14 weeks and growing

We had appointments both last week and this week so I think we are getting to know the routine pretty well, weigh-in, pee in the cup, wait for the doc. Actually all I do is the waiting part, none of the fun stuff.

Last weeks appointment was scheduled because some of Danielle's sugars were high while she is on a medicine to try and control them. 4 times a day she gets to prick her finger and record the results. Fortunately the high marks were not astronomical but were higher than the recommended level of 120 and she is now taking a higher dose of medicine and was given a balanced diet to help keep the levels in the safer area. We were told that as the pregnancy goes on the ability to control sugars gets harder so getting it under control now is important.

They did another ultrasound to observe the baby's heart but this one was external and had a much more abstract picture. It is so incredible every time we see DLB move when we are watching on camera, those little arms and legs stretching and turning. Danielle is very excited for the time when she can feel the movement and actually feel her baby. I'm waiting for the first kick to my head as I lay against Danielle's belly and I try to sing a lullaby to DLB in my oh so melodic singing voice.
















I have been informed that at 14 weeks DLB can squint, frown, pee, and possibly suck it's thumb. Wow, that's a really strange progression of things to learn first in life. They all come in handy in case of a leopard attack or passing kidney stones. I think all those things are going on at the same time here hence the blurry image.

Final due date...for now

The doctor placed our due date back to March 24th at the last appointment so I guess that is what we're shooting for. I've been told that that's a great month as my side of the family has no birthdays in March so DLB will be able to have no competition or grow up sharing the cake candles with a relative. Actually growing up we never had that, just now that we are older and can handle the diminishing importance of our birthday. I'm kidding, my 17th 21st birthday was a momentous event!

Interesting though that the 24th is positioned almost directly in the middle of two "holidays". If born a week earlier on the 17th and it's St. Patricks Day, a week later on the 1st and April Fools Day is looming. Leprechaun vs. Fool. As for a birthday on the 1st, you get is a lifetime of people playing cruel jokes on your birthday. I have to lean towards the Irish holiday as I believe you get Irish citizenship and a woolen sweater with your birth certificate on that day. Ooh and maybe a shileleigh!

What now?

We have decided to forgo any extra testing to screen for any early birth defects since neither of us have any family history of any problems. We would not even consider any other options other than to deliver the baby no matter what they found so we did not see the point in taking on any extra anxiety about the baby. Just like finding out the gender, we will love what God gives us, no matter the package. That said we are of course praying for a healthy pregnancy and baby!

Danielle has been keeping track of her blood sugar as per doctors orders due to her history of "borderline diabetes". Unfortunately it has been a little high so she has been prescribed Glyburide to combat that. The doctor will be monitoring her progress weekly to follow the results.

The nursery is also on our mind and we have decided to transform the office, or the "DBacks room", into our baby's bedroom. I will need to find a place to showcase my collection, and it will take some rearranging and some painting, but I'm looking forward to making our little one's room the best room in the house. If I know Danielle it will definately involve Tweety and the color yellow! I'm sure I can find a Tweety baseball stencil somewhere....or maybe just a yellow D-Backs logo....

12 weeks finally!

So here we are, safely through the first tri-mester, our cautious secret is now allowed to see the light of day and and announce to the world WE ARE PREGNANT!!

We went to the doctor today and and were happy to hear we were actually in the 12th week instead of the 11th like we thought. We were thinking that we were still going to have to wait to tell the good news until next week and I have just been bursting at the seams.


D-L-B doing somersaults in Mommy. 12 weeks

The ultrasound was really cool this time as we were able to see individual arms, legs, feet, and hands. The doctor said it looked like there was a baseball bat in there too, but alas it was just the umbilical cord. I was really excited that the future D-Backs fan was already gearing up for the 2009 season! We were really able to see DLB moving around for the first time and it was just unbelievable that this little life was our baby, just 6 months removed from it's first breath of air. We (I) cried. A little. Really.

On the drive home I was trying to figure out how to meet up with my parents to let them know the news but I just couldn't wait any longer so Mom got the call on the way home from the doctor. She of course was very excited and....wait for it...I cried. I've never known such absolute joy and happiness that every time I get excited my emotions come out in tears. I think I'm damaged somehow.