First Wave of Yuck - Month 2

written August 23, 2011
6 weeks

"I just need to go back to bed for a few minutes."

At least that's what I kept telling myself this morning as I tried focusing on Fox 9 News and the carbonated lime infused water I sipped.

My head started pounding at 3 a.m., about the same time an insane crazy thunderstorm hit. Around 3:30 I went downstairs and popped two Tylenol and ate a few crackers. I couldn't take the headache and knew I had to go into work so I had to do what I had to do. At 4:30 I didn't feel much different but I was finally able to fall asleep until my dreaded alarm went off at 6:00.

I practically crawled to the shower and felt like a total zombie. I was too hot so I turned the shower to freezing cold. Then my mouth tasted soapy. My head and eyes felt extremely heavy. My stomach felt like it was loaded with acid. And more than anything I wanted to dive back into bed with Karl. Instead I marched downstairs and tried to talk myself into breakfast. No dice. Everything sounded gross. So I stared at the TV again and argued with the voices in my head.

Finally I decided to go back up to bed. I just need another hour of sleep and I will be fine, I thought. So I did. The sleep actually worked, even though half the time I was freaking about how late I'd be for work. (BTW, I don't think pregnant woman should have to worry about stuff like this. We can't control all the hormones ragging inside us.) I woke up an hour later but this time felt like a worse-off zombie than before.

I thought back to the night before. I did play four games of volleyball - and they weren't the easiest of games. There were a couple times I didn't dive or didn't chase after a ball, but my heart rate went up and I was sweating. Could volleyball be the culprit? Thankfully yesterday was the championship volleyball game (we took second) and the season is done...well...until fall league. Fall league will start up at the end of September and we only play for an hour, so that shouldn't be that bad. Right? My team might hate me.

Cravings: I'm not sure when these are supposed to start but I find myself dreaming about food while at work, a lot.

1. Culver's Butter Burgers (I know....say what?). The crazy thing is Karl "loves" going to Culver's because they screw up our order every time. Some how we always get something we never asked for. I asked for the "single" Butter Burger and Karl asked for the exact same thing. We were very careful how we explained our order. We sat down in the chair and got the double. Goofy. But it totally hit the spot!!!

2. Izze.  All natural organic carbonated water. It has to be the carbonation, right? I love the feel of bubbles hitting my sour stomach. I love this drink. It's the closest I can find to Clearly Canadian. And it isn't loaded with fake sugar crap.

3. Mendota Sparkling Water (lime and lemon). Besides totally wanting carbonated everything, I'm also craving lemons and limes like nobody's business. I always have had a thing for sour things though. I could eat them whole but I don't think my teeth would like that.

4. Meat.
Tonight Karl and I will be going to Woolley's Steakhouse (Embassy Suites) where all the magic happened on August 22, 2009 - our wedding day! And yes, I will be ordering a steak!!!! I'm totally craving a steak right now.

And as I finish writing this, I feel much better. Ahhh. Thank God!

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Telling the Family - Month 2

post written August 21, 2011
6 weeks

This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil. (info from www.babycenter.com)
Oh, and by the way, we're pregnant!

That's pretty much how it's been coming out in front of our parents and siblings. We didn't do the t-shirts or wrapped up frames, though those would be nice. Instead it's been more like, "How was your weekend? So yeah, we brought some boxes over. Oh, and Christie's pregnant." And then the eyes bug. It's awesome.

Tonight we told Karl's parents. Jim (Karl's dad - my father in law) just got back from Alaska. We decided we wanted to come over and hear about his trip and see pictures. He gladly showed off his amazing pictures and indulged in crazy bear stories. Then Karl decided to speak up and said, "We're just storing some boxes in your garage for Nancy's garage sale. Oh, and Christie's pregnant."

The faces and on Jim and Judy (Karl's mom and my mother-in-law) were so priceless. It was great. It's so hard not to get choked up every time. The scary part is letting them know that it's still early and anything can happen, but we figure the more people we have praying for a healthy Baby K, the better - but we still don't want the whole world to know until we're past that "safe" period.

