Raging Cravings!!!

This is a list of the things I crave on a revolving cycle: •Pepperoni Pizza rolls •Fried polish sausage •1-2 scrambled eggs •100% Whole wheat toast •Applesauce •Prune juice •Apple juice •Strawberry yogurt •Grilled chicken •Canada Dry •Cold water Everything else is could really be considered sustenance bc I only eat it to appease the hunger feeling. I find little enjoyment in it. Lol. I'm sure this list will get longer in the weeks to come but for right now me & my baby could probably survive on that list alone and be just as content. :)

POWER. Love. Sound Mind.

During this last week, I am slowly realizing that as a pregnant woman, the mainstream media can overwhelm you with fear if you let them. People in the news, blogs, the experts, EVERYONE is always reporting on the extremes. It makes you not even want to read or look up anything because almost always you'll find your doing something "potentially risky." For me today it was flaxseed and canteloupe. First thing: Earlier this morning around 9AM, I was eating organic strawberry-flavored oatmeal with ground flaxseed from Sprouts. Delicious! And in my mind, I thought 'I wonder what are the benefits of flax for pregnancy because I know for a fact it's great for heart health and lowering risk of hypertension in non-pregnant adults. Sounds right, right? WRONG! Research is apparently inconclusive about the effects of flax in pregnant women.' Some blogs had countless stories of women who took flaxseed supplements before pregnancy and continued into pregnancy and their babies were just find. Then others said that inconclusive research was about flaxseed oil and its potential harmful effects not to be confused with ground flaxseed (which is what I was eating). Nevertheless, knowing myself, I will probably not be eating anymore of that oatmeal, just to be on the safe side. When ppl say "potentially" anything, it stirs up these emotions of fear and alarm. I mean NOBODY, ESP a pregnant person, wants to be on the wrong side of a potentially negative thing. You start thinking, what if Im in the 2% and not the 98%. Second thing: So I'm up late at 2:00AM MST, can't sleep (mainly bc Ive been sleep from 7P-1A) and I decide to have a glass of water and the rest of my canteloupe slices. Sounds safe right? WRONG! Lol. So I decide to look up the benefits of canteloupe for preggers folks. So apparently In the summer and fall of 2011, cantaloupes contaminated with listeria sickened 147 people in 28 states, killing 33 of them. That listeria outbreak -- the deadliest in a decade -- was unusual because listeria is rarely associated with fresh produce, according to a new report from the CDC. Although rare, listeria is an important public-health issue because of its severity, said report co-author Benjamin Silk, a CDC epidemiologist in the division of foodborne, waterborne and environmental diseases. "Nearly all people who have listeria infections diagnosed are hospitalized, and about one in five die," Silk said. Of the 147 people, 7 were pregnant and one miscarried. Immediately I started thinking, 'ONE! That damn 2%! Could that be me? Is this safe?' He's not even here yet and Im already poisoning him with flaxseed and now listeria. Putting this poor little baby in harms way! I just thank God for my relationship with Him bc I feel like I was going off the deep in...and fast! Lol. God reminded me that He has not given us a spirit of fear. But one of power, LOVE, and a sound mind. I don't have to drive myself crazy over every little thing. As Type A as I may be, there's gonna be a lot more "potentially dangerous" stuff once he's finally here. So chill and relax. Love normally, eat normally, and stay away from media. I now feel better, as I don't need to confirm that everything Im eating is helping him grow. It's food, it's helping. :) If you are feeling like I was, I hope this helps you too feel like you are going crazy. I'm slowly learning there's POWER in staying AWAY from the media.

Happy New Year!!!!

