Oh Baby!

Breaking news... Team Parks has drafted a brand new player. The contracts are in the works, but here are the stats.

Expected date of "contraction": March 10th

Gender: Unknown for another 8 or 9 weeks

Weeks in contract: 11 1/2

Weakness: Makes mom VERY morning sick

Strength: Doctor claims baby is an expert wiggler

Biggest fans: Ashlyn and Amber Tucker (Aub's sisters)

I thought I would update you all on the pregnancy... I had my first doctor's appointment on Monday with Dr. Anderson. I did some serious research before picking a doctor. Many of the doctors here in Provo have a bad reputation for treating women like products in a birth factory. Matt and I are both VERY impressed with the doctor. He is very well recognized both for his clincal skills and his bedside manner.

Dr. Anderson did an ultrasound in the office and determined the baby is very healthy and very wiggly! The baby is moving like crazy... legs kicking, arms flailing (although I can't say I feel it yet). Matt has already determined the baby has my "can't-sit-still" personality. The baby is measuring a week bigger than what the conception chart says. While I am 11 weeks, the baby is measuring 12. My due date is still set for March 10th, although it might get changed after my 20-week ultrasound. Seeing that cute little baby and hearing the heartbeat was one of the coolest experiences I think I have ever had. For the first time it really hit me that it really is a baby growing inside me, not a parasite. I instantly felt the "mother-bear," "baby-protector," "I'm-a-mommy" feelings surge through me. Matt was so excited to see the baby on the screen, he couldn't help but smile all day. What a neat experience!

The morning sickness -- it is getting better, but definitely not gone. I have been taking a high dose anti-nausea pill originally created for cancer patients... aka, Zofran. The drug is outrageously expensive and very few insurance companies will cover it, but Dr. Anderson, knowing I work in the ICU, got me the goods for a very affordable price. I can assure you I will never get pregnant without full access to Zofran again! I am now able to put on pants and mascara for the first time in a month... and Matt only has to wake up once during the night to feed me, instead of every hour. I will take the major headaches (side effect) over the extreme barfing events.

I am hoping to return to work in the ICU within the next 2 weeks (I have been way too sick to work there for the last month). All in all baby and I are healthy and growing. I have already gained 7 pounds... which is very good news! My belly keeps expanding, and my bladder continues to "shrink". People keep telling me the extreme exhaustion will depart for phase 2, but that's hard to believe. I should only have 2 more weeks of barfing and only 8 or 9 weeks until we know if its a boy or a girl. We will keep you posted!