So Much Better

I'm officially declaring to the world that I am ALL BETTER!
OK, maybe not ALL better, but about 95% better, and I think that counts. I am rarely nauseous anymore (which makes this better than my first pregnancy now), and even when I do feel queasy, it is very light and usually if I eat a little snack it goes right away. I am also back to eating normally and enjoying food. I have even returned to cooking!!!! I must say, it isn't the kind of cooking I normally enjoy. I am taking it slow and using a lot of freezer/ convenience meals, but just the same! It feels so good to be in the kitchen again!
I also am able to keep the house clean-ish on my own, and do some light errands (which means I am driving again). Again, I am so excited! The only thing that separates current me from normal me is that I run out of steam much faster than normal. Partly just from being pregnant, partly also because it will take awhile to build up muscle and stamina again after being down for so long. I am slow to get going in the mornings and by the time we put Addie to bed in the evening, I am pooped! But being able to function during the day is such a blessing.
Thank you all for your support and prayers! I will try to post a picture soon so you can see the pregnant belly and the short new haircut I got last week.

Bathtime bits

Addie was bieng funny in the tub and thought you'd like to see her mug for ya.

Courtyard friends

Here are a few recent pics of Addie...
After getting her face painted at Ally's birthday party
At Rebecca's brithday party the kids played Duck-Duck-Goose. Well, kinda. They were a little young, so there was a good deal of running and happiness, a little less of the actual game. After awhile, our daughter decided to get a chair, set it slightly back from the circle, and just watch. That's her in the back, wearing a princess dress and a party hat. Good grief.
Here's a moment I'm much more proud of. Playing biker babe with Lucas. 'Atta girl!!!

Finally, a picture

Here is a shot from when I was couch-bound. Addie and Timmy did a good job of cuddling me. Honestly, I remember feeling a lot grosser than this picture makes me look, so yeah for this picture.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

I wanted to share a little conversation heard in our house last week, because we thought it was so precious. We have talked a lot with Addie about mommy being sick and the baby growing in mommy's womb, and all the other realities around her these days. But I was still surprised at her understanding of the situation, as evidenced in the following conversation:

Mommy to Daddy: "I feel pathetic. I'm tired of feeling pathetic."
Daughter, who was listening from nearby: "But God chose that for you!"
Mommy is silent with her jaw dropped open, feeling convicted by the three year old's comments.
Daughter continues: "Because we're getting a BABY!"
Mommy then begins to dry heave and daughter comes over and says
"I hope you feel better"
(she really does say this EVERY TIME she hears me dry heave.)

It's A Boy!

Well, it's official! We got to have our 18 week ultrasound yesterday and the doctor confirmed that we are having a boy! I am starting to think he might be a compliant boy too, because even though he was in the breech position with the ambilical cord between his legs, he still gave us a look. Just as the doctor was about to tell us "sorry, no luck getting a look," the little guy turned just right and we got our shot. What a good kid.

We all three went to the appointment and it was suppossed to be so exciting to find out the gender and for Addie to see the baby on the ultrasound, but the excitement was severely diminished by Niki having day 3 of a splitting headache (now on day 4), and Addie coming down with a fever while we were out.

Regardless of feeling yucky, we are still excited, and now can't wait to feel better and start getting ready for our son!

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back

We were doing so well....
Then at the end of last week, Greg and I both got what we are assuming was food poisoning. That is our best guess because it hit us hard in exactly the same way, but Addie didn't get it at all. We had eaten some take-out Chinese food, so it seems like a reasonable conclusion. Anyway, it was gross and no fun at all. Greg is back to normal and feeling fine. I am not feeling the effects of the food poisoning anymore, but it does seem I've been a little set back in my pregnancy sickness progress.
I am still having some times without being nauseous, and thank goodness for that. And my appetite is really healthy, so that is good too. But it's very unpredictable when I'll feel good, and when I won't. I've gone back to being very sick in the afternoons and evenings. I am back to needing my medication most every day, and haven't bounced back yet to being able to take care of Addie. It's a bummer, but I'm still hoping that with a little more time I'll regain the progress I had made.
On the bright side, I did make it to church yesterday morning. It was the first time there since before Christmas! Very exciting! Also, I've reached 18 weeks and we see the doctor this Thursday. We should be having the "gender check" ultrasound. Hopefully our little guy will cooperate and give us a good look, so we can keep saying "little guy" and be sure about it! We hope to bring Addie with us so she can see "brother." I think she'll really like the experience. We'll let you all know if we get a clear gender answer!