Should be called Afternoon Sickness

May 19, 2011 - 8 week and 1 day (size of a kidney bean)

I think my first trimester should be called Afternoon Sickness as mornings are the best time for me.  I feel rested, not bloated, with good appetite.  I have my diluted watermelon juice and then by 9am - Pancetta (fried) with fried eggs on toast.  yumyum.  Then I try to eat something every two hours.  By 3 or 4pm is when I feel tired, bloated, and the nausea starts sometimes for a little bit, sometimes until I sleep. Yuck....

I guess I must be Chinese, the time I am feeling sickness is Morning time in China.  Haha...  Well, It's been 2.5 weeks like this, at least I am coping better and expecting it.  TV, movies, going out to eat has been helping a bit.  just need to distract myself with other stuff, then I am good.

Crossing my fingers on a good OB appt.!

- Lei

Isabel is a monkey

After going to mygym for 3 months now, isabel has gotten really agile.  She can get her feet all the up to the bar and hang like a monkey and climb rope ladders all by herself.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Sensitivity Training

June 8, 2011 - 11 weeks (size of a fig)

No matter how loving your husband is, they still have NO IDEA what you are going through in the first trimester UNLESS you TELL THEM.   I was commiserating with a good friend on the phone.  She found out because she asked me and I decided that I won't lie if people ask.  She has two kids and I was telling her how awful my first trimester is right now.

She said she totally remember being completely exhausted by 3pm every day.  By then she had one kid to look after all day already.  You know what her husband said " he pulled up the charts showing her the size of the baby at that time and said how can something so small make you this tired."    Not the most sensitive thing to say and he loves her dearly.  And it's their second kid.  It just shows that guys have NO IDEA what it's like in the first trimester unless you tell them and ask them to help (without blaming them).

I was somewhat good at this although the blame did come out still as my hormone makes me much more emotional and needy now.  But luckily for me, Jaime listened past the initial comments I made and realize that I needed his emotional support and understanding to make this easier.  All I sometimes needed were

• he to tell me what to eat as my taste buds were shot and I was tired of trying to decide what would make me vomit or not 6 times a day - he understood it. thanks honey
• let me cry when I want to and not worry as I tell him that it's just hormones and I feel better afterwards
• let me talk to him about worries regarding having another kid
• allow me to decide last minute what to eat and where to eat for dinner

It was not easy to build this understanding but I am so thankful I talked to him and he listened and is helping me.  I don't feel alone anymore in the pregnancy even though I am the one carrying the baby.  We are doing it together and in spite of my daily nausea, I smile when I think of my hubby and our second baby.

- Lei

My 6 meal diet per day

May 26, 2011 - 9 weeks and 2 days (size of a grape)

my solution to fight nausea and vomiting - eating 6 or 7 small meals a day.  here is a sample

8:30am - thin toast with fried egg and fried pancetta or thin toast with 2-3 boiled eggs and soy sauce (love the yolk and not so much of the whites)

10:30am - fresh turkey sandwich (half) from Lee's or pesto chicken half sandwich from sellers market

12:30pm - Naan with chicken tika masala (i love naan and something spicy) or rice with steamed cod fish 

3pm - other half of the sandwich or tacos or sth

4pm - nap (an hour or so) I am always exhausted by this time and nauseous, so sleeping helps a bit

5:30pm - eat some snack - left overs or sth

7pm - eat light dinner (anything with meat and starch - not too into seafood or veggies)

9pm - sometimes will eat a little instant noodles with a egg yolk.  just a little to be full enough to sleep

9:45pm - asleep 

Between 3pm and 9pm is the worst time, usually sour stomach or nausea - my taste buds these days are completely shot.  for someone who really enjoy food, this is a slow torture that I am just accepting now as a temporary thing - about 4.5 weeks more :-(.  I am using work and TV to distract me.  At my co-working space, no one knows I am pregnant so I have to act normal and focus my mind on work when I eat and sometimes plans lunch dates so I can distract myself.  I usually get home at 4pm to nap and then eat while watching a good show helps me just shove food down.   Some people don't eat at all in first trimester.  I can't do that.  If I don't eat, I am more likely to vomit and then it is really painful because there is nothing there to throw up - I don't recommend it.  I rather eat and throw up - more productive haha.  I have to laugh to get through.

