Week 13

I wish my belly looked more like I'm pregnant and less like I just really like cheesecake.

 

Cute puppies. They always come running up whenever a camera is snapping pictures. :)

SECOND TRIMESTER, BABY! <3

I am starting to feel a little better! I'm still really nauseous all the time, but I'm definitely grateful to be over the misery that was weeks 7-11..

On top of that, I've also gained two pounds, which is also a good thing, considering I lost EIGHTEEN pounds during the first trimester from being sick all the time. I'm now up to a whopping 16 pounds.I had my first appointment with my midwife, which was AWESOME. I really struggled with going back and forth between a birth center and a hospital birth with a midwife. There are pros and cons to each, but we ultimately chose the hospital midwife due to cost. The birth center would have almost been doable, but it was not covered by insurance at all, so any other medical issues we would have would be subject to our really high deductible. After hospital stay #1, we quickly realized that covering our deductible plus the birth center fee clearly was not going to be doable. That was a really difficult decision, especially considering that there is only one hospital midwife here. Due to other hospital visits, my appointment with her kept getting pushed back, which was really frustrating, because I so desperately wanted to meet her! Well, I had my appointment with her, and I LOVE HER! I like her even more than I like the birth center midwives! This just feels like a huge confirmation of my decision, and I'm so thrilled that it went so well! :)

Weeks 11-12

11 Weeks

I was still really sick during week 11, and my total weight loss capped at 18 pounds, putting me at a measly 114 pounds. I ended up having to go back to the ER this week (which was in Branson, MO when we were on vacation) because I was spotting for 8 days straight, which is generally the sign of a miscarriage, but PRAISE THE LORD everything was fine. There didn't end up being a reason to be concerned, and it was most likely the placenta starting to take over! t thought I was starting to get out of the vomiting stage, but unfortunately, after a five day break, it returned in full force. Side note: I may never eat Olive Garden's salad again.

12 Weeks

 I went back to the ER for the fourth time this week, the third time for fluids. I was vomiting even with the Zofran and Phenergan going directly into my bloodstream via IV, so I was admitted overnight. I had the same ER doctor that I had the first time, and he's great- best one there! He knew I didn't want to stay the night, so he snuck in the ultrasound machine to take a quick peek at Baby Soltow, who is apparently going to be an Olympic gymnast! The baby was bouncing from wall to wall, stopped and waved at us, and then started sucking his/her thumb! It was so cool to see the baby's sweet fingers and toes! <3

Cute boots courtesy of my mother-in-law. This baby is going to be STYLIN'!