Lil' Bean Update!

On Friday, the 25th, I had my 8 week appointment. It was my first appointment with my new doctor (my other is retiring from delivering babies, so I had to find someone else). It went well, and Shane got to go with me. It was exciting since we got to have another ultrasound! Lil' bean is still in there and has doubled in size and we could still see his/her heartbeat! My new doctor calculated my due date, so I have a new one...Sept. 5th, 2008! She said that will be my official due date and won't change now, no matter what other ultrasounds say! Sept. 5th is my dad's birthday, so it is special!
Below is a picture of our lil' bean at 8 weeks old!

I am still not feeling well, nor sleeping well! But everyone assures me that it will go away in my second trimester...I am just trying to figure out how I am gonna get thru the next 4 weeks!
I am still alittle shocked that we are actually having a baby.
Here is a conversation I had with Shane the other day:
Me: "Guess what?"
Shane: "What?"
Me: "We are gonna have a baby!"
Shane: "Yeah, I know. Exciting, huh?!"
Me: "Yeah, but what are we going to DO with the baby?"
Shane: "I don't know, what do you mean?"
Me: "We literally have to take it EVERYWHERE with us! How am I going to get my hair done, how will I go to the dentist, I am gonna have to take the baby with me when I have to go to the bathroom in a public place!"
Shane: "Duh, honey!"
No, I am not that stupid, that I didn't think the baby would go everywhere with us...its just a strange realization at how much my life is going to change, and at how huge of a responsibility it is to have a baby! I don't think you can fully comprehend it until the baby is actually here! But this is why I am SO thankful that God gives us 9 months to prepare!
Anyway, moving on...I think Shane was beginning to feel a little sorry for me that I have been feeling so crappy, so yesterday he asked if I wanted him to take me shopping today! He knows I have been wanting to go, but haven't felt well enough to make the trip on my own during the week! So my dear, sweet husband took me to the QuadCities today, and patiently endured while we looked at baby stuff at Target, helped me get stuff at Sam's Club (its always crazy!), ran me by Petco so I could get Bella her treats, and took me to the mall! He even went into Victoria's Secret with me! I got me a new bra (the one nice thing about being pregnant is the bigger boobs!), and I picked up some cute cropped sweats!
My other great finds of the day consist of food items! At Sam's Club they were sampling out nacho cheese (which I love nachos!) so I tasted, then decided I had to have! So we have this huge can of nacho cheese (only $5)...plus we found jumbo Banana Nut muffins, which I have been craving! We got 12 for only $5.86, I don't know if they are all gonna get ate before they go bad though!
Well, thats pretty much the update and then some! Have a great week everyone!

Well, I am in my 7th week of pregnancy, and each day I am reminded that I am pregnant from the increasing feelings of nausea and tiredness! Today (knock on wood) has been one of the better days I have had...I at least had a few hours of relief during church (I take it as God's sign that He wants me in church!) and I did enjoy some time during the afternoon feeling normal! I contribute it to the chicken fries I had for lunch (they tasted so good at the time, but now just typing about it makes me gag!)
I really haven't had many cravings for specific foods yet, just a continuous feeling that I need to eat accompanied with nothing sounds good to eat! So eating has become increasingly harder! I didn't expect such a need/hate relationship with food!
Shane has been most accommodating so far! Between picking up something from the grocery store after work, to getting me pickles in bed at 10:30pm, to bringing me a granola bar and water each morning!
I have now just started stuffing the granola bar in my pillow when I go to bed at night! So I have something to eat at 3am when I have to wake up to go pee (for the umpteenth time!) and my stomach hurts so bad cuz I haven't eaten! I did have quite a laugh the other morning when shane woke up with a piece of granola embedded in his arm! (he didn't find it as humorous as I did)
My husband just looked at me lovingly last nite, thinking to himself that his wife is crazy as I ate orange muffins in bed!
There has been some perks to all of this! I have received many Congrats cards in the mail and even some fun packages! Below is a picture of the things we have gotten so far!

We received our first card and package from my best friend, Heather! She got us "The Belly Book", its a really cute 9 month journal! She was totally on top of things, I think I got it only days after I told her I was pregnant!
We got a fun package from my mom that included a pink blankie & a blue blankie, each with a poem, some baby hangers and a cute giraffe teether!
My brother, Jared & Missy sent us some cute "lil pals" that clip on to the car seat! Missy told me Jared even picked them out!
Heather's mom, Vanessa sent me a gift card to Motherhood! yah, I get to go shopping!
And we have received many thoughtful cards from so many of you, thank you so much! We really appreciate all of your support and prayers thru out this journey of bringing our 'lil' bean' into the world! Getting the mail has definitely brightened my days of feeling nausea!

