Baby #3- 37 Weeks

This post was originally written last Thursday but I didn't post it because I didn't have time to upload my latest pregnancy pics. Then I went into labor on Friday but still wanted to document the last few weeks of this pregnancy. So although baby Trent has arrived, I wanted to make sure I did this last pregnancy post so I could remember the remaining weeks of my pregnancy with him.

Not much longer now!! Although I always feel like this is the longest part of the pregnancy. I'm scheduled to be induced on Friday, September 11th. So at most, I only have two more weeks to go. I'm ready to not be pregnant anymore but at the same time realize that life is about to get even busier. Sometimes I have to ask myself "Am I more ready to not be pregnant or not get any sleep." Truthfully, I think the not being pregnant would win out at this point.

I started back to work this week after a wonderful summer off and am busy getting everything ready for my substitute. My plan is to work all the way until September 10th (unless I go into labor on my own). Being back at work has been exhausting but has also helped keep me busy so that the days are flying by.
So here are some highlights of my last few weeks of pregnancy.

Gender: Boy
Name: Trenton Barrett (Trent)
How far along: 37 weeks
Weight Gain: 38 pounds 
Maternity Clothes: All the way! I'm so ready to wear regular clothes again. 
Sleep: Still sleeping very well. I do have to pee about 7 times a night and have a little insomnia when it comes to falling asleep. But once I'm asleep, I sleep like a rock. 
Workouts: Nothing at all. Does walking up the steps at home count?
Best Moment This Month: Beginning to feel contractions (Ok, so they're not pleasant but it means this baby is getting ready!)
Worst Moment This Month: Not being able to do much without having to sit down and rest
Cravings: Still no big cravings but just wanting to eat everything
Food Aversions: Coffee
My Favorite Things: T-shirts, yoga pants, and leggings

Baby #3- 32 Weeks

So I have been super slack about updating my pregnancy lately. We moved last month, and so I have been consumed with setting up our new house while still trying to take it somewhat easy during this pregnancy. 

I can't believe I only have a few more weeks until our baby boy is here. I spoke with my doctor and she is willing to induce me again (I've had two successful inductions already). So unless he comes early on his own, he will be here either September 10th or 11th. 

So far, this has been my easiest pregnancy of the three. I have had very few annoyances like I had with the other two. But truthfully, with chasing around a 13 month old and 4 year old I haven't really had time to even think about being pregnant. I did have a little scare today because my blood pressure dropped lower than normal. We were getting ready for church this morning and I had several dizzy spells and couldn't catch my breath, which has never happened before. Kevin went ahead and took Blakely to church, and Rowan and I stayed home and rested. I felt somewhat better as the morning went on but was still concerned at how low my blood pressure was. I called the doctor a few times and she told me that my blood pressure is actually at its lowest during this part of my pregnancy. Kevin and I were ready to head to the hospital if needed. But thankfully the doctor wasn't concerned and just told me to take it easy for the rest of the day. As the day progressed, I felt much better and am realizing that I may need to slow down for the next 6 weeks. 

Gender: Boy
Name: Trent (middle still undecided)
How far along: 32 weeks
Weight Gain: 33 pounds 
Maternity Clothes: Absolutely! But I can still wear some of my pre-maternity workout shorts so I've been wearing them regularly since it's summer and they keep me really cool. 
Sleep: Really well. I have to switch sides several times a night but I think this is the best I've ever slept this far along in a pregnancy. 
Workouts: I'm still walking but not much. However that is mainly due to how hot it is outside. 
Best Moment This Month: Feeling lots and lots of kicks
Worst Moment This Month: Having low blood pressure today and feeling like I might need to go to the hospital
Cravings: No real cravings...but I do eat everything in sight :)
Food Aversions: None
My Favorite Things: Yoga pants

Baby #3- 21 Weeks

This pregnancy is flying by faster than I could have imagined! I'm more than halfway and yet still a little in shock that we're having another baby. I'm still feeling really well and luckily haven't experienced some of the minor irritations that I experienced with my other two pregnancies (nighttime stuffy nose, heartburn, etc). I am feeling a little bigger this go round than I did at this point with my other two. But I wonder if part of that has to do with the fact that this is my third pregnancy and my ab muscles are already really stretched.

