Happy 16 wks! Happy New 2012! And Happy Birthday to me!!

Well, I've made it to 16wks and 34 years of age! :-)  I'm ready for a New Year and New Beginnings.  2012 already holds such joy and excitement in store for me and my family, with the birth of our newest addition joining our fam in just 5 short months.  I am now in the 2ww (again!), but this time looking forward to knowing whether I have a little he or she growing in my belly.  I'll know in 2 weeks!  Can't wait!  I've been feeling more "flutters"/baby movements the past few days, still very light but present.  Looking forward to the days when I can feel my little sweetie all the time.  I enjoyed a wonderful birthday dinner with my precious family tonight at Outback Steakhouse...good grub! 

Here's me and my handsome men

Scooter surprised me with some of my fave Godiva chocolates and special birthday dessert at the restaurant, where they all sang "Happy Birthday" to me....Love my Family!

Me and my honey, baby included :-)

And here's what's going on with baby this week....

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

16w1d

15 weeks already?!

I can't believe I'm already 15 weeks!  I'm SO thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me and my baby with safety and perfect health this pregnancy and I'm fully confident He Will contine to be with us, watching over us, every step of the way.  I'm feeling pretty good lately, at least better than I was in the first trimester.  Morning sickness still sneaks up on me from time to time, but it's slowly fading away...whew!  I'm also very relieved my heartburn hasn't been as bad either, which has opened up more opportunity for me to really eat as much as I want.  I crave just about anything that pops into my head.  The old wives' tales say: when you're pg with a girl you will crave sweets and salty foods with a boy, but I crave it all!  I have noticed I am carrying higher up and I've never carried like that before with any of my boys, which they also say is the sign of a girl.  AND the baby's HB has been very high, also a sign of a girl.  So, I'm really starting to think I may be finally having my girl!  I'm too excited and can't wait to find out!  Boy or Girl, I can't wait to cradle my baby in my arms and kiss their little lips.  I love rubbing and carressing my belly in front of Scott...haha.  He tells me, "Savor the Flavor"...lol.  But, I would Love to have more in the future, if it's Father's Will.  I just love having this little life form within me, such a miracle, I'm cherishing every minute.  I have felt baby flutters ever since about 11wks., about 1-2 times a week, so not very often and the movements are not very strong yet, feels like bubbles.  I'm sure the times of quickening will be increasing now that I'm into my 15th wk and I'm so looking forward to when I can feel him/her on a daily basis.  Right now my doppler brings me comfort that baby is doing well and my ever growing bump.
I have some very exciting days coming up in Jan.  Jan. 15th my good friend, Misty is having her baby shower, she's due with her first little boy in March.  Then, the next day on the 16th is my 2nd visit with the Perinatologist, I'll be 18wks so we WILL be finding out if our little baby is a He or a She!!  Of course, Scott and the boys will be with me AND my mom and stepdad are planning on coming into town too, I couldn't be happier!!  I have some cute ideas for announcement pics for the gender.  Then the following day, the 17th, I have my 4th Prenatal appt with Dr. Allison.  I'm not sure if she's going to want to do her own Anatomy scan or just go off of Dr. Miller's, so I'm not sure how that appt will go.  So, I have some fun and exciting times coming up!: My Birthday, my son's birthday, baby showers, Dr. appts, weddings, family visits...yay! 
Unbenouced to anyone else I'm already planning my own baby shower, because I'm gonna need one!  I've been making out my guest list and I may start looking into locations.  I'm pretty sure my mom will be willing to help/head this up with the help of some of my friends.  So, it won't be a surprise, but I don't care, I need to prepare.

This is how baby is doing now.....

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

Prenatal Visit

My 3rd Prenatal visit went well today, short and sweet.  I had my vitals checked, urine sample, blood draw (to check my antibody level), and was able to hear the heartbeat with the doppler.  A beautiful rate of 165 bpm.  The nurse even commented, "Ooo, it's racing" (referring to the rate).  They gave me a form to look over for next time, it's for a blood screening test where they check the baby for abnormalities such as downs, spinabifida, etc.  The test is optional and the results are not always accurate, they can give false positives or negatives, which I don't like.  I'm thinking I will forego this test, because I don't feel it's necessary, especially in my situation.  I'm already seeing a Perinatologist and if the test were to come back abnormal I'd just be referred to him, so I feel confident since I'm already seeing him on a monthly basis, if anything ever appears abnormal he'll pick it up anyway.

