# 2, week 12

The week 12 post is a little over due...you'll understand why if you keep reading. Last week, I had the good fortune of being off for spring break. As far as spring break's go, it was probably right up there for one of the most boring & dull, but more me, it was much needed rest...at least starting Wednesday!

Sunday afternoon, I experienced severe abdominal cramping that lasted for an extended period of time. It worried me enough to call my OB-GYN's office. I reached the answering service and they took my information and had the on-call doctor call me back. Since I have had a miscarriage before we were blessed with Jacob, the on-call doctor told me to go to the emergency room and get "checked-out." After being there four and a half hours, blood-work and a urinalysis, it was determined that I had a very bad urinary tract infection. I was dismissed to leave.

The next day, I got my prescription filled and my doctor's office called to check on me (how nice of them!) I told them I had not experienced any more pain and they were going to request the records from the ER. A little bit later they called again...since the ER doctor didn't do an ultrasound, they wanted me to come in that day or the next to have one day. This made me worry...

Tuesday, I went to Brookwood for an ultrasound and to see another doctor since my doctor was on vacation for the week. Everything looked great on the ultrasound and she said she didn't see anything to be concerned about. Jacob got to "see" the baby and hear the heartbeat. He said, "I want to hear the "mohn, mohn, mohn" again. (I don't really know how to spell the way he described the heart beat.)

With that said, here's the week 12 update:

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.

# 2, week 11

I'm a few days late posting the 11 week update. I'm not sure what is going on, but I think I'm definitely having some kind of hormone surge this week. Monday (3/8) was the worst day I've had until this morning (3/12). I guess that means that baby is growing and all is normal, but I sure do feel rotten!

From babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

# 2, week 10

Things are moving right along. I don't feel good but I don't feel as bad as when I was pregnant with Jacob, which gives me hope! Some days have been worse than others but knowing how bad it could be, I'm thankful it's only as bad as it is.

from babycenter.com




How your baby's growing:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

# 2, week 9

From babycenter.com:

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

# 2, week 8

I thought it might be fun to do a weekly update on the development of # 2...and since it's my blog and I can do whatever I want, that's what's happening. This information is courtesy of babycenter.com.

How your baby's growing:
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

When I was getting ready this morning, Jacob came in the bathroom and started "petting" my stomach. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I'm petting you." I told him, "You know that's where the baby is, right? Your little brother or little sister." He looked surprised and said, "My sister?" I don't know what he's going to do if we're having a boy...and NO, I have not put any notions in his head about a sister. I think it's because my brother and his wife had their second child in October, so his cousin, Ada, has a baby sister. He thinks he needs one too! Silly boy!

Potty-training

Jacob is three and we've had some potty training success on and off since he was two. Finally, this past week, we just went cold turkey with him...big-boy underwear. I'm happy to report that he's doing GREAT! He has worn big-boy underwear to school each day and has come home wearing the SAME clothes, which means...NO ACCIDENTS! He's doing pretty well at home too! He's even standing up! It's so GREAT! We're still struggling a little with going # 2, but everyone says that is harder. I'm pleased with our success with "peeping" as he calls it. We promised him a "red, crane train" so we're going to Target after school to see if we can purchase one. If not, I told him he could get another train...one way or the other, we're coming home with a train! I also brought him some "Scooby Dooby" fruit snacks as a treat for when I pick him up. He is such a wonderful, little boy! When we got to school on Tuesday morning, he told me, "thanks for driving me to school, mommy." He was so sincere about it. No, I don't normally make him walk to school and I am the one that takes him each day, so I'm not sure what prompted the gratitude, but it was very sweet and special.

# 2

Jacob's going to be a big brother! We are having our second child! We found out on January 27th that I was pregnant. We waited until we had our first doctor's appointment before we "spilled the beans" to everyone. During our ultrasound, we got to see AND hear the baby's heartbeat! That was so exciting and unexpected. We didn't get to hear Jacob's heartbeat until our 12 week appointment. My due date is September 29th and I'm measuring three days ahead. My doctor told me I would have to have a c-section again and she would schedule it the week before my due date, so between the 19th & 22nd. It's funny because Jacob was born on my brother, Brent's, birthday and my parent's anniversary and baby # 2 has a strong possibility of being born on Jeff's brother, Todd's, birthday, September 20th! Apparently, we can't have a child that has their own birthday!

I have "all-day sickness" but am managing. It is bad but hasn't been as bad as it was with Jacob so that is a blessing. Hopefully this time around it will only be the first trimester instead of the entire pregnancy! Also, my doctor told me that I only have a 10% chance of developing preeclampsia this pregnancy. That's a lot lower than I thought it would be. Turns out my chances for my first pregnancy were only 15%. I feel healthier than before so maybe it will all work out.

Keep us in your prayers, please.