I never thought...

I would drink this once beloved drink again~



I used to *l o v e* coffee. But with this new-found appetitite of nothing...coffee is the least thing from my mind. Oddly enough-when I was working (and quite often exhausted) I was a regular coffee drinker, something I always wanted to cut back on. Well this little bundle of joy has helped me kick that habit. Of course during pregnancy I want to limit my caffeine intake anyway, but going cold turkey....I didn't think it would be that easy, but it's actually a punishment to even smell it (something I used to love!)

I avoid taking meds at all costs, especially while pregnant (a little suffering is good for me). But today I actually thought a half a cup of coffee didn't sound too horrible and hoped it might help with my headache.

It's nice to not have it every day, but once in a blue moon-it's a nice kick of energy.

Annointed

Is there a worse feeling than waking up to even the tiniest bit of spotting when you're pregnant? nope. especially not at 10 weeks.

We quickly called the doctor, while calmly remembering "everything will be fine" (but not really because we are just nervous!)...and he graciously made room for us that day! So before we went into Naples for the appointment we called Fr. Tatman (at Kim's suggestion!)...and he offered to meet us in the sacristy just before Mass and annointed my head and hands with the holy chrism oil (just blessed the night before and will be used the entire year...he said I was the first to "use" it!)...It was beautiful. And of course there were lady friends of mine helping prepare for Mass as sacristans and they all just bowed their heads and prayed with me. I felt so bad that *this* is how they were finding out, but we've just tried to 'ponder this pregnancy in our hearts' and wait until at least 12 weeks to really tell anyone.

soooo all was fine. The dr. examined me and showed us our beautiful child again via ultrasound and (gasp) he/she has arms and legs and is moving all around! It really was the perfect pre-Easter gift. We were so thankful and celebrated afterward with a taco lunch!

Getting out

It's been a while since I've gotten out. I keep hoping I will feel better soon and we can get back to fun times, dates, projects around the house, heck even just me making dinner. But mostly, I am very sick. Just nauseous all the time or extremely fatigued, or (yep) those headaches. I have lost 10 pounds already and it is very difficult to eat anything. But the punishment of not eating is even worse: nauseau. I pray I am not "hurting" the baby with this lack of nutrients!

Today I had a particularly horrible mirgraine, but the pain of sitting home on a beautiful Saturday, with Gary having the day off, was just too great. He was ready to have fun and go out, so I just put it into my will that I was going to have fun, no matter how bad the pain was. I figured the distraction might help too. So off to the "Harvest Festival" in Immokalee we went.



Or so we thought. Once we got there it was mostly over, poorly attended and not much to do. But we were both suffering from such cabin fever the thought of returning to our perfect little Catholic town was just not very exciting. So off to SR 82 we went. We just began to drive. We figured we would end up somewhere where we could eat dinner with a gift card. Bad idea. We ended up at Applebee's where the manager was less than affected that we had a horrible meal that we wouldn't even be able to walk away from for FREE without saying something. It was that bad. He didn't seem to care. So off we went to Gulfcoast Town Center where there was live music and a bit more life happening. We walked around and I began to feel alive. We went to Bass Pro Shops and dreamt of buying a boat (someday) :)

Windy day!



Ahhh relaxing on the water...




The Captain~



I'm quite the driver!





It turned out to be so romantic, just walking around and having fun. We ended the evening at the Outback Steakhouse where I had to fulfill the Baby's craving for a Bloomin' Onion (did you know you can just get a side for like two bucks?) and Gary had to fulfill the Baby's craving for the Chocolate Thunder From Down Under. *grin* It was over an hour's wait, but the bar area is first come, first serve. We ended up with an adorable booth and really nice server. It was just what a sick, pregnant lady needed! A distraction from it all :)

Thank you God for a beautiful day!

9 weeks!

Ironically we are so busy with photography that we are struggling to find the time to take pregnancy pictures! This is our first one :) and I'm standing in the nursery! (i love yellow)

my grains...

...I mean migraines...as in terrible headaches. I have tried it all...a dark room, cold cloth on my head and nothing relieves it. I have heard exercise can help but I have no energy for that. What a mess I am! I offer my suffering for different intentions throughout the day and I'm so thankful to have all of these "problems" because they are symptoms of PREGNANCY-something I have wanted for so long!

I'm not doing too well with my grains either...or any other food group-due to nauseau. Gary is so gracious to put up with me. I can't possibly be much fun these days as I am constantly either:

1. nauseous
or
2. exhausted
or
3. suffering with terrible headaches or migraines

What's a girl to do?

Keep praying and be so thankful to be able to more fully understand Our Lord's words at the Last Supper and at every Mass:

"This is my body, given for you."

I am truly enjoying giving up my body for this child. I know I've only just begun, but I am honored. And I couldn't do it without the loving support of my husband and family. Thank you!

It is an incredible relief to know that most evenings, when I am feeling rather terrible...we can joke, "Why don't you take tomorrow off, honey?" It is a blessing to be a full-time Mom and not have to endure the demands of working while feeling so terrible. We are blessed, oh so blessed, to be able to survive on Gary's income alone and our growing photography business! It does take sacrifices, but they are all worth it!

"Likewise, you husbands should live with your wives in understanding, showing honor to the weaker female sex, since we are joint heirs of the gift of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble." 1 Peter 3:7-8

Prayers beyond your years

We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives who love and support us so much. And now of course the love they have for YOU, our new baby, is just overflowing.

Like today...this is what I found when I woke up-just sitting on my doorstep. (Gary saw it when he left for work but left it there and wanted me to find it!)



This is the same flower we chose for our wedding flowers: blue hydrangea. And Peggy would know this because she opened her home and her schedule for days to begin receiving all of our wedding flowers that we had ordered in bulk and then, along with our friend, Kettely, the two of them worked tirelessly filling the bathtubs with water and flowers of course-keeping them hydrated- and built many bouquets, pin-on corsages, boutonnieres and large arrangements, and THEN delivered them ALL to where they needed to be. (Not an easy job!). Not to mention the cost they saved us of paying for a professional florist who (in our opinion) would not have done as good of a job and would not have stayed and made sure everything was right. It was SUCH a beautiful gift to us...and such a physical symbol of their love for us.



And the moment she saw me on my wedding day...after months of telling me daily at school 'everything will be fine' ...she just cried...telling me how beautiful I looked. I have never taught her children! She is just a loving parent from the school where I taught who grew to love me too! Who am I to deserve such wonderful friends!?



Anyway Peggy prays for our baby daily and has let us know with her little thoughtful ways like bringing this over, inviting me for tea, being willing to help me with ANYTHING..as she is very sensitive to 'taking it easy' during early pregnancy. She is the mother of triplets! She is always reminding me not to worry, to trust God and to let her know if we need anything. I let her know of our amazing ultrasound just last week and she just wanted to celebrate with us and let us know she is thinking of us with this small gift. Living in Ave Maria is such a blessing :)

And the list continues of those who love you and haven't even met you yet! There are so many people who don't even know about you yet and I already know how instantaneously they will fall in love with you when we tell them.

This potted flower is a metaphor for me and reminds me of our baby. It is beautiful even in its earliest stages, just by nature. But as it grows with love, water and sunshine, it will blossom into something even more beautiful! Thank you, God for your many wonderful creations!!