17 weeks today

Wow, 17 weeks today.  Time sure flies when you are accidently pregnant and miserable. 

Actually, I am feeling less miserable as the days go on.  Perhaps my hormones are starting to regulate themselves, or I've come to terms with #4 a bit more, or maybe just getting rid of my sinus infection with some much-needed antibiotics has evened out my temper somewhat.  I can't believe how moody I am.  I'm surprised I have any friends, and that my relatives are still talking to me!

I'm not feeling my little one very much yet.  I think I've had a couple of pokes, but I have an anterior placenta that is creating a comfy pillow for the baby, but buffering any potential kicks. It's a bit of a bummer, but they'll soon come thick and fast and I'll be wishing for the bubba to fall asleep so I can get a rest from the internal tummy soccer.

On the outside, the boys are doing well.  OK, so Austin has started pooing his pants again, and bit a child at preschool the other day.  That I didn't see coming.  Riordan was a biter, but Bowen was the only one who was on the receiving end.  Austin is a very angry little boy lately, and it appears he is taking out his frustrations orally.  Riordan grew out of it, but I can't have my little man biting random kids at school.  Being the third of three boys can't be easy, there is so much testosterone swirling around the air I can see it sometimes, but it's no excuse for munching on people.  It's hard for me to reconcile the person he is at preschool with the little boy who still insists on his boobie before bed. 

There can't possibly be a baby in there.

Nearly 15 weeks into this baby-making business, and I still can't quite imagine my life with another child.  Darren is going away lots with work, he was away all last week (only coming home to annoy me on the weekend) and left this morning until Friday.  It's just me and the boys, and it's all a bit much while I'm growing #4.  I've never been so tired, I have an enormous belly that HURTS all the time.  It's so sensitive and achy.  Everything else aches too. 

Where will I find the time to fit the new one in?  I think I'll be breastfeeding while I am walking to school. 

I know that I've been spoilt by having my mum so readily available, and her working full-time is a big adjustment for me (and her, hence her actually considering retirement, but for how long is any one's guess).  My life is one big sook. 

Added to all of this is the fact that my house is falling apart around me!  We knew that moving into a 30 year old, unrenovated house was going to require some work, but this poor old this is not used to three active boys.  Among other little, trifling things, the middle rail of the banister has fallen off (due, in no small part, to having little feet climbing on it all day).  I am just waiting for someone to plunge off the side of the stairs.  It's come in quite useful to the boys and they just jump through it instead of climbing to the bottom! 

My oven also died.  I am a HUGE baker.  I adore it.  The kids are starting to really like eating my cooking (finally) and just as I was starting to find some yummy recipes for school lunchboxes, my five cent oven from eBay gives up the ghost.  It did it in a dramatic way, befitting it's final exit, by creating a huge flare and then quietly smouldering into death.  I think it's time to spend some money and get a new kitchen.  A kitchen, however, necessitates removing a wall, replacing floor coverings, repairing roofs...not straight forward at all!

There's a baby in there!

My 12 week scan went off without a hitch.  There is a lovely little baby kicking around in there.  It still amazes me that something so tiny has all it's working bits.  We saw 2 little arms and hands; 2 kicking feet and legs; a rapidly beating heart; the tiny bladder; all the good bits.  The doctor doing the scan also had a guess at the sex of the baby, which was exciting.  I only have to wait 6 more weeks to confirm it!

I always thought that if I did have this last baby (back in the days where I was 'planning' it, rather than having it sprung on me in the manner it did) I would keep the gender a surprise.  It would also be the perfect ending to this 'surprise' pregnancy. 

I can't wait though.  The practical part of me knows a boy would be the best fit for our family.  He'd slip right in with uber-male Daddy and his testosterone filled brothers, and be out riding a dirt bike before he could walk.  The other part of me would love a little girl.  I'm still not entirely sure why.  Just 'cause.

Hey baby!

Tired. So Tired

I'm exhausted.  The 4cm of baby inside me is just sucking out my energy. 

I am a husk.  I'm pretty sure that I actually like most of pregnancy, I have fond memories of it, so I at some point it must get better.  I'm having a hard time remembering when!

On another note, I think I am going to start having smoothies.  Maybe juices, but I don't have a juicer.  I have a blender, so I can do the smoothies.  Fruit and vegetables have been a massive turn off for me so far, but as I slowly emerge from the first trimester fug, my taste buds are also reawakening.  I have a pineapple to make pineapple and mint crush (oh yum, my mouth is watering just thinking about it) and I have some passion fruit and bananas, and some almond milk (which I discovered yesterday has so little actual almond in it that it may as well be water with a couple of nuts waved across the top.  Haven't tasted it yet, it may be delish.  I hope so, I love almonds) and heaps of ice to get all smoothied up.  I'm not sure when I should eat them, I'm thinking my afternoon snack. 

Congratulations, you are now a foetus

10 weeks, and the embryo can be called a foetus now!

