5 weeks

I went with Alanna and Journie this morning to a children's consignment sale. I wasn't planning to buy much or anything at all, just mainly look around to get ideas. I did, however, find a Snugli for $5.00. I couldn't pass that up, so went ahead and got it. I'll eventually need to figure out how it's used, but it didn't come with any directions. These sales are held quite frequently, so I'll have more chances in the future to look for other stuff.

4 weeks 6 days

Today after I got off work, Shad and I went down to Tullahoma and told my mom and aunt. I took the gift and told her that it was an early Mother's Day gift. I also took my digital camera and got pictures of her as she opened it and her reaction when she realized what it was about. Needless to say, both she and my aunt were very excited! They said that they needed the good news. We spent a little time visiting and then had go get back home for Shad's softball game.

His dad ended up coming down for the game beforehand and brought a friend, too. So, we had pizza with them for dinner and exchanged gifts...his birthday gift to me and our "good news" gift to him. We decided to go ahead and have him open his gift first pretty much as soon as he walked in the door. Unfortunately, I completely forgot to use the digital camera on him. He, too, was really excited, but his first reaction was of disbelief...like we were playing a joke and were kidding. It didn't take long, though, to convince him we were telling the truth. He wants so badly to tell everyone the good news, but I've asked him to wait until I'm through the first trimester. I know exactly how hard it is to keep quiet, so I'm hoping everybody can keep tight-lipped that long!

His gift to me was the cd, "The Essential Kenny Loggins," which was something both Shad and I decided earlier this week that we both wanted. It has the songs, "The House at Pooh Corner" and "Return to Pooh Corner," which Shad wants to learn to play on guitar. It also has a bunch of really cool 80's songs such as Footloose, Your Mama Don't Dance, Celebrate Me Home, Danger Zone from Top Gun, and I'm Alright from Caddyshack.

4 weeks 5 days

Yesterday was a pretty good birthday. After church last night, Shad and I went and picked out a new digital camera. I ended up going with a Samsung that has 4.0 mp, has 6 minutes of video, plus a few other nice things. It's not top of the line, but it's plenty enough for us to use. I'm going to start using it to take weekly pictures of my stomach so I can keep track as it grows. I also plan on having it in the delivery room when that time comes.

We've decided to go ahead and tell our parents this weekend. I'm really excited! After work tomorrow, the boss is having a crawfish boil, so I'll probably stick around for a few minutes but most likely won't eat much. They taste okay, but I prefer them to already be beheaded; it grosses me out otherwise. After I get done with that, Shad and I will travel down to my mom's to tell her and Cheryl. I've got a baby bib that says, "I Love my Grandma" wrapped in nice pink flowered paper (Mother's Day kind) that I plan to give her. I've also created a document that says, "We are extending our home by 2 feet" with 2 baby footprints below and then, "Additions to be done on or around December 24, 2005." I've folded it up and put it in the gift box on top of the baby bib.

Shad tried to invite his dad over to grill out Saturday evening, but Richard already has plans. Therefore, he's going to come watch Shad's softball game Friday night instead. For him, I've got a UT Vols baby bib, pacifier and bottle wrapped up with the above mentioned document arranged to be seen as soon as the box is opened.

As for my dad, I really haven't decided yet what I'm going to do for him. I'm thinking about doing the same thing for him as I'm doing for Richard. I don't know yet. I've still got a little time left for him as he lives 3 hours away and I only see him once in a while. I'll definitely have to get over there really soon, though.

Symptoms: Nothing different.

4 weeks 4 days

Today is my 27th birthday! I've known this day was coming up, but it still doesn't *feel* like it's my birthday; it just feels like any other day. Shad informed me that our news kind of put a damper on his gift idea, which he was going to get last weekend. He has instead told me to pick out whatever I want. I think I want to go look at digital cameras at Wal-Mart. We can't get anything too expensive or fancy, but they've got some nice ones. It'll probably be a 3.2 mp Canon, Olympus or Hewlett-Packard. I've been looking online but still need to go look in the actual store.

I tried to make reservations at The Melting Pot for either this Saturday (April 23), next Saturday (April 30) , or the following Saturday (May 7), but they were completely booked up in the non-smoking section for all of those nights; the smoking section is definitely out of the question. Shad has softball games on Friday nights, so I'm not sure what I'll try to get now.

