24 weeks -- Long overdue update

So even with me saying "I will do better updating the blog this time", I have not done better!  We are almost 25 wks now and time is flying by. 

This is a huge photo dump of the past almost 8 wks.

Right after the last update, my family went on a cruise to Bermuda.  It was a blast.  Lots of food.  Lots of sun.  And lots of Fun!

Immediately after returning (and I do mean within a few hours!), I  met E&C and Rowan at the hospital for our big ultrasound!  It was so great seeing them after several months and it had been more than a year since I had seen Rowan! 

Baby girl Shark is still a girl!  Everything looked great at this ultrasound and we took a tour of Labor & Delivery so we could be prepared when the time comes!  The rooms there are awesome -- laboring jetted tubs in every room plus if you want water birth, they set up a birthing pool! 

Next up, I took a trip to see Melissa (aka crying doula) and her family for sweet S's first birthday!  Time with friends is never enough but I am so glad I was able to make it for such a big day for their family!
 

And now, its the holidays and we have had a ton of snow.  One storm with 17 inches, a smaller one with only 4 inches and now we got another storm yesterday of somewhere around 12 inches.  We also went up to Rocky Mountain National park for a day trip with the family and had a surprise visit from Nonnie as well as celebrated the Marine Corps Birthday!  Maybe all of this will explain why I am such a slacker with the blog!  I guess you could say, I never stop!

Now for belly photos -- I lost a few weeks of them since my phone new phone just up and died on me -- but I assure you, I have lived every minute of these last few weeks and don't always have great stories to tell of it lol!

And now the last note -- yesterday i went to another Ultrasound with MFM for a fetal echocardiogram -- Baby girl is doing well and is about 1lb7oz, measuring lovely at 29% and everything looks super healthy for her!  My next appointment, I will go in before hand and have my glucose screening done as well as a full iron panel to see how my 6 times a day supplementation is doing for my low ferritin. 

How far along?  24w6d
Total weight gain/measurements: 21 lbs 😳 Not something I like to talk about but the doctors aren't concerned- This pregnancy might be the most gained yet
Maternity clothes: Yep - firmly in those!
Stretch marks? Not yet
Sleep:  Last night I was awake from 1am-430am  It was a rough night for insomnia and I am feeling it today
Best moment this week: Tomorrow when we get to go to the cousin's for Thanksgiving dinner!
Movement: All the time - my husband felt her crazy movements the other night on accident
Food cravings: Right now, nothing. I feel nauseous
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nothing with any rhyme or reason -- nausea still comes on strong quickly
Gender: Little Girl
Labor signs: No - But I do have frequent Braxton Hicks
Symptoms: Round ligament pain reared its ugly head consistently this week - trying stretches and using a belly support band now
Wedding rings on or off? Pregnancy band on -- I have one dedicated to just pregnancy but I cannot wear my fancy set now
Happy or moody most of the time? I fly off the handles easily.  Little patience
Miss anything yet? Last pregnancy, it was margaritas, this time its beer
Looking forward to: Taking a nap this afternoon

17 wks

Not a huge update but we are at 17 wks.

I went to the midwife again this week for my regular check up and to get a statement for travel for our cruise!  Nothing new was really discussed at the appointment aside from considering a different iron supplement because the iron is making me feel sooo bad. I am hoping that this new supplement will help me feel good on the cruise!

Other than that, everything is going well!

A possible answer to headaches and fatigue

So we are pushing on 17 wks now!  Yay for that but boo for me feeling really bad these last few weeks. I just haven't felt like getting on the computer and doing much of anything.

First -- Let's talk about how Rowan is going to have a SISTER!!! The guys are super excited to have another girl but realized that this means they will be paying for TWO weddings now 😆
  
Since pregnancy started, I have been having horrific several day headaches.  Last weekend, I got a headache that woke me up in the middle of the night Thursday.  By Friday morning, the pain was searing and I was totally debilitated and didn't move from the couch for 24 hours except to refill my water and use the bathroom.  It continued into Saturday and finally I contacted the midwives.  They called in a new medicine but wanted me to go to the ER to get checked out but I insisted that my BP was normal and that it was just a headache.  I didn't want to be drugged up and sent home.  The headache lessened by Saturday evening but was right back on Sunday morning.  Finally, by Monday, I had the semblance of a normal person again.  The headache reappeared on Saturday of this weekend and Sunday.  Many of the medicines they have suggested do nothing for the headaches.

