Shannon's Pregnancy Journal
Due Date - January 27, 2008

Week 38 (January 6 - January 12)

Well, we're still here but things are definitely happening! On Wednesday the 9th I had my OB appointment. She said Katie was still head down, I was 2 cms dilated and 50% effaced. A great start so far! My weight was 162 ... looks like I'm gonna end all 3 pregnancies at pretty much the same weight! YES!

Thursday the 10th I had some pretty strong contractions coming every 8 minutes. But not necessarily painful and my OB said to wait until they were 6 minutes. So I went to bed that night and they had fizzled by morning. On Friday the 11th, I woke up and was nauseous. I threw up several times (which happened before I went into labor with Kyla too) AND I lost my mucous plug. I was wondering if I would need to cancel our playdate with McKenna's friend Addy that day but we went and it was a pleasant and uneventful playdate.

Friday was still a very strange day for us. My baby niece Maggie had a choking episode that had her lips turning blue and the color draining from her face. She was apparently choking on mucous. And on top of that, Erick's Grandma had fallen and broken her shoulder so she was admitted to St. Joseph's hospital that day as well. Suddenly, I was in no hurry for Katie to arrive. There was just too much going on, my Mom was still in TN visiting family and I really just wanted Katie to wait after all.

Saturday, Maggie was admitted to the hospital and it was good that Katie hadn't arrived yet because we were able to watch my 2 nephews while my sister and BIL stayed with Maggie. Fortunately, for most of the day I didn't have too many contractions but I was pretty nauseous. I'm so glad Erick was home to help keep things together.

Today ( Sunday), Maggie was released from the hospital thankfully. Erick and I actually were able to go see Jesus Christ Superstar. We couldn't believe it. We thought for sure Katie would have come by then. But we were glad we got the opportunity and enjoyed the afternoon together, having lunch and seeing one of our favorite musicals while my Dad and Cheryl watched McKenna and Kyla for us.

During the overture, Katie was really wiggly and I was contracting pretty hard. I wondered if we'd make it through the whole show. But she settled down by the third song and all was well. The people who sat next to us made light-hearted jokes, wondering if I'd make it to the second act. = P On the way home, I was having contractions every 3 minutes. I laid down after we got home and they subsided so I took a nap. After dinner tonight, they've been really strong......quite painful and coming every 6-8 minutes. I have had some bloody show to go along with it so the time is definitely close. I just don't know when! Fortunately, my Mom is back home and with Maggie no longer in the hospital, I feel like things have calmed down a bit and Katie can come any time. We're ready for her. I'll be very surprised if the next entry isn't her birth story!

Symptoms: Painful and frequent contractions, lost mucous plug, bloody show, less heartburn but still experiencing it a bit here and there. Katie is still very squirmy. I'm trying to enjoy that while I can since this is probably our last pregnancy. I still have moments where I feel a little sad about that.

Cravings: Root Beer, Chocolate, Mashed Potatoes

Aversions: Not much!

Katie: Our baby is now considered to be full-term, even though our official due date is still two weeks away. Eighty-five percent of babies are born within two weeks of their due date, so Shannon will probably give birth sometime in the next four weeks. While we're watching for signs of labor, our baby is shedding lanugo, the fine hair that's covered her body for months. She may have some of it left on her shoulders, forehead, and neck when she's born. She'll also have lost most, if not all, of the vernix, the creamy wax-like substance that's protected her skin from the amniotic fluid. So what happens to the cast-off vernix and lanugo? Some of it ends up in our baby's intestines, where it becomes part of the meconium. Meconium is the greenish-black, tarry substance that will make up Katie's first bowel movement after she's born. It also consists of dead cells, amniotic fluid, and waste products from our baby's liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Katie's kidneys are filtering some waste too, but they won't be functioning fully until after birth. Katie's growth rate is losing speed, but she's still making strides: Her length is probably closing in on 19.5 to 20 inches, and her weight is nearing 7 pounds.

A baby at 38 weeks

 

Week 37 (December 30 - January 5)

Is it wrong that I have an ideal date that I'm shooting for Katie to arrive on? And for all the wrong reasons? Here is how I'd like this to go:

In the next few days I'd like to finish up all of the projects I had hoped to have done before Katie arrived. Some of them NEED to be done for her arrival while others I just WANT done because who knows when I'll ever have time to tackle them again. Those projects (and these are just the projects that remain. You'd be astounded at how much we've accomplished in the past week) include:

Finish washing every last piece of laundry we have (just four more loads).

Clean out the closet in mine and Erick's room (what....it's really dusty and that's the room Katie will be sleeping in for the first couple of months).

Finish organizing Katie's room and clothes (well that's just good sense).

Organize my art supplies (I know that sounds inane but I keep my art supplies in the closet in Katie's room and they've kind of gotten out of hand since the holidays).

Clean the interior and exterior of the car (I want the seats shampooed before we put all the seats in their new places. And if I'm gonna have the inside cleaned I may as well have the outside cleaned).

Install the car seats in their new positions (this is non-negotiable. They won't let us bring her home without a car seat for her!)

Clean out our game closet (Um, I really have no idea why other than the fact that we have Elefun stored in Katie's closet and I'd like to move it to the game closet which is a mess.)

Purchase last-minute necessities for Katie (Formula, newborn nipples, an Inclined-to-Sleep and some new sheets).

Have the carpet in the apartment shampooed. (Ok, that one won't get done. But in my perfect world.....)

In addition to that, I'd personally like to finish a sewing project or two that I wanted to work on. Not that I need to....I'd just like to have some quiet, creative time before she arrives. And Thursday the 10th is the first day that both McKenna and Kyla will both be in school since Christmas break so ideally, I'd have that morning to go get a relaxing pedicure. And, while I'm laying it all out on the table, we have tickets to see Jesus Christ Superstar on January 13. I desperately want to see that as Ted Kneely (the original Jesus) is starring and, well, I thought I'd never get the chance to see that. So dear Miss Katelyn, if you would be so kind as to come ON January 14th, that would be just perfect. That way, I can get everything done that I want to finish and your Daddy can still go to his Elk's Lodge interview on the 9th AND the Jeremy Enigk concert on the 20th.

I mean really, that's not too much to ask is it? ; )

It's funny because with McKenna's pregnancy, the last month was horrible. It was such a guessing game. "Is this labor? Yes? No?" I was a first-timer so what did I know? I didn't know if I'd go early, late....I had no idea what was going on and it was torture. With Kyla's pregnancy, I was just praying like mad that she wouldn't arrive on McKenna's first day of school because I was afraid that would be too much change for McKenna. I really fretted over this. Thankfully I didn't go into labor until the NIGHT that McKenna had started school so we were all good there. With Katie, there's really nothing that has me worried. She really can arrive at any time and it will work out just beautifully. But since we do have all these silly little things that we'd like to do, it's like a game she's playing with us. There are some days when I think "I don't think she'll be here for at least 2 weeks." Other days I'm thinking "She may very well come tonight!" The contractions are pretty painful lately, sometimes even waking me up at night or stopping me in my tracks wherever I'm walking. So I really bounce back and forth wondering when she'll get here, if we'll have time to do the things we NEED to do, if we'll have time to squeeze in some of the things we'd LIKE to do.

In any case, my little Katie bug.....you just show up when you're ready. We'll be overjoyed whichever day you choose and none of the things on our to-do list will ever measure up to how excited we are about YOU.

And if you come after the 14th, well then I have time to clean out the bathroom cupboards and the kitchen junk drawer.

Symptoms: Quite a few really painful contractions. My back is so sore! Slightly less frequent baby movement but not enough to worry me. I just know it's getting cramped in there because she's flip-flopping less and just beating up on my bladder. Some days, no heartburn. Other days, it still kicks in like wildfire. I walk soooo slooooow now. I usually have to sit down to rest after some pretty small tasks. But I do tend to push myself throughout the day so I'm probably gonna SEND myself into labor! My appetite continues to fluxuate. For instance, at lunch today I had 2 hot dogs and some chips and I still felt famished. Yet at dinner I ate 4 pieces of sushi and was stuffed. Still feeling a little emotional that the pregnancy is almost over. I wonder if I'll be a weepy mess during the delivery or if I'll hold it together.

Cravings: I'm really craving some marzipan right now. Weird.

Aversions: Nothing notable.

Katie: It's likely that our baby is more than 19 inches long and weighs at least 6 and 6.5 pounds, nearing her final birth weight. These last few weeks are important, though; she's still gaining half an ounce of fat per day. This fat helps her body regulate her temperature and keep an even blood-sugar level. The brain, and the skull that houses it, continue to grow. Shannon may feel as if Katie's dropped down into her pelvis-and perhaps she has. This dropping, called lightening or engagement, can occur a few weeks before our baby is born. The new, lower position may take some pressure off Shannon's squished lungs and diaphragm, making breathing easier for her.

A baby at 37 weeks

 

Weeks 35-36 (December 16 - December 29)

Christmas is officially over and we're looking forward to getting our home and life back to something normal before Katie comes. We're working on all sorts of nesting projects so that when Katie does get here, we feel like we're bringing her into a calm environment and not one of chaos. We're cleaning out closets and bookshelves and pantries, catching up on laundry and housework, we're even freshening up the look of the kitchen with new linens and dishes. Even the car is getting a wash and interior shampoo before we install the infant seat. I guess when you combine the usual January urge for spring cleaning with the overwhelming urge to nest before a baby comes you really go overboard! But it feels good to be doing this. Even though we're not done with these projects, I feel very ready for Katie to be here.

We had an OB appointment the day after Christmas. It looks like my weight could very well end at the same amount I ended with both McKenna and Kyla - 165. That would be nice! My blood pressure is normal, Katie's heartbeat is healthy. She's already head down and once she hit 36 weeks they considered her fully developed and said she can come at any time!

I've enjoyed Kyla showing more interest in Katie this week. She likes to try to share her milk with her through my belly button. Sometimes she runs up to me saying "KATIE!" and then throws her arms around my belly in a big hug. She thinks she has a Katie in her belly too. ; ) In fact, she thinks we all have a Katie in our belly. It'll all click with her once Katie is born I'm sure. At bedtime, both girls have to give Katie a kiss goodnight before they go to sleep. This is going to be one loved little baby.

