...Baby makes 4! We have a beautiful spunky little girl, Taylor who is 3 1/2 yrs. We've always wanted a second child, and BOOM I became pregnant! I took the pregnancy test (first response) 4 days before my next supposed period, and it came up a BFP( Dec. 12th.) We waited to tell family until Christmas which we had our daughter wear a cute little shirt that said "I'm going to be a big sister." Gosh, everyone fell off their chairs in shock, it was priceless, best Christmas EVER! We're expecting our little one August 17th...so we got a ways to go! I'll keep this updated at best as I can...(:

*My Pregnancy Journal..

12.12.07- I wasn't suppose to get my period until the 15th, but I knew I could be pregnant.( Women's Intuition) I went to the store, and bought a First Response Test. Got home right away to take it, I was so not waiting another minute! I told Josh, and Taylor to wait outside the bathroom door b/c I was so anxious! I waited watching a slowly fainted second line pop up...and said JJ(Josh) come in here, look at this..he said "No the line is barely there, it has to be dark." I knew he didn't know what he was talking about. I then went on yahoo answers to ask if the faint line is a postive, and got 20 something answers all saying yes, it's b/c of my horomone levels not being high enough..I tell you..finding out you're pregnant is the most shocking, but surprising information you can learn! It honestly changes a person! I love it! We told our daughter( 3 1/2 yrs.) right away b/c we were so excited, and told her we have to keep it a secret until Christmas...and she did!

12.24.07- We bought our daughter a shirt that read "I'm going to be a big sister." She wore it for Christmas Eve under her Christmas dress. When it was time for the whole family to gather, and open presents I told Taylor let's go potty first (So she could take off her dress.) We walked out, I was in a whole different world at that time. It took awhile for anyone to notice, then my younger sister (11 yrs.) said " mom do you like Taylor's shirt?" My mom about passed out with excitement, but still confused..is this real?! lol. She yelled out "I'm going to be a grandma again!!!" I started bawling my eyes out! It was truely the best Christmas EVER!!!

12.28.07- Today was my first "doctor" appt. It took about 20 mins. I came in, took a urine sample to confirm I was pregnant. I talked with the nurse who gave me my EDD, and prescribed me with my prenatal vitamins. That was it..short & sweet.

1.10.08- I had an appt. today with my nutritionist. Did the basics..weight, talked about do's, and don'ts. She asked me what my pre-pregnancy weight was, I told her. She said I had lost 6 lbs. I then told her I haven't been able to eat, and if I do i immediately pass it back up. The only things I'm able to keep down are popsicles, saltines, and sierra mist...same things as if I have the flu. She called my doctor to prescribe me some anti-nausea pills..which by the way did absolutely nothing!

1.11.08- Today was my first actual doctor's appt. Did the usual urine sample, blood work, weight, blood pressure, pap. She talked about my upcoming appointments, and what to expect. I pretty much know the drill from my first pregnancy. She asked how my morning sickness was going, I told her I'm miserable. She said the medication should help, and my nausea/sickness should subside..so I took her advice.

1.22.08- This whole morning sickness thing is just horrible..I have lost 16 lbs. I'm pretty much in bed all day. I have tried just about every remedy they have in the book..vitamin b6, sea bands, ginger, lemon, preggo pops, saletines...everything failed. I think I'm going to suffer with this my entire pregnancy, I really do.

1.27.08- Wow! I woke up today, and felt like I wasn't even pregnant, it worried me. I felt no sickness, I had energy! I haven't ate "food" in weeks...I got all dolled up( since I haven't had the energy to do my hair, or makeup for awhile.) I went grocery shopping..picked out a few goodies that I thought I could eat. Stouffer's frozen Mac N Chesse, watermelon, ritz P.B. crackers, honey oat granola bars, and grape gatorade. I got home, and made me some mac n cheese...omg! delicious! I ate the whole thing, without puking! I felt great! Later that night before bed I had some ritz crackers..those were yummy too! I had to weigh myself before I went to bed, so see if I had gained anything..jeepers..4 lbs. in one night..lol. Which is good...considering I haven't had much of anything in my tummy for dear little peanut. I go in on the 7th for my first u/s to test for down syndrome, and all those tests. I'm very stoked to see my little peanut on the screen! I'll post the info. as the time comes...(:

2.5.08-Ugh! It's just one thing after another..today I woke up, and I couldn't move. I felt paralyzed, and weak. I finally got out of bed, and had to sit down. I thought I was going to faint. What the heck is going on..all these "problems." My body was so achy, my vision was blurry. I had a sore throat, cough, sneezy. I called my doctor to see if I should come in today or if I should wait to see her tomorrow (I go in for my routine ob appt.) She said don't wait..I'll see you here at 2:30. My mom had to drive me, b/c I was in no condition to get behind the wheel. Got there, they did some tests..turned out I had a fever of 100.0, and I was dehydrated. She noticed my weight dropped signficantally so they gave me a shot of B6, and another shot that I don't recall. Hopefully this passes..uck!