I have started feeling a little discomfort when I stand for too long. But I think some of that is because it is getting hotter outside and I get tired more easily. This will be the first pregnancy I've experienced in the summer so I'm preparing myself for just how uncomfortable I'm going to get.

We found out last month that we are having a little boy and are so excited! I would have loved another girl but I am thrilled to be getting a little rough and tumble boy. Kevin was absolutely over the moon! I think he called everyone he knew within 30 minutes of finding out. Blakely was way less excited. She really wanted a baby sister but I think is finally warming up to the idea of a baby brother.

We did have a little scare at our ultrasound this past week but luckily everything seems to be fine. The technician was taking a super long time on our 20 week ultrasound and both Kevin and I started to get a little worried. She couldn't get any good shots of his head because of the way he was positioned and she was being really cryptic about what she saw. Then, she said those dreaded words that every expecting parent hates to hear. "Please wait right here while I get the doctor." Immediately, shear panic and dread set in and I began imagining everything possible that could be wrong. Because we couldn't really see his head, I started thinking brain problems or something majorly wrong with his head development. She also wouldn't show us the baby in 3-D when we asked. I started thinking it was because something was horribly wrong and she knew we couldn't handle whatever image we saw.

After about 10 minutes, the doctor came in and informed us that it had nothing to do with his head at all. There was a spot that showed up on his heart that can sometimes be an early indicator of Down Syndrome. I immediately felt relief that it wasn't anything fatal. After reviewing his ultrasound pictures, the doctor determined that she didn't think it was anything at all and told us that further testing wouldn't need to be done. So I asked again if we could see him in 3-D and she said that it actually wasn't possible because of the way he is positioned. He is snuggling right up against my uterus (and is turned completely backwards) and the machine can't pick up his facial features when he's in that position. He was in the exact same position at our 16 week 3-D ultrasound as well. She tried to get us a shot but we really couldn't see anything. So even though we've now had two 3-D ultrasounds, we still haven't seen any good shots of his face. I'm just imagining that he's super comfy where he is positioned and may be my little snuggle bug.

Gender: Boy
Name: Trent (middle still undecided)
How far along: 21 weeks
Weight Gain: 17 pounds 
Maternity Clothes: Definitely! I was still getting away with this one pair of non-maternity pants that I have but I had to retire them this past week. So it's now all maternity all the time.
Sleep: Really well. The insomnia seems to have passed so I'm enjoying getting back to my regular sleeping habits. 
Workouts: I try to walk with the girls a few times a week around the neighborhood. However, my pace is starting to slow just a bit
Best Moment This Month: Finding out it's a boy!
Worst Moment This Month: Having the ultrasound technician at 20 weeks say, "Wait right here while I get the doctor." 
Cravings: Sweets (mainly cookies)
Food Aversions: None right now
My Favorite Things: My maternity pajama pants and over sized t-shirts

15 Weeks-Baby #3

Well my first trimester just flew by, and I hit 15 weeks yesterday. This pregnancy is going by so much faster than my other two. But I also have a 10 month old to keep up with, so I'm guessing that has something to do with it.

I am having a really easy pregnancy (other than some insomnia at night) and am really looking forward to next week when we find if we're going to add another girl to our clan or have a sweet little boy. Blakely is really hoping for a girl, Kevin of course wants a son, and I don't think Rowan cares either way. As for me, I will be perfectly happy with either (although a son would be a lot of fun).

Here is a little 15 week update along with some pictures.