Symptoms: I get a few painful contractions every day. Nothing regular but definitely noticeable! Turning over at night is really painful. Getting up off of the floor is miserable and I curse myself every time I forget that and sit on the floor for a few minutes. Some nights I have to get up as many as 4 or 5 times - 3 to go to the bathroom and 2 for different drinks. Sometimes I'm so thirsty that I need water, other times my heartburn is so bad that I need milk. So being slow, tired and crabby are definitely symptoms right now. My appetite is all out of whack as well. I get hungry much more often. But sometimes I can't eat too much because there just isn't room in there anymore! = D We went to dinner and a movie with some friends the other night. Everyone else was stuffed after such a filling dinner. Me? I ate most of my dinner and STILL had room for popcorn at the theater. ; )

Cravings: Sweet potatoes, cheddar cheese on triscuits.

Aversions: Kyla tried to share her chicken nuggets with me the other day and I had to turn away. Yuck.

Katie (week 36): Our baby loves hearing us read or sing. In fact, studies show that newborns prefer the sound of their mother's voice over other voices. Katie seems to know whenever we're having family time. If there's lots of giggling or singing, she's always extra wiggly like she's trying to join in the fun. Research has also found that newborns show a preference for a song that was played to them repeatedly while they were in the womb. Katie's head is specially designed to travel through Shannon’s cervix and pelvis. The bones in her skull aren't fused together yet; this loose construction makes her head very shapeable so it can squeeze through the birth canal without harming her or Shannon. These bones will gradually fuse over the first year of life. Katie now weighs between 5.5 and 6 pounds this week and measures nearly 19 inches.

A baby at 36 weeks

 

Weeks 30-34 (November 11 - December 15)

Dear Katie - Yes, I realize it has been 5 weeks that I've missed in the journal of your pregnancy while your sisters had only had a total of 1 week each skipped in theirs. I know that one day (probably when you are a teenager) you will use this to your advantage. If you're smart, you'll hint that your broken heart can only be mended with a new outfit or something. ; )

I did intend to skip a week because let's face it, the 3rd trimester is a pretty boring one (the only excitement being that your Auntie and Grandma threw a very lovely shower for you on November 17!) and it's nice to take a break. I did not, however, intend to take THIS much time off. You can surely attribute it to a combination of the holidays + two big sisters who seem to be getting sick every week since school started! I imagine once you make your way into this big world, our lives will be even busier!

The up side to being this busy is that it's really making the time fly by! I'm grateful to have the distraction of the holidays. Usually the last month of pregnancy is so uncomfortable that it feels like the longest month of my life. And while there is no denying how uncomfortable I am, I am much too busy preparing for Christmas to dwell on it. Instead of feeling like "GEEZ, kid. Come OUT already!" I'm just thinking how much fun it's going to be when you finally are here. With every Christmas activity and festivity that we attend, I think "Next year, Katie will be here." I love to picture what the same scene will be like with McKenna at age 5, Kyla at age 3 and you nearing your first birthday. Instead of anticipating the usual post-holiday boredom, I know that once the magic of Christmas is over this year, we have something even more magical to look forward to - the birth of our little Katie.

Your Daddy and sisters are getting anxious for your arrival too! McKenna tells me every single day, "Mommy, you know what I'm looking forward to that's really special? Katie." She's looking forward to you even more than a visit from Santa! That's saying a lot for a 4-year old! And every single day, Kyla points to my belly and says "MY Katie!"

Before McKenna was born, we were excited but nervous because we were going to be first-time parents and we didn't know what to expect. Before Kyla was born, we were excited but nervous because we didn't know if it would be difficult having a toddler and a newborn in the house. But awaiting your birth, we're just excited. Daddy and I no longer worry about the challenges that come with the newborn stage. We've gotten to be a pretty good team, sharing the work, keeping positive attitudes, learning to function on little-to-no sleep. We know the newborn stage is just a blip on the timeline of your life. We just look forward to the sweetness, the snuggles and watching your big sisters fall in love with you.

So I'm sorry that I haven't journaled what the past five weeks have been like. But you can rest assured that we count the busyness of that time as a blessing as it's helping the time to pass quickly until your arrival! We love you little Katie Bug.

Symptoms: I can barely bend over anymore. I can barely lift either of the girls anymore. I definitely can't chase them and they can definitely outrun me right now (and they know it!) I walk at a snail's pace. Katie is so wiggly and she fills up my entire belly now. Whenever she moves, either my bladder gets kicked or my lungs get kicked or my stomach gets kicked. If she's too wiggly, it's not unheard of for me to lose whatever I recently ate! Braxton Hicks are becoming stronger and more frequent. I still think we're about a month away from delivery but it's comforting to know my body is starting to gear up for the big day!

Cravings: Apple juice mixed with 7-up. Chocolate. And I drink a TON of milk because the heartburn is so bad all the time. I've actually grown accustomed to heartburn.

Aversions: Nothing noteable.

Katie (week 34): She is moving around less frequently, mostly because of the cramped quarters. Of course, it may not seem as if she's settled down—now that she's so big (about 4.7 to 5 pounds and 15.5 to 16 inches long), Shannon can feel even the slightest movement. In fact, since our baby is right up against the wall of the uterus, Shannon is getting good at guessing which body part (foot? elbow? arm?) is protruding. Regardless of the eye color Katie will end up with, right now her eyes are blue. The pigmentation process in her iris won't be complete until her eyes have been exposed to light for several weeks after birth. Her final eye color may not be evident for years.

A baby at 34 weeks

 

Week 29 (November 3 - November 10)

We had our appointment on Monday and ultrasound on Thursday. Everything is going great! My weight and blood pressure are both healthy. I weigh 149. I ended both of my previous pregnancies at exactly 165 so we'll see what happens this time. It feels like I'll pass that number up! Katie appears to be growing well and is actually measuring a week ahead size-wise! She's over 3 pounds already! The u/s tech still seemed fairly sure that she's a girl. LOL! I wish she could have said "without a doubt" but I think legally she's not allowed to. I never questioned it with my other two babies because the u/s tech was always matter-of-fact and said "It's a girl." This u/s tech speaks more protectively in case she's wrong which can only cause doubt in a mother's mind! But in both u/s photos (17 weeks and 28 weeks) it does appear to be a very "girly" picture. ; )

McKenna and Kyla were running around at Grandma & Pop-Pop's last night, both wearing pink footie pajamas and hiding under Grandma's desk. There was just enough room for one more little sister to fit in there with them and I smiled as I pictured what it will be like in a year and a half with 3 of them running around in pink footie pajamas and hiding under desks.

Symptoms: I've felt really great this week! More energy and less back and belly pain. Katie's squirms are starting to feel both very ticklish and like she's gonna be strong enough to break outta there on her own! I do start to feel pretty sore around 6am from lying on my side all night. Mostly my hips. I do some stretches to ease it up and that makes me crave exercise. I can't wait until I can start doing pilates again!

Cravings: Pumpkin bread from Old Town Baking Co. and a cold glass of skim milk.

Aversions: Just the same ol' same ol' - spicy, greasy.

Katie: This week marks an important milestone in our baby's brain development: The brain has matured to the point where it can help regulate body temperature. Of course, our little one isn't ready to do it all on her own yet; she still needs the warmth of Shannon's body to keep her toasty until birth. She also continues to develop nerve cells in her brain. By the time she's born, she'll have hundreds of billions of them. That seems like a lot, but she needs to stock up, since she won't produce any more after birth. Katie is looking more like a full-term baby, too. She's plumping up nicely; the surface of her skin is smoother and paler because of the fat she's starting to gain. This fat will be an important factor in her ability to keep warm. She also has eyelashes; she may be batting them at you right now! Despite the increase in fat, Katie is still pretty thin—only about 2 to 3 percent of her 2.7 pounds is made up of fat. Crown to rump, she measures 10.4 inches, but if you stretched her out, she'd be more than 16 inches long.

Katie at 28w4d

 

Week 28 (October 28 - November 3)

This week I went to Subway for lunch and the kid behind the counter kept staring at my belly. Finally he asked "How's your baby?" I said "Oh, fine thanks." He said "I think it's a boy." I said "Actually, it's a girl." He got this look on his face like I was crazy and he said "Are you sure??" Um, yes Subway kid. We did have an ultrasound although I can see how you with your infinite wisdom and your Sandwich artist training might feel that you are a more qualified judge. LOL! People are so weird!

I think I've been asked 50 times this week "Do you know what you're having?" and we always answer with a joyful "Yes! Another girl!" The responses to this range from.....

"Were you hoping for a boy?" Uh, no.

"Oh, I guess you'll have to keep trying for a boy." Uh, no again.

"Oh you're kidding!" No, totally serious.

"Oh you're lucky, girls are easier." I'm thinking that totally depends on the girl and which boy you're comparing her to.

People are silly the way they have such set opinions on boys and girls. The battle of the sexes begins early I suppose. I just think you get what you get and you enjoy all the benefits that come with that gender and you take lightly any of the challenges that come with it as well.

We have an OB appointment on Monday and an ultrasound next Thursday! I'm actually a little scared that they're gonna say "Whoops. We were wrong. It's a boy." It's not that I'd be sad to have a boy but I am now very attached to the idea of having 3 daughters and I can't fathom telling McKenna and Kyla "You know Katie? She never existed. Meet Killian." That freaks me out! LOL!

Symptoms: Katie gets hiccups at least once a day! In fact, she has them now. Everything continues to be about the same. The hardest thing is needing to lay down frequently to give my back and pelvis a break. Braxton Hicks have started up this week. They're uncomfortable but not unbearable. It's making me excited for the labor process though. I know it's still at least 2 1/2 months away and I'm sure DURING the process I'll be wondering "What the he77 is so great about this again??" But that moment when your baby starts crying and they put her on your chest......my eyes are tearing up just thinking about it. I can't wait!

Cravings: French fries w/ranch dressing.

Aversions: Pizza, chicken wings, generally anything too greasy or spicy.

Katie: Last week, our baby opened her eyes for the first time in four months, and she began to see light and shadows. This week, if you shine a bright light against Shannon's abdomen, Katie may open her eyes and turn away from the light, as if to say, "Hey Mom, shut that off—I'm trying to sleep in here." Katie's sight isn't the only sense that's working. Her brain wave patterns indicate that she's responding to sounds in the environment. What's she able to pick up? The sound of our voices, the growl of Shannon's stomach, even noises outside the body. Her brain waves are also starting to show differences during sleep. These sleep cycles will become clearer and more distinct as she gets closer to her due date. This is a vital stage in Katie's lung development. Blood vessels are forming throughout both lungs. When she takes her first breath of air, her lungs will absorb the oxygen, then send it into these vessels, which will circulate the oxygenated blood throughout her body. Katie is also just starting to manufacture a substance, called a surfactant, which keeps the air sacs in her lungs from sticking together. The surfactant will allow her to breathe properly after birth. The bronchial tubes are also maturing, dividing into smaller and smaller branches. Katie is gaining weight rapidly now—she may weigh about 2.3 pounds. Crown to rump, she measures 10 inches, but if you were to stretch her out she might be around 15 inches long.