I think the picture says it all!

Shane and I have very exciting news...as you can tell in the the picture, we are having a baby!!!
Its kinda been a long journey, and we feel very blessed! We have been trying for over 9 months, and when I went to the doctor on Dec. 3rd, he determine I was not ovulating, so he prescribed me Clomid. On Dec. 19th, I had blood tests done to see if the Clomid worked...my progesterone level was only 6.6, and the doctor told me I probably didn't ovulate (you usually need a level b/t 10-15 to ovulate) and prescribed me my next round of Clomid as soon as my period started. So we went home to Nebraska knowing we didn't have any fun news to share at Christmas and I was a little down, I wasn't looking forward to another round of Clomid, since I had every side effect with the first round.
I started having every symptom that my period was gonna start only magnified. I didn't know when to expect my period since I had only had 3 in the last 9 months. On Dec. 29th, my mom and I were in North Platte for the birth of my nephew, Jacob. When we went to Wal-Mart, I picked up some pg tests. Shane and I were heading home the next day and I thought I better test just by some miracle from God I was pregnant, so I could at least tell my mother in person.
The next morning I tested and started to see the line go across and figured it was gonna be negative (they always seem to be negative), so I turned away and got my stuff ready to wash my hair, and when I turned back around to throw away the test, I saw a + sign. I immediately yelled "MOM!", she came running into the bathroom thinking something was wrong. With my hands shaking like crazy, I held the test up to her and asked "what is this?" She said "I don't know, it looks like it could be positive."
I then went upstairs and woke up Shane and asked him to read it, he thought it said positive too. So I did another test, and it had the same result!
I called my doctor the next day, the 31st. He had me come in for some blood work, which I didn't get back until late afternoon on Jan. 2nd b/c of the holiday (talk about frustrating!). My progesterone level was at 31 now (which is really good) and my Hcg level was 194 (which means I was definitely pregnant!) The doctor then had me schedule an ultrasound for a week later, b/c he was concerned that the baby didn't implant in the right spot. I was having a lot of cramping and pain on my right side, and some bleeding.
Well, needless to say the next week and 1/2 was nerve wracking, but after breaking down a few times, I just had to put my trust in God that His will be done.

This picture is the result of our ultrasound yesterday! Baby Struckman, which we have dubbed "lil' bean" is tucked safely in my uterus, right where he/she should be! Praise God!!!
We also learned that I am 6 weeks along, and my due date is Sept. 6th, 2008 as of now! The doctor was surprised the baby was as big as it was, b/c he figured I ovulated later since my first progesterone level was so low. Just goes to show that God's will is always done!
Thank you for everyone's prayers and support during these past several months, and especially during the last week! We really appreciate them!
We also would like to say congratulations to my cousin, Tracy and her husband, Ethan, they announced over Christmas that they are expecting in August. So this should be a lot of fun, to be able to share all of our experiences together, since this will be our first child for both of us! We are only about 3-4 weeks apart!
I also have my sister, Britni who is due in May and my sister, Missy just had a baby, so I have lots of women I can go to if I have questions!
Its hard to believe that just peeing on a stick can change the rest of your life! I will continue to keep you all updated!

Morgan's Visit

My beautiful, younger cousin, Morgan came back with Shane & I on Dec. 30th and stayed with us until Jan. 3rd! She is 12 and from Seward, NE.
It was a blast having her here. We didn't get in as much shopping as I would have liked considering it snowed most of the days, but we did get in plenty of cards and movies! We met her mom around Des Moines on Thursday, but on our way, I made sure we stopped at the Tanger Outlet mall for a couple of hours of shopping! Morgan did find some great deals! She plans to come back again this summer, and I can't wait to have her!

Morgan chatting w/ friends online!

We pretty much lived on the couch in our comfy clothes and played rummy! We played 20 games to 500, I won 11 and Morgan won 9...it was close!

Morgan & I
We did find a place that could get Morgan in to cut her hair while she was here, she cut like 6 inches off!!! Its really cute, and I think it makes her look a lot older!

Our newest Arrival into the Blackman Clan!

Well, baby Jacob decided he couldn't let his Auntie K leave Nebraska without getting to see him first! My brother, Jared and beautiful wife, Missy welcomed the latest member of their family into the world on Dec. 29th, 2007! Missy was scheduled for a c-section on Jan. 4th! I am so glad I got to be there when baby J was born! Shane and I headed back to Iowa on the 30th, so baby J arrived just in time!

