19 Week Update

Date: March 22, 2013

IT’S A GIRL!!! 

Next Doctor’s Appointment:  April 17, 2013

 Baby’s size:  Baby is the size of a Mango!

How far along:  We are about 19 weeks along! It’s funny that the photo above says the baby is 8.5oz. This baby weighed 11oz at 18 weeks! Lol I bet she is close to a pound now.

Total weight gain: +7 pounds.  Current weight: 117

Sleep:  My back still hurts a little bit from the kidney infection, but sleep is still pretty easy and comfortable for me.

Maternity Clothes: My belly is growing but I am still doing very well fitting into most of my regular clothes with a few maternity items throughout.

 Food cravings: I just love oatmeal and I love fruit!

 Food aversions: none

Symptoms I have: none, really.

Movement: Feeling my daughter move every day is the most incredible feeling.  I can’t describe it.  She communicates with me through her dances and I love her so much.

Belly Button: Kind of flat… outie very soon, I’m sure.  I need to buy a pregnancy belly button ring because my metal one is beginning to look ridiculous… haha.

Gender: GIRL

 Best moment of the week:  MY ENTIRE TRIP TO CO!!! 

What I miss:  sushi… but I can eat unagi and cali rolls still, so I am satisfied!!!

What I’m looking forward to: Everything in the future. I am loving life and so grateful for each day.

 Additional Details: This weekend I was in CO with my family! I got out of the hospital on the 20^th and got to go to CO on the 21^st! I had my very first 4D ultrasound on the 23^rd and it was the most incredible thing! Here are a few photos of our baby girl.  I want to take a moment again to thank my cousin Shannon SO MUCH for gifting me this ultrasound.  How amazing it was to see my sweet little girl dancing around inside my belly.  The tech placed the video online for Kiley to be able to watch right away, which was also very special since he couldn’t be there.  I will never forget it, but I got a DVD so I can re visit the memory again and again! I am excited about the DVD so I can share this experience with others. I am over the moon with love for my daughter. Thank you, Shannon, for allowing me the opportunity to see my sweet little love before I got to meet her!

On the 23^rd, my mom threw me a beautiful gender reveal party to share the gender with my family and friends! It was so much fun to spend time with my family and close friends.  I absolutely love them all to the depths of my soul.  It makes me so happy to spend time with the people that mean so much to me.  I can’t thank my mama enough for going out of her way to make such a beautiful little party for me.  I love her so much and I am so blessed to have such a shining light in my life for a mom. She is so big hearted, generous and such a genuine and beautiful soul… I am just so excited for her to be a grandma to my little girl!

On the 24^th, my cousin Katrina had her bridal shower! It was such a fun girly brunch.  I love my cousins.  We have all grown up so close and we are all like sisters.  These girls are some of my very best friends in the world. Here’s the bridal party (Bridesmaids, Maid of Honor and the Bride!)!

I had an amazing trip to CO! Lots of new memories and lots of laughs and smiles! It is always so fun to see my family and know they have missed me just as much as I have missed them.  I can’t thank my papa enough for flying me out here to be with everyone.  I love my dad, he is so great and has always been there for me.  I will see them all again in June for Katrina’s wedding! I miss Kiley and my little kitty, Motley, so much when I am away from Dallas.  It will be nice to have Kiley with me for my trip to CO in June!

18 Week Update

*Note, I know this was posted on the 19th but I was 18 weeks on the 15th. I apologize for the delay.. you'll see why as you read forward.  I pre wrote a little bit of it so the dates and timelines are shifted a little... (They're based on the 15th and not on today, the 19th).  Thank you for reading.

Date: March 15, 2013

This photo shows how much the baby is moving my organs.  It also shows growth, size and that the top of the uterus is now in line with my belly button.

Next Doctor’s Appointment:  March 20, 2013

 Baby’s size:  Baby is the size of a Sweet Potato! I’ve also read baby is the size of a turnip this week (Hence the turnip photo).

