lil' Gherkin's 17 weeks

I'm feeling better all the time. Or at least I seem to be having more good days than bad and even the bad days aren't as bad as they were before. I'm not taking the Phenergan as often and that's encouraging to me. The evenings are when I feel the worst, so I take one then, but not during the day unless I'm not feeling good. I can tell that I'm far better hydrated and am even starting to eat more, which is exactly what the doctors want to see happen. OK, so I'm a little late this week in getting a post up about lil' Gherkin's growing. Once I figure out how to download pictures from my new digital camera to my computer and then upload them to here, I'll put a picture up of my little belly (it's not very big yet, but it's bigger than my belly's ever been). Hopefully you'll all be kinder than my mom who said it looks like my behind (Jeremy took a picture with his phone and sent it to her and Carol on Sunday....Carol said it was cute and mom said she thought it was my bottom). Let's see, according to babycenter.com, Lil' Gherkin weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and it's around 5 inches long. It can move its joints, and its skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. Its sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker.

In other news, Jeremy started volunteering on Saturday and had so much fun that he went back on Sunday. On Saturday he spent the day with another volunteer who is going to train him on different hikes and stuff in the area. Other than the weather was supposed to be warm and it turned out to be rather chilly and falling in a creek, he really enjoyed himself. On Sunday he spent the day in the visitor's center learning the ropes and then went around picking up trash. I'm hoping that as the weather warms and I feel better I can spend some time up there with him. I have no interest in falling in a creek or picking up trash, but it'd be fun to do some of the hikes (they're only like a mile or two long, so nothing difficult) and have lunch. The dogs would surely enjoy it too!

Buffalo and Laundry

So far this has been a pretty good week. Yesterday I felt good enough and had enough energy to get a few things done around the house. I washed, dryed, folded, and put away 5 loads of laundry; I reorganized our dresser so Jeremy could have another drawer (his sock and underwear drawer was overflowing, it probably needs cleaned out, but it was easier to just find another drawer for him to use); and I loaded, ran, and emptied the dishwasher. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's truly more than I've done in a long time and it felt pretty good to do something! I'm embarassed to admit it, but my hamstrings are sore today. I think it's from all the bending and lifting of the laundry. I've never been sore from such normal activities. I guess it just goes to show how much of a toll this is taking on my body. I really hope to be feeling better soon so that I can get back to doing more on a regular basis.

Jeremy has decided to become a volunteer with the Fish and Wildlife Service at the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is about 20 miles or so north of our house and there are elk, buffalo, and a wide variety of other animals there, as well as a couple good sized lakes, a few hiking trails, and Scott Mountain (for me it looks like a small hill, but, they call it a mountain so whatever). He's going to be a trail/hiking guide as well as help the Fish and Wildlife Service with their GPS/GPI units and gridding of the Refuge. On Saturday he starts with another guide. They'll have him work in one area of the park initially and then branch him out to other areas as he gets more comfortable. We're both really excited for him to have this opportunity. It'll give him a chance to explore whether or not this is something he'd like to do when his military career comes to an end.

lil' Gherkin is 16 weeks

Lil' Gherkin is 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces. In the next three weeks, it'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling in weight and adding inches to its length. The lower limbs are much more developed now. Some of its more advanced body systems are working, including the circulatory system and urinary tract. The heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating its total blood volume through its body many times. (By the end of the pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) Although closed, its eyes are moving (slowly), and it's even started growing toenails.

An update on how I've been feeling. I've been following the Nurse Practitioner's advice and taking the Phenergan more frequently. As a result, I've been able to eat and drink a lot more than I had been. But, as expected, it's making me very sleepy. If I get through an entire day without taking a nap, then I'm asleep by 8 or 9 at night and tend to sleep a good 11 or 12 hours (even after that much sleep it's hard to wake up!). If I do nap during the day (and by nap I mean at least 2 or 3 hours), then I can stay awake 'til 9 or 10 at night and only need about 10 hours of sleep. The nurse said this was ok and all that really matters is that I'm getting enough fluids, so I'm not worrying about it.

Happy Valentine's Day

Jeremy is a lucky guy. Most men feel a lot of pressure to make today special for that significant someone in their life. Jeremy has none of that pressure. A few weeks ago I reminded him of how much I really hate Valentine's Day and that I don't want him to do anything, or buy anything for me today. (I told him if he wanted a gift from me he could go buy himself some new workout clothes 'cause he's been wanting them for a while now and I haven't been up to doing much shopping.) I don't know where my dislike of Valentine's Day truly began. I wasn't scarred in elementary school by not receiving as many Valentine's cards as everyone else; I was dating someone most years on Valentine's Day in high school; in college if I was single there was a great group of us who went out to dinner and had a ball; and since then I've either been dating someone or been too busy working to care; and now I'm married and still think it's a ridiculous holiday. I think my dislike really stems from the fact that it truly is a Hallmark, Kay Jewelers, Russell Stover Chocolates, and 1800Flowers holiday. Why can't we celebrate it similarly to the way we celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Instead of pinching those who don't wear red or pink, we kiss those who are wearing the holiday colors? No gifts, no dinners out, no silly little things to show that someone in our lives how much they mean to us. I don't need a special day on the calendar to know how much Jeremy cares for me. He shows me that each and every day. So, as he left before the crack of dawn this morning he kissed me on the forehead, told me he loved me and said "Happy Valentine's Day!" I am more than satisfied. That is a perfect Valentine's Day for me!

doctor's appointment today

We had an appointment today with the nurse practitioner. It went pretty well. I've lost a pound since last month when I was in there, which isn't good, but isn't too bad either. The nurse practitioner wants me taking the anti-nausea medication (phenergan) on a more regular basis. I had only been taking it when I just couldn't take the nausea anymore. Mostly because it makes me so sleepy. But, she said that right now all that matters is getting and staying hydrated. So, if it makes me really sleepy she suggested I take it and then set alarms that will wake me up so I can drink and eat. I'm going to give it a shot, so we'll see how it goes!

