18 week update!

***NOTE: I can't figure out why this darn blog won't let me make paragraphs!!! If anyone knows what's wrong with my settings, please tell me! Otherwise I'll have to let Matt play around with it in HTML form*****


How far along? 18 weeks!!!

Total weight gain/loss: Gained 6lbs

Maternity clothes? I "popped" so now almost nothing fits! My bump is definitely visible - pics to come!

Sleep: I wish - I am soooooo tired!!!

Best moment this week: Ever since Matt learned that Abigail can hear he has talked with her every night before bed. He puts his face right on my belly and tell her to "grow, grow, grow!" Then he always says something sweet to her. **SIGH** It's the sweetest part of my day. I love my little family.

Movement: Feeling different in the lower abdomen, but not real kicks yet. I'm pretty sure it's Abby, but I will hold off on saying for certain.

Food cravings: Anything blueberry, Olive Garden salads...

Gender: The specialist confirmed on Monday that she is ALL GIRL!! We will start registering in a few weeks :)

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? In...of course...

What I miss: being able to breathe through my nose. So STUFFY!

What I am looking forward to: My next regular OB visit on June 5th. Matt will get to come to the ultrasound!!!

My Sweet potato!

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

Oops. I forgot to make a post for 17 weeks....This past week has been so incredibly hectic! Andrew and Jessica tied the knot on Saturday, May 16th, so I was in Milledgeville from Thursday to Sunday. Friday was the bridesmaid luncheon which was so much fun! We dressed Jessica up in a toilet paper wedding dress (don't ask) and had a great time listening to the Ya-Ya's (Jess' grandmother and friends) give advice on marriage. Afterwards, mom and I decorated the rehearsal dinner sight and made it over to the rehearsal with time to spare. That evening is sort of a blur, but both the rehearsal and dinner went splendidly. Andrew and Jessica had a trivia game about the couple before the food came out - I'm proud to say I did fairly well! I do know my brother after all!

The wedding was beautiful (and brief - even better!) and I really enjoyed shaking my booty to the cha-cha slide. I seemed to have "popped" this past weekend - I'm so glad my bridesmaid dress still fit, but I was definitely looking pregnant!

After the wedding and all the goodbyes, Matt and I went back to the hotel to pack our things. Somehow we never made it to packing and ended up passed out asleep within minutes. So much for going home Saturday night!

On Sunday we went to a brunch with the out-of-town family at IHOP (my GOODNESS I love blueberry syrup!!), then to Aunt Nancy's in Covington to spend some time with my cousins.

Finally we ended up at home around 8pm Sunday - but not before I had caught a terrible cold/sinus infection. Blah! Right now I'm taking Tylenol Cold and Sinus, along with a squirt or two of Zicam at night so I can sleep.

Monday was my follow-up appointment with the Maternal-fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist. The tech measured my cervix (which is perfect!) and took a lot of time looking at baby Abigail on ultrasound. The baby was being a little wiggle-worm and I was able to see all of her fingers, toes, and even double check to make sure that she's still a girl. And she is! :) Nothing between those legs at all.

When the doctor came in to talk to me, he looked very serious. As it turns out, he had received the results from my AFP bloodwork. While we have only a 1 in 10,000 chance of having down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities (that statistic is considered a negative result - yay!), we have an elevated risk of spina bifida. In fact, it's 1 in 4. A highly positive result.

Spina bifida is a neural tube disorder where the spinal cord somehow does not get enclosed within the vertebrae. Babies who are born with this issue, while mentally unaffected, often cannot walk. There are inutero surgeries available to put the cord back in the spinal column, but they cannot reverse the nerve damage.

The doctor explained that he could not see ANY sign of spina bifida on the ultrasound, and the usual markers in the brain are not present. According to him, Abigail does NOT have Spina bifida.

So the question remains - why did I test positive for it??

Sometimes testing positive for spina bifida means that there is something wrong with the placenta. Women who test this high sometimes have babies that stop growing , and can end in stillbirth. Right now Abigail is getting all she needs, but the doctor will start monitoring me very carefully (an ultrasound every week!!!) starting at 28 weeks. If Abigail appears to be struggling or not growing properly, they will perform an early delivery.

