Week 20

I'm halfway! I can't hardly believe it! I am so excited about that until I think of all that I have left to do... Register for baby stuff which includes getting to a store big enough to let us try our hand at all of the foreign baby stuff. I also have to make the crib bedding, finish cleaning out the "nursery", figure out how I am going to paint the nursery, paint the nursery, find a dresser and other assorted furniture, and keep up with normal stuff. I guess my leisurely life is OVER! Oh well, this is a fun stage of life to finally be in! All of our OBs that come in to the clinic are keeping tabs on me, as well as all of you!

I will put a note on here for all of you Facebookers that read my "Notes" I publish pictures but they don't get fed into my Facebook. So it would be better for all of you to look at my blog. Then you can get the full story!

This week... Let's see. We went tankin on Saturday, then we went tankin on Sunday afternoon again! It was great fun. I must quote my friend's 7 (?) year old nephew here from when we were tankin. He was tired of dodging trees...

Mac: The TREES!!! Someone needs to come out here and cut down all of the TREES!!
Me: Why? Trees give us oxygen.
Mac: (Sticks his finger in the air to make a point) And paper plates!!

Yes, of all of the things that trees do for us, how could we forget the paper plates?! What a guy!

And, I must tell you all that I have a boyfriend... He is four years old! My co-worker's grandson is at the office with us off and on when his mom is running errands and such. He is such an awesome kid! As they were leaving Tuesday, he was telling everyone bye.

D: Bye, Grammy!
J: Bye, sweetheart!
D: (Turns and looks at me, gets a big grin on his face, starts waving REALLY enthusiastically) Bye, Girlfriend!!
Mom: Is that your girlfriend?
D: Yah, she likes me a lot!

So Jerrad has some stiff competition, but I have made him aware!

I had my appointment on Monday. Baby's heartbeat was 156 BPM, right on the money again! I looked at my chart more closely and I actually lost 15 pounds from starvation in my first trimester. I have only gained back 10 of that. I am very happy to see that! So I TECHNICALLY haven't gained any weight... yet! =)

We went back for the ultrasound and as the machine was booting up Dr. Bill asked me if I was feeling the Bliz move. "Oh, yes!" I said, "I know for sure that this is Jerrad's child! I feel sometimes as if I'm getting beat up from the inside out!" We all chuckled then he put the wand down and found the lil one. There he was, buckin like a bronco again! Dr. Bill said, "He IS active! Moving around in there like a lil monkey!" I laughed out loud!!

You see, Jerrad and his sister have always had a big joke about being a monkey's uncle and/or a monkey's aunt. When she broke the news to him that she was pregnant, it was a Curious George doll with, "You're a monkey's uncle!" written on his t-shirt. So it was perfect that Dr. Bill said that! And if you'll notice there is another monkey reference in the week 20 Baby-gaga post! I think I'll scream if this thing comes out with a tail! =)

Well, here are some pics for you! Ultrasound pics and the belly shot you have all been nagging... er... I mean wanting from me! Once again, if you're looking at this on Facebook you can't see these pics and need to come look at my blog!

Week 19

Wow! This week has flown by! This week has had a roller coaster of emotions. Being the 2nd birthday of my nephew and also 2nd anniversary of his death, there was grief. There was celebrating as we had Candice's birthday party. Oh, and let's not forget the overwhelming urge to cry at absolutely nothing. I have been able to fight that off pretty well. I do my best to not succumb and can say that thus far I have succeeded.

But I was also feeling my little squirt moving a lot so that is sooo awesome! Last night I was laying in bed and Blizzard starting moving, a LOT and very violently (have I mentioned that this is Jerrad's child?) so I put my hand down to see if I could feel the movement from the outside. I do this very often so that Jerrad can someday feel his child moving too! It was the first time I felt a kick from the outside. Wow! But as soon as I got Jerrad's hand there, the little one went back to sleep. I can't wait for the day when Jerrad gets to feel that life! I am starting to look a little pregnant so I will probably start belly shots next week.

