So Much Going On...

WOW, so much has happened since I last wrote. I have gone almost a full week of being nausea free!! Yahoo! That's huge. I'm feeling great. Still tired here and there, but that is to be expected. Especially with a little baby under construction in there!
Last Thursday, January 24th marked the end of the 1st Trimester! WOW it has gone soo fast! I can't believe it. It seems like I just found out that I was pregnant. This Thursday I have my second visit with the midwife. We are excited to get to hear the baby's heart beat. Amazing! What a miracle, a blessing from God.

In addition to all these fun things I started back to work today. I have been out on leave since Oct. 19th. I injured the joint capsules in two of my toes in both feet. Although the injury happened almost a year ago I received a series of inappropriate care for months, which in turn set me back. It wasn't until October that I got a second opinion and received the care that I needed. I rest assured that all the events that occurred happened for a reason. I know that God has been in control. Why I had to deal with the first doctor I do not know and may never know, but I am thankful now for where I am. I am very thankful for a doctor that has made my healing a top priority. Under her care I started healing after 2 1/2 weeks of being off work! Although I missed the patient interaction and my coworkers while I was off, I see how God used this time to show me and teach me what it will be like to be at home full time. :)
Needless to say I am thankful to be back at work and blessed by the opportunity to wrap up this chapter of my life. I have loved working at YLPT and know that I will miss being their. But I am super excited that our family is growing and that God has seen fit to bless us with a child. I know that this will be the most rewarding, challenging and blessed time of my life. Lord willing I will be working for five more months, after which I will rest and then have the baby in August. So, today was my first day back. It went really well. For the most part I felt as if I hadn't left. I got to tell my coworkers the fun new. It was a shock to some more then others, but it went well. It was good to see that I hadn't forgotten anything and that they didn't think that I had either. :) It was a good day. :)

Overwhelmed

I've had requests to write more frequently, but have been nausious or not sure as to what to write. But yesterday and today I have felt pretty well. It's amazing. I'm not so sure that the nausea is really gone, but I'll take the two days without the nausea. What a blessing! So I will try to write more frequently now that I'm feeling better.

I know that there are so many of you out there that probably have lots of good advice and Dan and I are at the overwhelmed stage, so I thought that I would use the blog as a way to learn new things!
I've been trying to read or gather resources on pregnancy and babies.
So far I've been reading or gathering:
What to Expect When You're Expecting
The Pregnancy Bible
The Pregnancy Journal
3 Baby Name Books
Mother by Kathleen Norris (which has started off to be a really good book!)
Baby Wise/ Mommy Wise
And a few others
Are there any books out there that any of you would recommend about Pregnancy or Babies? We'll get into specific subjects later!

When you get pregnant you think Wow I have to come up with a name for this child. And for me I have to think and ponder and think. Then we went to the Baby Store! Oh WOW! There are 10-50+ of everything! How do you make decisions!? It's crazy. If there is something that comes to your mind that you can't live without, you absolutely love for your child or even could live without please pass the info along at any time. :) or you can email me at frecklednielsen@yahoo.com
Thanks for any of your input!

Getting Back On Track

Far before I was pregnant I would try to eat well balanced meals and workout regularly. However the past few weeks have been pretty tough on me, as the nausea has picked up. I was pretty nauseous in the morning and sometimes all day! So a lot of food didn't sound good and pretty much sleep sounded the best. I can't get over how tired I am! I want to take a nap all the time. I usually need 9-11 hours of sleep a night. It's crazy! It's amazing how much rest I need to make such a little baby. The baby is about an inch long.

This week I have been really trying to eat well balanced meals and get back to the gym. I have gone to the gym twice this week. I've done 40 minutes of cardio and weights each time. I'm usually pooped when I'm done, but usually feel far better then when I started. I will finish the week off with another workout on Friday. I plan to keep this up throughout the pregnancy. Energy permitting. :)

Our 1st Appointment 1/2/2008

This morning we had our first appointment with our midwife. The appointment went pretty well. It is so amazing that we can see our baby! We could even see the heart flicker on the screen as it was beating! Amazing! The first picture shows the side view of the baby, you can see the head at the top and the little feet buds at the bottom. The bottom picture shows a front view. You can see the head at the top, little arm buds and feet buds at the bottom. You can click on the pictures to see an enlarged view.

Our due date is August 7th, 2008! Give or take a week. Our next visit will be in 4 weeks, Jan. 31, 2008. Then we will get to hear the baby's heart beat.
For now my job is to get lots of rest, eat lots of calcium and folate, exercise and withstand the nausea. :)
We are so excited and amazed.

'For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance,
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there were none of them.'
Psalm 139:13-16

It is amazing to me that God knows this baby so intricately. God knows this baby's life, every day, every purpose and even it's name. All before we do! God knew the perfect timing of this perfect child, created by Him. I am in awe of my God and my creator. He is worthy to be praised for this amazing miracle.