The hearts of little children

Nothing in the world has touched my heart like the sound of my baby's heartbeat. My only wish is that Ryan could have been there with me.  He had to settle for a recording from my phone.  So, my second appointment was yesterday and Dr. Stafford says everything is going great.  My energy is up (a little) and I am no longer experiencing the constant cold, thanks to the synthroid.  Now that I am in my twelfth week the nausea is starting to subside - slightly.  My tummy is starting to feel more firm and (supposedly) Baby Lang is about the size of a plum.  Hopefully I am one of the lucky ones who gets to experience a smooth sailling second trimester :) 
I know I am not the first woman to be pregnant but this is my first time experiencing it.  I felt that I knew a good deal about pregnancy and babies but I am learning so much now that I think I barely knew anything!  I am so lucky to have my mother, mother in law and grandmothers (including Grammie in law) who all gently give advice and offer suggestions.  Being so far away from all of them is tough. 
So only two more months before we will have an opportunity to find out - Boy or Girl!  I just can't wait.  I am excited to know if we need to buy baseball bats and golf clubs or barbies and golf clubs.  Ryan is so excited to teach golf to Baby Lang no matter who comes out!  He might have a harder time if we end up with a prissy little girl (like I was) who doesnt care to get dirty.  But we shall see! 
Love you all!

Week 11

So I heard from my doctor earlier this week about my bloodwork.  Everything was normal, she said except my thyroid levels were low (consistent with hypothyroidism) so she sent me to an endocrinologist.  There, I gave more blood and talked wtih Dr. Shaw (easier to type than endocrinoligist :) ).  She said it is pretty normal for a woman to develop hypothyroidism during pregnancy, though I could have had it before but was never tested for it.  Since the baby doesn't develop the thyroid until week 12 my thyroid is working 30-40% harder and has a hard time keeping up.  So, I started taking synthroid this morning (at 5:30am since I have to wait at least an hour before eating) and hopefully this will help with my always being cold and exhausted.  I am going today to have an ultrasound of my thyroid just to make sure I don't have thyroid cancer (which according to Dr. Shaw is unlikely but she is just taking precautions since I do have bumps on my thyroid).

Other than that things are pretty quiet.  I had a tough time with nausea yesterday but with crackers and water I was able to get through it and get some dinner down.  I can't believe I am 11 weeks already.  It seems to be going by quickly but I think that is because we are counting weeks...I do have 29 weeks more to go which sounds like alot!  I hope you all are well and miss you all very much! 
Love and Smooches from the Langs! 

Moving right along

Happy Easter for any of you I was not able to talk to yesterday.  I flew out to Pittsburgh to be with Ryan for Easter since he was stuck here for work.  I was a bit nervous - even though my doctor AND Nicole said flying is perfectly safe in the first and second trimesters.  I prayed through the first take off and landing but realized I felt perfectly fine.  Phew!  The weather here in Pittsburgh has been as rainy and overcast as Franklin.  But it is always nice to come back here and visit my old haunts and see friends I don't get to see otherwise. 
Not much has changed in the growing baby department.  I still have random nausea and find myself either still full from my last meal or STARVING and weak, needing to eat immediately.  I try to keep snacks close by so as not to get too weak and so far I have been doing ok.  Exhaustion hits me like a freight train though and sometimes I just have to close my eyes for a bit and rest. 
I have been reading some of my book to Ryan and I think things are starting to sink in for him.  He does get a little overwhelmed when I try to teach him things to be careful of (like how to try and prevent SIDS by not leaving pillows and blankets in the crib).  I think I should focus more on getting through the pregnancy with him first and then we can talk more safety and strategy when I am much closer to delivery.  He has a few months till then :)

First Doctor's Visit

We saw the baby today!  And the heartbeat!  What an amazing sight.  Dr. Stafford was very nice and was glad to hear I am healthy and moving right along.  PHEW!  They took some blood and luckily I didnt pass out.  All the doctors I met today were very nice and I am excited to work with them during my pregnancy.  My next appointment is May 16th. 
I guess that is all for today.  I am a little overwhelmed from the experience of seeing the baby for the first time.  I am so relieved it is growing normally and I am on schedule.  Now I can relax some and focus on my eating and exercise. 
Love you all!!

Interesting...

I started reading a book called "You: Having a Baby" by Michael F. Roizen, MD and Mehmet C. Oz, MD.  This book has introduced me to alot of different things; from what to expect to happen to my body to what to eat and how to recognize pregnancy depression.  I read an interesting fact about the male brain vs the female brain.  Since the 'male fetus has more testosterone than the female fetus, it typically lags three weeks behind the female fetus neurologically at birth'.  This is why females survive more commonly when born premature than males.  Due to the childbearing importance of girls there is not much variation on girls' brain development. Boys on the other hand, have a wider variety of ups and downs which 'manifests in more autism and a broader intellectual curve'.