I have set a goal for myself that I would like to get the office cleaned out by the end of August so I can start the transition into the nursery. That is a pretty big task considering that involves blowing up a piano (I'll explain later), completely redoing all of the electronic stuff to make it presentable in the dining room, filing about 3 years of papers, and figuring out what to do with all of our college stuff that we still want but don't have any current purpose.

As soon as it starts cooling off a little (I know it's still July) even in the evenings, I would like to find something to do for exercise. I was starting to get back into that stuff when I got pregnant, then it came to halt when the "tenderness" came on so strong! Now that it is over, I really want to get back into the swing of things. But when it's almost 100 degrees by 8-9:00 and doesn't cool down until dark, it's a little difficult. If I have to I will find something to do in the house. Run up and down the stairs or something!


Fetal development in pregnancy week 19:fetus in fifth month. Your amazing little baby is now around 10 inches in length! If this seems a bit shocking, you’ll be relieved to know they’ve not actually grown over 3 inches, but that their little legs are now straight enough to be measured. This is when doctors begin measuring fetal growth from head to toe, (no longer “crown to rump” or CR). Lanugo (little hairs) covers their whole body now, trapping that charming cheese-like vernix caseosa (see week 18) to the surface to the skin. This week your lil’ fetus will start on an appetizing diet of amniotic fluid which they are now capable of swallowing, digesting, and passing the fluid as far as their tiny “large” intestines. Fortunately for you, this nice little lump of baby-poop won’t be coming out while they’re still in your womb. Some time shortly after they’re born, this fun lump will become the first in a long line of baby poops. (What finally comes out— commonly known as “meconium” to the science world, will be black and sticky, and you’ll be very glad it happens only once!)

And how's mom doing? Unlike generations of women before you who were taught pregnancy was practically an ailment (10% of women DID die in childbirth back then), we now have scientific evidence that exercise is a good thing when you’re pregnant. In fact, most physicians recommend continuing or starting a pregnancy-friendly proper exercise can do a lot towards increasing your overall flexibility (at a time where your body wants to stiffen up) thereby somewhat reducing the pain and tension during labor exercise regimen. Walking, running, swimming, weight training and yoga (see week 20) are all good for your heart and overall physical stamina during this physically challenging time. Not to mention proper exercise can do a lot towards increasing your overall flexibility (at a time where your body wants to stiffen up) thereby somewhat reducing the pain and tension during labor. Last but not least, exercise can keep you from gaining unnecessary amounts of weight (which you’ll have to fight off later after birth if you don’t do it now). Obviously, you’re going to want to avoid sports where you are at risk of falling or being hit in the stomach. Basically, stay away from sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer, and skiing. Instead, opt for the pool, weight room, and/or yoga class. We’re not saying you should stress yourself out trying to be a world-class athlete, but if you’re eating right and getting enough sleep, exercise during this health-critical phase of your life, will keep your collective energy levels higher and increase your feeling of well-being, as well as ensuring that you and your baby are in top physical and mental condition.

My nephew

Keagen Ty Phillips

This is the picture of my nephew. I wish I could say it was A picture of my nephew. God only allowed us to have one portrait of him.

We should be driving back from New Mexico this weekend from a two year old's birthday party. Instead I jump every time my phone rings in case it is my sister needing an ear.

I have never felt so helpless in a situation. I didn't know until the next day that God had taken him home. I was dealing with a health situation of my own at the time. I don't know if we didn't know until the next day or if Jerrad let me get one more night's sleep before telling me. Either way, I am glad it didn't come until Monday morning. Although we knew for a day or so that he probably wouldn't make it, I was still in shock. Jerrad's grandma had passed just hours before Keagen did. At that time I couldn't stand or sit, I could only lie on my stomach... and cry... and PRAY.

I cried out plenty of "Why God?" and "Please comfort all of us." and "Show me what I must learn from this!"

Later that week after the funerals that I didn't get to attend, I cried out again. Although I still don't understand, I am at peace.

Does all of this scare me when I think of having my own children? You bet it does!! But the Lord knows. He knows even when we don't. I started working for Dr. Bill, my baby doctor, last August. That was just a year after Keagen. Hurt was still rather fresh and so were my fears. But God knew what I needed. I needed to see girls come in and have no problems, and to see mothers bring in their little ones and watch them grow. I could've taken it bitterly as to why they got to keep their children but David and Katarina couldn't have theirs. But my God is good! It was a teaching tool. It has grown me into knowing that whatever He wills will be just what I need. It may hurt like crazy and have no explanation to my finite eyes, but it is what I need, and He'll carry me through!