Month 2 - Six weeks (in my Twins shirt)

I will say I love bringing joy to everyone's faces and can't wait to tell everyone!!!

As for how I've been feeling. Considering the past two nights I've stayed up way past my bedtime and have woken up fairly early, I've been pretty much tired all day long. I really don't feel motivated to do much, which worries me since I always have so much to do.

I almost felt like I was back in college this weekend. Just didn't do a whole lot of anything. I wish I was more like that all the time because it's nice just to enjoy two days off from crazy work.

I did wake up with my first wicked headache this morning and didn't have any Tylenol lying around and had an appointment with my trainer at 9:00 a.m. at Life Time Fitness. I literally had to shove a boiled egg down my throat, as I felt a little queasy. I told my trainer immediately I wasn’t feeling the best and we worked through the circuit at a slow speed, but perfect for me. My headache was fine during the workout but after it was wicked. So I went to Walgreens and talked to the Pharmacist to make sure I was buying the right headache stuff for baby.

Then I went back to bed. And pretty much the entire day was spent lying in bed. And I'm okay with that since the past two weeks have been incredibly stressful with work and figuring life out. I really enjoy relaxing right now.

Tomorrow Karl and I celebrate our two-year wedding anniversary!!!!! I have volleyball at 7:15 so we decided we'll do our fancy night out on Tuesday. I really found a good one in that man! The first song we danced to on our wedding day was Then by Brad Paisley. The lyrics are so true. I really thought I loved Karl on August 22, 2009 to the max. Who was I kidding? I love him a million times more and then some. Ha...and I thought I loved you then...

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Entering Month Two of Pregnancy

written August 18, 2011
5 weeks

Deep in your uterus your embryo is growing at a furious pace. At this point, he's about the size of a sesame seed, and he looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He's now made up of three layers — the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm — which will later form all of his organs and tissues.
The neural tube — from which your baby's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout — is starting to develop in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will also give rise to his skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, and tooth enamel. (info from www.babycenter.com)

Yeah! We made it to month two.

Lots of exciting stuff happening. Sometimes I wonder if I'm walking on a cloud. I remember feeling this way when I fell in love with Karl and he proposed - and I knew I'd be spending forever with him. When I was dating a bunch, I always thought spending so much time with someone would scare me, but that was never the case with Karl! I had this feeling inside me that I needed to spend as much time with him as I could and I never had enough. So after he proposed, nothing could bring me down or pull me from the clouds.

Being pregnant feels like that, but even better, because Karl is with me, and is such a huge part of this and I realized now why I had to wait such a long time before I found him. The wait was so worth it - he's going to be an amazing and attentive father. I'm so glad I get to experience this with him. Creating a child together is something crazy, awesome.
Life feels different. I feel like I'm carrying this amazing miracle and there is so much more than science behind it all. I've been reading a lot of books on pregnancy with pictures and I catch myself saying, "this is just nuts," out loud plenty of times. It really is crazy. I can't believe any of this. The body is so incredible. Now I'm starting to feel a sliver of that connection moms have with their children. Motherhood takes on a whole new meaning once you actually begin to experience it. Wow.

I think I'm at week five, almost six, which is pretty cool. A couple things that have happened during this time:

1. We told my brother Mike on the walk over to Dairy Queen (there's one across the street from us). I needed to tell SOMEONE. And since Karl and I live next door to Mike and he always is just so kind and sweet and listens and cares....how could we not? He was so caught up in talking about cutting off cow's heads and his work that he missed Karl calling him Uncle Mike. Finally we got our ice cream and told him. His face broke in a bigger smile than normal (yes, his smiles can get HUGE) and his face turned all red. It was cool. He was way excited. Then we went back talk about cows and Cargill.

2. We told my parents on Tuesday, August 16. Let me just say this was so cool. So cool. Okay, it was beyond cool. We of course wanted to tell them in person but a five-hour drive is not in the cards for us right now. We wanted to them to come up here for Labor Day but didn't want to wait for that either. So we skyped them. The thing with skype was it kept freezing up, oh, and I have never skyped my parents. Seemed a bit fishy but they didn't bite.

