Has It Really Been 6 Weeks Since the last update?!

So, as you pretty much have figured out- I'm a slacker. Blogging is fun, but time consuming and when you don't have much time to write or think about what you're going to write- you end up not doing either. Sorry for my slacker-ness. Quick update:

Week 12- still nauseated but throwing up maybe 1 every few days and still not able to drink any water without carbonation. Blah.

The BIG STORY: We had our first midwife appointment (we are going through a birth center since our hospital experiences were not at all what we had liked them to be- and in general I have a great mistrust of OB's) Well, mistake number 1 was taking two under three by MYSELF to an appointment. Mistake number 2 was assuming I could handle it on my own and still have enough energy for the rest of the day. We got there- I filled out paperwork (surprised my blood pressure was normal after all that!) and I went in to visit with my midwife Jennifer and the midwife in training (I'm all for learning experiences, right?) I'm at complete ease as we go through questions while continuing to give my little ones something to do besides grabbing onto the mini-blinds and crawling under furniture (they ARE well behaved in general, but since the birthing center is sooooo exciting- they simply had to explore every aspect of it). Again- I'm surprised my blood pressure came out normal. I filled out a few more forms and had my temp taken (slightly higher than normal) and my blood pressure- totally normal. They weighed me and I weighed in at around 133 lbs. Not bad for throwing up alot weeks earlier. They gave me a food intake paper and asked me to bring it back at the next appointment. Great. I also had a basic blood analysis taken ( I wasn't tested for STD's because both my husband and myself are each other's one and only partner). Jennifer took my two crazy kids out to explore some more so they didn't have to watch red fluid come out of my arm via a needle (my daughter freaks out at anything that looks remotely like a shot). Lastly- I got to hear my little one's heartbeat (strong and in the 160's) Tada! All done. Come back in 4 weeks! Needless to say I was wiped out for the next two days.

Week 13- nauseated only at night and in the mornings

Week 14- nauseated at night and in the mornings (threw up once)

BIG STORY: I felt Shiloh kick for the first time- seriously was NOT gas. Yay!!!

Week 15- nauseated only in the evenings- woohoo! Starting to feel my pelvis stretch (can anyone say outch?!)

Week 16- I can drink REGULAR WATER!!!! YES!!! Second midwife appointment! YES!!!

BIG STORY: My husband came with me this time and that day just happened to be my son's birthday (YAY for ONE YEAR OLD!!!) We went to my son's 1 yr appointment where he got a finger prick and three vaccines. :-p Oh my little trooper. He slept it off later on. My daughter was quite the handful, but I'm glad I didn't go it alone this time. :-) We had Chik-fil-A for breakfast and then headed to the midwife appointment. I discovered that I eat too much for my own good and the scale showed it. I gained 7 lbs in 4 weeks- yikes! The food journal was filled out and forgotten at home, but I knew exactly why I gained 7 lbs.- lots of carbs and LOTS chips and pickles. :-P Naughty Preggy. No needles this time around. Lots of questions and lots of craziness (two toddlers will do that for ya) along with a very strong heartbeat in the 140's (totally normal). It was a great visit and after that we headed home where I think I might've gotten a nap in.

Week 17- it's craziness. Sheer craziness. Every time I get up I feel like my pelvis is going to split (painful). My nausea is very slight and it attacks at night every other day. I'm almost out of the nausea.

BIG STORY: I laid awake one night/morning around 3am and felt pressure in my lower abdomen. I placed my hand pretty low to feel a very hard "bump" which so happened to be Shiloh's backside poking outward. I rubbed Shiloh's "back" for a few minutes (which is like an eternity with in-utero babies: Shiloh must have liked it). Then a few minutes later Shiloh moved away and I could go to the bathroom again. I have to admit- that was a very happy moment, but scary at the same time. In less than 6 months I will meet this little person. Woah... reality- I imagined newborn-ness and my kids staring at this baby thinking "What's that?!" and then after my husband returns to work- being at home alone with THREE!!! Yowzers and yikes again!

I'm in week 18 and so far it's been pretty good. Stressful, but good. :-) I have a 1 yr old, an almost 3 yr old and the next three weekends have something going on. I'm not expecting another blog to pop up for a month or so unless something incredible happens (like finding out the GENDER!) Yeah- I won't keep y'all waiting too long for that one. :-)

I looked at the calendar and told myself, "I'm only 17 weeks?!" This pregnancy seems to be taking forever- which irks me yet makes me realize that 2 outside is pretty good for now. :-) Appreciate every moment you get... *kick* And Shiloh says, "Hi!"