Well, this six meal diet has been working - no vomiting for 5 days straight. wow.  pretty awesome.  Still counting the days when I can taste food again.

- Lei

First Trimester - How I am coping

May 10, 2011 - 7 weeks - size of a "blueberry"

By the time you read this and if everything goes well, I will be in my second trimester.  I maybe bigger, but at least I will have my tastebuds back and more energy.  Ahhh.  wouldn't that be nice?  This post is a little descriptive, so read at your own risk.

Right now, I am in food hell.   And as a foodie, that's like taking away part of my happiness.  I feel like I am having a permanent stomach flu.  Nothing taste good.   I don't know what my body wants to eat although I seem to be hungry all the time.  I have a permanent bad taste in my mouth.   ugh I am only 7 weeks pregnant, another 7 weeks of this before it's suppose to subside.  wow.

I am starting to adapt a bit.  I am accepting that

1. my normal food instinct is blocked and I can no longer tell what I want to eat
2. I may buy food that I will then throw away after first bite because it actually taste disgusting to me
3. I will eat and then may barf it out an hour later.  
4. I will be envious of others who looks like they enjoy their food so much

It's been 10 days like this already and I guess at least I am more adapted.  Jaime has been extra supportive and allows me to change my mind 100 times on what food we will eat together.  Last night, Agnes made brocolli beef and the simple smell of boiled broccoli almost made me barf, so we went out for ceasar salad soup and some meatballs.  

I realize now distractions are a must.  Because I don't work for someone, it's actually harder to not dwell on my physical state, so I am learning to 

• force myself to go to my co-working space to work every day.  no one knows there so I have act normal and not complain.  It actually helps to not think about it
• watch TV when I eat so I don't think about what I eat and whether I am going to puke
• talk to friends about their issues - distract me from my own - Ha!
• continue salsa dancing.  I take it easy but I still go.  The fact I dress up and can still dance take my mind off.  I stay for at most an hour now but the sweating helps so much with hormones
• cry when I feel like it at home or in the car.  It again releases my hormones.  I cried a few times during Tangled (which we watched as a family last night).  Isabel loved it and so did I.
• not burden my hubby with any whining - He has enough on his plate and is already supportive.  I am lucky.  Whining helps no one anyways. 

An idle mind is a dangerous one in first trimester, so I am just going to have to keep it busy and let my body adjust in the main time.   It's starting to work.  Crossing my fingers.   My first doctor appt is on May 19 - next Thursday.  ugh, it seems like forever for now.   I can't wait to see my little baby in the ultrasound.  I think they can get a heart beat by then.  That's the happy thought I am holding onto right now.

- Lei

Cravings

May 3, 2011
already I have cravings and dislikes

Likes
- those sour plums
- congee or chinese bread and salted eggs
- Pizza
- boiled eggs with soy sauce
- watermelon
- coconut water

Dislikes
- curry (same as last time)
- smell of fried eggs (new)
- anything too acidic.
- any artificial sweet drinks

Let's the ride begin. I can't wait for my appt with the OB on May 19th 2011. Sometimes I still wonder if I am just feeling sick and not pregnant. Like I have the stomach flu or sth. Well, I hope 3 pregnancy sticks are not wrong. I will feel better when I see the image on the screen of my baby's heart beat.