As my computer kept freezing, we stalled them and let them go on a walk while Karl installed the latest version on my computer. My parents returned from their walk and we skyped again. It froze on us a couple more times, so finally I just let it out and my mom's face WAS PRICELESS!!! I am not kidding. I think she said something like, "SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" and fell back in her chair, clapped her hands and giggled a ton. That part was awesome. Then I think my dad congratulated Karl for his awesomesauce or something manly like that. Then they asked for "ETA" (estimated time of arrival). Then my mom kept saying, "I can't believe it. This is awesome."

Yes, yes, it is!!!! So exciting bringing them so much joy!!!!!!!!

3. We're going to tell Karl's family once his dad gets back from Alaska this weekend. We figure Jim will have the 'back-to-reality blues' after such an amazing trip. Then we can come in and say, "Surprise, your high is not over just yet!" That'll be fun. I can't wait!!!

4. I had to cancel playing in an all-day volleyball tournament scheduled at the end of August. So I've been talking to my trainer at Life Time about my health and fitness and keeping my body in prime shape. Then he emails me that I might just have to give up on competitive, all-day volleyball for awhile. Say what!??!?!

Volleyball. Is. My. Life.

But after the Derby Day volleyball tournament earlier this month, I realized how much eight hours of volleyball in the heat and sun had affected my body the following day, so I finally agreed (especially after Karl yelled at me) and thankfully the captain of the team said he'll handle. Phew!

This. Child. Is. My. Life.

5. I actually still feel really good. Today (Thursday, Aug. 18) is the first day where I feel a little weird. Otherwise I've felt like I have a ton of energy and I'm glowing. My skin has cleared up. I'm actually starting to fill out my bras for once in my life (yippeeee!! Watch out low-cut shirts!). And I feel like my normal self. I stopped drinking coffee after I had a few sips last Sunday before church and felt funny. I'm wondering if my body is wondering today where the caffeine is and that's why I feel somewhat like a zombie. I have been drinking tea instead because I like hot drinks in the morning and that's been working out. I have crackers stuffed in my purse just in case too. But I've kept up my working out routine (squats, pull ups, lunges, pike push ups) and have been walking more than running and choose the elliptical over the stair stepper. I must keep telling myself, "You can't workout to lose weight anymore."

I've also been trying to eat more protein. I've read that protein is good and pregnant moms needs lots of it. Seems to be helping so far!

6. I'm still biting my nails. For some reason I thought I'd stop this. Silly me. Karl says, "I'm pretty sure baby K doesn't appreciate eating your fingernails." Trying to let that stick because he probably is right. Ewwww.

7. Our ultrasound is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 12 at 7:50 and we can't wait!!!! This is going to be awesome!!!!!!!!

I like the laughter that opens the lips and the heart, that show at the same time pearls and the soul. 

-Victor Hugo 

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Double Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry

A Healthy Chinese dinner

Double Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry
serves 4
(recipe found in Fitness Magazine May 2010)

Cut 3 ounces skinless chicken breast into thin strips

Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add chicken; 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce; 2 teaspoons honey; 1 garlic clove, minced; and 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger and saute 6 minutes.

Add 2 cups fresh vegetable stir-fry mix and 1/2 cup cooked brown rice; saute 10 minutes.

Top with 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds and 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil.

Karl's take: "Ohh, I like this. Might need a little more salt."

My take: This was good and hit the spot. I was craving Chinese and this did the trick.

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Pasta with Sausage and Red Grapes

"Red grapes contain antioxidants that combat inflammation, a main acne culprit."

Pasta with Sausage and Red Grapes
serves 4
(recipe found in Self August 2011)

6 oz mild Italian sausage, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 tbsp plus 1/4 tsp salt (preferably kosher), divided
2 cups seedless red grapes
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
10 oz whole-wheat orecchiette (or other short-cut pasta, such as farfalle or penne)
2 tbsp grated Parmesan
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil)

1. Set a large pot of water to boil. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat, stirring and breaking up, until well browned, about 15 minutes.

