Ultrasounds

I didn't realize that I was getting an uncommon number of ultrasounds. Let me list them first and then we'll talk about the questions I get.

1. @ 7 weeks or so to confirm the pregnancy. We saw just a little heart beating away.

2. @ 11 weeks to check on a subchoronial bleed they sat at ultrasound 1.

3. @ 12 weeks 4 days, for the NT Scan. I guess this is one scan some women might opt out of since this is for genetic disorders.

4. @ 19 weeks 4 days, it's the 2nd trimester screenign where they look for gender if possible and measure all parts of the baby.

5. scheduled for 21 weeks 3 days becuase the baby was uncooperative and we need to emasure his spine.

So, technically, I might have had an extra 1 at 7 weeks becuase some OBs might make their patients wait till 10-12 weeks to do the first trimester one. And I did one that was optional. So, really, not like I am going crazy with my ultrasounds but the comments I've read on online forums and even on FB seem to indicate that this is not the norm. It could be my wonderful government insurance. I am not complaining. It's amazing to see the baby go from a tiny little nub of a heart to a cantaloupe sized human being doing the mashed potato in there.

Halfway there ... ohh ohh

I would have been living on a prayer, if I was the praying kind. Both Saturday and Sunday evenings were spent on the floor, hunched up in pain. I cannot figure out a common theme to what causes them. One day I thought it was because I ran around a lot. Friday, we had an ultrasound, day care tour, showed Jeff where I work, had lunch with co-workers, and picked up my iPhone. all between 8 and 1. Then, we had a baseball game that evening where we were ou till almost 11 p.m. So, a really long day and no pain. That kills my theory. Oh well, at the rate of once to twice a week, I have 20-40 more episodes to live through.

At this halfway mark though, incredible changes happening inside. The baby is the side of a delicious cantaloupe, according to The Bump:

And for the fathers-to-be, from the Tarzan's Guide: (I thought about leaving this out but what the hey)

I am Pregnant website states that this week:

Your waistline has expanded and is no longer visible. Yeah, I can attest to that.

For the remainder of your pregnancy, the growing uterus puts pressure on your lungs, stomach and kidneys. This will make you feel short of breath, the need to urinate more frequently and can cause indigestion. Well, this baby's been causing pain for a few weeks now, so nothing new there.

Scalp hair and toenails are beginning to form at this point. Hair can also be seen on the upper lip and eyebrows. I am growing toenails in there this week. Sounds sooooo weird! but cool too.

Week 19 Day 4 ultrasound

How am I almost 20 weeks pregnant? Didn't I just pee on that strip and the second strip and see the faint pink line show up?

Apparently, the baby knows how time is passing by because he's busy growing in there. Today, during our ultrasound, he was busy dancing around and punching me. We saw his legs and his little feet. They measured his heart, brain, legs, arms, stomach, kidneys ... the only thing left is the spine because the baby was lying on his back and did not move over. So, ultrasound in 2 more weeks.

Here are some images from today's sessions:

a couple profile shots:



A couple leg/feet shots:



and then, here's Smokey, trying to keep his claim to the title of cutest being in the house:

June 25th 2010

I know that's tomorrow but I have so many thoughts in my head, I decided to put up a post today.

1. Last year, I had the accident on my birthday. I thought I was over it but talking about it at dinner last night brought all those emotions flooding back. I am glad I am not being talked about like Michael Jackson (since he decided to die on my birthday).

2. Tomorrow, I start my day with an ultrasound. It's going to be a long one, they'll measure baby's every organ, and then if the baby co-operates, we might get to confirm the first gender guess. It feels good to erase the memory of last year's accident and replace it with the ultrasound.

3. Then, Jeff and I are taking a tour of the day care center at my work. I know 2 people who's kids go there and it's literally 5 minutes from where I sit.

4. In the evening, we have a baseball game, the Orioles vs. the Nationals. And, they have fireworks at the end of the night! Woohoo, for my birthday? they are so nice ;-)

Car seats!

We got a car seat from a friend's sister. We took the lining out and washed it.

We cannot figure out how the straps go back through the lining, even after looking at the instructions manual online!!!

Week 19 and a busy weekend

Almost at the halfway mark! The Bump tells me that the baby is now a very very yummy

I love mangos, I could eat a dozen right now.

And, for my husband, according to the Man's Guide to Baby Development:



I am pregnant.com states that this week:

Most women have gained up to 14 pounds now and only 7 ounces of that is your baby!

I guess that doesn't include me. I have lost 0.8 lbs last week. However, according to last ultrasound, baby was growing still, so I am not going to worry. Also have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow and an ulrasound Friday, so we'll sure everything looks good.

Your baby's oversized head shows the brain's importance in his development. Because the nerves that connect the muscles to the brain have grown into place, your baby's movements are consciously directed. Your baby's ears stand out from the sides of the head and the buds for your baby's permanent teeth appear. Your baby's arms and legs have reached their relative proportions and his feet are approximately one inch long.