A redneck weekend

This past weekend was the tractor pull and mud run in Johnson. I'd like to say it was just a bunch of good ol' boys out there with their machines seeing how they could do. But that would be a lie. The tractor pull was like that, but the mud run had only a few!

Jimmy and Jerrad had to go weigh their tractors down at the elevators. On the way back they also had to find out whose would road the fastest. Boys will be boys! You can always tell which one won because they are the one to ask, "And who won?!" And Jerrad said, "Dad pretty much walked away from me."

Here are a few of the "Big Boys" - Mr. Crawford, Steve Brown, and Jimmy

Jimmy on his pull of 44 ft - He was a little heavy for his power.
Jerrad on his 165 foot pull - "Look Ma! No hands!" He has his weight right, now he just wants new tires and a better hitch.

Papa felt that after almost 70 years of hearing damage/loss it would be a good time to start protecting his ears from the performance tractors.

Jerrad muddin through in beloved Toy! Moe in the passenger seat and Nick in the back.

Jerrad and Moe after making it all the way through the pit!

Moe about to go at it in his Chevy.

Moe getting pulled back out, full of mud and grinning ear to ear!

A couple of the boys who got snookered into a foot race through the mud pit!

Week 18

What a week! I can't even tell you what happenned this week other than food. Monday we had Moe and Jess over for supper (dijon chicken with fried squash) so the guys could work on Jerrad's Toy for the mudrun. Tuesday, we had Moe and Jess over for supper (steak and fried potatoes) so the guys could work on on Jerrad's Toy for the mudrun. Wednesday we went to Moe and Jess' for supper (yummy pizza casserole and banana pudding for dessert) so the guys could work on Moe's pickup for the mudrun. Thursday we went to Moe and Jess' for supper (chicken strips and french fries) so the guys could work on Moe's pickup for the mudrun. Friday we had Moe and Jess over for supper (mexican lasagna and sliced peaches) so the guys could work on Jerrad's Toy for the mudrun. Oooo, and Kraig came over that night too! (Laraine and the kids came out for a few days but due to all of the redneck activities, we hardly got to see them.)

So our entire week revolved around the mudrun. We are rednecks if you were wondering!

The Arkansas River is WAY up and that means it is tankin time! I have had lots of people ask me if it is safe for me to go tankin. I think it is more unsafe for everyone else if I DON'T get to tank! So I called our friends, Steve and Liana, and told them it was tankin time and they are coming out on Friday for the weekend and will get to go tankin with us! Not to mention Maggie Mae might get to come down for the day and go with us! YAY!!

I posted last week that I thought I had been feeling the Blizzard move, but wasn't certain. The next day we were on our way to Syracuse and I got a swift kick! I've been feeling for sure movement since then and I must say it is really awesome! It seems like very time Jerrad is driving the three of us somewhere, I get a good kick. I told Jerrad I didn't think the lil one liked his driving. To which he replied, "Nah, Blizzard is just excited to be in the diesel!" Yah, that's probably it!


