So I got to see the baby!

I have a pattern. In this pattern, I stay very calm, cool and collected about all things baby for 2-3 weeks after my last appointment. And as my appointment approaches, I start to worry. And maybe even panic. :) And that was yesterday. And I feel a little bad about said panicking, but then I tell myself that 2008 was a very hard year -- and if I need a little extra attention from the doctor, well that's OK.

So I was worried. Worried that I couldn't feel the baby like I used to, worried that the movements I was feeling were itty bitty contractions. And worried because my specialist (remember Dr. Wonderful?) had told me he saw a little issue that could cause early labor. So all added together, that was a lot to think about.

So I went to see the doctor. And I was expecting him to maybe be busy, grouchy, and aware that I didn't need to be there. But he was wonderful! When he walked in, I asked him if Dr. Wonderful had warned him that I might be a bit high maintenance. He laughed and said that I was not in that category yet. Well, I got to hear the baby's sweet heartbeat on the doppler and then he did an ultrasound to check that little issue - that appears to be a non-issue and probably does not need to be advertised on a public blog! hahaa. But in the checking of said issue, I got to see the baby! Only the baby's head and one waving arm -- which is probably good, because I would really prefer to find out the whole boy/girl answer with the baby's daddy! Not that I wouldn't have peaked.....Trav had given me permission to peak...No such luck!!!!!

So, one crazy busy day later, I feel very relieved once again. Everything is just fine!! (And at 17 weeks, baby movements come and go since there is still so much room in there!)

And I am fairly certain I can make it until Tuesday before getting all worried again.

And what I do know, deep down, is that I should have more faith that I did yesterday. Because God has it all under control. That is hard to tell myself in the middle of all the worry, but afterwards it makes lots of sense. :)

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

17 weeks!!

Today we are 17 weeks!!! Somehow, in the blink of an eye, 17 weeks sounds like A LOT! The baby is about FIVE INCHES LONG and that's not even including those kicking legs. AND, according to my weekly email, the baby can hear me now and might respond to loud noises!! I bet our crazy barking dogs Nelly-Belle and Penny are making their presence known to the baby with every falling leaf outside. :)


A week from tomorrow is our big ultrasound. I am so excited. Any guesses? We were at a friend's baby shower on Saturday (pictured above) and I talked with 3 different people who claimed to be EXCELLENT baby gender guessers. But, two of them said boy and one said girl. Wouldn't it have been great if they'd all agreed and I could go baby clothes shopping!?!?

16 weeks!!

Today marks 16 weeks!!!!! Here is an except from my Pregnancy Weekly email:

"How your baby's growing:Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop."

We are 15 days from our big boy/girl ultrasound!! I am so excited to see our baby! I got so spoiled with my first doctor and it's been WEEKS since I've seen the baby!! :)

And here's a shot of me at the park with the little lady on Saturday. I know, I know. It's not a good side shot, but considering I've been in my PJs since about noon today, that is all you are going to get!!

15 weeks!!!

Today I had my 15 week check-up!! At long last..... :)

Emma and I got to hear sweet Baby's heartbeat, which was much easier to find this time since the baby is getting bigger.....about 4 inches "crown to rump"!

Tomorrow I get to call and schedule the BIG ultrasound for 18 weeks. Anybody have any boy or girl guesses??? By the time I celebrate my 28th birthday, we should know!!!

15 weeks!

This is a picture of me holding 4 inches of measuring tape against my tummy. :)

14 weeks!

Today we are 14 weeks and Baby is the size of a lemon (or about 3 1/2 inches, not including legs.) The baby now has functioning kidneys and can urinate!! Whoa! While the info I read tells me that I can't feel the baby yet, I can!! The other day (after a while in the bluebonnets) I did a bunch of sneezing. And after the 10th sneeze of so, I felt a tiny KICK and then felt the baby roll into some new position. Crazy!!! Not sure if that meant the baby liked my sneezes or was really ready for me to stop. :)

This is NOT our baby, but it is an ultrasound of a baby at 14 weeks.

And here is me. :)

I don't have any idea why my tummy gets so big, so fast, but I think it is cute!

Grow, baby, grow!

)

13 (and a half?) weeks!

Monday marked 13 weeks for me, aka the start of my 2nd trimester!!! (If you have been paying really close attention, I used to start a new "week" on Tuesdays, but I have changed it to Mondays because that is when my weekly emails arrive telling me I am a week farther along! And they are from my doctor's office, so I figure they have to be right!)

Our little baby is about the size of a "medium shrimp", but I didn't find a picture of that because it sounds a bit gross. :) But, the baby should be about 3 whole inches from head to bottom!!! Grow, baby, grow!!!

My spoiled-by-my-specialist self got antsy waiting 4 whole weeks for my check-up, so I went in on Monday just to hear the heartbeat. It took the nurse 2 tries and about 10 whole minutes and then a few minutes of the doctor trying, but he found it! Our little baby's heart is just going strong!!!

I think I might have a bit more energy these days and I am definitely less queasy. :) So thankful to be in the 2nd trimester for so many reasons!!!!

Bye-Bye, Lovenox

Well, yesterday was it. Yesterday was my last dose of Lovenox. Don't get me wrong -- I have almost 2 whole boxes of it sitting on my dresser. And oh, how I want to keep taking it. Oh, how it reassures me. But my 2 (well respected and highly recommended) doctors agree that 12 weeks is my cut-off. In fact, I believe that neither one ever thought I needed it. But rather, that peace of mind is worth a lot and it couldn't hurt.

And do you know what? The Lovenox is not what has been protecting our baby. God has been protecting our baby. The same God who brought us Emma without Lovenox. Without baby aspirin. Without a mega dose of folic acid. And likely without folic acid at all. God wanted us to have Emma. So He kept Emma safe. And He's been keeping this baby safe. And I believe that He still will. Even with no Lovenox.

But it is still so hard to have it sitting on my dresser. It is now 45 minutes past my "go time" to take it. And I haven't. And I won't.

Back in high school, a friend told me that when you see the rays of sun streaming through the clouds, it means God is protecting over you. She probably would never remember telling me that, but it's funny the few conversations you remember out of the thousands you have in high school.

And I have remembered that statement ever since. And quite honestly, I see sunbeams pouring through the clouds in moments when I need a reminder that God is watching out for me. Like on my way to the bumped-up-to-an-earlier-time-because-we-were-worried ultrasound a few weeks ago. Or like when I'm picking up the dry cleaning but I'm really, secretly worrying about the baby. Or like tonight, on our way home from Walmart on the night when I can't take any more Lovenox.

God is protecting over us.

Emma has a very sweet new Bible called The Jesus Storybook Bible. This is what we read tonight....

"Because God loves us with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love -- Heaven is breaking through! He is sending us a Light from Heaven to shine on us like the sun...to guide our feet into the way of peace."