What a week this has been! Sorry to disappear for a couple of days, but I have a good reason…. I am ready to start sharing some of the excitement in my life right now…..and of course….you can’t go around sharing exciting news with cyberspace until you’ve shared that news with key people in the real world!
I’ve mentioned that I’ve had a hard time blogging in recent weeks. I’ve been behind in writing my blog and reading your blogs. For one, I have have felt like blogging my meals just pales in significance to everything else right now. Everything I have wanted to talk about has been off limits! I have also been using my “recreational” computer time looking at non-blog-related sites and forums. All of that has equaled less time and enthusiasm for blogging. So I am sharing this news now, in part, because I just can’t keep up with half-hearted blog posts!
Let me take you back a few weeks… This was February 1st:
After hyperventilating a bit, I went right to the doctor where they confirmed the news with a blood test. Yeah!! Shear excitement for…..maybe 2 days. Then the panic set in! The doctor didn’t want to see me until 8 weeks (which is standard procedure), but that felt like an eternity. I have spent the month of February in a constant state of anxiety, spurred on by those informative, yet terrifying baby websites and message boards. Everyday, I would read about several women who had miscarried that day and I would become even more panicked. And my fear wasn’t totally out in left field…..after all, 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. And since I am programmed to be a worrier anyway, my mind went right there!
I have never wanted to be sick and uncomfortable so much in all my life! But with the exception of a bloated belly, a couple days when I have felt a little queasy in the evenings, and just an overall sluggishness, I have felt great! I’ve been working out most days, and generally feeling…..not pregnant. Which of course, freaked me out! Please, God, let me throw up!!
On Thursday, we had our first doctors appointment and ultrasound. What a horrible week this has been! I didn’t sleep. I couldn’t concentrate. Cramming for Wednesday’s microbiology exam was torchure! I was terrified that they were going to look inside me and see nothing. Afterall, I haven’t had strong symptoms. How could my hormone levels be where they’re supposed to be if I’m not even sick?!
I was literally shaking by the time we walked into the doctor’s office. Unable to sit at home waiting any longer, we left and got to the appointment a bit early. The ultrasound technician must have seen the panic in my eyes because she took us right in. Being early on in this whole adventure, I expected I would be undressing for this ultrasound (those internal ultrasounds are better at picking up early pregnancies). But she just lifted my shirt, rubbed the jelly on my belly, and immediately found this:
That was the best indistinguishable blob I had ever seen! She told me everything looked great and there was a strong heart beat! I felt like I lost 20 pounds instantly! All of that worry just lifted.
The ultrasound was followed by seeing the doctor. This is a new doctor for me, so I was crossing my fingers that I would like her. She was great and took her time explaining everything to me. I have felt rushed before at doctor’s appointments, but she very patiently answered all of my questions. My biggest question was around exercise. It’s a huge part of my life, and I was afraid she would tell me I couldn’t run or sweat. There are guidelines floating about that say not to let your heart rate get above 140 bpm during pregnancy and not to get overheated. I hoped I hadn’t signed on with an “old school” doctor. Without hesitating, she told me that the 140 bpm recommendation is terribly out-dated. After all, heart rate is elevated anyway during pregnancy, so getting to 140bpm doesn’t take a whole lot of activity! She said I could do anything I did before, as long as I felt good and stayed hydrated. The concern is when someone who has never exercised before gets pregnant and thinks “I can’t gain too much weight, I’d better start running!” That’s a problem, I can see that. But she said that my body is used to exercise and the baby will only benefit from the activity.
A healthy baby and a green light to exercise! I was walking on air as we left! I am still worried. I am, as of today, 8 weeks, 3 days. That’s still early, and for the rest of the first trimester, I will still be worried about this little bean. But the doctor said that that just seeing a heart beat betters the odds for a healthy pregnancy, so I feel more hopeful.
We had already shared our news with our parents and siblings when we first found out. But after Thursday we shared the information with the rest of the family and a few friends. Its not something we are going to paste on facebook, but we do want to be able to be openly excited. We also feel like, if something bad did happen, we would want to lean on more people for support. And as far as blogging, I have never been part of a more supportive community!
There are a couple other exciting things on the horizon that I will share with you in the next few days. But that is enough news for now! I have a big chemistry test next week so I will most likely take the rest weekend off of blogging to study. With all of the anxiety over the last couple of weeks, I feel a little behind!
This was a fun post to write! Thank you for reading! Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 
Oh my god!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations to you and Dave!!!!!!
I am over the moon happy for you!!
Now, you just relax and try not to stress out over school anymore okay? Congrats!!!!!!
Congratulations!!!!!!! I am so happy for you! What an exciting time
YAYYYYYYY! Congrats! So so so exciting!!!! I hope you continue to blog about this exciting journey
And try not to stress so much!
Congrats! I know all about the anxiety you are having. We have a 5 month old son…but before that delt with two miscarriages. All I can say is relax and enjoy every moment, there is nothing like carrying a life inside you. Like the doctor said just seeing that heartbeat is a great sign and I’m sure this pregnancy will continue to be healthy.
Good luck!!!
