Baby #4!!!!

We are so excited that our family is growing again!!!  We will be welcoming baby #4 sometime early September!!!  We found out that we were pregnant at the very end of December (on the 27th when we were in Atlanta actually!) and it is hard to believe that we are now in the middle of April and we are halfway there!!  The first trimester I was definitely tired and had major food aversions (basically nothing sounded good to me) and I definitely did not feel like cooking at all.  But, really, who ever really feels like cooking?!?  My energy has definitely come back since the second trimester where I don't require a daily nap (thank goodness that Joseph and Ella are really good about having quiet time in their room while Julia naps) but I do still find myself asleep on the couch often by 8:30 p.m.  I haven't really been craving anything real specific or constant, although since Lent has been over and I gave up desserts during it, I definitely have a hard time passing up any sweet that comes my way now!  

I found a doctor about 5 miles from our home and he has been great so far.  I found him on yelp and he received great reviews especially in the area of vbacs and although I have always preferred having female doctors, we have been very happy with him.  I'll deliver at Pomerado hospital which is also just 5 miles from us so that will be convenient!!  This time around I didn't see a specialist, but I did take progesterone for the first 14 weeks  and a baby aspirin for first 16 weeks and thankfully the baby has looked healthy from the first appointment.  

I started feeling fluttering a little before 17 weeks and now at over 20 weeks am feeling the baby move quite a bit. I definitely feel him/her move more at night when it is quiet since I am constantly moving all day.  Those movements seriously are the best feelings in the world!!

First appointment on January 28th at almost 8 weeks

Heartbeat was 160

Second appointment on February 25th at 11 weeks and 2 days-the physician's assistant didn't listen to the heartbeat count this time but saw it moving and said everything looked great.

I had a third appointment on March 25th and they didn't do an ultrasound but the heartbeat was in the 130s.  

 I had my 20 week ultrasound on Thursday, April 21st at Del Mar Obstetrics-my doctor sent me here so they could do the full, detailed anatomy scan since he doesn't have the equipment to do so.  Baby looks great and all is healthy but he or she is measuring big (21 weeks and 4 days!!) so 9 days ahead of due date.  My doctor isn't concerned since he/she is measuring big all around and doesn't feel the need to change the due date now but we'll just continue to watch how big he or she gets!

Heartbeat was 151 today.

We have decided to find out the gender this time around.  As much as I loved not finding out with Julia and keeping it a surprise, we figured that the more planned we are this time around, the better it will be for our family and I think we'll both need a little bit of time to process if we have three girls who will all be so close in age!!!!  Rich was unable to be at the appointment on the 21st since he had some unexpected travel come up, so I didn't look when the tech was looking at the gender and she then put a picture in an envelope which is currently on our bulletin board!!!!  We are going to open it tonight when he gets home!!  I have had to wait over 24 hours with the envelope just staring at me but I've stayed strong and just can't wait to find out tonight!!  I dreamt girl last night (obviously it is on my mind) but my gut still says boy, but really I think it is only saying that to make Joseph and Rich extra happy! Either way we are super excited and just so thankful that this sweet baby is healthy!! 

I definitely feel like my belly is big for 20 weeks!!  My weight gain is right on track with the other three pregnancies but I was actually a bit thinner prior to getting pregnant this time around than I had been before so I know I have put on more weight but I definitely feel like my belly is much bigger than it was with the others!! Especially after seeing Lindsay this past weekend when basically our bellies were the same size and she only has 6 weeks to go!!  

 This collage proves that I am big!!  Look at the difference between Joseph (in the reddish tank top taken at 21 weeks) and now (taken at 20 weeks, 2 days)!!  Oh my goodness!!  This collage also proves that I officially have become awful at taking pictures of my belly...this is the first picture during this pregnancy but it is obvious from the collage that I didn't do a very good job while pregnant with Julia either since the only one that I could find around the 20 week mark was this one with both kids, hardly able to see my belly!!  Joseph did take the picture of me this time so maybe the angle is making me look extra big, too...wishful thinking!!

Here is our sweet announcement that we shared on Facebook.  Joseph and Ella are super excited!!  After my appointment at 12 weeks, I put the ultrasound on the refrigerator and that night Joseph saw it and said, "What's that?"  We were all in the kitchen and Rich asked him what he thought it was and he said a baby and he and Ella both guessed Baby Joseph and then Baby Ella and Baby Julia and then we told them that it was a  new baby in my belly.  They were so cute and excited (and love that we captured it on video!!!)  Joseph immediately said that he hoped it is a boy!  He still constantly says that he hopes it is a boy but says that it is ok if it is a girl and that he'll love her anyways (so sweet!)  Ella keeps saying girl but then she'll say "but we don't know yet".  Ella loves rubbing my belly and is very careful around me not to bump the baby and if I tell Julia that I can't carry her because I don't want to hurt the baby, Ella is always the first to re-explain it to Julia and make sure that I'm ok.  She often talks about helping with the new baby and being a big sister.  Julia is definitely catching on especially with the ultrasound pictures up in the kitchen because she'll now point to them and then at me and I'll say "baby in my belly" and she nods.  They are going to be awesome older siblings and although I am sure most days will be chaotic with four kids under the age of 6, we are super excited as to what is ahead for our family!!