Preggo updates - weeks 11-16

PREGNANCY UPDATES: 

Symptoms: Since week 11, I've started to feel a lot more tired with an increase in heartburn and off and on mild to severe nausea. I used to be such a night owl but now it's hard for me to stay awake as Ive been crashing on the couch come 9:00 PM. During week 15, I'm not sure if I came down with stomach bug or pregnancy was just at a raging high but I felt ill for 2 days. I was proud that even feeling terrible, I still went to work that Monday only to find out that two people were gone sick that day :[] Pat on the back self.

Weight gain: since my 8 lb loss, yes 8 and not 6, weight loss, i've gained back 2. So, that's good. My BMI is normal and I'm right on target.

Best Moments: I have so many. In sum, Jarrod has been absolutely wonderful throughout this entire pregnancy. He's started to pick up slack by doing more laundry, cooking meals and tucking me in bed after I crash on the couch. He's also been so comforting emotionally and will go to the store to buy more gingerale, groceries for the week or whatever I need. The guy has been a saint and has even remained excited for the arrival of little James during me being tired, grouchy, sick or whatever poopiness I've been. Even further, he'll do big and little things to indicate his excitement like spend an entire weekend clearing out the baby's closet or buy Jame's his first bottles, which happen to be aggie bottles hehe. He even picked out Jame's first baby camo outfit! Another great memory was when Jarrod pulled out the sonogram to show my parents right as they picked us up from the airport one weekend. I didn't even know he made a copy of it. HAHA! I just love his enthusiasm and it's so sweet that he already loves this baby so so much! 

sex: IT'S A BOY!!

We were fortunate to find out the baby's sex quite early. I always had a feeling it was a boy but what great news to hear as it's 99.99% definitely a boy. The doctor laughed and said, 'Yah, he's not hiding anything. In fact, I'm 100% confident it's not a girl'. haha! I Think Jarrod enjoyed hearing that statement ;)

Physical changes: I am so glad I posted something on facebook the other day in questioning when pregnant women show and what to do about this dress fitting I have in 2 weeks for my sister's wedding. I'm not showing but my stomach will stick out a little after I've eaten. So, after a half meal or even a couple bights, I pretty much just look like I had an entire turkey for lunch and then some. What's really changed though are my ribs. I didn't realize until a couple days ago that my ribs are wider after someone pointed this out in my facebook post. The wider ribs explains my bras and dresses lately. I just though it was my chest, which yes too has increased in size.

Workouts: I was given the ok to start running again but it's a little limiting that I can only get my heart rate up to 140. In bike classes, warm up, which consists of an easy pace with no resistance, should be around 150 so even running now isn't what running used to be. I miss getting my heart rate up and feeling like I got a great work out in. I'm a weird adrenaline junky mkay and you don't have to understand this facet about me. No one usually does, except addicted runners of course ;)

Looking forward to: I can't wait for my sister's wedding, Christmas and New Year's! I feel like this year, I've really started to appreciate the beauty in celebrating this special occasion and holidays! Why you ask, well in sum, it's because Jesus rocks and I have so much to be thankful for! I've been so excited for the wedding that I decided to make jewelry for the bridesmaids and bracelets for female relatives of bride and groom. Beads are now everywhere ha but no worries, picking those up is my next project! I'm also taking piano lessons in hopes to play better, ie more relaxed and with better technique, for Kats wedding and any upcoming competitions I hear of. :[]
I also can't wait to get further along in the pregnancy so Jarrod can feel Jame's little kicks and flutters. I have started to feel the little butterflies or Jame's little movements :) It's kind of creepy/beautiful to know there's a life in there, or like I like to call James', my little fish. He's constantly swimming around when we first see him on the ultrasound. Pretty sure he's having a hay day in there!!

