Excuse my complaining...

Well, I've been meaning to blog for quite some time, as always. I had an experience yesterday from a wonderful friend that is so worth blogging about...

First things first, yes! We are pregnant with little boy #2! We are slightly disappointed no girly girl is coming and it is still beyond my comprehension to imagine my family with 2 little boys! However, we are so excited nonetheless. I have several friends who have 2 boys and several friends who have just entered the 2 kids world that I am learning lots from, except for what to name this little guy.

Pregnancy #1(West): 1st trimester = exhausted. I could have slept 24 hours a day and still been tired. 2nd Trimester= nausea. I only threw up a few times. 3rd Trimester = my honeymoon trimester. I felt awesome and enjoyed spinning to get rid of some of my water. My torso is so long that my stomach doesn't project outwards as much as you other ladies. Don't envy me, my behind and hips pack on the excess, but it does make for a more comfy trimester. However, during the 3rd trimester, I was terrified to let that baby come out.

Pregnancy #2 (boy, name TBD): 1st trimester: exhausted and puking. 2nd trimester: still puking! I finally went on a prescription because I just could not handle how much I was throwing up. Somehow with this baby, though, we are so much more excited because we have little Weston to show what we could possibly have at the end of this pregnancy. Baby #2 is growing right on track and I have a wonderful Dr. this time. With West, my placenta was calcified. That means the placenta stopped giving him nutrients and acted as if I was really overdue when I was actually induced a week early. So we will be doing extra ultrasounds and stress tests throughout the last trimester. I am 20 weeks and my stomach isn't as big as it was with West, however, still gaining everywhere else, yippee. But I'm not nearly as emotional or depressed as I was with Weston and it seems to be flying by! I am due March 12.

Now onto not so fun news to explain why I have been complaining via facebook about the gluten-free diet. I mentioned how Weston was getting tested for Celiac Disease, which is where your body cannot process gluten. I really doubted he had it, but his blood test came back "elevated". The NP said since his white count is so low they cannot do a biopsy to officially diagnose the disease, but would like me to put him on a gluten-free diet for the next 2.5 months until his next appointment to see how his growth will or will not change. So I thought it would take me a full week to get my act together, but we are already in full swing gluten-free. It bites. I spent a long Wednesday morning spending money we don't have at the grocery store purchasing the gluten-free meal plan I created. It takes a lot more planning to plan not just dinners, but also breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I spent all of yesterday cleaning dishes and recleaning them as I cooked and prepped many gluten-free ideas.

Excuse my impatience for those people who say, it's not so bad, bla bla bla...The NP who called, having no kids of her own, said it perfectly as she overheard my stifling sniffles, "I know this is the last thing you wanted to hear and deal with on top of all of his other medical problems." I wanted to hug her to thank her for knowing exactly what I have been thinking.

Grateful for my family: Growing up, I had the kind of mom who knew how to handle every one of my life's minuscule problems. She still does. However, she now has raised me to be able to handle these things on my own. She hasn't given me much advice and has been out of town here and there so I have been dying to talk to her. However, she comforts and listens and supports and gives my the spiritual direction I sometimes lack. I have felt her guidance without talking to her this week that she raised me to be a half, poor version of her :) I can't believe how quickly I have gotten my information together without even attending the nutrition classes yet and I believe that is her example and preparation and of course of lot of Heavenly help.

I also have the best siblings in the world. Many people might think 6 kids are too many, but they are my absolute best friends and I am grateful to parents for giving me them to continually listen to me complain!

Grateful for my friends: I had a friend immediately call me when she found out on fb about the issues. Yesterday, West saw another friend and her daughter walk by so he was already halfway out the door to say hi. I was completely embarrassed by my appearance and just really worn out. I was wearing sweats and hadn't even combed my hair that day. I insisted to her that I had showered and to excuse my appearance, being covered in dough and other cooking messes. She caught me at a weak, exhausted moment as I began to cry and tell her my frustrations. She hugged me and was so sweet, of course. Then I tried to get Weston to eat leftovers from our gluten-free meal 2 nights ago (spaghetti squash, quinoa meatballs, and homemade marinara), but he refused since he declared the first time he encountered it that "This all looks really yucky." Get used to it buddy. So he had an omelet and green beans :) Doug came home and somehow the tears surfaced again as I apologized for the mess even though I really had been cleaning up after myself and Weston all day. He hugged me and told me not to worry about it because that's the kind of husband he is. Weston thinks it's a game when I try to get hugs from him, and, thus, now refuses to do so. When he saw I was crying though, he made me come over and receive a hug, because that's the kind of kid he is.

As I prepped myself in the mirror for a leadership meeting, Weston was on the toilet (YES! He's finally potty trained!! Despite all the digestive problems!) and he poked his head out and smiled at me. I laughed and he said, "You're not sad anymore?" I told him no because he had given me a hug and those always make me happy.

Then the doorbell rang. We opened the door and my sweet friend (I just know it was her) had gone straight to the store and left 2 bags full of gluten-free treats, breads, mixes, cereal, etc. Oh the tears really started to flow then!!

I know all this gluten-free stuff isn't so bad, it is just super overwhelming especially to a pregnant lady who hasn't felt like cooking for the last 4.5 months. My attitude is still struggling, but I am surrounded by wonderful people in family and friends and could not ask for a better life in all reality.

Now if you didn't read over any of this or if you did, congrats! - But here are some pics from the last few months highlighting my cute family.