An announcement...

Friday, November 1, 2013

(Linking up with Jen for my favorite Quick Takes ever)

1. 

2.
3. 
4.
5.

I really don't even know what to say, I'm just so excited! We can still hardly believe that we're going to be parents. Each day that goes by I feel more in awe of the fact that there is a little human person growing inside of me...

A few things:

- I've worried since the day we found out about something going wrong. I'm really trying harder to trust. Now that we are ending the first trimester I feel more at peace (but prayers are still much appreciated!)
- Pregnancy is way harder than I realized. The overwhelming fatigue and nausea at all times of the day (definitely wasn't just morning sickness) made it so hard to get through my hospital shifts the last couple of months. Now that we are just about in the second trimester, things are much, much better.
- Yes, we planned it. I think this is the question that everyone wants to ask (and some actually do) of couples that practice natural family planning. Especially couples who happen to be in medical school and starting residency mere weeks after said baby is due. Ha. But we 100% hoped and prayed and planned for this baby (although we would have loved him/her just as much if we hadn't planned it). And I credit NFP for opening my heart to having kids in med school/just before residency, which was one of my number one fears when we got married. But more on that another time...

6. Baby's first picture!

This ultrasound was done almost 6 weeks ago now because I was having sharp, one-sided pain at the beginning of the pregnancy. Of course my medically-oriented mind went straight to an ectopic pregnancy (despite the more common things I knew were on the differential, i.e. ovarian cyst and constipation). I was doing one of my away rotations at the time and this kind, old, OB/GYN got me on his schedule right away and put my fears to rest (it was an ovarian cyst...a completely normal corpus luteal cyst in medical terms). The best part was that at the follow-up ultrasound at 6 weeks and 4 days, Stephen and I got to see the heart beating for the first time. We also found out that I was exactly as far along as I thought (I credit NFP charting for that one). 

7. The heartbeat:


My sister-in-law sent me her home doppler and on the day that I got it in the mail, we found the heartbeat for the first time (just before 11 weeks). This is one of the most recent recordings and for you medical people, I'm pretty sure that I can distinguish S1 and S2 (incredible). Every morning I spend a few minutes listening (it's easiest to hear first thing in the morning) and it's so reassuring and beautiful.

Happy All Saint's Day!

34 comments:

  1. Congratulations!!! What a happy time! And with your amazing fashion sense (I've been following along, and very often get outfit inspirations from you!) you are going to have one fashionable child! Prayers for your growing family :-)

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  2. Congratulations! I'm bad at commenting on blogs but this was big news! Hope you continue to feel better.

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  3. I'm so excited about Baby McMahon!!! Not only because it's so exciting and wonderful that you're having a baby, but also because McMahon is my maiden name, so I'm very partial ;-) I'll definitely keep you & baby in my prayers.. early pregnancy is really nerve wracking, I know. God Bless!

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  4. How exciting! Congrats,Erika! I love the pictures. :)

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  5. Wow, congratulations! (And triple nice to have a couple of months off of rotations coming up then...) Isn't hearing the heartbeat just the best? Later the ultrasound will get more exciting when it actually looks like a baby; on that first one you just have to believe them that you're growing a child, not a blob :) Hope you continue to feel better and are able to enjoy this exciting time!

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  6. Congratulations! I'm so excited for you and glad to hear you're feeling better!

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  7. Congrats!! As a fellow medical professional student, I am cheering you on and praying for a safe, healthy pregnancy and baby! So excited for you both!
    xoxo, Steph
    White Coat Wardrobe

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  8. How wonderful! Congratulations! I know a doctor who went through med school with a very young child. It can be done. I'm debating telling you that the anxiety never really gets better, even after four pregnancies...part of me thinks that's just info you don't need to know, but OTOH maybe you'll find it affirming to know we all go through it. God bless all three of you!

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  9. Congrats! Babies are such blessings no matter when they arrive :)

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  10. Congratulations! I just teared up. So sweet!

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  11. Congratulations!!! So excited for you guys! And glad you are feeling better :)

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  12. Congratulations! My husband is in medical school and we had our daughter just before Step I. Now we're hoping for another little one sometime M4. Crazy NFP-ers :)

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  13. I tend to read without commenting, but I just had to today... Congratulations and all the best wishes for your pregnancy! :)

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  14. Congratulations! Enjoy the 2nd trimester; it's the best part of pregnancy. The 1st you feel awful, and by the third you're huge and the heartburn kicks in. I'm currently expecting my baby #2, and new babies are always so exciting to me!

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  15. congratulations! I have enjoyed reading your blog via Conversion Diary Quick takes. I'm 14 years out of med school myself. Had my first baby July after 4th year med school. Now I am working on faculty at an Internal Med program and expecting baby #7.

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  16. Congratulations Erika. You will see it's the best being a parent. You will love it!!!:) My little girl is 2 years old.
    Beautiful photos btw. :)
    Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.
    Take care
    http://claudiapersi.blogspot.ca

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  17. Awwww YAY! Congratulations! I am so happy for you three! :) I can relate with planning to have a baby right before starting my fieldwork for school!

    Isn't hearing the heartbeat the best thing in the world?! That is amazing that you get to use your sister's Doppler to get to hear it every day! :)

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  18. What wonderful news!!!! Praying for you guys!

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  19. I'm so HAPPY FOR YOU TWO! We had two med students (married to each other), plan a baby right before their residency too last year. They were so adorable, and content!

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  20. Oh Erika, I'm so very happy for you.

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  21. Congratulations! What beautiful news!

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  22. Congratulations!!! SO EXCITING!

    I don't know that I've ever commented before, but I've been following for awhile....you're going to be the cutest little mama!!! :)

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  23. OMGGGGGGGG!!!

    Congratulations, Erika!!!!

    You know that being a mom is the very best thing that's ever happened to me and the thing that brings me the most joy EVERY DAY, so I could not be happier for you. Good luck and many prayers!

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  24. Congratulations!! So excited for you!

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  25. Congratulations, what a beautiful gift!

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  26. Such great news! Congratulations! I can't wait to read through your journey. Best of luck!

    -Christina Theresa

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  27. Congrats Erika!! Thank you for being a witness to openness to life!

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  28. Congratulations!!! What wonderful news!

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  29. Congratulations!!!!!! That's amazing news. Yes the nausea and fatigue is very hard. But it does get better.

    Agi:)

    vodkainfusedlemonade.com

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  30. Ahhh I missed this. How absolutely wonderful! Congratulations!

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  31. I am catching up on all my blog reading and saw this sweet announcement. Congratulations to you and your hubby!! Wonderful news...just wonderful!!

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