Monday, October 28, 2013

The Big Reveal...

I have wanted to make this post for so long, but have been sitting on it until I felt the timing was right... But I felt bad not posting it earlier, because I felt you long time loyal readers might think either that I lost interest in my blog, and it was dying... or that something was wrong in my life...

Fortunately, the reason for the slower rate of posting lately is not because of anything bad, like my losing ideas for post or losing interest in this blog, nor because anything is wrong...

In fact, the reason why posting rate has been slow has been because....

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Yes, that is a pregnant belly you're seeing.


Mike and I are expecting another baby this spring. We're looking forward to this new addition to our family!

The reason the posting rate slowed down... is because I really haven't been feeling great lately. You might have guessed that from the "quick and easy meal" posts I've written. It's been hard to write without sharing this biggest thing on my mind- how I'm feeling, what's going on in my life, etc... but at the same time, I didn't feel comfortable posting about my pregnancy before I was further along, and now, at around the halfway mark, I finally feel comfortable to publicly announce it. I mean, those who've seen me in real life have been asking already since I was 10 weeks if I'm expecting, and now people who see me know 100%, no need to even ask, so kinda silly not to say anything on the blog, so...

How's this pregnancy been so far?

Well, in the middle of my second trimester and my body is acting like I haven't left the first trimester, in terms of nausea, etc... Still having a hard time stomaching certain foods, and feel a general ickiness most of the time... But at least the nausea isn't debilitating and dangerous like my sister's hyperemes gravidarum pernicious that put her in the hospital and on bedres or 9 months....
No, fortunately as much as I feel nauseous and icky, I haven't puked too many times- and in fact, have had the luck to not throw up even once outside my house yet. (It's actually funny- I've gone away the whole weekend, and felt nauseous, and the second I walk back into my house, I run to the bathroom and throw up.) That's made my life easier, not to mention less embarrassing... And fortunately, I've been able to have a pretty decent diet, despite my nausea, so the babe is getting the nutrition it needs...
And yes, I'm still nursing Anneliese and plan on tandem nursing, so it is triply important that I get good nutrition, because I'm eating for 3 now...

And I've gotten some other "fun" pregnancy symptoms that usually only show up in the third trimester, but are showing up now in the second. Best of both worlds, nay?

Are we moving from our 484 square foot apartment because of this new addition? Nope. We plan on staying put and are not worried about the space. Babies don't take up a lot of space. When the kids are older, we may move, but we have no plans for now about that.
But, in case you were wondering... the loft bed that we built for the boys? We built that specifically because I'm pregnant (in my very early pregnancy, before I started getting pregnancy symptoms that would make it harder for me to make it, to make it easier for our family of 6, once the baby comes, to fit into this small apartment.

That said...
I am trying to increase the posting rate on the blog. Penniless Parenting is not dead. I am feeling better than I did my first trimester, other than the nausea... Less exhaustion, in general, and I am working on getting more sleep, so...
We're back and running!

Thanks for being patient!

42 comments:

  1. Congratulations! Lots of love and support from a long-time reader!

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  2. Congratulations! I am nearly 24 weeks with number 5 myself. :-D I've been wondering if maybe you were pregnant. You do so much more even when pregnant and feeling ick than so many people. (including myself) you are a real inspiration

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  3. Congrats. Best wishes to you for a healthy pregnancy :)

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  4. I was wondering, mostly because of how old Annelise is, when you might "catch pregnant" again! Congratulations!

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    1. Lol, didnt your mama teach you- you don't "catch pregnant"... It's not contagious! :-D

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  5. so many future blog posts about frugality and big families, about the frugality of staying in a small place, etc. looking forward!

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  6. you are a complete inspiration to all moms! You are so creative and wonderful-I'm so glad to know you and I know this new little one will add in tremendous ways to your life, even though you're probably feeling totally overwhelmed right now-go penniless for being supermom!

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    1. Ha, about feeling overwhelmed... it depends on the day. Today, not at all. Other days- completely!!! Up days and down days, that's for sure.

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  7. Congratulations! I just found your blog last week and I am hooked. I have been reading past posts and I absolutely love it. :)

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  8. Congratulations also! Like the person above, I found your blog last week and have slowly been working my way to the beginning. Being a new wife and having no job, but also no children, I have found this blog to be incredibly helpful. Today, I'll be taking a spin off of your laundry soap recipe. I have made my own in the past, but never liquid, only powder. Thanks for sharing all of your incredible knowledge!

