To my Little Kangaroo - 12/29/13

Well, I scheduled our first set of labwork and office visit. By January 9, I'll be just shy of 8 weeks pregnant, I think. I am supposed to come prepared with a list of questions for the doctor - I'm sure I'll have plenty.

The nurse told me to start prenatal vitamins including DHA, as well as an additional 800 mcg of folic acid. I'm to stop all other vitamins, including fish oil. Prenatal vitamins are expensive compared to multivitamins - $18 for 90 days compared to $12 for 300 days! I was also told one cup of coffee a day is OK. I went ahead with my regular strength training routine and some cardio last night. Definitely feel a little more out of breath now. The nurse said to keep my heartrate under 140 - do you know how hard that is? Walking at 3.5 mph with a 1% incline puts my heartrate over that! I'm hoping to talk to my personal trainer next week about modifying (again) my strength routine. We just changed it up last week, when I was pregnant and didn't know it! I also want to discuss the heartrate limit with the doctor.

This week, my symptoms have been increased thirst, slight cramping, and sore boobs/nipples. Without that last symptom I would question my pregnancy even existing. I was surprised that the OB/Gyn didn't require a blood test to confirm as soon as I called her.

This week you are the size of  lentil and starting to grow your human features.

Last week, your Dad melted my heart. He came home, said his typical "Lucy I'm home" at the door, and gave me a kiss and hug. And then he leaned down and spoke to you and kissed my belly.

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To my Little Kangaroo - 12/24/13

The last couple weeks I've felt a little off. After reading lists of pregnancy symptoms on several websites (babycenter.com, webmd, mayoclinic, and a couple mom-blogs), I decided to take a pregnancy test last night. So I rushed through my workout at the gym, rushed to the grocery store for some last minute Christmas brunch items, and rushed home before your Dad got home so I could take a pregnancy test.

As expected, there were two lines. The second one was faint, but it was there. My grin was huge. I took a picture of the test, then put it back in the package and hid it from your Dad, in case he wants to see it later.

My "off feelings" the last couple weeks?
Last week:
Low grade fever for three days
Constipation
Lack of appetite
(Implantation) bleeding?
Saturday, I was getting dressed and asked your Dad if my boobs looked bigger; they weren't fitting in my bras and felt HUGE

Extreme thirst

This week:
My boobs hurt, mostly in the nipple area
I had a dull ache/cramp for most of the day Monday, very UNlike a period cramp
Nausea/upset stomach before each meal. You know that feeling you get when you smell someone else's vomit? That's what I've felt like. If I snacked, the feeling subsided.
Extreme thirst

Today is Christmas Eve. I worked this morning, and called the Doctor's office to see if I could get in for a blood test. The Doctor's office and all the labs are closed for the holiday. I'm telling your Dad tomorrow. It will be seven years tomorrow since the day he asked me to marry him, and I'm going to ask if he's ready for a Baby Kangaroo.

This week you are 1/4 cm long, your heart started beating, you look like a tadpole, and your major organs are forming.

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Some updates

Most of the pepper seeds I planted have sprouted. The broccoli and cauliflower are ready to transplant into larger containers.

Yesterday was really nice outside - upper 60s - so I took advantage of the warmth and worked outside. I fertilized some of the fruit trees (I would have fertilized them all, but I ran out of fertilizer), and gave all the planters that have bulbs a dose of bone meal. I also pulled back the mulch from the strawberries and gave them and the asparagus a dose of super phosphate.

My garden calendar says this week is the week to plant spinach and root vegetables. But the garden is really wet - like you step in and sink 4" - so there's no garden work going on yet. I also need some manure from the farm before I start planting.

I also worked on the planter bed retaining wall. The portion I'm working on now is the farthest away from the rock and block piles so far. I'm about to turn the next corner of the house, but we need to figure out what we're doing with the patio in the backyard before I get too much farther.

On the home front, the Hubs and I are expecting a baby the end of August. Each week since I found out I was pregnant, I've been writing a blog post to what we've deemed our "baby kangaroo". I plan to publish those blog posts so I remember what happened each week of my pregnancy.

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Pepper planting

Today I started seed for poblano, jalapeno, banana, Chinese giant peppers (4-6" red bell peppers), Carnival mix peppers (mix of multi colored bell peppers) and yummy pepper mix (these look like the little bag of peppers from Aldi).

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Starting seeds

Last weekend I started broccoli and cauliflower seed. I have (3) six packs of cauliflower and (1) of broccoli. The seed was from last year, so I wasn't sure how well it would germinate. Almost all the cauliflower has come up, but less than half the broccoli.

Later today or tomorrow I will plant seeds of peppers and eggplant. I bought a mix of sweet pepper seeds, and I have seed leftover from previous years for poblano/ancho, jalapeno and banana peppers. This year I am starting the peppers a couple weeks earlier than last year, so hopefully they will be a little bigger at transplant time. The eggplant is also old seed, so it may not even germinate...

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Reading List 2013

For Browsing: 

Spanish for the Construction Trade
American House Styles by John Baker
A Field Guide to American Houses
Identifying American Architecture
The Fruit Gardener's Bible: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruits and Nuts in the Home Garden
Put 'em Up: A Comprehensive Home Preserving Guide for the Creative Cook, from Drying and Freezing to Canning and Pickling
Carrots Love Tomatoes



Finished:
Under the Dome by Stephen King
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Heat Rises by Richard Castle
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
A Song for Summer by Eva Ibbotson
About that Night by Julie James
Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
Baby Be Mine by Paige Toon
Confessions of  a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Little Earthquakes by Jennier Weiner
In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
5th Horseman by James Patterson
Can you keep a secret by Sophie Kinsella
Naked Heat by Richard Castle
Inferno by Dan Brown
Shopaholic & Sister by Sophie Kinsella
Johnny be Good by Paige Toon
I love Shopping in New York by Sophie Kinsella
Bloodline by Mark Billingham
Good as Dead by Mark Billingham
The Lost Temple by Tom Harper
Lazarus Vault by Tom Harper
Seige of Heaven by Tom Harper
Book of Secrets by Tom Harper
The 6th Target by James Patterson
7th Heaven by James Patterson
A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell
Falling For You by Jill Mansell
Head over Heels by Jill Mansell
Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell
Nadia Knows Best by Jill Mansell
Third Degree by James Patterson
Judge and Jury by James Patterson Cradle and All by James Patterson
Lake House by James Patterson
Cross Country by Patterson, James
The Big Bad Wolf by Patterson, James
Four Blind Mice by Patterson, James 
Double Cross by Patterson, James

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Winter blooms

It's winter, which means most plants are dormant.
But not my house plants! My Christmas cactus, peace lily, and miniature lime tree are blooming! This is the second year I've had the cactus and lime tree, but the first time the lime has bloomed. The peace lily I received when my friend Cameron died in a motorcycle accident the summer of 2006. My Autozone coworkers went together to buy it for me, along with an angel figurine. This is the first year it has bloomed for me, aside from the blooms that were on it when it was gifted.

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