I was able to share with my doctor about this extremely horrible headache I've been having since yesterday.  I told her I've taken Tylenol and nothing is helping.  She said I could take two Tylenol at a time instead of one and she asked me I'd had any caffeine.  Usually in pregnancy you should steer clear from caffeine, so I told her I hadn't had any since a small decaf coffee out with a friend last night.  She then advised to me to have some caffeine, to my surprise.  She said it can help with headaches.  So, doctors orders today was, "Go home, take two Tylenol, drink a cup of coffee, and lay down and take a nap"....lol.

My next appt will be in 4wks. on the 17th, the day after I see my Perinatologist for the second time, so that will be a busy week.

Good Check Up!

14weeks belly shot...

14 wks and growing strong!

Thankfully the weeks seem to be flying by!  Unfortunately, my nausea, heartburn and constant constipation isn't.  I thinking any day, now that I'm in my 2nd Tri., I will start feeling better, like my normal self again....hoping anyway.  I succeeded in finishing up a semester of college and did very well!  Two more classes under my belt, but a long way to go.  I'm hoping it won't be too long after the baby, I'll be able to get back to taking some online classes again.  I'm not giving up on my goals, just taking a time out to fulfill my dream of having another baby.  I still can't believe I'll have another one and only 6mths from now!  I have so much to do to prepare, but am waiting to find out the gender before I start buying stuff.  In just 4 short weeks we'll know for sure....a Boy OR a Girl!!  I can't wait!  I go in for my 3rd prenatal visit this coming Tues., I'll be 14wk4d.  I doubt I will be getting an u/s but def. doing some blood work and regular check up stuff.  It SO much easier to find baby's heartbeat with my Doppler now, I usually pick it up right away and it's louder too.  Love hearing that sound.  My belly's getting bigger and people are starting to notice and ask.  I'll have to take a new pic soon.  Will update more later, but here's what's going on with baby this week:

How your baby's growing:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.
In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

13 weeks 3 days pics of babe

1st Perinatologist vist today

So, I went in for my first visit with the Perinatologist today.  They commented more than once how beautiful and perfect baby looked and was measuring...yay!.  It's always amazes me to be able to see my LO in utero, kicking and waving.  My youngest said the baby looked gross...lol..said it looked like a skeleton.  So, I had to explain why.  HB good at 169 bpm.  They did a VERY thorough scan and checked all the organs and parts and took measurements, so it took a awhile.  The Dr. came in and looked awhile also.  He said the name of what I am dealing with is called "Duffy A".  Good news is, since I've had my last baby (10yrs ago), they've come up with better ways of testing.  Instead of the Amniocentesis, they can now look at the blood flow in baby's head, through u/s, to help determine whether baby's red blood cells are being affected negatively.  But, it's still a little too early to do this.  If worst comes to worst and baby needs help they will do an intrauterine blood transfusion.  But, hopefully, it will never get to that point.  My next appt is in 4wks and the next steps are to: 1. Have my DH come and give a blood sample.  The dr. believes the antigen could likely be coming from DH, so they will test him for it.  If one strein shows up that's no biggie, if two streins show up that could be more of a potential problem, so they really need to rule him out.  2. They also will be getting all my medical records from the hospital where I had my last DS, so they can look over every detail of what happened last time and that will provide them with much more info. and direction.  Sooooo,,,,,looks like Jan 16th will the day I find out what I'm having!!  I'll be in my 18th wk.
This is all still pretty confusing and I wish I could explain it better, but I don't fully understand it all myself.  I guess I'll get a better understanding as I go through it.  But, the main thing is baby is doing beautifully and doesn't seem to be phased by any of this.

My little "shrimp" is growing!

How your baby's growing:

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

12 week check in..

12 weeks finds me dealing with a cold...yuck...sneezing, stuffy nose, post nasal drip and itchy throat...total grossness.  Baby's doing well though and that's all the matters.  Hopefully, this cold will pass quickly.  My belly's starting to pop out a little bit more now, so I'm hoping to go do a little maternity clothes shopping this weekend.

Good news, my nurse called me with the second blood results testing the Antibody in my blood.  The results how that it has remain stabilized, which is good.  If baby has done well with this level, it should not affect baby in the future.  They will continue to test the levels once a month to keep an eye on it.  My first appt. with the Perintologist is in 10 days, so hopefully I'll get a better understanding of what all this means, I may even get to see my little babe again.

12 Weeks!! My little lime :-)

How your baby's growing:

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.
Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.