A baby at 28 weeks

 

Week 27 (October 21 - October 27)

I had my glucose test this week. It's not a fun test but this time was especially bad. The girls were in school so Erick and I went down together (he was being sweet and keeping me company). You have to fast before you take the test which is no fun when you're pregnant. So I hadn't eaten since dinner the night before and when we got there, it was so crowded. I wanted to leave but it was really the only time I'd have to take care of it so I had to wait. Finally I got my gross orange drink around 10:30am.. Bleck! I downed that in the 5 minutes I was supposed to and immediately got heartburn (citrus-based, carbonated beverage is just screaming potential heartburn.) An hour later they drew my blood and we left. We went for lunch and I chose wrong. I chose a German restaurant. LOL! Not smart. I had bratwurst w/spicy mustard, french fries and salad. I felt like I wasn't filling up. I actually ate my whole meal (if you know me, you know I never finish an entire meal) and still didn't feel full. In fact, I felt like my food was just sitting in my esophogus. I really felt like I wanted to throw up. And when I got home, that's exactly what I did. It was like it had been sitting inside me and came right back out the same order it went in.

Well after that I had to run out and pick up the girls from school. By the time I got home, I was shaking like a leaf and broken out in a sweat because my blood sugar was so low. I had to gobble up 4 pieces of wheat toast and 2 glasses of milk before I felt better. After that, I just crashed and napped for 3 hours.

Symptoms: I am so uncomfortable. I have to lay on my side several times a day just to give my back and pelvis a break. Katie is getting bigger so that whenever she moves, it feels like 2 squirrels are fighting inside my belly. LOL! I'm having such a hard time picking up anything on the floor. I'm totally going to Home Depot to pick up one of those pick-up rakes.

Cravings: Passion or peach iced tea, carnival squash

Aversions: Spicy or greasy foods

Katie: After being fused shut for more than four months, our baby's eyelids can open again. This, combined with the facts that the visual part of her brain is active and most eye structures are complete, means our little one can see the world around her, limited though it may be. She can't make out objects yet, but she sees light and shadows. By paying attention to her movements inside, Shannon can get a good idea of how Katie spends her days...and nights. Just like babies in their
mothers' arms, our little one gets lulled to sleep by rocking. Shannon's daily activities may not feel like rocking to her, but the amniotic fluid provides such a cushion that all Katie feels is gentle swaying. So she's likely to sleep more during the day. It's a different story at night, once Shannon lies down to get some rest. Suddenly, Katie's awake and ready to party! Our little one will gain about 1 pound over the next month. This week, she's up to 13 inches, crown to rump, and weighs about 2 pounds. Though she's growing quickly, her brain and lungs are still immature. Luckily, she's got 13 more weeks to get ready for the outside world.

A baby at 27 weeks

 

Week 26 (October 14 - October 20)

Katie's kicks are already up into my ribs. She's a strong little monkey! McKenna likes to lay next to me and push her belly up against mine so she can feel Katie kick. I find myself constantly wondering if we should have a fourth. NOT to try for a boy but just wondering if 3 kids will make one inevitabley feel like a third wheel all the time. I'm sure we can handle 4 kids. But I'm not sure I want to endure a 4th pregnancy. I just do better when I'm at my physical best and pregnancy is not my physical best. It's plain exhausting!! I guess by the time Katie is 2 (the earliest that we'd consider getting pregnant again) it will be a little more clear how the girls will function together as a threesome.

I have a doctor appointment next week and I feel like it's such a waste of time to go anymore. I end up waiting forever just to see the doctor for 2 minutes and find out that all is, as usual, going well. I know the warning signs to be on the lookout for so it just seems so pointless to go at all. The ONLY benefit is getting to hear Katie's heartbeat. But at this stage in the pregnancy, nothing can beat feeling her kick and squirm anyway.

Symptoms: I seem to sleep like a rock until 5:30am. Then I wake up, have to go to the bathroom and have trouble going back to sleep because suddenly I can hear Erick snoring. Heartburn is still frequent but it's getting easier to ignore. I woke up with a cough today and it HURTS to cough. I feel like I'm tearing my round ligaments everytime I do. Moodiness. I think that might be evident by this week's update. I didn't get a nap today so I'm a bit cranky.

Cravings: Cheesy stuff

Aversions: Spicy stuff

Katie: This week, our baby's nostrils are starting to open up, which gives her the chance to practice breathing using her muscles and lungs. There's no air to take in, of course, so instead she "inhales" and "exhales" amniotic fluid. By the time she's born, she'll be a pro. Katie is also flexing some of her feeding muscles— her lips and mouth. Her sucking reflex is so strong that if her hand floats by her face, she'll suck on her thumb or fingers. Ultrasounds often show babies in utero sucking their thumbs. In fact, some babies are born with sucking blisters on their fingers, thumbs, lips, or hands. Sucking is just one of the 70-plus reflexes our little girl will have when she's born. Grasping is another of those many reflexes. If you hold out your finger to a newborn, you'll be amazed by the strength of her clutch. Katie is practicing her killer grip right now. Her favorite pull toy is her umbilical cord, which she likes to yank and tug. Don't worry; the cord is up to the challenge. Katie is about 13 inches long and weighs around 1.75 pounds.

A baby at 26 weeks

 

Week 25 (October 7 - October 13)

Yikes, I can't really carry McKenna or Kyla anymore! I can for short distances but not much more. Example: We had to park at the end of the row at the mall. We were just going in to eat so we really didn't need the stroller. But the options were either Erick and I would each have to carry a kid or else we'd have to wait for at least one of them to keep up with us as we walked (not really ideal to have a 2 year old and a 4 year old walking in a parking lot anyway). We took the stroller. I couldn't carry a kid that distance. My belly is just getting too big and I get out of breath too easily. And if I push myself too much, I end up getting cramps and have to lie down.

My heartburn is so easily set off that I tend to not drink enough water (water increases heartburn). I end up drinking a lot of iced tea which isn't really a good source of fluids. The only compromise seems to be milk which is good for the heartburn, good for the fluids, good for the baby. But not really refreshing.

Symptoms: Heartburn, foot cramps, one bathroom break around 5am every morning. Increased appetite! Still enjoying this nice pregnancy skin. I know once I deliver, the crash of hormones will make me break out. But I'm hoping the healthy skin is in part to just getting older (therefore less oily) and will return in the end. Bursts of creativity! For the past couple of weeks I've just been craving ways to create so I've done a whole lot of art projects, baking, scrapping, etc. I should probably use this energy to fix up Katie's room for her but I know she won't be in her own room until at least March or April so I don't feel too rushed. Oh and of course one very, very wiggly little baby! I can't believe we're about to enter the third trimester!!

Cravings: Pasta

Aversions: Sweets, sort of. I actually have craved a few sweet things but once I eat them, I'm turned off by them.

Katie: Your baby measures 12 to 13 inches and weighs about 1.5 pounds. Her skin is still thin, wrinkled, and pale, but she gets a bit plumper every day, thanks to the fat and muscle she's continually adding. Right now tiny blood vessels called capillaries are starting to develop below our little one's skin, and these will give it a pink hue. And she's still swallowing amniotic fluid. Too bad it doesn't come in different flavors! The brain's cortex is developing into layers. Most of the action is still controlled by other brain areas that developed much earlier. The human cerebral cortex is the most elaborate brain structure in all the animal kingdom, giving us the ability to think, plan, and feel in complex ways.

A baby at 25 weeks

 

Week 24 (September 30 - October 6)

Katie's kicks are now hard enough for everyone to feel AND see from the outside. McKenna's face is so fun to watch when she is feeling Katie move. It surprises her how strong Katie is and it's definitely helping her to feel closer to her. Every night when she says goodnight to me or when she says goodbye before she goes to school, she gives me a kiss and she gives Katie a kiss as well.

I'm really looking forward to knowing Katie. I love McKenna and Kyla so much and I just feel so lucky that I'm going to have another child to love. I can't wait for her to arrive and to see her in our little family.

I've been feeling pretty good. If I've done too much physical activity, my back will start to feel like I'm gonna collapse under the pressure. But if I take time to lay down each day then I usually end th day feeling pretty good. I've had to move up a size in maternity clothes (*sniff*) and since the cooler months are starting, I've had to shop a bit. Most of my maternity clothes days were in the summer so I've got plenty of tank tops. But I'm gonna need a few sweaters I think.

Symptoms: TONS of baby movement (she seems to be wiggly all day and night and has even woken me up with a strong kick or two in the middle of the night.) Heartburn, as usual. Sore back. My skin actually looks better than usual so that's a bonus! Usually need a bathroom break around 5am. I hate waking up at night to go to the bathroom. Oh, and foot cramps. : (

Cravings: Fast food. Isn't that horrible? Today for lunch I drove through both Burger King AND Taco Bell. I was craving Nachos Bell Grande and those Chicken Fries.

Aversions: It's difficult because I make a menu plan for dinner so that we're not eating out all the time. But I almost never want what we have planned for dinner. Sometimes I just force myself to get over it and eat what we planned. Sometimes I give in to my cravings and end up pushing the menu plan back a nigh. ; )

Katie: Jumping and diving, rolling and kicking—our little one is having a great time training for the Baby Olympics. Just as Shannon settles in for a good night's sleep, Katie starts her workout. Babies are most active between 24 and 28 weeks. After that, there won't be enough room for her to perform the acrobatics she's so adept at now. If our baby could look down at her chest, she'd get her first anatomy lesson. Because her skin is still thin and transparent, it's possible to see the blood vessels, bones, and organs beneath it. Her skin will continue to thicken as the months pass, until it's opaque like ours. Even though our baby's eyes are still fused shut, all the parts of her eyes are present, including the retina, which completes its development over the next month. The iris, the colored part of the eye, still doesn't have any pigmentation. Katie's eye color will fill in over the next few months, though their final shade won't be settled until after she's born. Most Caucasian babies are born with slate-blue eyes and their final color is not established until near their first birthday. Our little gymnast weighs up to 1.3 pounds this week and measures 10 to 11 inches.

A baby at 24 weeks

 

Week 23 (September 23 - September 29)

I'm such a pain in the butt come dinner time every night. I know I need to eat but I'm totally disinterested. My heartburn is usually pretty bad by then. I'm usually way too tired to cook or even go out. Heck, I'm too tired to even PICK a place to eat! I'm sure I'm driving Erick nuts!