Our Little Scare-Early Pregnancy

Overview of Weeks 5-11
Being pregnant this first trimester has gone a lot differently than I ever imagined. I thought the sickness and all of that happened early on and was over within a week or two. Before I complain though, let me first say that really I am overjoyed to have this experience!
So, I didn't know losing weight was an option and secondly, who knew feeling exhausted started so soon.  During my 6th week, I couldn't eat anything but apple sauce and jello. Even those two items hurt my stomach and well water, OUT of the question. I later found out that I was taking multivitamins that irritated my stomach so it helped when I later switched. After week 7, and a prescription of Zofran from my doctor, my symptoms weren't 'terrible' (aka didn't feel like the flu anymore) and included cramping week 5 and 6, heartburn, feeling full after two bites, and nausea either at night or during the evening. I was told by my doctor that cramping is usual and it means the uterus is growing, in case any pregnant girls still early on wanted to know ;) i read so many blogs when everything was still too early to make things obvious by asking new mothers questions. By the way, the term 'morning sickness' needs to really renamed "all friggin day gag me" because it hits at different and in spurts throughout the day.

Week 6-Our Little Scare
I'm glad my husband was so excited about telling everyone our great news! He told a lot of his good friends almost the day after we found out, hehe. I was told by my mom about the etiquette so I refrained from sharing as much as I could. It wasn't until after our little scary experience, however, that I really came to understand why people wait to say something...

I woke up on week 6, day 5, also on a Monday, with a little cramping but nothing major. My back didn't hurt and I wasn't dizzy but none the less, the cramping was still there and kept me a little worried. I soon found what sort of looked like a miscarraige. I cried with Jarrod along side me who comforted me by saying it may not be a miscarriage. We opted to go to the doctor but because I wasn't 8 weeks yet, we tried a minor ER center this time and they were fortunately open and very helpful. I arrived at the ER, told them my symptoms and within an hour, they had an ultrasound technician ready for me and had my blood HCP levels back. Jarrod came in time to hear the baby's heartbeat and everything indicated the baby was doing fine! The problems was that the placenta sack tore a little from my uterus, also called a hemmorhage. To prevent further tear, the doctor at the ER and later, my obgyn, told me NO RUNNING and no working out until I get farther along, as long as it's healed. Since week 6, I have been such a good girl and have not run! To most, that would be simple but I love to go for a run so that's been a little hard. I can't complain though because I have a new little life inside me!


Since week 6:

Weight gain: -6 lbs

Highlights: telling family around week 8 after my sisters bridal shower :) my aunts and grandma teared up which was special to me, as I'm definitely more emotional, easy cry target ;)

Symptoms: stomach tightness, nausea, smells stronger, cry-able (I'm talking tear up at a pretty song on the radio), more aggressive, especially about this election. All of a sudden, I've become passionate about politics? Also, speaking my mind has become a little too easy...? Speaking of my mind, pregnancy brain made its debut when I locked my keys in my car AND then spent the next hour in the parking garage underneath my car. I attempted to find the spare key that Jarrod placed under my car, yeah under. Still a sweetie though, love you babe! I finally found the key but too bad Jarrod was almost halfway to where I was (I worked an hour from where we live). So sweet of him! Haha :/

Gender: I think it might be a boy, based on my new interest in politics and oh yah, sports!

Surprise Surprise!

Anniversary!

It was our wedding anniversary week so Jarrod and I celebrated at hotel ZaZa, where we got engaged. We decided to nix on gifts because we just bought a house and I’m not a fan of giving gifts on an anniversary right now. I think it takes away from the meaning, and that is our relationship. For the big mega marks, yah I’d appreciate some jewelry to symbolize our love and commitment ;) For most anniversaries though, I told Jarrod I want the best card ever written and a really fun date. So, Jarrod complied and wrote me by far the sweetest card he’s ever written and with that we had a wonderful date at Hotel ZaZa. Anytime Jarrod does something heartfelt, however, he always has to counter it with something funny, which I love of course. So naturally, on the back of the card he writes “Well, it’s been a year already. When we having babies?!.” I think he may have been prompted to write that as I had just taken a Walmart brand early pregnancy test. I had a weird fainting spell two weeks prior and thought that maybe it was a sign I was pregnant. The two pregnancy tests that I took from that were negative, so I tossed the idea out of my mind and stopped worrying. By the time ‘the time of the month’ was supposed to roll around, I thought nothing of it at first as again, I just had verification that I was not. So, my little mind was put at ease. Then, three days went by and still nothing. I’m very regular and have always been consistent once I got to college. I started to stress again so as always, my solution is to go buy a pregnancy test and find out so I can stop worrying. I also don’t like anticipating or guessing outcomes. When I want to know, I’ll find out dangit!

