The One Where Lorelei is Viable

Hold your horses! By NO MEANS do I want her to make her appearance any time soon; however, she has a great chance of surviving outside the womb with extensive medical help now that we are past 24 weeks gestation!  This blows my mind that a baby that is almost two pounds can make it now!  I much prefer the past 37 weeks baby! :-)

I am now 25 weeks and 1 day.  Time is flying by! I will be in my third trimester in less than 2 weeks! Whoa!! I still have morning sickness.. Although, she is WAY worth it, it is still not easy for nausea/vomitting to overcome my daily medicine.  However, I do have predominantly good days with the help of my medicine! Yay! Jonathan and I even went on a lunch date, ran errands, and just spent the day together this past weekend! It felt almost normal!

Lorelei wanted it hahaha!

Jonathan finished it off! He is trying to put on weight... Geez!



Chocolate milkshake! Yummo!

Cute daddy!

Also, my belly button is starting to poke out.  Probably from the chocolate milk that I love.

Lorelei growth updates:
She has days where just rolls around and other days where she kicks nonstop and hard all day long!  I love them both!  She is too cute! 

Jonathan put his ear to my stomach the other day to see if he could hear her heartbeat (something we read said he might be able to at this point--he didn't) and she kicked him in every different spot he put his ear! I could not stop laughing!

Her eyes are beginning to open and she might be able to react to a flashlight being shone on my stomach!

Lorelei's body parts are continuing tot become more proportional to each other.  Baby fat is also continuing to fill in her wrinkled skin for a smoother look and more hair is growing, developing texture and color.  She is close to 2 pounds and about 9.2 inches.  Roughly the size of an eggplant!



My uterus is roughly the size of a soccer ball and halfway between my sternum and bellybutton.

Here is my 25 week and 1 day shot.  I missed the 24th week... Whoopsie!

P.S.  These maternity, linen pants stretch out during the day.  Hence, the bigger looking booty... :-/

The One with the Dresser

I've hijacked Lindsey's computer again to write another entry! (Yes, it's Jonathan. I think it's important for me to put my mark among these posts. I know you all love reading Lindsey's posts, so I'll try to match her with interesting facts and funny comments!)

So... After we got the bedding from the shower in Tuscaloosa last weekend, Friday came around and it was time to head to Home Depot (after eating dinner, of course) to buy paint for the dresser!

We had already decided the best plan was to paint the dresser rather than the book cases because the dresser was only one item and to replace it would be considerably more expensive than replacing the book cases--which only cost $13 at Walmart. Our plan was to find pink and green spray paint that matched the bedding.  The pink looked like a perfect match and the green was a slightly lighter shade but appeared to still go well.

We laid down the newspaper and cardboard in the garage when we got home and I began painting right away!

I'd never used spray paint before, but I found the best way to get good results was to spray facing down so the paint didn't create running droplets, and to begin moving your hand before pressing the button to shoot the spray (that way you don't make shaded polka-dots...).

Even with no lead in the paint, we were careful to keep the garage well ventilated and I let Lindsey wear the mask I used in undergrad to block the dust when cleaning at Caplewood (...as if it was ever clean at The Party... haha! Speaking of Caplewood, the dresser was actually left there after a former resident--EE--moved out. And now it will be passed on to Lorelei!).

Once I was done painting, we left the box fan in the garage with the garage door cracked about a foot and the door leading from the garage into the back yard open for it to dry overnight.  Then after waking up in the morning and having a great brick workout (35 mile ride, 6 mile run--I've been trying to focus on putting in some longer distance/steady pace workouts to build my lactate threshold.  With my exercise-induced asthma being less of a factor in the longer distance races, the main factor becomes how fast I can push myself without reaching the point where I go anaerobic and start accumulating lactic acid in my bloodstream...), I brought all the pieces inside and put them back together!

I just spent several minutes looking for a cool quote about dressers or furniture but couldn't find one by anyone I recognized or one that really fit. I'd rather comment on how funny it would be if we got some more spray paint and drew a giant mouth using the bottom two drawer handles! Wouldn't that be great! I don't know if Lindsey is going to go for it though... It does look pretty good already... Besides, it'll be better when Lorelei discovers crayons and markers and goes on a canvas safari around the house.