I had an OB appointment on Tuesday. It was pretty standard but this time Erick and the girls came with me so they could hear the heartbeat. Kyla didn't seem to know what she was listening to but it made McKenna smile to hear her Katie. Almost every day she asks me how big Katie is and puts her hand on my belly to see if she can feel her move. Kyla now refers to her belly as her "baby". She had a tummyache the other day and came crying saying "Ow, my baby." LOL!

Symptoms: Soooo much heartburn. I'm a little spacey too....pregnancy brain! Pelvic pressure whenever I stand up. I still need to lie down for a little bit every afternoon otherwise I'll never make it through the dinner and bedtime routine with the girls. Squirmy, squirmy, squirmy little baby! : )

Cravings: Nonfat, Decaf Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks, salad, blueberry syrup on buttery pancakes!

Aversions: Boneless wings from Wingstop. Bleck!

Katie: Now that bones in her ears have hardened, our baby can hear us and prefers our voices to any other sound. The amniotic fluid that surrounds our baby is the perfect place for her to grow into a healthy newborn. The salty fluid keeps her warm, protects her from infections, and is buoyant enough for her to exercise her developing body. Right now the amniotic sac contains about a pint of fluid, which is refreshed every three to four hours. Katie looks like a tiny, thin newborn. She now weighs close to 1 pound and measures 9 to 10 inches, about the length of a Barbie doll.

A baby at 23 weeks

 

Week 22 (September 16 - September 22)

Katie is such a little squirmer this week! She's given me a few powerful kicks that have surprised me!

I'm a little less tired this week and I guess you can say I'm in a nesting phase since I'm really throwing myself into cleaning and fall decorating. But part of that is just the SAHM territory.

Kyla loves to try to poke my belly button back in. Ouch!! My belly button is as outtie as an outtie can be and it's so sore. I look ridiculous because you can see my belly button poking out no matter what kind of shirt I wear. How embarrassing!

Symptoms: Really bad heartburn this week. Sore back. Starting to feel really heavy and it hurts to bend over most of the time. Got my first foot cramp. I hate those. : (

Cravings: Pasta

Aversions: Anything that will cause heartburn.

Katie: As if concentrating on a tricky math problem, our clever baby can furrow her brow. And now she's actually getting eyebrows to do it with! These fine hairs, like the hair on her scalp, don't contain any pigment yet—they're pure white. Her eyelids are completely developed too, though they're fused shut until about 28 weeks. Jumping jacks may be our baby's favorite activity these days. Now that her arms and legs have reached their final proportions (but not their final size), she's exercising them vigorously—kicking, flexing, and clasping her hands. Speaking of her hands, fingernails now completely cover her fingertips, just as ours do. And they keep growing. In fact, we may need to trim our baby's nails right after she's born so she doesn't scratch herself. Even though our baby measures more than 9.5 inches now, she still doesn't weigh much—about 13 ounces. At this point, she has only 1 percent body fat. But from here on out, she'll be adding layers of fat, which will help her to produce and retain body heat. Our little one's fat is a lot like the kind Shannon is putting on during pregnancy. It's called brown fat and is readily turned into energy to keep both of them on an even keel.

A baby at 22 weeks

 

Week 21 (September 9 - September 15)

I don't know if I'm much more active this pregnancy or if it's because I'm older, but I don't remember being so exhausted by the afternoon that I HAD to lay down. I really do HAVE to lay down. If I don't, I'm extremely uncomfortable and even in some pain. I've also noticed that I have to walk slower when we go places now. My pregnant waddle has already begun. = D

McKenna is able to feel Katie kick now! She loves to lay in bed with me and watch tv with her hand on my belly so she can feel the kicks. Katie is really active so McKenna can usually feel her quite a bit!

Everytime I feel Katie move, I bond with her a little more. I always think of her name when she moves and it makes my heart feel overwhelmed with joy. Her middle name (Abigail) means "Father's Source of Joy" and Erick's Mom was given a verse in prayer from Psalms that told her that this would be a child of gladness. I believe that it's so because Katie is already bringing joy and gladness to us as we look forward to her place in our family.

Symptoms: Sore everything - back, bbs, belly, you name it. Out of breath more frequently. Heartburn continues. Tired, tired, tired. But Katie is super wiggly this week so that's fun!

Cravings: Mashed potatoes, salad w/bleu cheese, Pumpkin Spiced latte from Starbucks

Aversions: Nothing noteable.

Katie: Katie's heartbeat gets stronger and louder every day. Up until a few weeks ago, our doctor needed a special device called a Doppler to hear it. Now all that's needed is a stethoscope. Katie is already starting to sleep and wake in subtle cycles. Ultrasounds show that unborn babies may even settle into a favorite sleeping position. She might tuck her chin into her chest, clasp her hands under her chin, or tilt her head back. Katie weighs between 10 and 13 ounces and is around 9 inches long, the length and weight of a banana.

A baby at 21 weeks

 

Week 20 (September 2 - September 8)

The achiness of pregnancy is starting to set in. Usually by the end of the day, my belly button and spine both feel bruised. It's really painful and by the time I lay down at night, my body feels just exhausted and I think "Yeah, this is the last pregnancy for me." LOL! Of course we're not taking any drastic measures until I'm 34 so I guess we'll see if God has other plans. But right now, as the uncomfortable stage sets in, my body and my brain both say "Enough!"

I'm really starting to get super excited about the idea of another girl. I was happy when we found out of course but since this was our third girl, there wasn't anything new to mull over. But as Katie starts to move more and I start to think more about her place in our family, my heart feels like it's gonna burst thinking about my three daughters together. Silly things like ideas for their Halloween costumes or how I can now pretty much throw EVERY SINGLE GIRLY PARTY THEME I've ever come up with! LOL! And it just melts my heart when I hear McKenna talk about the things she wants to do with her sisters. Those are some of my favorite words to hear from her "Me and Kyla and Katie." I really love imagining what the three of them will look like together when they're just doing every day things like brushing their teeth before bed or getting ready to walk out the door for school. Oh ok and I'll admit it, I'm secretly hoping that all 3 will want to stay in dance class. I'd love that! : ) I wonder what Katie will look like. McKenna and Kyla look a lot alike in some ways but each have their own, very unique features. McKenna has very sweet hazel eyes and Kyla has very mischievous blue ones. McKenna has curly brown hair and Kyla has straight blonde. They both have their situations where they're shy and situations where they're outgoing. One is a picky eater, one will eat anything. One is short, one is tall. So I'm so curious what Katie will be like as well!

Symptoms: Lots of baby movement - especially when I'm driving or sitting at the computer or when I lay down to rest. I hate to say it but my bbs are getting ridiculously big. Sore belly button and back.

Cravings: Salad w/ranch dressing

Aversions: Fried food

Katie: Last week, vernix started to coat our baby's skin. This week, she's completely covered with the creamy substance, which will protect her delicate skin from the amniotic fluid. Our baby is truly starting to experience the world around her, limited though it may be. Her brain has been working overtime developing the nerve centers dedicated to her senses, and they're coming alive. She's more responsive to the changes in the world around her: Shannon’s activity, sounds in the environment, and even the taste of the amniotic fluid. Shannon has probably felt the baby rolling, diving, and kicking inside her belly. Now she might also feel a rhythmic jerking. No, she's not tapping out a tune; she's hiccupping. Most babies get the hiccups in utero, possibly due to an immature diaphragm having spasms. There's nothing that can be done to stop the hiccups, but there's no need to—they won't harm our baby now or after she's born. After establishing a scalp hair pattern several weeks ago, our baby is moving to the next step: growing hair. And this isn't lanugo; it's the real deal. But don't get visions of a lustrous mane just yet. Most of this hair will start to fall out two weeks after birth. Don't worry—our little one will gradually grow permanent hair, which will probably be lighter in color than the hair she has at birth. Elsewhere in our baby's head, the bones of the inner ear are now fully formed, and the nose is beginning to develop into its recognizable shape. Our baby weighs about 7.5 to 9 ounces and measures approximately 8.5 inches. You could cup the little one in the palm of your hand.

A baby at 20 weeks

 

Week 19 (August 26 - September 1)

Very little to report this week. The weather has been miserably hot so that's not really fun. It's hard to stay hydrated as it is but it's even more important since I'm pregnant! I'm so ready for Fall to come! I'm looking forward to that because once Fall starts, school and dance start for the girls....which means time will start to go pretty fast - we'll have Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Years....and before you know it, Katie will be here!! It's fun shopping for newborn clothes for the winter. Usually in the newborn stage, our babies are wearing onesies and nothing else because it's so hot. But this time we get to buy all the cute little sleepers and baby sweaters. Too cute!

Symptoms: Lots of baby movement but it feels deeper than usual. Before I could feel the little taps at the front of my abdomen. Now I feel like she might be kicking towards my back and even sometimes towards my bladder. Very possible since at the u/s she didn't want to face forward. Increased appetite, increased heartburn, increased tummy aches. A little dizziness from the heat too!

Cravings: Salads and burgers. Fresh fruit.

Aversions: Nothing noteable.

Katie: Katie's reproductive system is already well established. The vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes are in place, and the ovaries contain more than 6 million primitive egg cells. When she is born, that number will have shrunk to about 1 million, which is all the eggs she'll ever have. Around this time, the skin starts to produce a creamy substance called vernix caseosa, which is made of oils secreted by the skin, dead cells, and lanugo, the fine hair that covers the body. This waxy coating protects our little one's skin from the effects of floating in amniotic fluid. Most of the vernix will disappear before birth, unless our baby arrives early. Preterm babies are often born still covered with a lot of vernix. Even full-term infants will have a bit of vernix in the creases of their skin. Katie most likely measures about 7 inches and weighs anywhere from 6.5 to 8 ounces. There's a definite upswing on the fetal growth chart now, so we can expect some big gains in the coming weeks.

A baby at 19 weeks

 

Week 18 (August 19 - August 25)

IT'S A GIRL!!!! LOL holy moly! Three girls!! I think it's so ironic that before I became a parent, I always thought I'd be the mother to all boys. And it turned out to be the exact opposite! Lucky for me, God knows my heart even better than I do because I had no idea that I would love having daughters so very much that I would actually be thrilled to have three daughters!

Her name will be Katelyn Abigail. We'll call her Katie most of the time I'm sure. And her middle name means "Father's Source of Joy" - and that she truly is. She appears to be very healthy so far. She was quite wiggly but was shy about showing her face. We got several great ultrasound photos which I'll upload soon to our Belly-Ultrasound page. The ultrasound tech estimates that she is about 8 oz. right now.