Walgreens trip

Fortunately, I worked, at the time, down the road from a Walgreens. During my lunch break, I thus decided to take a little trip there. I knew Jarrod would eventually find out that I had yet again bought a pregnancy test so I pondered getting cash from the atm. I never did get cash though and just bought the test, super awkwardly I might add from the cashier lady who couldn’t get her scanner to work. I didn’t want to take the test at work, because well yah, that’s awkward, so I took it in the Walgreens bathroom. Within 2 seconds I saw two lines. There it was, two lines and holy crap what does that mean? I thought “Oh, ok it’s two lines, it’s positive, it’s positive, it’s positive, holy cow I’m pregnant!!!. AHHH!” I just sat there stunned for a while then relieved to know I could get pregnant, as that was a worry since I’d been told I have endometriosis. Who knows if that diagnosis was accurate though, hm. Anyway, I felt a sense of warmth knowing there was a little baby inside me. I’d never thought about what it would be like to find out you're carrying a new life inside you. It was a very specfial feeling to say the least. Unforunately, terrifying thoughts did start to enter my mind after feeling blessed. I honestly had no clue what I was supposed to do next or even how we were supposed to raise a person, human being, baby, teenager, ah! I freaked, obviously, so  I immediately went to the vitamins isle. I just sat on the floor stunned, while trying to pick out vitamins for the next 10 minutes.

The big news

It later donned on me that I should probably tell Jarrod. I can’t keep secrets for the life of me, so I didn’t want to wait and called the poor thing at work. I wish I’d told him in person now but my brain wasn’t really working at that time. So, I called the branch number and his relationship teller answered the phone. She really is the sweetest person and asked all how I was doing, how work was etc. It was so hard to not say, “Oh, yah, I’m good and pregnant!” Jarrod answered the phone about three minutes into our conversation so his worker politely hung up the phone. First, I asked him if the call was recorded. After he clarified that it wasn’t, I did a Jarrod and just blurted out that I went to Walgreens, took a test and it’s positive, so, I’m Pregnant! Jarrod’s initial response was “OMG, you’re kidding, you’re kidding?”. Me-“no, I’m not kidding babe”. Jarrod-“Are you serious, are YOU serious, are you SERIOUS, ARE YOU SERIOUS?”. He said ‘are you serious’ in just about as many possible ways as he could. He was shocked to say the least. The positive fluctuation in his voice let me know he was at least excited though J

Mom’s intuition

As I’m in the parking lot, about to leave Walgreens, my mom calls. Of course she’s calling now, I thought. So, I answered the phone and blurted out that I was pregnant. I didn’t know you were supposed to wait to tell parents until after you’re at least 8 weeks. Ha! My mom would definitely pick up something was up a day into pregnancy so regardless of me not knowing the rule, I think that worked out for the best. Her response was “Well, is this good news”? HAHA! She remembers how freaked out she was when she found out she was pregnant with me so it’s hilarious to me that was the first question out of her mouth. I laughed and said “Well, of course it’s good news, but I’m freaking out! I didn’t plan for this to happen until a couple years from now. I can’t take care of myself right now so how am I supposed to take care of another human? Also, what do I do now? Do I call the doctor, what vitamins do I take, when should I feel sick? AHHH!”. Needless to say, I asked her all the questions that had been running through my mind in one breath as I was definitely freaking at this point. She eventually had my sister join in on the call and answer some of my immediate questions. Kathryn had just completed her first rotation with the obygn so she’d seen a couple pregnant women at that point.

