I'm a pretty big wimp when it comes to being sick because I'm hardly ever sick, so the idea of a first trimester of nausea totally horrified me. Luckily, God also knows I'm a wimp and he blessed me with a wonderful first trimester. I hiked Mt. Timp and Angel's Landing around weeks 5-7. I had a little bit of nausea now and then (mostly just when I was hungry, which was an easy fix) and missed no work or class. With 40-hr work weeks, 5 classes, and 2 callings I was very very thankful for that. My cravings mainly consisted of apples, tomatoes (my father-in-law's garden tomatoes to be more specific), chewy sour candy, and the hot hot sauce from Chipotle. I wasn't demanding cheeseburgers or cupcakes at absurd hours or all hours...which James says don't count as "cravings" anyway since junk like that always sounds good to everyone all the time-pregnant or not.
Second trimester-which is rapidly coming to a close-has introduced me to those attractive maternity pants and a bit of heartburn. The heartburn has not stopped me from eating the hot hot sauce from Chipotle, however. I just carry TUMS with me now. We had a brief scare after my 20-week scan that baby girl might have a clubbed left foot, but after a follow-up ultrasound it was determined that she doesn't after all. No cravings now, no nausea, less intense exercising, and more huffing and puffing when I bend over to put on socks and shoes. Sleeping on my side is not my favorite, but feeling her kick and having James feel her kick is.
An added bonus of this already great pregnancy has been free ultrasound screening in my ultrasound lab on Fridays. My classmates have loved scanning me and watching baby grow. My instructor was actually the one to confirm the gender, and was disappointed to find out she's not a boy, because he thought we should use the name "Diesel." No offense, but no. Ew. No.
I will be quitting my job at Primary Children's the first week of January and will only have one class next semester (and it happens to be Obstetrics haha...how coincidental) so you could say I'm taking it easier, but I'm not. I'll be doing around 40-hr clinical weeks scanning real patients and learning from real sonographers. I'll be on my feet nonstop and most assuredly very large and uncomfortable.
The great part about the long weeks ahead is that both the clinical supervisor and program director have allowed me to front load my clinical hours so when the baby comes I can take some time off. All my classmates will work 24-hr weeks but I'll do more so I really can take it easy-or easier-when baby McKean makes her debut. She's due March 15, FYI, which I think sounds like a perfect day to be born.
I apologize if any of you have wanted to see pictures. I love seeing pictures of everyone elses' pregnant bellies, but I'm not such a huge fan of taking selfies of my own, I did have James take a few though.
At 20 weeks when I felt like I kind of starting showing a little:
At 22 weeks when I wasn't showing much more but I bought this new shirt and wanted to take a picture in it:
With recent death in my family I am daily grateful for this baby and the upcoming miracle of her birth. It has been a reason to rejoice and a wonderful pregnancy so far. James and I are so stoked to be exhausted, overwhelmed, and completely infatuated new parents in a few short months. Here's to the third and final trimester!!!
