N-A-U-S-E-A....

Chucy is certainly letting me know she/he's doing well. The past 2 days have been pretty difficult for me with the nausea. Walking does help a bit, so I walked about 4 miles yesterday while Morgan and the girls ran their 8-miler. We also took a little hike with the guys, they love going off leash. The Preggie pops are helpful, but I still have that "hungry" yet "nothing-is-appetizing" feeling ALL DAY.

Today, was my first day off for Spring Break. Morgan came home early so we could go "pasyal"... that means take a trip to the stores. My favorite- Target, Costco, and 5 and Below. We did some investigations on a new desk to put in our bedroom so we can convert our office into a nursery. We also bought some healthy snacks with our Costco Rewards check... yay, free food!

Time to walk the guys and take them for their booster shots and nail clipping.

~rae

Chucy's First Picture...

Our first sonogram...

Today was our first sonogram. It was amazing. I started crying as soon as Dr. Padilla pointed out the little heartbeat. We talk about how the pregnancy is going and our hopes and plans all of the time, but in that moment I was struck by the scary, incredible fact that we are having a baby.

~Morgan

First Sonogram today!

After crazy traffic, and my heart pounding from a delayed Morgan, we were seen for our first sonogram. Of course the appointment was tear-filled and utterly amazing! We were able to see the sac and the little fetus. We were also able to see the flicker of the heartbeat!!! AMAZING and beyond words! Dr. Padilla gave us a due date of November 15th. So, from this point, we've graduated to a general OB/MIDWIFE!!! They provided us with a great goody bag of prenatal vitamins, nausea pops, and magazines. So fun. We've had such a wonderful experience at the Towson Fertility Center.

Belly Pic #3

Grammy Present #4

Nothing new to report...

JUST NAUSEATED!!! I feel like a blimp because all I've found to curb my nausea is food... applesauce, crackers, peanutbutter crackers... eat, eat, eat.... sigh. So the loss of control of my body continues, a welcome change--- hope this parts goes by quickly. Please, Morgan, wait until I leave to make your coffee.... blah. The smell is killing me>?!>!<@#@$%

Grammy Present #3

Happy Spring!

The past 2 days have been nausea-filled. I think it's all the wonderful smells of spring (e.g., mulch). I feel like I'm eating every 30 minutes as the nausea starts coming on. I predict I'm going to be a heifer by month 9... sigh.

As for exercise, I'm trying to figure out the right balance. Since we haven't seen our new OB/midwife yet, we're going off of studies for optimal heart rate while pregnant- looks like 140, which seems SOOO low to me. My alarm on my heart rate monitor goes off while I'm teaching kickboxing, but it's so quiet that I don't really hear it with the music playing. Hopefully when we go running, I will be able to hear it better. I'm feeling the difference with not working out as hard already... I embrace the body changes, I just want to stay healthy and be a great oven;)

Looking forward to the first sonogram in a month, and having our first visit with our OB/midwife. (We're still trying to figure out which one).

~Rae

Fighting for my family...

We had hearings today in Annapolis. They both happened to be about bills related to protections and benefits for families. I have to say that the fact that we will have a baby soon makes this work even more real for me. I am fighting for my family. I am fighting for Chucy to have a better world and for her parents to be treated fairly. To create a community where her family is seen as equal. I know that having a child will change everything. People often say that. Most of the time they mention it in reference to challenging things like not sleeping as much or not being able to just pick up and go out. But I think that the changes are so much bigger than just logistics and so much more beautiful. I already feel more connected to my wife and committed to our future together, for better or worse. And I definitely feel an even stronger sense of urgency and dedication to work that I am doing.

~Morgan

Grandma Present #2

When my mom and dad found out they were having me, they bought a stuffed Pooh doll. I still have him. He is a little worn, but very loved. Pooh was always something I liked because of that gift. I received ornaments over time and a book with stories about Winnie the Pooh for graduation. This present seems to have some inspiration from that celebratory purchase many (34) years ago.

~Morgan

But we already have stinky, little boys in the house....

We are trying to explain to Oliver and Elliot that we are going to have a new member of the family. I think they are afraid they will have to share their yummies.

~Morgan

Belly Pic #2

Scheduled our first sonagram

Rae had her bloodwork today. All is well. In fact, we have the first sonogram next Friday. I am so excited! I know Chucy will look a bit like an alien in this first picture, but we love our little alien.

I told my staff today. They were all very sweet. Our Office Manager, Kim gave me a big hug and had the greatest smile on her face. We are blessed to have such an outpouring of support from those around us. I feel really lucky. This little bean is going to have quite a welcome committee.

~Morgan

Starting off St. Paddy's with a blood draw

This morning I had another blood draw to test my hcg and progesterone levels. Pending results, we are due for our first sonogram next week. How exciting! The nurses at the fertility center have been fantastic. Today, they were excited for this blood draw asking how I've been feeling, and indicated, next week my wife could join me for our first sono. I'll call the clinic around 1pm to receive our results. Wish us luck!

~Rae

Let the hoopla begin...

