The post in which I apologize.

I'm sorry. I'm a bad blogger. Life got in the way of blogging and I can't seem to keep up anymore with a lot of different things. Of course, it doesn't help that the holidays have been keeping me busy and away from my phone or computer. I don't even have a bump pic for like the past two weeks except some that my aunt took.

Anyways, life has been a little hectic and worrisome lately and it's not good to make the hormonal pregnant lady worry, because then she will get mad that she's worrying and then her madness will turn into angry tears. Cue the water works because everything lately is making me cry. It could be another twist in the pregnancy symptoms or it could be because I am an angry crier. Instead of counting up for the weeks of the pregnancy, I am now past the halfway point and am starting to feel like I have so much to do and not enough time to do it in. I know this is an over reaction and I just need to get my butt in gear.

In an effort to catch up, here is the post for weeks 20 and 21. I'm sorry for being a poor blogger, friend in life and on FB. I'm not going to lie and say I will do better because I know the next week will be even worse for being online. I am taking a mental and physical break. Starting today I will be off work for an entire week. Wahooo! I will be visiting my parents and in laws for several days around Christmas and phone/internet service is spotty up there. (Yes I am from an area that barely got antenna service for TV for my entire life. No joke -- we didn't get more than two snowy channels until I was in high school.)

I digress. I will be back. Eventually. If you need me, pick up a can and talk through the string. (This reminds me -- we had a rotary dial phone until I was a senior in high school. That was in 1999 people. ROTARY PHONE. I swear to you that if we called one of those places where you had to press 1 for English, WE COULDN'T PRESS 1! Do you know how hard that is????)

My mornings: I'm getting up at 4 a.m. But on a brighter note, I will be off for 7 days!!!

My nights: Sleep is OK except that my hips are hurting more and more. Thanks to some great advice from some experienced mamas, I am going to go shopping for a Snoogle or a Boppy tomorrow.

How far along: 21w, 4d

How big is baby: Baby He-Man is 10.5 in and the size of a banana. At my anatomy scan last Friday, the tech told me the baby was already 14 ounces and according to the little fruit scale ticker thingees, we are measuring above the normal average, so YAY!

Weight:

Starting weight: 130

Total weight gain: 17

This week: 147

How I’m changing: The child is growing in my boobs and now my lungs. I think my uterus has relocated there. Breathing while sitting in a chair is getting harder. I have to stand up a lot more at work. I think the baby keeps swimming up and hugging my lungs.

What I miss: Good deep sleep.

Symptoms: I haven't had a headache in 4 days. FOUR DAYS! Do you know how long that is? It's a whole lotta time!!!!

Cravings: Gatorade. Specifically Orange gatorade.

Food Aversions: Nothing.

Highlights this week: We got to surprise the family with the news that we're having a boy!

Maternity clothes: Yep. Love them.

Stretch marks: I think I am getting them on both my butt cheeks.

Sleep: I wish it was better, but I will take it for right now.

Movement: I 'm feeling him more and more. DH hasn't been able feel him yet and he is really looking forward to it.

Gender: We're Team He-Man!!

Labor signs: Nope. Way too soon.

Belly button: I will still be an innie for a while, but I can tell that it's changing.

What I am looking forward to: My next appt is Monday. Should be a standard checkup. Quick pee, blood poke, heart doppler and then head home. Christmas is the next major event and I am looking forward to more family time, apple cider and lots of relaxing time. I plan on unplugging and turning off my phone. I'm not on call but I know work will be trying to get me to come in because it's inevitable that the scheduled workers will call in sick.

Milestones: Half baked!!!! I HAVE to get started on the nursery soon!!!

When you make a cheese sandwich...

Pro tip: Do Not leave the bread on the counter. 

Four pieces of bread were kept unmonitored on the counter as I turned my back. This is the look that Bella gave me when I asked her about it. And unless Minnie grew wings, I don't believe it was the tiny doxie. 