FYI, I also put some $13 shelves together Saturday afternoon:

The One with the Poem

Here is the poem from Meemaw Beck that made me bawl from line one (you know, the one I mentioned in my last post).

"Once upon a time there was child ready to be born.  So one day she asked God.  They will tell me that you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?

And God answered, I chose an angel for you, she will be waiting for you and will take care of you.

But here in heaven all I ever do is sing and smile and laugh.  That's enough for me to be happy.

Your angel will sing for you and smile at you every day.  And you will feel your angel's love and be happy.

And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language that men speak?

Your angel will speak to you using the sweetest, most beautiful words you will ever hear and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.

And what am I going to do when I talk to you?

Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.

I've heard that on Earth men are bad.  Who will protect me?

Your angel will defend you, even if it means risking her life.

But I will be sad because I will not see you anymore.

Your angel will talk to you about me, and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, though I will always be beside you.

At that momemtn there was much peace in Heaven.  Voice from Earth could already be heard, and the child asked softly:  God if I am about to leave now, would you please tell me my angel's name?

YOU WILL CALL YOUR ANGEL MOMMY"

I wish I could hand you all a tissue right now.

Lindsey

The One Where I Cried Again

Well I cried a couple of times this week:  1) When the Dr. was concerned about Lorelei's health and 2) when I received a poem along with a baby shower present in the mail from the lady who watched me when I was little, Meemaw Beck.

1) I had another prenatal appointment this week.  First of all, I only have one more before I start going every 2 weeks.  If this does not make it feel like this pregnancy is flying by, nothing will.  However, I was supposed to go yesterday, Friday, to the Dr.  However, at the beginning of the week I started having weird pregnancy symptoms that I had not experienced before.  I called and told the Dr. (since they told me to call if anything ever changed all of the sudden--which it did).  Since, I did not have some other concerning symptoms, they told me I could wait until Friday and we would check me out then.  "Ok, sounds good.  I just didn't know what was going on."  This was my answer to them.

Two days later, the symptoms worsened and I called again.  They were a little concerned that I might be losing amniotic fluid!?! What?! Now, you have freaked me out Dr.  I proceeded to call/text all of my previously pregnant friends.  Some of them thought it was normal but others told me that I should go get it checked out.  This was Thursday afternoon.  Dr. Chamberlain's office called me back and wanted to see me that afternoon.  This scared me since they didn't just say we'll see you in the morning.  However, I would rather be safe than sorry with my precious baby!

So, off Jonathan and I went to the Dr. 

Side note, Jonathan has come to every appointment! He is such a great daddy-to-be!  We are both very fortunate that our jobs are flexible.  All I had to say to my boss at work was that I had a concern with the pregnancy and my boss asked me why I wasn't already at the doctor.  God has truly blessed us with great work environments!

Anyways, we arrived at Dr. Chamberlain's office.  They got us back immediately and proceeded to weigh me, take a urine sample, and check my blood pressure.  First off, I had gained 10 pounds in the past month.  I was surprised because I didn't think I had been eating anymore.  Oh well, I'll watch what I eat a little more closely.  My blood pressure was 132/80 (due to stress I'm sure).  Urine was clean of protein.

Then, Dr. Chamberlain came in with the doppler.  Lorelei kicked it every time she put it on my stomach! It was so cute! Dr. Chamberlain said, "you have a REALLY active baby."  I confirmed what I already knew.  She then managed to guesstimate that her heartrate was around 150 because she wouldn't stay still long enough!  She also kicked so hard that you could see her.  Dr. Chamberlain and others have commented on her strength at her gestational age.  She is just going to be a soccer player like her daddy!

Dr. Chamberlain then proceeded to do three tests to check my amniotic fluid levels.  They all came back clean! I was not losing amniotic fluid, but just to make sure, she performed another ultrasound.  Lorelei looked great and Jonathan and I were so relieved to be able to see her again and surprised at how much she had grown in four weeks.

Dr. Chamberlain is awesome, along with her staff. She made us feel comfortable and answered all of our questions and listened to our concerns.  She also gave me the orange stuff to drink for the glucose test in the next couple of weeks.  I'm not really excited about this.  I've heard horror storires.

