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I just had to share. ;)
So, we have a new ultrasound picture to share. I, honestly, can stare at this picture all day long. Sometimes I sit at my desk and just catch myself daydreaming as I stare at this little one. I wonder what it’ll be like to hold this little one up to my heart and rock him/her to sleep. Or what it’ll feel like to walk holding his/her hand. I also find myself staring at Kev wondering what features this baby will get from him. I love my beautiful husband, I hope the baby comes out looking just like him and I hope he/she has his same sweet soul.
In the latest ultrasound I was 12 weeks 6 days, and you can see a fully developed baby! Proof that God is an awesome and amazing God, to allow a human body the ability to create a life, in just a few short weeks. I guess the saying, “they grow too fast” started here. At 7 weeks, our first ultrasound just looked like a fuzzy piece of rice but the strong heart beat that we heard assured us there was a baby growing, almost 6 weeks later he/she has taken shape. Amazing!
Baby Marsden is the size of a navel orange 4.5 inches! We are 14 weeks, 3 days and just 25 weeks, 4 days left! Seems like forever! So, the application of What to Expect says, “baby is practicing sucking, swallowing and breathing”. The best part about reading that is that when we went in for the last ultrasound we could actually see the baby’s tongue moving, so we know he/she is right on course! ;)
I hope you can all see the new picture. I love it!
What to expect when you’re expecting…
Expect that you have to hold it in for a really long time and not tell anyone until you’re 3 months along. Today I am 11 weeks and 4 days! 3 days away from being 12 weeks and I can’t take it anymore. I want to tell everyone!!! I’m pregnant! I’ve been M.I.A. from the blog way too long! But, I’ve been thinking about all I’ve had on my mind for these almost three months and I miss writing about how I’m feeling and how I’m doing with my exercise goals. Ever since my half marathon, I haven’t had an exercise goal and that’s really been on my mind! I need a goal.
When I found out I was pregnant all running ceased well, pretty much anyway. I’ve had a few wonderful hikes with family over the holidays and I picked up the pace a little and ran some parts here and there and then last weekend a nice long hike with my beautiful husband in Joshua Tree for our first anniversary.
Why did I stop exercising? Well, in July I found out I was pregnant and continued running. I miscarried. I guess deep down I kind of blame myself a little for not taking it easy. I know that God’s Will is perfect and it just wasn’t a pregnancy that was meant to be at that particular time but it hurt a lot, emotionally. So, when we found out I was pregnant November 24th, 2009, I decided, even though doctors said I could still run, I would be taking it easy. Now that I’m nearing the end of my first trimester I am really going to get on it and start a walking plan. I’m planning on walking everyday during lunch while I’m at work. I’ll pack my lunch the night before and I’ll head out for a walk during my lunch break. I also plan to throw in some prenatal yoga classes maybe once a week. My goal is to get super healthy for the delivery of this baby which as of right now, I plan on doing naturally. But my goal will have to start next week due to all the rain we’re having…and trust me I’m not complaining. I love this weather but it’s definitely inside weather! So, I’ll stay inside until it stops.
So, what to expect? Expect a lot of weird food cravings. Man, the food thing has me going bananas! I only want to eat what I want and that’s it. Anything else just doesn’t sound good and if I ate anything other than what I really wanted I’d probably be sick. I have to say, the one thing I crave the most is salad. I guess this baby loves it’s greens? Fine by me! Pickles, cucumbers, lemons in water, anything with a little sour tang to it, I want it. Last night I went to bed craving a fried egg. This morning I tried to get ready super fast so I’d be able to make it before I went to work but low and behold Kev said I didn’t have enough time. I came home for lunch and I fried up 2 beautiful DHA packed eggs on a toasted bagel and hip hip hooray I was a happy camper!
What else to expect? Hormones to explode on your face! I have so many pimples. I can’t even fight them anymore.
Expect to be bloated and gassy! Poor Kev.
Expect to be so tired you can’t see straight. Some days I come home and lay down for about an hour and then get up for a bit then go to bed for the night, maybe an hour later. Oh, and last week, this might be gross but, last week I was so tired at work I would go into the bathroom at work and take a nap. There is a leather sofa/bed thingy in there for people that don’t feel good. No one ever uses it so, I have put it to some good use last week. The gross part is that it’s in the bathroom.
Expect to be too big but not big enough…I’m in a weird stage right now. Too big for my old pants and too small for maternity clothes. A little frustrating trying to get ready in the morning for work but I bought these amazing leggings and they make it simple. I think I could probably wear those everyday!