I'm really rather calm about this, considering. I feel like we've come such a long way, and I just KNOW everything is going to turn out fine. But we still could use your thoughts and prayers :)

Our next appointment in June 5th - Matt is going to get to come with me for a measurement ultrasound. I'm so excited because he hasn't been able to get off of work for most ultrasounds up to this point. I think he'll be amazed at how much Abby has grown!!

My little avacado...

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

How far along? 16 weeks, 3days!!
Total weight gain/loss: Gained 4lbs - still down 1lb from where I was at the beginning of the pregnancy. The midwife is not concerned, and due to my recent discovery of my love for food, I think I will be gaining quite a bit more before my 20 week appointment.
Maternity clothes? Got some new pants at Kohl's for 80% off! They are the "Secret Belly Fit" and I LOVE them! So comfy :)

Sleep: Still waking up every 2 hours. I am SO TIRED when the alarm goes off!

Best moment this week: Hearing Abigail's heartbeat on the home doppler on Mother's Day AS SOON as I put it on my belly. She even stayed still for 10 whole minutes so Matt could finish his shower and come listen too. Heartrate=168

Movement: Had a weird "tapping" on my belly at 2am one morning after drinking a cold glass of water. Hmmm....

Food cravings: Macaronie and cheese, bananas, french fries, nutragrain bars (bluberry), and blueberry eggo waffles

Gender: We have a follow-up ultrasound on June 5th to verify her girliness, but the midwife said that Dr. Brown (the one who told us GB is a girl) has NEVER been wrong!

Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? In...of course...
What I miss: having the energy to clean house

What I am looking forward to: Going back to the specialist on May 18th and learning that everything is still going great :)

What To Expect When You're Expecting LIES!

1.) "Morning sickness will subside by the 14th week of pregnancy."

Um, NO. If I forget a dose of my zofran, you can bet I will be praying to the porcelain goddess for the next hour. STILL. I cannot make it through a day without puking STILL. And BTW: 12 pills of generic zofran costs $215.00 at Publix - thank God for my insurance!!

2.) "A cold glass of water is often sufficient for settling a queasy stomach"

Can was say "projectile vomit"? Matt has become an expert hair-holder-backer, car pull-overer, sink-dish-mover, and back-rubber. He's truly rising to the task at hand :)

3.) "Frequent urination usually does not become apparent until the third trimester"

Whatevs

4.) "Expect frequent mood swings"

Okay. Fine. This one is very true. I am in a constant pendulum swing from loving my husband desperately to not being able to stand the sight of him. It doesn't help that he's having sympathy mood swings too.

So on Friday my kids took their AP Euro test and I went to my 16 week appointment. Both monumental occasions. I drank the orange drink and peed in a cup and had my blood drawn. Also, I got to hear Abigail's heartbeat on the doppler - she was squirming all around and kicked it several times!

One of my student's mothers found out I was having a girl and brought me a TON of lightly used baby items. We're talking clothes from Carter's, Baby Gap, and the Children's Place. And a wonderful car seat too. I cannot tell you how thankful I am! This is finally starting to feel real, and I'm getting soooo excited!

Saturday Matt and I got up early (4:30am!) to make the drive over to Milledgeville for Andrew and Jessica's graduation. It was a BEAUTIFUL day outside - not too hot! It made me miss being an undergrad, lazing about campus with my shoes off and a good book.

For our Mother's Day, we had lunch at Matt's parents' house and did some much-needed grocery shopping. And now...I am off to watch this past week's episode of Grey's Anatomy :)

15 Weeks!

Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements.

How far along? 15 weeks, 3days!!

Total weight gain/loss:Not sure - I think I may have gained seeing being on m/s meds.

Maternity clothes? In them. I seriously look like I stuffed a bag of donuts right under my chest. Can't wait until it looks more baby and less bloaty.

Sleep: WANT to, but situations are keeping me from getting enough! Like the car breaking down on 285 at midnight Saturday. And the tornados running through my town.

Best moment this week: Learning GB is a little GIRL!!

Movement: I'm having these little belly "spasms" where the skin seems to twitch, but I'm not sure if that's GB or not...

Food cravings: Sharp cheddar cheese, Mcdonald's fries, green beans

Gender: All sugar and spice!

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? In...of course...

What I miss: when going poo was not such a big accomplishment - worthy of a happy dance.

What I am looking forward to: My 16 week appointment on Friday - the same day my kids take their AP exam! (Although I'm not looking forward to the gestational diabetes test and blood draw.