On the way out, I asked Jonathan where my appointment confirmation for the glucose screening was and he handed me a little quarter size square.  My poor, cute husband who had seemed composed for my sake at the appointment had been so nervous that he folded a regular size piece of paper over and over until it was that small.  Aww....

Anyways, everything was fine and I was cleared with no restrictions and my cervix was completely closed.

Here is a picture of me the next day at 23 weeks 5 days:

The One to Catch Up

I am 23 weeks and 2 days pregnant! Maybe a little further along but they didn't want to officially change my due date.  So we will stick with the original just so I don't get sad if the "new" due date passes.

This week Lorelei is the size of a Papaya!



She is more than 11 inches long and weighs over a pound.  Remember she almost weighed a pound a month ago!  Her blood vessels are developing in her lungs and she prepares for breathing.  Her cochlea--the inner ear mechanizm that houses all the components of hearing--is fully formed.  She can hear but it is muffled by the placenta and amniotic fluid.  Lorelei is finally more proportioned from head size to the rest of the body!  We shall see because of her large noggin!

As for me:

Some women may begin feeling Braxton Hicks contractions.  I have yet to feel these.  However, I did not feel Lorelei move for around 4 hours the other morning when Jonathan's brother, Jeff, and Jeff's girlfriend, Ellen, came to visit.  I drank cold water, ate, laid down on my left side, and cried.  She was not moving.  Even poking my stomach was not helping.  I finally drank some oranje juice and felt her move a little! Talk about relief! That has been the scariest moment so far of this pregnancy! Prayer and Jonathan got me through! Thank God for a wonderful loving husband and the peace that comes with knowing God is watching over the growth and development of our child!

Better news:  Jeff and Ellen came to visit!

With most of our family in Alabama, we rarely get to see them!
It was fun to have them visit for the 4th of July.  We went to the beach and spent time around Gainesville hanging out.  On Monday, the actual 4th, we went to Jacksonville to look at Babies R Us and then hung out with some friends for dinner!  I do not have any pictures to upload..geez..I'm bad!

This past weekend we had our first baby shower!  We got so much stuff from bouncers, swings, bedding, clothes, bathtub, etc.  It was amazing! See previous post for some pictures--note that the table of presents doesn't even include all of the presents that I opened!  Wow!! We are loved and are so happy to share Lorelei with all of these amazing people!

I have started back to trying to work-out.  We shall see how this goes...

Until next time!

Lindsey

The One with the First Baby Shower

This past weekend Jonathan and I went home because 4 great friends of ours were throwing Lorelei her very first baby shower.  We were so blessed to have such a great turn-out and receive so many awesome things for Lorelei!

Shower pictures below:

Before the shower! 22 weeks and 5 days!

Just the beginning of all the fun things!

Her princess bathtub and bedding still wrapped!

Awesome wall hanging/hospital door painting done by Hilary (yes she handpainted this)!

Me, mom, and brother!

Hilary, Brittni, Amy, and Krista (My 4 awesome friends and hostesses)!

Mom, me and Grandmother! Almost 4 generations!

Jonathan, me, Beth, and Jeff (Jonathan's brother and sister)!



The One Where I Stopped Sleeping

Lorelei is 21 weeks this week.  Well, actually the little nugget is a week or so more ahead than my calculated gestation, but we will just have to see how that plays out!

She has been moving so much this week that when she stops to sleep it scares me because of her normal activity!  She is finally over a pound according to statistics--um yeah--she was about two weeks ago too hahaha!  Her grip is developing and she is probably playing with the umbilical cord!  She can also perceive light and dark much better than before.  It is still mostly dark to her but she could see a flashlight if I was to shine it on my stomach! :-)  She is about the size of a spaghetti sqaush! A chubby one! She is about 11 inches long! Wow!! Such a big girl!



Her eyebrows and lids are present now! :-) She is beginning to swallow amniotic fluid and absord small amounts of sugar! 

Here is a picture of me from 21 weeks 5 days! :-) Enjoy! I'm getting pretty huge!

Side note: Jonathan and I have been together for 9 years today! 4 1/2 married!

Here is our very first picture together:

First picture ever!

Second picture ever!

9 years Later on our 4th Wedding anniversary!