Maternity Update: Week 12

How far along: 12 weeks

Total weight gain: -37 pounds, I need to start gaining some weight....

Maternity clothes: None of my clothes fit because I've lost so much weight

Sleep: Whenever I can!

Best moment of the week: Hearing the Baby's heartbeat again

Movement: none

Gender: Unknown

Labor signs: None

Belly button in or out: In

What I miss: Regular restroom visits

What I'm looking forward to: End of morning sickness

Weekly wisdom: Fiber is your best friend

Milestones: Tomorrow starts the next trimester!!!

What's happening with the baby: The most dramatic development this week ... reflexes. Baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, toes will curl, eye muscles will clench, and the mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if I were to poke my abdomen, the baby will squirm in response, although I won't be able to feel it.

The intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into the abdominal cavity about now, and the kidneys will begin excreting urine into the bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in the baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. Baby's 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.

What's happening with you: Still loosing weight and have been experiencing more cramping from the cysts.

How are you feeling: ELATED! It is so reassuring to hear your child's heartbeat and now that I am entering the second trimester the chance of miscarried has diminished. I cannot wait to meet our little monkey in 6 months!!!!

Ultrasound Pictures Weeks 6-12

6 weeks

10 weeks

10 weeks

12 weeks 5 days

Tuesdays Appointment

Well after a very long weekend of severe cramping, the Dr. was able to get me in on Tuesday. They ran a whole bunch of different tests on me and them started checking the baby. The midwife tried for 30 minutes to find a heartbeat but because my uterus is tilted she was unable to find one. That was the scariest 30 minutes of my life! Eventually they were able to get me in for another ultrasound where we got to see and hear the baby again. The little one is actually starting to look like a baby! We got to see its nose and its little fingers and toes. Here's a picture of its giagantic legs. At this point its body and its head should be equal in size but our little ones legs are longer that its whole body!



Baby is measuring ahead again, and had a strong heartbeat of 167. They did find ovarian cysts which would account for the cramping I have been having. They said it is very common during pregnancy and they should resolve on their own. If they so not shrink or they start to get bigger I will have to have surgery. But overall it was a very good appointment and I was so happy that Nick got to be there to hear the heartbeat again.

Ultrasound Pictures

I realize I have not yet posted our ultrasound pictures so without further delay here is our little monkey:


6 Weeks

10 Weeks

10 Weeks

Maternity Update: Week 11

How far along: 11 weeks

Total weight gain: -27 pounds, morning sickness has not been kind to me

Maternity clothes: Starting needing to wear maternity sweats but mainly because my other pair are now too big. I also broke down an picked up a belly band which has been a big help keeping my pre-pregnancy jeans on (again way too big!)

Sleep: I nap well, sleep is interrupted by my many bathroom breaks throughout the night.

Best moment of the week: Finally starting to get an appetite back!

Movement: none

Gender: Unknown

Labor signs: None

Belly button in or out: In

What I miss: Food, not being bloated, energy

What I'm looking forward to: The start of the second trimester! Only a few more days

Weekly wisdom: Nap when you can because when it comes to actually sleeping through the night your out of luck

Milestones: Only 9 more days until the second trimester!!!

What's happening with the baby: Baby is now slightly more than 2 inches long and weighs about 1/3 of an ounce. Its head is now equal in length to the rest of the body. Hair follicles begin to form this week as well as fingernail and toenails. Also though we cannot tell on an ultrasound the babies testes/ovaries are developing this week.

What's happening with you: Aside from lack of sleep and morning sickness not too much. I am still teaching 15 classes a week and have noticed that I am loosing more weight in my thighs and arms while my belly is getting quite round.

How are you feeling: I am much more emotional this week and I think a lot of that has to do with loosing the twin. The spotting and cramping have finally stopped but I still find myself thinking about the one that left us too soon. I am so blessed for the little one that is sticking it out but I have been more down thinking about our lost twin. Besides that I have been struggling with morning sickness and exhaustion. I cannot wait for the second trimester and pray that some of these symptoms go away.

Thankful Thursdays

I haven't done one of these in a long time...

Today I am thankful for:

• My Husband - For all the little things he does around the house and how understanding he has been these last few weeks
• A healthy pregnancy!
• Naps - I am exhausted all day long so I have been taking advantage of the few hours I have in between classes to grab a quick nap on the couch
• In Laws - Without Dennis or Cheryl these past few weeks would have been impossible!!!!
• Smoothies - Morning sickness has been really bad and smoothies have actually helped calm my stomach
• Babymoon - Nick and I went away last weekend and though we spent almost our entire trip in the car with was so nice to have time just the two of us

What are you thankful for?

So its official...

Nick and I are expecting!!!!