Mucho, Mucho, Mucho Mejor

Thanks everyone out there for your love and support through the icky days of ugh...

Mama, thanks so much for the visit and the trip to Motherhood for some great maternity wear!!! Today I wore my first maternity blouse (not necessarily b/c I needed to, but because it was the color I needed and it looked so comfortable).

FYI world and for my future reference...

Things that brought me ease and comfort the past week:

Nausea

1. candied ginger

2. preggy pops

3. chamomile tea mixed with a drop of peppermint oil

4. Long walks outside

5. Working to stay distracted

6. Crackers by the bedside (old faithful)

Heartburn

1. Lying on my left side

2. Eating only plain food- no flavor, no spice

3. Repeating all of the Nausea steps

The Runs (hey, there is a lot out there on the internet about pregnant women and the runs..... and in case you want my suggestions...)

1. B.R.A.T. DIET!!! (need I say more) Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (repeat this cycle until you can't go to the bathroom)

2. Fenugreek tablets (a natural remedy) 2x a day when needed

3. Force-drink water

4. Have movies handy so you don't have to go anywhere, but stay in the comfort of your home and close proximity to your own toilet

I am so glad to reflect on these tips as already a thing of the past. I know that I may still have some days in the near future in which I will need to reflect back on my remedies, but for now I am gloating in the fact that I just ate a bowl of ice cream after eating a hamburger and fries for lunch! I am trying to stick with chicken and salad in the evening, as I have most bloating and heartburn in the evening. What I find funny is my complete aversion to my normally wildly epicurean cravings.... no more thai (ugh), no more spice (just not worth it), and no more other weird concoctions I used to make on a regular basis. For now, it is more of a good 'ol American diet: hamburgers, spagetti, salad, roasted chicken, brisket, vanilla ice cream, and fruity pebbles cereal. I guess this is a part of that whole not eating what you used to crave pre-pregnancy.

Highlights of my week, amidst the ugh:

1. mama's visit

2. tia's first baby gift

3. working with my hubby at Carver

4. seeing Bradley before his gig

5. being able to clean my house

Tomorrow it's our debut on the Spanish radio station. Carver teachers work their best to promote the upcoming school year registration while singing songs and talking nonsense...

It's always akwardly fun!

All's well until Friday

This week was a break from the constant nausea. Erich and I formed a great new physical activity together: walking the edge of our local lake Bryan. The fresh air has done wonders for me and the weather is just glorious right now. With more organization and more energy we avoided eating out this week and I felt relieved to be able to cook.

Friday morning I awoke with terrible nausea and stomach pain. I threw up and the problems have not yet subsided. I have more of a feeling I have a stomach bug, than the normal pregnancy nausea. There are lots of stomach viruses going around my school and I just can't keep much of anything in me. So... for now I am sticking to saltines and bananas....

I can't wait for this to pass!! 

In two weeks Erich and I will have our first appointment (finally!) I am really so eager to find out all that we are able to find out. Erich has the youth boy's campout next weekend and my mama comes to visit me this Monday and Tuesday. I am hoping for good health and less volatility of emotions, energy, and nausea. 

So far I have received comments and opinions from both sides of the spectrum...

"You are going to just have a little ball that is going to pooch out, you are so small."

and the other (and unfortunately more frequently received as of late)

"Wow, you are only____ weeks? You are already showing so much. You are going to get so big!"

I am feeling rather on the too-big side, yet not to the point where I am going to eat less or do something crazy like that! I guess I will figure it out as time goes on...

I can't fit into my size 4 and 5's any more-that's for sure! : ( 

I have been accomodating my pudge with all the stretchy material I have (which is very limited in selection). Gauchos have been a life-saver and I am greatful for the warmer weather so I can wear skirts. I have a feeling I will be in my maternity wear before too long!!!

I just can't contain it anymore!!!!

Alas, what I have been avoiding and trying to superficially cover-up by lesser stories...

Erich and I are pregnant!!!!- I mean it was a joint effort. I, however am the bearer of nausea, an ever growing pudge, moodiness, and a growing sense of unrealistic perfectionism!! This is not to complain about my current state, but to give in the truest sense what changes I am undergoing. For those of you madres out there that have experienced your own seasons of pregnancy, I'm sure you can relate. It's been blissful sharing news and being greeted with smiles and assurances of "you will be a great mama"....

For now, I am not so focused on the being a great mama part as I am what I can eat this very moment that will soothe the nausea, not cause me to instantly put on another 5 pounds, and hold me over for more than one hour! : )

It's funny, two weeks ago it was spinach salad. It was all I could do to get enough of that green stuff in me. I spent last Sunday in a grand effort to have my most favorite Spinach salad prepped and ready to be enjoyed the entire week at school, (homemade catalina dressing, hardboiled eggs, fresh cooked bacon, sprouts, and mandarin oranges aglow) only to be met with a growing nasua and complete aversion for spinach come Monday morning. Just the thought of it now makes my stomach churn.....

Ah friends, I want to embrace each day of this growing life within me. I believe the baby is at 8 weeks and growing, the size of a lima bean (yuk!) and all the other stuff making my little nesting spot the size of a grapefruit. At about 6:00 pm in the evening, you would think I have a small child inside me (the size of a melon!). Bloating and gas are my two friends that visit me every night and Erich is reaping all the benefits (poor guy!) I am greatful that the worst of my symptoms don't normally kick in until about 4:30, 5:00 pm (just in time for Erich to experience the best of me!), so that I am able to teach and maintain my quite stressful job during the day.

With all of this said, I am constantly praying for peace, grace, rest, and faith for the good things to come (as I know that there are many great and glorious moments ahead). I have yet to visit the doctor because she is booked until May 1st. I will keep you all informed of the ever-changing symptoms and signs of growing life.

Favorite foods this week:

1. Pickles (I know, I know such the traditional preggo food- but I can't get enough of the salty vinegary snacks!)

2. Trader Joe's bean dip (need I say more about gas and bloating at night?)

3. Hard boiled eggs (with a bite of pickle in between each egg bite)

4. cheese

5. Fried Food!!! (ahhh, help me- I crave this bad-for-you stuff! Especially fries)

6. Spagetti sauce (I was eating it cold out of the jar yesterday)

7. Orange juice

8. Fruit

9. candied ginger (well, I don't actually crave this, but I have been eating it to keep the nausea at bay)

10. candy, sweet stuff, vanilla ice cream (I'm going to the grocery store NOW to buy some!)

Joy comes in the mañana

A long overdue post...
yes, I have been over my blues since I wrote my last entry (not to say I havn't had my waves of emotion... but who hasn't?)
Here are a couple of pics from my super girl time with my madre y hermana en san antonio.
Our weekend was full with the works: makeovers at bare escentials, shopping at la cantera, lots of fattening delicious food, and disney movie watching (Cleveland style).
Here's one of Lisa getting her first eyebrow waxing...