We started trying to get pregnant last summer. Before we moved to Virginia, we talked a lot about when to try for another baby. I didn't feel quite ready, but I wanted to get my IUD out before I lost my health insurance through work (I dropped from 4 to 3 days when we moved and lost benefits). Chase and I talked about this decision endlessly; I didn't really feel ready, but I wasn't sure I would ever really feel differently. I think I was just anxious. We decided that I would have my IUD removed on May 11th, two days after Kate's second birthday. We "prevented" until after my first cycle. We moved from Utah on June 13th and moved into our house in Forest on June 20th. I had not had a period in well over a year, and I had the period from hell the day we moved into our house. After that, it took a few months for my cycles to regulate from 25 days to 27. After three cycles, I ordered ovulation strips and used those for two months. Then I ordered a basal temp thermometer and used it twice I think. By the time November rolled around, I was completely over tracking, so I just stopped worrying about it. The end of the year was busy for us; we flew to Utah for my Grandpa Farrell's funeral and Thanksgiving and while we were there I tore a hernia and had it surgically repaired. In December, we flew back to Utah for two weeks over Christmas. Lots of resting, recovering, and family time (and not as much baby making). When we flew home to Virginia January 3rd, it was so nice to be in our house again.
And on January 15th, my period did not come. I took a cheapo test that came back positive. Even after trying for 6 months, the seventh being the charm, I still had to take a deep breath and say, "ok, I am pregnant" and let that sink in.
I told Chase that night with a children's book. With Kate, I wrote a note in the front of "Oh the Places You'll Go" and with this one, I wrote a note in the front of "The Wonderful Things You Will Be" and put a positive pregnancy test inside. We had talked about how long things were taking and what we would do next (go see a doctor this month) the night before on our date, so he was happily surprised at our news.
Right after finding out about this pregnancy, I started feeling extremely tired for a couple of weeks, then I started having waves of nausea. Usually it was one or the other, and I never got really sick. I also had a few really emotional days. First trimester was harder than I remember it being with Kate, but still not too bad. I swear I started to show at 8 weeks. All of my pants were uncomfortable very quickly. Food has also been weird this time; some cravings, but mostly just rarely satisfied with the taste of food. Probably the worst symptom has been itching, dry, cracked, skin. From my head to my toes, my whole body itches and my fingertips split and hurt so bad. Definitely looking forward to the humid summer to get rid of all that!
I told my sister Lauren a few days later. We told Kate Bug at 6 weeks. We told the rest of our immediate families by about 7 weeks. We told friends as we saw them and told extended family around 11 weeks. I had my first midwife appointment at 6 weeks to date and locate the pregnancy (make sure it wasn't another ectopic). We (Kate and I) saw the heart beat, 105 bpm! One, intrauterine, healthy baby.
My second midwife appointment was at 10 weeks. They couldn't find the heartbeat with the doppler but found it with an ultrasound. Everything is going great!
Kate talks about the baby constantly. She is always talking about what she will do as a big sister; teach her (she is convinced it is a girl) to talk, change her diaper, hold her, etc. She tells me she loves the baby, and has kissed my belly a couple of times. I am so excited to see her in that role.
Chase is so cute. He thinks it's a boy and wants to talk about names regularly. He told basically everyone we know here in VA about the pregnancy by 6 weeks (and mentioned it in his SGA President speech). I love how excited he is. For me, my most potent emotional symptom has been looking through Kate's baby pictures and remembering all the fun we had at the different stages. We are all so excited to have another baby around!
