Preggo..."How are you feeling?"

Thank you to everyone for all of the kind words about our impending arrival in February!  Both Leif and I are very excited about welcoming another blessing into our lives!  This is something that we knew we wanted and to be honest were just trying to get the timing right.  Unfortunately for us, the timing didn't quite work out in accordance with the needs of the Navy but that will be another post!
So many people have asked how I am feeling?  I am pretty sure that is because most people know how sick I was with Aiden.  With Aiden I began vomiting before I even knew I was pregnant...and never stopped!  I would "get sick" upwards of 25 times a day and struggled to even lift my head from the pillow with out being sick.  After thinking it was normal I finally called the doctor and told her what was going on...over 15lbs lost and still in my first trimester I was put on bed rest and told I had Hyperemesis Gravidarum which is "a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting with potential adverse consequences for the newborn(s)." (via http://www.helpher.org/ )  To make a really long story and little less long, I lost over 20lbs and never got better until my sweet Aiden was born!
SO....here we are again!!!  So many people have said to me "I can't believe you are doing this again"...Me Neither hahah!  Leif and I had so many discussions about "what to do".  We always wanted 2 children but after Aiden I swore up and down that I would never do it again.  But if I heard it once, I heard it a million times..."every pregnancy is different"!  So we waited until we felt like Aiden was in a less needy position and thought maybe we were just slightly settled and we tried again.  We also talked a lot about finances and knowing that there was a strong possibility we would need a nanny, we tried to brace ourselves financially as well!  We knew very early on that we were pregnant...no surprises here...and immediately set up a doctors appointment to start the medication.  I did well for about the first 6 weeks and then day by day I got worse and worse!  So here we are...almost 18 weeks pregnant, down 14 lbs (not too bad),  PICC line was put in at 14 weeks and hooked up to IV fluids/nutrients 12-24 hours a day, I use and elastomeric infusion pump for my anti-nausea 3 times a day, and I am still sick!!!  Luckily I am not on bed rest yet and I have actually gotten used to vomiting in public places (GROSS, I know, but life has to go on).  Trust me...this isn't a blog looking for pity or sympathy!  Both Leif and I know where babies come from :-), we knew the possibility and together we made the decision to go for it!  We wanted to expand our family and knew that, as with all pregnancies, anything can happen!  It might sound silly but we put ourselves in this position and are dealing with it.  Well, I am dealing with it hahah...he works 16 hours a day and is in and out with the ship...why is it easier for the guys haha!  So...is there a point to all of this....2 points.  1.  A ton of people asked how I was feeling so this was the easiest way to explain things.  AND 2.  This will all be worth it!  If I have said it once, I have said it a million times.  Aiden is my everything!  I love him more than life itself and I know that 40 weeks of hell will be worth the feeling and depth of love that we wills get to experience again! 
So...now that you are bored out of your minds here are a few visuals (hopefully nothing too graphic)

My nightly routine

PICC line!

17 weeks :-)

We find out the sex of our baby tomorrow!  My actual comprehensive ultrasound isn't until Wednesday but since they close at 6 and there was absolutely no way Leif could get off on the day I scheduled, even though I picked on of his suggested days, we have scheduled a gender ultrasound at 7:30 pm tomorrow evening!  My sister and Mom will accompany me to my "big" ultrasound and since they want to be surprised we won't be sharing the info until Wednesday!  We are excited and anxious all at the same time!  I am just praying for a healthy baby!!!!