1000 page views this month so far!!

I was just checking on my blog stats, as you do, and I noticed that this month has not only beaten my all time high for page views but has already surpassed 1000 views since the beginning of April!! Thank you to all my readers, I'm not sure why you keep coming back but I do appreciate your loyalty and am hoping I inspire some of you. 

For those that have been following my story with HG and my pregnancy I wanted to give you an update and, at last, it's a fairly positive one! 

Last week I ended up seeing the GP as I was really beginning to struggle emotionally with the nausea and being stuck inside. She was really good and set a few things in motion. One of which was that I was to go to the hospital and have some checks. The GP really wanted me to get some fluids so I could be hydrated again. After a REALLY long wait in the hospital I finally got seen by a very good doctor. Whilst she didn't give me fluids (apparently no vomiting means no fluids) she didn't want me to leave without a plan of action. So she gave me some new drugs to try and booked me in with the consultant for follow up work. 

The new drugs are great, they work really well in addition to what I'm currently taking and for the first time in 8 months I feel hungry and thirsty!! I was able to get up and do bits and pieces on Saturday and I feel so much better. I have to be very careful not to over do it as I have very little energy and reserves but at least I don't feel nauseous all the time now. Fortunately the consultant today has extended these drugs and allowed me to stay on them with the strict instructions that I'm to build myself up over the next 2 weeks and drink lots of fluids. In a few weeks I'll meet him again and we'll discuss how to take things further, I may be induced closer to my due date if everything is favourable. 

So I feel a lot better, not sure if I'm up to much baking yet but I have started up the knitting again and my brain is once again feeling more active. I now just need to focus on getting through the next weeks. I'm going to focus on getting to the next consultants appointment and take it from there. In 3 weeks I'll be very close at 38+4 weeks!! 

Thank you for all your support, the thing that has helped me the most in these days has been the messages of love and concern I received from people. My birthday couldn't have come at a better time because the cards I received really helped lift me, knowing so many people bothered to remember me. I  hope that you'll all get a chance to meet Mia when she's here, we're currently busy arranging a big get together for all friends and family so if you're interested, just let me know. 

I wasn't really sure what picture to put on this post but Cali wanted to say hi!! 

An update on us

To break up all of the baking posts a little I thought I'd write a quick update on me and how I've been coping.

I'm now 33 weeks pregnant and counting down the days until Mia is born. She is a fidgety rascal and likes to kick me around but it's comforting that she's moving lots and reminding me she's still there and OK. All her checks have been going without any problems, I'm measuring a little small but within normal range, and her heart beat is always lovely and strong. We have now got the last of her things ready and the nursery is raring to go. Cali (our cat) was discovered in the cot this morning and gave me a look thanking me for making the bed for her yesterday!!

Cali in the new made up cot

Fortunately I anticipated this move and put a blanket over the top so all her fur won't go on the baby blankets. She did exactly the same thing when we made up the moses basket. I think she is very grateful that we've made these comfy beds for her and "her" room is so nicely done now!! 

Some of our reusable nappies arrived last week so we've had a chance to show them off and have a play with them. I was also given a very useful storage basket for them on Saturday which fits perfectly on the shelf.

Nappies in the basket

So we're all set for Amelia's arrival and just waiting now. I don't want her to come just yet, it's a little early, and she's been told she has to wait for Nan and Grandad to come back from their holiday. So let's see if she's a good girl or not!!

So how am I? Well it seems that HG doesn't seem to want to let go its hold over me. For a few weeks in the middle I felt slightly better, I was able to do small things around the house and go out for short trips. However, that's all changed in the last few weeks. I've started feeling very nauseous again and off my food. I haven't, as yet, been sick but I feel so close most mornings that I'm sure it'll happen any day soon. I'm now back to spending my good days on the sofa and my bad days in bed just eating what I can, at the moment that's plenty but it is dropping day by day. I'm very fed up with being so flat bound and I really can't wait for Mia to make her arrival and the nightmare of HG to be over. Before I was pregnant people told me what a joy being pregnant was, well I can say it's been horrid. I've felt nauseous every day since Sept, not been able to work (and no that isn't fun when it's forced on you) and feeling awful all the time. To top it off little Mia has taken to kicking and pushing so for the last few days I've been really uncomfortable as well. 

33 week bump, she's growing!! 

I know that the weather has been awful and spring is yet to arrive but I for one am rather grateful. I feel much less sick when I'm cold and being hot just sets me off. I would rather it wasn't snowing (as it is now!!) but I'm also really glad it's not scorching like last year. Once Mia has arrived though, I'm looking forward to hot sunny days so we can get out and enjoy ourselves. Have picnic lunches with daddy in the park and introduce her to everyone. I feel like my life has been in standstill since November and I'm very much struggling to realise what time of year it is but I'm waiting for the play button to be pushed again. 

I hope you've been enjoying the small amount of baking I have managed to post about, be warned that I'm expecting there to be a flurry of activity and dishes to try out afterwards. I have a pile of magazines and recipes that are waiting to be tested and I'm very restless!! In the meantime enjoy the remainder of the baby shower posts and of course I'll keep you posted on Amelia's arrival. Only 6 weeks 3 days to go till we've reached due date!!
 

How am I now?

I wanted to further update you on news about me and how I'm feeling. As you should already know, I'm 20 weeks pregnant with our first child, due 20th May. 

Last time I wrote about me it was before even the 12 weeks scan and I had been very ill, in and out of hospital a couple of times. Since then I've managed to stay out of hospital and have been feeling a little better, however, not well enough to be able to function normally. I still feel nauseous all the time but have managed not to vomit for a week now, hoping I can keep that up!! I spend most of my time around the flat, tends to be in bed, but try and potter around doing little bits and pieces. I have been able to get out a few times and enjoy some social life but this tends to be a maximum of once a week and needs a preparation and recovery period around it. 

On a positive note the 12 weeks scan was great and showed everything was fine and now we've had the 20 week scan. We now know that we're having a little girl, Amelia Katie, and that she is a perfectly average size. A relief as after being so sick I thought she might be suffering but it would appear not. I've made some new friends who are helping pull me through and I'm now counting down as I've reached the halfway mark. It's unlikely that I'll be well enough to work before I take maternity leave but hopefully I'll improve a little and at least be able to potter around the flat a little more. Amelia is very active and kicks me frequently to remind me she's still there and we're enjoying purchasing lots of girlie bits and pieces for her now. 

It was a delight to meet her at the scan and we now can't wait to meet her in real life. I also can't wait to feel less sick and get baking again for real. I've managed a few bits and pieces with help but not enough and I miss it. Mia and I will be baking from when she's born!! start them early ;-). 

Amelia Katie Manley

So there's the quick update, I hope to manage a few posts over the coming months to keep this blog going but it really depends on what I can manage, but this time next year I expect to be enjoying my crafty Christmas presents and making wonderful creations!!