Clementine

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Stouts, Party of Three

I'm not exactly sure how to begin such an entry as this. It is hard to describe the thoughts and feelings Sean and I have shared over the last three months, which happen to be the first three months of our little child's life inside me. It is truly an honor that we will never take for granted to have been blessed with this miracle.

My senior year of high school I became very sick. While the illness was cured and I have had no residual symptoms that I am aware of, I was left wondering if the illness would affect my ability to carry children. When I asked doctors about it, they didn't seem too concerned, but also said that I wouldn't really know until I tried. So when thoughts of starting a family kept coming to me randomly throughout the day, I brought it up with Sean. We talked about it literally every night, and multiple times throughout the day, for about a month. We prayed and fasted about it and both felt peaceful. I thought that since we were feeling such strong promptings just three months into our marriage, that maybe it would be hard for me to get pregnant, so it would be a good idea to start trying early. How very wrong I was. One week later...I had a positive pregnancy test. Actually I had three positive tests...I didn't trust the first one, or the second.

I was very nervous to tell everyone at work because I had literally been working there for just over a month. But, they were the first to know because I am exposed to a lot of X-rays and harmful drugs and chemicals that my co workers needed to be aware of.

The First Trimester:

For the first 3 1/2 weeks, I had no symptoms. In fact, I kept wondering if I was even pregnant. No nausea, no lack of energy, no weird food habits. Normal. Then one morning I woke up and called in sick from work because I thought I had the stomach flu. I was so nauseous and exhausted. The thought of food made me sick, especially salty foods. I felt that way for the entire day, and the next day. And...the day after that. Well, it actually never really went away at all :)  It may sound crazy, but at first I was actually excited to feel awful, it meant that something really was growing and developing inside me! However, about two weeks into it, I felt as though it would never end. Sean had to drag me out of bed every morning because I couldn't just not go to work.  When I would get home from work around 3:30pm, Sean would make us dinner while I napped on the couch. He would wake me up to eat and then I would go to bed. One night I fell asleep at 5:30pm, Sean woke me up to move me to bed, and I didn't wake up till 6am the next morning. I had several blessings from Sean that I would be able to continue to work and fulfill my responsibilities, and I think we were truly blessed because of that. Sean is the most patient and loving husband. He really is my hero.

One day, during General Conference weekend I didn't feel sick and food sounded good. I cried. Not out of joy, but because I thought it meant something was wrong with our baby. I was having some cramps (most likely due to the severe constipation which must be mentioned but doesn't need any detail) and I was worried I was having a miscarriage. I cried all night, well till at least 3am.  I can't even imagine what Sean was thinking. His wife who had been complaining about nausea and praying for it to go away for the last few weeks, was now crying her eyes out in bed because she felt good. It was a short lived worry of mine however, because I soon began to feel nauseous again.

It gets better. While I still feel nauseous, I feel a million and one times better than I did just one week ago. I'm starting to get energy again and while some days are better and others,I el as though I can be myself again. While this first trimester has not been easy, Sean and I are grateful EVERY DAY for our little bean. Even when I don't feel good, Sean makes me laugh and I know that this short and very temporary stage is completely worth it.

Some stories that make us laugh:

One night I was craving French dip sandwiches. I had to have them. We went to the store got enough supplies for a few nights and came home and made them. The next day the smell, the sight, and even the thought of French dip sandwiches sounded so revolting I made Sean eat his behind our cupboard while I ate cottage cheese and peaches for dinner.

A few weeks ago I wanted fast food fried chicken and mashed potatoes very desperately. We decided to go to Pop Eyes. On our way, I saw a KFC which was not even two blocks from Pop Eyes, but the thought of the extra two blocks was too much. We turned into the KFC.

I have been quite emotional. Poor Sean. One night, for example, I was coming out of the kitchen and Sean was sitting on the couch. He looked up at me and smiled and I thought he was mad at me. I cried in our bedroom for like 20 minutes before realizing how ridiculous I was.

Because I haven't felt really awesome, our weekends generally consist of sleeping in, watching 5-6 episodes of Boy Meets World, and then napping :)

Last but not least. I have to pee a lot. I had to before I was pregnant so this is nothing new, I just now have an excuse. Last night I was getting up at about 2am to use the facilities. I didn't have my glasses on (I'm blind) and I didn't turn the light on. Double whammy. As the toilet was flushing I was searching for the sink and suddenly I felt something hit my hand and then heard a splash into the toilet. Yes...I flushed my hairspray lid down the toilet. While we are not quite to the laughing stages of this (we only have one toilet and now it doesn't work), I'm sure one day we will look back and laugh.  

Our little bean at 7 weeks and 1 day. Due Date: May 11, 2014 - Mother's Day

Me at 2 months. I'm getting very big very fast :)

Happy Halloween!

Coming this May...






The man of my dreams! I can't wait to be a parent with this guy!

A Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

It has been a while since I last posted. Not because our lives became boring, but just the opposite. A LOT has happened. For those of you reading this blog, you most likely already know that Sean and I are expecting our first child!!!!!!! We are beyond words when it comes to how happy, excited, honored, and privileged we feel. However, before I write about the first trimester and my pregnancy thus far, I must catch up on all the "other" things that have been going on. Because so much has happened...I will mainly just be posting pictures (hence the title).

Manny's: Yes. Sean goes to a barber named Manny to cut his hair. We like Manny, and we are trying to get him to listen to the missionaries.


Sean always comes out of Manny's with a nice comb over. We generally end up "re-cutting" his hair when we get home :) 
Took a ride on the train in Houston while celebrating Nora at her baby blessing

Saw this giant, nasty rat thing 

At a park in Houston. I can't remember the name at the moment

My dad came to visit for just a few hours while he was here on business. It was SO fun to see him!

Two weeks later...my mom and brother came with my dad for the entire weekend!


My dad meditating in Kempner Park to "predict" the name of our baby. He came up with Orvis. I think I'll pass :)







Bear with the log...

Sean tried to be as cool as Bear, didn't quite make it. He said his "pants were too tight."

My mom tried to be Sean...

My dad attempted to try getting as far as my mom. 

I didn't even try. 

PERFECT DAY!

Bear found a coconut. I think the neighbors hated us for hammering on it for a full hour.



I could post endless pictures of the past few weeks, but I won't. These are just the highlights for me.