They have me on Vitamin D, Magnesium, B2 and now... iron.  I went to the midwife on Tuesday and they checked my ferritin level.  Ferritin is indicative of your iron reserves.  Mine is quite low and now I am on a high dose of iron twice a day.  The iron is tearing up my stomach and many of the easier to digest alternatives are not high enough of a dose for my ferritin level.  I have vomited more in the last week since I started the iron supplements than I have this entire pregnancy.  It has been a rough few weeks but I am hoping the iron will make my head feel better and I can go on a lower dose soon but increasing iron takes time. I have switched to liquid iron as it supposedly is easier to digest but it tastes like I am drinking blood, even when mixed in vitamin C rich juice so I have to choke it down.  Low ferritin is not the same as having anemia.  Though many of the symptoms are the same.  The rest of my blood work is normal but my iron reserves are being used instead of the more recent ingestion of iron.  The low ferritin causes nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headaches and fainting.  All of which I have experienced this pregnancy.  Multiple pregnancies and nursing close together can cause low ferritin levels in women.  The good news, we caught it early enough that it shouldn't be a problem for delivery.  Not correcting it can cause bleeding issues during delivery and pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. If I cannot tolerate the oral supplements or they are not increasing my ferritin levels, then likely a iron infusion would be indicated. 

Here are the 3 missing bump photos from the last few weeks:

Maternity clothes: I pulled them all out and washed them and sorted them and I am wearing a few things.  The side panel Old Navy pants are most comfortable. Just bought more long sleeved shirts for our Colorado winters.
Stretch marks? No 

Sleep:  It has been rough with my constant headaches and nausea
Best moment this week:  We went to two Brewers Baseball games at Coors Field
Movement:  Yep, been feeling her moving for a few weeks

Food cravings: No cravings, just lack of appetite with feeling bad.
Labor signs: Too Early
Symptoms: Fatigue, nausea, just overall funk (Same as last week) and add faintness every now and then (Same answer from before)
Wedding rings on or off? My expensive set is feeling tight
Happy or moody most of the time? This week I have been happy most of the time as long as I am not feeling bad
Miss anything yet? Still Margaritas (Probably will be this answer until 40 wks!)
Looking forward to:  Bermuda cruise in less than 2 wks

He or She -- What will baby shark be?

So the news is here!  One of the hardest things I have done during this pregnancy is move from my people: My doulas Melissa & Courtney and my photographer Julie.  Of course these ladies are more than just their professional title, but their title and professional expertise is important to this journey.  Every pregnancy, Julie has done a gender reveal for me.  The first was a video with me in it, pouring the pink tea to signify Aggie.  The second was pink or blue bubble gum and bubbles and I blew a gigantic pink bubble for Rowan.  When I messaged her last week asking for her professional creative spirit, she came up with something fun!  A big thank you to Julie & Mark with Seven Rising Studio for making this possible.  What would a gender reveal for Melanie be without Julie being the creator?  Boring, nonexistent, a text that says "It's a ...."

Without further ado...

Gender Reveal for Baby Shark


^^Click that link!^^

We are all super excited for the results! 💓

Is baby a boy or girl? Read more about this in this post!

So we don't know yet, but we will soon -- read more about this later!

I was 13 wks on Friday and I am starting to see the clouds clearing in my funky feeling first trimester. I sent a message to the dads saying "Happy Second Trimester!" except I am so out of touch with pregnancy anymore that I didn't realize that the second trimester started at the END of the 13th week. LOL

I had some bleeding again over the weekend last weekend and went to the midwife on Tuesday once they opened after the holiday.  Baby Shark looks great.  Measuring right on track and a heart beat of 164.  Baby was moving and grooving and just making it hard to measure him/her during the ultrasound.  They did discover that I have an SCH (a bleed like last time) with a measurement of 2.7x1.9x3.6cm.  It definitely is not a huge bleed like I may have had with Rowan -- So that is good.  But I also have a low lying placenta/borderline partial previa.  I am not overly concerned with this yet -- it is still so early and it as the uterus grows, the placenta should go up the wall of the uterus.  However, should it not move, that could complicate things like delivery later resulting in a cesarean.  They will look into it again at our anatomy scan just to make sure it is moving up!

Here are some photos of baby shark from the ultrasound.

This one cracks me up -- looks like the baby is smoking a pipe or flicking the camera off!

Baby is looking more like a baby!

Baby foot!

Back of baby's head with arms up above head!

After that appointment on Tuesday, I had to head back to the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor for another quick ultrasound for genetic screening.  Everything again looked good at that ultrasound including the nuchal translucency measurements.  They also ordered a blood genetic screening which means we will know if baby shark is a he or she any day now!  So if you are looking for an ultra cool announcement -- it is coming -- next post will be a gender reveal!

Post for 12 weeks pregnant!

I didn't get around to doing my 11 wk post last week 😔 but I had a good excuse.  My grandmother passed away on Thursday and Kurt was out of town until Friday evening so I just was busy with life. 

Here is a photo of my grandma a few years ago on the Lighthouse Pier by her house. 

I did however take a 11 wk photo before we went to the Colorado Spring Vibes game -- they are the farm team for the Brewers. 