Wow - crossing my fingers
- Lei

my 1st OB visit

May 19, 2011 - 8 weeks and 1 day (size of a kidney bean)

I love my OB, Dr Jane Fang.  She goes above and beyond to care for her patients.  She came back on her night off after a charity event to do my C section in 2008 at 9:30pm.  I was so relieved to have her there and see her again today - my first visit for this pregnancy

It's been 3 years so I wasn't sure what to expect.  How quickly we forget.  I was hoping to have an ultrasound and had a list of questions.  She was so calming.  here are the results

• There was an ultrasound - the baby looks like a small almond.   She said it's 8 weeks and a day based on measurements.  I was hoping it was a bit further along, since morning sickness has been a bxxch. Oh well, at least there was only one embryo found - no twins.
• She recommended CVS for me given I will be 39 soon and the other blood tests take too long.  Not looking forward to it but at least it gives me a milestone to focus on besides puking everyday.
• told me I will show sooner this time given it's my second one - great - even harder to hide.  don't plan to tell anyone until after 12-14 weeks.  that's up to 6 weeks from now.  ugh
• she calmed me and told me all my nausea and vomiting is normal and healthy.  It will subside by 14 weeks.
• I have so far gain about 1.5 pounds only although I feel so bloated.

all in all, really nice visit.  My next one at 12 week on June 17th, but first I gotta schedule my CVS.  Called the same day and got an appt on Friday June 10th.  3 more weeks

- Lei

Is second time different?

May 3, 2011 - 6 weeks preggie (size of a lentil)

Since I found out I was pregnant so early, I had no symptoms - just a little feeling between nausea and hunger. I still worked out last week - same amount and I was started to be hopeful that this time around will be different, less nausea and tiredness

well, I thought too soon. First week was great. I still did Anti-gravity yoga and even did a new Hiking Yoga for 90 minutes. All seemed fine. Second week, by Thursday April 29th, it hit me. Nausea and bloating. ugh... Isabel's bday party on May 1 was pretty hard. I needed to look good and I was pretty exhausted after, but it was so much fun.

Now I need to sleep 9 hours at night and nap during the day. I would nap for 90 min and get up feeling dazed and have all these crazy dreams. Welcome to pregnancy. Just feeling really tired. I guess my little "blueberry" - that's how big it is right now - needs a lot of nutrition and rest.

Oh well, so much for different. I guess I should enjoy. A miracle is taking place in my tummy. and on the positive side, I get to eat whatever I want. Another baby Wow - I know I wanted another but it's still a shock that it's happening.

- Lei

Those Cheap Ovulation Strips Do Work

April 23rd, 2011 - 4.5 weeks preggie

From September 2010 to Feb 2011, we just didn't prevent and I was disappointed after getting every period. Now I understand just a little bit of the anxiety of not being able to get pregnant.

In March, we decided to really try - precision helps. I was using the ovulation strip day after my period and at first I was NOT so sure it was working. 1 daily for 12 days and no positive results. I thought they were faulty, well it turned positive on April 2 or 4, I forget. hey, at least it worked. We are lucky it worked in the first month.

Also a good thing is I found a cheap way to buy these tests (40 ovulation strips and 10 pregnancy test strips - all for $10 total on Amazon free shipping). Here is link for anyone who may need these :-) http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-40-Ovulation-10-Pregnancy/dp/B001FYLNVU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1304444211&sr=1-1

- Lei

Grounded

April 20, 2011 - 4 weeks

Since I can't publicize this news until late June, I thought I still put down some of the events between now and then for future consumption :-)

I really was sure I was not. I checked on April 13, negative, and again April 17, 18th, still negative. So I told Judy we are a go and we reserved flight tickets and hotel in Miami for weekend of May 14th.

Everything changed though on April 19th when I came home and noticed the stick I discarded in the trash was facing up and had two lines on it. I took another test that morning April 19th and only waited for 30 seconds. No second line, so I threw it away in frustration. I thought perhaps now there is a second line becoz it's just been there too long, so I reread the instructions - two lines means positive even if the second line is faint. No, it couldn't be I thought. I have just been telling people in the last two days that I am not and it's just late.

So on Tuesday April 19th evening, I took another test - again two lines after about 2 minutes. I thought perhaps the test is faulty. Too bad it's past 9pm. Have to wait until Wed morning to buy the EPT one from Safeway to confirm. 8:30am Wed morning, got the test, peed on the stick, a + sign within 30 seconds. Well, it's official. I am PREGNANT! Ahhhhhhhhhh

Unfortunately, no more Miami in mid May. given I had pretty bad nausea last time, I didn't want to fly there and be a party pooper. So we cancelled the flight and hotel today Wed April 20. At least it was early enough and we were not charged any fees. oh well, looks like I am grounded for a bit. :-)

- Lei

Nihao Kids - Isabel's first day of school

Wow, time flies and she is a big girl.  Isabel's first day of school was today - It was emotional for me and pure excitement for her.