How far along: 15 weeks
Weight Gain: 6 pounds (I blame the pizza and Mexican)
Maternity Clothes: Some. I'm still able to fit into some of my regular pants if I button them low but am definitely having to wear maternity jeans.
Sleep: Going to sleep is no problem. Staying asleep is another story. I'm already having a lot of insomnia in the middle of the night. I'm not uncomfortable at all, but I just can't seem to stay asleep.
Workouts: I'm still able to do my regular workouts but am really tired in the mornings and at night due to the insomnia. Therefore, I usually pick sleeping over working out. I need to do better about making time for my workouts because they always make me feel so much better.
Best Moment This Month: Having an unexpected ultrasound
Worst Moment This Month: The extra ultrasound being due to finding no heartbeat at 12 weeks. That was the longest 30 minutes of my life!
Cravings: Ice cream (Dairy Queen Blizzards) and lots of fruit
Food Aversions: Still my Shakeology and sometimes coffee
My Favorite Things: My yoga pants from Target. 

Baby Makes 5!

Well, it's definitely sooner than expected but Kevin and I are expecting our 3rd little bundle of joy! It was a complete shock to both of us (we literally stared at the pregnancy test with our mouths wide open). But once we got over the initial shock, we were really excited.
In fact, had we found out 24 hours earlier, I'm not sure my reaction would have been the same. I found out on a Sunday afternoon after church. I had been feeling tired lately but just figured it was from getting up early to workout and then being on my feet all day at work. I had also been experiencing lower back pain for a few weeks but thought it was from a pulled muscle since I had started a new workout program.
So that Sunday morning, we were on our way to church and I started getting carsick and I only ever get carsick when I'm pregnant. I immediately began praying, "God please don't let me be pregnant yet. I'm just not ready." I didn't say anything to Kevin about it but obsessed over it the entire way to church and all through the worship music. Now don't get me wrong, I definitely wanted another child. But we were really hoping that Rowan would be a little older before we had another one.
So then we sat down for the sermon and the entire sermon that morning was about the blessing of children. Our pastor spoke of how children are such a gift from God and how it is one of the only blessings in life that God gives us that we question. He made the comment that we would never question the blessing of an inheritance or a raise at work. Yet when God gives us more children, we come back with," Now's not the right time," or "I can't afford another child right now." He started naming all the excuses that I was currently giving to God.
So during the sermon I just thought, "Ok. I know I'm pregnant and I'm going to find out after church. Children are such a blessing and I will be joyful over this blessing rather than question it."
So then after church, I went and bought a pregnancy test and sure enough, it was positive!
Our sweet little one is expected to arrive around mid-September. Since I'm 99% sure this will be my last pregnancy, I'm going to try and document it as often as possible. So here goes!

Getting a little pooch!

How far along: 10 weeks
Weight Gain: None yet!
Maternity Clothes: Thankfully not yet. Some clothes are getting a bit tight but I'm going to make them last as long as possible.
Sleep: Great so far! I'm already having to use the bathroom a lot though. :(
Best Moment This Month: Finding out
Worst Moment This Month: Being exhausted by 6:30 and having no energy
Cravings: Nothing major yet! Maybe Mexican a little more than normal.
Food Aversions: Unfortunately my Shakeology. I've had to stop drinking the chocolate for now as it makes me queasy.
My Favorite Things: These amazing prenatal vitamins! They make taking vitamins so much more enjoyable.

38 Weeks

Homestretch baby...and surprisingly I'm not as uncomfortable or tired as I thought I'd be!

I'm still working, although being on my feet most of the day makes me very tired. My students have gotten use to me doing most of my teaching from a stool in the front of the room. This will be my last week, so hopefully I'll make it all the way to Friday. 

The nesting period has set in and I'm slowly starting to put baby things away.  Unfortunately, I'm not as on top of things as I was during my first pregnancy. With Blakely, everything was put away and the nursery was totally ready when I was 34 weeks pregnant. With this baby, the crib still has not been converted back from a toddler bed and there is junk sitting in the middle of the nursery. Oh well, I guess it will get done eventually. 

The good news is our master bathroom renovation is almost complete! So after 5 months of all of us sharing one bathroom, Kevin and I will hopefully have a fully functioning adult bathroom separate from the kids before Rowan arrives. 

