Bump Shot: Week 16

It's been a frosty week, but even the colder weather welcomes some bright skies!

Of course I can't complain as Ohio has been dumped on with snow this week.

How far along:  Sixteen Weeks! 

Weight Gain:  4 pounds!

Maternity Clothes:  I am still determined to wear my regular clothes and have even begun experimenting with skirts. How high can they realistically go??  Maternity jeans at weekends and evenings though - I need the comfort!  I'm wearing a pair from Top Shop jeans - amazing!

Stretch Marks:  None - and I bought new Weleda stretch mark massage oil. The smell of all of the others left me queasy - we found this in Boots and although it's a bit expensive it smells and feels great!

Belly Button:  In - but actually looks bigger. Is that normal??

Queasy or Sick:  I'm waiting for the day when I get to say NO. I've had really bad nights and mornings this week - I've even messed up my vomit free streak. The doctor has taken me off of one of the medications and now I'm suffering again!  Don't get me started!

Sleep:  Quite good when I manage it. Tuesday night I woke up at 2:30 and could not for the life of me get back to sleep. I was a walking zombie all day. I was stressing and worrying and then feeling queasy. It just wasn't a good night. Luckily, I seem to be back to normal. 

Best Moment of the Week:  So much great stuff happened - a Spa Day for Heidi's 40th at Congham Hall and the amazing package my brother sent with the most brilliant gifts in it - but really it's a toss up between Poppy and Bella planting their faces into my belly to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Baby McBerry and FINDING A HOUSE!!  I haven't mentioned that little gem yet becuse....

Worst Moment of the Week:  Being told our landlord is selling our house. Boom. B got the call last week and I was just devastated. I love this house. I've planned a nursery for this house. It's OUR house!  Long story short - B took control and sorted it in a week. The new house is gorgeous!

Miss Anything:  Blue Cheese and wine. I want to be in a position in life where I have a fridge full of wine, champagne and nice cheese.   I really REALLY want La Gachere wine from the vineyard we stayed at in France two summers ago!

Movement:   No, but I get so many niggles of pain - I often feel like tapping on my belly and asking if baby is comfortable - he/she's certainly making me uncomfortable!!

Cravings:   Avocado. Of course this could be because this week Baby McBerry is the size of an avocado. We've already had guacamole and chips and then avocado, tomato and mozzarella salad to appease me. 

Looking forward to:  The February half term. I cannot wait for a break just so I can catch up with marking and sleep. 

In the world of work, this aren't exactly going to plan as I'm feeling so rotten in the evenings. Wednesday night I was in bed by 7. 7!! I'm working so hard while I'm at work and then in the evenings, when I was usually putting in about four or five hours of marking, I'm virtually unable to do anything!  I'm getting panicked as my marking needs to be done, but I've had no time (while well) to actually do it. 

I think I have a plan though - so let me trial it and I'll get back to you. 

In the meantime, I'm starting moving preparations!  Here's a shot of our new house - it's HUGE!  Hopefully we will be in by mid March - just in time for St. Paddy's day!

I'm most looking forward to the little things - loo roll holders, a table in the kitchen, heating that doesn't lock out in the middle of the night and leave us freezing, getting away from a main road...the list goes on!

How we are going to fill a four bed house is beyond me - I mean, there are four toilets.  Such options!

Tonight B and I are headed to the Comedy Club at the King's Lynn Corn Exchange.  I bought him tickets as part of an anniversary present - a prepaid/pre-organised date for every month.  January's gift was the comedy club!  How's that for a fun night out?  Hoping I don't puke...

Xx

Baby McBerry: Estimated Arrival July 2014!

B and I are SO excited to announce we will be welcoming to the world a BABY MCBERRY in July!

I have to admit, I was shocked when we found out.  I felt strange and I knew something wasn't quite right, but I didn't expect the test to be positive!

For those who don't know, leading up to our wedding B wanted to join our surnames together to form the hybrid "McBerry."  I wasn't entertaining the idea as I was happy to get off the pound saver menu, but during the speeches at the wedding it caught on and EVERYONE toasted the McBerrys.

But let's talk about this pregnancy.  

How far along:  Thirteen Weeks! 

Weight Gain:  I've LOST a few pounds.  Thanks a lot, morning sickness.

