Gender Revealed!!!

This is actually a picture I took of the ultrasound picture.  I wanted to scan it, but we've moved our office to a different room and are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our scanner.

     Today's the day!  I'm still wrapping my head around it all.  Sleeping last night was, shall we say, less than joyful.  There were no nerves involved, but I kept waking up and felt uncomfortable most of the time.  I woke up about 6:45AM with a pretty bad headache and grabbed a ice pack to help ease the pain.  So the beginning of the day was not one to be envied.  My mind was consumed with thoughts of getting ready on time and making sure I drank enough water in order to have a full bladder for the ultrasound.  All of which was timed quite well.  I read that you are supposed to drink a full liter of water beforehand so I started about an hour before the appointment, guzzling as much at a time as I could.  My mom was able to come with us to the appointment, which was really special.  I'm so glad she was able to be there.  Thanks MOM!  :)

    I'm really glad I didn't start drinking water too early because I was just getting to the point of feeling like I needed to use the restroom by the time we got to the ultrasound room.  The warm jelly was kind of comforting, since it's starting to cool down outside.  I'm a fan.  Thank you inventor of the ultrasound jelly warmer guy!  The ultrasound tech began her poking and prodding, which I think is putting it lightly.  I was usually fine as long as she stayed in one place, but as soon as she would move and press into an area closer to my bladder the feeling that needed to get to the potty would return.  Seeing our sweet baby and the heart was magical for me.  It's so amazing that we are able to see the brain, skull, bones, developing organs and features.  Every time we were shown a new thing, I said, "That is so cool/amazing/awesome."  At some point I told the tech and her assistant that, "I'm sorry.  Right now, I just think everything's amazing!".

     And then came the moment I really had shown up for.  The reason I downed a liter of water in an hour.  The reason I had to fight of the urge to go to the bathroom.  Okay, so it wasn't the only reason, but it was a big one.  The Gender revealed.  She checked and double checked and I think she even triple checked just to be sure.

WE'RE HAVING A GIRL!!!

     Let the squealing commence.  :)  This means that 61% of you that voted were right on!  I really can't say that we would have been surprised either way.  We didn't want to expect or get our hopes up about either boy or girl and I'm glad.  I'm happy that this little girl (so weird to finally be able to say that) is joining our family.  From what we could tell, she's very healthy.  We'll see our midwife next week and she'll give us the results, which I'm expecting will be good.  At one point the tech used the 3D tool to get a good look at her face, but little miss was sucking on the back of her hand.  Or she was shielding her face because she didn't want to be seen without her makeup.  ;)  When we looked at her feet, I was pretty sure I could tell I was looking at a girl since I didn't see any "boy stuff", but I'm not the expert and waited for her to tell us.  When she did, she confirmed my thoughts and I looked over at Ty and said, "Are you ready for that?"  My mom's reaction was, "PMS, times two!"  Haha. 

    Names are on the discussion board for now, though we have told family what we are thinking.  When we decide more concretely, I'll share it with everyone.  And you will all like it.  Even if you don't, you will.  :)

Guess Our Baby's Gender!

     Source

     Alright ladies and gents, the time is fast and soon approaching.  Our ultrasound appointment is in two weeks and we are both very anxious to find out the gender of our first born.  We really had to consider if we wanted to get an ultrasound at all because they are expensive and I feel like everything is fine.  However, it's really important to us to find out the gender.  Translate:  I don't want to wait my entire pregnancy to find out or I'll go insane with curiosity.  I'm not very good with patience.  So ultrasound it is! 

     We let our midwife know that we wanted the ultrasound and she put in the request to Tri City Radiology.  Once her receptionist called to tell me the request was in, I called to make an appointment.  I want to make sure that we give it enough time so "everything" is visible, so I made the appointment for after I'm 20 weeks.  I'll be almost 21 by the appointment so I think that will, hopefully, work out well. 

     Now is the time for you to make your guess.  You'll see on the right sidebar of the blog (those of you who are reading this from Facebook or email will have to come to the actual blog to see it:  http://tyandjennyrobbins.blogspot.com), I've posted a poll for you to make your guess.  Do you think we'll be like my family and have a Boy first?  Will we join the majority of Ty's brothers and have a Girl first?  Or will the little one be too shy and leave it's gender undisclosed?  What's your guess?  I have a feeling, but I ain't sayin'.  When I asked my sweet little niece, Sammy, what she thinks I'm having her reply was, "Ummm, I think it's a boy, because boys come out first."  Hahahahahaha!  When I reminded her that her oldest cousin is a girl, she still stick to her guns and said, "Yeah, but I think boys come out first."  Which is pretty much the truth in the Justesen family for my brothers.  So we shall see.  :)  And to be honest, whether boy or girl, we will love this baby so much and will be so happy.  We feel so blessed and I'm constantly amazed each day that I'm still going.  It's amazing and truly a miracle in our hearts. 