My induction date is set for May 27 so at the most, I only have 9 days of pregnancy left. I'm so ready to meet my little girl but am also enjoying this last full week of sleeping through the night and having some extra time to myself when Blakely naps. 

This will probably be my last pregnancy post, so here's one last list of pregnancy stats!

How far along: 38 weeks

Weight Gain: about 33 pounds

Cravings: everything, especially cookies

Annoyances: not being able to easily shave my legs, having major difficulty picking things up off the floor, non-stop bathroom breaks

Sleeping: Great! (although sometimes I have to sleep on the couch because it is a harder surface)

Movement: smaller movements during the day but major activity around 7:00pm

Things I miss: eating sushi, having more than 5 outfit choices and one pair of pajamas that fit, walking around the neighborhood on a daily basis

What I am most looking forward to: seeing Blakely's reaction to her new baby sister

35 Weeks!

Four more weeks, four more weeks! I think I can, I think I can.
This last week has really been tough and I expect this last month will be a little difficult. But I've had the most wonderful pregnancy so I really have nothing to complain about.
Starting last weekend, I began finding it extremely difficult to sleep. I have been averaging 3-4 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. Not fun, especially when I have to deal with 75 6th graders everyday. Then on Wednesday of this week I got a cold. My doctor told me I could either take medicine at night to help me sleep, or during the day to help me function. But not both. So I chose nighttime. I finally slept for 10 hours on Thursday night and have felt better ever since.
I'm also finding it incredibly difficult to pick things up off of the floor and roll myself off the couch. But I know all the inconveniences will be worth it in just a few short weeks.

How far along: 35 Weeks
Weight Gain: 30 pounds
Cravings: fruit and yogurt
Annoyances: major foot and toe cramps, not being able to take a deep breath, not sleeping
Sleeping: not great
Movement: Still a lot of movement but they are smaller and less frequent
Things I miss: getting out of bed easily, standing for long periods of time
What I am most looking forward to: Looking at Rowan, wearing my regular clothes, seeing my feet again

32 Weeks

Last Saturday marked 32 weeks! The end is in sight and I finally feel like I am in the homestretch (even though I have 8 weeks to go).

Last week I did get the flu bug that's going around and it totally wiped me out. But thank goodness it only lasted 24 hours and Blakely didn't get sick so I was able to take her to my mother-in-law on Wednesday. I then spent the entire day in bed and boy, did that feel good!

This past weekend, I pulled out all of Blakely's 0-3 month clothing and got them washed and hung in Rowan's closet. I had forgotten about all the clothes that Blakely had. This baby will seriously be able to go all summer without ever repeating an outfit! Hallelujah for hand me down clothing!!

I had my 32 week appointment today and my doctor warned me that I should expect another large baby. She said my weight looked great but because I had previously had a 9 pound baby (at 38 weeks), I should expect this one to be equally as large. However, the up side is that getting my pregnancy weight off might not be as hard because a lot of weight will come off with the baby. I also passed my second glucose test so no diabetes for me!!

How far along: 32 Weeks
Weight Gain: 30 pounds (probably partly due to the enormous amount of Mexican food I ate yesterday)
Cravings: Mexican
Annoyances: indigestion, foot cramps, getting easily fatigued
Sleeping: very well once I get settled
Movement: Lots, especially at night
Things I miss: long walks around the neighborhood (I get winded very easily), easily picking up Blakely, sleeping on my back
What I am most looking forward to: holding Rowan in my arms

Preggo Pics and Update

I'm officially 30 weeks today! This pregnancy has gone incredibly fast and I've done really well so far. No sickness, very little pain (some back and tailbone pain), and I'm still sleeping well. So far, it's actually been a lot easier than it was with Blakely.
There were a lot of inconveniences and annoyances with my first pregnancy that I've seemed to avoid with this one such as nighttime stuffy nose, restless leg syndrome, and indigestion. Let's just hope that continues. This baby is also moving a LOT more which is a relief. Blakely never moved and so I ended up at the hospital more than once to check for fetal movement during my third trimester. So far, this sweet little one is way more active and likes to kick especially at night.
The only downfall so far is that I failed my first glucose test (probably from all the crap I consumed the first 28 weeks) and I have to go back on Monday for the 3 hour long test. However, I have eaten really well and exercised the past two weeks and lost 4 pounds, which tells me I really wasn't doing something right before. So here's hoping my self control in the past two weeks pays off!
Anyways, here are some pregnancy stats so far.

