Name Game

I am 4 months pregnant and feeling much better. I am still fighting exhaustion daily but can handle heavy eyes better then projectile vomiting. I go back to the doctor in one week for a general check up and return two weeks later to try to discover the genders. Which brings me to a current debate in the Berkemeier household…names? Many people have the name of their offspring picked out years before their baby’s debut but not us. Not only are we struggling to brainstorm names that are worthwhile in our eyes, which I blame on the baby brain, but Brent and I have feuding opinions on the names the other likes. And girls’ names are our biggest debate. We both really want something shorter, because it will be paired with long name Berkemeier, and unique. Obviously our understanding of short and unique varies. If you have any suggestions that will help complicate the situation, please feel free to comment. If not, we will continue to fight this one out on our own. TO BE CONTINUED…

We Have Baby(ies) on Board!!

About 8 weeks ago, Brent and I got the exciting news that we are having a baby. We were excited and ready to take the next step together. Over those 8 weeks, I noticed some excessive symptoms. The most bothersome was the nausea. I called dinosaurs at least 3 to 4 times daily for 3 to 4 weeks; I felt weak and drained. Around 8 weeks along I noticed a baby bump beginning to appear. I was alarmed at the quick growth of my belly because the doctr had told us at the first appointment that I would not begin showing until about 15-16 weeks. Not only did I start to show, it began to grow quickly.

On April 1, 2009 I had my second appointment with the doctor. I was about 11 weeks along at that time, we thought. The doctor comes into the room and starts with general questions: How have you been feeling? Do you have any concerns/questions? I told him that I was very nauseas in the beginning but that now how subsided, but I am extremely tired. He said that is normal and didn’t act concerned. I proceeded to tell him that I was also already starting to show a good bit and thought that it was probably a little early for me to already have the bump. He kind of laughed as he walked over to examine me. As I laid down and revealed my belly his words were, “Oh my, you are big. You look like you are a month farther along then you really are.” I proceeded to tell him, like I did everyone else even when people doubted me, my hormone levels were high the first time, I measured big the first time, I have been so sick and so tired and not to mention showing early… do you think I could be carrying twins? He asked me if twins ran in my family and I told him yes there are a couple of sets. He began to consider my question as he carried on to the heartbeat. He put the thingy on my belly and right away we could hear the heart. It was exciting but we sat quietly as we listened intently for a second heartbeat. There is was…maybe! We could hear another, but it was not has strong and clear as the first. The doctor could not confirm if it was two babies or the transfer of the other heartbeat. So we moved forward with an ultrasound.

As we walked into the room we were excited, nervous, curious, hopeful, and doubtful all at the same time. I laid down and she placed the scan directly over the first baby. It was awesome! The profile was so clear and perfect. About 10 seconds after beginning the scan, she looked at us with a stone serious face and said, there are two babies in here. We asked her if she was serious or if it was an April Fool’s joke. She said she would not joke about that; there are two babies. Brent and I overwhelmed with emotion started to cry as we realized this great gift from God. She couldn’t tell if they were identical or fraternal but was leaning towards fraternal because she thought she saw two placentas and fraternal are the twins that are genetic.

I go back to the doctor in 4 weeks. Hopefully, then we will have a better idea if they are fraternal or identical and maybe even the gender of the babies. In the mean time, we are rushing about trying to get things in place while mommy still feels good. Please pray for mommy and babies as we are now a high risk pregnancy, mommy’s greatest fear!!

He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20