I spend a lot of my non-working hours sleeping. I don’t have any morning sickness, I’m just tired. At church yesterday, I could barely stand through some of the mass. I have to sit down; I don’t have any stamina.
We had an ultrasound on Friday. With every ultrasound, Dean and I are clutching hands, our hearts pounding. It’s eery how your emotions can tip-toe between happiness and despair. Because we’ve been there around this same timeframe. A healthy baby with a flickering heartbeat one week, then a no more baby the following week. It is gut-wrenching, I want the world to swallow me up, kind of pain.
I stared at our obstetrician, trying to read her face as she looked at the monitor, then she turned the monitor towards us and said, “There’s the heartbeat.” Tears rolled down the sides of my face. For us, every confirmation of a healthy baby is like the biggest milestone in our lives. The baby is 9 weeks as of Friday. Thank you to everyone for all of your prayers and good thoughts. Your support means the world to us.
Have you read the heart-warming story of Saroo Brierley? Born in poverty in India, five-year-old Saroo and his older brother went to the train station to collect fallen pocket change. They were separated and unbeknownst to Saroo his older brother ended up getting killed by an oncoming train. Saroo hopped onto a train trying in vain to find his brother, only to have the train take him hundreds of miles away from his hometown. He was taken in by an orphanage and adopted by a family in Australia, but he never lost out hope that he would one day find his family.
Make sure you have tissues on-hand!
This is the 3 minute Google clip, advertising Google Earth which was the app Saroo utilized to help him trace his runaway journey.
Here is a detailed 28 minute segment featuring Saroo’s birth mother and adopted mother meeting each other on Sixty Minutes.
I loved seeing the heartbeat in the first trimester and you should be able to hear it too on the doppler monitor. And by 12 weeks, it will look like a miniature baby inside of you. Can you tell, I know and loved each step of the week? Seriously, huge congrats and just so happy for you both!! 🙂
thanks so much janine. baby steps for baby!
May you and your baby continue to be healthy – I’m sure you even welcome the exhaustion as a good sign. And that video was amazing – it’s so nice to hear about happy reunions.
thank you so much dana. given our history, i treasure every single day with this baby.
I’m so happy for you Catherine! If we listen to our bodies, they tell us what we need and it sounds like yours is telling you to rest and slow down. Do you have one of those heart monitors you can use at home? I’m praying for continued health and strength for you and your little one!
thank you so much melissa! i am definitely taking rest and relaxation to a whole new level. i am so very thankful for your prayers!!!
Ack, I totally can’t handle this video! Amazing. So happy to hear about the healthy ultrasound. That’s so wonderful.
thanks tamara. oh goodness, that video just made me weep and weep for joy!
I’m so happy for you Catherine! Continuing to pray and think good thoughts for you!! That video made me cry! It was amazing! How wonderful he was able to be reunited with his birth family!
michelle, i am so appreciative for your prayers. this little bean is just swimming along because of all the positive thoughts. THANK YOU!
I didn’t realize I was holding my breath reading this post until you mentioned the heartbeat. I’m continuing to send good thoughts your way!
thank you so much kate for all of your good thoughts for the baby. it’s giving you a little wave and a swim around right now.
Prayers for your and your hubby.
I am hoping for a reunion with my birth mother someday.
thank you so much patrick. i’d love to hear the story of your birth. you must blog about it and tell your truth!
We think of you all the time and talk about you frequently. So relieved to know you had another successful ultrasound. There is nothing like that heartbeat, and in your case getting to hear it is so deserved.-The Dose Girls
thank you so much ashley and lisa! seriously every single day with this baby is a blessing. i don’t take any of it for granted. when i become a mom, my mantra will be “no complaints” because of everything it took to get to that point.
Continuing to blanket you and Dean and your baby with prayers. Please rest and sleep when your body tells you to! Take care, my friend!
haha mo! i eye dean jealously every night while he has a glass of wine with dinner, but teetotaling is totally worth it! thank you for your prayers.
also, i put this book in my amazon cart. it’s a scratch and sniff wine guide by a sommelier.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0544005031/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
That book is a perfect stocking stuffer for my husband. Thanks to Amazon Prime, I will have it in two days!
Very happy for you. I’ll keep praying for you guys. I remember those hold your breath moments. Glad you’re able to exhale – joyously!
i can’t describe how grateful i am for your prayers, cam. thank you for your support. every day with this baby is a blessing.
What a beautiful post Catherine! Blessings to you and your husband! Praying for a beautiful, healthy, full-term baby!! And an easy and healthy pregnancy AND labor/delivery for you! Thanks for sharing your story and I will definitely grab the tissue box before reading the clip about Saroo! Have a wonderful week!
michell, i know you’ve got my baby’s back with your wonderful prayers. i am so so very thankful. i know i’ve got such a supportive blogging community praying for me. i am truly blessed!!!
Hey Catherine! Glad for the good news. We continue to pray!
alison, you are so kind. many many thanks for your prayers. the little bean is giving you a happy wave right now!
What a heartwarming post. I can’t imagine your joy when hearing your baby’s heartbeat. Continuing to pray for you and your little one. I don’t think I could read about Saroo Brierley right now; I’m not in the mood to cry.
thank you so much for your prayers! i know they are helping this pregnancy along. baby steps for baby!
Here are huge hugs and prayers that your baby and you continue to hear the heartbeats. I remember my appointment…when there wasn’t one…and so very very much feel your pain 🙁
And then, when I was 40 (not that you will be 40 because obviously there were tons of other things in my life before then like NOT TRYING for a baby for years and years and years) BOOM. Baby. And now, 4 year old. Time flies.
I hope that does not sound dismissive and instead sounds encouraging as it’s meant to. Because it’s meant to, I promise. Lots and lots of hugs your way and wow. Joy. So much joy. <3
thank you, kristi, i am trying to stay positive and really hoping for the best for my little bun in the oven. my first actual prenatal visit tomorrow and another ultrasound. i swear with each ultrasound, i am on the verge of having a heart attack.
OMG, Catherine! SO very exciting!!! CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS to you! I understand that this must all be so incredibly overwhelming from an emotional standpoint, but I hope that you allow yourselves the opportunity to feel that unimaginable joy that ultrasounds and heartbeats must make you feel 🙂 SO happy for you both and this amazing news.
Good lord; that video just made me incredibly weepy. In the best way! What a remarkable story. XOXO
thank you so much charlotte, yes, we are over the moon excited for this baby as we were for the others. but i am willing this one to be birthed! thank you for your support during this journey.