Despite being scared out of our minds, Jarrod and I feel so blessed to have this very loved surprise. We've already started to clear out the closet and are thinking of decorating ideas!!! Can't wait to find out whether it's a boy or girl!!

The Plan

Ultimately, 'The Plan" is to get to heaven. The way the Lord above has us get there though causes some anxst, confusion, surprise and shock. Especially when you or the loved one is young or has already experienced enough hardship in your or their life. It’s also so easy to ask ourselves why, to these situations that God shows us his new plan. I’m currently in that state but not for the effect this new hurdle will have on my life.  I’m confused, hurt, angry and so upset for my sister and her fiance’s family as they’ve received bouts of new information that may ultimately affect their future together.  I can’t understand this new plan at all as they have already lost an older brother, due to cancer, and a father, thanks to a drunk driver. What else does this family need to do to feel God’s presence? I use the reasoning that God wants us to be challenged and learn to seek him out during times of trouble whenever something traumatically bad happens. The only thing is again, they’ve been through it all and never lost touch with him! Not only that, but what terrible timing! My sister and Casey are to be married in 3 months with all the showers and parties taking start this weekend! Maybe the wedding will help lift the focus off the unfortunate new finding but who knows. Time will only tell. :( Prayers for my future brother in law's mother. We love you!

Baby got back, a bad back!

Well, it finally happened....I hurt my back. I say finally because I hardly stretch after my runs and I quit lifting, so it was really bound to happen. I'm not writing this for sympathy, however, and would like to note this in my life dairy because of the funny story that ensued...

SATURDAY
The Gym
Jarrod and I went to the gym to workout. I ran 5 miles because I was trying to get back into training for a half, then eventually a full marathon and didn't quite make the 6 I set out for. Also, Jarrod's bud Corbin, bet us that he could run 6 miles at an 7:30 min/mile pace without ever having run that far before. He also told me he wanted to run in the full marathon with me in Austin. So, naturally, my competitive instincts kicked in, and I ran my little heart out. I hadn't run that far in 3 months myself, at most it's been 3, so that run pretty much killed me. Oddly enough, Corbin made it 3 miles and now owes us a 6 pack of beer. Yes, Corbin, it's documented now so pay up!

Lawn Maintenance...
After the workout, we decided to start our yard work. We just moved in 2 months ago, so the yard isn't where we want it to be. I started weeding the flower beds and then realized weeds were growing in between the rocks, these weird weedy bushes that I hated from the onset, and well, just everywhere. I decided, being proud of the times I can show Jarrod my hard ass side ;), that I was going to remove all the rocks AND the weedy bushes all by my little self. It didn't matter that I was blacking out while doing the work at the time, hello Maria. Also, those rocks are much heavier than they look and the little weed bushes have roots that grow laterally, not just a couple feet deep. It took me an hour, but I finally dug them all up! After that, I tried to help Jarrod edge but kept breaking the plastic blade that comes with this super fancy edger we got from Jarrod's mom. I got fired from that task , but thank goodness. I'd done myself in more than I knew at the time.

SUNDAY
Sunday, my back wasn't sore, just a little tight, but nothing major. Jarrod and I vegged around the house after cleaning, so I wasn't up and moving around to notice I guess?

MONDAY

Rise and Shine!
I usually wake up after Jarrod gets out of the shower. I'm pretty bad, terrible actually, about getting up in the morning and I try to get in as much sleep as possible. Anyway, I lay there after opening my eyes on Monday morning and realize that I can't move, at all. My neck wont turn, my back wont bend, and I can't pull myself up. I felt helpless haha, so I groaned, wined, moaned, and anything else in between. Eventually, Jarrod realized I was needing help, so he came over to assist me to the shower. While in the shower, I thought it would be a good idea to try and stretch my back. Lesson learned as I quickly learned my body didn't like that. I was trying to shampoo my hair while stretching and realized my hands were going numb, the world was spinning and I was going to throw up. Fortunately, I opened the shower door before passing out. I wake up to Jarrod saying from the closet, not able to see me, "Maria., get up! You'll be late for work!". He then proceeds out of the closet and finds me on the floor with hands white and clenched, face white, throat tight and meanwhile yes,  feeling like death. Of course the first thing to run through my mind is "oh shit, I have West Nile? Wait, Maria, don't be a freak, you probably don't. Think about what Kathryn would say to that thought!". Then my rational thoughts went away and were replaced with "shit, i'm dying. I can't breath". I start to cry, and yes, shampoo is still in my hair and oh, I'm naked.

