Monday, August 24, 2009
His Eyes, my Smile
I hope the baby has his eyes and my smile, but most of all, I hope the baby is healthy. I thought I would document my journey through my first pregnancy to serve not only as a keepsake, but as a reminder of my strength and courage. I know I will be facing a difficult, yet rewarding road ahead and I'm anxious to take it on!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Weeks 1 through 8
April 30th: Went off birth control
May 26: Period 1 day late, had intercourse during scheduled 14th day for estimated ovulation to no avail
June 25: Period 2 days late, had intercourse around 14th “ovulation” day and also 1 week before period using Pre-Seed to no avail
June 30 & July 1: Had intercourse within week after period ended. Never before seen clear slimy mucous glob comes out of me next morning.
July 2: started feeling slight cramping/twinge on bottom left side of abdomen and continued on and off to next day
July 3 & 4: intercourse
July 2-4: no vaginal discharge what so ever -- weird
July 5 and on: discharge returns, occasional light cramping, especially in the evenings
July 9: Felt nauseated for first time around 5pm with headache
July 10: no nausea, but extremely fatigued after work. Took 1 hour nap
July 11: more fatigue after work in late afternoon -- took another 1 hour nap. Took Excedrin at 3pm for headache and fatigue – BAD, but had no effect. Unable to sleep until 3:30a (might’ve been the caffeine in Excedrin). Woke up at 8am the next morning feeling fine
July 12: nausea returns around 5pm, more extreme this time, but no vomiting. Feeling emotional
July 13: no nausea, slight headache and very little fatigue, but frequent urination present. Tested negative
July 14: no pregnancy symptoms what so ever. Was it all in my head? 10 days before scheduled period. PMS symptom should resume soon. Dull ache in lower abdomen appears again.
July 23 (Period due): test POSITIVE!!! Took second test in the afternoon to confirm. Tell friends and family. Parents are excited mommy says, “THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!” daddy says, “ALRIGHT!!!” Dinner at Buca di Bepo’s with mama Tess & Mark. Spoke to dad in the Philippines. Is incredibly happy
July 26: celebrate at the condo with friends and family
June 28: Eating a lot more =( MUST EXERCISE
July 29 (6 days late): Pregnancy test at Balboa Hospital: positive result -- duh, calculated gestational age at 4 weeks 6 days today from June 25, 45 minutes of paperwork, 2 urine samples, 6 vials of blood work done -- ugh, schedule first prenatal appoint on daddy’s birthday September 8 at 9a (will be 11 weeks).
August 3: exhausted. Mark forces me to take a walk with him & Suri. Felt exhilarated
August 13 (7 weeks): Started a minor exercise regimen during the last 2 weeks. Did elliptical training and muscle toning. Nausea and fatigue begin to subside.
August 20 (8 weeks): Feeling good! Libido is back!
May 26: Period 1 day late, had intercourse during scheduled 14th day for estimated ovulation to no avail
June 25: Period 2 days late, had intercourse around 14th “ovulation” day and also 1 week before period using Pre-Seed to no avail
June 30 & July 1: Had intercourse within week after period ended. Never before seen clear slimy mucous glob comes out of me next morning.
July 2: started feeling slight cramping/twinge on bottom left side of abdomen and continued on and off to next day
July 3 & 4: intercourse
July 2-4: no vaginal discharge what so ever -- weird
July 5 and on: discharge returns, occasional light cramping, especially in the evenings
July 9: Felt nauseated for first time around 5pm with headache
July 10: no nausea, but extremely fatigued after work. Took 1 hour nap
July 11: more fatigue after work in late afternoon -- took another 1 hour nap. Took Excedrin at 3pm for headache and fatigue – BAD, but had no effect. Unable to sleep until 3:30a (might’ve been the caffeine in Excedrin). Woke up at 8am the next morning feeling fine
July 12: nausea returns around 5pm, more extreme this time, but no vomiting. Feeling emotional
July 13: no nausea, slight headache and very little fatigue, but frequent urination present. Tested negative
July 14: no pregnancy symptoms what so ever. Was it all in my head? 10 days before scheduled period. PMS symptom should resume soon. Dull ache in lower abdomen appears again.
July 23 (Period due): test POSITIVE!!! Took second test in the afternoon to confirm. Tell friends and family. Parents are excited mommy says, “THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!” daddy says, “ALRIGHT!!!” Dinner at Buca di Bepo’s with mama Tess & Mark. Spoke to dad in the Philippines. Is incredibly happy
July 26: celebrate at the condo with friends and family
June 28: Eating a lot more =( MUST EXERCISE
July 29 (6 days late): Pregnancy test at Balboa Hospital: positive result -- duh, calculated gestational age at 4 weeks 6 days today from June 25, 45 minutes of paperwork, 2 urine samples, 6 vials of blood work done -- ugh, schedule first prenatal appoint on daddy’s birthday September 8 at 9a (will be 11 weeks).
August 3: exhausted. Mark forces me to take a walk with him & Suri. Felt exhilarated
August 13 (7 weeks): Started a minor exercise regimen during the last 2 weeks. Did elliptical training and muscle toning. Nausea and fatigue begin to subside.
