23 weeks! :)

I'm 23 weeks as of today. I can't believe that, in 1 week, I'll be 6 months pregnant!! Crazy! I had an appointment today. Everything looks good. Baby's HR was in the 140's. My 1 hour glucose tolerance test will be in 3 weeks. I feel like I'm gaining weight too fast lately. I need to stop eating whatever I want! It could be all the sodium intake too... I feel like my food is never salty enough!

I got a copy of my Panorama test results - everything is low risk. My risk for a trisomy is 1 in 10,000. :)

Anyhoo, according to babycenter.com:
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

Baby is the size of a large mango - 10.5 to 11.8 inches long:

 

How far along?     23 weeks
Total weight gain:   around 18 lbs

Maternity clothes?   yes, maternity pants. I can still fit into my regular shirts.
Sleep:     better!
Miss Anything?      not really.
Movement:    Yes.. quite often! yay!! :)
Food cravings: just the usual junk food...chocolate!
Anything making you queasy or sick:  nope!
Labor Signs:   no
Symptoms:    round ligament pain (OW!), backache everyday, occasional headache
Belly Button in or out?   in
Wedding rings on or off?   on
Happy or Moody most of the time:   happy!
Looking forward to:     Getting our baby registry done, starting on the nursery

The results are in!! :)

Well, I finally got the call from my doctor yesterday morning while I was at work. I missed the call so he left a voice-mail. I called him back because I wanted to hear it directly from him... my results are low-risk for any chromosomal abnormalities!!! I've been waiting ALL MONTH for these results. It's just a huge weight off my shoulders. I feel like I can finally start enjoying my pregnancy again. :) Thank you to everyone who prayed for my baby and I! So excited that my baby boy will be ok. :)

22 weeks!

I'm officially 5 1/2 months (22 weeks). Time flies! One good thing - David was finally able to feel the baby move last night!!! I was SUPER excited. I was laying on the bed waiting for baby to move. I've noticed that baby tends to move a little bit more when I'm laying on my back on the bed. So...baby starting kicking like crazy, practicing his ninja moves. I was watching my abdomen move with some of the harder kicks! I called David over and he placed a hand on my belly. Baby let out a little kick that he couldn't feel.. My thoughts were "oh great.. here we go again." I've been having David try to feel the baby move lately but he'll have his hand there for 10 minutes and there will either be no movement or it will only be light kicks that he can't feel. Anyway, baby kicked really hard (after the light kick) and David finally felt it! I told him "See?? I'm not making it up!" lol :)

In other news, I called my Doctor's office last Monday because I had a billing question. I figured I'd ask about my test results because, by then, it had been 9 business days. I knew it was still a bit early to ask but figured what the heck.. The biller told me she couldn't find the chart and she assumed it must be on the doctor's desk... So she said she'd have the doctor call me back. I was thinking if my chart is on his desk, maybe my results are back ?? He called me back and told me that he didn't have the results yet. He said it was too early and asked if my blood was drawn on 5/10. I said no my blood was drawn on 5/7. He responded with "oh, well the results should be back by now. I'll have the nurse check into it." I was expecting to get a call Tuesday or Wednesday... but nothing. I regret not calling back myself! I had to work Thursday and didn't have time to call the office. I decided to call on Friday while I was at work and had a little down time. Of course.....the office is closed for the holiday weekend. What the heck? I told the charge nurse about it (I told her a while ago that I had the testing done & why, etc..) She said she would call the answering service if she were me.. rather then having to go through another weekend all stressed out. I decided to call them and explain the situation. They said they'd leave a message for the office to call me back, then I get "oh! I didn't know they were going to be closed all weekend! They reopen on Tuesday." I told the women that I already knew that and is there any way for the on-call Dr to look up my labs. She said no and that they only deal with emergencies. :( So I have to wait till Tuesday to call & hopefully get my results. It's just so nerve-wrecking. I didn't want to be at work when I got the results just in case they weren't what I was hoping for.. but I plan on calling as soon as they open tomorrow morning. Waiting for these results have been torture.

According to babycenter.com:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. 

 If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

According to thebump.com, baby is the size of a papaya:

 
How far along?     22 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain:   around 15 lbs  :-O
Maternity clothes?   yes, maternity pants. I can still fit into my regular shirts.
Sleep:     better! Still waking up at least 1x/night but not to use the bathroom. yay! lol
Miss Anything?      not really.
Movement:    Yes.. quite often! :) David finally felt the baby kick last night.
Food cravings: just the usual junk food...chocolate!
Anything making you queasy or sick:  nope!
Labor Signs:   no
Symptoms:    round ligament pain (OW!), backache everyday
Belly Button in or out?   in
Wedding rings on or off?   on
Happy or Moody most of the time:    a little moody lately. Could be the stress from waiting for those test results..
Looking forward to:     Getting my test results, starting on the nursery, and starting our baby registries! :)

21 weeks

I'm officially 21 weeks today. :) Still waiting on the results of that blood test from 5/7. I'm trying not to let it bother me. I went shopping at some outlets with my mom yesterday. Stopped to motherhood maternity and bought a shirt that says "Prince in Progress." :) Also stopped to the Salvation Army and found some maternity jeans that fit great for less than $4. I definitely need to go back there!!

I've been feeling baby moving more, finally!! :) I've been waiting for this for quite a while. I notice it the most when I'm going to sleep & lying on my left side. So happy to finally feel baby move.