The secret is out!!!!

I apologize for not updating last night. We didn't get home until late but the night was a big success. 

Like I said before, my SIL and brother were the only ones who were aware that the announcement was coming. Every family member asked me when the date of the US would be, why we couldn't find out sooner and how excited they were to eventually know if there would be a boy or girl coming into the family. 

Mom even said wouldn't it have been great if I could have found out that day so I could have announced at the party. I just kept saying, "We will find out soon." 

I pulled my aunt aside and told her the plan. She is the resident family photographer. She's forceful enough to line the group photos up. It's my one chance to sit aside and enjoy how mad people get when you force them to grin with each other for 5 minutes. It's so painful. And yet so hilarious. Thank goodness I am not the one lining up the little ants. I love not having to take the pictures when she is there. I can sit and enjoy and actually be in some photos. Irony happens when she pulls out last years photos and people always thank her for taking the family photos but then cry like little crap covered infants during the chaos. 

Back to the story ... We were scared the self timer option wouldn't be optimal for capturing the best reactions so my aunt decided to stay behind the camera while my parents, kids, and grand kids were lined up. The rest of the family was standing around watching the goat rodeo known as family picture time. 

She took two pictures, set up her secondary camera to record (secretly) and then said lets take one more. When she normally would have counted down to smile, it was my turn to announce ...

"Everyone say, 'It's a BOY!!!!!!'"

We're TEAM HE-MAN!!!!!

DH is proudly showing off the babies junk and bragging that the size is world record material. It's nice to see him really excited about the pregnancy. Don't get me wrong. He was happy but he's been so worried and antsy about everything up until now. Since the US and the doctor's assurance that everything looks normal and developing fine, he's been more relaxed. 

We got a few pictures yesterday at the US but I have to wait on the reveal pics from my aunt. That's the only downside from not being the photographer. 

All night long people kept asking if I was serious and if it really is a boy. They're all very excited. Dad's already planning what gun to buy the baby first. Redneck for lyfe y'all! 

By the power of Grayskull, here's He-Man... 

Is it a BOY or a GIRL?

It's almost time. Clicky poll is on the right on the sidebar!!!

The poll will be open until I make the big reveal to family tonight. After that, I will announce to my stalkers. Happy clicking!!!

If you can't click on the poll or are on mobile, feel free to comment with your answer.

Yesterday. I'm just glad it's over.

Can we just forget that yesterday ever happened? Mark it off the calendar. Erase it from my memory. Scratch it up to one of my worst days EVAR. 

Even without being pregnant, yesterday sucked. This whiny post isn't even really about pregnancy. I'm not even sure what's going on is related to gestating. 

I got off night shift at 6 am, felt a headache coming on, drank some water and took a couple Tylenol. My recent headaches (read as almost daily headaches) have been staying just headaches and not turning into migraines. My theory is they're caused dehydration. As long as I'm drowning my kidneys with water, the headaches subside quickly or stay pretty dull. 

Bed was calling my name and I figured the headache would go away while I slept. Wrong. 

Wrong. 

I couldn't have been more wrong. Around noon my belly was cramping and I immediately ran to the bathroom. I have the opposite of constipation problem right now so this didn't surprise me. Add another reason it's been difficult to stay hydrated. Headache was still there but not worse so I went back to bed. 

The final time I woke up was around the cut off point time for calling in sick to work. I've called in sick a couple times but thought that I didn't feel too bad to make it. About 20 minutes later, I regretted that decision. It was a full blown migraine and I was laying naked on the bathroom floor throwing up. 

Normally, if I get sick, the migraine will ease up. Wrong again. I don't even know how many more times I threw up. DH wanted to call in for me but I said I would tough it out or come home sick after my relief person could come in. 

