And another thing...

First of all, thank you everyone who tried so hard to come up with good cold things! I feel better already. Not to mention the fact that Mother Earth decided to give me low 50's (F) and sunshine today. She totally rocks.

Sorry I haven't been able to write much recently. This week was not so good. This year it seems like we've had trial after trial with no breaks in-between. First the car accident, then Matt got food poisoning, then we decided to try and buy the only condo in a certain part of Utah that wasn't registered for FHA/ VA loans so we canceled that, bought a Mercedes (Matt's idea), found out that totaled car financial institution only wanted to put the insurance money towards principle AFTER we were late for the February payment (luckily we just paid off the loan and the GAP insurance will just mail the check to us), the money we used to pay off the car was supposed to go towards other debt and now that has to wait, Matt's Grandpa isn't likely to live much longer, and finally, I got to visit the emergency room on Monday. My life is a run-on sentence.

Now, don't worry, baby and I are doing just fine, but I was quite worried Monday morning. It all started Sunday night around 7pm. Every once in a while I get kind of a dull stretchy pain a couple inches down and to the right of my belly button. I was told that this was round ligament pain and just to lay down and relax and it would go away- and it usually does. But, Sunday night I stood up and it was more of a sharp pain...so much so that it was difficult to walk without being hunched over. So, I took it easy for the rest of the night and then went to bed thinking it would be gone by morning. Monday morning I woke up and it was worse.  Matt said I should call the doctor...I decided to be stubborn and wait to call until I got to work. It took me two and a half hours to get ready and get to work since I had to stop and sit down every few minutes. Once I arrived at work, I called my OB...who's nurse told me to put heat on it and take some pain meds and let them know if it got any worse. Five minutes later the nurse called back and told me to go to the emergency room. She was worried about the location of the pain being so close to where my appendix is. Now extremely anxious, I called Matt and told him to meet me at the emergency room. After an ultrasound and a long period of worried waiting while thoughts of surgery and blood and what was going to happen to Zöe running through my head, the doctor finally came in and said, "Well, how do you feel about a diagnosis of a UTI?" A little stunned that he was being so informal and speaking so quickly, I didn't hear a single thing he said after that. The nurse came in a while later and gave my my first dose of antibiotics and sent us on our merry way. I went home and rested for the remainder of the day. I'm feeling better now. After a couple days the pain went away and I'm getting near the end of the meds. I'm so glad it wasn't something more serious...something involving surgery.

I try not to complain, but I seem to do it by nature. I'm trying to keep an optimistic attitude through all these trials...always keeping in mind that we'll soon be blessed with a new baby girl. My growing tummy brings me joy and her kicks remind me always that she's there. I can't wait to meet her. I'm trying to take things in stride and stay stress-free for me and for her, but life seems to want to try my patience. Anyway, thanks internets for listening to my rant. I'll update more about Zoe next week.

Happy Valentines Day!

To my Love,

I wanted to take a moment to share with you how blessed I am to have you in my life. From the moment we met and began dating, you swept me off my feet. I have been floating ever since. My love for you is immeasurable and eternal. Words will never fully express how grateful I am to be your wife.

This last year has been a very significant one in our lives. I am so proud of the steps you have taken to better our lives and strengthen our marriage. You have made amazing progress in your job and you are so good at what you do. I love that you are constantly worried about providing for us, and that you take seriously my desire to be at home with my kids someday soon. We were sealed for eternity this year. I can't tell you how awesome it is to know that we will never be parted, not even by death. I am yours, forever and always and I'm so happy to be who I am.

I know you felt the same strong emotions, frustration, and anger during the time we were desperately trying to conceive. I was constantly amazed at your attitude and your ability to suppress those emotions enough to be a comfort to me. It was your strength, along with many prayers that got me through.

Now that we have been blessed to conceive a beautiful baby girl, I can't imagine sharing parenthood with anyone but you. I get so excited every time I think about her birth, not just because I want to meet her, but because I know you're going to be the most amazing Father. You were made to raise children. I will never have your natural ability to be child-like and really get down on their level, but I hope to learn some techniques from you. Zoe is so lucky that she'll have you in her life.
I'm glad we are going to go on a trip tomorrow and escape the stresses of life and spend some, much needed, un-interrupted time together. I'm looking forward to walking hand-in-hand with you through the joys and trials of our life. I'm grateful my journey will be spent in the company of the only man on earth who could make me happier than I ever thought possible. I love you baby. Happy Valentine's Day.

Always,
Me

A Letter

Hello Friends!

Mom said it was ok that I talk to you. I want to thank you for being such good friends while she waited for me. I wanted to be sure I came down at just the right time...that's why I had to wait so long. I have been steadily growing for 20 weeks and I'm halfway through to meeting my parents and all of you! Today I weigh about 12 ounces and I'm 16cm long. I try really hard not to make my mom too sick or too uncomfortable. I did a pretty good job during the first part of my growing...except I really didn't like eggs, coke, spicy food, or anything with tomato sauce. I've decided now, though, not to be so picky and let her eat a lot more things. I try not to kick Mom too hard, but sometimes it just gets so uncomfortable in here...and this little space is getting smaller every day. Sometimes Mom squishes me and, no matter how much I move around, I can't get comfortable. I hear Mom and Dad talking to me all the time. That's how I know what my name is. I heard them discussing it for a long time. Dad likes to get really close to talk to me. I like that, but I don't like his really warm hand touching me. I'm excited to meet my parents and to meet all of you, but I know it's not time yet. I've heard Mom praying that I grow well and stay safe where I am until it's time, so I'm not going to do anything to meet you sooner. I'm sleepy now after all this thinking so I'm going to take a nap.

Love,
Zoe

Baby News *updated*

It's a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!  We are so excited!
*Updated to include a couple shots from the ultrasound
Face (left) and abdomen (right).  Her mouth is open and you can see her heart and stomach.
Scan0002
Head and abdomen shot again. 
Scan0003

19 Weeks

Well, I'm feeling pretty naive today.  I have never been pregnant before, obviously, and it seems that the doctor would like to think I have.  When we first went over the procedure for each appointment with our Doctor, it was mentioned that we would have our diagnostic ultrasound at 20 weeks.  Well, our appointment schedule was thrown off a bit because we had to go in a week early for our appointment last month because of the accident.  So, when we scheduled our 19 week appointment, we asked the receptionist if it mattered that we would be doing the diagnostic ultrasound a week early.  They said it should be fine. 
So, we get there today and our Doctor was at the hospital delivering a baby so the nurse had to do our appointment.  Come to find out, we have to schedule a separate appointment at the hospital to have the ultrasound done.  Now, I'm sure any of you who have been pregnant before knew that.  My mom so kindly explained after the fact that she could have told me that- not helpful.  It makes sense, and it was just a miscommunication...but I'm still frustrated and feel pretty stupid that I wasn't aware.  It could have been so easily avoided if my Doctor had taken 5 seconds to tell us.  Anyway, we are now scheduled for Friday.
Baby is now 15 cm long from crown to rump and weighs 8 ounces.  Baby's movements are starting to feel more like kicks than flutters and I love it.  Baby is busy developing reproductive organs.  It amazes me how much baby grows and develops each week.  I'll update on baby again after the ultrasound.