T-1 Week : 12 Weeks !!!!

Hey everyone.

Hope you are having a great week!

We are now 12 weeks along and only 1 week away from ending our first trimester!

Good news to report. The morning sickness seems to have subsided, having not been sick since last Thursday. Praise God for that! 5 weeks straight of constant nausea and vomiting is NO fun!

Along with that, my whole body seems to be getting back on track and I am soooo glad.....and so is Jonathan! My desire to clean the house and organize whatever I can is back!

When I say that I am type A, let's just say that I have already compiled a binder with our hospital registration forms all filled out, potential pediatricians, a checklist for registry, nursery decor ideas, baby name ideas.....and on and on.

The eleventh week was the best so far. The only new side effects have been cramping over the top and underneath my belly. I guess that is to be expected when your belly is growing!

We also found out some great news: That one of our great friends and his wife from church are expecting their first baby together and is due 1 1/2 weeks before us! YEAH! Congratulations!

Jonathan and I have been SOOOOOOO good with our budget and are so excited to announce that all debt, outside of his truck, is now paid off. With great timing, we can purchase a couple of big ticket items that we've been needing BEFORE the baby comes and BEFORE I quit work. Unforunately, stay at home moms don't make a very big salary ;)

So....12 weeks.....this is where we are:

Belly Picture:

What's Going on with Baby Melugin:

* We've got reflexes. The 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.

* The face looks unquestionably human: The eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be.

Size of the Baby:

From crown to rump, the baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long and weighs half an ounce.

Between the size of a lime:

And a plum:

What the baby looks like:

Well, that's it for this week :) Have a great weekend!

11 weeks

We are now 11 weeks along....actually a few days past 11 weeks.

As I am noticing that the morning sickness is not as often, it still happens - and sometimes quite quickly and violently.

I have also noticed over the past week more muscle cramping over the top of my belly and right underneath. At the same time, Jonathan and I notice some significant growing of my belly, even though other people might not be able to yet.

Another strange thing, is that it is actually extremely uncomfortable for me to lay on my right side anymore. I actually laid down on my right side last night to hug Jonathan and had a very strong muscle constriction all across the top and side of my belly and had to immediately roll over.

I had to miss work one day this week (Tuesday) as I woke up so tired that I was dizzy and couldn't really focus and then started getting sick almost immediately. I still got ready to go to work and got dressed, but I still couldn't make it out the front door. I ended up sleeping for nearly 4 hours straight after that. Wow. But....I was really sick at work yesterday too. I feel bad for the two women that work in the front near the restrooms with me....they had to hear it all! Sorry.

We are now only 1 1/2 weeks away from the second trimester. We hear that it gets better and we pray that it does. I am really excited to start enjoying the pregnancy!

What's going on with the baby this week:

* Baby is just over 1 1/2 inches long - between the size of a fig...

or a lime...

* Hands will soon open and close into fists

* The baby already is busy kicking and stretching, but we knew this after our last ultrasound

* The baby's diaphragm is forming and has started to hiccup, even though I can't feel it.

Here is what is going on in me:

For those that are interested, here is an amazing video of a recreation of what the baby is going through - make sure that you are watching the video for 10-14 weeks.

Well, that's it for this week.

Please continue to pray for the baby - for continued health and strength. For me, that the sickness subsides and I can start enjoying being pregnant. For Jonathan, for strength and patience with me :)

Mothers Day, Anniversary, 10 Weeks and an OB Visit

Yeah!

10 weeks ~ Wow!

Well, this week was ultra special. Not only was it Mother's Day on Sunday, but it was also our first anniversary! OK - I was the bad wife and didn't get my baby a card, but I just misunderstood the logistics of no gifts for each other....... :(

We actually spent Friday night with Cathy (Mel's mom) for Mother's Day and then Saturday night with Kay (Jonathan's mom). It was so nice!

Then on Sunday, we started off by going to church, always a great way to start off your Sunday. I received a carnation since I am a mom-to-be! Then we went to Taco Diner for lunch - went home and took a nap, then went and saw Star Trek...which was AWESOME! I really wish that I would have been feeling better on Sunday - I was functional, but not well harldy at all.

So, I'm trying to cut back on the Zofran (the anti-nausea meds) due to some yuk side-effects. We'll see how that goes!

OK - Baby time.

We are 10 weeks 0 days.

We had our second OB visit today with our second ultrasound - the last one for a while.

It was a great visit. The only true reason we were there was to have a second ultrasound and then ask any questions to the doctor.

The ultrasound was AMAZING! The baby was SOOOOOO active - jumping around from one side to

Here are the pics:






This pic shows the back of the baby's body - labeled are the head and arm.















This is the baby's face.


















This is actually looking down on the baby - the head is not shown, but if you look closely, you can see both arms and all the little fingers!!!!!














Here's one of it's little feet and five little toes :)













This is a little bit better of an image of the tin











This was our last ultrasound until 18-20 weeks. So, in about 8 weeks, we'll find out if we are having a boy or girl! YEAH!


The baby is the size of a prune:














Or a Kumquat (What the heck is a kumquat?) :


At a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom, the baby weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, but has now completed the most critical portion of development. The baby is officially termed a Fetus!

Baby is swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm - even though I can't feel it yet

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.

Tiny nails are forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair is beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments:

Baby's limbs can bend now

Hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart

The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin

The baby's forehead temporarily bulges with the developing brain and sits very high on the head, which measures half the length of his body.

From crown to rump, the baby is about 1 1/4 inches long.



In the coming weeks, the baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.



It's amazing that the baby actually is looking like a baby now! WOW!


Please continue to pray for a few things:

1) For continued health and safety of our unborn child,

2) For Melanie - for increased health and safety during the pregnancy

3) For Jonathan - for continued patience and support (What a great man he is!)



OK. Logging off till next week - WHAT A GREAT DAY!!!!

9 weeks

OK. So we missed posting 8 weeks. We had a very hectic week between severe morning sickness and traveling to Atlanta for our great friend Julie's wedding.

So today is 9 weeks!

As I previously mentioned, the morning sickness has been debilitating! After missing work because it was so bad, I finally called the OB for some relief. She was a doll and called in a prescription of Zofran and also told me to get some B6 tablets. Hopefully this will work!


OK. Here's the details for 9 weeks:






Our baby is about an inch long - about the size of a grape.








Or a Green Olive (EWWWWW!!!)









New this week:

* The embryonic "tail" is completely gone
* All the baby teeth beneath the gums are fully developed
* Eyes are fully formed, but the eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks.
* The baby's basic physiology is in place and is poised for rapid weight gain



We've noticed that I'm starting to put on weight around the midsection.....I've never had tummy fat before. Interesting. LOL. Here is my tummy at 9 weeks - Sitting at 31.5" _ I actually had a hard time buttoning my pants at work today! LOL. Time for the belly band I guess!





Our next doctor's appointment is next Wednesday, May 13, 2009, where we will be able to see the baby again! YEAH!

Please continue to pray for the health of the baby as well as health for Jonathan and I as we learn all about the joys of pregnancy!