The Whislers.net

Here's what's going on this week with Whisler Baby Boy 2009: 

Baby Stats:

Size: 19-20 inches
Weight: 7-8 pounds

Baby Developments:

At birth babies have a total of 300 bones. Some of the bones will fuse together later, which is why an adult has only 206 bones. Fascinating, no?  Babies vary in size at this point, but the average full-term baby weighs around 7 to 8 pounds and hovers around 19 or 20 inches. That's about the size of a ... BABY!

Yeah, we've made it to week 40!  Nine months ago it seemed like this day would never come and now it seems like just yesterday we found out we were pregnant.  It's been a fun ride but it's not over yet.  Although the due date is approaching, we haven't seen a baby yet.  I keep reading that more than 50% of women go up to 2 weeks past their due date.  At least I know he'll come out eventually and will be good and ready!  

What We're Doing:

This week we were at the hospital Saturday night and into the early morning hours on Sunday with contractions.  I started feeling contractions earlier in the day on Saturday and they got progressively worse through the evening.  Mark and I walked around the neighborhood in an effort to make them stronger and more regular and Mark diligently timed them.  By about 9pm I was having contractions every 5 minutes and lasting 2 minutes each.  We decided to shower and get our final bags packed for the hospital and left around 11:30pm. 

Upon arrival, the triage nurse hooked me up to fetal monitors and confirmed that I was having regular contractions.  After many laps around the labor and delivery floor of the hospital and 3 hours later, the nurses decided to send me home.  They believed I was in early labor and fully expected to see me back before 7am Sunday morning.  They gave me medicine to take the edge off the pain of the contractions and help me sleep.  The medicine worked so well that I didn't wake up until after 10am Sunday morning and all contractions stopped.  I was disappointed but we reluctantly realized he wasn't ready to make his grand entrance. 

Farm Report:

Week 40's fruit is a peach.  Peaches actually originated in China where they have been cultivated since the early days of Chinese culture. Peaches were mentioned in Chinese writings as far back as the tenth century BC and were a favored fruit of emperors.  Although Thomas Jefferson had peach trees at Monticello, United States farmers did not begin commercial production until the nineteenth century in Maryland, Delaware, Georgia and finally Virginia.

Mark's rating: 10 out of 10

Laura's rating: 10 out of 10

We are really enjoying eating fresh peaches everyday.  This teamed with blueberries and strawberries from Mama Jean's (a local organic market) have made a nice healthy alternative to Andy's Frozen Custard - the typical dessert of choice the last 9 months.

It’s a BOY!!!

Mark and I are very proud to announce that we are having a baby boy in August.  We had our first ultrasound this morning and baby looks very healthy.  Some of you know that I’ve been experiencing severe pain in my lower abdomen the past week and have been on bed rest since Thursday.  We were very anxious to get the results of the ultrasound to find out if my bed rest would be permanent.  Thankfully, our ultrasound tech was very diligent and found a potential source of my problem.  I have at least one ovarian cyst on my left ovary that is causing me great pain.  The good news is that it’s not baby-related but the bad news is that because I’m pregnant I can’t take anything for the pain.  I’m still supposed to take it easy and not over-exert myself but I can return to work if I feel like it.  I plan to go in tomorrow and see how I do.

Now, back to the important things…our baby boy!  He is a very healthy 9 oz. and heartbeat was 143 this morning.  The tech did all the standard measurements and check-ups and after each one, we were relieved to hear her say “that looks good.”  After her exam was complete, she asked us if we wanted to find out the gender and we unanimously said “YES!”  Unfortunately, baby didn’t want to cooperate.  He’s already showing signs of being stubborn.  I can’t imagine where he would have gotten that.  After a lot of twisting and turning (for me), the umbilical cord finally moved from between his legs and we were able to get several shots that clearly indicated that he’s my little man. 

