Almost half way..

Well, its 18:13 and I'm sat here, in Adams pajama bottoms and his 'Grouchy Smurf'' T shirt. Been feeling really poorly lately. It started really badly in the middle of the night on Sunday. My chest keeps going tight, and i struggle to breathe. Iv been really achy all over and having hot and cold flushes. Iv had really bad pain in my head, neck and face too. If i lean forwards it literally feels like my face is going to fall off. Three doctors later and iv been diagnosed with:

* A Virus

* Sinusitis

* Chest infection

So I'm back on steroid inhalers on a regular basis, antibiotics and regular paracetamol. I hate taking things because of Button, but they've told me its all 100% safe.

I struggled a lot last week with pain in my legs. I had a long, busy week at work and i felt like they were hardly going to take my weight anymore by the end of it. Iv pretty much been prepared to have pretty bad leg pain. Iv had trouble all of my life with wonky bones, had lots of physiotherapy and i was supposed to wear straps up my legs to help straighten me out, i never really wore them though and i think i will now pay the price for that. Iv got to go for extra hospital consultations because of all my problems.

I didn't quite expect to be suffering this much so early on though. If its this much pain now, i dread to think what I'll be like in another 10 weeks +.

I have been off work so far this week, and literally just spent the three days resting, with my feet up, drinking lots and trying to get back to my normal self. It doesn't seem to be happening to quickly though.

I cant actually believe I'm almost half way through the pregnancy. Its going scarily fast, and it still feels like we've got so much to do.

Iv been feeling much stronger movements over the past two days, which is a nice little reminder that Buttons OK. I think the more i relax, the more i feel.

On a really happy note, we were going out for my brother in laws birthday meal last Thursday night. I was really looking forward to it, but i was a bit disappointed because iv only got one maternity dress, and i feel like iv worn it a million times over the past couple of months.

I got home, and started searching for anything that would fit. Adam arrived home later, came upstairs smirking, held my hand and led me to the living room. He'd laid out a beautiful new outfit. Maternity top, trousers, shoes, bag, necklace and a flower for my hair! It was sooo sweet, and it all matched! The best part, was an early mothers day card from Button :) I'll upload a picture in a minute.

Its a week today until our next scan, I'm having to work really hard to convince myself that i want a surprise! Sometimes i feel so desperate to know!

Iv started being a little brave too, iv been watching a programme which shows real life births. Iv sat through 3 episodes now. I'm still not sure whether its the best thing to do, as i do occasionally have a bit of a 'freak out', but i just want to feel as prepared as possible. I find it helpful to see how they talk to you, and what the options are etc.

17 + 3 Poorlyish :(

(A picture of me and my every growing little button in the sunshine)

There's not a lot to report at the moment I'm afraid. We have a new car (Ronald) which is beautiful, and VERY child friendly. It has a huuuge boot and plenty of space. Its going to be more money going out each month, but Harold (the C3) would have cost us a straight out payment if approx £1500! We'd had so much work done on him, and he kept going wrong, so we figured we'd be better off to have a new car and start again.

Another exciting note: We've made a definite decision about nursery furniture too. We've both fallen head over heels for the same range, and it should last up until Buttons about 5! (Then it can be used again for baby number two!!)

Speaking of baby number two.. Adam turned to me the other day and said 'I think I'd quite like us to have about 6 in total!!'... lets just get this one out first!!

We've worked out a strict budget so that we can afford everything we want, at the appropriate times, so i hope that turns out well.

The weathers been beautiful all week, now iv got my ONE weekend off, its not looking so sparkling, typically!! We are going to the park to feed the ducks later though, which I'm rather excited about. Then i might see if i can persuade Adam to take us to Ikea to get some wooden baby coat hangers and little bits.

We've both been really poorly this week, Adam first, now I'm feeling the full on effects of it! Stuffed up nose, chesty cough, sneezing fits, occasional high temperature, banging headache and acheyness. Not enjoying it one little bit, but I'm determined its not going to ruin my weekend off. Adam usually referees approx 4 matches on a Saturday, and he only has one today, at 8pm! So we need to make the most of the day together!

On a less positive note, iv been a little worried, i don't feel like iv felt Button move half the amount i was before. I'm trying not to get to worried about it, its probably that iv not been concentrating on it as hard, along with me being a bit run down. Our friend Katie rents out Doppler's, so I'm going to see if i can borrow that to have a listen at whats going on in there!

Speaking of Katie, on Tuesday night we went to help her move into her new shop, which is loads bigger and better. Iv been really wanting one of those nursing chairs, with the footstool that rock. They are soo comfy and make feeding so much easier, and i think it would look amazing in the nursery! They tend to range from about £200 though so we'd said we would see where the budget takes us. When we got to Katie's shop she had one there, i sat in it and fell in love. She said we could have it for £50! So its a done deal! I'm soo excited. I gave her £10 there and then, and I'm going on Monday to pay the rest. I also noticed she had an express machine for £5 instead of £30ish, so if that's still there I'm going to pick that up too! She will have literally saved us hundreds!

Adams still really excited, he's planning on getting the nursery decorated as soon as his reffing season ends, as he'll have the weekends free again! I cant wait until its done!

I sat and cut out some newspaper pieces to the shape and size of each piece of furniture we're having in there, so we've been having a move around to see where we want everything, which is great fun!

Love love love xxx

Pooorlyish :(

I haven't been very well these past few days. Ended up rushing to an emergency doctor on Friday due to a referral i had from work for having blood in my ear. I seem to be being taken over by nasty infections :(
We stayed at mums on Saturday night, so that i could get to work on Sunday, it was really nice as Abi (my sister) and Paul were over from Norfolk, so it gave us a lot of time together which we don't get very often. After tea, Adam and Paul sat at the table with their laptops talking about football and boys stuff. Me, Mum and Abi went and sat in the living room and had a really detailed conversation about childbirth. It was really nice to ask all my questions, and its made me feel a great deal better. It made me realise i was actually quite naive about the whole thing, and need to stop believing everything i see on TV.
I woke up feeling awful on Sunday morning, i kept having really hot flushes, where i would literally break into a sweat, and i had a really bad headache. I managed to get through my three hour shift at work, and got back to mums to a beautiful Sunday dinner, my step sister Claire, her husband Liam and my little niece Emilie came to join us. It was really nice to have everyone together. Almost as soon as id finished my pudding i felt really sick, and could barely keep my eyes open. So i excused myself and went upstairs to lie down. I only planned to rest for about 20 minutes but ended up being there for well over an hour, i then had to force myself to get up.
I was quite poorly in the night last night, waking up in hot sweats and shivering etc so iv had to have the day off today, which i hate doing.
I am managing to control the pain and temperature with paracetamol, but i don't even like taking them. Iv slept loads today so hopefully I'll shake it off pretty quick because i have got to go to work tomorrow!
According to one of my apps, our baby is now the size of a 'green olive'!! Why its specifically a green one, i don't know!
We officially have not agreed on one single boys name as of yet! We've been through thousands and just don't agree at all. We have two girls names which we both love, so its just a matter of choosing which we want to go with. We even have a middle name chosen for a little girl!

Bump is still pretty huge, and has got even more solid! Will put another picture on within the next few days!

Love love love xxx