Oversized head? That's the head I have to give birth to? These are words nightmares are made of, people!
___________________________________________________________________
We had a busy weekend. Saturday, we drove from home and back 4 times:

1. To go pick up the matching stroller to the pack-n-play and swing we got off of Craigslist last month. The lady sold it to us for a third of the retail price. she also threw in a really good book, a travel changing pad and a newborn outfit. In a month or so, she'll also call me about the matching car seat. The book has a checklist of everything we absolutely need in the first year.
2. Then, we came home, fed Smokey and went out to Arundel Mills to get Jeff's hair cut.
3. Came home again to shower, headed out to Fells Point for lunch at John Stevens. The crab nachos were to die for! They'd put out a Groupon a while ago and we decided to use it. It was well worth the money. We then took the water taxi over to Fort McHenry and toured that joint. By this time though, both my back and under my ribs were hurting. Walking helped some but by an hour later, it was pretty bad. So, we headed home again.
4. We had wanted to go to Babies 'R Us to look at a dresser on clearance. They wanted too much for something missing a knob and scratched up. So, instead of buying a dresser, we had dinner at CiCi's. By the end of the meal there, my pain was back with a vengeance. We got home around 7:30 and I think I was on the ground, trying to get into any comfortable position for 2 hours. We ended the night by watching the movie, The Road, which was probably NOT the best choice for a right before bedtime show.

That was just Saturday! Sunday, we went to Lowe's and got some paint for the baby's room. We painted one wall a really pale shade of blue. We liked it in the lamp light last night; I'll have to see when I get home how it looks in daylight :-)

Week 18 (overdue) and a plea to Oliver

Since this past Monday, when I reached 18 weeks, I was traveling for work, I missed another blog post. So, a quick update, this week according to The Bump, baby was a yummy

And, for the dads, from the Tarzan's Guide to Baby Development:

I Am Pregnant website states that I should have gained 10-15 lbs by now. My gain? None! It worries me. When I was admitted at the ER in NC, they did an ultrasound and Oliver was measuring 4 days ahead. I am hoping that even though I am not gaining, the baby is getting whatever he needs to grow.

Now for my plea:

Dear Oliver, would you ease up on the pain you are causing your mother? I am sure when you are in your terrible twos, and then maybe pre-teens and then maybe teens, I'll wish for this pain over whatever mental torture you are putting me through then. But, for now, could I get 1 whole week of pain free enjoyment of my pregnancy? Thanks, your mom.

Sister's text and a purchase

We aren't going crazy buying stuff for the baby but every now and then, I see something and I have to have it! Like this beach cover up. And, it's for a 4 year old!!!

Also, last Sunday, we had an ultrasound and literally 3 minutes before my appointment, I get this text from my sister!

I told her to now dream of the baby having a really good career or something :-)

Oliver ____ Williams

Is that too tough to say? That's the name we are leaning very seriously towards. Also depends on what we decide for a middle name. The first one we picked started with a V and that was just too hard to pronounce with the first and last name.

Oliver - Latin origins meaning peace, the olive tree

Nickname: Olly/Oli

Name to be yelled out when mom's upset: OLIVER WILLIAMS!

Names to be used when acting cute: punkin, alien, my wittle pawasite

But no, say the name over and over and tell me if it sounds awkward: Oliver Williams

Week 17 and oh my (very long post)

This was one long week ... 2 weeks long to be exact. I missed last monday's (Week 16) post because I was busy checking out a couple ER's - Rural Virginia Medical Center in , well, VA and New Hanover Regional in NC. Long story short, started getting gall stones like pain right below my rib cage, above my belly button Saturdya night (that would be 2 Saturdays ago). It went away and we drove my sister and parents down to NC. Along the way, the pain got bad enough that they had to take me to an ER somewhere in southern VA. They gave me Maalox and Tylenol and sent me on my merry way. Not so good. The pain would return, sometimes right after I ate, someimes hours after. So, a trip to a different ER on Tuesday, June 1st. At least it was where my sister is going to do her residency so after ym stay there, I really approve. Very nice hospital, wonderful staff and their women's unit is to die for! To get back to the story, 13 hrs in the ER, 2 x-rays, a CAT scan, numerous blood tests and they found nothing wrong. Yet, they were still pumping me full of morphine because I was literally screaming in pain. In the end, the thought was (can't call it a prognosis really), that it was a bunch of acid caused by me stopping my Prilosec 2 months ago, when I found out I was pregnant. Prilosec is a Class C drug, so I figured if I didn't feel any discomfort, I'd be fine. And, I didn't feel any discomfort, till last week. They gave me Protonix which finally seems to be kicking in, since yesterday was my first full pain-fre day. Yay!

Baby news!
According to The Bump, the baby this week is a delicious

Ironic since onions are one thing I am not allowed to eat till all the acid inside is neutralized!

And, for the dad to be, from the Tarzan's Guide to Baby Development:

I am Pregnant declares:

This week fat begins to form and will continue to do so until he is born. Fat is important to the body's heat production and metabolism. The eyes are facing more forward. The ears are now close to their final position. Your baby is more flexible with ability to move head, mouth, lips, arms, wrists, hands, legs, feet, and toes. Fingerprints are forming now.

Another exciting news, we went to get an ultrasound done this past Sunday and got some pretty pictures. They were pretty sure about gender but we're not counting our chickens till the targeted ultrasound on June 25th. Till then, enjoy some pics:

Profile in the first one and his arm in the second one.

And, this is the one where the tech thought she saw gender.