Well, three weeks have passed and I've failed miserably at updating this blog. My intent was to have something to come back to later on to cherish the moments and changes I experienced each week during my pregnancy. Hopefully I'll be more diligent in updating in 2011! Before I talk about this week, let me back up a bit to talk about the big Thanksgiving "reveal" and my first ultrasound on Nov. 29.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it's all about food, and when you're pregnant, food is good! This year was amazing. First, we went to my husband's side and enjoyed a delicious turkey lunch. We told the family we hadn't told yet and there was laughter and hugs. Then, we went to my side for dinner--there was a huge spread and more than 25 people there! I let my husband do the telling, right before the prayer. One of my aunts said, "Wait ... how can we pray and eat after news like that?!" She was excited and wanted to know details. Following dinner, I received many congratulatory remarks and hugs. And, of course, everyone asked how I was feeling. At that point, I had been feeling pretty much a constant queasiness that could only be helped by eating. Well, not too much has changed since then!
On the 28th (Sunday), I had a very slight bit of spotting so I spent the day worrying about my baby. I was so thankful to go to the doctor the next day. It's amazing how one moment, you feel that all is right with the world, and the next moment, when the reality that you could loose something so dear and precious to you sets it, fear just paralyzes you. Well, 1:50 p.m. couldn't come quickly enough on Monday. I had prayed about the baby and felt confident that God was in control, but I still trembled as I sat in the waiting room. When they took me back and I stepped on the scale--I had gained 5lbs.--I shuttered at the climbing numbers. It's natural and good to gain weight in pregnancy, but being that I've struggled with weight issues and body image since I was a teen, I never like to see those numbers go up. Anyway, the doctor came in and talked to us for a while, and then said he'd be listening for heart sounds (this was my 10 week appointment). When I told him about the spotting, though, he suggested that we go have a quick ultrasound since it's sometimes difficult to pick up heart sounds this early and he didn't want to alarm me.
As I sat on the table with blue goop on my very small baby bump, all my fears washed away with the sight of a little fluttering white spot on a black screen. It was my baby's heartbeat. We didn't see it immediately--it took the doctor a few minutes to find the baby and a few more to zero in on the heartbeat, but when he found it, I was sure. What an overwhelming sense of gratitude I felt when I saw that little beating heart! I am greatly looking forward to my 14 week appointment Dec. 27 when we'll get to hear the heartbeat for the first time.
Back to more recent times ... I revealed my news in a special way to my church choir last Wednesday. I shared about how God had prepared me with the news of my pregnancy three days before I found out through one of our cantata songs. "Elizabeth shall bear a son," it said. The whole choir was so overjoyed and supportive, and when we performed this past Sunday, the director looked at me and smiled when the altos sang that part. I almost laughed a few times, but it was worth it to have them share in my joy.
I am a few days from 12 weeks at this point and am hoping to feel better soon. I've been exhausted, achy and rather emotional lately ... not to mention nauseous. But all in all, I think I'm managing pretty well, considering. I am resting in God and praising Him for the great gift He's given me this Christmas--the promise of new life. Here's my most recent "bump shot," taken at 11 weeks.
