Week 11: Wiggly Little One

Today's doctor's visit is kind of exciting --- instead of just the heart beating, we were able to see the baby moving around, waving its little arm and legs!  It's still just a tiny little thing at 4cm, but amazing how active it looks on screen.  I almost hoped that the ultrasound session could last a little longer so I can see little K for a little bit longer.  Mic was convinced it was a boy because it was so active.  I am not so sure because if little K takes on any of it's parents qualities, the boy is the slow one around the house!

The doctor gave me a note to stay rested for two more weeks at home and then I must face the inevitable going back to work days.  But by then I should be out of the miserable first trimester fatigue and nausea, especially I have now advanced to actually throwing up part of my lunch and dinner, it is nice to have a little more time at home.

Slowing Down

I have been out of the office for 7 weeks now, and the doctor just ordered me to stay at home for at least another 2 weeks until the wound closes up.

I joked with my friends that I was hoping to take things easy for the first trimester, little did I know the slowing down happened somewhat involuntarily, including some hospitalization and more doctor's visits than I can remember.

God has a funny way of making your wishes come true.

It is, however, also a great time for me to learn to slow down. I have always been an active person, energized by activities (Mic used to hate how I wake up early in the mornings, and now I sleep at least 3 hours more than him each day). These two months I had to learn to find peace in a much slower pace and be at ease with my limited physical ability. My friend K gave me a religious book with daily prayers to read, and there was one paragraph that particularly resonated with me.

"In the fast and frenzied pace of this world, allow yourself to submit to the fatigue. Allow it to calm you, settling into the restfulness and peace that come only from God. Thank him for life's slowdowns".

Even though the events of the unstable part of the pregnancy was scary, I am thankful that I had so much time to rest and slow down in probably one of the least comfortable trimesters. I am thankful that my bosses and colleagues have been more than understanding of my situation; I am thankful for the great medical care (and fantastic health insurance!) I have; I am thankful for friends who love and care about me so dearly, and even their mothers for bringing me ginger candy to ease the queasiness; I am thankful for a husband who shows his love in so many ways and a marriage that is just bright and warm like the sun even after 10 years, making me ever confident that we will raise a great family together; I am thankful for the family that I have, for my loving aunt in the US that I can spend hours on the phone with during my insomnia days.

Slowing down, is not so bad after all.

Week 9: Little Monster

I make quite a horrible sound when I feel nauseous, even though I have never really thrown up so far, the sound effect is like I am about to turn my entire stomach inside out (Now I totally understand the reason pregnant people are anti-social for three months).

Mic has nicknamed the sound effect "Little Monster", he said if there was a mythical creature that looks like a frog, it must sound like me.

Well, luckily little monster don't come out as often as two weeks ago. Maybe god is giving me a break since I was sent to the hospital last week, and decided to at least take one horrible feeling away temporarily. It still happens, but at least not morning, afternoon, AND night. Mic and I are now able to joke about where the little monster is and how often it comes out.

Four more weeks before I am through with the first trimester, and hopefully little monster will return to its mythical home forever by then.