You'll shoot your eye out!

I love the movie A Christmas Story.  I can quote the majority of it and even though I have it on DVD, I'll still stop what I'm doing to watch it when it's on tv.  I laugh ahead of the funny parts, since I know what's coming.  And best of all is the 24-hour marathon showing!  However, this year I had a new reaction to it.

The movie was wrapping up.  It's Christmas morning.  The boys run downstairs in their pjs and immediately search for their gifts.  (Randy: 'Oh, boy, that's mine!')  Mom and Dad come wearily down the stairs after their late night of playing Santa.  I hadn't really thought about the movie through their eyes before, always having identified with Randy and Ralphie.  But as I sat and watched it this year I teared up during those last few minutes.  My perspective completely changed.  Sure, it was still funny, but I saw the love that Mom and Dad had for Ralphie as he opened his secret gift.  How they had a fun dinner as a family despite their ruined turkey.  I saw myself in that role instead.  And I can't wait.

Chugging along

Baby Ferg was a little wily at the doctor's on Monday, but the nurse chased him/her down and I got to hear the heartbeat for the first time.  Loud and strong at 162.  I think I could've laid there for half an hour and listened to it.  It was such a stronger connection than anything I've experienced so far. 
The rest of the appointment was pretty routine.  I gained only two pounds, but they weren't concerned, saying that my appetite will return soon.  The doctor actually said that I could gain up to 50 pounds and it would still be normal.  I couldn't contain my surprise and said right out loud, 'Fifty pounds?!  Oh my gosh.'  It will be weird enough to gain 20 pounds since I've been pretty much at the same weight since high school, let alone practically half my body weight right now.  I don't really want to have to channel Richard Simmons to fit into my pre-Baby Ferg clothes.

My next ultrasound isn't until after the first of the new year.  The doctor wants me to go downtown to Magee Women's Hospital since they specialize in the procedure.  His concern is just making sure that everything is ok since I'm still on my seizure meds.

Thanks to a couple of good friends I already have half a closet of maternity clothes.  We also got a cute little hanging ladybug from my cousin and his wife.  Next step is to decide on a theme for the nursery.  Hopefully there will be more frequent updates in the future as Baby Ferg makes his/her presence a little more known (a.k.a. a bigger belly).

Just in time

I got the good news today that I am completely done with the progesterone shots!  Which is just in time, since Tim left for Virginia Beach this morning.  I tried to do it myself last night, but couldn't get over the psychological issue of stabbing a large, sharp needle into my body.  I felt better today, too.  I had an appetite for a normal dinner and I'm sure Baby Ferg is thankful for that.  Jello, saltines and french fries (with mustard) are a weird mix and get old fast, I'm sure.  At nine weeks along I think (and hope) I'm on the downward swing of the yuckiness.

*I found this cute little note when I came home from the eye doctor today.

Bullets

There's been a lot of action with Baby Ferg since my last posting, so I thought a succinct bullet list might make a great post.

• We visited Tim's family last weekend and they had a mini surprise party for us.  Well, really for Baby Ferg, because his/her name was on the cake.  We got our first outfit, a bottle of wine (mainly for Tim) and a cute maternity sweater (mainly for me).  Our youngest nephew, Luke, is the most excited of all the kids.  He won't be the youngest any more!  It was cute to hear his reaction.

(L to R) nephew Luke, niece Jillian and Tim

• My 8-week ultrasound was Monday and everything looks great.  Baby Ferg had a strong heartbeat of 170 and is now a peanut, rather than a grain of rice.  My bloodwork showed high enough drug levels that I can cut back my dosages by half.  And hopefully by next week I can be done completely.  Both Tim and I will be glad when there are no more shots.

• Today was my first ob/gyn appointment.  A close friend recommended my doctor and it was a good visit.  I don't go back till the Monday after Thanksgiving, but she gave me a lot of good advice and information for the next few weeks.  (Random question:  Why do they have you fill out those forms and list all your meds and medical history if the nurse asks you the same thing and then the doctor asks you, too?  Ok, done with rant.)  Oh, and I got a very cool bag of goodies which included a journal and Your Baby's First Year.

• Morning sickness comes and goes now, but I'm finding ways to cope.  I think I've eaten more saltines in the last two weeks than I have in my entire life.  Jello and hand-held soup have become staples.  Sea Bands are my new jewelry.

• I'm getting more excited for what's coming after seeing how much bigger Baby Ferg is after just a couple of weeks.  Everyone at our church is so excited for and supportive of us and it's been fun to tell them our story.  

Thanks for following our blog!  It makes posting even more fun. :-)

Random-er

Anyone who knows me knows I have a tendency to be a little random at times.  A question about shoe sizes in the middle of a conversation on gardening.  A story about high school graduation during a Discovery Channel program on coral reefs.  It's pretty much standard procedure at any gathering.  Megan's good for a laugh or two, just listen closely.
But since Baby Ferg made his/her appearance things are even more random-er as my appetite has now developed its own random gene.  Subway subs, strawberry jello, Arby's roast beef, french fries, saltines, yogurt, barbeque chicken, baked potatoes, hot dogs, pb & tomato sandwiches (love you, mom!) and many more things that have flitted through my mind but escape me right now.  And my appetite seems to have no sense of timing.  I'm eating breakfast foods at 4pm and a baked potato at 10am.  This is normal, I've been told, but I'm beginning to think that there is no 'normal' pregnancy. 
Which is why I'm not really super interested in staying rightontop of every symptom and development right now.  I'm not saying it won't come, but I'd rather just enjoy things as they happen. 
And right now what's happening is that my appetite is being random again.  Time to add to the list...

Good or Bad?

Good = naps, sunny days, windy days, realizing that Baby Ferg is actually happening, having an excuse to lay down for 20 minutes after my shots...
Bad = tomato sauce of any sort and the painful indigestion that follows, the fact that I love tomatoes/spaghetti/pizza, having to make a grocery list of saltines, ginger ale, lemons, gatorade, grapes, etc., eating only an apple for breakfast...
But to finish with some more good:  God's wisdom, God's mercy & grace and of course, Baby Ferg! :-D

BFF!

Baby Ferg's First!
It's our first picture of Baby Ferg.  He/she is about 5+ weeks along and has a very strong heartbeat.

Baby Ferg truly has 'come a long way,' and we want you to know our story.  The August 2011 post explains the journey we've had up to this point.  We hope you will take time to read it and share in our excitement.

**On a related note, only one of the two embryos implanted.  We're sad that we won't get to meet #2, but we know that he/she is in heaven and we trust God's wisdom for our lives.