 Last week, I also went to the midwife for a check up appointment.  They did a quick ultrasound to make sure I didn't have a subchorionic hematoma (SCH).  Everything looked good on ultrasound and baby shark was measuring right on point with a heart rate of 166.  

They did start me on aspirin 81mg to help ward off high blood pressure.  There is a few reasons that they think I could be more prone to it this pregnancy.  For one, pre-eclampsia is related to the father's DNA.  Since this is the first time carrying C's baby, there is a higher chance that I could potentially end up with pre-e or high blood pressure. I also was induced with Aggy for high blood pressure (but not pre-e) so again, more at risk.  Finally, pre-e is more common at high altitude.  We live in Mile High city so that means we are at 5,400+ feet at my house.  There is less oxygen here too.  The medical journals have shown that there is a higher incidence of pre-e at a high altitude and this is my first pregnancy here.  So 81mg of aspirin should help prevent!  Let's lessen risks where we can!

I flew to Michigan for my Grandmother's funeral on Monday.  It was a beautiful service and I was thrilled to be close to many of my family members for a bit.  Of course, with any family gathering, there was some drama and a few tense situations.  I mostly felt well on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday morning I woke up at 5am with a terrible headache.  It remained with me all day Wednesday and I woke up again on Thursday morning at 3am to head to the airport with this headache.  I tried everything I could to get rid of it, but I just couldn't.  While on the plane, I napped for a few.  Then I had a ginger ale because my stomach was hurting -- presumably from the bad headache.  Then I started feeling really bad. I got hot.  I got clammy and I started to feel faint.  Fortunately my aunt was in the seat right in front of me so I got her attention and she called for the flight attendant.  Then everything went black. I was still coherent -- just on the verge of passing out.  They put oxygen on me and I felt better pretty quickly. I kept the oxygen on me until landing.  Kurt picked me up and I made an appointment with my primary care doctor.  I went home, took a nap and then went to the doctor.  They ran some tests on me and aside from low blood pressure and a high heart rate when standing, nothing seemed to be substantially wrong with me.  I came home, napped more and just was out of it all afternoon.

Luckily, I woke up today, at 12 weeks, feeling so much better. I feel human again. I still have a dull headache but at least it isn't the debilitating headache I had been dealing with for 2 days.  Today I got a few tasks completed and took a short nap. 

Next week we will be in our 2nd trimester -- hopefully with that comes a great relief of all of these unsavory pregnancy symptoms.  Also with the 12 weeks came the end of shots!  Last night was my last set of shots for this surrogacy.  Hooray! 

This size comparison made me smile!  It reminded me of the most awesome macaroons I have had -- at Rowan's baby shower. They were made by E!  I am salivating thinking about them! Yes - I went back and found a photo of them!  😅

Here are the update for what is going on in this old uterus of mine and my 12 wk photo!

Also, something kind of funny, maybe it is because it is the 6th pregnancy. Maybe it's because this baby isn't mine.  Maybe its because I have been busy or I am getting old?  But I can't remember how far along I am until I look at the apps. I have been telling everyone that I was going to be 13 wks today.  Ummm nope!  Next week!

Maternity clothes: Soon -- they are coming on real soon.  For now it's the biggest bottoms I have or stretchy skirts.
Stretch marks? No 

Sleep: It has been elusive this week but hoping to get back into the swing of things now that I am home
Best moment this week: Spending time with my family
Movement: Starting to feel little twitches

Food cravings: Nothing specific this week.  Just carbs.
Labor signs: Too Early
Symptoms: Fatigue, nausea, just overall funk (Same as last week) and add faintness every now and then
Wedding rings on or off?   On
Happy or moody most of the time?  This week has been just emotional
Miss anything yet? Still Margaritas (Probably will be this answer until 40 wks!)
Looking forward to: Sleeping in my own bed for a while!

10 wks

So this week was... blah.  That is how I felt most of the week. Last week I had just mind boggling fatigue.  It was so bad that some days, I didn't pull myself off of the couch to do more than eat and use the bathroom.  It was just really a hard week for me.  I contacted the Midwives who told me to increase unisom to 2 tablets at night with Super B Complex.  Then take a half a unisom in the morning with Super B complex and another Super B in the afternoon.  That has at least gotten me off of the couch this week. I have been able to do some tasks around the house like load the dishwasher, vacuum the floor and do the occasional laundry.

Did I mention it was Back to School Week and did I also mention that I was single parenting it all week this week?  Yeah Kurt was in NOLA which made this week extra challenging.  I found myself face down on the floor a few times -- literally.  I just couldn't get myself up because I was feeling so .... blah.  But I made it through the week and just 4 more weeks of shots -- my poor butt.  😟  

So this week was better in some regards than last week -- my energy levels were higher, and it is a good thing because I needed it doing all of the running and caring for the house and kids alone... Oh and I get to do it again next week when he leaves again.  😑

So we made it to 10 wks -- another week closer to the second trimester which promises relief in many.

