Good Afternoon!

I had my first prenatal visit this afternoon.  We were a little scared going into it.   The last time I had a prenatal visit we found out that our almost 7 week old baby had died in utero at five weeks and I had a miscarriage within days of that appointment.  So needless to say the past memories of these appointments all hold heartache and we were apprehensive.

Today wiped every past appointment clean... I think it might have been one of the very best days of my life!

We walked in and waited anxiously for my name to be called.  I was asked into an office where I filled out all the required paperwork to see my new doctor and all the time I was scared to death that this would be my only appointment.  When they finally called us back I spent about 10 minutes going over my medical history with the nurse and explaining about my previous experience with fertility doctors and my 3 miscarriages.  Then my new doctor came in.  I'll just take a moment to say that I love him and all of his office staff!  It was a lovely experience all around and that makes me so happy!

After a few questions and a little more background my Dr. decided that I really needed to have an ultrasound to make sure everything was okay and to get a, once and for all, accurate time frame for this pregnancy.  I was so excited!  I just knew that seeing my baby and knowing for sure that everything was okay would be a huge relief.

So they led us back to the sonogram room and I experienced the kind of sonogram you see in the movies!  It was so surreal!  From the darkened lights to the ice cold gel on my stomach it was exactly like every movie portrays it... and then our miracle happened.

There on the screen across from us was our baby!  

 Here's a version with parts labeled so you can see our little Laubester more clearly!

It was an amazing experience.  As I was laying there while the Dr. took measurements we could actually see the baby waving it's little arms and legs around!  Then the Dr. asked us the best question... 

"Do you want to hear the heartbeat?"

We both nodded yes and the room was filled with the sound of our baby's heartbeat.  Racing away at 175 beats per minute.  It was one of the most profound moments of my life.  Ryan and I were struggling to not just break down in tears at the very sound. 

Here is one last picture.  As you can see I'm a little ahead of what was originally thought.  I measure exactly 10 weeks today which makes my due date June 4th of 2010.  That means my first trimester ends on the 25th of November (Crazy that's only 19 days!) and we'll be able to see if this little Laubester is a boy or a girl on the 15th of January! 

See the squiggles on the bottom of the picture?  That's the baby's heartbeat! 

Thank you each and every one of you for your prayers for my and this baby's health.  Ryan and I can feel your prayers daily.  Even though we were so nervous today going into this appointment there was an unexplainable underlying peace... We can't wait to share this journey with you!

Ryan and Courtney

 

 

Good morning!  er... Afternoon!

While I was in Phoenix I didn't get to spend a lot of time with my youngest sister and her two kiddos.  I thought I was sick so I stayed away not wanting to get the kids sick. 

I was sad to miss out on time with my niece and nephew...  especially since I had never met my new little nephew, Dylan Parker!

Fortunately once I found out I was pregnant I had one last chance to do a quick photo shoot!  So here he is!

Dylan Parker Woodard born August 8th 2009.

What a chunk!

He thought the flash on my camera was funny! 

His nursery is done in monkeys so we sat him up with his buddy.

Here he is with daddy.

And of course mommy is the funniest person in the world.

Savannah woke up from her nap and had to have her 'Broder kisses!"

Don't you just love his shirt?  "New to the herd"

Hey mom and dad!

 Monkey and pal.

Rock Stars!

 I told you... Mommy can always get a laugh!

  What a cutie pie.

 I think mommy and daddy agree...

This has to be one of my very favorite baby pictures I've ever taken.  What a character!  So fun!!!

 It was so much fun meeting him and getting to know him and his little personality.  I also really enjoyed spending more time with Savannah.  There is something that warms the heart big time when your not quite two year old niece looks at you after you pick up her dropped crayon and says in a perfectly clear little voice...