McKenna's reaction shocked us all. She was sure this was a boy and she burst out crying when the ultrasound tech said it was a girl. She positively clung to her sister and cried "But I want Kyla!" We finally figured out that she thought she could only have one sister and this meant we would have to get rid of her. After we explained that she can have two sisters (and after the tech gave her some Tinkerbell stickers) she was very happy. Both girls have been talking to their baby sister Katie and giving her lots of hugs and tickles through my belly. : )

After the ultrasound we had our traditional shopping and lunch trip. We went to Babies R Us and picked out two cute sleepers for Katie. McKenna was too cute as she shopped, just gushing over all the tiny baby clothes. Then we had lunch at one of our favorite Japanese Restaurants.

Ever since we got the news, I've just been picturing what life will be like. Three beautiful daughters. How adorable is this gonna be?!?!

Symptoms: I'm feeling great this week! Still need my usual afternoon nap. Still have evening heartburn. But all is well.

Cravings: Del Taco.....that's terrible!

Aversions: Chicken

Katie: This week, our little one is developing one of the characteristics that will make her unique: fingerprints. Pads of fat accumulating on the fingertips and toes will turn into distinguishing swirling lines. The large intestine has been tacked down to the back of the abdominal wall, and many digestive glands are forming. This developing digestive system has been going through its paces for several weeks already: Katie is swallowing amniotic fluid, which then makes its way through the stomach and intestines. Now, that fluid combines with dead cells and secretions in the intestines to form meconium. Meconium is the black, tarry substance that will eventually make up Katie's first messy diaper (and the honor of the first messy diaper always goes to Daddy!). The baby weighs up to 7 ounces and is about 6.5 to 7 inches, top to bottom.

Katie at 17w5d

 

Week 17 (August 12 - August 18)

This has been a pretty easy week for me. Nothing too different from last week. Everyone is getting pretty excited since the big ultrasound is coming up! I'm just enjoying the little movements that are happening more and more often and getting stronger each day!

Now that my belly is noticeably pregnant, the girls really like to talk to the baby. McKenna still insists this is a boy but she's not all that thrilled with the name Killian. She'd prefer "John" (which is of course, the name of Wendy's brother in Peter Pan.) LOL I'm sure she'll adjust. She does love Katie though. Today was the first time that Kyla said anything about gender. She pointed to my belly and said "Boy". I go back and forth between what I can imagine for our family. Sometimes I can picture us as a family with 3 beautiful and talented daughters. I can envision them singing together in church and fighting over clothes and staying up late at night talking non-stop. Othertimes I can clearly envision what our son would be like, probably more reserved in light of the fact that he has two big sisters who are so loud and diva-like. He would probably be so much like Erick was as a child - creative, smart and introspective.

I guess we'll find out soon enough!

Symptoms: Increased appetite. I'm curious to see how much weight I've gained at my next appointment. Suddenly I don't feel like my belly is as big as it usually is at this stage. I feel like the pregnancy is still at the beginning stages yet we're almost at the half-way point already. Crazy! I had a few gaggy moments this week. I MUST eat breakfast right when I wake up. If I don't, the nausea comes on quick. Still tired enough to need a nap in the afternoons most days. My moods have been pretty good though I think that's more about life circumstances and taking time for reading God's Word each day. I've felt very happy and even on the days when I know my hormones are raging, I think I have a more sensible perspective than I did that one week in the first-trimester when I felt inexplicably depressed. When I was pregnant with Kyla, I was so worried about how easy/difficult it would be to have two kids. This time I'm much more relaxed about adding another baby to our household.

Cravings: El Pollo Loco - chicken, mashed potatoes and mac-n-cheese. Yum!

Aversions: I can't have anything too spicy or acidic. The heartburn is killer!

Baby Bieger #3: This week, our little one starts to plump up a bit. The fat that's acquired, also called adipose tissue, helps produce and retain body heat. Fat tissue is also important for metabolism, since it's a great source of energy. This is a time of tremendous growth—our baby might measure up to 6.8 inches and weighs nearly 5 ounces. Our little one has been working on two basic reflexes for a few weeks: sucking and swallowing. By the time our baby is born, s/he'll have nearly all the reflexes that we do, ones that will help him/her survive and learn about the world. If we're going to have a girl, a special set of tissues is developing into the uterus and vagina. If a boy is in our future, these same tissues are taking another path: The penis has formed and the prostate has begun to take shape. The testosterone-secreting cells, which formed a month ago, are key in orchestrating these developments.

A baby at 17 weeks

 

Week 16 (August 5 - August 11)

Our air conditioner busted today when Dokken tore the wires. D'oh! It was out for half the day and while my handy husband was able to fix it, the apartment had already become pretty warm. So now I'm feeling horrid - hot, nauseous, headache. THIS is why I've kept the a/c on practically non-stop since May!

I've been feeling lots of little squirms lately. Before it was the occasional tap. Now I'm actually feeling some squirms!

I'm outgrowing my transitional clothes so I went shopping last night. I picked up a pair of maternity jeans (maternity jeans have come a long way. These jeans are just way too fashionable to be maternity!) and instead of buying over-priced maternity shirts, I stopped in the Junior department at JC Penney. They were having a 50% off sale and I got two shirts with an empire waist and 2 shirts that are long but clingy so they cover the belly but accentuate the still-cute baby bump (I'm not to gigantor phase yet so accentuating the bump is a good thing.) All four shirts for a grand total of $36! Nice! These will make great transitional shirts for those first couple of months after the baby is born too!

Symptoms: Well, back and tummy sleeping are officially a thing of the past. It's side-sleeping from here on out. I've been having really vivid dreams - some of them scary. The other night Erick woke me because I was whimpering in my sleep. I was dreaming that I was holding Kyla but we were drowing in a huge body of water. I was kicking and kicking, trying to get us to the surface but I couldn't get there fast enough. I was scared to death that I'd drop Kyla and we'd never find her in the water again. *shudder* It still upsets me to think about it. Let's see...what other symptoms. Baby squirms of course. The best part. : ) If I wake up at night, I have a hard time falling back asleep. But I need a nap almost every day. Increased appetite. VERY thirsty even though I drink lots of water and juice. Threw up this week. Bleck. Just once but still, bleck. And I went to buy a new pair of shoes and the size 7's were snug. Must be getting a little feet-swelling already! My belly button is poking out. Still having frequent heartburn. And I can't stand in one place for very long before I feel worn out and need to sit down. But other than all that...I feel great! LOL!

Cravings: Egg rolls w/spicy mustard.

Aversions: If I've already eaten and I'm full, I really don't want to think about any food at all or else I feel sick.

Baby Bieger #3: The appearance of body hair and possibly head hair was the big story last week. This week, thanks to strengthening muscles, our little one is working on lifting the head and neck from their curved position. Being able to straighten out a bit makes sitting up a possibility. Our baby is also moving those arms and legs frequently. These workouts could even get a sweat going, since the sweat glands have already formed (of course, Shannon’s uterus will keep things at just the right temperature). Our little one is about 4.5 to 4.75 inches long and just under 3 ounces.

A baby at 16 weeks

 

Week 15 (July 29 - August 4)

Not so much nausea this week so that's good. I've really been so lucky that morning sickness is so light this time!!! I had my OB appointment on Wednesday. Everything is going great! My blood pressure is healthy. She said she was really pleased with my weight. Usually my OB says "Your weight is fine." This is the first time an OB was "pleased" with it! LOL! I've gained 15 pounds so far. With both girls I gained 45 pounds so I'm expecting as much with this baby. I would've sworn I was halfway there by now because I feel like I'm packing on the pounds. But since my beautiful, cheerleader niece told me this week that I'm skinny (remind me to buy her a present or something) then I'm feeling good about my weight.

The baby's heartrate sounded beautiful and healthy. Nothing noteable at this appointment (aside from being in the office for an hour and a half but getting only 2 minutes with the doctor). The one exciting part is that we got to schedule our ultrasound!! Yay!! It's August 24th at 10:30am!! It's at a different facility then my OB's office. Dr. Garcia has an u/s machine on site but it's not very high quality and just for things like looking for internal bleeding or finding heartrates later in pregnancy. So she sends us out for the important u/s. We'll be 17w5d which means we'll be able to find out if we're having a son or a daughter! It's a nice office (my old OB had a teeny weeny u/s office) so we're gonna bring both girls in for the appointment so they can be there when we find out. McKenna is still convinced it's a boy. If it's not a boy, I hope she doesn't feel disappointed. The good news is, she LOVES the name Katie so at least if this baby is a girl, she'll be excited to have a Katie in the house. ; ) However, she did tell me this week that she thought "Diarrhea" would make a pretty name. I had to tell her what Diarrhea was in order to convince her that it would definitely NOT make a pretty name! LOL!

Symptoms: Still feeling the taps. : ) Love that. Looking forward to that time when Erick and the girls can feel the movement from the outside. I'm sooooo tired and I have wicked heartburn from late afternoon on (fat-free milk and half a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat is still the best cure for that). I had a bad headache on Saturday. But really, overall I feel pretty good. I just usually have to lie down if I've been out and about too long.

Cravings: Japanese food still. Fresh peaches. And coffee (which has been an aversion for many weeks!) Non-Caff or Half-Caff of course!

Aversions: Poop. I mean, I don't normally enjoy poop as it is but I've got a pretty strong stomach about changing diapers. But this week, the kids' poop, the dogs poop, if Erick stinks up the bathroom ..... ugh.

Baby Bieger #3: By the end of the week, our little one's scalp hair pattern will be established for life. Some hair might begin to sprout, although it's usually not evident for a few more weeks. Of course, this is no guarantee that our baby will be born with a full head of hair; some babies stay bald until several months after birth (Both McKenna and Kyla were born with dark hair. McKenna's hair fell out and she was bald for a long time. Kyla always had a floppy mop though it lightened in color). Ultrafine, soft hair called lanugo is also appearing over your baby’s entire body. This downy hair, which protects the delicate skin from the amniotic fluid, usually disappears just before or after birth. Underneath that lanugo is a fine layer of skin through which you can see blood vessels, which are already transporting blood. Mouth development continues—our little one may even be sucking on a thumb right now—and facial movements are a regular occurrence. If you could peek inside my uterus (and don’t even ask because the answer is no), you'd see a tiny fetus that weighs anywhere from 1.7 to 2.5 ounces and measures 4.1 to 4.5 inches from crown to rump—about the size of a small grapefruit. No wonder those taps are starting to feel stronger!