The best part of the appointment though was we got to hear lil' Gherkin's heartbeat. It took her a little bit to find it, but she did! It was a strong 152 beats per minute. So, I've done some research on old wives tales....some say that a heartbeat below 140 is a boy and over 140 is a girl. But, others say that below 150 is a boy, over 160 is a girl, and between 150 and 160 is a crap shoot.

The nurse practioner put the orders in for an ultrasound. I will only have one, unless it becomes medically necessary for another, and we're hoping that's not the case! So, while I can have it at anytime, I'm going to push it back until I'm 22 or 23 weeks along that way we stand the best chance of learning if lil' Gherkin's a boy or girl.

lil' Gherkin is 15 weeks today

Lil' Gherkin now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs.
(The above information was copied from babycenter.com.) So, while it would be possible to know if lil' Gherkin is a boy or girl at this point, we haven't had an ultrasound yet, and probably won't have one for another month or so. But we're both excited to find out if we're having a boy or girl...we have a bet riding on it! Loser has to fix dinner and do dishes for 2 weeks. Funny thing though, I bet that it's a girl and Jeremy bet that it's a boy. And while neither of us truly care if it's a boy or girl as long it's healthy, if we knew that everything with the baby would be fine, I'd like to have a boy and Jeremy'd like to have a girl.

a few good days

Yesterday I accomplished a major feat. I took a shower and walked to our mailbox and back (the mailbox is a little over a tenth of a mile from the house so the whole walk was about a 1/4 of a mile). In weeks and months past just taking a shower was a huge accomplishment for a day. And I haven't been able to walk further than around the house in months. So, it was very exciting to feel good enough to do both in one day!

Today I still feel pretty good, but it's cold, windy, and raining, so I won't be walking to the mailbox. But, I did empty the dishwasher, reload, do a sinkful of dishes, and clean up the kitchen a little. So, not bad....

Hopefully this means that I've turned the corner and will start consistently feeling better!

the Super Bowl

As you all know, I (Melanee) am a big sports fan. I love my football and baseball. But, for the first time in a long time I was not the least bit excited to watch the Super Bowl last night. It held little appeal for me. I've spent most of the football season so disgusted with the way sports commentators have slobbered all over the "mighty Patriots" that I've wanted someone, anyone, to beat them since about week 8. You throw in the fact the Pats set offensive records this season (# of touchdown passes, # of touchdown receptions, points scored), and they did it by running the score up when the game was well in hand and you have a team that I cannot, and will not cheer for. (Please note, I don't blame the players for this total and complete lack of sportsmanship, I blame their coach.)

I had predicted back before the playoffs started that the Patriots wouldn't win it all. Two weeks ago when the Giants beat Green Bay (the team I was really hoping would win the Super Bowl), my folks asked if they (the Giants) stood a chance of beating the Patriots. I said I thought they stood a good chance, just based on how they played 'em at the end of the season and how they had been playing throughout the playoffs.

So, I half-heartedly turned the game on last night hoping for a Giants victory. What I found instead was one of the most exciting Super Bowl's (second only to the Broncos Super Bowl victories, but I fully acknowledge that I'm biased).

Here are a few of the reasons I thought it was a great game:

1). I love a good defensive game, and that's exactly what the game was. Some said it was "sloppy" play, but I say a good defense will make an offense look sloppy.

2). The Giants didn't seem to be fazed by the hooplah surrounding the Patriots "the greatest team in history", they just came and played their game.

3). The refs let 'em play. There weren't many penalties called and those that were called were legit. There weren't any calls that one can look back on and say that it made the difference in the game.

4). The Giants put together an improbable drive at the end of the game to win it. Frankly, I don't think anyone gave them a real shot at coming back that late in the game to beat the Patriots (I admit, I didn't think it was very likely).

5). I like it when the underdog wins.

6). I thought Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was the best halftime show I'd seen in a long time.

My only real complaint about the game....I thought the commercials were rather bad. There were a few that made me smile or that I thought were cute, but generally I found them annoying. But, maybe I'm getting old.

look lil' Gherkin

Here's the pic! Jeremy showed me how to do it!

lil' Gherkin is 14 weeks now!

OK, so as of yesterday, lil' Gherkin is 14 weeks and looks about like this one (hopefully the picture shows up for you 'cause it's not showing up for me). He/she is now able to frown, grasp, squint, grimace and suck it's thumb.

I had a good beginning of the week and end of the week, but the middle was pretty rough. I do believe that I'm getting better and that it's only a matter of time 'til I'm able to be up and around without being sick. I'm looking forward to taking the dogs for a walk in the fresh air!!!!!

Hope you have a good weekend!