Infertility and Me

First of all I would like to apologize for the two week hiatus.  Things have been a little crazy around here.  With the start of Choochies nursery (better late than never), and the numerous doctor appointments we both have been going to, I have not had the time to get the posts up.  I had them in draft waiting to be published, but I just never got around to it.  Otherwise everyone is doing great!!  We are trucking right along with the end finally in sight.  I never thought we would get this far!  We even have a date for Choochies arrival.  So set your clocks, mark your calendars and pray we make it to the date!!  11/22/10 10am!!

How far along? 32 Weeks 

How big is Choochie this week?  This week Choochie weighs almost four pounds and could be up to 19 inches long.  She weighs about as much as a large Jicama (I have no clue what that is either ) And though that’s a head-to-toe length, Choochie is actually back to a curled-up position.  At 32 Weeks Pregnant, Choochie is a bit tight for exercise space right now.  She has also probably settled into the head-down, bottoms-up position in the pelvis in preparation for birth.  That’s because the fetus’s head fits better at the bottom of the inverted, pear-shaped uterus.

Sleep? Sleep is overrated!

Movement? I think Chooch is running out of room, I can even see the belly movement when she has hiccups!!

Food cravings? Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Cake, Apple Jacks, Product 19, Bar Pie, Gatorade (red),  Water!!!!

Gender

Milestones? Baby Shower This Week!!

Emotions: Ups and Downs and completely exhausted!!

How far along? 31 Weeks 3 Days

How big is Choochie this week?  Weighing in at three-plus pounds and measuring 18 inches long, Choochie weighs about as much as four naval oranges. She’s has to pack on another three to five pounds before D-day. Also developing at an impressive clip: Choochies brain connections (she’s got to make trillions of them!).  She’s now processing information, tracking light, and perceiving signals from all five senses.  Choochies brain is working overtime these days, developing faster than ever.  

Sleep? Sleep is overrated!

Movement? Sometimes Choochie looks like she’s going to jump right out of Jess’ belly!!

Food cravings?Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Cake, Bar Pie, Gatorade (red), Water, any type of sweets!!!!

Gender

Milestones? Nothing to write home about!

Emotions: Ups and Downs!!

How far along? 30 Weeks 3 Days

How big is Choochie this week? Choochie rivals a good-size cabbage in weight, tipping the scales this week at  little more than 3 pounds.  Choochie will be packing on the weight at a rate of half a pound per week for the next seven weeks!

Until now, the surface of your Choochies brain was smooth.  Now that little brain is taking on those characteristic grooves and indentations, which allow for an increased amount of brain tissue as Choochie prepares for life outside the womb.  Choochies bone marrow has taken over production of red blood cells (before, tissue groups and then the spleen took care of producing the blood cells).  This is an important step for your Choochie, because it means she is better able to thrive on his or her own once born!

Sleep? Jess dreads the time at night when we go to bed!!

Movement? Sometimes Choochie looks like she’s going to jump right out of Jess’ belly!!

Food cravings? Bar Pie, Chicken Parm, Chicken Francaise, Gatorade (red), Pink Lemonade, Water, any type of sweets!!!!

Gender

Milestones? 10 weeks left!!!! 

Emotions: Ups and Downs!!

Yesterday was Jess’ Birthday!!  She turned the big 31!!  We both thought we would have long been parents by now, but all I can say is that we are blessed.  Better late than never!!

Last week we had our final (hopefully) appointment with the high risk / super cervix measuring doc.  The measurement remained the same from when the original shortening occurred.  The doc felt comfortable that this would probably be the status quo for the rest of pregnancy.  The only thing that could drastically reduce the size of the cervix quickly, would be labor.  We got a couple more snapshots, and he sent us on our way.  We graduated from another doc!! Woo Hoo!!

 Now on to Chooch!!

How far along? 28 weeks 3 Days!

How Big Is Choochie? Choochie is now about 2.5 pounds and almost 16 inches long, the size of a Chinese Cabbage.  She’s busy adding new skills such as blinking to an already impressive repertoire of tricks like coughing, sucking, hiccuping, and taking practice breaths. Choochies sleep now includes the REM (rapid eye movement) phase — and that means she could be dreaming already.  Though her lungs are nearly fully mature, she still has plenty of growing to do.

Sleep?  Jess dreads the time at night when we go to bed!!

Movement? Sometimes Choochie looks like she’s going to jump right out of Jess’ belly!!

Food cravings?Bar Pie, Chicken Parm, Chicken Fraincaise, Gatorade (red), Pink Lemonade, Water, any type of sweets!!!!

Gender 

Milestones? We are officially in the third trimester!

Emotions: Ups and Downs!!

Yesterday, Jess, Myself, and some of the family took a little trip to View A Miracle.  We decided we wanted to do this from the beginning, but had to wait for the optimal time for Choochie (26-34wks).  This is the same place Jess went for the surprise gender determination.  I have to say it was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen, and I am so glad we were able to share it with family!  Check out the video of our little miracle!

Here is a couple stills from the session 

 That is definitely a experience I will never forget.  It will be pretty cool to show Choochie when she gets older too!!

The last couple weeks have been pretty quiet.  I had some ups and downs and a little (another) injury, but I will live.  As for Jess, she’s doing good.  She is totally tired all the time, but trucks right along!!  She’s a trooper!!

Now on to Choochie!

How far along? 27 weeks 2 Days!

How Big Is Choochie? Choochie is about the size of a head of cauliflower, fifteen inches, and more than two pounds!  Choochie can recognize our voices now!  Her muscle tone is gradually improving, and her lungs are capable of breathing air but if the Choochie was born now, she would need medical assistance to breathe!

Maternity clothes?  Everything Maternity!!

Sleep?  Jess dreads the time at night when we go to bed!!

Movement? Sometimes Choochie is out of control, and others she just rolls around.  She has taken an affinity to kicking me in the face.  She won’t move when my hands are there, but as soon as i put my face there, POW!!!!

Food cravings? Bagels, Grilled Cheese, Tomato soup noodles, Gatorade (red), Pink Lemonade, Water, any type of sweets!!!!

Gender – confirmed again this week.  I thinks it safe to paint the nursery now!

Milestones? Choochie has moved on to a whole new growth chart this week.  No more crown to rump, it’s head to toes!! I think Jess is definitely getting the Braxton Hicks contractions now as well!!

Emotions: Not too bad this week, we did have one minor episode yesterday, but the problem was solved, and all is well!!