Belly Shots 6, 13, 14, 17, & 18 Weeks

     They are long awaited I know!  There was a bit of a gap because we were out of town or I was sick and didn't feel like taking pictures.  Sorry.  :(  However, I think the ones I have will show you just when I popped anyway.  It's still really weird to me.  Looking down at my tummy I think, "I don't look pregnant."  Then I turn sideways and look in the mirror and BAM!, there's a belly there.  I do have to say, I'm probably the only pregnant woman in the world who doesn't want to be told I don't look pregnant.  There is a belly there people and it must be acknowledged.  I think my biggest issue with this is that I worked hard for six months to lose weight and look skinny.  When someone tells me that I don't look pregnant and they don't notice my belly, I feel a twinge of pain at the thought that instead of looking pregnant, I look fat.  Because this not what my body looked like when I lost all my weight.  My WHOLE front side was A LOT smaller.  The idea that all my hard work really meant nothing to my outward appearance is upsetting.  To me I look pregnant, though it can be more difficult to tell through the baggy pj shirts I wear most often.  Also, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm REALLY insecure and to hear I don't look pregnant, my subconscious mind translates into "You aren't really pregnant."  One of my three top love languages is Words of Affirmation.  I think that applies here.  I need positive feedback, like basically all the time.  :)

     Anyway, that was just me venting.  Thank you for listening.  :)  Onto PICTURES!!  Huzzah!

  

     I don't think I've changed much anywhere else besides my tummy.  There's a pretty obvious growth there.  Haha.  You'll have to forgive the angles.  We don't have a great camera and I always insist on "No Flash" so it makes it difficult for poor Ty.  I'm going to have to start buying some maternity T's because you can tell there's some stretching going on.  I do love how you can kinda see how my leggings are still kinda big for me right now.  :)  That makes me happy. 

Dieting During Pregnancy

    Remember how I lost 40 pounds?  It...was...AWESOME!  However, loosing weight isn't exactly on the menu for now.  My priorities have shifted to making sure I'm gaining the proper amount of weight for me and my baby.  As of late, I feel like I'm faltering.  While I realize that I won't be able to be perfect with this, I'm still concerned with eating the best things to keep us both healthy.  After making such a huge effort and commitment to lose all that weight, I don't want to throw it to the wayside and end up gaining too much weight.  That would mean it was all a waste and I'd be setting myself up to repeat what I already have done.  Perhaps even starting from a heavier weight.  So, I decided to go at it again with my food/diet blog.  You can view my plans here.  There will be no trying to lose weight, though I will be counting calories to keep myself in check.  As I posted on my other blog.  Recipes, encouragement, and words of wisdom and all welcome. 

Midwife Appointment at 17 Weeks

      I can't believe how fast the time keeps going.  Before you know it, it will be February and our little one will be making their public debut.  Gaaaaahhh!  There's still so much to do before then.

      First thing to discuss at the appointment, as with all of them, is how I'm feeling.  I proclaimed that I'm tired and she asked if it was normal pregnancy tired or if it was something.  For the most part I think it's normal pregnancy tired as I have to get up at least once a night for a bathroom interruption.  However, I also explained that I wake up with a headache pretty much every morning.  She asked if I'm drinking enough water, to which I had to confess that I'm trying, but do sometimes forget.  It was decided though, that even though lack of water could be a contributing factor, my pre-existing neck and migraine condition was the primary cause.  We talked about how my appetite has increased and the nausea has diminished.  Yay!!!  Big Man Breakfasts for me.  :)

     I finally remembered to fill out the form she gave us which gave her primary information about mine and Ty's health background as it pertains to my pregnancy.  We went over a few things and all looked good, so there wasn't much to discuss.  Then, it was discussed if we wanted to have the blood test for Down Syndrome and Neural tube defects.  I'm personally not worried about our child having these issues.  However, if it does come about that our little one suffers from something in this category, I would rather not know about it and have the anxiety throughout the rest of my pregnancy.  I will still love this child no matter what and give them the help and care they need when it's necessary.  Ginger made a wonderful point that I completely agree with.  The doctor she trained with said, "You do a test if it relieves anxiety, not to increase it."  So we will forgo that test.  We then discussed what we will need to do for the ultrasound!!  :)  Since she doesn't do ultrasounds, she refers you to a place that does.  In this case I'll be calling Tri City Radiology in Kennewick.  So in a few weeks we will hopefully be finding out what is swimming around inside my belly.

     Then, it was time to get up on the table and she took my blood pressure.  Honestly, I don't know if it's just later on in the pregnancy or if you are already worried about something, but I don't really understand the anxiety with getting your blood pressure taken.  Can someone explain this to me?  Maybe it's just that I feel calm at that point already after talking with Ginger that I just don't really feel the need to be anxious.  At any rate, I was normal.  Huzzah.  She then examined my belly and poked around for baby.  She found him or her pretty quickly and I loved that she asked how they were doing in a sweet voice.  Everything is growing just right.  Then we got to hear the heartbeat and some moving around.  The repetitive sound of the heart is the only repetitive sound that will never get old or annoy.  The heart sounds to me like a bouncing basketball.  I'm so glad that we get to listen to it every visit. 

     Leading up to this appointment, I had been feeling very anxious about things.  It's still hard for me to believe that I'm pregnant and even harder to believe that everything is okay.  I was actually struggling with the idea that my pregnancy had ended and my body just hadn't taken care of things naturally.  Morbid, I know, but the reality is, my past bad experiences have tainted me and I'm a very insecure momma.  However, right from the start of the appointment, everything I felt previously was put to ease as I felt taken care of, my concerns were listened to and understood.  Ginger has a very positive attitude and demeanor so it's hard not to feel comforted being around her.  Hearing the heartbeat definitely put me in a better place as well.  All in all, it was a good visit and I'm anxious to find out what our little one is.  I keep looking to my belly and asking, "Are you a boy or a girl?"  We'll soon, hopefully, find out!