How far along: 30 weeks
Gender: Girl
Name: Rowan Claire
Weight Gain: 26 pounds
Cravings: pizza and Mexican a lot but thankfully fruit and salads now that the weather is warmer
Annoyances: tailbone pain, not being able to put on socks easily, having trouble taking deep breaths
Sleeping: very well
Things I miss: having a lot of energy, my non-maternity clothes, red wine
What I am most looking forward to: seeing what she looks like (I'm hoping for a little bit of me with this baby. Blakely looked nothing like me.)

Bump Watch

Here are some recent (and not so recent) baby bump photos. As I share these pics, I feel the need to apologize for all the bathroom selfies. I would of course rather use our nice camera to document this pregnancy. But by the time my husband gets home at night, I am already long into my same old yoga pants, sweatshirt, and pony tail. And of course I would much rather document this pregnancy looking decent rather than someone who can't bother to buy another outfit (or style her hair). So for now, enjoy the selfies and the growing bump.

 

Our sweet baby girl!

Belly Pic and 34 Week Update

34 weeks! (Sorry it's a little blurry. We sometimes have difficulty focusing the camera.)

I cannot believe that tomorrow I will have completed 34 weeks of this pregnancy. In some ways I feel like it has gone very fast and then sometimes I don't remember a time when I wasn't pregnant.  Well OK, I can remember but sometimes it seems like forever ago.
Overall it has been a great pregnancy, but it is definitely getting to the uncomfortable stage now. Getting out of bed is no longer easy and rolling from side to side takes some effort. I also have to be very careful of how I sit now because if I am too upright then it definitely gets painful. I guess little Blakely is just running out of room in there but I also realize she has 6 more weeks of growing to do so there has to be some room left even if it doesn't feel like it.
I really have enjoyed being pregnant but am so ready for my little girl to make her debut into this world. I am ready to kiss her little cheeks, stare into her eyes, and hold her until someone forces me to put her down. Oh wait a minute, I will be the mommy so I can hog her and be selfish with her all I want to. I am so ready for that.
The funniest part about being pregnant lately are some of the comments I have gotten. I have pretty thick skin so most of these comments don't bother me at all but rather make me laugh at the fact that they are said. And also, my belly is really big so I know there is truth to these comments.  Here are a few.

1.Lady:  "You must be almost there."
 Me: "Not really. I still have 8 weeks to go."
 Lady: "Wow! Goodness gracious that is going to be a huge baby."

2. Lady: "Wow Lori. You have gotten so huge."
   Me: "Yeah, I guess I have."
   Lady: "I mean, you were so skinny during the first part of your pregnancy and now you are not."
   Me: No words, just shocked.

3. Kid at church: "Mrs. Lori. Is there a baby in your belly?"
  Me: (Smiling) "No, I just ate a few cookies."
  Kid: "Well, you might want to think about not eating anymore for a while."
  Me: "I'm just kidding. Yes, there is a baby in my belly."
  Kid: "You still might want to stop eating cookies."
  Me: Laughing hysterically.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Today marks the first day of my third trimester and it's hard to believe that 28 weeks have passed already. Twelve weeks from now (or less) I will be cradeling my precious little Blakely in my arms. Ohhh, I just cannot wait. So as I enter into this last phase of my pregnancy, I reflect on the good, the not so good, and the downright ugly parts of my pregnancy.

