(June 5th, 2008) - Well, we arrived at the hospital around 7pm for the induction. After getting settled in a room and getting hooked to monitors, IV, etc., I was check and dilated to just a 1. The cytotek was then administered. The little pill was placed on my cervix at 8:30 PM. 4 hours later, another pill was inserted and I was checked again. 1 1/2 cm dilated. Boo!! So, we decided it was best if Ken went home for some rest. The Dr. had planned on starting pitocin at 5 AM and figured that I'd deliver some time late morning to early afternoon. So, off Ken went and I tried to get some sleep. BUT...all of a sudden, contractions started coming stronger and faster. At first I thought I just had to pee. Then another contraction and another. They did this for 3 hours. About 1 to 2 minutes apart. The nurse, bless her heart, assured me that this was normal for an induction and that it would get worse after the pitocin was started. I started to worry. I knew the pitocin was coming soon and I hadn't a single wink of sleep with all those contractions. So, I asked for an epidural and figured I'd get rest before PJ, Ken and Grandma Tillie came back to the hospital.
Right before the anesthesiologist arrived, I really felt like I had to pee. When I sat on that toilet, I thought I was going to die. That by far was the worst pain of the night. I made it back to bed and didn't even attempt to pee. The epi was administered and didn't take, so he did it again. This time we were in business. I was so numb, it was freaky. But because of the double stick, I got an extra dosage. I didn't even need to use my button to get more meds after that. I felt great! Then the nurse went to insert the catheter and decided to check my cervix. OH MY GOD!!!! I was at 9 cm. No wonder I had all that pain. Time to call Ken and the Dr. The nurse sort of freaked and I was just in shock. About 45 minutes later, Ken, PJ and Mom arrived. Thank God I got the epidural because I had to hold the baby in for quite some time. Even without pushing, the baby was crowning and the nurse was getting very nervous.
Finally, Dr. Blake arrives and we prep for delivery. PJ is just in shock. Everyone is really. No one expected it to go that fast. Shoot, I was only a 1 when I arrived. For a second, PJ got a little pale, but she pulled through and I got ready to push.
One, two, three...push...WAIT...slow breathing...baby's head is out...contraction...breath, no pushing...baby slides right out. YEAH!!! No tearing, no blood, clean as a whistle. A little dry though. Somehow, my water had broke without me knowing and the baby must have clogged the leak. The Dr. tells PJ to call it. IT'S A GIRL!!!!!
Wow, what a great birth experience. It was tough laboring through the night. It was fast and hard, but I liked it better than slow and long. The birth itself was fantastic and controlled. I wanted so badly to have a good experience for myself and especially for PJ. It couldn't have been better. She was such a big girl and I know she was completely mesmorized by the whole experience. Already the bond between sisters is extraordinary.
Micah Jolie Simeon entered the world at 5:30AM on June 6th, 2008 and was 6 lbs 0 oz. 18 1/2 inches long and pink as can be. Beautiful full head of dark hair and big, almond eyes like her sister. She latched instantly to feed, was very alert and super strong. 24 hours later, we were home resting and getting to know one another. What a joyous experience for me, Ken, PJ and Mom. It couldn't have been a better pregnancy, delivery and birth. We are thrilled!
As you probably know, having a newborn is very time consuming. Hence the lack of updates. But, I did get time to pull together the first 5 days worth of pictures to share Micah's delivery and homecoming. Click here to view.
This squatter really needs to be evicted and I'm not sure what else to do. I mean, I've done it all and the little bugger won't leave. I think he/she wants to but the door is locked. I've tried every key and nothing opens the door either. Ken joked about castor oil last night and I didn't even laugh. I'm nearly that desperate. Well, maybe not THAT desperate. For some reason, the whole poo'ing thing just freaks me out. I mean, what if you can't stop and then there you are in the hospital bed and afraid to push for fear of "something" gross happening. Seems like it would ruin the whole experience. It's not like you aren't freaked out enough in there. Know what I mean?
Anyway, here we are at 38 weeks. Dropping more each day, still same stupid, fake contractions and moving around like I'm feeling great. Physically, that's the case, great. Emotionally, I'm tired and bitchy. Gee...can you tell? I think I'd convinced myself that we wouldn't last this long, so it's killing me to wait. Definitely not my strong point -- patience. Well, stay tuned and keep fingers crossed for something, anything, to happen today. I'll keep working on it. I think some pilates and walking (and natural proglastins - know what I mean?) are in store for me today. Not like it's done any good in the past, but doing nothing just isn't an option.