Here are some pictures of my newest nephew:

Jacob Kent Blackman

Zoe, Morgan & Nana waiting to hear Jacob's first cry! Britni and I were also there!

Baby Jacob only minutes old (I think this is the freshest baby I have ever met)

Missy's first time getting to hold baby Jacob! It was a very sweet moment!

Luke, Auntie K, Matthew & Nathan all hanging out in Missy's room!

Mommy making sure he has all his toes!

Nana & Nathan hanging out!

Jared getting to hold his son for the first time!

Papa Carson and Nana checking out their latest grandson!

Auntie K & baby J! It felt so nice to hold such a little baby!

Baby J surprised us by having tons of dark hair and a look all his own!

The 'boys' just hanging out!
Matthew really enjoys holding Jacob!

Auntie K & Baby J

Chase & Luke
My mom decided to bring Nathan and Luke home with us to Roscoe for the nite. I think Luke and Chase were happy to see each other! All they did was play each other on their Nintendo DSLites!

Christmas 2007 - More Pics from Christmas Vacation

Here are some more pictures from our time spent in Nebraska for Christmas vacation!

Me & my cousin, Morgan

Cousin Chase & Uncle Mike

Zoe Anne being goofy, her mommy had her hair in a cute ponytail, but as soon as they arrived Zoe decided she had enough of it!

This is Zoe's 'cheeeezzz' smile!

Me, gramma Joyce & Morgan playing rummy, with Zoe on the end playing!

Zoe Anne waking up from a nap!

Zoe & Nana 'fixing' the table!

Getting Zoe all bundled up to go sledding for the first time!

Zoe & Auntie K getting ready to head outside for some fun in the snow

Me pulling Zoe around in her sled!
Every time I slowed down, she kept saying "again, again...'

Nana taking a quick turn at pulling Zoe!

Zoe still not ready to go in yet!

Thankfully, Codi & I did find some time to get together for lunch and catch up!

Chase

Christmas morning, you can't really tell in this picture, but it was snowing big, chunky flakes! It was so beautiful!

Me & Bella Christmas morning!

Bella hoping I would share some of my breakfast burrito with her!

Christmas 2007 - Christmas w/ Shane's family

Here are some pics that Shane got while we spent Christmas with them! Enjoy!

Miss Mady being cute!

Parker & his mommy, Janice

I'm guessing Mady may be telling a story

Mady & her Uncle Tanner playing Jenga

Parker

Mady bundled up to go play out in the snow

Lindsey & Jared (the happily engaged couple!)

Mady in her pretty Christmas dress before we left for church

Mady-2 1/2, Stacy & Janice, Parker-1

Mady's reaction to Santa bringing her a kitchen set!

Shane & KT w/ Bella Bear

Christmas 2007 - Christmas w/ my family

We hope that everyone had a wonderful and blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!
Shane and I headed home at noon on the 21st and stayed until the 30th! We had good weather both ways...praise God! Except we did have fog in Iowa both ways, its weird, as soon as you enter Nebraska the fog goes away!
Here are some pictures of Christmas with my family! Enjoy!

All the gifts that needed loaded into the Camry to go to Nebraska! The whole trunk was full, so I had to put our luggage in the back seat!

Arrived safely at mom's and unloaded (mom's house looked so clean and nice before we arrived!)

Dad and Mom!

Missy with her Christmas present from me!

Zoe & Nana hanging out in the toy room! It's where all the grandkids want to go as soon as they get to nana's!

My brother, Jared, and his beautiful family!
(Matthew-2, Missy w/ Jacob in the tummy, Luke-5, Jared, Nathan-1)
Kenna wasn't able to make it up for Christmas, we sure missed her!

My sister, Britni and her beautiful family!
(Britni w/ baby girl #2 in tummy, Zoe-2, Brad)

Luke being his cute self!

Matthew opening his gift from us. We couldn't find where he went, and then found him in the kitchen tearing off the wrapping paper and putting each piece straight into the trash, it was pretty cute!

Cousin-love!
Matthew hugging Zoe!

Bella seeking refuge on my lap during gift-opening!

I guess all we have to do is just wrap a box with nothing in it, because Matthew had more fun just playing with a box than his actually gifts!

Matthew getting a piggy back ride from Papa Carson!

Missy and Jared

Nathan w/ his Auntie K

An attempt at taking a family picture!