Just a quick post :)

Figured I'd update you guys about my schooling.....everything starts back tomorrow. I just finished sewing the school patch on my scrubs, got them all ironed, and ready to go in the morning.  I'm a little bit nervous.......I know this semester is going to be more difficult then everything I've done so far so it's kind of nerve wracking not knowing what you're walking into.  I should know more about my semester schedule tomorrow.....up until this point all we have been told is that there's class on Monday from 9-12, but no idea when our labs and clinicals will be. Anyways....just thought I'd give a quick update before I crash. :)

P.S. Baby's heartbeat was a strong 177 today. :)

Bought a Fetal Doppler :)

I finally caved and paid the $60 bucks online to get a doppler so I could check for the baby's heartbeat here at home.  :)  Tried it the day before yesterday, and thought I found the heartbeat, but then Mom told me that what I found was my own heartbeat. So today, I decided to try again.  Took me about 5 minutes to find this little munchkin's heartbeat, and I could only hear it for a couple secs and then it would disappear.  I can already tell this baby's gonna be difficult like his/her daddy ;)   Anyways, heart rate came in at 168.  Here's the video:

10 Weeks ~ My Little Gummy Bear's Growth This Week

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

9 Weeks ~ My Little One's Development This Week (Forgot To Post This Last Week)

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

I know I know......it's been forever!!!

For some reason I keep getting behind on my blogging.......I assume it's because I'm still not feeling well and I'm tired all the time.  (at least, that's the excuse I am going with) :)

I had my first prenatal doctor appointment today.  I saw a midwife.  In this particular doctor's office, there are two female midwives and one male doctor. The doctor will only be delivering my baby if there is an emergency or if I need a c-section.....otherwise I will have one of the two midwives.  I was very disappointed to learn that I don't get another ultrasound until 21 weeks. :/ I don't think I can wait that long to see if my baby is okay.....so I may be paying for one out of pocket somewhere. We will see about that.

I'm on quite a few mommy support forum boards, and there is one in particular that has already blown up with arguments between moms about what they feel is the right decision for their baby. (for example, medicated vs. unmedicated birth.  Breastfeeding vs. formula feeding.  Vaccinations vs no vaccines).....the list goes on and on.  While I have found alot of their arguments humorous, it has snapped me into reality that there really is SO MUCH to think about and decide.  As far as medicated vs. unmedicated births go, I am not opposed to having pain medicine if/when I need it.  It is my desire to have the baby without an epidural, but being a first time mom and never having experienced child birth before, I am not naive enough to know that I can definitely handle the pain of bring a child into the world.  I have decided to give it my best shot, and if my body simply can't handle the pain, I'm not going to beat myself up for getting the epidural.

I went on a date night with Daniel.......feels like we haven't gone out (just the two of us) in a very long time.  It was only to Dairy Queen and for a nice walk by the water, but it was nice just the same. :) I'm very thankful for the good husband he is and how he is taking such good care of me and our growing little one.

Okkkkkayyyy.......I think I'm done for the night. Feel myself getting sleepy :)  Goodnight world.

A little behind on posting, yes???

I'm sure you must have noticed how behind I've gotten on posting anything these days!  Most of the time lately, I don't feel up to doing much of anything.  :/  I am very ready to be past the sick stage, but I know that if I am sick, my baby is doing well, so that makes it seem more worth it!  Sunday I woke up miserable....running a fever and everything. I'm not sure if I had a virus or if that was just part of this whole morning sickness ordeal. Luckily I'm feeling much better today than I was Sunday.

Since I posted last, I had my first nursing orientation.  We need 7 books for one class, scrubs, a nurse pack, and a whole lot of motivation to get through this semester!!!  :/  I'm a little bit nervous but I know I can get through it.  My biggest concern is next semester. With this little one being due in March, and my semester not ending till May 5th, I'm very worried about how it's gonna happen.  I definitely don't wanna leave my newborn :'/  I'm hoping that when next semester starts, I can talk to my instructor and see if she will work with me and allow me to work ahead while I can to make provision for the baby being born.

Classes start August 19th.  I went today and got my drug screen done and got fingerprinted.  Waiting on my scrubs to get here.  They told me at orientation that I needed to order an XS, because scrubs run big.  I ordered S though, because I'm hoping that will give me a little growing room.

First real prenatal appointment with the doctor that will be delivering the baby is on August 8th.  I'm curious to see when my next ultrasound will be. :)

Okayyyy I think this is a long enough post for the day.  :) I will post more soon! <3

Announcing our pregnancy :)