Our First ER Scare...

Last night Nick and I experienced our first ER scare - pregnancy related of course. Luckily, all seems well now.

Background: for the last couple days I've had bleeding which we thought was b/c of the yeast infection and irritation due to the meds prescribed. Last night after I woke up from my nap, the bleeding became worse including a nasty blood clot, so we were told to head to the ER. After 4.5 hours, we were sent home after being given an ultrasound that showed baby moving around happily and the placenta all well attached as it should be.

I was told to rest today and follow up w/ OB ~ the bleeding has since pretty much stopped. OB reiterated how bleeding in the first months can be normal, and since it stopped didn't want to look up in there in fear of irritating something again. Since the ultrasound pics don't even show a placenta tear anywhere and baby is good -- she says just take it easy for the next couple weeks and basically just hope it doesn't happen again.

I'm fairly confident it's due to the medicine they gave me for the yeasty - though they refuse to say that's possible, but why would they tell me they shouldn't have given me those meds?

I was only in tears the first hour in the waiting room -- since then I've had a pretty strong sense of calm that everything's fine. God is good at giving peace when it's needed!

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." Psalm 62:5

The Gender Game..

So - as some of you may know - we have our boy/girl names picked out. Henry (after Nick's late father) and Nora (after my late grandmother).

Sooo today while we were Memorialing (family tradition) - we were at Grandma Nora's grave, and a toad hopped on!! And this little toad did not move the rest of the time we were visiting, even as my dad poked and proded it and lifted it up! He stayed right by the writing "NORA" -- and the stone had two sides so he coulda hopped over to "MARVIN" at any time! I believe that Toad was my grandma telling us that we're having a girl and she can't wait for us to name it after her :) Nick of course, disagrees.

When we later visited Arthur Henry VandenBerg's grave ... no such toad appeared, or any other indication.

In approxmiately 7 weeks, we may be able to find out if my superstition is right or not!

12 wks 5 days

Just figured I'd update since it's been over a week ... though there's really nothing new to discuss! Almost officially done with the first trimester (though that timing is debatable, some say end of 12 weeks, some say end of week 13 ...) so that's exciting.

I have officially stopped my progesterone supps - which I had a hard time doing, but seems to be okay. I wish I could have a check up like, the week after stopping just to be sure all is well. It's causing some cramping, since progesterone helps relax the uterus and w/ out the extra I can feel more of the tension. Also taking some meds for that yeast infection, which I was also nervous about - but I'm taking it all in good faith that God wants me to have this baby and he will do all in his power to protect everything I can/will do wrong to it!

It's also been a stressful week with my cousin's funeral - so I'm using the long weekend to just relax and get re-focused. Only two weeks left teaching the crazy munchkins - then it's off to vacation land!!

When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in ... They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. Psalm 112: 4, 7-8

Yeah ... I'm working on that.

11 weeks 2 days

Our first OB appointment went very well. Had to do the usual bloodtests and pap smear, nothing too exciting there except for a yeast infection (lucky me).

When it came time to try to hear the heartbeat, she warned that depending on baby's location and movements, there's only about a 50/50 chance right now she'd get it. I told her that our baby is a good listener and follows directions. As soon as the doppler touched my belly, Dr. Florido said, "It is a good listener" -- we could hear the heartbeat right away!! So cool to hear baby's fast heartbeat, with my slower wooshy heartbeat in the background. Tears of joy :) Baby's heartrate is still high - in the 160's - but Dr warned us against believing the wifes tales of boy/girl heartrates.

So - we won't get another ultrasound until the big 20 weeks boy/girl ultrasound -- but get to go back in 4 weeks just for usual checkup. Sing Praise for this miracle!!

Oh ~ and I haven't thrown up since Sunday!! (I really hope I'm not jinxing myself here...) Sing extra praise for that!!

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you." -- Psalm 116:7

11 weeks

Yah!! Happy Fetal Birthday to my baby!!

There's some debate on when an embryo actual becomes a fetus, but most research says sometime inbetween week 8 and week 10 ... so since we're in week 11 now, I feel comfortable switching over to "fetus"

First Ob appt is on Thurs ~ updates to come!

10 weeks 2 days

Pregnancy is odd. Examples:

~ Regular mac n cheese = delightful. Shells n cheese = Cringe.
~ I can't even stand the thought of cheese oven pizza, which two weeks ago was my only enjoyment.
~ The worst, and for those of you who know me, you know this is a big deal. Last night, tried to eat chicken ... and the KETCHUP was gross to me. Ketchup has been my favorite food for as long as I can remember. I used to get french fries just because I wanted some ketchup!!

And that was the point I broke into tears for no apparent reason, other than I'm sick of needing to eat to not feel sick, but the thought of most foods makes me feel sick anyways.

But overall, I'm doing good. People keep trying to tell me to talk to the Dr for nausea meds, but it's really not *that* bad. I can go on with my daily life, I only actually throw up every 2/3 days.

First appt with OB is next week ~ time to start my list of questions again :)

Karah Kaye Ellen Verhaar

Just for fun ~ here's a couple pics of my neice! She's teeny tiny and beautiful. Can't wait to spoil her!