starting 13

Week Thirteen
Your infant is about 2.91 inches (7.4cm) and weighs around 0.81 ounce (23gm) - This is about the same weight as 4 quarters.
If you could peek in again you may spot your baby as he begins to practice inhaling and exhaling movements
Eyes and ears continue to move and develop
Baby's neck is getting longer, and the chin no longer is resting on his chest
Her hands are becoming more functional - Your baby may find it comforting to start playing with her fist.
At this point all nourishment is received from the placenta
On your next doctor visit you should be able to hear heartbeat with a Doppler by now - (Don't worry though if you can't, the heartbeat can be confirmed through U/S). Your baby's heartbeat is much rapider than your own and may remind you of the race towards birth that he is running!

12 weeks

This is just a little update on how I have been doing. The Doctor can't seem to figure out how to regulate my synthroid. That is really irritating. I still freak out about the whole timing of school and baby getting here. I have been a little more stressed lately than normal. I have had two anxiety attacks (That's what Andy says they are) One of which woke me from my sleep. If you have never had one of these let me explain. My heart starts beating fast but its hard to breathe. I get this very uncomfortable pressure in my chest that spreads up into my left shoulder. I have just been breathing through them with my eyes closed trying to relax and focus on something a little more calming. This week is my last week to keep the twins and I will be getting back into yoga so that should help.

I think the black shirt makes it look bigger. I have had problems with IBS so when I'm bloated, I really look past my time. IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome. I go back and forth from diarrhea to constipation with high amounts of pain sometimes. The rest of the symptoms I will leave out for your sake. Laundry is another story. It can only be one load, but it really overwhelms me. Moving the clothes around from one machine to the other, and then starting the washer again takes my breath away, literally. But its the folding and putting clothes away that I just, can't. Ack! Listen to me complain! At least we have machines to do all the work for us. My husband has been wonderful helping me out. I don't think I have heard him complain about it one time! Just posting this makes me want to go lay down. At least the morning sickness has past!

Oh, and Becca found out she is having a boy! yea!!

Something in the water?

These pictures don't do it justice!

I don't know what it is but it seems like everyone's kids are going crazy! Take a look at some of the things my little angels did this weekend. Ben still hasn't learned not to put things in his mouth yet. He's only 15 months old. I have to keep a close eye on him when I know there is a chance of him doing so. A.J. decided to count his money on the end table, low enough for Ben to want to help. Which he did. Not one coin went into his mouth! It was really cute. Then I walked into Ben's room after a few moments of silence to check on my two mischievous boys. I Walked right into a spider web! Not a real one. A yarn one, and Ben was stuck in the middle of it which I didn't get a picture of. But you get the idea. I keep some of my crafts in Ben's closet for now which is not a good idea. During his nap time is when I get to be crafty, but I don't always realize I want to work on something until he is fast asleep. Well, that is where they found the yarn.

New Book

I got to buy a new book yesterday! It has been a while. I have been wanting a book that explains dreams. Andy has some of the strangest dreams and I think there is something intriguing about the unconscious mind in REM sleep. Would that be subconscious? Anyway, I think it pertains to Adult dreams, not childhood dreams. So I am anxious for curious readers to delurk and ask what it says about.....................? It is The Watkins Dictionary of Dreams by Mario Reading. I haven't evaluated much of it yet but it seems like fun.

Starting week 12

-Week Twelve
-Vocal cords begin to form - While perhaps not quite ready to be introduced to the nearest opera stage, your infant will use these immediately following the moment of birth. Bet you can't wait to hear that first cry!
-Those precious eyes begin to move closer together - Are you wondering if he will have mommy's crystal green eyes, daddy's laughing brown ones, or maybe out of the gene pool will emerge grandma's clear blue!
-Ears shift to their normal place on the side of the head
-Intestines move farther in to your child's body
-His or her liver begins to function - Responsible for cleansing the blood, storing nutrients, and providing needed chemicals, this is an important event!
-The pancreas begins to produce insulin
-Guess what? Your baby's average size is now at a whopping length: 2.13 inches (5.4cm) and weight: 0.49 ounce (14gm)

And Tango Makes Three.........

