So the baby is inside her stomach...weird

Has anyone really sat down and thought about this? I finally felt the baby for the first time today, I think it is tired of being inside of wifeys stomach because it seems to be trying to punch its way out. As I sat there feeling this baby training to be a martial artist, I just thought it was weird that there is this living thing inside of her... inside... like not outside... there are other things that can live inside of you, like tape worms... gross. I have visions of the movie aliens, where the alien comes popping out of the guys stomach, I know that wont happen (on second thought, if this baby keeps kicking the way it does it too will be popping out) however it is just an odd thought... something guys will never experience... unless they get the aforementioned tape worm but those you don't really feel, as I understand, they just eat all the food you do... and they are really gross.

We're 21 weeks...

How our baby's growing: Our baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And I can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to our schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when we're settling down for the night. If we're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth.

Presents...

We received our very first shower gift a couple days ago. My Auntie Paula and Uncle John got us a Chicco highchair and a digital Gracco monitor. (Both super nice!!) Yesterday I started charging the monitors and today we tested them out. Yea...they work! Then Dave & I put together the highchair and figured out how it works, etc. Then we folded it down and put a big plastic cover over it so it will stay all nice until we need it. :) So fun!! So THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Auntie Paula and Uncle John!! :) :) :)

So it's official...

...I can not only feel the baby move, but now I can see the baby move on the outside...my stomach moves!! Pretty cool!

Doctor Visit - 20 Weeks

So my wife is telling me how to update the blog again (its Dave typing again)... apparently she didn't like my titles. Anyway, we went to the doctor again and had another ultrasound. So far the baby has a brain and spine, which is more than I can say for me (although, much to Elizabeth's dismay, my spine has been growing ever since we got married... she told me to grow one... her fault). We also got to see the heart beating, the fluid in the brain (which is normal), the mouth and lips (no cleft pallet or cleft lip), and some bones... dem bones dem bones dem thigh bones. The only...ummm... shall we say, non average thing, is that the amniotic fluid is a little low. Now the doctor is sending us to a neonatologist (spelled that one right the first try... growing a brain as we speak... or type... whatever) to get a better ultrasound and measurement and stuff. She said it is nothing to worry about because (I will quote this even though its not a direct quote) "it could be that Elizabeth isn't drinking enough water, or because of her asthma, or both, or the baby might be missing a kidney"... hmmmmmmm.... missing a kidney... nope not a problem, apparently God decided to throw in organs that we don't need like kidneys, hearts, brains, whatever... stupid doctors. She did say not to worry that we are just on the low end of things and she wants a better look. She did say its hard to tell because our baby is a little small for 20 weeks (again the wife is checking my grammar, I said a little smallER but that was wrongER than saying a little small... stupid englishER). But, no one should fret about anything, all in all it was good and, besides the fact, it snowed in Tucson so any thing's possible.

We did start discussing baby names and were trying to think of girl names today (no we don't know what the baby is). We have a list of a billion names for girls but have like 2 boy names because David is already taken and what other good boy names are there?!?!?!?!? :) Anywho, Elizabeth is really on this kick with old names because when she did her genealogy she found all these turn of the century names that she liked, one of them was Victory Belle. Can you image our lovely little girl named Victory Belle House... Belle House... I mean come on, we might as well name our kid Light and get it over with... or maybe "Out" if we really feel vindictive. The name game shall continue and we will, I am sure, narrow it down to like zero boy names and 50 girl names by the time the baby is born so no worries there.

One last thing, we put together the crib... and there was much rejoicing, yeah. So now our baby has a crib that looks like it belongs in the 70's. Our kid will grow up wearing bell bottoms and calling things grovey... hopefully it wont pick up pot smoking. That is all from Colorado, the Houses are Out!

Sad news & other news...

When I talked w/my mom this morning, she said my sister Katie's friend Stacy's brother died yesterday. Very, very sad. He had down syndrome but he was only 15 or 16 years old. He just didn't wake up in the morning. He was such a spirited kid and it's just so very sad that he's gone so soon. Please be praying for his family as his death leaves a big hole in their family.

In other news, my mom's coming to visit at the end of April for a week. Yeah!! She was able to get a week at a timeshare in Estes Park!! So that s/b really fun. :) :) :)

Yesterday, Dave & I attempted to put the crib together. We actually did pretty well, but we had two long metal support pieces left over that we didn't know where to put them. We talked with his bro-in-law and tonight we s/b able to finish it. Now we just need to get a mattress so we can see if it will work.

We're 20 weeks (~5 mos.)

How our baby's growing: Our baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.) A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.) Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).

My first venture...