  

How far along:  We are 18 weeks along!

Total weight gain: +8 pounds.  Current weight: 118

Sleep:  Sleep is not an issue for me.  I love my sleep.

Maternity Clothes: I still haven’t bought many maternity items.

 Food cravings: I have been loving on apples, grapes, bananas, peaches, berries, citrus. FRUIT!

 Food aversions: none

Symptoms I have: Small breakouts on my skin is my biggest issue.  I have been trying to remember to eat small meals throughout the day because I get kind of sick feeling when I try to stuff too much food into my body at one time.  Back pain has started for me this week.  I read that my heart is now working about 40% harder to support my pregnancy. I also just had the realization that I am in my 5^th month of pregnancy… wow.  Time sure is flying by. Baby has doubled in weight over the past two weeks and is expected to go through some major growth spurts this month!

Movement: I feel small waves and tiny taps from time to time. Maybe a few times a day.

Belly Button: My belly button is still an innie but it’s kind of flattening out as my belly gets round… I think it will be an outie before July.

Gender: It’s a secret! Six days until the gender reveal party my mom is putting together!

Best moment of the week:  Having Kiley by my side taking care of me while I was in the hospital.

What I miss:  I really miss Colorado.  As the weather warms up, I dream of spending days in the mountains.

What I’m looking forward to: Our official anatomy sonogram in 5 days and my trip to CO (for the 4D ultrasound, gender reveal party and Katie’s bridal shower) in 6 days!!!

 Additional Details:  You're probably wondering where my weekly photo is... Crazy because my belly has really popped out this week! Well, this week there wont be a photo. I'll tell you why... I haven’t been feeling well for about a week.  My symptoms would come and go, ranging from back pain, headaches, to body aches.  I think Kiley and I both just associated it with my growing body and pregnancy.  We are really all about personal healing and healing yourself with your mind and your attitude first.  Approach and attitude are everything. Mind over matter. This time, we were wrong.  On Thursday, I woke up with a headache, which has been happening a lot lately but it usually goes away as the day progresses. Typical pregnancy symptom, right? I was fine until about 10am when I also got the shivers really bad… This wasn’t so normal.  My body was shaking so much and I couldn’t control it.  I threw a blanket over myself to try to warm up because I thought I had gotten cold.  Then, I started to vomit.  I knew something wasn’t right so I called my OB and went in to see her partner.  After a quick exam, she said it looked like I had a virus and to try to drink as much water and get as much rest as possible.  I laid in bed all day on Friday trying to find comfort.  I couldn’t eat or drink anything without vomiting it back up.  My back was killing me too.  By this time, my headache still hadn’t gone away.  It had only intensified.  So Saturday afternoon, Kiley and I decided we had better head to the Urgent Care.  They immediately turned us around and ordered us to go to the ER.  They called the ER at Baylor Health (the same hospital I will be delivering at) to let them know we were coming.  I was so uncomfortable.  My head hurt, my back hurt, my body hurt, I was shivering, I was so thirsty but couldn’t hold down more than a few sips of water at a time.  I’m so thankful I had Kiley there with me, taking care of me, assuring me I would be okay.  I love that man so much and he makes his love for me so apparent to me in so many ways. Friends, let me just say how blessed I am to have him by my side... After a short wait, we checked in and finally got to the ER where the nurses and doctors questioned me and tested me.  Now, I’ve always been very cautious of washing my hands and maintaining a sterile environment, especially since I've been pregnant. I knew pregnancy lowered my immune system. But I had no idea I would be that receptive to something this serious.  All week, I had been writing these symptoms off.  How did I overlook such a serious problem?  How could I have gotten something so serious? How could I have overlooked this? ...The answer? I probably couldn't have changed a thing.  The doctor said a kidney stone was formed because of the pressure the growing uterus and shifting organs put on my kidneys.  Thus, resulting in a severe kidney infection. They checked the baby, gave me antibiotics and started me on fluids right away. No time to beat myself up… They said I would need to stay a few days.  They found me a room and within an hour and a half, I was in a room on a floor where they only care for pregnant women.  Initially, my headaches and dehydration were the worst.  Now, I feel back pain that comes in waves.  They say that's my kidney flaring up. After almost a week of misery, I will be out tomorrow (Wednesday, March 20, 2013) but I will have to reschedule my doctors appointment (I had a sonogram set for Wednesday) for another time because I just want to be home to rest and try to prepare for my trip, let alone, complete my school work... I have loved the care I have been given here.  There’s no wonder why Baylor has been rated a top hospital so many years in a row.  I am ready to be well enough to care for myself again.  I am just SO happy the baby is healthy and so grateful to have a man like Kiley, a loving and caring family and the best friends a girl could ask for. Even though most of them are far away, I feel their love and compassion so close to my heart and I feel them beside me every step of the way. Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes for me, Kiley and our beautiful healthy child.  I wish I could hug you individually right now and truly tell you how much I know those prayers helped keep our baby safe through all of this.