Jarrod's reaction
Jarrod isn't quite sure what's going on, but assumes I am having an allergic reaction to food and gives me benadryl haha. He then puts me in a towel, carries me to the bed and lays me there to later dress me in a dress and heels. I'm lucky he made me look somewhat decent!

Minor ER quest
The plan was then to drive me to a minor ER on his way to work, then pick me up after the second person from his branch shows up. His branch, or maybe banks in general, have a rule where you can't operate the bank if there aren't two people in there at one time. He was scheduled to open and was the only one with the key, so it wasn't an option for him to NOT be at the branch. In giving that back ground, you might understand better why when we got to the ER, and it was closed, we had to go to the branch. The options were now, Maria should drive herself to the nearest open ER or wait with Jarrod at the branch, for the next two hours, until he would leave.

Sidetrack to plan: Cops are OUT!
I decided, after feeling more calm yet extremely stubborn to fix this as fast as possible, that I would be fine to drive to the ER. It sounds crazy now, but I wanted to save my sick days for times my stomach acts up. Anyway, Jarrod's branch is located in not one but TWO school zones and as luck will have it, it's the first day of school. You know what that means, COPS ARE OUT! I wasn't in the car for more than a minute until the cop's red lights flashed. I started to freak out yet again, got more pissed because I just needed to get to the dang hospital, and now my time to get to work before missing less than an hour of work was slimming!

'Genius Idea'
Then a genius idea, or so I thought, entered my mind. I remembered one time where my mom, who was also in a hurry, got pulled over, and asked the cop to come to her house to finish writing her ticket at her house while she got ready for school. (She was on her way home from dropping me off from school when she initially got pulled over). He obliged and wrote her the ticket at her house. So, when the cop came over to ask for my license and registration, I asked him the following "Hi officer, I apologize for not being able to look at you. I don't know what's wrong with my neck and back, can't move it, passed out, and was trying to get myself to a local ER". He was beyond confused, asked why I'm driving in my state, if I knew I could have run over children (?), why I didn't know exactly what ER I was going to, and if he should his medics to come out and look at me. When he mentioned 'medics', I thought just a couple of people to come out and make sure I didn't break anything, or have west nile (irrational thoughts still present in my mind apparently). While waiting, the cop also asked if I have a husband. I say yes, then he, looking confused, asked why he didn't drive. So awkwardly, I had to tell him what happened that morning, in detail, while still staring straight at the road. I definitely got the vibe that I had to defend my husband and somehow was able to emphasize that I wasn't a beaten victim. I kept saying, "my husband is a good man!". This is all in tears at this point.

The Ambulance?!
Yeah, not more than 5 minutes later, a firetruck AND ambulance come. Jarrod sends me a text saying "OMG where are you, I just saw an ambulance. Is that for you?!". I, wearing heels and a dress, got out of the car, so embarrassed and not able to text him back, and handed the cop my phone because I apparently forgot Jarrod's number. Cop calls Jarrod, tells him where he'll drop off his car, and then places my phone in my purse.
At this point, I was in an ambulance and completely emberassed. The medics were all very calm, which was nice, and were sweet enough to carry a light conversation with me. Not more than 10 minutes later, I arrived at the hospital, in a stretcher, and eventually roomed next to people with serious car accident conditions. I again, felt a little rediculous! Regardless, the doctors did the x rays, blood tests, hooked me up to an IV, and even did a cat scan for me. Still not near my phone during all of this, my prince charming, Jarrod, found me! I have this application on my iphone called find friends and it's basically tracks my whereabouts. My hun stayed by my side, even after I was doped up so much on muscle relaxers, until I was released about 4 hours later. Did I mention that he had appointments and many plans scheduled that day?! He's a busy busy man and obviously, a hard worker at that!