A baby at 15 weeks

 

Week 14 (July 22 - July 28)

Still a bit more nausea and tiredness this week. The tiredness sets off the nausea. And I think the tiredness is increased because the girls are now sharing a room. Other than that, it's been a pretty uneventful week in the pregnancy.

Symptoms: A little nausea, lots of tiredness, lots of pulling/stretching feelings lately, slowly outgrowing the maternity pants but definitely in the maternity shirts for sure. Baby taps every day now.

Cravings: Egg rolls w/spicy mustard, Japanese food (mmm, Miso).

Aversions: Chicken wings from Wingstop.

Baby Bieger #3: A smile forms this week! Our baby’s mouth can even open and close and is starting to make swallowing and sucking motions (watch out, thumb). Those facial muscles are really getting a workout! The esophagus, windpipe, larynx, and vocal cords are all in place. Of course, the vocal cords can't make any sounds yet, since our little one is floating in fluid. But they're already being prepped for that first loud wail after birth. With each passing week, our baby is looking more like the little person we’ll meet the day Shannon gives birth. By now, the eyes have moved to their proper place at the top of the face, and the ears have moved from the neck to the sides of the head. The jaws have been complete for a while, and the palate is now "zipping up," closing from front to back. Our little one weighs about 2 ounces and measures 3.2 to 4.3 inches long.

A baby at 14 weeks

 

Week 13 (July 15 - July 21)

I can't decide if this pregnancy is going slow or fast. The weeks seem to be going faster yet when I think of how much time I have left to go, it seems endless! I used to just want to get past the first trimester so I could stop worrying about miscarriage. But I've heard an awful lot of sad stories that end in the third trimester or the birth so I think I'll be worrying more this time around.

My OB appointment had to be rescheduled because she was in surgery when I got there. She's hard to get an appointment with. The soonest they can get me in now is August 1. That's DST's first birthday celebration and I should really be there. But the prenatal care of my baby is more important.

Symptoms: I've had a few more nauseous moments this week. My belly feels huge. I'm feeling about one to two little baby taps a day now. : )

Cravings: Sushi (it's really the wasabi/soy combo that I love), Subway sandwiches

Aversions: Nothing noteable.

Baby Bieger #3: Now that our baby has completed the task of forming all the critical body structures, the organs go to work. The liver secretes bile, the pancreas produces insulin, and the kidneys form urine to carry waste away. The urine is excreted into the amniotic fluid. Our little one's intestines, which have partially resided in the umbilical cord, have moved back into the abdomen now that there's enough room to accommodate them. With muscle layers forming in the gut, it'll soon be time to get things moving through the digestive system, too. Our little one is now about the size of a large plum, weighing less than 1 ounce and measuring anywhere from 2.6 to 4 inches. The head takes up half of that length, thanks to all that brain development. Over the next few months, the body will grow at breakneck speed to catch up. When our baby is born, the head will be only a quarter of his total length.

A baby at 13 weeks

 

Week 12 (July 8 - July 14)

Man, this first trimester is so easy this time....I'm kind of fearing the third trimester now! LOL! Because the most difficult thing about the first trimester this time is that I'm feeling huge already. So I dread how huge I'll feel in that last trimester!

My sister has a doppler at her house so we got to hear the baby's heartbeat on Saturday. That was fun! I think we're gonna rent one for ourselves. Erick's always gone to every single OB appointment but with the two kids, it's too difficult now. So he and the girls won't get to hear the heartbeat as often as I will and I know it really helps all of us to bond with the baby when we hear it.

I've started nesting early this time. With Kyla, we moved in my 8th month and it was HELL. So I think I'm just being smarter this time and trying to get stuff organized before I get too big. So we've cleaned out the girls' clothes and toys and gotten those organized. We've ordered McKenna's new bed which will be delivered in about 2 weeks. Next weekend we're gonna move McKenna into Kyla's room and get that all decorated for them. After that, we're free to turn McKenna's old room into the baby's nursery! I won't do any decorating or theme ideas until we know if it's a boy or a girl though.

Symptoms: A little more nauseous moments this week but still very manageable. Lots of heartburn at night. Waking up more at night - either having to go to the bathroom or really thirsty!

Cravings: Fresh fruit (especially red grapefruit...got up in the middle of the night to have some), Twix (I actually had a dream about it! LOL), Mexican Food (as you can imagine, these things are just GREAT for my heartburn. Ha ha.)

Aversions: Nothing noteable.

Baby Bieger #3: Last week nail beds formed at the tips of our little one's fingers and toes. This week, fingernails actually start to grow from those nail beds and will continue to grow until birth. Many babies are actually born with long fingernails that need to be trimmed soon after delivery. The truly critical period for our little one's development is coming to a close. By the end of this week, the monumental task of growing new body structures will be complete. All the parts are there, from the pinky fingers to the little toes. Even the sex organs have developed, though it's too soon for an ultrasound to determine if we’re carrying a girl or a boy. By this week, the eyelids have formed and will close. They'll remain fused together until late in our second trimester. For the next 28 weeks, our little one's job is to keep growing and developing. This week our baby weighs 0.3 to 0.5 ounce and measures around 2.5 inches.

A baby at 12 weeks

 

Week 11 (July 1 - July 7)

I'm really surprised how good I've felt the past two weeks. The nausea is so rare and not really that difficult at all. I'm getting lots of rest and eating regularly. Erick is helping out a lot. So those things are all playing a part. But definitely the morning sickness is less severe then the past two pregnancies. No spotting this week (yay!). I'm definitely starting to pop out more though I still just look chubby and not obviously pregnant. I keep walking around with my hand on my belly so no one will think I'm just getting fat. LOL!

Symptoms: Different types of cramps plague me. Sometimes they're up high near the diaphragm. Sometimes low like Braxton-Hicks. Heartburn right around bedtime. Expanding belly (had to buy some more transitional shirts!) and bbs! I get really tired after I eat and usually need a nap by late afternoon. Definitely feeling little taps in there. I can tell if it's gas or a uterus twitch. These are very definite taps from a little 2-inch sprout! I'm grateful for those little taps. While I'm excited about this baby, I have not yet felt bonded to him/her because it's hard to bond when you don't know WHO is in there. But the little taps are giving me sweet early reminders that my little one is already becoming the little person I know I'll adore.

Cravings: Breakfast sandwiches, these strawberry licorice stix from Sweet Factory, pastrami w/pickles.

Aversions: Coffee & coconut

Baby Bieger #3: Our little one's heart has been beating furiously for weeks, but it's only just become loud enough for our health care provider to hear with a special listening device called a Doppler. A baby’s heart beats twice as fast as yours, anywhere between 120 to 160 beats per minute. Hearing the rapid thump-thump of our little one's heart is one of our favorite parts of the prenatal visits. In addition to perfecting its beat, the heart has become a proper four-chambered structure over the past month, although some of the dividing walls won't be complete until after birth. A fine layer of skin has been forming over the baby’s body during the past few weeks. Now, a specialized layer develops into what will become the fingernails and toenails. Our little one has grown quite a bit since last week—the crown-to-rump length is just over 2 inches. The baby’s head alone is nearly half the length of the body, which shows you how rapidly the brain is growing. Genius in the making!

A baby at 11 weeks

 

Week 10 (June 24 - June 30)

Spotting continued this week. Mostly brown and it seems to be every other day that it happens. I have no clue what's causing it.

We had our appointment on Friday, June 29th and everything looks great! She did another ultrasound and the baby is measuring right on target and still has a healthy little heartbeat! So that's great news! She couldn't see any reason for the bleeding so she just recommended taking it easy physically until my next appointment (July 19th).

Symptoms: The nausea really isn't bad at all this week (knock on wood). As long as I don't let myself get too hungry then it's very manageable. I still cry at some of the silliest things in movies. The Holiday is not exactly a tear-jerker but I teared up at two different scenes. LOL! Heartburn gears up at bedtime. The worst symptom this week is just tummyaches. I seem to get those pretty frequently. I'm in size 6 jeans now but still not maternity pants. But maternity shirts are starting to make their way into my wardrobe. I've also picked up some large shirts with empire waistlines from the junior section. Those are more fun to wear than maternity shirts! I'm also starting to feel the occasional tap on the inside. Baby is moving and the uterus is pretty thin after 3 pregnancies so apparently it is possible to feel movement that early! My sister said the same thing at week 11 and I doubted her but lo and behold!

Cravings: Breakfast sandwiches on croissants. Fresh peaches.

Aversions: Coffee

Baby Bieger #3: Arm and leg development was the big news last week. By the end of this week, the outside ears will be developed. Right now they sit very low on the head, but as the head grows bigger, they'll move to the right spot on either side. Soon, our voices will be our little one's favorite sound. Baby's eyes are also developing. The basic optical structure is in place and the eyelids are beginning to cover the eyes, which are still on either side of the head. Our baby's first tooth won't break through the gums until several months after birth, but those little choppers are already starting to form as tiny tooth buds. At birth, our little one will have 20 baby teeth waiting to pop out during the first few years of life, as well as permanent teeth developing underneath the gums. Thanks in part to developing bones and lengthening limbs, the baby now weighs about 2.5 grams and measures 2 to 3 centimeters (around an inch) from crown to rump (head to bottom).

Our baby at 9w5d

 

Week 9 ( June 17 - June 23)

Aw, and here I thought I was gonna get a break from the morning sickness this time around. This week KICKED MY BUTT! My hormones had me on edge all week. I cried straight through the movie Parenthood. I was nauseous and dizzy from the moment I got up and it didn't stop until just after dinner time. It was awful. Really, really a difficult week.

I'm definitely building my "protective fat layer". LOL! So I'm in that gross stage where I feel huge but still not obviously pregnant. I'm in my size 6 jeans which is fine but all my shirts are too tight and keep riding up my belly. Time for some transitional clothes!

Symptoms: Super-nausea, needed to nibble on something practically every hour. Really dizzy. Really moody and irritable. Heartburn. A little more brownish red spotting. My bbs and belly are growing so much faster this time. Tonight I feel so full and bloated that it feels like my belly is gonna burst. Sleeping is already starting to get less comfortable. LOL I think this is gonna be a long pregnancy!

Cravings: Lemonade. "Refreshing Foods" like a cold cut sub from Subway, salad from Souplantation, cereal, sushi (cooked of course). Just stuff that won't sit heavy.

Aversions: Greasy/fried foods. I'm having a hard time making food for McKenna when she wants mini corn dogs. And walking through the food court at the mall is torture.

