-in-law Terry's face. Finally Jeff said "well, Kel took a pregnancy test, and it was positive." Everyone got very excited and we all started the congratulatory hugs. Jeff's Grandpa even called his wife Sherry who had stayed home in Texas and told her the good news. It was a great moment for the Anderson family. We spent the rest of the visit trying to come up with girl names (we have the boy name picked out already!) By the way, I never cried! :)


Letting my side in on it

The only family members I've told so far are my mom and stepdad. On Monday I emailed my mom and told her I was going to the book store then stopping by her house so we could work out some details of my nephews first bday party. I bought a book for my mom that she asked for, What to Expect when You're Expecting as well as The Pregnancy Bible. I brought the bag of books in with me when I got to her house and plopped them down on the couch next to me. She started telling me all about their weekend at the cabin and the fishing they did. Then we started talking about the bday party plans. Finally after about 20 minutes my bladder started screaming at me (a wonderful symptom of pregnancy - uberpeeing!) I couldn't risk going to the bathroom and my mom digging through the bag and discovering my new books with me not there. I moved the bag to the coffee table and her natural reaction was to reach in and grab her new book. She asked how much it was and I said the receipt was in the bottom. She opened the bag further and saw the What to Expect book. She looked at me and said "why do you have this? Are you pregnant?" I shrugged my shoulders and said "I don't know." She then grabbed me and hugged me and said "YOU'RE PREGNANT! I'M SO HAPPY!!!". We both got a little teary up a bit and then I told her I was about six weeks along. I then jumped off the couch and nearly ran to the bathroom. When I came out, she was holding a newborn pink Vikings outfit. And so it begins.....HA!



The word is starting to filter out to the rest of our friends and family. I will tell my Grandparents, Dad, and rest of the family at my nephews birthday party. I don't want to steal any of this "thunder" but he's 1...he'll never know! HA!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Life has changed forever...


(better picture to come)

It’s so funny how the past week has gone. I didn’t realize I could be preggers until just last Tuesday. I was going to the bathroom at work and started thinking “hmm…I think I might be a few days late.” I went back to my desk, pulled my calendar off the wall, and started trying to figure out when my last cycle was. I have to admit, I wasn’t keeping very good track over the summer because we weren’t trying all that hard. With my involvement in the Breast Cancer 3 Day, baby making had been slightly put on hold. We just didn’t stress about timing, etc. So when I started doing the math I figured I was about 2 days late. I was wrong. I was 6 days late. I didn’t realize this until the following day when I thought about it a little more. I counted the days on the calendar and found it to be 7 days by then. I started thinking, ok it could be 50/50. I decided not to get too excited because I was late before (only by 3 days) but had already gotten my hopes up, only to be destroyed. I didn’t want to go through that again.


I told Jeff I was late on the 7th day. He didn’t want to believe it either. He just couldn’t get his hopes up again. I understood so we agreed to wait until Saturday to take a test.

By this time I had started putting the pieces of the puzzle together:

Red Wine - I usually really like red wine, but it started tasting awful. I couldn’t even finish a glass.
Coffee – I started getting sick to my stomach when I drank coffee.
Boobs – OH BOY! Do these puppies HURT!
Tired – I usually go to bed between 11-12 – not anymore! I’m in bed by 9:30, sleeping by 10:30!
PEE, PEE, PEE – I need to start wearing heelies to get me to the restroom quicker! I see the bathroom more than the copier these days.
Emotional – I can get moody, but WOW! I was happy and irritated in a 30 second swing at one point. It was strange. Thankfully my emotions are a little more in check. At least for now they are.


So, by day 9 I was 99.9% sure I was preggers. Jeff was still not willing the believe. I left work early to have lunch with a friend and go to the MOA and Ikea. We had a great time and for a few minutes I didn’t think about “baby”. But as soon as I got home, it’s all I could think of. Jeff wasn’t going to be home for a while so I decided to take the test. I wanted to find out for sure so if it was bad news, I could prepare myself and lessen the blow for Jeff. If it was good news, I guess I would be able to deal with the news and just wait to share it with Jeff the next day.

Moment of Truth…. Friday, September 18, 2009 at 6:05PM

I barely even said Hi to Frankie after bringing her in from going potty. I went straight upstairs, into the bathroom, and ripped open the EPT box. As I started to open the wrapper on a test, my heart started raising and my hands started to shake. I could barely concentrate on the directions (even though I knew exactly how to do the testing). I finished peeing on the stick, put the cap on, turned around to place it on the back of the toilet, and pulled up my pants. I walked over to the sink and by the time I had finished washing my hands, the result was in! I glanced over at the test expecting to see the hour glass still turning. Instead I read the word PREGNANT! I immediately gasped and started crying. It was finally happening! I danced around the house with Frankie and kept just saying Thank you GOD! I have never been happier!

Telling the Daddy!

Jeff got home later that night after happy hour with the boys and I decided it wasn’t the right time to give him the good news. We had agreed to test on Saturday, so I wanted to stick to the plan. Well, plans never work out quite right do they? We got up early to prepare for our first Gopher football game at the new TCF Stadium. I thought we might do the test first thing, but Jeff didn’t mention it, so I assumed he wasn’t ready to deal with it. I didn’t push it, and next thing I know we’re in the car heading out. Ok, I guess we’ll wait. A few hours later, we were in our AWESOME season ticket seats, enjoying the afternoon when we both watched a dad and little boy – maybe 3 – walk down the aisle (our seats start at the aisle). We both commented on how cute the boy was in his little Gopher jersey and I said to Jeff “won’t that be fun in a few years when you’re bringing our kid to the game?” He just nods and says yep. I decided to go for it. I said, “no, YOU WILL be bringing our kid to the game in a few years.” He just wasn’t getting it, so I had to say “You’re going to be a Daddy.” AH – light bulb goes on. “You took the test?” After I said yes, and told him when I did it, he kissed and hugged me and then went sort of blank. HA!

We’re both SO excited!

Next Installment - telling the fam and friends!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Oh Happy Day!

Guess what Lyso!?

Jeff and I are having a BABY!!!