Today marks our due date we first received from Dr. Blake (based on LMP). Apparently, Popcorn didn't get the memo. The Dr. is still on vacation so I didn't get checked this morning. Just a non stress and ultrasound. Both all good. The nurse did say that I'm all baby, but there are sufficient pockets of fluid still. She mentioned that I should watch closely for any leaking and get to the hospital if I suspect anything. She didn't check me because the Dr. is still out of town. I was bummed, but what can I do. I have had a lot of false contractions lately, so my fingers are crossed that I don't have to wait for an induction. I'm assuming Dr. Blake would schedule it at our next appt. He'd mentioned that he didn't want me to go past the 1st week of June, so that's right around the corner. All I can do is walk, walk, walk (which doesn't seem to do me any good, but is good exercise). I'll play some wii fit with PJ after school, maybe that will get me going. After baby, we're planning on using the wii fit for a little experiment. Ken and I are going to do it everyday and put in our weight loss goals. We'll chronical the whole thing and let you all know if the wii fit really works or not. If nothing, it's fun as heck!
OK...any day now, Popcorn. Everyday I get the feeling that this might be "it". But, here I am and still carrying around this basketball. Albeit, a very deflated looking one at this point. I can say there is some glimmer of hope that it could be soon. I've begun to slow down significantly and am finally showing signs of being pregnant. I've had some back pain, pelvic pain and definitely feel a bit more tired than usual. Nothing has been unbareable, but it's more than I'm used to feeling. The contractions keep coming, but are still very irregular. Some hurt, so that's probably a good thing.t Today is lawn care day, so maybe mowing will kick start things. If not that, maybe the walk to pick up PJ from school. PJ is funny, she asked, "why are we walking home from school EVERYDAY?" She probably figures, "why do I have to walk when it's Mom that is trying to get this baby out?" Typically we walk about 3 days a week, not 5. I told her we'll walk till Popcorn falls out. She thought I was crazy.
As for baby, the Dr's appt was great as usual. Dr. Blake is out of town this week, so the nurse wants me to wait till the Dr. returns before labor starts. I could care less. I figure it this way, you really only see the Dr. for like 15 minutes (when pushing). Before that, it's all nurses. After baby, the Dr. is like "wham, bam, thank you Mam..." Know what I mean? So, unless you have complications, and I hope not to, it doesn't much matter if the Dr. is there or not. I'm sure Mercy hospital has capable Doctors on hand.
As for how the weekend has gone, well, a few more contractions here and there and a bit stronger. Ken and I strolled all around Hillcrest last night enjoying the beautiful evening and having dinner at La Veche, a wonderful French restaurant. The food was fabulous and the night was just fantastic. 75 degrees with a slight breeze. Can't beat that. It was a nice dinner date before the new baby. It'll be a good few months before we'll have another, so we're so happy it was such a beautiful night. As for today, we're headed to the North Park Arts Festival, so wish me luck. Maybe I can kick start labor with the walking. Worth a try!
For those of you worried about us having the baby and not knowing, believe me, you'll know. Come on folks, this is one of the most exciting moments in all 3 of our lives and we'll want to share the news with the world, let alone our family. Being private for delivery has nothing to do with spreading our exciting news upon arrival. We will want everyone to know our baby has entered the world!
As for 36 weeks, not much to report. Seems just like 35 weeks. I did gain a pound. Guess Popcorn is putting on some fat. It can't be me. Of course not. That's not possible. Yeah, right. I do think the baby has dropped even a bit more into the pelvic cavity. I feel pretty good still, although I'm a little disappointed that the contractions I was having last weekend are now all but gone. The Dr's appointment was the standard non stress test and ultrasound to check fluid. All was great. So, I'm just strolling along, which is a good thing. I can't complain. Well, I can, but I'll spare you all.
Ever so close...yet so far away. That's how this feels. I mean, this is the point where you get anxious, tired, excited and scared all at the same time. We are pretty prepared, but there are still a few things we need to do. I haven't even opened this breast pump, so that should happen soon. I might need to know how it works, right? Also, it's about time to start preparing those extra meals to freeze. Those were great when PJ was born. It's amazing how much time and energy a newborn can suck up. Even with Mom here to help, I have a feeling we'll all be a little overwhelmed that first week.
