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?