Hey how’s it going? I’m still in my typical exhausted, nauseous state, but am hanging in there - hopefully only 4-5 more weeks! I went to my first prenatal appointment today. It was just the initial one with the nurse, all the paperwork etc. It took me FOREVER to find a Dr. I wanted to work with (that’s a whole other long story I won’t go into today, but let’s just say the choices out here in the country of IL just aren’t quite the same as the suburbs in WA). Anyway, the staff was great and I think I am really going to like the clinic. Of course I had to be there at 8:15 a.m and it is a 45 minute drive - which meant hubby got to get the kids out the door for school. I finally got out the door only to realize that my GPS wasn’t working correctly and my car was almost comletely out of gas - typical. Keep in mind there aren’t gas stations on every corner out here in the country. Thankfully I made it to one about 20 miles away that was sort-of on the way. I made it to my appointment only 8 minutes late. 
I thought that was pretty good all things considering.
So I had my little chat with the nurse to go over all my medical history and such and then she says you need to head over to the hospital for the basic pregnancy bloodwork. Okay, will do. So I go register at the hospital (takes forever, but is a one time deal) and then head back to the lab. I sit down and she pulls out 7 - that is SEVEN vials. I say “Wow… that is a lot of vials!” She says “Yes it is, we take the most out of you poor pregnant ladies.” I had forgotten about all the blood work since with the last pregnancy we used a birth center and I got blood drawn once - one vial - one time in pregnancy. So it has been almost 7 years since I have gone this route, but even back then I don’t remember 7 vials, I’m thinking it was like 3 or 4. So, she tries my left arm, pokes and prods for 3-4 minutes, finally pulls the needle out and says - can’t find the vein - next arm. Finally finds the vein in that arm and gets to vial 2 and says “are you doing okay?” me, “yup, I’m fine” vial 3 okay? yup, fine. When she got to 5 I say “okay, not fine!” I was immediately completely drenched in sweat and I wasn’t sure if I was going to throw-up or pass out. She says, “we’re so close, let’s try to finish up!” So I did get through it, but I was in pretty bad shape. She kept saying breathe, just keep breathing and you’ll be okay. She got me some water and I sat there for a good 5-7 minutes and survived without throwing-up or passing out, but it wasn’t exactly a fun experience. I headed off to McDonalds to treat myself to an Egg McMuffin (needed some protein, and that was the closest thing I could find) and headed home and crashed the rest of the afternoon. Oh the joys of pregnancy.
Well, I am being hounded to read Scooby-Doo so I guess better do that. I hope you’re having a great week! On a happier note, I get to go get away Thursday - Sat. this week to the Hearts at Home Conference with one of my best friends from WA who is coming to visit, and a great friend from here who is meeting up with us Friday night. Hopefully that will be a wonderful refreshing time. I’m praying for energy and nauseous free days.
Take Care!
Christine