2. Transfer sausage to a paper towel.

3. Add oil to skillet; return to medium heat. Cook onion, garlic, with 1/4 tsp of salt, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden, 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Add grapes, broth and pepper flakes; increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until grapes soften or burst and liquid thickens, about 10 minutes.

5. Return sausage to skillet and stir; turn off heat. When water boils, add remaining 1 tbsp salt and pasta; cook as directed on package.

6. Drain pasta, add to skillet, and turn on heat to high. Cook stirring, until sausage is hot and pasta is coated with sauce, 30 to 60 seconds.

7. Divide among 4 bowls; sprinkle each with Parmesan and basil before serving.

Karl's reaction: "I actually like this. I wasn't sure but this is good. It's sweet but a little spicy. Good babe."

My take: I was a little worried because my sauce never really thickened and I used different noodles (the potato kind) which actually turned out really good. I'd make this again.

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Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy - Month One

written August 13, 2011
4 weeks

"I know my body."

At least that's what I kept telling my husband. Then he'd laugh at me because more often than not, something opposite usually happened.

I really feel like I do know my body more than most though. I know when I'm ovulating. I know when TOM is coming (time of the month). I know when I'm getting a bad bad headache. I know when I'm about to get sick. I know when I take a drug besides Advil or Tylenol. I know what happens 20 minutes later when I eat a candy bar or drink a soda or too many carbs. I feel like I'm really in tune to my body. So why was I so in shock when two lines appeared on the pregnancy test?

Here are some of the early signs I should've been aware of:

1. I was thirsty a lot.
I thought, man...maybe I have diabetes all of a sudden? My mouth always felt dry. I was thirsty and I was drinking a lot of water. I love water, but usually I'm never thirsty. I thought maybe I was eating saltier foods.

2. I got hit with a bad case of the d. TMI? Well, that hasn't happened to me in a long time and when it does, it's usually because I ran outside in the heat and sun without a lot of water or I partied hard the night before...or I ate tons of asparagus and spinach. I did none of those. Earlier that day I went to lunch with my boss. I had my usual calzone from Old Chicago. Then as soon as 4:30 hit, I was running for the toilet. And I was running the entire night and morning. I called in sick to work the next day and felt really strange. Lightheaded. Thirsty. Skinny. Nauseous. Then I remembered I ate a whole cucumber the night before. Could that have been it?

3. Up and down soreness. Usually my "girls" get tender the week before TOM visits. They did like normal so I figured TOM was coming. I was getting my usual dull five minute cramps and I even woke with a dull headache one of the mornings. All signs TOM was coming. My girls have been super sore the past two months before TOM came; however, this time the soreness in that area went away, and TOM never came.

4. Couldn't go anymore. I was having the hardest time going to the bathroom. I figured everything came out of me two weeks before, but even so I'm always regular. I was not. Everything was painful. Something was definitely off. I've never had this problem. Ever. I kept eating more vegetables and a fiber-rich diet...still nothing.

5. Energy level. Some days I had so much energy I could've ran two marathons. Some days I felt like a walking zombie going through the motions. I figured it was me struggling to go into work. Or maybe I was taking on too many projects again. Nope.
6. Late. TOM never is later than 29 days and he was late.
What are some weird symptoms you had?

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Preparing Body for Baby - Month One

written August 13, 2011
4 weeks
What vitamins should I be taking to get ready for baby?

I started a vitamin regime almost a year ago. I always thought I got enough nutrients from the healthy foods I ate, but was told to think again. I know these vitamins haven't been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and I learned that in college, so back then I figured vitamins were a waste of money. Wrong. They should be taken every day, especially when you're trying to get pregnant or have just found out baby is growing inside you.