I still feel like poo, some days are better than others and I am eating mostly normal food.  Fruit is a big turn off, and I used to adore it. 

I am so grateful that it is school holidays, instead of frantically running around trying to make it to all our obligations on time, I can stay in bed, read my books and generally move at a slower pace.  Then, when school goes back, I should be back to normal (see, I planned it exactly this way on purpose!).  That's the theory.

The important appointments are made, 30th January for my NT scan, and 20th of February for my hospital booking in visit.

Ooh, I've also cut my hair and adore it!  I thought I would miss my long blonde locks, but the endless attacks from the GHD had done irreparable damage, and it was best for all concerned that I just lop it off.  It came out shorter than I had anticipated, but it's so healthy and I doesn't even need straightening.  It comes to about my shoulder blades.  I'm super happy with it.  I also ditched the pink-dipped blonde for a more natural colour.  Much more me.

Start spreading the news...

So, we've told a few people about Sprout. 

Romana was first (don't tell Darren, although I doubt he'd be surprised!).  I send her an MMS as soon as I'd done the first two tests.  I could barely type the message, I was so in shock.

Darren was next.  His succinct response, as previously noted, was "Bullshit". 

I told Mum the following day.  I think she's been the one who's been the most shocked.  I showed her the pregnancy test, and she immediately started rambling about moving away.  I left the idea with her (and the boys, great timing but we had to go to a Christmas party) and she's definitely coming around now.  I wouldn't be surprised if she hasn't already purchased #4's Chrissy pressies for next year and has them tucked in the toy cupboard.

Darren blabbed to his mate at the Christmas party.  I don't mind, there was some awkward conversation about alcoholic drinks, and as Daz had already imbibed several himself, the news came out. 

I told my sister yesterday.  Carrie came over to get Austin's (and Bowen's and Riordan's) old cot to take to mum's (she doesn't like the one there) and I told her I'd be needing it back next year!  She was shocked (I'm sensing a common theme here) but is cool with it.  There'll be just 14 months difference between Sprout and Jordan.

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I've had my blood test, confirming that I am indeed 5-6 weeks preggo.  I have an ultrasound booked for next Tuesday to get some dates.  I am predicting the 10th of August, with the baby born on the 18th.  I would love it to happen on the 16th, that will be my nan's 94th birthday.

Time to start afresh.

All is well in the Pearce household. We are gearing up for Christmas and the holidays.

Bowen is almost 6 now, and just finishing Kindergarten. He has done so well at school, and is reading and doing his maths work like a champion. Seeing him read, and sound out words in his head, makes me want to cry.

Riordan is 4. He is slowly starting to calm down. He's not the whirlwind that he was 12 months ago. His speech is improving, which means he gets less frustrated as we ('we' meaning everyone but me, the eternal Riordan interpreter!) understand what he says.

Austin is 2 1/2, and still a breastfeeding maniac. I would never have dreamed of feeding my baby for this long. I think it's got something to do with the fact that he was the last, and in my mind he would always be my baby. Plus, he just loves it, and the closeness is delectable. He climbs into my lap before bed, legs slung over mine, and is slowly lulled to sleep.

Speaking of Austin being the last baby, it looks like that won't be the case. I was lady week free for 18 months (thank you Austin) and this whole year have been very irregular. There was a brief flirtation with the mini pill (I was hoping it would stop my bleeding altogether, turns out it had the opposite effect) and otherwise I've been having longish cycles. I always watch closely, and can pick when I'm dropping an egg. I also have an app on my phone that helps me keep track of my cycles. Last month I was really sick with tonsillitis, and the boys were sick, and it didn't really concern me that Aunt Flo was a bit hesitant in arriving. My average cycle has been around 32, the longest 35. For some reason, I still am not quite sure, I did a quick whizz in a cup on Friday afternoon. This is what greeted me when I went back to check.

"What!?!" I yelled. Quickly dipping another stick in my wee, I expected to see one solitary line, but almost instantly two popped up. Even though I doubted that two false positives would happen in a row, I still popped out to the supermarket to get a 'brand name' test.

The lines appeared before the wee had reached the end of the window.

Still in shock, I went about the rest of my afternoon, willing time to go faster so I could tell Darren. I showed him the third test and, ever eloquent, the first thing he said was, "Bullshit." No, Darren, it's just a joke. Ha. Ha.

Getting over his shock, and trying desperately to work out how it happened (I mean, we know how babies are made, just not this one!) we decided that things will be fine.

And they will.

A question still to be answered, and one that I can't for the life of me figure out, is exactly WHEN it happened, and hence when the baby will be due. I'm thinking around the 11th of August. This test helped me.

Apparently it's telling me that apart from the fact I am pregnant, the little bean inside of me was conceived more than 3 weeks ago. I also had a blood test today, and I'll book in for an ultrasound in a couple of weeks, probably next Friday.