2.6.08-Yay! Today is a better day...I was stoked to go to my Ob appt. b/c I knew I got to hear the babe's heart beat...as I was laying there, doc put the warm gel on my belly, and immediately picked up the babe's heartbeat..I had to hold back a couple tears, I got so emotional..it was a strong healthy 160 bpm. I feel even more connected with this litttle peanut inside me..Big sister, Taylor likes to talk to my tummy, and tell the babe all about what's going to happen...I love it. She's going to be the BEST sister!

2.7.08-I'm very disappointed today..I had my appt. for my first ultrasound to test for d/s, and other birth defects. My mom took off of work to come with me, I took Taylor out of daycare so they could come see the baby with me! We got there, checked in, and went downstairs to OB. The receptionist is like "Actually you're an hour late, you're appt. was suppose to be for 9:20 a.m. I got so frusturated, and luckily I had my appt. card in my purse to prove that lady wrong! She's like "I'm so sorry, it's my fault for writing the wrong time on there." Whatever, no big deal..but Taylor was having a fit b/c she was so stoked about seeing the babe today, as was my mom for taking off of work. Well I go back the 13th..so the babe will be a bit bigger so it might be more exciting!

2.9.08- I just had to post a little something for today, and say I've never felt better during this entire pregnancy then I do today! It's truely amazing! I woke up at 6:00 a.m. all pumped, and ready to take on some household tasks..cleaning, reorgizning, and laundry..leaving the harsh chemical cleaning for Josh to do, but otherwise the house is looking the way I like it, it's been awhile since I've been able to clean. Josh has been doing it for the last month, and he just doesn't get it done right..not to my expectations! I'm also 12 weeks today, so I don't know if it's the b6 the doc gave me the other day, or if my morning sickness/nausea/fatigue is just finally dimenishing! I'm thrilled! I'm actually in the mood to eat..actually craving a brat on the grill, and some blueberry yogurt! So..I'm most likely off to the grocery store here in a bit, to gain back all the weight I had lost..oh, boy!

2.14.08-Happy Valentines Day! I had my first ultrasound appt. today! They told me to have a full bladder, so I drank 2 water bottles..too much, I think! Right when I got up on the table the tech put the gel, and instrument on my tummy with a lot of pressure..I thought I was going to pee! It was very uncomfortable, but right when I saw the screen in front of me..I was in shock! There's my baby! Peanut Bug looked so big up there, almost like it was the 20 week scan, but the tech said it was magnafied. He said the baby was cooperating great, and very active. Moving it's little arms, and legs. The babe measured to be further along then what my EDD is..ok by me! The heartbeat was 157 bpm. Taylor carried around, and looked at the ultrasound pictures all day..she's so proud, so I told her we'd get a picture frame, and put a picture of peanut bug on her night stand. She said peanut bug looks like a girl, with a short haircut..gosh, she's so cute! I'll put my u/s pics up, as soon as Josh fixes the scanner.

2.15.08- MMM..Josh, and I went out to eat at Mexican Village tonight..I ate so much, and so fast..Josh told me to slow down! lol. I had a seafood enchilada with spanish rice..I was in heaven! I haven't gotten to eat a whole lot of food lately, and this was a true treat! I went to the bathroom, and had a lady ask me how far along I was..I was so embarrassed to answer, and shamly said not until August..she's like "You look so big!" I did just get done eating, but felt so "fat." Well time to get to bed to rest this tummy..I'm so full, and lazy!!

2.17.08- I figured out baby names..Josh isn't too fond of any of them, but hopefully he'll grow on them, b/c I can't stand any of his names.(: If it's a boy..Simon John(Josh's middle name.) If it's a girl either Journey Raqael(mom's middle name) OR Piper Irene(grandma's middle name) I'm leaning more towards Journey for a girl. I love hippy/unique names for girls, and "nerdy" names for boys. Josh said our son shouldn't be named after one of the chipmunks..hehe. Names could change, but not on my part!