Expect to hate your prenatal vitamins! They are the worse! They make me feel awful! They are so big and chalky…ugh, I can’t even stand writing about how awful they are. I can still smell them. YUCK! Someone needs to invent prenatals to taste like an EmergenC packet…and oh how I’d love to just open the packet up and pour it in a cup with some water and have it taste like orange juice. Please someone get on that!
Expect to have to pee all the time, even during the night. One night I got up 3 times!
Expect to have really weird dreams! I dreamt, because I was craving mint chip ice cream, that I was having mint chip ice cream served on the bellies of kittens. And I ate them!!!!!! The kittens tasted like Gummy Bears. Ugh!
Expect to walk into each ultra sound not sure of what will happen and be pleasantly surprised by the beating of this little angel’s heart. I can’t even write about it without crying. It is truly the most amazing thus far.
Overall, I’ve been feeling really great. I’ve been enjoying every moment of this pregnancy. All the weird and scary with the good. I believe that God is taking very good care of me and keeping me strong and healthy and even though I hate the prenatals they seem to be helping too.
So, to keep you updated on Baby Marsden we are 11 weeks, 4 days with a count down of 28 weeks, 3 days to go. Our due date is August 6th, 2010 and the baby is the size of a large plum. The baby’s diaphragm is developing and even though I can’t feel it, he/she is probably getting the hiccups. Also, the baby is starting to move around a lot more. Doing somersaults and forward rolls basically, playing around in there…having fun.
I received this in an email from a friend and I love it! Christ should be celebrated everyday! And this exemplifies how the world needs to change their view Christmas. I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful Christ loving family that see’s Christmas as it really should be celebrated!
With only 2 weeks till Christmas REMEMBER:
Jesus is Better than Santa
Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks…and then enters your heart.
You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn’t know your name,
JESUS knew our name before we did.
Not only does He know our name, He knows our history and future
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly
JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO
JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says “You better not cry”
JESUS says, “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you”.
Santa’s little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts and repairs broken homes.
Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It’s obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.
May the Lord bless and watch over you and your loved ones this Christmas 2009 and in the New Year.
Happy to report…Friday, I had another doctor’s appointment, one that I was seriously dreading. A few months back, during a Lupus flare up in my chest wall, the doctor’s noticed a cyst on my right lung. I went to a pulmonary specialist and he said I actually had 4 cysts. It was right before my half marathon, I asked if I could still run it and he said yes. I was consumed with the worry about these cysts on my lungs but tried hard to push my worries down inside me. They took some blood on that visit and I waited for them to call with bad news. They never did. Two weeks ago I had to go in for a breathing test, that was pretty hard on me and made me feel pretty light headed but according to my doctor Friday, I was 100% in that test. He’s not sure why these cysts have appeared. My blood test, not sure what it was for, showed no sign of disease! He said that I just need to get them checked every year but that he was very happy with the results and although I have these cyst my lungs are working great and giving me 100% of the air…or something like that. haha! It makes me cry to think about all I have been through these last few months. The Lord has shown me such great love and incredible strength.
Yesterday I ran a 5K and came in 2nd place in my division. Isn’t that just crazy?! I’m so slow, I don’t know how I did it, but I’m very glad that I did because my running hasn’t been going so well lately. But after my doctor’s appointment on Friday I was actually smiling while I was running! I knew I could do it. I was so happy to be running this race!
Ever since my half marathon my hip flexor has been hurting, making it hard to do long runs. My longest run to date, since my half, was a 4 miler. But, even with a very painful hip flexor I managed to finish my race and even sprint to the finish line and I received my first medal EVER.
Also,
I’m really excited for Thanksgiving. I have a lot to be thankful for…my life is a precious gift from God and I need to always see it as that.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and even though Kev and I were together last year and last years holidays were so special because they were our first, this year they are even more special because now we’re married. I am probably pretty sappy but really, I am the luckiest girl. Kev is so good to me. He is my best friend, he makes me laugh all the time, and he keeps me snuggled with love.
10. I used to love shopping at thrift stores! I still have a yellow cardigan (actually vintage) and it’s beautiful. I wish I still had my blue suede creepers!
9. I used to love Ska music and I used to see Ska bands every weekend! Especially The Skeletones and it was always a treat if The Specials were playing.