According to babycenter.com:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

According to thebump.com, baby is the size of a pomegranate:

 
How far along?     21 weeks
Total weight gain:   around 11-12 lbs
Maternity clothes?   yes, maternity pants. I can still fit into my regular shirts.
Sleep:     better! Still waking up at least 1x/night but not to use the bathroom. yay! lol
Miss Anything?      not really. Wine, occasionally.
Movement:    YES!! Finally! :) This is something I've been looking forward to!
Food cravings: just the usual junk food. I still haven't had any unusual cravings.
Anything making you queasy or sick:  nope!
Labor Signs:   no
Symptoms:    round ligament pain (OW!), backache, headaches
Belly Button in or out?   in
Wedding rings on or off?   on
Happy or Moody most of the time:    a little moody lately. Could be the stress from waiting for those test results..
Looking forward to:     Starting on the nursery and finally looking pregnant!

20 weeks - halfway there!

We're officially halfway there! I feel like this is going by so fast. I think I've been feeling baby moving lately, on occasion. I can't wait to feel our baby boy moving more often. :)  We still haven't really discussed names. I think we may end up going with Lucas Edward. I'd like to have a name picked out before we send out the baby shower invitations. We're planning the baby shower for July 20th. 


According to babycenter.com:
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)
He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen).

During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) also contains iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.


Baby is as long as a banana:

 
How far along?     20 weeks 2 days
Total weight gain:   around 10 lbs
Maternity clothes?   yes, maternity pants
Sleep:     getting better, I think.
Miss Anything?      wine
Movement:    I think so, but it's so weak it's sometimes hard to tell
Food cravings: just the usual junk food
Anything making you queasy or sick:  no
Labor Signs:   no
Symptoms:    round ligament pain (OW!), backache, headaches
Belly Button in or out?   in
Wedding rings on or off?   on
Happy or Moody most of the time:    stressed....until I get my test results back!!! :/
Looking forward to:     Starting on the nursery!!! Feeling baby move more, and getting more of a "baby bump." I can't wait to finally look pregnant!

Now we play the waiting game....

I went to my doctor's office yesterday only to find out that they don't do the blood test (called the Panorama prenatal test) there. It would have been nice to know that ahead of time. I picked up the blood test form and they told me that I have to call the company and set up an appointment to have a phlebotomist come out to my house. I was really hoping I'd get that call yesterday but I didn't. I hate the fact that my doctor doesn't inform me about these things. It doesn't change anything but maybe it would ease the anxiety I've been having. I definitely plan on finding a new OB for my next pregnancy. I'm sure this experience could be worse but it could also be much better. I'm a nurse and I try to empathize with my patients. I can't expect them to know everything and try to educate them along the way when they're dealing with something new. I wish my doctor would do the same. This is my first time being pregnant. This is all new to me. It would be nice if he could explain things to me along the way.

I got a call this morning from the phlebotomist and we set up a time for her to come to the house. Luckily, I have the day off from work. She came over around 12pm. I asked her how long it takes to get the results back and she said 10-14 days but it shouldn't take the full 14 days because she was planning to drop the blood off directly to the lab (instead of shipping it through FedEx) after she was done. Thank God! 

Now we play the waiting game. She told me not to worry and said that she does about 20 of these tests per month and, so far, none of them have been positive. Kind of makes me wonder if she really does have access to patient's results.. I mean, her job is to obtain the blood samples; she doesn't work in the lab. And with the HIPAA law... who knows. I hope she's right. I'm just hoping and praying for the best. I feel like I can't fully enjoy my pregnancy until I get those negative results back!

I went out to Babies R Us with my mom yesterday and bought a couple onesies. I just wanted something I could look at and feel that my little boy will soon be wearing. It just makes it more real to me. :)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27 

19 weeks - almost halfway there!

Can't believe I'm 19 weeks already (as of 5/3). We're having a boy!!!!! 
I got a call from my doctor on Friday to notify me that there were 2 abnormal findings on my ultrasound. They found 2 soft markers - one for Trisomy 18 and one for Down syndrome. I freaked out. I spent most of the day Friday looking up as much as I could about choroid plexus cysts and an echogenic focus. According to the doctor, this "only increases the risk to 1%." I was still in panic-mode. I spent most of the day crying. Not the kind of thing you expect to hear when you're low risk and the ultrasound tech said everything looked good. I felt kind of blind-sided. My husband and I are hoping and praying for the best. I'm going in today to have a MaterniT21 test. I chose the blood test over the amnio due to the increased risk for miscarriage associated with an amnio. The results won't be back for about 10 days! :/ It's been a very stressful couple of days but I'm just giving it all to God and trying to stay positive!

According to babycenter.com:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.


Baby is the size of a large mango (or heirloom tomato):

How far along?     19 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain:   around 10 lbs
Maternity clothes?   yes, maternity pants
Sleep:     still waking up at least once per night.
Miss Anything?      sleep!
Movement:    Hard to tell sometimes.
Food cravings: just the usual junk food
Anything making you queasy or sick:  no
Gender prediction:   well, we already know we're having a little boy!
Labor Signs:   no
Symptoms:    round ligament pain (OW!), sleepy, headaches
Belly Button in or out?   in
Wedding rings on or off?   on
Happy or Moody most of the time:    stressed....until I get my test results back!
Looking forward to:     Starting on the nursery!!! Feeling baby move more, and getting more of a "baby bump"

It's a boy!

Had my ultrasound yesterday and we're expecting a baby boy!

Boy or Girl?

Today is the big day!! My anatomy scan is at 3pm and we'll find out if baby is a girl or a boy. I'm so excited and nervous!! I want a girl and David wants a boy -  but we'll be happy either way, as long as we have a healthy baby and everything checks out ok with the scan today! :)