2.18.08- Yikes! Is all I can say. Last night I was doing the dishes, and all of a sudden I got this sharp pain in my stomach, like I was stabbed. I immediately went out to the living room, curled up in a ball on the couch. I was in so much pain, I got scared, and screamed to Josh, "what should I do?" I hate going to the doctor, b/c I don't believe in medicine, and everything else that comes with it. So I toughed it out. I called my grandma (who is on vacation in Mexico), but she's an RN..from what I told her she said it's more then likely round ligament pain, which is due to the fact of my baby/uterus growing, and stretching. It's like having a charlie horse, or growing pain. OUCH! I can handle pain, I went through labor my first time with NO medication, so believe me when I say it was severe pain last night. This baby is just full of "surprises." S/he really knows how to make mommy miserable, but I wouldn't trade PB for the world...I can't wait to me him/her..xoxo.

2.21.08- I'm having the weirdest most sureal dreams/nightmares at night. It's driving me CRAZY! Everynight I dream, which is unusal, b/c before pregnancy I never really dreamt maybe once, or twice a week. And when I did dream they were usually about people I've never even met. Now all my dreams have my friends, and family in them. Last night was one of the worst. Since we had the Lunar Eclipse last night, it was on my mind, obviously. So Josh, Taylor, and I went outside at 10:00 p.m. to look at the stupid thing, then went to bed. Well anyways,my dream consisted of this: I was playing softball at a ballpark, and all of a sudden ashes were falling from the sky, "we" were hearing fire trucks, seeing smoke from the distance. Yada Yada Yada..so I called my mom to see what was going on, and she had no idea. Then all of a sudden these balls of fire (metors) starting falling from the sky, and I knew it was going to be a world disaster..and as I was on the phone with my mom I said "Mom, I love you, goodbye, I'll see you in heaven." Ugh! Then I woke up, how sad! And bizarre! I couldn't fall back alseep for awhile after that dream, I just wanted to call my mom for real, and tell her I love her. I'm going to start keeping track of my dreams! Kind of silly, but it's making me get worked up! This poor baby is going to have sleeping problems b/c of my insane dreams!

2.24.08- Hypochondriac? I think so..with this pregnancy. I don't believe in taking medication, and I'd have to be in severe pain to even pop Tylenol. Ever since my morning sickness kicked in around 5 1/2 weeks, I've had all the "problems." Bacterial infection, sore throat, sinus infection, blurred vision(especially at night), back aches, migraines, I mean come on, it sounds so pathetic, and I'm not one to complain about problems. Last week, I was having severe pains in my tummy which ended up being round ligament, but I was so "embarrassed" to call my doctor, or a nurse b/c I feel like I'm being a baby, and complaining too much, so I called my grandma instead. I frown upon people who always think they have something wrong with them, but I look at myself, and I'm doing it! Is this normal!? A pregnancy thing!? ..I have 26 more weeks of this!

3.4.08- I'm stoked! I felt the first little kick last night! I LOVE it! I was laying in bed, couldn't sleep so I was poking my tummy a bit to see if I'd get anything out of it, and sure enough..A KICK! I feel all the movements only on my left side..weird! I go to my routine prenatal appt. tomorrow, and also will set up a date for the 20 week ultrasound..it couldn't come any sooner..I'm actually LOVING this pregnancy now, more of loving my little Peanut Bug!!!! It really feels like there's life inside me now..after being so sick, and miserable. It was well worth it!

3.5.08- Had my 15 week appt. today, the usual..urine sample, weight, blood pressure, babes heartbeat..which was 150 bpm. They scheduled my 20 week ultrasound April 4th..FINALLY! The anticipation..one more month!

4.4.08-Today was the BIG exciting day! Auntie Tessa(11 yrs. old), Big sister Taylor, and daddy came to mommy's ultrasound. The anticipation..the doc. asked if we wanted to know the gender, and I said "IDK, I'm too nervous." lol. Then busted out YES!! It was the silliest thing ever. Anyways..the baby was healthy. My due date is now August 17th(Auntie Tessa's birthday) so she was very stoked to have heard that from the doctor! After proding my overly full bladder, it was so umcomfortable I always drink so much water for my u/s, he said "SHE'S A GIRL!!" Taylor blurted out "Told you, daddy I was right!" We all started laughing, I wish I had the video camera, it was the sweetest thing EVER! Even the doctor was laughing histerically. (: She was the happiest little girl that day! Not so good news was I have a low laying placenta, is right on the tip of my cervix, so I go back in for another u/s(yay for that!), to check, and make sure it re locates, he said it most ALWAYS does, but wanted to take precautions. If it happened that it didn't re locate I'd be scheduled for a c-section..yuck. So, let's hope it does! After we left the hospital we went directly to Target to buy some baby girl clothes..I love shopping for girls clothes! We decided on a name, but can't come up with a middle name we like..I wanted to do a family name, or her birth flower/stone, but none of it goes right..her name is going to be Piper-Although that name is starting to become a bit popular, I'm still naming her it! I've loved it since I was a little girl, and had a Piper in my class.

