Hip Pains, More Nausea, and Finally Some Relief

Wow, its been almost a month since I've updated this thing. I'm at 12 weeks and there's not really a whole lot to report. The whole month of November was filled with mornings of nausea, not to the point of throwing up, but just dry heaving. Trust me, I'd rather throw up. It feels like my insides are going to come up my throat when I dry heave. The good thing is that eating breakfast usually cleared that right up. It seems the only times I'm nauseous is when I'm hungry, not the other way around. Since I am 12 weeks, the morning sickness and exhaustion is starting to wear off a little. Still can't eat a lot of beef, and definitely can't stand the smell of shrimp (which SUCKS because I love me some shrimp), but other than that, I'm ok with most foods. A lot of people are asking me if I'm craving anything yet, and the answer is no. I was at my mom's for Thanksgiving and she has those Snack 'Em pickles, which I love, so I ate a whole jar of those lol. My grandma commented that she thought that eating pickles during pregnancy was just an old wives tale, and I told her it had nothing to do with the pregnancy, that I just love pickles. I kind of get mad when people just assume something is happening because I'm pregnant. I've always loved to eat and I've always loved to eat pickles, and no, girl in my 5th period class, my baby bump is not starting to show, I was just having a fat day.
Speaking of baby bumps and fat days, my mom got me all sorts of cute shirts that I can grow into, but still look cute right now. Thanks Mom! I'm not really showing at all right now, but things are starting to get tight, so I'm putting a rubber band around the button of my jeans and wearing slightly bigger shirts. Right now that means lots of empire waists and those cute over-sized button-ups. Thank God layering and oversized things are in style right now. Its like the Fashion Gods knew I was going to get pregnant and need cute clothes.
Thanksgiving was awesome. I stuffed myself to the point of retardation, but felt fine due to the rubber band on the jeans. I told my step-dad he should have followed my lead b/c he and the rest of the fam had to change into sweatpants to accomodate their tummies. The only complaint I had is that I didnt have any leftovers because we had to come back to Fort Worth for a varsity tournament on Friday. Ah the joys of being a basketball coach.
Final note, I like where the 2nd trimester is headed already b/c I'm not as tired, not as pissed, and not as sick.

And the nausea begins...

So apparently I was bragging too early about not having any nausea or morning sickness. Now it seems that everything makes me nauseous. Not to the point of throwing up, but to the point of being extremely uncomfortable in the surroundings I am in. The mornings suck too, because at that point I have nothing in my body to throw up, so its just a bunch of painful dry heaving. Shower water seems to set that off. Joy. Not eating makes my stomach turn as well. I have to have something in my stomach every two hours or I am not a happy camper. They say you're only supposed to gain like 2 lbs a month for the first couple months, but the rate I'm going, I feel like I"m going to be a blimp by December. So, in order to combat the blimpy-ness, I am going to work out in 30 minutes. Its a class called Group Centergy, so its basically yoga and pilates. Its not too strenuous, so I'm looking forward to it. I haven't been able to work out since school started, and its time that streak ended.
My first "baby brain" event happened today. I left my debit card at home and almost ran out of gas on the way home. Austin had to come rescue me and pay for my gas. Now, don't be too alarmed, I was not stranded on the side of the road. I was only painfully close to running out of gas and decided the best place to wait for my "Knight in Shining Armor riding a white pick-up truck" was at the mall. I know, damsel in distress.

173 Beats Per Minute

I heard my baby's heartbeat for the first time yesterday. It was the most awe-inspiring, humbling thing I've ever experienced in my lifetime. Seeing my baby on the screen and seeing the spot where the heart is flutter was amazing, but when the tech turned on the sound and I heard that thu-thump-thu-thump, I teared up. Austin grabbed my hand and I heard nothing but that beat. It will be a beat that I forever remember.

The ultrasound itself was rather awkward; it was a vaginal ultrasound. They basically stick this magic wand looking thing inside you and move it around. I had to block that part out so I could concentrate on the amazingness that was happening on the screen. Little Bug is 1.99 cm and its heart beat at 173 beats per minute and looks like a jelly bean. My mom is still certain its a girl, but people tell me that with that quick of a heartbeat, its probably a boy. I also hear that because I haven't been really sick, I am having a boy. My gut feeling tells me "girl," but I honestly do not care. Austin and I were talking about the name Logan for a boy yesterday and I really like it. Yes, he will be named after an X-Man, but we don't have to tell him that. I still love the name Isabella for a girl.

We had to sign a couple consent forms yesterday for certain tests they do while the baby is cooking. One is for cystic fibrosis and the other is for things like Down Syndrome. Normally, I might worry about something like that, but I think everything will be ok. My family and Austin's family have strong genes, so I think they will prevail.

I'm still incredibly tired. Last night I went to bed at 7:30 and didnt wake up until 6:30 this morning. I'm pretty sure I could've slept for another two hours and been ok. Talking makes me tired, which is bad since I"m a teacher and have to talk all day long. Today during my 4th period, I got dizzy and had to sit down and teach from my desk. I also felt kinda queasy all day long today. Maybe my nausea has finally crept up on me and I'll experience the loveliness that is morning/afternoon/evening/all day sickness. I've been pretty lucky so far and have only thrown up once (and that was b/c of the prenatals I was taking.) I get to take Flinestone's chewable vitamins now lol. I'm less stressed since basketball started, which is good. Volleyball just stressed me out since I didn't know the game and wasn't confident in coaching it. Now I know exactly what I'm talking about. I have a pretty good team, too. I have always loved getting out on the court with the girls and challenging them with my "skills" lol, but lately I have to watch what I'm doing. I knocked a senior over in a drill today because neither one of us was watching where we were going, and normally I wouldn't have batted an eye, but now I have to realize that I can't really get bumped like that. And exerting myself like that makes me ultra tired.

So the baby is due around June 12, which is perfect timing for school. I haven't told my boss I won't be there next year, yet. I'm sure she won't care all that much since teachers are replaceable, but I'm still dreading telling her. I just hope I'll be able to get a job once I'm ready to go back. Maybe I'll just start writing books.

Oh yeah, I'm 8 weeks and 3 days, which means I got pregnant 6 days after Austin came home from Iraq. I just thought that was pretty funny.