So, I liked the doctor...

I sat nervously checking from my phone while I was sitting in the waiting room to see if anyone had any awesome magic revealing questions so I could figure the whole doctor thing out. I was so overwhelmed with nerves while in the waiting room all I wanted to do was cry. (thanks hormones!) I wanted my husband, and I wanted my old doctor. This is highly unusual for me. I generally have no fears of the doctor. Everyone in the office was super nice and helpful. I had to wait a little longer than I'd like, but once he got to the room he was perfectly comfortable and seemed like I was the only person there at the time. I talked to him about how he handles his practice, labor, delivery, ultrasounds, tests, asked about the hospital and it's policies on babies rooming in and how long I'd have to stay after I delivered. We covered inductions, labor plans (which I have no intention of making), pretty much everything either of us could think of. I felt very comfortable with him and I can't wait to go back in 2 weeks for my ultrasound so I can get a due date! We also discussed my blood pressure which is extremely low for me right now and is causing me dizziness, although it tends to run high and I am often medicated for it. All in all, I really liked him, and I feel soooo much better!

I went ahead and did my labwork while I was there and I am scheduled for an ultrasound on Wednesday, June 24th to figure out how far along I am. It's driving me nuts not to know that little piece of information! Also, the kids loved the Mom's Day Out at the church I took them to! That makes my life as far as doctor appointments go...much easier! By my calculations based on my LMP, I am approximately 7 weeks and 1 day pregnant today, which means I'll be 8 weeks and 3 days when I go in for my ultrasound. I'm very curious as to what the doctor will come up with after the ultrasound.

When I was leaving the office one of the ladies brought me this really cute little gift bag that had lots of print outs on symptoms to call the doctor about, medicines I can take, and a new edition of What to Expect When You're Expecting. I personally prefer Your Pregnancy Week by Week, but I am reading both. I just really like the week by week setup and the way it goes along with me. In the bag, they also included a few brochures for different things like breastfeeding support, and a 3d/4d ultrasound place called SneakPeek Ultrasound (www.sneakpeek4d.com) that I fully intend have done this time! With Abby and Ethan my doctor did the regular 2d scans alot, which was awesome, but as many of you know they're nowhere near as cool as the 3d and 4d pics you see from people now! I was blown away by this place...they even do baby showers! They have theater seating and you can bring as many friends and family as you want and they can see the baby on the big screen TV! I just wish it was in Arkansas where I could have all of the family that wanted to be there with us!

Anyway, I'm still feeling well. A little tired, but then again, who isn't? I can't seem to get enough cheese. Also, I don't want anything touching my belly. I don't remember that happening with the others, especially not this early. Any kind of pants drive me nuts. I'm living in athletic shorts and most of the time, at least while I'm at home, keeping them pulled down below my waist. I'm ready to break out the maternity clothes although I feel kinda funny doing it this early.

Interviewing a new doctor...

Ok guys, I need some help. Since we've moved I'm going to be seeing a new doctor for the first time next week. I need to figure out some good questions to ask so that I can gauge whether or not he is a good match for me. I'm going to make a list of things that are important to me so I can see where he stands on those, but give me some of your ideas, please!

A new doctor...

I posted on yet another social networking site www.momslikeme.com where they have a page for Alexandria, LA asking about OB/GYNs in the area. I figure that's what I would do if I knew people around here, so why not? I got a couple of recommendations for the practice that I went to in January, and I got one rave review of another doctor. So, I called his office and made an appointment. He also makes you wait until 8 weeks, but when I told the receptionist that I was not excited about that because I wasn't sure if I'd stick with him she offered to let me come in next week to see the nurse practitioner for my bloodwork and said that I could meet the doctor then. I am super excited because of the things the lady on the message board told me and the things the receptionist told me. He sounds like much more my type of doctor. He has the NP, but you don't have to see her unless he's actually called out on an emergency. The receptionist said that lots of women prefer to see the NP because she's female. That doesn't really bother me...I'd prefer not to have anyone "down there", so whether it's a man or a woman doesn't really enter into the equation.

Anyway, I'm excited to go and DO something. I'm taking my vitamins, and trying not to eat everything in sight, but I'm really craving SunnyD and Dr. Pepper right now. I tried to break out my pregnancy books tonight, but I can't find them and it's driving me crazy. I suppose tomorrow I'll spend the day searching high and low for them because I can't remember where they were put in the move!

We're pregnant!

And we are shocked. Well, as shocked as two people can be when they haven't been taking any birth control precautions for the past 2 1/2 years. After I had the kids birth control just didn't seem to agree with me and after several different meds and some pretty awful side-effects I just decided that we were probably going to want another one anyway, so we'd leave it up to God.

For anyone who knows me, they probably know that I pretty much convince myself that I'm pregnant every single month anyway. What can I say, it's a mix of wishful thinking and fear... After Abby was about 1 year old, I knew without a doubt that I wanted another baby. So, we started planning and "trying" for the next one. That took us about 2 months...and five days after Abby's 2nd birthday Ethan arrived.

I am one of those people who LOVES being pregnant, and does not dread the labor and delivery part in the least. Luckily with the first two, I was not sick at all. So far this time, I feel great as well. I am definitely tired, but who isn't when they have two small kids?!

Anyway, after Ethan I never seemed to reach that point like I did after Abby where I felt like I was "ready" to have another baby. I love babies, and anytime I'm near one I want one myself. Then my two kids start screaming and fighting.....and the idea of another one isn't quite as appealing.

Well, once again, I've been feeling pregnant again this month. So, yesterday I got a test and to my surprise it literally said "Pregnant"... I took it to Matthew who had forgotten that I'd bought the test and he just said, "Oh, wow." We were pretty shocked last night, but we called the family and told everyone. After a good night's sleep, the shock seems to have worn off and excitement has set in.

Since we moved in December, I've only been to the OB/GYN once for my yearly checkup. She was nice, but she seems very young (she doesn't look older than me), and doesn't have any children of her own yet. I'm sure this has no bearing on her abilities as a doctor, but I was very comfortable with my doctor in Del Rio. His name was Dr. Daniel Chartrand, and he was strange, but very smart and I trusted him completely. He delivered both Abby and Ethan and I am missing him very much at the moment.

Dr. C was great, he even did ultrasounds every time you saw him. Nothing fancy, just a quick scan to see how everything looked. I am SO going to miss that. He was patient with me as a first timer and patiently stood and answered all of my paranoid questions at each visit. Also, I saw him within the first 4 weeks with my first two pregnancies. I called this morning to make the appointment with the new doctor, and she makes you wait until 8 weeks to come in, so I can't even see her until July 27! I'm not even sold on her as a doctor yet, and I'm not sure how to feel about having to wait until the end of July to decide if she's going to be "the one" or not.

Since this morning I've been a little scared. Not of the pregnancy, or having another baby, but of the unknown with the new doctor, hospital, and location. With Abby and Ethan I was literally in the same L&D Room (#4) and I even had the same private room afterwards. I DON'T LIKE CHANGE! With the fear that has set in has come quite a bit of hormonal and emotional fluctuations. I got my prenatal vitamins this morning at WalMart, because I have not been a good patient and have not been taking them every day even though I know the benefits that come with plenty of Folic Acid.

Anyway, if you've made it through this post, congrats! I can't promise that any of these will make alot of sense since I already have "mommy brain", and I've now added to that "baby brain"..... I just wanted a way to work through my feelings, and also a way to keep track and enjoy what will likely be my last pregnancy.