That plan didn't take long since I didn't even make it to my console before I threw up again. My supervisor was awesome and didn't even give me the choice to stay. She sent me home. Me and her are both stubborn people and it takes a lot for us to abandon work. And that's exactly how I feel when I call in sick. I feel like that shift is my responsibility and I should be there. She feels the same. I did the same to her one day when she had an abscessed tooth and was in tears because she couldn't even talk. Guess what? Talking is pretty important in our job. Communicating with callers, officers, firemen and paramedics is kinda important. Same goes for puking. I may or may not have dispatched via portable radio or by headset from the bathroom before but the sound of vomiting when answering a 911 call or radio is not something you want to be recorded. 

::side story-- we have a dispatcher who can't stand the sound of someone throwing up. Not surprisingly, we get a lot of medical calls where throwing up can be heard in the background or by the caller itself. "Hello. I need an amb...(vomit) ambulance to 112 first stree ...(voooooomit) street, please." 

This dispatcher will throw up everything the caller throws up. End story:: You're welcome for that visual.

Anyways, I was back home, but not too soon since the car movement and lights from vehicles and houses really ticks off my migraines and triggered another session of naked bathroom time. Don't ask me why but if I am throwing up at home, I have to be naked. 

Today, I'm feeling better. My stomach and my head still aren't friends. But at least they've called a truce and are existing painlessly right now. As for these migraines and for yesterday, I'm going to try to forget about both because as soon as I get a twinge of pain I'm instantly scared that it's going to happen again. And I would really like to not be naked on the bathroom floor in the near future. 

For your viewing please, here's a pic before I got naked again yesterday. 

Half baked!

Who knew that 20 weeks could fly by so quickly? 

A longer post will come later, but I wanted to mark this day down. It's a milestone that seemed impossible some days. I still can't believe it sometimes. 

19 weeks: You say Tom-A-to. I say Tom-a-TO.

My mornings: I'm getting up at 4 a.m. How do you think I am doing? ::work related whine::

My nights: Sleep is actually going better once I fall asleep.

How far along: 19w,7d. ONE MORE DAY UNTIL HALF BAKED!!!

How big is baby: Skeletor is fattening up a little more this week. The size of an heirloom tomato, baby is 8.5 ounces at 6 inches in size.

Weight:

Starting weight: 130

Total weight gain: 14

This week: 144

How I’m changing: The child is growing in my boobs. I think my uterus has relocated there. 

What I miss: A job with normal hours.

 

Symptoms: Headaches are still causing me problems. I get one about everyday.

Cravings: Another firehouse salad. House dressing. Extra dressing and extra cheese please. My awesome coworker bought me a pint of the salad dressing. MMMmmmmm.

Food Aversions: Nothing.

Highlights this week: We know the sex of the baby!!!! But I am not telling. muahahhaahaha. We did a quick ultrasound and found out the sex. It was awesome to see the baby again. My anatomy scan is set for this Friday and once we have that done, we will be surprising my family with it on Friday evening during a big Christmas dinner. I am so excited to let the cat out of the bag!

Maternity clothes: Yep. Wearing them more and more. 

Stretch marks: I think I am getting one on my butt.

Sleep: I wish it was better, but I will take it for right now.

 

Movement: I feel some bubbles, twists and turns in there a couple times a day now. I was using the doppler on Friday, Dec. 6 and when I pressed the wand into my stomach a little ways, the baby kicked it and I could see the doppler physically get moved from the kick. It was such a hard kick that I could feel it from inside and outside and it shocked the crap out of me.  

Gender: NOT TELLING!!!!!! Stay tuned!

Labor signs: Nope. Way too soon.

Belly button: I will still be an innie for a while.

What I am looking forward to: I finally get a chance to surprise people with something! My anatomy scan was supposed to be sometime in the middle of the month. Also this month is my family's annual Christmas dinner with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. It's one of the only times we can get all the sides of the family together.

 

My plan is to get the family together for our standard group photo and when it's time to say "cheese" I am going to announce the gender. I keep going back and forth between this idea and hiding the surprise in a gift during the Dirty Santa game so when someone opens the gifts either balloons are inside or something that says, "It's a ..."