Good
*Hearing the woosh, woosh sound of her heartbeat at every doctor's appointment.
*Getting updates every Monday from Baby Center on how she is developing.
*Feeling her move and kick (especially now that it's more frequent).
*Using pregnancy brain as an excuse when I'm forgetful.
*Having an excuse not to go to the gym. (I'm too cheap to buy new workout clothes and my old ones certainly don't fit).
*Knowing that in 3 months I'm going to be a mommy.
*Eating whatever I crave without feeling guilty. (Although stepping on the scale at the doctor's office isn't so much fun right now).
*Being continually told, "Oh Lori, you look so cute!"

Bad
*Not being able to sleep on my back.
*Not being able to comfortably sleep on my side either (and I know this is only going to get worse).
*My allergies seem to be worse this year.
*Shaving my legs is proving to be very difficult now.
*Having to propel myself out of bed and low sitting chairs.
*Using breath right strips at night because my nose is so stuffy.
*Having a closet full of super cute spring clothes that I know I won't be able to wear until probably next year.

Ugly (I'll keep this short and non-descriptive)
*Unsightly cellulite creeping back onto my legs. (I realize this is not so much a result of pregnancy but the not working out)
*Bathroom issues (That's all I'm going to say about that.)
*My innie belly button becoming an outie. (I've always had the deepest belly button possible. It's slowly pushing out and although it may not necessarily be ugly, it sure is weird looking)

Ok, there is way more ugly but that's about all I feel comfortable sharing right now. If you're pregnant, definitely ready Jenny McCarthy's book Belly Laughs. She's not so reserved and tells the ugly parts of pregnancy exactly like it is.

Precious Little Pushes

23 weeks

Last night, the most wonderful thing happened to me and Kevin. We felt our little girl kick or punch for the first time!! It was the most exciting feeling ever. I've been feeling her move around inside of me for several weeks now but had not yet felt her push from the outside. I was sitting in the recliner and began thinking about how I should be feeling her move from the outside now. However, I also knew that I would most likely feel it if I sat very still and spent some time with my hand on my belly.So I leaned back, put my hand on my stomach and just waited. After about 5 minutes, I felt a first little push and then immediately afterward there was a second! I hopped up and told Kevin. His eyes lit up and he immediately pushed pause on the t.v. I went over and stood by him for about 4 minutes until he felt her push as well.
I'm not sure if it was a kick or a punch but based on her ultrasound picture from a few weeks ago I'm going to guess that she was punching me. She's going to be a feisty little one but I cannot wait to kiss and hold those little toes or fingers that were pushing on me last night.

It's a Girl!!!

Kevin and I went today for our 20 week appointment and found out that this precious baby that we were so convinced was a boy is actually a little girl. Actually, Kevin has thought it was a girl all along but he's been the only one out of everyone on both sides of the family who thought that. She was being very stubborn and it took a while (45 minutes to be exact) for the ultrasound technician to see the little girl parts. But when she found them it was very clear that a boy she was not!
It was really nerve wracking because the ultrasound took a lot longer than I expected and it made me think that something was wrong. Since the ultrasound technician isn't allowed to talk about anything unexpected she may see, I knew I couldn't ask her any questions so I just had to wait patiently for the doctor. When the doctor came in, I immediately asked if everything was alright because I felt that so much time was spent looking at the baby's heart. However, she reassured me that everything was ok and that is was totally normal for the 20 week ultrasound to take a while since they really have to look at every major organ to make sure it has developed properly.
So far so good and it is becoming a little more real now that we know it's a girl. It was really exciting today looking at baby girl bedding online and realizing that now I can start decorating the nursery and getting things ready for little Blakely Anne. I know the next 4-5 months are going to fly by and I'm trying to enjoy every moment of this pregnancy.

Baby Bump and a Little About Pregnancy

Here's my 15, almost 16 week baby bump! It's definitely getting bigger.
So far, I have loved being pregnant. Other than a lot of fatigue, it's been a fairly easy pregnancy. Here are a few things that I love about pregnancy and a few things that I could do without.