Fetal development in pregnancy week 18:fetus in fifth month

We have two more ounces! Your "getting bigger-n-better by the minute baby" is already up to 7 ounces and 6 inches! This is a big week for their baby skin. There are now two distinct layers—the epidermis (or the surface skin) and dermis. Currently, their skin is covered with a greasy, waxy, cheese-like substance, known as vernix caseosa. Sure, it sounds pretty nasty, but this mixture of fatty secretions covering your little swimmer from head to toe is the best way to protect their oh-so-thin skin from bruising and abrasions as well as chapping caused by amniotic fluid exposure (and your little one is swimming in that stuff!). Still don’t like the fact your little darling is currently slathered in fatty cream like a greased pig? Well, you know the birthing process? Where you have to push something the size of a watermelon out a hole the size of a grape? That adorable little greased piglet would have a lot harder time getting through the birth canal without the vernix caseosa. Fun fact for momma’s with baby girls: it’s a uterus within a uterus! Your little girl will have developed a uterus and vagina canal by the end of this week.
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And how's mom doing? POP! If you haven’t yet, you will soon be seeing the last of your inn-y belly button—until after you’ve pushed your little monkey out. If it’s getting difficult to breathe, you can thank your not-so-small belly for squishing your lungs—which will be more and more cramped for space as the pregnancyprogresses. Not that this is surprising as everything else in your mid-section is getting properly squooshed as well. (What else is new?!!). Keep in mind that as you grow (and grow and grow) in size you produce more blood (for both of you), which lowers your blood pressure. So standing up quickly and/or occasional fast movements may cause slight dizziness or lightheadedness. This is totally normal, but means you shouldn’t be too quick to jump to your feet when your team scores a goal. It's better to just punch the air in excitement or clap gleefully. One more fun pregnancy symptom to add to the list: you are producing more melanin, which can cause dark patches of skin to occur on random parts of your body. Don’t worry—these dark spots (unlike your parent’s age spots) will retreat soon after birth.

Week 17

Here we are a week later and I don't know that much has changed. We went to SSBYC last weekend to see my MIL and we had a great time! The camp got a ton of rain and we enjoyed fireworks in Sedalia. It was, by far, the wettest, and coldest 4th any of us had ever had! We sat our chairs (and milk crates) in the mud and bundled up in sweatshirts and blankets to watch a great show!

While there we did do some shopping. I got to go to Joann's and pick out nursery bedding material. It is adorable!!!

I got some maternity pants, and wow are they comfy! I am still not quite looking pregnant, just a little fat. I feel big already though! I told Jerrad yesterday that I do NOT want my belly to be this big without a baby in there... unfortunately he agreed! But the point is that I'm starting to feel pregnant in my belly area.

I think from time to time I feel the Blizzard flurrying around, but I am still not certain. My blood work that I had done last Monday came back perfect! I also got fitted yesterday for a couple of undergarments that will aid in the feeding of the Blizzard. Best $85 I've spent in a while!

We are going fast and furious around here. Jerrad got my Civic running again. Don't know how long it will last, but I will have a decent vehicle to drive until we can get the Accord up and going. I just hope it will last for a while past next weekend!

This week is filled with gearing up for next weekend. Pioneer Days, Stanton and Hamilton County fairs. I am entering pictures in the Stanton County Fair on Thursday. The mud run and tractor pull are in Johnson on Saturday, and I believe that the mud run in Syracuse is on Sunday afternoon. I will take pictures of those. Saturday evening is also the Demolition Derby in Syracuse. I don't know if we'll make it to that. We love the DD but our being there was always centered around Kyle and making sure his car was top notch. It would be like a tribute to him to go, but there will be such a huge void without him there. We have a while to figure that out though.

Sorry this is so choppy, but maybe things will settle a little after next weekend and I can write a comprehensive post! Hope all of you are having a safe and fun filled summer!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 17:Fetus in fourth month

Don't be too shocked but... your baby is EVEN bigger than it was last week, not to mention getting cuter, and smarter every day! As you’ve come to expect, there’s no shortage of growth and development this week: your fantastic little bean stalk has added yet another half inch to their overall height-- making them nearly half a foot long! Their little limbs have reached (or are within one week of) their relative proportions, and will continue to grow evenly with the rest of the body after this week. Reactive listening has begun for your baby, even though their ears are not yet structurally complete or fully functional. Meanwhile, different parts of their astonishingly complex brain are developing to process your little one’s hearing and other senses, (you know, sight, smell, taste and touch). Mind boggling factoid of the week: if you’re having going to have a little girl, her ovaries have already produced millions of primordial egg cells, which, within a few weeks, will develop into actual eggs! Phew… just wait till she’s a teenager eh?