Vitamins I was taking:

1. Women's One's - Heart, Bone and Breast Health (contains 800 mcg of Folic Acid).
Folic Acid prevents birth defects. According to March of Dimes, "Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps a baby’s neural tube to grow healthy during pregnancy. The neural tube will become a baby’s brain and spinal cord. But if the neural tube doesn’t close the way it should, it can cause a very serious birth defect called a neural tube defect (NTD)." Read more here.

2. Melaleuca's Phytomgea (blend of phytosterols, omega-3s, coenzyme Q10, and alpha lipoic acid)
My mom gave me this one. Official state guidelines state that Americans should eat around two meals of fatty fish a week. According to the website American Pregnancy, "Omega-3s have been found to be essential for both neurological and early visual development of the baby. Pregnant women become depleted in omega-3s, since the fetus uses omega-3s for its nervous system development. Omega-3s are also used after birth to make breast milk. With each subsequent pregnancy, mothers are further depleted. Research has confirmed that adding EPA and DHA to the diet of pregnant women has a positive effect on visual and cognitive development of the child. Studies have also shown that higher consumption of omega-3s may reduce the risk of allergies in infants.

Omega-3 fatty acids have positive effects on the pregnancy itself. Increased intake of EPA and DHA has been shown to prevent pre-term labor and delivery, lower the risk of pre-eclampsia and may increase birth weight and gestational weight. Omega-3 deficiency also increases the mother's risk for depression. This may explain why postpartum mood disorders may become worse and begin earlier with subsequent pregnancies."

3. The Vitamin Shoppe's Vitamin D3 (2000 IU)
My chiropractor is the one who got me hooked on D3. Once he said it's great at fighting off winter illnesses, I started taking it. I've also been told that Vitamin D3 is great for bone density and building a strong immune system to fight off cancers. It also helps in brain development in children. There is a link with autism and lack of vitamin D3 in women. What's most remarkable about vitamin D is the sheer number of health issues it's been linked to. In the past few years, studies have shown that a lack of the vitamin may be the primary culprit in depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, skin and other cancers, and multiple sclerosis. More about D3 here.

4. The Vitamin Shoppe's Probiotic Complex (4 billion CFU)
This is where things gets fun. Constipation is a big side effect of pregnant women. Probiotics help the digestive track and is a good at keeping the immune system healthy. Read more about probiotics here.

5. Standard Process's Cataplex B
This is also from my chiropractor and supports physical and nervous system health. Read more.

6. Standard Process's Symplex F
Symplex F supports the healthy function of the ovaries and the adrenal, pituitary, and thyroid glands. Read more.

7. Standard Process's Drenamin
Drenamin supports adrenal function and helps maintain emotional balance. Read more here.

Vitamins I now take

1. Rainbow Light's Prenatal One (a food-based multi)
Prenatal One is loaded with Iron, Folate and Iodine (which my women's one didn't have). So I went with what the Vitamin Shoppe guy told me and bought this. Read more about Prenatal One.

2. New Chapter's WholeMega Fish Oil
There are tons of studies out right now about pregnant woman not getting enough fish oil, so I started taking this stuff. Omega-3 nourishes the heart, brain, kidney and eyes. I'm in. Read more about WholeMega.

3. The Vitamin Shoppe's Vitamin D3 (2000 IU)

My chiropractor is the one who got me hooked on D3. Once he said it's great at fighting off winter illnesses, I started taking it. I've also been told that Vitamin D3 is great for bone density and building a strong immune system to fight off cancers. It also helps in brain development in children. There is a link with autism and lack of vitamin D3 in women. What's most remarkable about vitamin D is the sheer number of health issues it's been linked to. In the past few years, studies have shown that a lack of the vitamin may be the primary culprit in depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, skin and other cancers, and multiple sclerosis. More about D3 here.

4. The Vitamin Shoppe's Probiotic Complex (4 billion CFU)

This is where things gets fun. Constipation is a big side effect of pregnant women. Probiotics help the digestive track and is a good at keeping the immune system healthy. Read more about probiotics here.

What vitamins are you taking and why?

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