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  9. Congratulations! I was also wondering if you are pregnant. I am 20 weeks along with my fourth as well :) I am fortunately not sick any longer, but I do lack energy. There is a lot less homemade bread in the house, but we are staying pretty frugal.
    Are you planning another homebirth? We are planning our 3rd HBAC for March.

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  10. Congratulations! I love your site!

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  11. Congratulations Penny! I'm so excited for you, and your family. I'm also in my second trimester and still experiencing first trimester nausea and fatigue. There have been a few times I've cried after getting sick because of all the food that's getting wasted.

    I look forward to your continued posts, especially the ones dealing with quick and easy meals :)

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  12. Congratulations! I am overwhelmingly impressed that you have been posting even as much as you have, and especially about food, because I am 13 weeks pregnant and have been struggling to get up even one post a week, and I can't bear even to LOOK at your food posts. I have been working on a long post on "Coping with pregnancy nausea" that I hope will finally go up on Wednesday...if I'm awake long enough....

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    1. Ha... Food posts... yea... I'm lucky that my nausea is just "all around" and not about specific foods, for the most part. In my first trimester, I couldn't stomach the smell of chicken thighs/legs cooking, but once they were cooked, i could eat it. (I cooked at my friend's house and she called me over when the food was cooked, because i would throw up if i had that smell in my house...) And fish, other than tuna and sardines also made me nauseous- I even bought salmon, because it appealed to me... and then felt sick from eating it, after just one bite, so so much for that...

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  13. Congratulations! We just had our fourth and life with four little ones is delightful (well, except for those times that all I want to do is SLEEP, lol!) So happy for you!

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  14. Congratulations! I just figured life was getting in the way of blogging. Which I guess it was, in a way!! So happy for all of you! I have 5 children and I love every minute of the chaos!! Hope you start feeling better.

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  15. And I started following you after you already had your three, so I would LOVE to hear about your home birth!

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    1. I have a few blog posts on home birth- if you search the blog, you might be able to find them.

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  16. congratulations, penny! I'm looking forward to read about the new chapter in your family's journey! and I hope the kids are excited!!

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  17. Sending very best wishes to you and your family from England! I find it incredible that you have managed to keep up with everything and with the blog. I hope your nausea passes soon and that all will go well for you.

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    1. Thank you. It was hard, and I have slacked off a lot...

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  18. Congratulations! Very happy for you...and I'm looking forward to big-family posts too.

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  19. Congrats that's great news & I'm excited to read more of your fabulous blogs! Quick question for you though I too am pregnant & nursing but still in my first trimester & I am extremely fatigued & lethargic, does this go away as it did for my first or will it continue for my pregnancy's entirety due to my nursing & pregnant?

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    1. Nursing and pregnant definitely takes more out of you than just nursing or just pregnant. How is your nutrition? Not having good nutrition, especially if you're low in iron or B12 or vitamin D can make you extra tired. Try taking those supplements and see if that helps. I know I was super exhausted in Anneliese's pregnancy, and when I went off gluten and dairy, I all of a sudden got more energy.
      I am more tired than usual, but not sure if its because of the combo of nursing and pregnant, or just because of pregnancy... I don't remember how exhausted I was last pregnancy when I wasnt nursing.

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  20. Awesome. Look forward to hearing how you make it all work with the new addition.
    .

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  21. Congrats, I was wondering if you found this pregnancy easier since you are off gluten and other stuff?

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  22. Congratulations! So excited for you!

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  23. I am happy for your pregnancy but I am happier in knowing that a baby will be born in the arms of such loving parents like you. Congratulations for becoming pregnant.

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  24. Congratulations, I m so happy for you and for the whole family

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  25. Congrats on your growing family!!

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  26. Congratulation! And never feel obliged to share personal things with your readers. It's your life and you can choose what you share.

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  27. Congratulations and what Adrienne said, though it is nice that you did share.

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  28. 45 sq meters living space? How do you do it?!?! :-) Congratulations!

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  29. Wonderful, congratulations! I've been enjoying baby cuddles again lately, as my first grandchild was born at the end of November. I hope you keep feeling better as the weeks pass!

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