...into unemployment benefits: So due to me filing for unemployment two days early, I ended up trying to call the unemployment office 15 times on Wednesday, only getting a busy signal, and then finally getting through. I spent 1.5 hours on hold and then an additional 40 minutes talking with the chick to try to get my claim withdrawn. Then yesterday, she called me back and spent another 1.5 hours on the phone with her re-submitting my claim. All this so the state takes into account 3 more months of my work and then I can get more money per week in benefits. Every little penny counts when you're unemployed!! While I'm waiting to see if they approve me (could take 4-6 weeks), I also have to make 5 job contacts per week to be eligible to get my benefits.

All that time on the phone Wednesday...While on hold, I managed to take my shower, get ready, dressed, and blow-dry my hair (more tricky to blow-dry hair b/c i had to hold the phone on speaker-phone to one ear while holding the hair-dryer with the other hand in order to hear the phone b/c the hair-dryer is SO loud). :) I was still 1.5 hours late to meet Dave's mom Karen in Ft. Collins for lunch. Oh well. Had to be done. We still had a good time. We had lunch and then walked around old town Ft. Collins. I then checked out clearance items at both the Old Navy in Ft. Collins and Loveland on the way home. Dave had his master's class so I didn't have to worry about being home on time. :)

Yesterday, our friend Mark helped Dave move our guest bedroom dresser into the empty room. Our empty room is now going to be the guest room and our guest room is going to be the baby's room. The former guest room had 1 more foot of closet space and we figured if there were eventually two kids in there, we'd need the extra closet space (both closets are super small anyhow). Then Dave moved the matress and we both moved the bed and box spring. Good thing the bed is an antique and comes apart and back together with no screws or anything. Just fits together like a jigsaw puzzle. :) So now the baby's room is all cleared out...and we can try to put the crib together sometime.

new guest room

baby room pic#1

baby room pic#2

baby room pic#3

Today we're 19 weeks...

"How our baby's growing: Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing six million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born." babycenter.com

Test results...

We received our quad-screen test results from the doctor today. They are normal...Yea!! PTL!!

Quad-screen tests for down syndrome, trisomy 18 (which is fatal), and neurotube defects such as spina bifida.

This is a huge relief for us, as we have been slightly worried about whether I consumed enough Folic Acid early on b/c I was so sick and didn't always keep the vitamins down and didn't take them every day. Again, PTL!!

IT’S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Proud parents are my sister Katie & her husband Derek)

SARA AMANDA-KATE GLASCOE
7lbs, 8oz; 20.5 inches
by c-section at 4:54pm

on Thursday, January 11, 2007

8 days overdue

mom and baby are doing well

C-section was necessary due to baby's decreased heartbeat with pushing and mother's hips being too small for baby's head. They should be in the hospital until Sunday or Monday.

Please pray for sleep and healing for mom and that feedings would go well.

Katie's labor update #2...

Amanda called me from the hospital at 2:01pm PST and said that Kt will be ready to push in 45 minutes. That means that she should be ready to push around 2:45pm PST. Amanda and my mom are there now. I think Sara was also headed down there if she isn’t there already.

I’ll let you know if I hear anything more.

Katie's labor update...

As of 12:30 pm PST, Derek called and said they just checked Kt and she’s at 7 cm!!! It still could be awhile or it could be quicker than expected.

Again, I’ll update you all as soon as I know anything.

Katie's labor...

To the best of my relay knowledge (if I didn’t butcher it in translation), here’s what’s going on with Katie’s labor:

1/10 10pm: went into hospital. Was monitored and determined that she couldn’t use the gel b/c her contractions were too close together.

They then put her on an IV drip (which makes her get up to go to the bathroom at least every hour, if not more often), Platocin (sp?) drip (to induce labor & open up cervix), and baby & mom heartbeat monitor. Baby and Katie’s heartbeats are low but steady.

1/11:

5:30 am After a few hours on Platocin, Katie can’t handle the pain any more and asks for drugs.

5:45 am Katie calls Elizabeth & wakes her up. Katie is happy b/c the drugs make contractions better. She said it feels like she’s buzzed. She is 1 cm dialated.

6:45 am Katie’s water breaks.

Katie’s contractions get much worse. She has a total of 3 rounds of pain meds and in the end, she is in severe pain for several hours. She has contractions every 30 seconds and is throwing up. She is at 2 cm.

10:45 am After waiting an hour for an epidural (anesthesiology is backed up), she gets an epidural and is at 4 cm. She is numb from waist down and now is in no pain. She only feels some pressure. Katie is not on Platocin anymore.

11:15 am Derek calls Elizabeth with update. Explains why we haven’t gotten any updates (b/c KT was in so much pain and screaming, etc.). They said they expect it to be at least 5-8 hours more. After they reach 5 cm, they expect to go 1cm per hour. Derek will try to call later with another update.

If I know anything, I’ll pass it on.

Yesterday...

