16, 17, 18 weeks..

      Oh, wow, I am way way behind on my updates! Again, I have been busy prepping for travel, traveling, and you know... chasing a toddler. I can't believe I missed 2+ weeks though! Yikes. Nothing too exciting has been going on with me in my pregnancy, except that I'm expanding by the day. It's really hard trying to keep Connor off of my belly when we lay down/snuggle, and it's even harder trying to explain to him why he can't climb on mommy. I have noticed my belly feeling sore off and on from ligaments stretching. Austin is definitely kicking me more and more. It still isn't consistent to where I can "count" kicks and whatnot, but I feel him at least a few times a day. I really love that feeling. That is by far my favorite part of pregnancy. I have been on a pregnancy forum and read that in second and subsequent pregnancies, the ligament pains/stretching is more painful. Uhm, yes. I'd agree. I turned over in bed last night and seriously wanted to cry it hurt so bad. Then there is Austin, kicking away. I am enjoying the expansion of my tummy though. Not so much enjoying the expansion of my ass. Good grief :( Oh well! I've been much better about not "chowing down" this time around.. for the most part!
...continued Dec. 30, 2012
       Anyway, week 16 of pregnancy was spent preparing for vacation plus a doctor's appt that went great. Week 17 was spent in VA, and week 18 was spent over the toilet with the stomach bug! Oy! We got home Thursday night, and I started feeling sick in the middle of the night into Friday morning. Friday I was absolutely miserable. Adam had to go back to work, so I had to play Mommy while feeling like someone was punching me in the stomach. Finally, I called Adam and he was able to come home and help. He sent me to our room and took over :) He is great. Saturday Connor woke up vomiting. Ugh. I have to say that is the absolute worst part of being a parent. Not being able to take the pain/sickness away from your baby. Especially because I know I am the one who got him sick! He has a cough/runny  nose, but luckily, the bug only seemed to be a 24 hr thing. Adam woke up this morning feeling terrible, but he didn't seem to have it as bad. He usually skates away with minor symptoms.. punk! I really don't wish for anyone to feel how we felt though. It plain sucked, but we are good now! Gonna ring in 2013 with some sparkling grape juice and my boys! :) Here is my survey for week 18.. might as well skip weeks 16 and 17. I promise I'll get better.. if anyone cares.

How far along?: 18 weeks
Sleep: Eh. I have to be careful turning over. It hurts if I make sudden movements!
Best moment this week: Feeling sweet Austin kicking more and more!
Movement: Yes!
Symptoms: stretching pains!
Food cravings: nah.
Food aversions: Not so much anymore.
Gender: BOY!
Labor Signs: Oh no, no.
Belly Button in or out?: IN.
What I miss: Medicine besides Tylenol!
What I am looking forward to: My anatomy scan on the 7th!
Weekly Wisdom: I don't really have any "wisdom" to give ya this week. ;)
 Milestones: Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

God Speed

    Friday was such a stressful day for me. My husband broke his finger last weekend, and he ended up needing surgery on Friday. At 5 a.m. 45 minutes away. I knew sitting in the surgery center with a 20 month old was going to be impossible, and we don't have family here. One of the other Marine wives offered to help, but it was kind of just a "play by ear" situation. I ended up going in with Adam, and then Connor and I went home until the doctors called me. Adam was done, and I was back to pick him up by 8 a.m., and we were on our way home by 8:30. Once I got home, I had to turn around and go to the baby doctor, (All is perfect), and then I had to drop Connor off at home for a nap and run errands. Phew, I thought my day was rough. My mom called me when I was in Wal-mart and informed me of the CT shootings...
    I don't think I really understood what she was saying. I had obviously not been on facebook, and I was so confused. "What do you mean someone shot up an elementary school?!" She was misinformed for sure.. No. I came home and immediately put on the news. I was in complete and utter shock, and all I could do was just hold my baby tight. Friday night I went to bed with the tragedy on my mind, and woke up with a soaked pillow. I had a nightmare about the shooting and sobbed in my sleep, waking up with swollen eyes. Same thing on Saturday night. I had  a dream about someone dying, and I woke up to a wet pillow and swollen eyes. I have been going about my days with my family, but I cannot shake the sadness that is so overwhelming, and the tears are flowing at night. There is a poem I read online today, and as I was reading it to my husband I broke down. I couldn't read it without crying. My heart aches with sorrow and sympathy for those poor families. There is no greater love than that of a parent, and theirs was ripped away from them because of a selfish, horrible, tragic act. What do you say at a moment like this? I will never understand why people commit such horrific crimes, and I hope and pray to God that I never have to go through the pain and suffering that these parents are going through right now at this moment. Right before Christmas. Their Christmases will never ever be the same. Nor will any day of their lives. All I ask is that everyone prays. Pray for a these families who lost their babies. I know these sweet babies are cloaked in God's loving arms, but at this time, I know the parents of these children would rather be the ones holding their babies tight. I am so thankful for my sweet little boy that runs up to me so I can swoop him up in a hug, and I am so thankful for the kicks in my belly from baby boy number two. I will never forget what happened on December 14. 2012. May these precious angels rest in peace. God speed. <3

14 weeks 5 days and boy oh boy...

IT'S A BOY!

   Sweet Austin James Hill will make his appearance in May, and I am so excited that we found out already! I had to go see a Specialist/High Risk doctor today to discuss my previous pregnancy with Connor and delivery. They did the ultrasound first, and the first thing the sonographer said was, "do you want to know gender?" Adam wasn't there, but he told me if they could tell me to find out anyway. And, I knew it was a boy when it didn't even take her 2 second to ask the question. hahaha. It was clear as day. I got to see my baby boy kicking and squirming around for a while before the Doctor came in. I looove the doctor, but fortunately for me, I won't have to see her except for the anatomy scan at 20 weeks! She looked at Austin some more and said he was a perfect little 4 oz bundle. Then, we got down to business. She asked me about the blood clot in my lung, and I told her everything that happened. She said, "THEY GAVE YOU BLOOD THINNERS?!" I told her yes, and that after everything they couldn't find a clot. She said that if there was a clot that it would be visible even after the hemorrhaging because clots don't disappear, they shrink overtime. She also said that if I did have a clot, they would have sent me home on meds for weeks. Then, we discussed the gestational thrombocytopenia. She thought I had ITP, which is thrombocytopenia while not pregnant. I don't have ITP, I had GT. (I even brought in my blood lab work from June to show her my platelet count was normal then. I'm on top of these things, and she was impressed, lol). I may have GT again, but she said it was mild so it isn't a huge concern. So, clearing that up we moved on to the pre-eclampsia. She said my risk for getting the pre eclampsia is about 15%, but since it happened so late in the 3rd trimester that they will monitor me, but I don't need to come back and see her for anything other than the 20 week anatomy scan January 7th! I cannot tell you the range of emotions that are flowing through me right now. It is such a HUGE relief to hear that everything is great. I have prayed and prayed, and while I have been excited about the pregnancy, I couldn't help but worry too. Now, I feel like I can breathe, relax, and enjoy this pregnancy! :) But, seriously, what am I going to do with 2 boys???