Cantaloupe...at least not 'till she's 30!

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

How far along? 20 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: 12 lbs
Maternity clothes? Yup.
Sleep: Sleeping more now that school is out. Still getting up about every 2 hours to pee.
Best moment this week: Getting kicked so hard during a movie that it SCARED me and I jumped!
Movement: Yes! The kicks are getting harder! Matt still has not been able to feel them yet, though. When I put my hand on my belly, she suddenly gets performance anxiety and stops.
Food cravings: Chocolate milk and nachos (but not together)
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: Cramps in the morning the midwife says are braxton hicks and growing pains. They always stop within a few minutes and she said not to worry about them.
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Most of my cute summery clothes; being able to climb out of a restaurant booth without help
What I am looking forward to: Matt and I are going on vacation this weekend to a 4.5 star hotel in Atlanta! Can't wait!!

The Not-so-big Ultrasound

So I've had my BIG 20 week ultrasound scheduled now for about 6 weeks. This is the ultrasound where they measure all the parts of anatomy, look at the brain and heart, and tell you the sex. I was really looking forward to this ultrasound because it would be my first "normal situation" view of my baby. Does that make sense? Every time I've had an ultrasound, it's been all doom and gloom - for unknown bleeding, or a prolapsed ute, or cervix issues, or possible neural tube defects. This ultrasound was supposed to be the one where I get to oooh and awww and just enjoy watching her hopping around, without asking all the scary questions. On top of that, this was the only ultrasound Matt could get off of work for - so we've been looking forward to this for a LONG time!!

On Friday, 3 hours before my appointment, my midwife called to let me know that they had cancelled my ultrasound because they had all the measurments from the specialist appointment 4 weeks ago and did not see a need for the big ultrasound now. Talk about disappointed!

I know I've had several more ultrasounds than the average pregnant woman, but STILL! I just wanted the experience of laying there, holding my husband's hand, and watching our baby together - without an incredible fear of what they'll find.

Now, because of my rather "interesting" issues this pregnancy, I have been seeing the MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine) specialist since 12 weeks. Originally, they had me come back in for a follow-up to re-measure my cervix, but it turned out that they needed to do a more in-depth ultrasound at that appointment 4 weeks ago due to some abnormal test results. So they measured all the body parts. Problem is, they did not TELL me this would count as my BIG ultrasound. I was all alone, crying while watching the screen as they poured over the spine and skull- praying they wouldn't find a problem.

And now I've found out that THAT counts as my big ultrasound. Blah :(

Okay, I'm going to get over it and stop complaining. I have another appointment with the MFM on June 22nd - mostly to look back over the spine and heart and make sure that nothing was missed. Matt is trying his hardest to be at that appointment, and I just KNOW we'll get good news.

Seriously, it's not like I have had a lack of ultrasounds. And starting at 28 weeks I will have one every week to make sure GB is still growing on track - so I understand I have no business to complain. I guess it's more-so the fact that I had really anticipated this appointment for weeks - the 20 week big ultrasound is like the pregnant woman's mile-marker; it confirms that you're half-way to holding your baby.

I was still scheduled to go in and have my midwife appointment, so I went and did the usual things: pee in a cup (I've become so much better at this than I used to be!), weight (I've gained 12 lbs total - not bad for halfway through!), blood pressure (120/80 - YAY!), and listen to the heartbeat on doppler. Then scheduled my next "check-up" with the midwife for July 6th.

In other news, Matt and I have decided to finally bite the bullet and buy a new car! It is always questionable as to whether his Volvo will crank in the morning, and we're tired of having to put money into repairing it, just so that it can develop another problem a week later. Right now we're looking at a Kia Sportage, a Scion,, or a Fit. At first we were looking at used cars, but now we're finding some really good new car deals, so we have a lot of thinking to do!

Now off to find Matt so he can help me post some pictures....

Dance Party in my Tummy...

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

How far along? 19 weeks and 6 days

Total weight gain/loss: Not sure - haven't been checking

Maternity clothes?Yup.

Sleep: Having a hard time this week, and I'm feeling bad for keeping Matt up when he has to get up so early for work

Best moment this week: Feeling GB move on the OUTSIDE!

Movement: Oh yes! Ever since this weekend she's been a wiggle-worm! I can feel little flutters pretty much throughout the day, but I'm also getting some little "thump" kicks below my belly-button. She's especially active during beakfast and lunch. Also during movies:)

Food cravings: Chocolate milk

Gender: Girl!

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but starting to become shallower. Matt says I should be glad becauser it will make it easier to clean. ???

What I miss: Cynthia's end of the year hard strawberry lemonade. I don't mind giving up alcohol for 9 months, but did EVERYONE at the department party have to rant and rave about that drink?!

What I am looking forward to: Our BIG u/s with the OB this Friday!! Matt is leaving work early to be there, then we are going to register this weekend!

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.