Baby Bieger #3: Baby gets a new name this week-the official designation is now fetus. And this fetus is looking less and less like a pink blob. The tail has disappeared and the body shape is now emerging, thanks in part to the elongation and straightening of the trunk area. This is a critical period for arm and leg development. The legs have lengthened, and the buds that will eventually become the toes have started to sprout. Meanwhile, the arms have gotten longer and have begun to bend at the elbow. A basic hand structure is forming too, with the fingers and thumb clearly differentiated. The abdomen is developing as well: The structures that will be the liver, gallbladder, spleen, and adrenal gland are becoming specialized. This is the beginning of the dance period! Our little one has started moving vigorously, even in response to stimuli from outside my body, such as light and noise. But I won't be able to feel this action until well into the second trimester. Baby Bieger measures about 1 inch long this week!

A baby at 9 weeks

 

Week 8 (June 10 - June 16)

Right from the start this week was scary. When we were in Vegas, I woke up around midnight and went to the bathroom and I was bleeding! About 2 TBS of red blood. I tell ya, if we hadn't insisted on that ultrasound the day before and found the heartbeat, I would've been even more freaked out. But because we HAD seen the heartbeat, I tried to find the rational reasoning. I had an internal exam + 2 internal ultrasounds in one day and then Saturday I'd done a lot of walking around the hotel, carrying kids and luggage, etc. And since I had had some heavy red bleeding during weeks 7-8 with Kyla then there was a good chance this was normal. Fortunately, I haven't seen any red bleeding since. Just some brown spotting off and on. I did call the doctor when we returned from Vegas and they said that the bleeding was almost certainly from all the internal exams. They had me come in to test my beta hcg level and they were rising appropriately and measured right where they were supposed to be (136,000 which is perfect). She said the ultrasound from Friday looked great and that the heartbeat was a perfect 141 bpm. So that was great news!

All week I'd been marveling over how great I've been feeling and how I'm so happy that the morning sickness has been minimal. But today it was AWFUL! I have felt nauseous all day and even threw up once. Bleh! I hope the morning sickness stage is short-lived this time.

Symptoms: Bleeding/spotting, starting to look pretty pudgy, heartburn, more nausea, ravenously hungry but I get full really quickly. Lots of small meals throughout the day! Foot cramps, dizziness, and my bbs are starting to be more sore and growing.

Cravings: Lemonade. PEANUT BUTTER! This is a strange one for me. I've always been able to take or leave peanut butter. I'm neither here nor there about it. But the other night I had a spoonful just for some energy until we hit dinner time and I was craving it the whole rest of the night. So after dinner I came home and ate a Granny Smith apple w/peanut butter and when the apple was gone, I used my finger to finish half the jar!!

Aversions: Coffee, iced tea, Italian food (figures!)

Baby Bieger #3: Last week, the brain started to develop into three distinct structures. This week, other body parts are beginning: Hands and feet are forming tiny webbed fingers and toes. And the tail our little one has been sporting starts to disappear. The extremities aren't the only things developing—the middle is making strides too. As the intestines form, a middle loop moves into the umbilical cord because there's not enough room for it in the abdomen. Even at this early stage, the intestines are working to carry waste away from the body. A month from now, when there's more room in our little one's belly, the intestines will have moved back into the abdomen and out of the cord. If you could poke our little one's body, you'd see it react with a jerk. This is because the developing nervous system is already communicating with the muscles. Our tiny resident is about the size of a gum ball, weighing in at about 0.25 gram and measuring anywhere from 7 to 17 millimeters (roughly 0.5 inch). But the embryo's shape is more cubical than round.

A baby at 8 weeks

 

Week 7 (June 2 - June 9)

You'll notice that this week has an extra day in it. That's because we have an adjusted due date. My best guess of when we were due was Jan. 26th but after our doctor appointment, the new due date is now Jan. 27th!

The appointment was nerve-wracking! Usually I know the exact date of my LMP, the exact date of ovulation and the due date is a no-brainer. But this time we didn't have any of that info. When I'd called to make the appointment, the girl asked me when I thought my LMP was and I said I knew it was in April but I didn't know a date. She asked "Was it the middle? The end?" I said "More towards the middle." I was guessing around April 18th. She wrote down April 15th. So when we went in for the appointment, I think the doctor was assuming I would be further along then I was (she mentioned a guess of 8 weeks and I was not yet 7 weeks).

First she did the invasive internal exam. Always a treat. And then she did an internal ultrasound. She did see a little yolk sac but couldn't pick up a heartbeat. She thought maybe she saw a slight flicker but the machine was low-quality so she couldn't be sure. (Later, both Erick and I told each other we thought we saw it as well). Now common sense tells ME that if the baby is measuring at 6w5d like it was but you're not picking up a heartbeat on a machine that you know is inferior quality, then that's no reason to panic. But she actually gave me the speech that was meant to prepare me for the worst. If she had just said "Well, it's early and this machine isn't very high tech so we'll do a more in-depth ultrasound at a different office." Then no problem. But she gave me that sympathetic head nod and was like "This could mean that it's not a viable pregnancy." So she set off my Mommy worry mechanism.

She sent me to the lab for a beta hcg draw and said she'd like for me to go in on Tuesday for a better ultrasound. Erick and I left feeling discouraged but not hopeless because we knew the facts presented here and we knew that there was still a pretty good chance the baby would be ok. But it was a Friday, we were about to leave for the entire weekend for our family trip to Vegas and I hated the idea of not knowing until Tuesday. So while I got my lab work done, Erick called the ultrasound facility to see if they could squeeze me in that afternoon. We called at 3:45pm. They said if I could get 32 oz. of water in me by 4:30 then they could fit me in. I was so grateful! So we went to 7-11 and bought a giant thing of water and I got 32 oz. and then some in me within a half hour. I was shaking from being so cold (it was ICY water!) and I wanted to throw up or pee or just SOMETHING! I felt awful! They got me right in and it was a very quiet, calm, dark room. I remember looking around the room and thinking "Am I gonna get bad news in this room?" She did the external ultrasound first and saw nothing which is to be expected at this early of a stage. And then she did the internal ultrasound. It seemed like forever before she said anything. But finally she turned the screen around and showed us the tiny little heartbeat. : ) We were so relieved and excited!! Once you see a fetal heartbeat, the risk of miscarriage is less than 3%! So this was a huge joy for us!

This week McKenna told me "Mommy, I prayed to God for the baby and God decided that the baby is a boy." So we'll see if she's right!

Cravings: Continues to be Italian Food w/a side salad. Particularly spaghetti and meatballs which really has never been my top faves for Italian food. Oh and lemonade. Lots and lots of lemonade. But it has to taste real (not that minute-maid grossness) and it has to be over ice.

Aversions: Coffee. Or more specifically, coconut coffee creamer.

Symptoms: Nausea continues but only if I get too hungry or too full. So far, I think the nausea has been easier than with both girls (knock on wood). Mild heartburn. Stretching/pulling near the uterus.

Baby Bieger #3: Our little's one's big accomplishment last week was the "zipping up" of the neural tube. This week, the budding genius is working on building brainpower. Although brain development will continue long after birth, the basic sections are laid down now. As the week progresses, the organ will divide into three parts: forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. The forebrain will be responsible for things such as reasoning, problem solving, and forming and retaining memories. The midbrain will function as a traffic cop, relaying electrical signals to their final destinations in the brain. And the hindbrain will take care of breathing, heart rate, and muscle movement. The action isn't all upstairs, however. Limbs are also growing fast. Arm and leg buds have sprouted, though at this point they look more like paddles. Our baby is 0.15 to 0.3 inch (4 to 8 millimeters) long this week, a little larger than the width of your pinky nail.

Our baby at 7 weeks

 

Week 6 (May 26 – June 1)

I swear I feel like I’ve gained 8 pounds but when I stepped on the always-calibrated scale at my in-laws, I hadn’t gained an ounce. I’m entering into that fun stage when you don’t feel pregnant and glowing. You just feel dumpy. I think it’s time to treat myself to some beauty treatments! But not highlights yet. I’ll wait until after the first trimester when the baby’s important developments are done.

We went to tell Erick’s parents about the baby but his brother had already spilled the beans. I won’t even BEGIN to journal how I feel about that. But my mother-in-law reminded me that she actually could already tell before I could. She asked me on Mother’s Day if I was pregnant and I laughed and told her no. But she was right. I was! And I didn’t even have a clue that day!

Eating is weird. I’m not really “into” food right now and don’t feel hungry but then hunger will hit me fast and some light (but more frequent) nausea is there. And if I feel ravenous and try to eat what is just a normal-sized meal, I’ll feel too full very quickly and that makes me feel sick too. Tonight we ate at Spaghetti Factory. I had one piece of bread, my side salad and the 3 meatballs that came with my dinner. Ok…I was full but I couldn’t resist the spumoni that came with the dessert. Bad idea. Afterward I went to the bathroom and threw up the spumoni. But less than an hour later I was munching on raisinettes at the movie theater. So it’s a life of conflict, pregnancy is.

I called to make our first doctor appointment. Since I didn’t know the exact date of our LMP, I figured we have a pretty good chance of getting an early ultrasound to date the pregnancy. So I wanted to wait until we were 6 weeks along so we could see the little heartbeat. The appointment is June 8. We’ll be 6 weeks, 6 days! Praying for a fun, uneventful, heartbeat-filled appointment!

Cravings:  Still Italian food w/a side salad. Had a wicked craving for CPK’s hummus & pita bread. They also have the YUMMIEST avocado/chicken/bacon egg rolls. Mmmm. Oh and Sweet Tea! I went to 7-11 at 11pm the other night just for a giant Sweet Tea.

Aversion: 90% of the day I have an aversion to eating in general. There’s about a half hour span at each meal time. Not hungry, not hungry, HOLY COW I NEED FOOD, eat, UGH…too full…wanna throw up…hate food.

Symptoms: A little less tired which is good. In fact I seem to have a little trouble falling asleep before 1am and have hardly any problem getting up at 7:30am. Heartburn at night. Especially after I take my prenatal vitamin. Time to breakout those nightly glasses of milk. Indigestion. More frequent but still manageable nausea. Moodiness. One day last week was REALLY bad but I KNEW it  was because of pregnancy hormones so I could at least be apologetic for it. Oh and my skin looks terrible and my gums are more sensitive.