Speaking of Grandma Tillie, she arrives tomorrow. PJ is very, very excited. This will be great for PJ. She loves her Grandparents and really thrives on spending quality time with them. Plus, she can't wait to show Grandma her "gap". Yup, PJ finally lost a tooth. But...she didn't just lose it out of her mouth. She "lost" it, lost it. We had a little party for Cinco de Mayo and all the kids were playing in the pool. I looked over and saw the gap. PJ never even knew the tooth had fallen out. Ken swam for an hour looking for the tooth, but to no avail. We're guessing she swallowed it. Oopy! Good news, PJ has another really loose one already, so we're hoping it comes out this weekend and she can put that one under her pillow with a note to the toothfairy. I'm sure she'll understand.
So, on to Popcorn. He/She is in position for sure, lots of fluid, very active, great heart beat, not too much room left (as you can tell from the pics) and has really long fingers and big eye sockets like PJ had in her ultrasound pics. I only got a glance, but seems like a mini PJ. We can't wait to meet our little popcorn. Just a few more weeks, hopefully. Dr. Blake said he will induce if I make it to June 1.
And to end this week, I'd like to share our alien baby movie. Please don't be alarmed. Popcorn is just getting a little lonely and wants O-U-T!
Popcorn is getting into position. Head is definitely down and he/she has begun to engage. At my appt, Dr. Blake said I'm measuring 30 weeks, but that doesn't mean that the baby is small. In fact, he thinks I'm actually on track for a similar size as PJ. We'll know more when we have our next appt and ultrasound. I think that's on May 5th.
Well, PJ is now 6 years old! She's so grown. It's hard to remember her even being in my belly like Popcorn. I look back at pics and think back at how so many things have changed in our lives. In a month or so, our little family will be just a bit bigger and things will change even more. Such a wonderful thing, raising a family. It's beautiful, really.
As for PJ being 6, I put together a slideshow from her party at Angel Acres last weekend. It was amazing! PJ had a great time and her little friends all seemed to love it. The people at Angel Acres were wonderful and the day was glorious. PJ got to ride a horse named Cimmeron, they played pin the tale on the horse (using peanut butter and a REAL horse), they had a treasure hunt, did a barrel racing competition, had a drawing lesson and learned a lot about caring for horses and living on a ranch. It was great! Our little girl deserves it. She is a great kid and we are so proud of her. Since I couldn't decide what to get her, I decided I'd write her a poem. Although there are no words that truly explain the love I feel for her, this poem was my best attempt.
Daughter, Beautiful Daughter
My beautiful daughter, PJ
You may never know
How my heart fills with pride
As I watch you learn and grow
One day you will become
Independent and free
But you’ll always be my baby
And mean everything to me
Like a butterfly in the sky
So beautiful and light
You warm my heart and soul
You make my life so bright
So on this special day
I hope I’ve made it clear,
You are my darling daughter
And I love you oh so dear
Love,
Mommy
Ken had a great Naruto frame and collage done for her (they are both huge anime fans) and all her friends got her wonderful and thoughtful gifts like books, art supplies and lap boards, swim suits and just their friendship. PJ really scored with Grandparents, but isn't that to be expected. ;-) Thank you all for everything! PJ has been hard at work writing her thank you notes, so please be patient.
1 lb weight gain and I think it all went to baby Popcorn. All of a sudden, I feel huge and pregnant. It sure doesn't seem the same as PJ at 32 weeks, but I think I forgot a lot after 6 years. I just feel so much more "out there". My belly is really tight and even when I look back at pics it seems I'm bigger this time. Maybe just shaped different. More like a bullet. All this bolsters my theory that we're farther along than the Doc thinks. Maybe it's just wishful thinking. Just so long as I don't have no 10 lb baby. HAHA!!!
Speaking of 10 lb babies, it's time once again for the "baby contest". Please feel out the form above and submit your best guess.
Here are a few hints. 1st due date was May 27th, then Dr. changed it to June 12th (after 2 ultrasounds). I've gained 17 lbs so far and am carrying low and like a bullet. Baby is very active and strong and of course you've seen the ultrasounds which are also shown below. So, what do you think?
As for this week, we're just looking forward to the weekend. Especially PJ. She is so very excited for her birthday and party. She has a very small group of girlfriends going to a farm/riding camp to learn about horses and get one on one riding lessons. Her love of animals never waivers. She's always thought horses were so beautiful so I'm glad she'll have this opportunity. Grandma and Grandpa sent her a cowboy hat for the occassion and she wears it everywhere. Too cute!!!
