Hi popsandthefamily,
The symptoms you are describing do sound like palpitations, and all the feelings you are getting could be related to this. Palpitations are quite common and can have a lot of benign causes, but you should definitely get it checked out by your doctor for your own peace of mind. Describe the symptoms just as you wrote them above.
Many people don't even know that they have palpitations. If we become aware of them, it's often when we are relaxing with little to do. When we're rushing around a bit, we're so involved in what we're doing that the palpitations go unnoticed.
As for researching this stuff, don't do too much of it at this stage as it can be a bit unnerving when you don't really have a diagnosis. Feelings of worry or panic on their own can cause palpitations, so better to go to the professionals where they can give you a thorough check-up.
Good luck and let us know your results.
Chris