Baby Bieger: An important milestone occurs this week: The neural tube, which began to form last week, starts to close over what will become our baby's spinal cord. Although the baby still looks somewhat like a tiny tadpole, folds of tissue are developing at the top, and these will eventually become our little one's chin, cheeks, and jaw. The areas that will be the eyes and nose have started to project as bumps, and the inner-ear structure is pushing inward. The heart tube, which formed last week, continues its development as it gradually grows into four primitive chambers and starts to beat like a tiny drum. Other major organs, such as the kidneys and liver, are also beginning to take shape. The lungs each exist as a single tube, and they're starting to form into pouch-like structures; they've got lots of blossoming to do before they're ready for air. Our little one keeps growing bigger, now measuring about 0.1 inch, or 2.5 millimeters.

A baby at 6 weeks

 

 

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Week 5 (May 19 – May 25)

This week started off a tiny bit scary. The night that we found out we were pregnant, I was about to go to bed and I noticed a little bit of brown spotting and when I wiped, some red blood. I was crushed. I thought this meant miscarriage for sure since it was so early. I woke up the next morning feeling sad and depressed but the red was gone and the brown spotting seemed to get less and less each time I went to the bathroom so I started to relax. I think there was probably a total of a day and a half of spotting and I haven’t seen any since. Whew! I had bled pretty heavily with Kyla around 7-8 weeks and this time it was much, much less. But still, I was worried. Even though everything I’ve read says “You may experience some light spotting around the time your period is due”. But you never know how much it’s gonna be so you can’t tell which direction it’s gonna go.

We’ve told most people. My whole family found out on Saturday because they were all going to be at McKenna’s recital. Everyone was excited of course. My Mom cried and that was sweet. Her sixth grandbaby and she still cries when she finds out the news. We haven’t told Grandma Jean and Pop-Pop yet. We’ll tell them next week!

The girls picked out the first present for Baby Sprout. They bought him/her a little stuffed Eeyore from the Disney Store. : )  It’s neat that for each baby we’ve bought a small, neutral colored stuffed animal for each. McKenna’s was a little tan and white puppy, Kyla’s was a little soft monkey and now Baby Sprout gets a little Eeyore.

Cravings: Chicken, Italian Food (w/a side salad)

Aversions: I read something gross in my book about a ham and now I don’t know when I’ll be able to stomach ham again.

Symptoms: Some moments I don’t feel pregnant at all. Other times I feel like I’m 8 months pregnant. Even though I’m not even close to showing, I sometimes feel like I’m carrying an 8-pound baby around already because the backaches and the heavy feeling in the uterus. So far, little-to-no nausea. Heartburn seems to come only when I drink water or Crystal Light. My sense of smell is all out of whack. I can barely smell anything fruity or sweet but I have a heightened sense of smell to gross or strong smells like diapers, garbage or dill. I was cleaning the kitchen and I swear I smelled dill everywhere. In the cupboards, the dishwasher…but we haven’t had dill in at least a week. Frequent urination on some days, sore bbs on some days, lower backache on some days, really tired most days, moody on some days. I wake up boiling hot most mornings. My hips are already starting to feel sore. I welcome all of these things except for the mood swings. I love the little signs that remind me I’m pregnant since right now I don’t have the belly or the baby movement to remind me. The mood swings we could all do without though. Oh and I had two straight days of a wicked headache.

Baby Bieger: The placenta, which started to form last week, and the beginnings of the umbilical cord are already working to channel essential nutrients from my body to the embryo. Oxygen, amino acids, fats, and sugars all play a vital role in this incredible construction project. The heart is now a single tube with a few uncoordinated beats. These thumps will become more regular with each passing week. At 0.05 to 0.1 inch, the baby is about the size of a small orange seed.

A baby at 5 weeks

 

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Week 4 (May 12 – May 18)

(May 18th) I can’t believe it!! POSITIVE! We’re pregnant!! OMG I am so excited that I feel dizzy!

Erick and I were planning to start TTC in June so while this was a surprise to find out we were pregnant a month earlier, the timing is still perfect! I’m kind of glad we were surprised this time. Both McKenna and Kyla were charted. I took my temperature and made sure we timed everything right to get pregnant. I knew exactly when my period was due and when I could test. I experienced the excruciating 2ww with both of them (for those unfamiliar, that’s when your ovulation has passed and you’re now forced to wait 2 weeks before you can test. It’s agony waiting that long for such important news!)

But this time I didn’t think it was possible to be pregnant. Though I did start to feel small signs of pregnancy, I brushed them off as psychosomatic. First, I noticed a couple of changes in my eating habits. I’m a nibbler when I eat but there were a few times that I was mixing my food (I almost never do that) and eating "hearty bites". I also noticed that one day while I was making a hot dog, I really wanted onions on it. I don’t usually eat onions and if I do, they’re subtly mixed into whatever dish someone else has created. But this week I really wanted onions for my hot dog.

I also noticed that I had heartburn twice this week. That only happens during pregnancy for me. I had felt nauseous a couple of times but both times it was because I hadn’t eaten so I thought maybe that was why. (Note: One of the times was when I was changing Kyla’s diaper and I gagged and she started to laugh at me. LOL mean baby!) I was feeling menstrual like cramps and backaches and normally I would just take that as a sign of my impending period. But here’s the thing. I always spot for 2 days and THEN get the menstrual cramps before my period starts. This time….no spotting. Just the cramps. And then last night as I crawled into bed, I suddenly just FELT like there was life in me. My slightly bloated feeling didn’t feel like PMS. It felt like pregnancy.

The math wasn’t adding up but I also realized that I didn’t know the ACTUAL day of my LMP so I figured it was possible. I was talking to my sister and we were doing the math and I realized that actually….it WAS possible. Not probable but definitely possible. I started to suspect that this could be the real deal. I thought about taking a test but I had JUST gone pee so I didn’t have “concentrated urine” like they recommend. I decided to wait a few hours and then when Erick got home I’d run to the store to buy a test. In just 2 hours, I felt like I was gonna burst. I really had to GO! LOL! That was another sign to me because I don’t usually go to the bathroom this much. I also felt that familiar pulling sensation on my lower-right side – the feeling of the uterus putting weight on the ligaments.

Once Erick got home, I grabbed the keys and told him I was running to the store to pick up some items for dinner. I shopped in a daze, butterflies in my stomach. I almost knocked down a fireman doing his grocery shopping. I checked out, loaded the groceries into the car, grabbed the pregnancy tests I’d just purchased and ran across the parking lot to Carl’s Jr. I took the test in their bathroom and set it down, saying a prayer that it would be positive because I REALLY wanted this!

That pink line showed up within seconds. And I was elated. I walked outta that restaurant, positively beaming. I stopped to glance at  myself in the mirror and could hardly keep from squealing! I didn’t know how I’d concentrate on driving home! I felt electrified with energy and joy. Somehow I got home, unloaded the groceries and then pulled out two special items and held them behind my back.

I said to Erick “I got us something special for dessert tonight.” I pulled them out….a little tub of ice cream and a jar of pickles. Erick first noticed that the ice cream was not a flavor he liked. He stared and said “Oh…..” then he noticed the pickles. He got a quizzical look on his face. And then he looked at me and asked “What is this?” I said “It’s dessert…..what….doesn’t everyone like these for dessert?” He said “No……are you….pregnant??” (with a little smile beginning to spread across his face). I said “YEP!!!” He was so shocked but so excited! He gave me a big, long hug and kept asking “Really???”

Then we told the girls that our family was going to have a new baby. McKenna said “EW!” and Kyla babbled nonsense. Then McKenna ran to me and hugged and kissed my belly. Kyla gave me a hug and a kiss as well as though she knew something special was happening, she just wasn’t sure what. The girls snacked on the pickles and Kyla shared a bite with me. McKenna said to my belly “There you go baby! Enjoy the pickle!”  McKenna keeps talking to my belly and telling me all the things that she thinks the baby will like doing – like playing freeze dance with her and Kyla and making silly faces. If you ask her if she wants a brother or a sister, she says she wants a brother. But she keeps referring to the baby as both ‘he’ and ‘she’, ‘him’ and ‘her’. She asked me if we could pray to God for the baby. So we were saying prayers and she said “Please make the baby a girl.” I said “I thought you wanted a brother?” She said “Oh yeah. Please make the baby a brother.” So we’ve talked about how it’s not up to us, it’s up to God. And that no matter what, we know this baby will be fun to play with.

I called my sister immediately. She really wanted us to try this month but I was set on trying next month. So she was shocked and sooooo excited that we’re pregnant now.

So here are the answers to the FAQs that I’m sure we’ll be asked a dozen times:

When are you due?
By my calculations, I’m due January 26, 2008. I’ll schedule an OB appointment to get an exact due date though.

Since you have two girls, you must be hoping for a boy, right?
NO! And please do not ever say that to me because it insults me. I’m not hoping one way or the other. I have thought of both positive and challenging aspects to either a girl or boy and whichever one God gives us is perfectly ok with us. We are just as in love with the idea of having all daughters as we are with the idea of having a son.

Do you have names picked out?
Of course, don’t we always?

If it’s a boy: Killian Joshua Bieger
If it’s a girl: Katelyn _____ Bieger. We haven’t chosen a middle name yet. Our top two middle name choices so far are Johanna or Abigail.

Do you have room for another baby?
Yep! Our apartment is 3 bedrooms. Two of the three bedrooms are pretty big. So McKenna and Kyla are going to share a big bedroom and the baby will go in the smaller bedroom.

Is this your last baby?
We haven’t decided. Erick and I both agree that we won’t make the decision until 1) we’ve both prayed and come to the same conclusion and 2) until this baby is a year old. We feel it takes at least that long for hormones to settle and to know if you think you can handle another. So before we do anything drastic (snip snip) we’ll wait a year after the baby is born to decide.

To my new little baby: I cannot wait to know you. I look forward to feeling you move, to knowing who you are, to naming you, to meeting you, to seeing you grow and have fun with your sisters. Mommy loves you little one.

Cravings: Onions on my hot dog.

Aversions: None yet.

Symptoms: Menstrual-like cramps and lower backache. Pulling/stretching ligaments. Mild heartburn on two occasions. Mild nausea on two occasions. Mild headache tonight. Sore bbs.

Baby Bieger #3: The fertilized egg is implanting itself into the side of the uterus, where it continues its rapid development. Once implanted, the egg divides into layers of cells and officially becomes an embryo. These cell layers will grow into specialized parts of baby's body, such as the nervous system, skeleton, muscles, and organs. The placenta, the disk-like organ that connects my circulation to the baby's, begins to form and attaches to the uterine wall at the site of implantation. The umbilical cord comes out of one side of the placenta. The amniotic fluid, which will cushion the baby throughout the pregnancy, is already forming inside an encircling sac, called the membranes. By the end of the week, our baby will measure around 0.04 inch, or 1 millimeter-about the size of a poppy seed.

 

A baby at 4 weeks