We are getting so excited for the baby. A little anxious too. I think we have everything we need for the arrival. Ken is picking up the bassinet tonight and we've got the crib all set up. It's gorgeous. Matches PJ's room decor perfectly. I'll post pics next week. I just want to get the mobile up and lamp. That will top it all off. So for now, we wait. I'm still working out and no, it's not causing any contractions or anything. I walk to pick PJ up from school everyday too and nothing. So, guess popcorn is comfy for now. Wish I could say the same for me. Just kidding. It's not so bad...YET!
All good on the homefront. We had our Dr. Appt on Tuesday and it was one of those quick as lightening appointments. Blood pressure check, weight, urine, no question? OK, all good. See you in 2 weeks! It took all of 15 minutes and most of that was spent waiting for the Dr. But, it's all good. Everything checked out fine and baby is strong and wiggly. Heart is good, growth is good, weight gain is good. Funny thing is, I was right at 16 lbs weight gain with PJ at this point as well. These pregnancies have been nearly identical. Even down to the low iron I am experiencing. Pretty crazy!
As for how we're enjoying 31 weeks...well, we're just loving all the movements and laughing at the alien in the belly. Popcorn loves to kick at PJ and really responds to her voice. She loves that a lot. PJ can barely fit on my lap anymore, but when she does, Popcorn always gives her a good wack in the back. Already fighting for Mommy's attention. Having another child is very scary to me and Ken. We are hoping that we can spread our time between the two without too much disruption to our very easy going life we have now. Things are so calm, we just can't imagine what it wil be like with a newborn in the house. We shall soon find out!
Doc says 9 more weeks. I think we'll be lucky to get to May 25th. So, I guess it's about time to get our guessing game together for you all. Who will win this time? Maybe Aunt Seya will be a two time champ. She was just about perfect in selecting PJ's birthday, gender and weight. Look for the contest to start next week some time.
Well, hope you all have a great weekend. PJ and I are having a Mommy/Daughter weekend together while Ken attends a Linux conference. We plan some beach time, movies, dinner and lots of shopping for baby.
I'm home and doing much, much better. Feeling great actually. Nothing a little drugs couldn't cure, I suppose. ;-) Basically, I have a cyst on my left ovary and torsion in the fallopian tube. Probably brought on by pregnancy hormones. It could resolve on it's own, could get worse or stay the same. Not much can be done other than surgery and we all agree that isn't a good thing at 29 weeks. So, as long as we can control the pain, we'll keep on truckin' along.
As for Popcorn, he/she is doing great and made all the nurses laugh at my popping belly and huge rolls. So, it's all good. Normal activity and rest if pain is really strong. Boy, I'm glad that's all that was wrong. I sure felt sorry for the women that were in the hospital with me. Some were there for the duration of their pregnancy. It's just good to be home. I missed my PJ so much, there's no way I want to be without her for two months. She was very sad when I had to stay another night in the hospital, but she was very mature about it all and put on a brave face. What a champ!
Well, we had our first and hopefully last hiccup of the pregnancy. Last night I ended up in the ER/Triage with severe cramping in my pelvis and lower back. No real contractions, but just a lot of pain. We went in and had Popcorn checked and he/she was great. My cervix is soft, but closed and no persistent contractions. So, we went home. Then...boom! An hour later I woke with unbearable pain and Ken insisted we go back to the hospital. So, here I am. They did an ultrasound and found a cyst on my left ovary and believe the excrutiating pain is my tube twisting, what they call torsion. It's horrible. It's like the worst menstrual cramps and contractions all in one and the bad thing is, unlike contractions, there's no break in between. It's constant.
So, as of now, I'm typing in my hospital bed at Mary Birch and waiting on the Dr. to give me a heads up on what can and cannot be done to remedy this pain. I'm taking percoset now and it's working, but I don't want to do that for the next 2 months, but the pain would not be bareable either. As it is, I can barely walk when the big pains hit. Then it mellows out and is like a dull cramp. That is doable. The massive pain, not doable. Anyway, popcorn seems oblivious to this all. Bouncy as ever! :) Of course, that is most important. I guess when the Dr. makes his rounds, I'll find out more. Should be today some time. Stay tuned...
OK, now the fun part starts. NOT! This is the phase when it begins to feel like it will never end. When you love feeling your baby move and wiggle, even if it's painful at times, but you still love it. Only you love it so much that you just want to hold it and see it and be done. I know that's how we feel. Everything suddenly seems so real and yet it feels like a dream. We love this baby and can't wait for him/her to be born. So, patiently we wait and try to enjoy the rolls of the belly, the laughs with the hiccups and all the other great things that come with being pregnant.
