21 Weeks

What’s Will up to? He’s about 10.51 inches long and 12.70 ounces. About the length of leek. A lot is going on for Baby this week. Fat, for one thing. The little guy is finally putting on some chub, a process that will continue for the rest of gestation. With fat underneath it, his skin no longer looks so translucent. His fingernails cover the nail beds completely (and may even need cutting when he's born!) and his eyelids and eyebrows are fully formed. But it's his brain development that's really taking off: This week, the sensory neurons (the nerves that communicate the sense of touch) are starting to connect to the brain, so the baby is beginning to feel touch. Touch is one of the most important senses at birth and the sensory neurons will continue to hook up to the brain for the rest of the pregnancy. Researchers believe that those nonstop kicks and all that squirming help to program the brain. I certainly am feeling those kicks this week – each day they feel stronger and stronger and I LOVE EVERY SINGLE KICK!

Appointment: My appointment was on 2.22.12 with my Peri. There were no changes since I was released from the hospital on Friday morning so that is GREAT news! I am looking forward to next week’s appointment – I will have another level 2 ultrasound to look closer at Will’s heart and other organ progress. Praying that the small hole in his heart has closed.

Bed Rest: I am quite sore this week. I have been spending most of my time on my sides to help reduce the amount of contractions, I usually have at least 1 per hour. I spent a lot of time finding a bedding set for Will’s nursery. Chris and I finally agreed on one, can't wait to decorate this spring.

Highlights: Not related to my pregnancy but my cousin Amber had her baby this week. Getting to hear about her experience and seeing pictures of her little girl was definitely a highlight this week! Also, that there was no change with me.

My body: I am up 12 pounds total and my tummy has grown 11” total.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

20 Weeks and hospital visit

What’s Will up to? He is about 10.08 inches long (crown to heel) 10.58 ounces, about the length of a carrot. On the ultrasound, you may see the baby kicking his legs or waving his arms, swallowing amniotic fluid (which is thought to help the fetal digestive system develop), and even sucking his thumb. This week I was able to see it all on the ultrasound  hand in his mouth, jumping on my bladder and contractions! Will has been breech for every ultrasounds I’ve had. This week, I have been asking him to turn and praying that God will help him turn as I know those kicks will just get stronger – I already had a couple of jumping moments where I was completely taken by surprise with the kicks to my cervix – not so pleasant but thankful still to be feeling him kicking and moving all the time.

Appointment:  Our appointment on 2.16.12 was with Dr. L and my cousin Laura was able to come with me. It was special to have her there with me and she was able to feel Will kick too – she is the first person to feel him kick! There was a drastic change this week and Dr. L. didn’t like what he was seeing. I was having contractions, I could see that I was having them but I couldn’t feel them. I was contracting almost all the way down to the stitch. Dr. L. wanted me to see my Peri as soon as possible. Dr. N.  was on call at the U of M Riverside so we made the trek out there to see her. When I came walking down the hall she was waiting for me and gave me a big hug and told me everything was going to be ok. It felt good to be there so they could monitor my contractions and to get another perspective on the situation. After they checked me, she was confident the stitch was holding strong and that for the evening we just needed to monitor the contractions over night and try to get them to stop with Indomethacin. In the morning, the ultrasound confirmed that the stitch was still holding strong and that I had lost more cervical length but it was still ok to be at home on bed rest. I was discharged with instructions to count Will’s kicks and to monitor my contractions. I started to count Will’s kicks and in 1 hour, he kicked 86 times. I decided not to do this for an entire day but to be alert if he didn’t kick at least every hour. As far as the contractions go, the Dr. wants me to lay on my sides but I can’t tell if I am contracting when I am on my sides so I have submitted this to God and I believe the contractions have stopped!!

Bed Rest: I have been watching a lot of TV – it’s less effort and the least amount of strain on my tummy the better. I also started to register on Target.com. BRU was too cumbersome so I think I am only going to do Target.

Highlights: When I was in the hospital, we had Pizza Lucé delivered.  I had always heard they had the best pizza and we were definitely impressed!