Congrats! That is so awesome. I can totally understand your worry and stress with having to wait 8 weeks. The second and third trimesters are where most things occur, although there as long as you know you are pregnant, the first trimester is a time for getting your habits in check, good thing you are a healthy person to begin with. Well, I hope you enjoy this exciting time in your life.
Congrats! I am so happy for you! I would be nervous at first too! I am so excited to shared this with us.
I have a friend who is pregnant and the doctor told her to not really exercise too… I would hate that.
YAY YAY YAY!!!
CONGRATS!! That is so amazing
Congrats! This is awesome news! Can’t wait to read about the journey.
Congrats!! What great news, you are so lucky that morning sickness isn’t setting in. Don’t worry too much, enjoy the experience.
I cannot wait to follow along with your pregnancy girl! I have my first appointment March 2nd and I should be a little more than 8 weeks then! So neat that we’ll be having our babies around the same time!
You are really lucky you aren’t having morning sickness. Don’t wish for it! I was miserable with my first one but haven’t had any sickness yet. The only symptom I’ve had this time around is extreme fatigue. I worried a lot with my first one too. You can’t worry… And if you really feel like something is off don’t hesitate to see your doctor and be persistent about seeing her!
I had my daughter 3 months early and I felt like if I had been a little more persistent with the doctors then maybe things would have been different.
Just listen to your body with the exercise… CONGRATS!!!!!!!
Congratulations!!!! That is so exciting!!!!!
OH WOWOWOWOW!!!! Congratulations!!!!!! I have major goosebumps right now, and I am SO excited for you!!! I can’t get over it, this is incredible!!
On a sad note, I will say this. You are SO LUCKY to have been diagnosed with celiac when you were. Why? My cousin had a stillborn child, which was awful, and I’m convinced it was because she had undiagnosed celiac disease. She wasn’t getting the proper nutrients, and neither was her baby. It was awful. I think about that a lot because I think if I had not started this FODMAPS diet, I may have had the same problem…who knows though.
I didn’t mean to bring up a sad subject during such a HAPPY time, but I hope you know that was meant to be a GOOD comment, as in you are now HEALTHY and feeling better, so this is PERFECT!!! I am so excited for you and Dave. YEAH!! Can’t wait to hear the other good news. It can’t get any better, right?!
Oh my gosh, I haven’t even finished reading yet I just HAD to say CONGRATS!! before I start to cry!!! This is so exciting!!!!! I’m so super happy for you guys! That baby is going to be so loved! I can’t wait to follow you through out the pregnancy! EEK!! YAY! BABIES!!!!
OMG CONGRATS!!!!!! I am so happy for you! this is amazing =) I can not wait to follow you during your pregnancy!!!!!
((((((Tearing)))))
CONGRATS!!! This is such exciting news
Can’t wait to follow you in this new journey!
I’m so happy for you!! You and Dave will be such amazing parents!!
Congratulations!!
Congratulations… I am sure that you will have a very happy and healthy baby!! Good Luck!!
Congratulations!! What exciting news! I am so happy for you. Wishing you a very healthy and happy pregnancy.
(Thank you also very much for the sweet comments on the loss of my Lucy. It means alot!)
Congratulations again!
Congratulations to you both, Mom and Dad! Awww. And wishing you the very best throughout your pregnancy!
Congratulations!! I found your blog through Kristen’s at Change of Pace. We are currently trying to conceive our 2nd so I love finding others who are into fitness and going through such a beautiful process of pregnancy. I can’t wait to follow along
Congrats! That is such a wonderful News… I am sooooo happy for you and the 3 different brands of pregnancy tests made my smile
When my mom was pregnant with my sis her Dr told her if she reads techinical stuff it will help develope the babies brain faster… and I kid you not.. my sister carried a pen and a book with her at all times, before she even said a word..
Good luck on your test..
Congratulations!!! How very exciting for you. All the best for a happy, healthy, wonderful pregnancy.
OMG! Congratulations! I am so happy for you and Dave! This is so wonderful! You are going to make the best parents. You are such a loving, kind, sweet and caring person. Your baby is so lucky! I am so happy that the baby has a healthy heartbeat and that everything is fine. I’m also happy to hear that your doctor said you could exercise
My husband and I want to start trying soon and the whole exercise thing is always in the back of my mind. Thank you for sharing your exciting news with us! I can’t wait to read more of your posts, to see what you’ve been craving, eating, how you are feeling, etc. We can support you every step of the way! Congratulations again, Shannon!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! boy I missed the good news for sure! So happy for you guys, yay!!!! and so glad you discovered your celiac like Gina mentioned
It was meant to be!! Can’t wait to see more of your adventures in pregnancy 
[...] 12, 2010 by lessonstolearn So I’ve told you the baby news. And I’ve told you the exciting trip we have in April when Dave will be the opening act for [...]
Oh wow, I just read this!!! I’ve been so behind on reading blogs! Congratulations!!! I’m so excited for you!!!!!!!!!
[...] March 23, 2010 by lessonstolearn Four weeks ago our baby looked like a blob on the ultrasound. The doctor pointed to certain spots, but nothing really looked human about it. This was 4 weeks ago. [...]