8. I used to love watching Laverne and Shirley and last year I bought the first season on DVD.
7. I used to love falling asleep on the sofa with the TV on.
6. I used to love roller skating through the neighborhood with Kristin.
5. I used to love driving my new truck with Sandra and Kristin (before I had a radio installed) and we would sing as loud as we could…all the way home from Mt. SAC! hahaha
4. I used to love swing dancing with Sandra and Mike. We were regulars at Taxi’s! haha
3. I used to love push starting my first car when it wouldn’t start…a Volkswagon Bug, named Betsy.
2. I used to love drinking my coffee with tons of cream and tons of sugar. haha!!
1. I used to love hearing my dad’s voice call me, “Mija”.
I heard a song that brought memories…made me think about a lot of stuff I had forgotten.
WOW, how did I miss the section that explains and allows voluntary abortions in my packet of medical coverage? How far, as a country, have we gone? According to my medical benefits plan all I have to do is pay a copay. So, every month, if I needed to, I could get an abortion for about $50 bucks.
So sad.
Nancy Pelosi is awful. She is fighting for the hopes that the government will soon be footing the bill for abortions. Please stay healthy Mr. President and Mr. Vice President. I don’t want this woman having the opportunity to end up sitting in the your chairs, she’s too close as it is.
Who’s abortion exactly is she asking government to pay for anyway?
Man, all this talk about Healthcare Reform, I was just hoping for better medical insurance. And by that I meant that I was hoping for a same day appointment. I had no idea that our country’s representatives wanted to be responsible for killing all the innocent babies that may have been created in error. But then, if everyone believed in God Almighty they would realize no life is created in error. And abortion wouldn’t be what it is today…a nightmare!
side note: hip flexor is incredibly sore. When I start running it starts hurting…I pushed myself Friday and did 4 miles even though. Then yesterday just ran 2 miles and it was so sore I was limping at work today. Hope it heals soon. I’ve never had an injury from running before, not sure what to do.
Is it ok to offer minimal help to customers?
Is it ok to be rude to someone just because they were rude to you?
Is it ok to drive carelessly?
Is it ok to _____ (fill in the blank)?
Sure, it’s ok to be all of these things but why? Why would you want to NOT be “all you can be”? When you can do so much better!
A smile goes a long way. Careful driving saves lives! And when someone is rude to you, stop it in it’s tracks. Don’t continue the vicious cycle and let evil dominate the world.
At work I encounter a lot of different types of people and it is very easy to get someone upset but if I’m patient and offer the best service they can tell, and they appreciate good service. Even if someone starts off angry, sometimes I can turn it around. I say sometimes because working with the public is not an easy job, each person presents a different complaint and I’m not always patient with people. But, I love my job so much more when the people I encounter are nice. It’s the difference from a good day at work and a bad day. It all depends on me and what kind of day I’m going to make it.
I prefer to make it a good one.
side note: I’m going to sign up for the Huntington Beach Half Marathon. I need something to train for. I haven’t been running because I’ve finished my Sister Half. I need a goal! Hence, Huntington Beach.
Why is it so hard to “Read the Directions” first?
Over the weekend I watched my husband try to put a box together before reading the directions, he fumbled with it for about ten minutes until he finally had to resort to looking at the directions. After reading the directions it took him less than a minute to put the box together.
Today I used an oil for the first time and valued it’s drying agents so I applied it to a nuisance of a pimple I had wrecking my forehead for a week.
After a few seconds I stood there just looking over the bottle, I noticed my forehead starting to tingle and not in a good way. Still, not freaking out, I turned to the back of the bottle, where the directions state, “do not use full strength on face”. OH NO! So, I wiped it off but it was still burning, then had to wash it off, and finally the end result is my nuisance of a pimple is now more red and more inflamed than before I even messed with it. Ugh!
Life lesson, READ THE DIRECTIONS FIRST.
Today, after driving from New Mexico to Culver City, Kev and I found ourselves sitting at a table in our favorite Vietnamese restaurant, Pho Show. We’re regulars, I love that. As soon as we walk through the door they hold their fingers up, like a child giving their age and say, “2 chicken soups?” We nod and take a seat at our favorite table.
We always sit at the same table. I sit with my back against the wall and Kev faces the wall. Poor Kev, he never gets to people watch. We usually sit and have a small conversation about that happenings of the day but, after the long drive, we just sat in silence and vegged out to ourselves. I did a whole lot of people watching and today he was the one I was watching. He was clearly perplexed and a bit pensive but, when he started nodding to himself that’s when I had to break the silence and ask, “What are you thinking about”. I think I startled him. He looked up and started laughing. He hadn’t noticed that he was having an on-going conversation with himself and the funniest part was the nodding. He agreed with himself, so much so that he was nodding. hahahaha I wish I had it on video.
Happiness is when you can sit in absolute silence with your husband and be comfortable with it.
Wedding Pictures!