And Tango Makes Three is the name of a children's book that has caused much debate. I haven't read the book so I obviously don't have all the facts. I really try not to discuss topics that I don't know everything about, but I saw this on the View and it really got a rise out of me. What I do know is, the book is about two male penguins that are very friendly, build a nest together to share, and are given an egg to raise because there are too many eggs for the other penguins to care for. You know as well as I do where this story is going. The debate is over whether or not it is suitable for kids and at what age. Same sex marriage is sinful. I am not going to judge any person for what they choose because I am a sinner just the same as they are. But in our family, we repent. We also try to remove temptation when we see it. The Bible clearly says that women were made for men. I would be O.K. with A.J. hearing this type of story when I feel he is mature enough and I am able to talk to him about it. I think under the age of eight is to young. Anytime before they have been educated about sex is too young. The story might not talk about sex, but it sure will get them thinking and asking questions. I plan on reading this book next month so I can better make a decision on this. In the meantime, My school age child that will be attending public school could get mis-informed, and I guess I will address those issues as they come.

I went to the Doctor yesterday

It wasn't what I initially hoped for. I wanted her to say "Yes I would love to work with a Monatrice and we should try everything in our power to help you have a natural birth. There aren't any real potential risks so we have nothing to lose!" What she firmly said was more along the lines of " Absolutely not. I don't know of any Doctor in the area that would risk that with you." She also proceeded to tell me that I hardly have any cervix left and the scar tissue that is there, is most likely helping me to carry the baby. I know that every Doctor is different and has their own opinion. I know of another Doctor in Denton who might work with me. The thing is, I called the office before I made the appointment to ask if she would do a double v-back and the person who answered the phone led me on. So I wasn't exactly expecting this from this Doctor. However, while she was standing her position I felt like it was O.K. I felt like something was telling me, pushing me to do it. And it wasn't the Doc. I kept hearing " Its o.k. Christy. This is what you should do and everything is going to be fine." That obviously is not what I expected. It was a gentle voice. Very comforting. So, I am sorting out my thoughts and praying a lot.

In the meantime, I also thought that for a third baby, It would all be mundane and repetitive. It was anything but that. Baby Micah was very active and it was so precious to see its little arms flapping and its little legs kicking. I instantly fell in love. We made that. This little person growing inside me is my personal gift from God.

UGGH. The pap smear was awful. I hate getting pap smears. That little speculum(?) always pinches me. And the scraping on my cervix, doesn't feel good. I also had to get my blood work done. So after three hours of driving, and three hours of Doctor visit, I was exhausted! Memaw watched the boys for me. That was a blessing, and accounted for some of the driving. In the end, knowing that there really is a baby living and growing in there is full of so much more than pleasure. 10 more weeks and we will know if this baby is a boy or a girl. Have a guess?

Happy Valentine's Day

This is for all of you................

Every last bite.

#60

Look what is growing! Can you believe it? We might have farm fresh tomatoes this year. I question if there was actually any seeds in the strawberry package. No growth yet.

Week Eleven
Nearly all structures and organs are formed and beginning to function.
Fingers and toes have separated - Take a glimpse at how incredibly precious your child's tiny feet are at this point.
Hair and nails begin to grow
The genitals begin to take on the proper gender characteristics - It will be just a few more weeks before your ultrasound can show if you are having a boy or a girl! Have you been dreaming of pink or blue?
Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate as the kidneys begin to function - This fluid, consisting primarily of water, helps provide a cushion for your baby while she's nestled within your womb.
The muscles in the intestinal walls begin to practice contractions that digest food.
Your baby is about 1.61 inches (4.1 cm) long and weighs 0.25 ounce (7gm).

My family portrait........

A.J. and I decided to draw this morning while all the babies take a nap. Here is my family portrait. Feel free to let me know if I have left out any detail.

A.J.'s freckles are really popping out these days. I'm sure by the end of summer he will have a face full. I know I exagerated a little on Andy's muscles but you cant kick a girl for trying.

Me as an M&M

Some of you know that mm's are my favorite candy. I decided to personalize my own.

Forgotten dough?