Milestones: Almost to 20 weeks!!! One more day and I will be half baked!!

I have a secret

And I can't tell you guys either! 

Neiner. Neiner. Neiner.

Soooooo...we sorta, kinda, maybe had an ultrasound earlier than expected and we know what we're having. 

Buuuuutttt, I'm not telling anyone until next week. I am determined to surprise my family with the news, so that means you all get to wait too. 

As for other news, Baby Skeletor is moving like crazy lately but DH still hasn't been able to feel. I did learn that I have an anterior placenta so it may be a while before he can feel it too. 

This post is one giant tease so I will leave you with some pics of baby skeletor.

Here's a creepy US pic for you. It freaks me out that you can see baby's eye balls! Crazy! Yet, I love it. 

Temps are in the 60s this week, so me and the furry monster went on a walk at my alma mater yesterday. 

Week 18: Sweet potato. Mmmmmm Thanksgiving feast week!

My mornings: Hello night shift. Goodbye sleep.

My nights: I can go to sleep OK, but it's staying asleep that is a challenge.

 

How far along: 18w,6d

How big is baby: Skeletor is fattening up this week thanks to the holiday meals. Baby is the size of a sweet potato and I ate loads of sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving. Baby weighs about 6.7 ounces and is 5.6 inches.

Weight:

Starting weight: 130

Total weight gain: 14

This week: 144

My official weight at the doctor's appointment last week was 144. With some recent vomiting and stomach issues, my weight has been up and down a couple pounds lately. 

How I’m changing: The child is growing in my boobs. I think my uterus has relocated there.

What I miss: A good night's sleep and warm weather.

Symptoms: Headaches are my main problem right now. They're getting in the way of normal life and making me sick and/or miss work.

Cravings: Another firehouse salad. House dressing. Extra dressing and extra cheese please.

Food Aversions: Nothing.

Highlights this week: I had my 18w OB appointment which was quick. Pee in a cup. Poke my finger. Doppler on the belly and done. I'm glad I remembered to ask the OB about my previous bloodwork (everything was fine except that Antibody N thing but it will have no affect on me or pregnancy) and my frequent migraines. He prescribed a drug that has a sedative, aceptamenophen, and caffeine to help stop a migraine when it first starts. I have used it once this week. It worked OK as far as knocking me out but it's not a miracle drug that completely gets rid of the crippling pain, vomiting, sickness, inability to tolerate light and noises, etc. But at least I got a couple hours of sleep from it.

 

Maternity clothes: Yep. Wearing them more and more. I had to buy some more pants. Despite the dozens of pants that were loaned to me, there were only two pair that were long enough for me. I bought one extra pair that I think should last me through the whole pregnancy. The other two that fit are low panel ones and they are getting uncomfortable as the belly grows.

Stretch marks: None. I think I am getting one on my butt.

Sleep: Ha. Stupid Sleep. My body hates sleep.

Movement: I feel some bubbles at least once a day now. Sometimes more.

Gender: I still think Boy. We did the ring test and it said boy too. We shall see soon.

Labor signs: Nope. Way too soon.

Belly button: I will still be an innie for a while.

What I am looking forward to: I finally get a chance to surprise people with something! My anatomy scan was supposed to be sometime in the middle of the month. Also this month is my family's annual Christmas dinner with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. It's one of the only times we can get all the sides of the family together. With some help from my SIL ::howdy and waves:: we were able to plan the date for Dec 13. SIL and brother always host it at their house. I originally had the ultrasound set for Dec. 16 which is the date that I told my mom and family members. BUuuuutttt, I rescheduled for Dec. 13 and we're now planning on a surprise gender reveal at the party. I will update the blog with the reveal options to get some opinions as we make more plans.

Milestones: Each day and week is another milestone. I am cleaning out the spare room and thinking of nursery ideas.

18 weeks UK hoodie shot!