Baby Bowling #2...so far

Well, I'll be honest...I've been ready for Baby #2 for quite some time, but Mr. Bowling took a little convincing. :)  (Sorry, Honey!)  FINALLY (haha), we were both on the same page and as ready as we'd ever be.  On November 7th, I finally got the news I was hoping for.  Maybe not the news, but the visual proof, anyways.

The line is faint, but it is there.  Apparently, I was less than 4 weeks pregnant at this time, so it's a good thing the line showed up at all!

I thought I would DIE before I could tell someone.  The story is hilarious, but I'll not share that on here...(ask me in person).  Anyways...I had to tell Daniel, so I got Bentley a shirt monogrammed that said BIG BROTHER, and he was wearing it when Daniel got home from work.  Pretty cute!

When Daniel came in, Bentley said, "I gonna be a big brother!"  I think Daniel's response was something like..."Huh?  No way!"

Then, we had to tell the Grandparents.  With Bentley, I did a big dinner and scavenger hunt, but I just couldn't wait or think to make big plans, so Bentley told the news with his bedtime prayer.  The video was sent to all the grandparents that evening, and they were all very excited!

Bedtime Prayer - Baby News

 

Everything seemed to be going pretty well.  With Bentley, I started getting sick at about 6 1/2 weeks, which continued until about 18 weeks.  When I say "sick," I mean "very sick."  I could hardly keep anything down, and I was miserable all the time, from the time I woke up, until I went to bed.  With this little munchkin, I've had a few days where I felt absolutely horrible, but it's been much better, for the most part.  My "sick" time has been mostly in the evening, starting about 6:30.  Now, I seem to be past most of that, but I start feeling really crummy when I get hungry.  So, as long as you feed me, I'm alright.  Exhaustion has been taken to a whole different level, though.  I'm not sure if is because I have Bentley, so I can't really just do nothing, or if it's just worse.  I don't think I've EVER been this tired before.

We had our first appointment at about 6 1/2 weeks, which is really early.  So early, in fact, that the baby looked like a bean.  All was well, though.  Everything seemed to be just fine!  The doctor contacted a specialist (because of my preterm labor with B), and we made a plan for this pregnancy.  I just felt better know we were on top of things and going to be proactive.

The first look at Baby Bowling.  It's seriously, SO tiny here!

At about 9 1/2 weeks, we had a major scare.  I had a really good day.  I didn't feel bad at all, so when I started bleeding, I was terrified.  Apparently, some bleeding is normal...this bleeding was not.  I'll not share the gory details, but it was enough to scare Daniel and me pretty badly.  Bentley was in the bed, so Cyndel came to stay with him while we went to the hospital.  We arrived there a little before 9:30, and they put me through triage, took blood and urine, and then we played the waiting game.  We were finally called back around 11:20, more tests were done, as well as an ultrasound.  At this point I was so scared.  I was bleeding, cramping, and had convinced myself that I had a miscarriage.  Finally, at about 2:20, the doctor informed us that there was a heartbeat.  According to the ultrasound, the heart rate was low at 108 bpm, and the baby was about a week and a half behind in growth.  I still just had this awful feeling after hearing these stats.  This can't be good!

The following day, I called the doctor, she reviewed my chart, and kept my appointment for the following Monday with instructions to take it easy and continue pelvic rest.  Well, we were going to Gatlinburg, but I took it as easy as I could. :)  Monday came, and we went to the doctor for my monthly appointment and a follow-up from the previous week's issues.  The nurse came in with her handheld doppler to hear the baby's hearbeat, and she couldn't find it.  So, she tried a different machine.  Couldn't find it.  She got another nurse to try.  Couldn't find it.  Okay...pregnant lady is getting a little freaked out!  Dr. Kakani knew I was nervous, so she sent me to ultrasound.  What did we find, you ask?

A perfectly healthy, growing baby that measured a day ahead of gestational age and had a heart rate of 170 bpm.  Oh my goodness!  The elation and relief I felt.  Apparently the ultrasound tech in the ER had not measured correctly, so my scare from her stats was unnecessary.  I am absolutely amazed that at 10 1/2 weeks, there is a baby with arms, legs, fingers, and toes growing in me.  This, my friends, is a miracle, only created by God!

This is truly astonishing...at 10 1/2 weeks and maybe 2 inches long, this little baby is real.  It was kicking and moving during the ultrasound.  Thank you, Jesus!

I look at this picture at least once a day in amazement and in love.  I try to imagine how much it has grown, and I wonder if I'm carrying a boy or a girl.  Who knows and who cares, for Pete's sake...as long as the baby is happy and healthy.

I'm now 12 1/2 weeks along now and I'm feeling a little better already.  I still feel bad when I'm hungry or don't sleep good, and I'm still tired, but overall, I think I'm getting better.  I haven't gained any weight, but my pants are fitting a little more snug.  Jean are just uncomfortable!  In the mornings I look pretty normal...maybe a touch thicker in the waist, but in the evenings I look pregnant.  I guess my breakfast, lunch, and dinner create a pretty good "food baby."  haha

Oh, for the record...Bentley says I'm having a boy.  He talks to the baby through my belly button, and he often says there's a baby in his belly button.  I ask him daily if I'm having a boy or a girl, and he says, "It's a boy."  I'll say, "What if Mommy has a little girl?"  He usually replies, "It's a boy."  in his matter-of-fact voice.  Time will tell!

Please continue to pray for us.  I've been scared enough for one pregnancy, so we will just hope that everything goes as planned and I feel good through it all.  Thank you ahead of time!  More updates to come!