With all my love,
Brytny

17 Week Update

Date: March 8, 2013

Next Doctor’s Appointment:  March 20, 2013

 Baby’s size:  Baby is the size of an Onion! (The video below reflects 16 week development, but oh well)

  

How far along:  We are 17 weeks along!

Total weight gain:  +6 pounds.  Current weight: 116

Sleep: I am sleeping very comfortably still. 

Maternity Clothes: I’m still wearing my non maternity clothes with a few maternity items mixed in.

Food cravings: I haven’t had any cravings this week.

Food aversions: Nope.

Symptoms I have: My skin has been clearing up (insert happy dance here).  My headaches are still going strong.  I am also back on track with frequent and intense workouts without much discomfort or ligament pain! This is a great week! Haha I am still taking my iron supplements every day, staying hydrated and urinating frequently lol

Stretchmarks: Nada

 Movement: I definitely feel “waves” inside occasionally. What a surreal feeling… I want Kiley to feel them.

Belly Button: innie

Gender: It’s a secret!

Best moment of the week:  I woke up one day with a bad headache and I was feeling very dizzy.  Kiley came by on his lunch break with some hot soup for me.  Nobody has ever brought me soup when I wasn’t feeling well.  I feel so blessed to have this sweet man by my side.

What I miss:  I miss sushi and the freedom to crush a whole Red Bull to myself… Not too much else.  Feeling overwhelmingly blessed.

What I’m looking forward to: I can’t wait for my sonogram on the 20^th and my CO trip in a couple of weeks!

Additional Details: I’m still kicking butt and taking names at my online classes.  I never thought I’d be such a proactive learner, but I am proud of myself for keeping up, especially since I begged my advisor to bend the rules for me and allow me to take an extra class this semester (they don’t allow anyone to go over full time which is 6 credits per 8 weeks). I am so blessed. On another note, I can’t wait to see the baby smile and hear it’s laugh… My heart melts just thinking about it.   

16 Week Update

Date: February 28, 2013

Next Doctor’s Appointment:  On March 20, 2013, I go to the doctor for an anatomy scan in Dallas.  I also have a 3D/4D ultrasound scan in Colorado on March 22nd! 

 Baby’s size:  Baby is the size of an Avocado!

How far along:  We are 16 weeks along!

Total weight gain: +5 pounds.  Current weight: 115

Sleep: I am sleeping very comfortably still. 

Maternity Clothes: Nothing new. I’m still making my pre pregnancy wardrobe work for me as best as I can.

Food cravings: Other than more Clementine oranges, there haven’t been any new cravings for me this week.

Food aversions: No food aversions.

