It's Positive! May 14, 2014
I'm pregnant! Jake and I went on a bike ride around the neighborhood after dinner and when we got home I decided, what the heck I'll take a pregnancy test. I had been waiting for my monthly cycle and didn't feel like waiting until the next morning to take the test. I quickly noticed the two pink lines and told Jake it was positive. I don't remember exactly what he said, but he didn't show a lot of excitement. I quickly realized he was trying not to show too much emotion since I had a miscarriage earlier this year.
7 Weeks (May 29, 2014)
Incredibly amazing experience to hear the baby's heartbeat at 7 weeks pregnant! My first pregnancy ended at 7 weeks in January of this year, so this was an amazing moment.
9 Weeks (6/19/14)
It's amazing how much baby has already grown! Baby Kissel has gone from looking like a little dot to the shape of a little tadpole.
10 Weeks (6/24/14)
I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous/apprehensive/unsure about my ability to do all of this. I have been feeling really defeated lately. I'm sick all the time and I have no energy. I can't keep up with my always-on-the-go husband, housework, grad school, etc. I'm excited on the inside, but I have a hard time acting excited about my pregnancy because it is making me sooo sick. So far, weeks 5-9 have been the worst (being in a constant state of nausea and fatigue and throwing up 1-4 times a day). I'm also on the maximum does of progesterone since I had a miscarriage earlier this year. Progesterone = Drowsiness. I am tired all. the. time. Thoughts of my miscarriage have lingered in my mind since I found out I am pregnant. I definitely feel a sense of relief to have made it to double digits. Continuing to pray for a healthy baby...
11 Weeks (7/1/14)
I was definitely feeling too ambitious when I registered for a full load of grad school this summer. If I am not working on school work, the thought of it is lingering over me. I am ready to be done (I graduate in December)! If only I knew I was going to be feeling so sick this summer! Not sure if I would have still registered for a full load...although a big part of me thinks I still would have to be able to graduate before the babe arrives. Feeling overwhelmed...
13 Weeks (7/17/14)
I think I am over the sickness hump in regards to the morning sickness/nausea. It hasn't necessarily gone away completely, but I don't feel like I am battling it all the time anymore. I am mostly good as long as I keep a little food in my tummy at all times. I'm no longer taking the progesterone and I think that has also helped boost my energy level. I cancelled my ultrasound appointment for today and just heard the baby's heartbeat with the doppler. Every time I hear that heart beat I have an oh-my-gosh-im-really-having-a-baby moment! It is pretty amazing, crazy, awesome, scary, fun! And for the first belly shot:
14 Weeks (7/24/14)
I'm back to being sick, but this time I don't think it is pregnancy related. Most of the day today I couldn't even suck on crushed ice or eat one saltine cracker without throwing it up. I have successfully just eaten a grilled cheese sandwich, so I must be getting over a 24 hour bug or something! According to my scale I've lost 16 pounds since I found out I was pregnant. Not quite the weight change I was expecting (wrong direction!). I have a feeling that soon I will starting gaining because I definitely think I'm starting to show a little.
16 Weeks (8/5/14)
Finished one summer class last night. One final exam tonight and a presentation tomorrow are the only things standing between me and the end of summer semester. Praise the Lord! I never thought this week would come...these final projects have been looming over my head for months and I'm finally wrapping it all up! Looking forward to a week of R&R at the beach next week. I will finally be able to start thinking about baby! I've weaned myself off of needing to eat saltine crackers in bed in the mornings to help with nausea. My baby bump is starting to show itself. Looking forward to finding out if baby is a boy or girl (in a couple weeks)!
17 Weeks (8/12/14)
So happy to have wrapped up the summer semester and enjoy a beach vacation with the family! Thankful my bathing suits still fit!
18 Weeks (8/21/14)
It's a girl! Jake and I got to see the baby during our ultrasound this afternoon. She has grown so much in the past 9 weeks (since our last ultrasound) and now looks like a baby. It was so amazing to see her kicking around and looking healthy! So thankful!
21 Weeks (9/9/14)
22 Weeks (9/21/14)
This pregnancy is flying by way to quickly!! I can't believe it is already half way over. I'm really enjoying being pregnant. I feel great and am sleeping pretty well. I can now feel little baby girl moving. The feeling of her move is so surreal. I catch myself smiling when I feel her. A family with a newborn girl came into church this morning and sat right in front of Jake and I. I was overcome with joy and thankfulness seeing that sweet little baby and knowing that God has blessed me with a little girl and the gift of motherhood.
We had the anatomy scan at 21 weeks and so far everything looks great. We have to go back to finish the scan in a couple weeks because they couldn't see the spine and certain views of the heart because of the baby's position.
23 Weeks (9/27/14)
Jake and I went on a mini-vaca...We spent a couple nights in the Dallas area with Jeff and Susan and then met up with John and Alma in Cozumel for a long weekend! I was a little worried about leaving the country while pregnant, but I didn't have any problems at all! We had a really great trip!
24 Weeks
25 Weeks (10/9/14)
We celebrated our 4th anniversary by taking a trip to Nashville to visit friends and enjoy some amazing hospitality, eat lots of good food, attend a beautiful wedding, sleep in, and enjoy a much needed date night. Our date night included good shopping, great food, a relaxing pedicure (for both of us!), and lots of much needed quality time together. I'm so thankful for this time with Jake!
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Jake and I at Tate's wedding in the Nashville area (10/12/14)
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10/13/14
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26 Weeks
Jake and I have finally decided to do some home renovations! We've been talking about potential house projects ever since we moved into the house in 2012. We are ripping up the carpet downstairs, putting hardwoods throughout the 1st floor and updating the kitchen with new appliances, counter tops, cabinet hardware, and paint. We are excited to finally be making our house a home and really making it the way we want it. Since we will be gutting the kitchen, we are moving in with my parents until the project is complete! Very thankful for their willingness to let us move in!