"Tank ou At Corkey."  :)

It was a blast!  I have tons of pictures to share another day because, of course, I was there to witness the birth of my newest nephew Aaron Isaac... but that will have to wait for another day.

~~~~~~

In home front news, I'm doing good.  I'm a little over 9 weeks pregnant.  I'm still feeling sick and tired which is great!  My first doctor's appointment is on Friday of this week.  I'll have more news for you then!

Until later,

Courtney

Good Morning!

I have been sitting here with this page open for over half an hour.  I have so much to update you on and no idea what to say!  SAD!!!

I guess I should start by saying that I'm definitely pregnant.  I went to the clinic on base yesterday to have the blood pregnancy test.  I got the call this morning that it came back positive.  The game plan now is to do a walk in appointment.  During this appointment I will see one of two available nurses.  They will basically confirm it's me.  Tell me what to expect during this process and then begin the referral process.  Once they give me the referral I should be able to pick a doctor off base (there are no on base OBGYNs here in Del Rio) then schedule my first appointment.  I won't lie.  I want the appointment today so I can find out for sure how far along I am but it will probably take a few weeks for me to get in to see a new doctor.  I'll let you know when I have any more new information.

Ryan and I are still in shock.  We had no help... we've only been here for a few months and we just found out three days ago that my records are even here.  I haven't even had my first check up!  I went off to Phoenix for my short visit with suspicions but no real clue.  I took a test before I left because I was late... It was negative so I just chalked it up to my old messed up self and blew it off.

My first clue?  I got "sick" just a few days after arriving.  Horrible headaches, exhaustion, and I was super queasy.  I was scared to death that I was coming down with the flu.  I was there to take pictures of my nephew's birth and being sick would keep me out of the birth room... in fact it would keep me from seeing him at all if I stayed sick!  I spent three days in bed...  Then I decided that it was ridiculous.  I didn't FEEL sick, never had, just so tired and queasy but laying in bed wasn't really helping... So I got out of bed and went about my business.   One of the first things I said to my mom when I got sick was, "If I didn't know better I would think I was pregnant... this is ridiculous!"

My nephew was born and I attended feeling tired but just fine...  I started going out with people trying to get my visits in before I left the valley since I had missed so much time down and out...  And then the last straw.  I went out to dinner with my friend Lynne.  We went to the Olive Garden... I ate all of my soup and the bread sticks and then the actual meal came.  One taste and I almost puked.  I couldn't even handle the smell.  I had them box it up right away.  I gave it to my sister because I couldn't even handle the smell of it in my fridge.  That started me thinking that I needed to test because I hadn't been "sick" for over a week.  I ran to the grocery store and picked up a cheapie and decided that I would test next morning.

I woke up the next morning and tested...  It came up obviously positive in under a minute.

I sat there staring at it.  In absolute shock!  I was getting ready to have breakfast with my best friend Emily and so I just kept getting ready...  I didn't know what else to do.  LOL  On the drive to the restaurant I had to call poor Ryan.  Ideally you think of all the cute ways you want to tell your husband... the witty things you want to say... Nope... not me!  I just blurted it out.

"Hi honey... can you talk?"

"No not really (in a whisper)"

"Well... sorry but I really need to talk to you..."

"Okay go ahead I just have to be quick..."

"Well...  Okay...  Um....  I'm pregnant."

"................................ WHAT?"

I could recount the rest of the conversation for you but it's kind of boring.  :)  A whole lot of  uh and oh and wow made up the rest of it.

So, at the moment I'm gleefully suffering all the not so fun parts of pregnancy.  I'm sick as a dog... morning sickness that lasts all day long and I'm exhausted all the time!  I have a ton of food aversions and not a single craving... nothing actually sounds good at all so I'm just doing my best to not let myself get hungry by grazing on whatever doesn't sound awful at the time...  and I'm sleeping... a lot!

My favorite food aversions so far?

Coffee... this is good since I'm not supposed to have it but it makes me sad all the same...
Chocolate...  same story... more sad.
Peanut butter... GAG
Anything sweet
Anything really salty... I tried sunflower seeds on the drive home to keep me awake and the salt tasted sweet...  NASTY

My personal favorite!

Anything Mint...  This makes brushing my teeth very much a daily adventure...  No gum, mints, mouthwash, ect...

So... that's about it for me!  I need to get a move on... I need to put on some dinner (French Onion soup sounds good today) and then get ready to go to the walk in clinic.  Hope I can make it in time or else I'll have to wait until tomorrow.  I'll let you know when I have an update!

Courtney