9:05am: We (Agnes and I) arrived a little late - last min preparation for the stuff she needs.  Drop off is usually between 8:30 and 9am.  Daddy had to work so could come with us since we are sticking around the area today to make sure Isabel didn't need us.

9:10am: We were out the door - she quickly scanned the room to find toys and pretty much ignored us as we left and said goodbye.  I started to cry when I walked out the door.   She didn't see me.  I didn't expect to cry.  I was fine the night before and even this morning.  I was actually worried that I wasn't affected enough.  Well, I was affected.  My little girl is grown up and for the first time left in someone else's hand outside the family.

9:30-10:30am:  Breakfast at Home Plate with Agnes.  I crank dialed the school at 9:35am and hung up realizing I was giving it enough time.

10:30-12pm:  Shopping for Isabel at Baby Gap.  Called the school for real at 11:30am to find out she never cried and has been actually helping the teacher sooth another girl that was crying.  Wow, what a good girl!

12pm-1:30pm: Lunch at Plutos.  Around 1:15pm, we dropped by Isabel's school to check on her without her knowing.   School's nap time starts at 12:30 and goes to 2:15pm.  She was sound asleep in a corner looking happy and comfy.  Weiping, the head teacher told me, she originally tried to sleep in the front room but it was too noisy as some kids didn't take naps and were playing.  She was moved to the corner of the back room and fell asleep by 12:40 pm.  What a relief for me.

2pm: I drove home to take a nap myself.  Isabel woke us all up at 6:30am this morning.  She was so excited to go to school, so I was exhausted physically and emotionally.  It was 85 degrees and hot but luckily I fell asleep until 3pm.  I called the school before I slept to remind them where I put the other bottles of water we brought.  They told me she woke up at 1:55am and was smiling.  That kid is so great and happy.

4:10pm: I arrive back at school to pick Isabel up.  Pick up time is 4-4:30pm.  I guess I was expecting her to run to me, but she didn't even notice me at first and when she did.  All she said was "I want to play some more" in Chinese.  According to the teacher, she was speaking a lot of Chinese today.  They know that's what I want to hear so will see how much it's true as she goes.  She did seem to understand more as I only spoke Chinese to her.  I let her play until 4:30 and picked up her thing.

Only one drawback today: She was so excited, she only drank half a bottle of water all day. It was so hot, I was concerned.  The teacher said she didn't want more.  I told them to insist next time she drinks at least 1-2 bottles as I think she just wanted to play.  I made her drink a whole bottle before we left for home and changed her shoes to saddles so she can cool off a bit.

She asked for music in the car and was smiling and dancing as we drove home.  What a day!  She had a blast I think.  I was relieved but almost sad that she didn't seem to miss me.  Well, that's motherhood.  I need to already start to let her go a bit.  She may be my kid but she is beginning to live her own life a little.  I am so proud.

- Lei

First day of school videos and photos

It's official.  Isabel started school

We also took a few videos for today. This one is walking into school in the morning.  She was so excited.


This was how we left her at 9:10am.  One kid was whaling in the background and 3 parents were standing behind us.  At least 2 stayed for an hour as they were worried.  Weiping, the head teacher, said she seems fine so we should go.  We didn't want to linger in case she starts to miss us so we left.

Such a little girl now

Lei

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Big girl drinks milk from a cup

We just started a few weeks ago to give her milk in a cup since she is starting school soon. She is really getting the hang of it now.

Travel Tip: How to Rent a car seat

Here are a few handy websites for things you can rent for traveling needs (baby and toddler).

http://www.travelbabees.com/

http://www.babysaway.com/products.html

http://us.zilok.com/c-700300900-rental/baby-car-seats

Lei