My parents celebrated their 30th anniversary in September of this year, so Seth, Caleb, Emily, Jake and I threw them a party! Due to everyone's crazy schedule, we didn't have the party until mid October and it was lots of fun!
30 Weeks (11/11/14)
Wow...life has been CRAZY this past month (I last posted at 26 weeks). We are still moved out of our house and the projects are moving along. We've encountered some delays and probably won't be moved back in until the first week of December. Work has kept me extremely busy (NightinGala was last weekend!) and I'm in the thick of the semester with grad school. A few weekends ago we went on a retreat as adult guests to Young Life Camp in Windy Gap, NC with our huddle. Today, I took a day off of work and had a pregnancy massage and enjoyed some much needed time to myself. This weekend, mom and I are driving to Charlotte for Lauren's baby shower. Can't wait to see Katie and Lauren!
31 Weeks
Jake and I wrapped up a 5-week birthing class at the hospital this week. We are both really glad we took the class and feel like it has prepared us in many ways! My favorite class session was on relaxation techniques like deep breathing and massage.
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| Jake practicing a diaper change |
Can you tell this grey dress has been a favorite of mine throughout the pregnancy? It's perfect for work and is the best $10 I've spent in a long time...
33 Weeks and 6 Days (12/8/14)
Abigail is a healthy baby measuring ahead of schedule! She is measuring like a 36 weeker, and is around 6.6 pounds (according to ultrasound estimate). Her overall size is around the 82 percentile and her head and belly are both large. She is currently frank breech, so I hope she flips around in the next couple of weeks! Look at that little foot!
Jake and I were showered with lots of love this past week...We spent Thanksgiving weekend in Indiana and had a family baby shower up there. We've also had baby showers this week at the College of Nursing, at ModernTech, and at my parents' house. Our supply of of baby goods went from zero to plenty very quickly! We feel very blessed and are so thankful for the generosity of family, friends, and co-workers!
34 Weeks
I graduated from UT with my masters in human resource management on Dec. 12, 2014! Yay! So glad to be DONE with grad school...just in time for baby! :-)
Wrapping up my final semester + being really busy at work (the Nursing Report annual magazine is now complete!) + moving back into our house after lots of renovations + being 34 weeks pregnant = Exhaustion and this picture:
Still squeezing into some pre-pregnancy tops...
35 Weeks (12/18/14)
Look at that face! Abigail is still measuring ahead of schedule...she is around 7.8 pounds, is in the 90th percentile in overall size, and is measuring like a 38 weeker. She is still breech.
It's amazing what people will say to you when you are pregnant...I've heard lots of interesting comments...some fun and encouraging...others, not so much. I'm not sure why people think it is ok to make comments about how big you look! When is that ever acceptable??
36 Weeks
Merry Christmas! :-)
37 Weeks (12/31/14)
Happy New Year! I went to the doctor this morning and little Abigail is still breech. I'm scheduled to have an external version and be induced (if the version is successful) next week. Yes...NEXT WEEK. Wow...where has the time gone? Phew.
I am feeling really good still...it is becoming more and more difficult to put on shoes, roll over, get out of bed, and move in general. I am still really enjoying being pregnant, though. I feel like I am protecting Abigail as she is safe in my womb and has not yet entered our depraved world. I am overcome with emotions as I think about becoming a mom, Jake becoming a dad, and potentially meeting my daughter in a week from now. I know that I don't even realize how much our life is about to change and I am still overcome with thankfulness for the blessing of a child.
38 Weeks (1/7/15)
Happy birthday Abigail Jane Kissel!!!
Born 1/7/15 I 4:51pm I 8 lb 2 oz I 21 inches
Dr. Roberts was successfully able to turn Abigail from a breech position through an external version. Jake and I arrived at the hospital at 7am and reported to triage. I was really nervous about the version because I wasn't sure if it would work, there is a slight risk to the baby, and I heard it is pretty painful. I was given some medicine to relax my uterus and stomach, which made me really loopy. The version didn't take long, but it definitely was very painful! The doctor broke my water after Abigail was turned and I honestly couldn't believe we were having a baby that day! We were settled in our labor and delivery room by 9 am and Abigail was born that afternoon at 4:51. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better experience...it went so well and the hospital staff and facility were great! After the version, most of my fears about labor and delivery disappeared...I felt like I was in really good hands and I honestly couldn't believe the version actually worked and all of this was actually happening! Seeing Abigail for the first time was very surreal...she is so beautiful!
Can you see the apprehension and anticipation on my face? :-)
Breech legs...
Proud Daddy!
First family photo!
Heading home!
1 Week Postpartum (1/14/15)
This past week has been incredible! I've had little sleep and am extremely emotional, but have experienced some of the sweetest moments of my life with my husband and baby girl. I can't even find the words to describe the joy and love that I am experiencing! It consistently brings me to tears frequently throughout the day...I'm super mushy and emotional right now! We are also being showered with love from family and friends, which is such a blessing! I am adjusting to life of mommyhood and enjoying each moment with my precious girl. I absolutely love watching Jake interact with Abigail...he is already such a great Dad already and he loves his baby girl so much! Right now we are praying for a few things...Abigail has some appointments coming up at Children's hospital to check on her spine, hearing, and hips. Praying that everything looks normal!
Pictures from her first doctors appointment and spinal appointment at Children's hospital...
Loved reading about your pregnancy journey and your precious baby girl.
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