We are starting to plan our trip home to Massena to see my folks this summer. That will be our first shower. Yes, I said "first". Mom Meneses will also be doing one here in Maryland in the fall. I imagine there will be others. For me it is all about celebrating this amazing adventure, this blessing. So I say, bring on the hoopla. We welcome it!

~Morgan

Blessed, Excited and Nervous!

We are still early in the pregnancy, so I find myself caught between a cautious delay in telling people combined with incredible excitement and the desire to tell everyone I see. We have started to expand the circle of friends and family who know. Just telling people gives me this sense of anxiety and elation. It is truly the most incredible thing that we are going through.

People say that pregnancy makes you see your partner in a different light. When I look at Rae and know that she is carrying our baby, that because of her our family will grow and we will experience the wonder of raising a child....I am even more in love with her.

She has been taking the physical changes pretty well. I am too happy to let the (very occasional) hormone induced crankiness bother me. We are both thrilled and beyond blessed to have so many people standing by our side on the journey.

~Morgan

Trudging along...

Yesterday I had my biweekly chiropractor appointment, ahhh. Joey, my chiropractor extraordinaire, was able to alter the table a bit due to the discomfort I felt with my chest area. OUCH! He was able to lower the abdominal section of the table to relieve pressure in that area, that was much better. Surprisingly, not much effort was necessary to accomplish a realignment. Joey barely pushed to realign! Joey said that's pretty typical with the muscles and tendons loosening up to allow more room for the baby! Every day I notice my body changing, and it's miraculous.

Today, I'm feeling about average with my energy. I continue to feel "growth" and a bloated feeling in my abdomen and my hunger pangs are coming more frequently. I'm feeling a little more nauseated today, but all is well otherwise. Tomorrow, I'm scheduled for my next bloodwork, and next week will be the first sonogram. After about another 2 weeks, the fertility clinic will be finished with their tracking of our pregnancy and we'll be seen by an OB or midwife... so begins our search!!!

~Rae

INTRODUCING....Chucy Bean Meneses-Sheets!

In less than a year we will have a baby living with us. Amazing. Scary. Wonderful. We found out less than a week ago and already it seems like we are on quite an exciting adventure. We have started to talk names. Right now, we are leaning towards either "Lucy" or "Charlie". We are the type of people who have ten different cutesy nicknames for our pugs, so of course our little "bean", as we have been calling the baby, needed one too. For now, the baby is affectionately known as "Chucy Bean".

~Morgan & Rae

Grandma Present #1

Mom Sheets has decided that Chucy needs a present every week. We rolled our eyes, but also think it is incredibly sweet!!

Guess what...we're having a baby!

Tonight we had a welcome home dinner for mom and dad after their return from the Philippines. It was also a chance to share the news with some of our family. Tita Cindy and Tito Chad brought Chucy some presents and a journal that we are using to chronicle this experience. It also has really interesting facts about the development of our little bean over the next weeks. After too much Chinese food, we even talked about the baby shower mom is looking to do in the fall.

~Rae

Bloodwork today...

We had our first bloodwork today to confirm positive pregnancy and gauge starting hormone levels. We were nervous going in just hoping that the THREE home tests were right. It was also exciting to start the process.

Belly Pic #1

Peeing on a stick changed our lives...

I attempted our first pregnancy test on Wednesday, March 3rd. According to my calendar, it was day 10 after insemination which would the earliest possible day to have a positive test. Sadly, we were negative. I was convinced it would be a positive due to all the symptoms I was experiencing. At this point, I believed it must be all psychosomatic, but how could someone make up being SO tired. At this point, I was still extremely fatigued and I was beginning to feel swollen all over. Apparently, Morgan was devastated, but I had hope that it was a false negative.




After hanging out with friends on Friday, I was convinced to test again on Saturday, March 6th. I figured, at this point, we'll know either way. So at 7:30am, I attempted test number 2. After a few seconds, I saw 2 lines emerge and I quickly ran back to bed in fear that the 2nd line would disappear OR become darker... either way, I didn't want to experience it alone. I jumped back into bed and said, "So, Morgan, um, we might be pregnant but I have to wait another 2 and a half minutes to be sure." Of course groggy (non-morning person) Morgan, was still half asleep and just yeah-yeah'ed me away. (time elapses) I run back and yell from the bathroom, "Yup, we're pregnant!" with an "I told you so" tone. That got her attention! Morgan jumped up, looked at the stick and demanded me to pee again. I told her that was unlikely considering I JUST peed. So, she filled up a glass of water and stared at me in bed until I had the sensation to go again. Finally, I was able... and again... POSITIVE! We called the Fertility Clinic and the asked me to come in for bloodwork on Monday. And of course, just to be sure, we went to Target after Cardio class and bought a digital test. After 20 seconds, the test was again positive! That's when the tears began to freely flow!



After that call, we called our close friends and family to share our disbelief and excitement. Our calls and texts were met with great joy and positive vibes. We are very lucky to have such supportive friends and family and our little baby will be so fortunate to grow up with amazing people.

~Rae