Benz, the nurse...

So I'm sad to report that I did, in fact, lose my breakfast this morning. I was feeling great last night so I decided to meet my BFF, Traci, for dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory. Big mistake because I think the starchy food threw me over the edge. I went to bed feeling horrible, praying that it would digest and I would wake up feeling like a new woman. No such luck. After hugging the ceramic thrown for a while, you could not peel me off of our couch for the rest of the day. I lay there listless and just downright sick to my stomach for hours upon hours. Benz started to wonder what was wrong, and came up and laid down beside me on the couch. He rolled over and said: "Mommy owie?" And I said, "Yes, Benz. Sometimes when Mommies have babies in their tummies, it makes them feel kind of sick." You could see the wheels spinning in his head. He seemed to accept the explanation and then jumped up and began to massage my tummy. Before I knew it, he had picked up my ginger ale and was putting the straw to my lips! After taking a few sips, he carefully set it back down and picked up a Saltine cracker. With the best of intentions, he kind of forced it into my mouth, but the thought was so cute, even if half of it ended up in a pile of crumbs on the floor:) Then he ran over to Matt with a book I had bought for him called "Baby on the Way." He frantically searched for a page until he came to the part where the Mommy was feeling sick to her stomach and the author suggests that the child help Mommy by getting her crackers, fizzy water and staying real quiet. I hope this is the last time I get so violently ill over the course of the next 6 1/2 months, but if it happens again, I have the best (almost) 4-year old caretaker a person could wish for!

Eating for two...buffet anyone?

Well, the first trimester has officially hit me. First, let me tell you how this is different than what I experienced with Benz in utero. I felt tired for the first few months with him, but with no cravings and no morning sickness, UNTIL around month four when I would lose my cookies on a regular basis. The second time around, I'm feeling oh so different. As soon as I got back from our trip to the East Coast some strange symptoms emerged. I am super tired; perhaps I was run down from making the cross-country voyage or perhaps it has a lot to do with chasing after a 4 year old and working part-time. All the energy I had a few weeks ago when I was reorganizing the entire house, is long gone. Picture someone sticking a needle in your arm and sucking out all of the energy you had stored away inside; I'm sure there are other moms out there that can relate. I could stay in bed all day if you'd let me.

The second change I've had to deal with is appetite. I barely have one at all. I feel dizzy in the morning until I eat something; but when I sit down with a light breakfast, I feel as if I've gorged at a buffet only after the first bite! I can't seem to knock this sensation of feeling so full that I'm sick to my stomach, almost as if every day was Thanksgiving. We all know that yucky feeling when our stomachs are screaming "too much food!" So on a positive note, I guess it's better than the flip side of stuffing my face and never feeling full, but I've got to assure you this is not much fun. Especially since I consciously know I have to eat 3 square meals a day to provide proper nutrition for this little one growing inside of me.

Other than the above complaints (which I'm sure are more common than I'd like to admit), all is going well. I think Matt & I are still getting used to the idea of me being pregnant. Since I haven't yet had my first appointment, it doesn't seem 100% real yet. On December 4th, we'll get to hear this angel's heartbeat as well as meet with the doctor to come up with a birth plan. Funny thing about that, the new doctor I will be seeing is from New Orleans! I don't know her whole story as of yet, but she received her M.D. from LSU Medical Center in good 'ole NOLA. So it'll be a fun conversation to have with her, I'm sure.

Lots of fun things coming up in the life of the Brawleys. We're hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year, the first time in our married life. If I were you, I'd pray that this turkey is edible, as it's my very first attempt! We plan to tell my mother-in-law's family about our newest addition on turkey day. Then Benz will celebrate his 4th birthday at JJ Jump (a big warehouse with inflatable jumping houses or space walks to some of us) on Dec. 15th. That's when we'll officially announce this pregnancy to the rest of our family, friends & co-workers. Then look out for our annual Christmas picture card, which will deliver the good news to any other family or friends whom the big news has not yet reached. May we all take time to thank God for our blessings this year; Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!