4.23.08- Just a little update..I'm offically 23 weeks now, and I am feeling baby girl more then ever! It's amazing! I never really remembered it like this when I was pregnant with Taylor 4 yrs. ago. She's always on my lower right side just a punching away, like a little boxer! Daddy, and Taylor tried feeling her, but only could feel her very faintly so hopefully soon she gets some strong ones in there for everyone else to feel, but yet keeps mommy out of the "pain." The doctor said at my last appt. I probably wasn't feeling her as much as I should, because she's gotta kick through the placenta to get to me, but she's def. a strong girl!! OR my placenta has moved!? I'm truely loving pregnancy at this moment, no sickness, not as tired, and I've been told I have that pregnancy glow, which I can't tell, but makes me feel good when I hear it! (: A pregnant woman ALWAYS needs compliments to get her through the day.

5.2.08- Today was my 1 hour glucose test..ewww. I hadn't ate since the night before so waking up, and not having my usual breakfast was hard to do! And I had to watch Tay savor her breakfast..hehe. I brought Taylor with to my appt. to keep me occupied while I had to be there for 1 1/2 hrs. Sipped on the orange drink, which seemed like a gallon, then went downstairs to my doc. appt. did the usual..nothing new to report. It wasn't my usual doctor, it was a medical student she said baby measured fantastic. Always good to hear! Went back upstairs to wait for an hour, then the drew my blood. I hope I passed that test, last thing I need is gestational diabetes. I'm off to enjoy this beautiful day..(:

5.11.08 Happy Mother's Day! Today was a great day..I got my pink rocker w/ the ottoman. PERFECT! Taylor made me a flower pot with a cute mangolia planted inside, and her little homemade card. I was almost in tears!! JJ gave me a back massage, and Tay gave me a foot massage..they sure treated me well! Then things got a little scary..I went to the bathroom, and noticed what looked to be my mucus plug..I freaked. I called my doctor, and she said as long as there is no blood in it I should be just fine..and that it is normal to start losing pieces as early as the beginning of my third trimester(which is next week.) And also said it will "re grow"...weird! I have a feeling, I am not going to make it to my due date...although I still have a ways to go. It's seriously one thing after another with this pregnancy..maybe that means since my pregnancy is rough, I will have an easy, content baby!? (:

5.30.08- Had my Dr. appt. today, Taylor had to come with b/c she had a pre-operation appt. b/c she'll be having surgery on Thursday..:( Anyways, she got to help out today at the Dr.'s office..she got to put the jelly on my tummy, and hold the doppler to listen to the hearbeat which was 150 bpm! She also helped the doctor measure my tummy, which was 28.5 cm..which was right on track! Everything was pretty routine, now I start going in every 2 weeks, that really means the arrival of Piper is near!

6-5-08 Taylor had her surgery today, which she did very well, me NOT so well. I bawled sending her off with the nurses, but she came out like a trooper! So after she was "fully" recovered they discharged us, and we went right to my ultrasound appt. with my mom, and grandma. Good news with that was my placenta has moved out of the way, and as of now I can deliver vaginally..thank goodness! Piper was measuring 3 lbs. already, which seems so big already..but the tech said it's average!

7-9-08 I'm a little behind on updating, but had my usual appt. today, since I took Tay out of daycare she really looks forward to coming to my dr. appt's b/c she gets to help Dr. Wallner squirt the goo on my tummy, and then hold the doppler! I'm really anxious to see her interact with her baby sister, ANYWAYS so my appt. was the usual weight(which I'm doing great on, which I could have said that during my first pregnancy), blood pressure, heartbeat, and meaurments. During the heartbeat check, it took the Dr. a little bit to find her heartbeat, which made me nervous, so she went to the left side, still couldn't pick it up. She moved downwards, sure enough there is was at 140 bpm, which is very low for Piper, it has never been below 157 bpm, the reasoning was..baby has dropped! Yay! We're making progress! I can't wait to start getting checked for dilation, and effacement.

MY CRAVINGS: bagels with garden vegetable cream cheese. KFC chicken, and mashed potatoes. blueberry yougurt chili bananas chicken stove top stuffing peaches scalloped potatoes apples chili dogs icecream..cookie dough, chocolate Mexican strawberry yogurt popsicles chorizos reeses peanut butter cups...