Great Birthday!

My 27th was fabulous!

Brandon and I went shopping Saturday evening after I left work.  We got some precious stuff for Ellie!

These were all part of a set. 

This onesie was included in the set pictured above all for $9.99.  

This set was too cute to pass up

I couldn't resist since working in a jewelry store helped us afford IF treatment for Ellie!

Just a plain 5-set of onesies.  I'm sure we'll go through many of these in the beginning.

The inside of my card from Sneakers

My birthday card was awesome!

From Sneakers

From Sneakers

Beautiful flowers from Sneakers

Brighton earrings and necklace pendant from Dad

Sterling Silver Pendant with Elliana engraved on the front (it reads Joy on the other side)

Sterling Silver charm bracelet with an "E" charm for Ellie from Randal

Sav-a-Life Calendar featuring Nesia from Joy

Not pictured are three dresses that Mom purchased for me.  One is tan, one is purple and white, and the other is black with a skinny blue belt.  I'm so in love with my maternity clothes that I may miss them when it's time to return to my regular-sized wardrobe!

Overall I had a great birthday.  We went to church, had lunch with Dad, took a nap, headed back to church for a meeting, and then went to dinner with my Mom and family.  I can't wait to spend my next birthday with Ellie.  

21 Weeks and Bumpdate

How many weeks:
21 Weeks

How big is Ellie:
The size of a pomegranate
Some of these fruit comparisons are confusing.
Another reference compared Ellie's size to the length of a carrot.

Ellie is measured from head to toe beginning this week!

Maternity Clothes:
Always!

Weight Gain Alert!
140 lbs
Gained This Week:  2 lbs
Total Weight Gain:  17 lbs

Movement:
Ellie is constantly moving throughout the day, but is most active after I eat.
Brandon was able to feel Ellie kick again on Thursday (20w5d) evening.  He had been discouraged because he had not felt her kick since I was 19 weeks.  He sat down with me after we finished dinner and waited for her to become active.  Within a matter of minutes he was able to feel her kick at least three times, although I felt many more than that!

Food Cravings:
Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies
Orange Juice
Chicken Fingers and French Fries is one of my favorite meals.
Oreos and Milk at bedtime
Randal says I've become a "Carb Queen"

Food Aversions:

Anything that smells bad.  I grew tired of fast food because I ate so much of it during the month of December.  Right now I prefer to eat meals at home.

Gender:

GIRL

Ellie in my Belly

Symptoms:

BACKACHE during the day and at night, afternoon fatigue, frequent urination, increased appetite, acid reflux, indigestion, breathlessness, bigger belly, movement from Ellie, moodiness, weepiness, hot flashes, increased leukorrhea, sore tummy, round ligament pain that throbs, bleeding gums, tender and enlarged breasts, oily hair, pregnancy brain, clumsiness, itchy skin, stretched feeling on tummy

Sleep:
I love sleep!  If I could, I would nap every day.  My bedtime is somewhere around 8:30 - 9 pm each evening and I have no trouble falling fast asleep.  I'm not getting up in the middle of the night anymore to potty since I've been limiting my fluids before bedtime.


What do I miss:

I will not miss my back aching, but it's all worth it for Ellie. 

Best moment of the week:
Feeling Ellie move more and Brandon getting to feel her kicks again.

Worst moment of the week:
Being told that I look farther along than I am, and that I look like I'm carrying twins. So many other people have encouraged me and told me that I look great.  I'm lucky to have so many inspirational and motivational people supporting us through this pregnancy to compensate for all of the "jackholes." 

What am I looking forward to:
My birthday is TOMORROW and our next appointment is on January 22.  

Milestones:
Each week is a milestone for us.  Looking down at my growing belly is a constant reminder of God's faithfulness.  Brandon and I have come so far and are so excited that our pregnancy has remained uneventful.

Ellie "tastes swallows amniotic fluid each day, so she tastes whatever I'm eating"  (How cool is that?)
from What to Expect When You're Expecting

Bumpdate

I have dimples at the top of my tummy.  I think they'll be filled in before too much longer.

Dreams, Big Comments, Sick, and My Birthday!

Last night I dreamed that I forgot to breastfeed the baby.  Talk about craziness.  My dreams are so random and vivid when I remember them.  I can still see myself holding the baby in the house I grew up in with my Mom and Stepdad.  I had been using a breast pump (which was uncomfortable in the dream) but had never actually fed the baby.  I also had to give someone else some of my milk because they were sick.  (??) Dreams aren't supposed to make sense, but this one was weird!