I've been reading up on what to expect at my first pre-natal appointment and it seems that I'll need to give both mine and Shad's family histories. I'm now thinking about going ahead and telling Mom, Cheryl and Richard this weekend. That way we can get that info from them personally. I'd still really like to hold out until Mother's Day to tell Mom, but I should probably go ahead and fill her in now before anyone else gets told.

4 weeks 3 days (2)

I went to the doctor's office for the blood test today. Of course, it was BFP, which didn't surpise me. I had this fear, though, that all those hpt's were wrong and the blood test would end up a BFN. I have my first appointment scheduled for Thursday, April 28. I'm hoping to hold out on telling parents until AT LEAST after that day. I still want to stick with telling them Mother's Day weekend.

Patience...patience...patience!

4 weeks 3 days (1)

As far as I can tell, I'm still pregnant! I used the last hpt that I had on hand yesterday morning and it was still a bfp. It all still feels so much like a dream. Every now and then I have to stop and think, "This IS real. I AM pregnant!" I think it'll be more of a reality when I see an ultrasound and hear the heartbeat. I pray over and over that I carry this child full term and it's healthy! I'm scared to death of having a miscarriage!!!

I called the doctor's office yesterday to try and get in for a blood test to confirm everything. I was told that I just need to walk in the office to have it done; I don't need an appointment. I was going to wait until Friday, but have decided to go today during my lunch break. I'm hoping that I can get in to see my doctor pretty soon after the blood test. I have no idea what's going to happen during that visit. It would be really neat to already have an ultrasound to give our family when we break the news to them, but I'm not counting on it.

Last night was my first softball game. I went ahead and told my coaches since I felt it was something that they should be aware of at least. I told them that I plan to continue playing as long as I feel okay and the doctor allows it. They said that if nothing else, they could put me in as DH. I play right field, though, so am not at a very dangerous spot. It doesn't even really get a lot of activity, but would still require a little more effort from me. It all depends on what the doctor says and how I feel each game. We won last night 14-6 and have our next game on Thursday evening. Another reason I don't want to have to quit playing is because the other women would know something was up since I'm always there...and I'm not injured this time like I was last season. I'd really like to keep things hush-hush until I'm through the first trimester.

Shad went ahead and told his boss that I'm pregnant hoping to speed up the process of getting him into management. His boss was going to Haiti (or somewhere down there) on business and would be back later this week. He said that they would talk then. I'm hoping and praying that this all works out for him. We REALLY need more money!

Symptoms: Not much - still hungry and using the bathroom somewhat more frequently than normal; only a couple of twinges of nausea-nothing too noticeable; mainly more of my normal stomach issues that I contribute to nervousness and stress. I really don't even FEEL pregnant yet, so I hope everything's okay!

4 weeks 1 day

I'm still in total shock! Shad seemed to be okay late yesterday and now again today. However, I'm sure he's still got "finances" on the brain.

I told Alanna at church this morning, but Jen wasn't there. That's okay, though. I should see her on Wednesday, so can tell her then.

My dad came yesterday afternoon, spent the night and left this morning. It was SO hard not saying anything to him! I really want my mom to be the first one I break the news to, so I just had to keep biting my tongue. I don't know HOW I'm going to be able to keep my mouth shut for 3 WEEKS!

I started a pregnancy journal yesterday morning. I'll start out writing the first few days and then probably only as things happen (symptoms, doctor's appointments, etc.).

Alanna told me today that the next consignment sale is next weekend, with Saturday being 1/2 price day. Now I've got a real excuse and can go!

As for symptoms...I really haven't noticed much of anything. My stomach has been growling a lot more than usual and I've been going to the bathroom a lot more. We had La Siesta for lunch after church again today. We'll see how I feel later, but so far, so good. Until I go to the doctor, I plan to eat pretty much my normal foods. Of course, I'll leave out the stuff I KNOW to be unhealthy, but I really need some guidance on quick and easy healthy meals to eat. I never used to eat much or anything at all for breakfast, but have this past week been eating an apple or orange. I know I should eat more than that and plan to get more ideas to do so. I really hope I can get in to see the doctor on Friday.

Another thing I'm not sure about is playing softball. We have our first game tomorrow night and another one on Thursday night. I'll go ahead and play this week. Hopefully, I can continue playing. Everybody's counting on me so much since we're not sure how many will show up for each game. I've always been consistent and reliable about being there. I really do want to continue to play. The season only goes until June 9, which would put me at 11 weeks. I'll see what the doctor says.