Symptoms I have: Nasal congestion started this week. The nasal membranes swell when a large amount of estrogen is in the body. Blood volume is another reason for sinus congestion during pregnancy. There are many tiny blood vessels in the nose. With blood volumes increasing up to 40%, the nose will have more than its share of blood.  I also have noticed my body changing pretty rapidly.  Ligaments and muscles in my abdomen are stretching and because of that, I can’t move around as fast.  Instead of twisting my body to turn my alarm off in the morning, I have to carefully roll over… twisting hurts… similar to a pulled muscle.  I also have to get up from chairs slower than normal.  I have had headaches every morning for the first 30 minutes of the day.  I have pregnancy breakouts on my face, also.  Last week, the doctor told me that I was becoming anemic so I am now taking a daily iron supplement in addition to my prenatal vitamins.

Stretchmarks: Nada

 Movement: I think I feel some flutters from time to time, but I am hoping that next week I will be able to really feel some real kicks. I really can’t wait for Kiley to feel.

Belly Button: innie

Gender: It’s a secret!

 Best moment of the week: The best moment this week is having my sister McKenzie in town for her 21^st birthday weekend!!! Thank you to my papa for sending her here to see me! I love you dad!

What I miss:  I miss sleeping on my tummy.

What I’m looking forward to:  We have an official anatomy scan on March 20th that I am excited for. I always love getting ultrasounds because I love seeing our babe.  I am also looking forward to my first 4D ultrasound on March 22^nd! My cousin Shannon is gifting two 4D ultrasound sessions to Kiley and I throughout the pregnancy! What a beautiful and generous gift… I can’t believe we will be able to see what the baby looks like… all of its features and movements in real time.  We get to keep images and a DVD from each session, too!!! So we can watch it over and over again if we want to.  The sonograms are in CO so the fact that we are getting a DVD of the ultrasound is fun because we will be able to share the experience with family and friends that aren’t in CO.  The first 3D/4D session is scheduled at about 20 weeks and the other will be at about 30 weeks.  We are THRILLED to be able to see our sweet baby in 3D & 4D.  I just can’t even describe my excitement! Another exciting event is the gender reveal party on March 23rd with my family! My mama is putting together a sweet little party for the gender reveal and I couldn't be more excited! She has done so much for me, y'all... I love my mom!

Additional Details: (a letter to my unborn child)

To my sweet little love,

I am so happy to be writing this letter to you right now.  You are so special, your daddy and I both know.  You are our very first child.  I never knew I could be ready for such a huge life event this early on, but I am enjoying this much more than I could have ever dreamed.  To have been chosen to be the parents to such a beautiful soul is the greatest blessing we have ever been granted in our lives.  What an overwhelming feeling of love.  We love each other so much... you are the most beautiful and perfect manifestation of that.  You have been perfect from the beginning.  You have a strong beating heart and a beautiful, growing body.  You are so special.  Something about you gives me this feeling of peace and nostalgia that I haven’t ever felt before.  I feel more connected with life.  I know that this is where I was meant to be.  I have began to feel your tiny little flutters inside my womb and each time, I am reminded of what a blessing it is to grow a tiny life inside me.  You are already such a beautiful soul. I can feel it from within me.  When I am exhausted and when my body aches, I work harder to be grateful for the reasons I am feeling this way.   I want to experience you fully, both the pleasures and pains. I yearn to remember these complex emotions and fleeting sensations with gratitude. Little love, you don’t have a proper name yet, but I love you with every fiber of my being. You have felt this incredible love since the moment we found out you existed.  Your dad and I have a love for you that is unmatched by any… a love that is eternal and will be with you forever.  You are a blessing from God. You have an eager and loving family waiting for you.  You are already treasured and celebrated and admired. For all of these things my sweet, you are the next chapter of our humble family story as it unfolds.  I am so excited to see your beautiful face, feel your tiny feet and touch your soft hair.  I will wait patiently for you, enjoying every moment that you are on the inside. Come as you are, my dearest child. And come when you are ready.

With every ounce of my love,

Mommy