There's a Moe's Southwest Grill two doors down from the store I work in.  Jen is out sick with the flu (please pray for her because she's SICK), so it was easier for me to grab a burrito and just eat at the store in case we got busy.  Well, I went in to grab my lunch and one of the girls in there acted excited to see me.  She was glad to see that I was still pregnant, but then started commenting on my size.  She asked me if I was carrying twins and then said that I was so big to be almost 21 weeks.  Insert crying here.  I told my boss what she said and I won't repeat his comment here because it wasn't nice.  He made me feel much better and again told me that I looked great.  We had a customer in the store at that time and she was appalled that someone would comment on my size like that.  I've always been consumed with my appearance, but knew that it would be different once I was pregnant.  Yes, I have obviously gained weight-mostly in my stomach.  It just hurt my feelings that someone could be so rude and say something so ugly.  (She also used to ask me every time I went to Moe's if I was pregnant yet).  I guess you shouldn't be surprised at the stuff that some people say.

Speaking of people being sick, Brandon's sick.  He's not felt well for over a week now, but he's going to go to the doctor tomorrow.  He woke up in a coughing fit late Tuesday night and ended up sleeping on the couch.  He didn't even come to bed last night because he doesn't want to get me sick.

Only 3 more days until my BIRTHDAY! =)  I will be turning 27.  We're not doing anything too special, but I requested going out to dinner Saturday night.  We have church on my actual birthday and are helping in the nursery during the second service.  Then we have a meeting that afternoon for everyone who helps with the kids, so my day is already planned.  This year, I only asked for items for Ellie.  It's so funny that I've always loved getting presents, but now I get more excited at opening packages for her!

Happy Birthday, Sneakers

Today is my sweet husband's 36th birthday!

We went out to dinner at Joe's Italian last night to celebrate Brandon's birthday (as well as the good news about our FET cycle).  Today he's watching lots of college football in preparation for the Bama game this evening.  I'm cleaning house so I won't be super stressed with the transfer next week.

I started taking my antibiotic this morning, and we will add the PIO injections at night.  Wouldn't you know that I forgot to eat with my antibiotic and have had yucky nausea all morning.  Oops!  I've started having some tenderness in my chest, but other than that...no side effects.  I still have blue CF, but that's going to stick around until we have a confirmed pregnancy.

Have a great weekend and Happy Labor Day, y'all!

~~~~~*~~~~~

Brandon, 

I hope that this is your best birthday yet.  

I just hope that I get to give you a late birthday present in about two weeks.  

You're already my best friend, 

but you're going to be an amazing Daddy!  

I love you!

Happy Birthday, Sneakers!  

Last Night's Injection

We chose to move forward and do the Progesterone in Oil injection last night.

It filled the entire syringe

I know a few of you thought it would be sweet for us to transfer on Brandon's birthday, but we didn't see it that way.  My past two birthdays, as well as our past two wedding anniversaries (along with many other events)  have been consumed with fertility treatment.  I had surgery the week after his birthday last year.  

We chose this path, but it is exhausting and often rules our lives.  I don't want it to seem like I'm complaining, because I'm not.  Just the thought a fertility event taking away my husband's birthday made me sad.  

God's plan will unhold as He sees fit.  

Again?!?
My husband is hilarious! 
 The Batman gave me an injection last night!! 
(Let the hot flashes and cramps begin!!!!!!!)

Brandon's Birthday

Today is Brandon's birthday! He's 34. When I got home from work last night, I let him open his gift from my Mom.

It's not a typical Alabama-looking shirt, but he loves it! He didn't think he'd get it, so it was a GREAT surprise!

I am partial, but I think my husband is one good looking man! =)

So, this morning, I had set out his card. I'm pretty cheesy with cards for birthdays, anniversaries and romantic holidays. I refuse to buy a card, so I typically make one. They may look childish, but it brings back memories of when I was younger, making cards for my parents. Brandon always appreciates them because he knows I spent longer than a minute picking out a card in Wal-Mart.


I'll give him his presents once he gets home from work. We're going to eat dinner with our family this evening. Last night at work, it just hit me that I should invite our family. His parents, sister and boyfriend, my dad and girlfriend, and our close friend-River are all meeting us.

I'll post more of the birthday festivities tomorrow! =)