On the medical front, our appt yesterday went smooth as silk. Popcorn is nearly 3 lbs now and mommy is up 14. Not too bad, but a bit more than I had gained with PJ at this point. Not sure my 20lb weight gain goal is doable this time. I'm thinking I'm going to go over. Dr. Blake was estatic with the numbers, but then again, he's not the one that's carrying the baby or having to lose the baby weight after. ;-) It doesn't matter though, so far so good. A little extra means a little more exercise after baby is all. No biggy. PJ will make sure I get it. She has enough energy for us all! As for baby, heartbeat seems right around what PJ's was 136-145. Very strong kicks and long legs. I can feel all the leg shape on the outside of my belly at times. Almost alien like, but very cool. Especially for PJ. I do feel this baby a lot lower than PJ, but Dr. Blake said that's normal for 2nd babies. Now that the baby has turned, it's feeling better and more into the ribs. I'll take that any day over the awful pain from last week. I thought this baby was on the way out!
A lot of people keep asking us what we're having and seem shocked that we don't want to know the sex. Well, I know it makes us a bit odd for today, but we do truly just want a surprise. However, I will say, it's been a nightmare trying to find neutral gender clothing this go round. Sheesh! PJ and I were looking for layettes yesterday and not one single set was neutral gender. Gosh, are we the only people in America to NOT find out the sex? Anyway, we're starting to stock up on items for the baby and are trying to decide if we should set the crib up now or later. We're still in such a quandry with the house up for sale and not knowing where we'll be in a few months. We'd sure like to be settled in a new house, but I think time is running out. Shoot, we have less than 12 weeks left and that's if we go all the way. I have a feeling we'll be a few weeks early, just like PJ. Just my gut feeling, but Mom knows best, right?
Last on agenda...baby names. We have no idea. None! PJ (Payton Jade) was so well recieved and liked. Now we feel pressure to come up with something so nice for this baby. About the only names we've sort of liked are Joaquin for a boy. I'm worried about spelling and pronounciation when he's PJ's age, but who knows. We've also tossed around Apollo since we like Greek names, but not sure. We did like Jaxson, but all of a sudden it's becoming too popular. Ken liked Athena at one time for a girl and PJ mentioned Gabriella, but that's about all we've come up with on the girl side. If you have any suggestions, please forward.
Well, we hope everyone has a great Easter weekend! We'll be at Petco park for an Easter celebration and children's benefit on Saturday and enjoying the sun, brunch and pool on Sunday. It's supposed to be a beautiful weekend here in San Diego, so I hope our warm weather spreads your way.
So, as you can see, we went and had a 4D ultrasound done yesterday. It was amazing! Popcorn (that's what we're calling our little one since he/she is always bouncing around) was trying to be shy, but the tech poked and prodded him/her out and got some great shots. It was hilariious to see the tech poke my belly and be able to see how that actually looks for the baby. The baby is probably going, "what the hell is that bonking me in the head!". In addition to these pics, I have video that I'll also post, but that's a little more technical, so give me a few days.
Finally, PJ has agreed that Popcorn looks like a baby and not just an alien. Oh, the tech also mentioned (and was in serious shock) that the baby already has hair! She said that is unheard of this early, but she's sure she saw hair. Bring on those black waves, we can't wait to see and meet you, Popcorn!
Oh, also, we had our regular Dr's appt yesterday as well. Just rolling right along. As mentioned above, little Popcorn is a mover. He/she wouldn't cooperate with the nurse so she couldn't get a good heartrate. Popcorn is really good at rolling, kicking and hiding from the doppler. But, later in the day, the 4D tech said the baby is at 141 beats per minute, so that's great.
Other than all this exciting and fun ultrasound stuff, we've started to buy little things here and there and are slowly preparing the house for our little one. I've picked up most of my first set of cloth diapers already. With PJ I learned that Fuzzi Bunz and Bumkins are the absolute best, so this time I know exactly what to buy. I wish I had mom here with me to help sew up some inserts though. Guess I'll have to try my best. I'm not a great seamstress, but I'll give it a whirl.
So, now that everyone has seen the baby's cute little face. Any thoughts? Boy or girl? HAHA! 13-15 more weeks to find out, depending on which date we believe. Remember, conception was a bit of a mystery since we had a miscarriage the month before conceiving Popcorn. I wasn't even supposed to be ovulating, but here we are!!! So, due date is either May 27th or June 12th. Take your pick.