My body: I am up 12 pounds total and my tummy has grown 10” total. It has been really hard to get comfy this week with the pains from laying on my sides.

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.

2 Corinthians 2:14

19 Weeks

What’s Will up to? He’s about 6.02 inches long and 8.47 ounces - about the size of a tomato. The word for this week is "poop." Baby is starting to make meconium, a tarry, dark-brown substance that you won't see until his first poop. As he ingests and excretes amniotic fluid and other substances in his watery world, the meconium begins to form in his itty-bitty "large" intestines. Meconium is made of amniotic fluid, mucus, bile, lanugo (the feathery hair we talked about in week 14), and a bunch of other icky stuff that you don't want to know about (all of which is actually sterile and odorless and doesn't stain, so don't worry!). Although Baby has an exponential amount of weight to put on and growing and lengthening to do, he's actually so well formed by now that the biggest growth changes are over and he's less vulnerable to exposure to toxins, like alcohol.

I feel very fortunate to feel Will’s every movement and kick. Most mother’s are busy getting things done and the normal hustle and bustle of their lives that they probably only would feel 25% of the movement I feel. I am so happy to have this time with him. 

Appointment:  Our appointment on 2.10.12 was with Dr. L. There has been no change with my cervix which is wonderful news – full bed rest is definitely needed at this time. Will’s heartbeat was 159 – a little higher than normal but I treated us to a little coffee! Chris was able to come with, his hours at work changed to 4-10’s and has Friday’s off (lucky). Since the purpose of the weekly appointments is for the cervical checks, we didn’t get to see Will, just his head.

Bed Rest: I am enjoying the yummy meals our family and friends have been delivering and have enjoyed the company even more. We are so thankful for all the meals and gifts received. Being on bed rest is extremely lonely so it’s very nice having visitors. I feel bad for Chris because I never want him to go anywhere because I want the company all the time. I am still working full time from home, I am so thankful that I have this option, I can’t imagine trying to fill an additional 45 hours a week of pure boredom! I have quite a bit of acid reflux from being in the laying position all the time. I am trying different things to see if I can eliminate certain thing to reduce this.

Highlights: This week, Chris found a cheap bonded leather recliner chair that would work for me so he picked it up and put it together yesterday – I like it a lot better than the couch. Plus, it opens up more room on our sofas when we have guests.

My body: I am up 10 pounds total and my tummy has grown 10” total. My tummy is starting to appear more out front. I love looking down and seeing my tummy. I am a lot bigger than I was with Breeanna so this is new for me and very fun and exciting.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,  and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

18 Weeks

What’s Will up to? He’s about 6 ounces and 5 to 6 inches long (crown to rump). He’s about the size of a grapefruit. At week 18, his senses are maturing. He's able to hear sounds within his own comfortable environment, such as the sound of my heart beating, as well as external sounds, such as my voice. At this point in his development he's still small enough that he has plenty of room to wiggle and kick.

 Appointment: On 2.2.12 the ultrasound showed that my cervix is still completely closed. There is still a lot of funneling but it might remain that way for the rest of my pregnancy. As long as the stitch stays in, everything will be good. Today’s anatomy scan was so much fun, my mom was able to along for her first ultrasound! Will is measuring 4 days ahead of scheduled and all organs look perfect except he has a small hole in his heart that we need to monitor so I will be going to the U of M for a follow up appointment to have a specialist look at his heart. Dr. Jessica indicated sometimes, the hole will close up before they are born and for us to try and not worry about it. I believe that God will heal Will’s heart before he is born.

 Bed Rest: I am staring to get use to bed rest but it still isn’t easy. I am still working full time from my bed which is a nice time filler. I have also been reading a lot and spending time with my visitors. I had someone over almost every night. I really miss leaving the house.

Highlights: Being on bed rest has allowed me to feel Will’s every movement. I love every soft kick and movement he will share with me. Looking forward to DH being able to feel the kicks too!

My body: Not much has changed since last week, I am up 10 pounds total and my tummy has grown 9” total.

You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.

Luke 1:45