How could anyone forget about dough? I'm talking about cookie dough. I was just moving some things around in my fridge and found some left over cookie dough from last week. I know! You see, I haven't been myself lately. Treats just aren't appealing to me right now. By saying right now, I'm also hoping they do appeal to me at some point. That is a whole other topic. Chocolate does sound good, but gives me heart burn really bad. So as AJ would say "It has been X'd." I haven't really had cravings but when I'm hungry I want salty foods. SO, I made the cookies this afternoon. Just enough chocolate to satisfy but not toxify. I just made that word up I think. Anyway here they are...................ENJOY!

A lift of your spirit

I want to start by conffessing that I have recently felt like my Spirit has been broken. I am not sure why. I thought it could be that I am still coping with the loss of a dream I once had, and this pregnancy has brought these feelings up again. I haven't really been able to put my finger on it. Over this last week I have found strength in talking to friends, listening to Worship music, and dwelling on God's word. I ran across a scripture that really opened my eyes.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
IICorinthians 4:17 & 18

I find relief in knowing that my troubles are achieving my glory, but what really speaks to me is that my troubles are momentary. Of course I already knew this but the confirmation really feels good! I encourage you to read chapters 4 and 5 because there really is a lot more to this.
God bless you and may your spirit be renewed!

What to do, What to do.......

As Mommy's, I'm sure we have all been in that awquard situation with a friend where their children don't have to follow the same rules as your children do. AJ expects others to treat him the way he treats them. This is going to be a hard lesson. Life doesn't exactly work that way. I have made some great friends over the years but sometimes I'm affraid those friendships might end over the way they let their children behave. It is really hard to find good friends as adults. People that share common interests just isn't the priority anymore. I'm going to give you all a senario.

So normally when we have friends over, the rule is that we all share our toys, and ride our own bikes. That isn't always the case with others. When we get toys out, we have to share or else they will be put away. One day, a friend had out some toys and AJ went to pick one up and play with it. The friend got very upset. You would have thought his world was torn apart. The Mom took her son's side of course and said no, no, no that is his. I just told AJ to ask if he could play with it next time. They never "ask" to play with our toys. If we are all playing together, it is all fair game. What do I do in this situation? I don't feel like AJ should have to ask to play with it unless the other child is playing with it at the time. Am I wrong in thinking this way? Does life really have to be that difficult that understandings are misunderstood? Hhhhhhhhhh...........................................................

Just a note...My spell check isn't working and there were a few words I wasn't sure of. You don't have to correct me though.

Month of Love.....

Here we are getting ready for Valentines. A.J. and I made a colaborative Valentine's Day card for his friends at school. Pretty simple. The boxes of generic cards are pretty cheap now but there is nothing better than a do it yourself craft. Andy thought it was corny and it may be, but we sure did have fun.

Just some literature...........

-Week Ten
-Baby is now called a fetus in "medical terms". You, however, may have chosen the name "peanut," "angel," "jumping bean" or simply "miracle."
-The most critical part of your infant's development is complete. Now you are headed into a period of rapid growth.
-While a bit strange to envision, your baby's head is now about half its length - Soon the rest of the body's growth will catch up but this area is prepared to keep up with the rapid brain development!
-Eyelids fuse shut and irises begin to develop - Eye color is also determined by this point.
-Placenta begins to function this week or next - The placenta is the organ responsible for both the provision of nutrients along with the removal of waste to keep your baby growing strong!
-Your baby will be about 1.22 inch long (3.1cm) and weigh 0.14 ounce (4gm) at the end of this week

Getting ready for spring.......

I am so ready! Can you tell? We cleaned up a lot around the outside of the house, and in doing so, found our tulips starting to grow. Time to cut back the rose bushes, get out the bubbles, the kites, and bikes, and start playing in the sand box! Yea!! I am so ready for the summer salads and sweet fruits that I couldn't help myself. This Summer salad is made of spring mix salad with red onion, toasted sunflower seeds, feta cheese, strawberries and topped with a raspberry vinaigrette. Of course this was nothing compared to what the fresh fruits and veggies of the season will be, but it got me ready. We even planted some strawberry and tomatoe seeds. Hope they turn out.