Yesterday, I went to an info meeting with Boulder County Social Services to get more info on their Fost-Adopt Program. It was heartbreaking, yet I'm still interested. We talked last night, though, and Dave's pulled more towards the Korea program that we've been looking in to. If this seems a bit early to you (b/c we're still preggers), we've been researching international adoption since last spring and happened to get pregnant in the process. We're still interested in starting the process b/c it can take two years to complete for Korea. That way, by the time baby H is 1 years old, baby will have a sibling a year younger.

I also went to get my glasses adjusted yesterday b/c I thought I couldn't see as well with them as I could with my old pair. Apparently, the new ones sit a little farther off my face and b/c my prescription's so strong, this makes a difference in how I see. So they're sending my glasses back to be made .5 stronger than my Rx to correct the problem. Now I'm back to wearing my old ones for a couple more weeks (which is fine b/c I like them anyhow).

Then I got my nails done and hung out at my friend Liane's house. I got to play fire engine, recycle dumpster, picnic, and blocks with her 2.5 yr old son. Her daughter has discover rolling and will roll clear across the room. Super funny!

I then went to Old Navy to return some stuff and my Old Navy order was waiting on my doorstep when I got home. I proceeding to try everything on b/c I thought Dave would be late getting home, but, of course, he got home right after I finished everything. He said his master's professor is all over the place and not very structured. Dave said he needs structure so this class should be interesting. I think it's over on March 7th.

New glasses...

Yesterday I got new glasses. :)

Dr's Visit

We went to the doctors today and I (this is Dave typing) heard the baby's heart beat for the first time. It was really cool!!!! It made a whooshing sound and now I can bug Elizabeth with the sound... fun times. Elizabeth is telling me to type more... there were high winds today, it reached 115 mph a few miles from our house, and just for reference, category 3 hurricane winds start at 111 mph. The winds have died down but there is suppose to be another storm coming in this weekend which will bring winds (not as high as the ones today) and really really cold weather, the weather report went something like, "Highs for the week will be Tuesday 50, Wednesday 50, Thursday 50, and Friday 0", yes that is a zero the highs will be around 5 and the lows around -10. This storm will also bring snow but not as much as we have seen... at least that is what they are saying now. I was a little worried about getting stuck in Maryland (I was suppose to fly out on Thursday and fly back on Friday) but the meeting I was going to attend was cancled by the customer so I dont have to worry about it. Elizabeth just correct my grammer by adding a comma, I, think, commas, are, the, dumbest, things, ever,.,.,. Elizabeth said that I am done typing now so I will type (or not) some other time.

We're 18 weeks (~4.5 mos.)

"How our baby's growing: Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound." BabyCenter.com

False alarm...

Here's what their blog says, "Well even though I was having contractions, I am still not dilated yet. So they sent us home :( Please keep us in your prayers. Needless to say... I getting a little frustrated and tired. Please pray that the baby would come soon :) We have a doctors appointment this morning. I will let you know if there is any new news. Thank you."

Katie's baby is a coming...

Katie's having contractions!!! Yeah!! (She was due last Wednesday; so she's 4 days overdue.) Please pray for health and safety and all that!!

Here's what they posted on their blog: "Katie has been having contractions all day today. We are now going to go to the hospital. Please be praying for Baby G and Katie. Pray for a safe delivery. If this for some reason is a false alarm, we will let you know.... we have never been through this before :) But if you don't hear from us, assume we are at Hoag Hospital.Thank you for all your support and prayers!"

To Cheyenne...

So yesterday we went to Cheyenne to visit Dave's mom, step-dad, sister, bro-in-law, nephew & niece. As soon as we crossed over into Wyoming, it was so windy, w/snow blowing across the highway. We thought it was just WY being WY with all the wind, but apparently yesterday afternoon was extremely windy here too. We read about a 25-car pileup at our exit due to ground blizzards. Crazy! Anyhow, we had a good time going out to dinner, hanging out, and playing games. Dave & I both helped the kiddos put together leggos. We also played Uno Attack & Scene-It with his mom & sister. The kids also attacked Dave when he dared steal their Peakachoo stuffed animal. Today we picked up the crib from his sister Jenny (although she needs to find the screws in order for us to use it) and we went to American Furniture Warehouse on the way home. We finally bought a rug for in front of the washer and dryer. Yeah!! No more dropping things on the dirty, concrete basement floor!

Latest pic

So here's me today, at 17 wks and 1 day.

Today I went shopping for some things. I must have tried on over 20 bras and still couldn't find one that fit. Quite annoying. Although I was having that trouble before I got pregnant, too. Then I went to Old Navy and they have already clearanced most of their winter wear. Brillant. So when I get bigger and it's still winter, they'll only have short sleaves and tank tops available. Lame. Plus, the long sleeve tees that they had there that I liked...I tried on and they were way too short. They looked like normal people ones, not maternity. But I did find a pair of black pants for half off. :)

Happy New Year!!