Love It
1. Knowing my belly is sticking out and totally not caring
2. Wearing stretchy pants that don't ever feel too tight
3. Feeling those first little flutters (I can't wait to feel kicks and see movement!)
4. Having an excuse to take a nap everyday and going to bed at 8:00 without feeling guilty
5. Finally having a reason to browse the baby section at Target
6. Seeing Kevin's face light up when he touches or looks at my baby bump (He loves my pregnant belly and that makes me feel so beautiful.)
7. Knowing there is life growing inside of me
8. The pregnancy glow
9. Talking about baby names with Kevin
10. Knowing my baby is with me wherever I go

Could Do Without It
1.Getting car sickness very easily
2. Not being able to sleep at night because of constant congestion (Apparently pregnant women frequently suffer from stuffy noses.)
3. Always having to pee (especially in the middle of the night)
4. Constantly worrying about the baby and having very bizarre dreams that something is wrong
5. Being incredibly sensitive to strong smells

Belly Pic

So here is my first belly picture. Right now, it looks more like I have a really thick stomach but from certain angles, there is definitely a little bit of a baby bump. I didn't think I'd be showing quite this early since I'm only 10 weeks but I know every pregnancy is different for every woman. Or maybe it's because of the fast food I have been craving lately. Hmmm...

10 weeks!

A Bun in the Oven

So I am now officially telling people that Kevin and I are expecting a little one. We've known for a month now and it has been killing me not to shout it from every rooftop. I was going to wait until the end of my first trimester to announce it but I finally decided that I just could not wait any longer. I am 9 weeks pregnant today and have felt wonderful so far. I've had very little nausea and no morning sickness so that is definitely a blessing.
Being that Kevin and I have only been married for 12 weeks, we were so shocked to find out but it was seriously one of the best days of my life. Here's how we found out.
Prior to getting married, I started taking birth control (boy was that a waste of $24 a month). For anyone on birth control, you know it completely regulates your periods so that you can predict down to the hour of when you will start. Well, I was supposed to start the first week of September but never did. I bought a pregnancy test and told Kevin. It turned up negative but after 3 more days of not starting, I took another test. It too was negative.
I was supposed to start a new birth control pack that Sunday but Kevin told me not to since if I was pregnant it could hurt the baby. He told me to hold off and wait a week before starting it again. I waited a week and took two more tests. Still nothing. At this point I figured my body was reacting to coming off birth control and didn't think much of it.
Over the next three weeks, I took a few more tests for a grand total of 6 and all turned up negative. I started to freak out a little since I am so regular and called the doctor thinking there was something else going on with my body. On Friday, October 8th I went in to see the doctor. She asked if I could be pregnant and told her I didn't think so and that I was afraid I had cysts or something else that was prevening me from having a period. Of course I was qualified to make this decision based on all the years of medical school that I have had. :)  (One little tip, never try to self-diagnose yourself by reading the internet. It will just freak you out.)
She wanted to do a pregnancy test just to make sure. After about two minutes, the nurse popped her head in the room and said, "Oh, you are so very pregnant." I almost fell off the table!! I asked her to repeat herself and then I said, "Oh my gosh!!! I have to call my husband." I called Kevin and he was soooooo excited.
After leaving the office, I called my mom and told her to save her pennies so she could fly back and forth to see her soon-to-be grandchild. She was ecstatic!
It was such a magical day that I will never forget. After my next doctor's appointment, we actually found out that I got pregnant on the second day that I was off birth control. I'm really glad that Kevin told me not to start taking it again because otherwise we would not be expecting this miracle.
The first few weeks were really nerve wracking because I kept worrying that I would miscarry. I still have those days but have come to trust God more and rely less on myself. I'm really enjoying my pregnancy so far although it still seems a little unreal. Right now I am most looking forward to "popping" so that I actually look preganant and not like I had a few too many doughnuts.
Mmmmm....doughnuts sound good right now! :)