I am really believing this is a boy because a girl wouldn't make me feel this miserable!!

Baby shark is doing some big things this week!  S/he is the size of a lego man now!

How far along?  10w0d Total weight gain/measurements: 2 lbs

Maternity clothes: Not yet - My clothes are fitting well still Stretch marks? Nope Sleep: Some nights are okay, others meh. Best moment this week: When I got into the bed at the end of every day
Movement: Maybe? Food cravings: Bruschetta type tomato salad. Anything making you queasy or sick? Nothing specifically but sometimes I make something for the family to eat then I just can't stomach the thought of eating it Labor signs: Too Early Symptoms: Fatigue, nausea, just overall funk (Same as last week)
Wedding rings on or off? On Happy or moody most of the time? Tired Miss anything yet? Still Margaritas (Probably will be this answer until 40 wks!)
Looking forward to: Going on the cruise I just booked

9 wk update

Today we hit 9 weeks which puts us closer to the end of the first trimester.  I am hoping at the end of the first trimester brings relief.  This baby has me feeling terrible.  At first it started as evening sickness.  Every night after dinner, I felt crummy and nauseous and overall, useless.   Starting this week, I have also felt crummy in the mornings.  It isn't just nausea but the hot flashes, feeling kind of weak and faint. I have also been super irritable with everyone and everything. Yesterday I made a point to drink A TON OF WATER (like my contract says to do -- which is ridiculous really that they said that just because I live in Denver -- the Mile High City) -- I was hoping that maybe between altitude and pregnancy, drinking a lot of fluids would make me feel better -- wrong.  It just made me have to pee all night.  GAH!

These are the little things that remind me why it would take a really really really (did I mention very???) special situation to do a compensation free surrogacy.  Feeling terrible and not being able to keep up with household tasks is hard on my family so the compensation helps to offset those negative feelings.

We just got back from our week long camping trip and it was a good time.  I was quite irritable during a lot of it, but considering I had just gotten back from a short trip to Michigan the day before, I think I handled it well.  We took the camper from here to Rapid City, SD and checked out many places around the area including Mt Rushmore, Custer State Park, Badlands and the Missile Training Silo on Ellsworth AFB.  Then we took the camper over the Cheyenne, WY and went fishing and checked out the town.  Unfortunately, during that part of the trip, my brand new phone stopped working so I don't have photos to post of the trip!


This baby has me craving weird things -- Sweets.  Anyone that knows me, knows I don't love sweets.  I rarely eat them.  It also has me realizing that I suck at high altitude baking.  Maybe I should just leave it to the professionals.  Between the nausea and sickness and the wanting sweets, it is reminding me of one other pregnancy -- the only boy I carried.  This is mirroring exactly how I felt when I carried Weston.  I craved DQ banana split blizzards with him!  So who knows -- maybe the guys will be seeing blue this time?

This is a fresh peach cobbler I made.  I was going to make it while camping, but our grill was having issues and no camp fires were allowed at either campground.  I had this for breakfast lunch and dinner on some days -- Don't judge  Feed the baby what the baby wants!

I had a sample of Lemon Blueberry Bread at a little shop Kurt & I went to a couple months ago.  Ever since I have been pregnant, I couldn't get it out of my mind -- all I wanted was some Lemon Blueberry Bread.  So I made some.  Recipe said 50 minutes to cook, it took 80 minutes.  Altitude is killing me here!

I still have 5 more weeks of shots -- not like I am counting or anything.  I have already been on shots for about 11 weeks.  I have had a few shots that almost dropped me to my knees and made me feel like I was going to pass out.  A few that bled like I was dying.  I never had problems in other journeys -- I am guessing just the wrong location but it is hard to tell since I am not giving them to myself.  But I am a pin cushion and I have about 48 shots to go until I can stop.  The RE usually does about 10 wks of shots but with the spotting I had, he wants me to stay on them for an extra month.  My poor butt!!!

How far along?  9w0d
Total weight gain/measurements: Since transfer day, I have gained 1 lb 

Maternity clothes: Not yet - My clothes are fitting well still
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Last night was miserable - had to use the bathroom many times, and just couldn't sleep
Best moment this week: Getting home from our camping trip so I could sleep in our bed
Movement: I feel the uterus twitching
Food cravings: Sweets -- what is wrong with this baby?
Anything making you queasy or sick? Every night before bed and now in the mornings too
Labor signs: Too Early
Symptoms: Fatigue, nausea, just overall funk
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or moody most of the time? Irritable
Miss anything yet? Still Margaritas
Looking forward to: Kids going back to school next week!