And how's mom doing? Even though the second trimester is often characterized as the most enjoyable of the three, you can count on a few ailments (see week 14 for additional tri-2 symptoms). This week, or in the coming weeks, you may be privy to the uncommon joys of “round ligament pain.” These not-so-lovely symptoms can include bellyaches, pain in the lower abdomen and sharp shooting and/or stabbing pains, most often expressed at the end of the day. Your suffering is due to stretched ligaments and muscles that support your ever-growing uterus. This is to be expected and is perfectly normal (especially since your uterus is only getting bigger!). Some doctors advise sleeping on your left side as lying on your back can compress your pelvic veins, decreasing blood return to the lower half of your body. Lying on your left side relieves this pressure thereby allowing normal blood flow. If this doesn’t do the trick, go ahead and consult your health care practitioner, but try not to punch them when they serenely tell you it’s normal to feel stabbing pain during this time. As we all know, violence never solves anything.

Friday Foto

What? What did you say? A Friday Foto? No!!!

1) Taken at Stonewall, CO... Hence the stone wall!

2) June 18th... 2 days before the wedding... 1 day before the awful sunburns... And the day of the paddle boating incident =)

3) This picture has a great focal point but it also has extrememly beautiful elements otherwise.

4) I grew up going to our cabin in Wet Canyon just a few miles from Stonewall. This stone wall has a lot of sentimental value to it!

5) Named simply, "Stonewall" <--- I know... I'm creative!

Week 16...

I have been asolutely exhausted since Maggie and I got back from the mountains. Probably because of that horribly long post about it all! But as soon as I got back, Jerrad went to cutting wheat so I was either on the combine or completely bored! I wasn't very involved in harvest this year, but it is still exhausting!

Today I have a big chore ahead of me. Editing wedding pictures and packing up to go to camp. We are leaving with Jimmy tonight to go see Kitty for the weekend. Hopefully I can do a little bit of shopping in Denver. I need some fat woman clothes.

I am still T-minus 10 pounds to prepregnancy weight! Doc isn't worried so neither am I! The only problem is that my pants are really uncomfortable! Jerrad actually noticed my belly looking different, but I don't see it. I will post belly shots, but not until after everyone else can tell I'm pregnant. Right now I still just look a little fat and you don't want to see that! =)

I had my blood drawn on Monday for the tests mentioned below. My vein on my left arm collapsed so she moved to my right arm. Voila! It worked like a charm. Jerrad was worried about it though when I told him. Once I explained it to him he was alright!

We had another ultrasound on Tuesday and got another show. Blizzard was moving around alot again! He looked like a buckin' bronco! Maybe if it's a boy wesshould nickname him Buckaroo! But from the last 3 ultrasounds, we definitely know that 1) the rest of my pregnancy should be eventful as I will start feeling those movements soon 2) there is NO doubt that this is Jerrad's child!

Well, I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July! Don't light someone's stash of fireworks on fire with your roman candle!


Fetal development in pregnancy week 16:fetus in fourth month

Over the past three weeks your astounding growing baby has managed to stretch yet another 2 full inches (totaling about 4.5 inches) and weighs around 3.5 ounces. Yessireee, that’s some pretty serious growth... and with it comes several physical developments! For starters, their head to body ratio is finally starting to even out a bit as the rest of the body is actually growing faster than the head at this point. Yes, your little light bulb is not so top-heavy. Their adorable little limbs have lengthened, almost reaching their normal proportions which they will have at birth. Their eyes are still closed but moving and if you had an ultrasound, which many doctors recommend you have at about this time, you may even see your little one sucking on a thumb, not to mention the necessary signifiers to let you know whether you’ve got a wee lad or lassie.


And how's mom doing? Along with an ultrasound, many practitioners recommend administering the “Multiple Marker Test (MMT)”, which is also known as the “Triple Screen Test”. This very common procedure checks your blood (not your baby’s) for specific protein and hormone levels as well as informing you about any potential birth defects. Only about 3 to 5 percent of women yield positive results and of those women, only 10 percent actually have any sort of complication to report. Obviously, a positive test from the MMT will mean further testing for you, including amniocentesis and more ultrasounds. Although this test sounds like a bit of a dud with the high percentage of false positives coming back, it's popular because it has and can effectively identify a majority of all neural tube defects as well as babies with Down Syndrome. So despite its obvious drawbacks, you’ll still want to arrange to take the test to better prepare you and your family for the fact that anything is possible.