We got to see our little one at the Dr. appt this week. PJ went with us and was so excited. She still thinks it looks like an alien. She's probably right. Even Dr. Blake said so. The baby was wiggling all over and sticking out it's tongue. It was really cute. At the end of the sonogram, the baby even got hiccups. I could feel them as I watched, which was really weird but funny at the same time. All in all, the measurements were good, his/her heart is strong, and the weight was right on track with our dates. We were so scared to accidently see the "private parts", but nope! So, it's still a surprise for all of us. Will it be a boy or a girl? Guess we'll find out in 4 months.
On the home front, I've been keeping busy remodeling PJ's bathroom and laying tile. I asked the Dr. if bending down so much could hurt the baby and he said no. He said there is a lot of cushion in there and it will be just fine. But last night, I was reaching for a bowl in the cabinet and my belly pushed against the counter. The weirdest sensation was felt. Like the baby's leg was sticking out and got squished when I reached. It kinda scared me and made me feel really bad. So, although the baby might have a lot of protection, I do believe that it does feel some things outside the belly. I guess it's about time for me to start being just a little more careful with my "baby bump". As you will see from the updated belly pics and ultrasounds, me and the baby are growing!
Well, it's 2008. Can you believe it? We had another Doctor appt. today and all went well. No ultrasound this time, but we heard the little bugger on the doppler and the heart was super strong. When Dr. Blake was trying to find the heartbeat, the baby kicked him. It was pretty funny. I've been feeling this one move for about 2 weeks now and both Ken and PJ have felt some kicks, so we've got a strong one on our hands. I've gained 4 lbs and am getting a few braxton hicks contractions every now and again. A little pain from my uterus and ligaments stretching, but still doing pretty good. Really, this past month was pretty uneventful (thankfully). Just glad we can feel the baby a little now and can't wait for him/her to grow even bigger and be able to hear the heartbeat at home.
Next Dr. appt we will have the 20 week ultrasound done. We're not finding out the sex, so get ready for the guessing game. Don't forget to check out PJ's quotes of the week. They are too funny. This baby is going to have one awesome big sister!
We had our first screen (Nuchal Translucency) scan done this week and so far all the news is positive. We're awaiting blood work results to get the actual number, but the measure was 1.5cm, which is well within the normal range. Really, any nuchal measurement above 2.5 - 3.0cm is cause for concern and puts the baby at high risk for chromosomal defects. This great measurement doesn't mean we're guaranteed against any issues, but it does give us a big sigh of relief. If the blood results are good, that will be even better.
I've posted the ultrasound pics that were done for the measurement and noted what the nuchal measurement is and it's location. This fold at the back of the skin is what is usually large with babies that have chromosomal issues or defects. It's not a proof positive thing, but does detect around 75-80% of 1st trimester problems, so that's pretty good for a screening test. This time the Dr. didn't print the best pics. Ken was like, "Man, there were better ones. Give me that machine and computer. I'll do it myself." HAHA! We did get to see our little one moving all over and his/her long legs and fingers. Just like PJ. Dr. Blake said we have a cute baby. :-) So, here we are on week 12. Moving right along. Oh, and yes, I did gain some weight. 1/2 a pound. My clothes are starting to fit snug and I'm definitely feeling the stretching pains as our little one starts to take up all the room.
OK, I was hoping to backtrack and give you all an idea about how we found out, when we told PJ and all the other fun and exciting things that happened over the last couple of months, BUT, it's really just more fun to show you the belly and ultrasound pics and say that this is definitely an exciting and fantastic time for our family!
Now, about week 11. Everything is just about like when I was pregnant with PJ. No morning sickness (thank God), no weight gain (yet, it's coming), but very tired. Funny thing is, I'm only tired in the morning. Around 9AM, I could go back to sleep. Seems like after I eat breakfast, I'm even worse. Food coma, I guess. That's what PJ would say. Other than the fatigue, all is well and I'm feeling pretty good
As for the baby, he/she is doing great and will be in for yet more pictures on Monday. We go in for our nuchal translucency test. This is to measure the fluid at the back of the neck, check for nasal bone presense and do blood work. They do some sort of calculation using my age and all the measurements from the ultrasound. This calculation will determine what the risk for a baby with genetic issues might be. Based on these numbers, we will have to decide whether or not to do an amniocentesis.
So, yes, it's a bit scary. But, we're staying positive and looking forward to seeing our baby once again on the monitor. It's amazing how they wiggle and thrash about at this small size. Right now the baby is about as big as my middle finger. PJ says it looks like an alien. I can't wait till she can feel the baby kick. A few more months.
