kicking or digestion?

Yes, I think I am finally feeling the baby kick today.

Or something I ate is just having a hard time digesting.

But I really think it's kicks!

new pictures!

I am posting the pictures we got on Monday below. I used a scanner at work and the camera on my cell phone to get the pictures onto my computer, neither of which seems to be particularly effective. I will post all of them because some may be easier to see than others depending on your computer monitor. There are 4 pictures total (in no particular order): profile of the head and torso, profile of the face and chest, a straight on face shot (scary baby skull) and a foot. I think the foot is my favorite.

Level 2 Ultrasound #1 - And we have a girl!

This morning we had the level 2 ultrasound. They basically use a fancier ultrasound machine and a highly trained tech. She seemed to check every square inch of the baby and let us know what we were looking at as we went along. They had a monitor mounted to the ceiling so Jeff and I were able to follow along and see what she was looking at. We saw the cerebellum, the ventricles in the brain, the 2 sides of the brain, the 4 chambers of the heart, the spine, the skull, hands and arms, feet and legs, kidneys, bladder, stomach, placenta, she took femur measurements, spine measurements, skull measurements...it was pretty thorough. The heartbeat was 141 again. The baby was moving around quite a bit but wasn't in the right position to do all of the measurements. She made me leave the room and walk around for a bit to see if we could get the baby to move. Then I went back in and although the baby hadn't moved much I assume she was able to get the measurements she needed. At the beginning we told her we wanted to know the gender so if she caught a glimpse of something, to let us know. At one point as she was moving down the body we could see the baby's heiny and legs. And that was all we saw. I think we both knew what she was going to say before she said it. "It looks like a girl", she said nonchalantly. I think Jeff was secretly a little sad it wasn't a boy. I assured him the next one would be a boy...

We waited a while then a doctor came in to look around some more. I assume she is some kind of diagnostic specialist or something. She was super nice and friendly. She confirmed that it is in fact a girl. After looking around for a while and asking a bunch of questions about my high blood pressure meds, she told us that "structurally" the baby looks great. She said the only issue they can see at this time is some fluid in one of the kidneys. She said this is very common for boys and no big deal for them, but for girls it can indicate a possible structural kidney problem (although she said structurally the kidney looked normal). The fluid pocket is in the ureter and is small right now (only 4 point something mm) and they don't consider it a major problem until it measures 10mm. She said sometimes it can be a sign of Down's Syndrome, but that usually only happens when both kidneys have an issue. She said 90% of these cases are just a little blockage that eventually resolves itself over time. So we have to go back when I'm in week 30 for another level 2. At that point they'll assess the kidney again. If the fluid has gotten bigger or hasn't gone away, the baby will have to see a specialist after she is born. In summary, I think the doctor fully expects that it won't be a big deal, but felt it was in our best interest to have full disclosure of this potential problem. I think Jeff and I are of the opinion that it's not something we will focus on because it's out of our hands. Whatever is going to happen will happen.

For now, we've got decorating to do!

Moving along...

There hasn't been much to report in the last few weeks. As of this week I am 4 1/2 months along...so almost halfway there. I imagine that in the next couple of weeks, this is where things start getting a little more interesting. Generally I am feeling really good, but have been having some trouble sleeping. I wake up every morning between 4 and 4:30am like clockwork and have a hard time going back to sleep. I also tend to "hit a wall" at some point in the late afternoon and I'm just done for the day. I wonder if this is my brain preparing me for what's to come...

We got the results back on the first genetic tests and they were negative for Down's Syndrome, so that was a relief. I've had a couple of doctor's appointments here and there the last few weeks...usually they just measure my blood pressure and blood sugar, which have both been normal thankfully. They also use a doppler device to listen to the baby's heartbeat. I got to hear it clearly a few weeks ago and it really does sound like horses galloping. Jeff wasn't able to come to that appointment, so he still hasn't heard it yet. :(

I have gotten to the point where I can no longer fit into my regular pants and skirts. I stocked up on some maternity clothes last weekend at the outlet. I've only gained about 7 pounds so far, but my stomach is really sticking out there. It's an interesting study in sociology when I get onto public transportation in the mornings and afternoons...I watch as everyone shoves their head into a book or newspaper, pretending they don't see me because no one wants to give up a seat! Eventually, someone will begrudgingly offer me a seat after 10 or 15 minutes, but I always say no. In a couple of months I am sure I'll be taking seats left and right.

I am not sure if I can feel the baby kicking. Sometimes I think I do, but then again it could just be digestion or stretching muscles.

Jeff is stressed with work, but overall is doing a great job of putting up with me and excited about finding out the gender. He is thinking boy, I am still on the fence and go back and forth daily.

I go back in one week to have a Level II ultrasound where they will measure the baby, check to see if everything looks normal and (hopefully!) determine the gender. I think there is another genetic test they are going to do as well for Cystic Fibrosis. It's been a tough few weeks anticipating this next appointment because we are anxious to find out who is in there. I really want to start decorating the nursery too, but we decided at the beginning to wait until we found out if it is a boy or girl before we started buying stuff.

However, we broke our rule this past weekend when we bought a crib and rocker...for $130 at a friend's yard sale!! I estimate that we saved about $500! Jeff was surprised I would we ok with buying used furniture. I told him that I like fancy stuff, but I like bargains even better! The crib appears to be in great shape and the same model is still for sale online, so it's completely safe. It just needs a few paint touch-ups and to be assembled. Both pieces are white and fairly non-descript style-wise, so they should go with whatever we decide to do. I have been doing a lot of online window shopping and I hate 99% of what is out there in the world of nursery bedding and decoration...I can't stand the idea of having a "theme" nursery. I've found some inspiration online at some of the fancier baby boutiques and will probably end up making most of what ends up in there.

We spent yesterday morning at Ikea looking at baby furniture and stuff for the third floor, which eventually become the "play room". Our living room is way too tiny to have a bunch of toys in it so the idea is to install a/c on the third floor and make that the toy domain. We'll see. We picked out a couple of different storage options and changing tables. They also have some cute bedding and toys. We love Ikea.

I'd like to post pictures of the nursery before and after, if I can ever figure out how one posts pictures in a blog. Our landscaping guy is also coming over tonight with our final plans for the front and back yard. We plan on doing the front yard this summer, so I'd like to post some before and after shots of that as well.

It's finally spring here!!! And summer will probably start next weekend!

Til next time...

Update: It looks like I may have figured out the whole "posting pictures" problem! Up above is a picture of Daphne laying on the stairs. If you look closely you can see her little tongue hanging out of her mouth...we are convinced it's too big for her mouth because it's always hanging out. She typically hangs out on the step above or below Trixie, but on this day I guess she was feeling saucy and decided to change it up. I can't understand how this was in any way comfortable because she really doesn't fit. The picture below is Trixie also sleeping on the stairs...it's one of her favorite places in the house because she (barely) fits snugly on the step and can see out the front windows to bark at any passersby.