August 20 (8 weeks): Feeling good! Libido is back!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Letter to Maricel with Love, from Maricel
July 29, 2009
Dearest Maricel,
You’re in class right now taking Corporate Finance, the 9th class in your MBA program. You only have 3 more classes to go and will be completing your degree in December. You should be about 6 months pregnant by then. You spent 3 hours at the hospital this morning filling out paperwork, providing 2 urine samples, and filling 6 vials of blood. It was an anxiety filled morning. You got official confirmation from the hospital that you are currently 4 weeks and 6 days pregnant. Your first pre-natal appointment is on Daddy’s 57th (58th) birthday when an ultrasound will be performed. This will be your first child and he or she should be here by April 1st, 2010. You have a living human being inside of you. You and Mark were extremely anxious to reach this point. After 5 years of wonderful togetherness, 4 years of blissful marriage, survival through a 10 month deployment, purchase of a brand new house and car, to top off your already perfect life: a child. It took you 3 months to conceive – the longest 3 months of your life with 6 negative pregnancy tests, you did it! You are going to have a beautiful child with all of yours and Mark’s best characteristics. Having a child will drastically change your life for the better, despite the moments of feeling like they’re the worst. Instead of just living for yourself and for Mark, you’re living for someone else who will continue the legacy you and Mark created. They will be the perfect being, the perfect product of Mark & Maricel. But you must remember that you are still you. This is to serve as a reminder to remember who you are and to not lose yourself completely or even at all. You’re simply just sharing yourself with your child. Remember to SLOW DOWN, breathe, and savor the moment because they fly by far too quickly. Take long walks with your child and take in the sunshine and fresh air. Do 30 minute rigorous exercise at least three times a week to not only get your body back to shape, but to remove the stress and depression inducing toxins from your system and improve your stamina and wellbeing throughout the day. Only think positive thoughts and ¬don’t worry so much. Throw perfectionism out the window. Beauty and art is made through randomness. Your child is beauty and art. Take time to do things for yourself. Take care of yourself. Make yourself look and feel beautiful, and then life will be beautiful. You have an awesome future ahead of you filled with so many wonderful blessings. God has been good to you so be good to yourself and others. There’s nothing to complain about in life. Look at that beautiful bundle in your arms and be prepared for a long and amazing bond and friendship you will have with them. Just look at you with mommy and daddy. You are their world and this child will be your world too. Now look at your adorably handsome, patient, loving husband. Could you have asked for a more amazing husband and father to your child? He’s taken such good care of you. He lives for you and the baby and you should live for him and the baby as well. Maintain your trophy wife status. Go on, girl!!!
Dearest Maricel,
You’re in class right now taking Corporate Finance, the 9th class in your MBA program. You only have 3 more classes to go and will be completing your degree in December. You should be about 6 months pregnant by then. You spent 3 hours at the hospital this morning filling out paperwork, providing 2 urine samples, and filling 6 vials of blood. It was an anxiety filled morning. You got official confirmation from the hospital that you are currently 4 weeks and 6 days pregnant. Your first pre-natal appointment is on Daddy’s 57th (58th) birthday when an ultrasound will be performed. This will be your first child and he or she should be here by April 1st, 2010. You have a living human being inside of you. You and Mark were extremely anxious to reach this point. After 5 years of wonderful togetherness, 4 years of blissful marriage, survival through a 10 month deployment, purchase of a brand new house and car, to top off your already perfect life: a child. It took you 3 months to conceive – the longest 3 months of your life with 6 negative pregnancy tests, you did it! You are going to have a beautiful child with all of yours and Mark’s best characteristics. Having a child will drastically change your life for the better, despite the moments of feeling like they’re the worst. Instead of just living for yourself and for Mark, you’re living for someone else who will continue the legacy you and Mark created. They will be the perfect being, the perfect product of Mark & Maricel. But you must remember that you are still you. This is to serve as a reminder to remember who you are and to not lose yourself completely or even at all. You’re simply just sharing yourself with your child. Remember to SLOW DOWN, breathe, and savor the moment because they fly by far too quickly. Take long walks with your child and take in the sunshine and fresh air. Do 30 minute rigorous exercise at least three times a week to not only get your body back to shape, but to remove the stress and depression inducing toxins from your system and improve your stamina and wellbeing throughout the day. Only think positive thoughts and ¬don’t worry so much. Throw perfectionism out the window. Beauty and art is made through randomness. Your child is beauty and art. Take time to do things for yourself. Take care of yourself. Make yourself look and feel beautiful, and then life will be beautiful. You have an awesome future ahead of you filled with so many wonderful blessings. God has been good to you so be good to yourself and others. There’s nothing to complain about in life. Look at that beautiful bundle in your arms and be prepared for a long and amazing bond and friendship you will have with them. Just look at you with mommy and daddy. You are their world and this child will be your world too. Now look at your adorably handsome, patient, loving husband. Could you have asked for a more amazing husband and father to your child? He’s taken such good care of you. He lives for you and the baby and you should live for him and the baby as well. Maintain your trophy wife status. Go on, girl!!!
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