Maternity Clothes:  I've been PJs for SEVEN weeks and leggings when I can leave the house.

Stretch Marks:  Nope, but I've got some Mustela cream on standby.  My skin is feeling super dry with the winter months so I've been using Winter Candy Apple body cream  (sold out it seems!) from Bath and Body works - smelling and feeling yummy.

Belly Button:  In!

Queasy or Sick:  Yes.  Just yes.  More below.

Sleep:  I love sleeping at the moment. I need 9 or 10 hours as well.  And when I'm asleep, I'm out.  No waking up or anything!  It's GREAT.

Best Moment of the Week:  On Friday I was driving to get some fennel (mad craving for THIS salad) and I suddenly realised - no nausea.  Nothing.  It was the first time I felt 100% OK in SEVEN WEEKS.

Worst Moment of the Week:  Waking up this morning and still being sick.

Miss Anything:  Normalcy?  Does that count?

Movement:  Early days. I can certainly tell there's something going in there though.

Cravings:  Orange everything.  Orange juice.  Orange soda.  Orange and fennel salad...

Looking forward to:  Going back to work!  Being forced to stay home was awful - I can't wait to get back to my department and the kids.

It was my intention to update the chalkboard weekly and then take a bump photo.  Yea....that's not happening when I've not showered.  I'll get on that in the next few days!
Now let's talk about this morning sickness.  

What a joke.  A joke that isn't funny AT ALL.

I've been suffering since Monday 18 November when I was six weeks.  I dragged myself to work and my show - MY SHOW!

By Thanksgiving, enough was enough, I went to the Doctors and was referred to the hospital.  I had keytones in my urine in addition to a possible UTI - I was severely dehydrated because of all of the nausea and vomiting.  Nothing was staying down.

I went straight to the Surgical Assessment Unit at the QEH.  I was put on a drip and given *great* drugs to relieve the sickness.  I've got to give the NHS a massive hand - they have been amazing over the past few weeks.

"You have the same thing Kate Middleton had!"  Thanks, Doctor.  Still doesn't make it any more glamourous.  

One of the worries with nausea in early pregnancy is a) twins or b) a molar pregnancy.  I wouldn't have minded twins (especially as I've said to B "NEVER AGAIN" numerous times a day), but a molar pregnancy is just plain awful.  

We went for the scan and all of the worries and sickness just sort of vanished - we saw the most amazing thing:  our baby.  It was tiny but had a wickedly strong heartbeat - it was racing a million miles a minute!  I nearly cried.  THAT little thing was causing all of this?!

Please excuse my awful appearance....

Once home I struggled with the sickness all of December.  I have been to and fro the surgery and the hospital for scans and appointments and check ups.  We got to see our little one again and are getting another peak on Friday.

The medication I have been on for the past seven weeks stops the vomiting MOSTLY but doesn't do much for the nausea.    And of those people who tell you 

"Oh, you should try this..." or "I never had any sickness..."

Yea.  I hate you.  

We tried everything.  There is no such thing as a "cure" for morning sickness.

Ginger.  Eating before getting up. Small meals.  Sea sickness bands.  Fluids.  Cold food.  Hard candy.  Peppermint.  Vitamin B6.  Lemon.

NOTHING WORKED.

The only time I ever get a little bit of relief was when I use our new Zoku Slush maker with Lipton Iced Tea.  I'm still working on getting my appetite back, but I finally want food - and I think that's a massive step forward.  Eating is a challenge, but I always feel better for it after. Small meals do work!

It's been a horrible few weeks.  I've never felt so low and so consistently worn down and exhausted before.  I don't like to sit, but most days I haven't been able to shower or get out of my PJs.  I would sleep, stare blankly and just wallow.  My mom took to phoning me at about 12:30 every day to check on me.  B was actually spraying me with the shower hose as I couldn't stand up and wash myself.   I missed Thanksgiving, the build up to Christmas and countless other things.

Everyone says it gets better - and I'm starting to believe them.  Finally, I feel a bit of relief.  Hopefully I can turn these feelings around and start loving pregnancy.  I've been so jealous of all of those glowing mums to be with their cute bumps...walking upright....hair done...vomit free.  Pretty soon that's going to be me!

Let's get this baby cooked and out of the oven!  Only 27 weeks to go!

xx