As you can see from the pics, he’s already very active.  Although I haven’t felt him move yet, he likes to suck his thumb, kick and put his arm above his head while he sleeps (very much like mom likes to do).  Mark and I are so very thankful for this huge blessing in a tiny package and we look forward to the next few months as he continues to develop and grow.  We appreciate all of your love, support and prayers and are very grateful to share this journey with our family and friends.

To view the pictures in a high-resolution slideshow, you can view the ultrasound pictures here.

Profile:

Arm Raised:

Sucking His Thumb:

Boy Confirmation #1:

Boy Confirmation #2:

Here's what's going on this week with Whisler Baby 2009: 

Baby Stats:

Size: 5 inches
Weight: 4 ounces

Baby Developments:

Baby is adding fat stores that will keep him warm and cozy after he's born.  The baby's weight will increase approximately six times over the next four weeks.  Good to know Laura's not the only one tipping the scale.

Baby is also hard at work honing her sucking and swallowing reflexes -- all the better for eating that 2am, 5am and 8am meal in just a few months.  The finger- and toenails are beginning to grow from their nail beds, which would explain why she'll need them trimmed almost as soon as she's born.

The baby weighs nearly 5 ounces and is a little over 5 inches long -- about the size of a baked potato.  Butter and sour cream on the side please.  Laura will take hers fully loaded.

What We're Doing:

We attended the Cox Baby Affair on Saturday and were able to tour the Labor and Delivery and Postpartum floors.  It really helped to get a feel for where we will be as we experience the whirlwind called "giving birth."  Mark's parents were able to tour with us and Mom B (aka Barbara) was instructed that she's in charge of showing Momma J (aka Janet) where everything is so they can be in charge when Mark and I have lost our minds during the delivery process.

We also were able to visit with several vendors and were really intrigued by the new cloth diapers out right now.  If any of you have experience with these, please let us know.  Supposedly, you can purchase a set of diapers that are adjustable for the size of the child and will last from newborn to potty-training.  It almost sounds too good to be true but we are very interested in looking into them further.

Laura is feeling much better and now has her appetite back.  Thanks for all of your prayers.  The worst is definitely behind us so we can start really enjoying the pregnancy.

December 10, 2008 is a day we won't quickly forget because it's the day we found out we were pregnant!  Surprise, fear and excitement were just three of the many feelings we experienced that day and continue to feel now.  Since then we've been to the doctor three times, heard the heartbeat, got sick a gazillion times, picked out names and started spreading the good news...and we're just getting started.  We've decided to keep up this blog with information about the pregnancy and keep family and friends posted with this exciting adventure all along the way. 

Mark has been putting his photography skills to good use taking lots of pictures of my growing belly.  Although I'm only 12 weeks along, I'm definitely showing and am struggling to fit into many of my favorite clothes.  At some point when I get the nerve up, I'll allow Mark to post some of those belly pictures.  For now, trust me when I say that I'm getting big!

Unfortunately, most of the second and third month have provided me with much sickness.  Not just morning sickness but morning, afternoon and evening sickness!  Starting December 30 (after we'd broken the news to the family at Christmas and after I'd been all but bragging that I had yet to get sick a single day) I got incredibly sick.  Luckily I was home from work the entire week of New Years as I didn't lift my head off the pillow at all.  I called the doctor and she was able to get a prescription for an anti-nausea medication.  It worked but made me feel incredibly tired.  At our next doctor visit in mid-January, the doctor prescribed a new medicine that is working beautifully.  I still have a few bad days and get really car sick on long trips but most of the time I'm feeling good.

So far, I haven't had any unusual cravings except cereal and orange juice.  Those may not sound strange to most but people who know me well know that I don't care for either of those breakfast items under usual circumstances.  Since I've been pregnant however, I don't go a day without a big bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice each morning.  Those of you who know me well also know of my great love of coffee.  Not the case anymore.  That has become my number one food aversion.  I can't stand to smell it or drink it.  In fact, the thought of coffee nearly turns my stomach upside-down.  I hope that I regain my love for the hot, brewed beverage soon after delivery. 

Thanks to all of you for your love and support.  More to come soon...