Cheers to the freaking new year! Can't drink to that. Yea yea... lol I'm still so happy for new beginnings: Mondays, 1st of the month, etc. Today has been spent lounging. Still nauseous but it's somewhat manageable and I remind myself everyday that it can't last forever. I'm looking forward to the next phase though. I was a little sad because I don't have my mom to celebrate this pregnancy with but I have one of THE best support systems. My best friends Monica, Kelly, and Julia have been so supportive and have had continual encouraging words. My little sister Olivia checks on me everyday. My aunt Leah next door has pampered me with all the snacks my lil fat pregnant heart desires and positive energy. And last but not least, my amazing Hubby has had my back from day one by telling me that I'm still cute and WE are gonna get through this. We've definitely been through worse. I've also had support and encouraging words from a host of other family and friends--far too many to name. I feel like things are slowly coming together. I had re-evaluating all my bills and cutting unnecessary spending habits, starting with my super ridiculous monthly phone bill. I have my WIC and ADES appointments next week so that'll allow us to prepare better. I've applied for our new BIGGER apartment across town, started preparing my 2013 tax return, and started reading on birthing plan options.

Countdown to Ultrasound

So today I did a phone screening over the phone with Scottsdale Perinatal. The high-risk OB/GYN decided that I was not considered high risk solely on the basis of my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and the time it took me to conceive. She told me that I should go to a regular OB and if necessary down the road then I would get a referral to them.

I was happy because I felt the same way. Being labeled "high risk" scared me. So now I have an appointment for 23 days from today with my Aunt Leah's OB/GYN who delivered her twins. I'm excited for 2 things:1) now I officially have my own OB doctor. Her name is Christine Oehler, MD with Desert West OBGYN, Ltd. I've met her before when I was Leah's coach toward the end of Leah's pregnancy. She was very nice and knowledgeable; 2) I will have my first ultrasound on this day and I will finally hear my baby's heartbeat!!!! And the doctor will confirm that everything is okay.

My Current Situation

12/31/2014 @8:23AM MST

I currently feel like Violet from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory AFTER she ate that bubble gum piece that tastes like a 3-course meal with dessert gone totally wrong. Lol. Just bloated...Totally bloated and nothing will help. Pray for me...

My Current Situation

The way I figure, a picture is sometimes worth a thousand words, so I've decided to periodically find a picture or make a PicStitch to share with my own caption to describe my current situation... Most of them will be funny and I sometimes have a crude sense of humor so if that's not your type of humor *Warning* Do not proceed!

12/30/2013 @10:13PM MST

To the left: This is the regular me on sleep. To the right: This is my pregnant body on sleep. Things just got worse! 

I'm Gonna Be Somebody's MAMA!

Today sucks but not really. It is the first Monday of my last day of work here at the state health department and I am SO nauseous I could punch a baby great white in the face!  Smh. But as miserable as I am, I'm also happy because I am moving on to a bigger, better job soon and today also marks the confirmation of my pregnancy! Ryan and I went to my PCP this morning (who is probably the MOST awesome doctor in the world) and she confirmed what we already knew: WE'RE REALLY PREGNANT! Lol. I wasn't surprised but it just brought home the reality of it. After 8 years with it "just being us", there will finally be a 3rd person in my house this time next year. I will also be winding down my 1-year probationary period at my new job. Looking forward to the baby, but terrified of birth.

It's so funny because I was seriously preparing myself for a future that included like a gazillion fertility drugs and a ton of prayer. But when I learned I was pregnant,  it was like I knew my body was made for this. I definitely believe I have my awesome hubby to thank for this pregnancy--him and God, of course. He has been on a serious family health kick after watching "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" and reading "The 4-Hour Body"... he's rid the house of processed foods (well most of them) and he put us on a whole foods lifestyle. It took some adjusting but I totally went into it thinking only about the weight-loss benefits and nothing of the collateral side effects. I'm just grateful God gave him a vision and he followed through on it and I followed him. And now I'm having a sweet lil' baby soon.

I've never been a person who vomits easily. So I have not thrown up once. But the nausea is so overwhelming sometimes. I'm currently sitting at my desk and it feels as if I am rocking on a boat. And the fatigue is no joke. I could start a running list of the places I have randomly fell asleep (oftentimes drooling on Ryan): slumped over on Ryan's cousin's couch, the movie theater, the car, sitting up on our couch, my office desk... I feel like a borderline narcoleptic. It's really sad lol. But such is life...

It's probably time for me to try to do some actual work. So excited to schedule my OB/GYN appt tomorrow morning and even MORE excited about my first ultrasound. Let's Gooooo!