What a sweet heart Jarrod was to me that day and I feel so comforted to know he'll be there for me no matter what! What a great experience to go through before something life changing was about to occur.

Blink of an eye

So, you know how elders always say "enjoy this time now because it will fly with the blink of an eye"? Yah, they are right! First year of marriage has flown by oh so fast! That's a good thing though, as I'd rather have a good year to remember then a dragging bad one!
Highlights from year one of marriage:

Getting to explore North Carolina through hiking, road trips, hot air balloons, formals and long runs in the fall foliage.

Jarrod coming home and not knowing what to expect when he got there. I can't stand sitting still (mind you, I wasn't working) so I went out to a consignment store one day and bought an entire bedroom set, china cabinet and then a table, but no chairs. All under 1K, which is good as all that new would have cost 20K. To make matters more exciting, I wanted to strip and stain the bedroom furniture outside our 600 sq foot apartment. So one day, Jarrod told me, don't sand with the electric sander inside. Naturally, I thought it was therefore ok to sand with sand paper inside without him knowing, when it was cold and raining mind you. I had everything lined up by the door ready to take out before jarrod got home. That would have worked out great if Jarrod hadn't come home early. In his usual aggressive self, he opens the door then runs into the dresser and then over the corner of the dresser I was working on. Definitely an I love Lucy moment on my part there haha. Poor husband!

Finding out we were moving to Dallas, then the big road trip and move there! We moved things from 3 different cities, oy vay!

Fun times with friends! Dancing, drinking, concerts, road trips to Austin, the farm in Corsicana, San Antonio, Birthdays, aggie game, celebrating new friend home, that one time at jump for life! ;) pool times, 4th of July and disc golf, grilling out, cirque de soleil, peticure (yes my 1 of 2for the year! I've been a good girl), house warming party, aggie hh.

Fun times with family! Our big vacay to Jacksonville was so much fun! I won't forget the big hike that day, bush whacking, fly fishing. Multiple Trips to Houston and Austin were always fun! Highlights of those include trip to exotic animal ranch in Austin, Larry's 60th, Christmas in Austin, thanksgiving in htown, mama Mia's 98th birthday in Houston, wedding dress shopping for Kat, Joe's WS concert in college station!


Finding our new home and that big move! Thanks to Janice and Debi! Our parents spoiled us with home decorations, essentials and even helped us paint the house!!

Renting my own first piano and starting lessons with Dr Allison! I've learned so much in the 3 lessons I've had!!

Gardening with the hubs. The story that ensued as a result of our hard work. That will be explained later

Every day life with hubs. He always comes home and will give me a kiss. He never fails to do laundry, help me clean kitchen and makes a point to have us time, without tv on. He's always supportive, really wants me to continue my hobbies, running and piano, and is just a great teammate to have in this together forever life we signed up for ;) that and he let's me think I'm smarter and wiser, which makes him smarter and wiser than me :[]

Thankful for a great first year!!

Smiling Eyes

For those of you that don't know me, I'm as deep as deep can go. Having recently learned my personality type, INFJ, I have come to better understand this fact and come to accept it. I've learned that writing could be a way for me to clean the slate but also share what I've learned, experienced, funny or serious, and hope to share. In saying that, WARNING, items in posts contain deep material ;)

Why "Smiling Eyes"? I have titled this blog after the Indian princess name given to my sister, Kathryn. From Kathryn and my brother Joe, over the years, I've learned that smiling eyes is a physical representation of what you're feeling inside, Christs love and warmth. I am so glad I have such an amazing sister and brother to look up to. Because of what I've learned through them and now my husband, I feel more relaxed about just, well, things and would like to dedicate this blog to how I see my life thanks to them! I should also, obviously, credit my mom and dad for this too! What an amazing positive influence they've been to all of us! Heck, they're the ones that gave us our sweet little indian princess names!

Below is a favorite picture of mine! Notice the blue toaster oven in the back! haha!