Another interesting thing I read was about fingerprints.  I will simply quote the book here:  "Innumerable environmental factors influence the formation of fingerprints, including the exact position of the fetus in the womb at a particular moment and the exact composition and density of the amniotic fluid that's swirling around the fingers as they touch srrounding structures.  And that's what decides how every individual ridge will form.  The entire development process is so chaotic that, in the entire course of human history, there is virtually no chance of the same exact pattern forming twice."  *I thought my two scientific minded sisters (Amanda and Nicole) would enjoy these facts :)

So tomorrow is the first doctors appointment.  Since everything feels just fine I am sure that is what the doctor is going to say - " You're doing great!!"  Still I am a bit nervous.  Most of the weekend I have been pretty nauseous.  And extrememly tired.  Especially when I workout, I am pretty exhausted.  I have started shy-ing away from eggs - I just can't stomach them.  Which is sad because they are a great protein for breakfast!  I still can't even think about eating red meat...<I even shudder when I type it>...

Ryan has been pretty amazing this weekend.  I have only made one meal and that was my lunch today (he is out playing golf).  I am so greatful to have a husband who is taking such good care of me.  It makes me sad for women that have to go through pregnancy alone.  It is such a blessing to be able to share this all with Ryan and to watch him change into such a wonderful caregiver.  I am sad he is going back to Pittsburgh next week  :( 

I will update you all tomorrow after the appointment.  Love!!!

And the award goes to...

Ryan!!!  I got to work this morning and out of nowhere started craving an Egg McMuffin from McDonalds.  I told Ryan and off he went, just in time, to get me one.  It is super tasty (as I type this I am still chewing my last savory bite) and I feel so lucky to be married to Super Husband!!  Well, maybe that is a little bit over kill but that's ok.  It was really sweet of him to go get my cravings desire.  (And if you are wondering, wasn't he supposed to be in Pittsburgh - he ended up changing his travel plans and won't be leaving again until next Tuesday.  Thank goodness he was here!!!)

So today I noticed a small bump while I was getting dressed.  Nothing too encumbering but I don't think my jeans will fit without a 'baby band' so I can leave them unbuttoned.  I am wearing more dresses these days so thank goodness the weather is warmer!  Although, I find I am cold alot.  Which is weird because my body temperature should be going up, making me hot.  It could have something to do with the AC being down to 71° at work and 69° at home.  I have to wear socks when I go to bed and use an extra blanket.  Of course I wake up at 2 am sweating and tear it all off me.   

Tomorrow marks eight weeks (two months) along.  My doctors appointment isn't until next Monday (the 18th) and I am really excited.  I have a list of questions to ask (one of which is it ok that I am cold alot) and I just want to hear from the doctor's lips "Everything is going wonderfully".  I have been still working out - doing more cardio than resistance training.  My day at the park on Sunday was wonderful.  I got a little sunburned on my shoulders though.  I guess I underestimated the 10am sun!  On days I work out I am even more tired.  Drained, really.  But I am happy I can get out and work up a sweat.

I hope you all are enjoying these little naratives.  It is nice to have a way to keep you all in the pregnancy loop.  Love to you all! 

I am about to head out to the park for a little exercise.  We have a beautiful park close to home with a walking trail and today is just gorgeous.  Ryan is out playing golf so I figured I would take advantage of the nice weather as well. 
I still feel pretty good.  I do have the occasional cramp still and I have started a new thing with food.  I am in the middle of eating, say a burritto, going right along and about half way through the thought of another bite makes me want to hurl.  It has happened a few times now and it is slightly frustrating because I eat just enough to not be hungry anymore but don't really feel satified yet.  Hopefully that will subside.  I for sure won't be able to eat a hamburger for a while.  The thought of red meat right now - yuck.  Ew.  No, thank you. 
One thing that I have enjoyed lately is my ability to know exactly what I want.  In our relationship, Ryan is usually the picky one.  He wants spaghetti, so we have spaghetti for dinner.  He wants to eat out, we eat out.  But now that I am pregnant, my decision making had gotten so much better and Ryan is very accommodating.  In fact, he has been so sweet lately.  He made me breakfast in bed yesterday (I seem to sleep in much later now and feel tired alot) and pretty much lets me do what I want to do...within reason!  He won't let me get a carton of ice cream and eat the whole thing :)  which wouldn't be good for me or the baby anyway.