27 Weeks Prego-01-26-2011

Week 27:

Goodbye 2^nd trimester and helloooooooo 3^rd! This is the last week in the second trimester which means we are now looking at the home stretch, winding 3^rd, and our 4 fingers are up as we enter the 4^th quarter…..hells yah! We are now that much closer to safety and meeting our little blessings. So with that being said I thought it would be interesting to measure my waste….any takers? Yes I’m officially 41 inches around, The Bull is officially 36 inches, and Big Boy (old gramps Preble) is officially 44 inches. I really believe the men were more distracted by their numbers than I; so of course I found this to be quite entertaining. If I can remember I’m going to re visit the waists prior to labor.

We attended our breast feeding class last night and I’m sure you are thinking that was a typo. Yes WE attended the class, not I. Our enrollment form highly suggested the fathers be present for the class. It was interesting and we came out knowing a lot more about nipples than ever expected. I did become a bit overwhelmed with the idea of how in the world am I going to do this at the same time. Where there is a will there is a way and I’m bound and determined to make this work.

This morning we had our maternity session with Angel Porch Photography. I’m on pins and needles already with anticipation to see what the final product is going to be. Two weeks is going to feel like that two week period we waited to find out if we were prego.  I took some risks this morning and bared all. If these photos turn out the way I’m hoping my new name will be Demi (a joke of course-thank you photo shop) I just feel that this is a one time deal and what is more natural than the woman’s body during this time period….fingers crossed!

As always thank you for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. Doctor’s appointment tomorrow so fingers crossed that the cervix of steel is still in force and I’m not put on bed rest. I must admit I’m slowing down a bit. Goal: 36 weeks, healthy pregnancy, and healthy little monkeys.

The Hen and The Bull

How the Foster's are growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

26 Weeks Prego 01-19-11

Week 26

This week we attended the C-section class, toured the hospital, and had a doctor appointment so it was pretty busy to say the least. At the C-section class we learned that there is a smell during the surgery (something I had already been told; however decided not to open my mouth), nausea during the surgery, and that your hands are strapped down. It all makes sense; however I know that being awake, cut on and having my hands strapped may just freak me out. This obviously is to prevent movement while cutting but the thought just freaks me out.  We discussed pain management, again something I’m very freaked out about since the 2008 surgery pain management was bad. Obviously I’m going to get over it and just need time to do so. The pimped out suites are on the 6^th floor and the NICU unit is on the 5^th floor so we will be bypassing the pimped out suites and headed to the small boxes. At Mercy every time a baby is born music is played over the intercom, something I thought was cute.

The doctor gave me freedom of another week of no bed rest and confirmed that the placenta has 100% moved off of my cervix-yay! We will go back next Thursday to the perinatal specialists so we will have the good ultra sound pictures again. Fingers crossed that there is no bed rest suggestions at that visit.

I started reading Jenny McCarthy’s Belly Laughs and it's seriously one of the funniest books. I literally almost finished it in two settings. The nerd that I am outlined the key points to book called The Happiest Baby on the Block. My thought in doing this was that in a situation where I’m lost I will be prepared to look at my note on the refrigerator of what to do if step a, b, and c have not worked.  When I told Richard about it normally he would have laughed at me; however he thought it was a great idea. As you can tell we are starting to get a little nervous about the change that is upon us.

Blake and Dax are still kicking up a storm, moving like crazy, and making my tummy look like it has aliens inside. As always thank you for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. Goal: 36 weeks, no bed rest, and a healthy B and D.

How the little Monkey's are growing:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.



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Where did my feet go?



26 Weeks




Celebrating Grandma Foster's 65th




Big Sister Bella





26 Weeks



25 Weeks Prego- 01-12-2011

Week 25

This has been a fun week and like I said last week I would have a lot more to report as we have now been to the doctor and had two classes. Wednesday night we had our first class at Mercy called Baby Care Class. This was very interesting and a little scary at the same time. We watched a video on how to properly install a car seat, learned how to swaddle, change a diaper, bathe a newborn, and the best but scariest was the pictures of what newborns look like. They were showing us some pretty gross stuff. For instance we learned that a newborn girl has a period and we saw a freshly circumcised penis, and a nasty umbilical cord. I was gagging looking at some of the pictures and TB along with all the other men were cringing on the circumcision pictures. We took infant CPR class on Monday night (yes the night of the National Championship game) TB survived and came out with more knowledge than before and was able to catch up his dvr to see the last quarter live.

About two weeks ago I was driving to work listening to the radio (I always listen to Bob FM and rarely change the station but this time I did).  The song called The River by Garth Brooks came on the radio. I was listening to the words and just started crying in the car. This song truly touched me as I was thinking about our journey with infertility and how we never gave up on this dream, how family members have not given up with their health fight, and how my goal is to teach Blake and Dax to never give up on what they truly want in life. So with that being said you can only imagine what the person on the highway must have been thinking at 8 in the morning on their drive to work. I came home that night and told Richard that we had to download this song and how it made me cry on my way to work. We downloaded it and have listened to it several times since that morning. I attributed this to pregnancy hormones and went about my business until Sunday (01-09-11) morning at church. Our preacher began a new sermon series called “Be the person you were born to be” He talked about going for your goals and dreams and persevering through life when times are tough. At the end of the sermon he told us there was a “special song” he wanted us to listen to. (Normally we stand and sing but this time we were sitting) I usually take this time to use the restroom since I’m not a singer. I leaned over and whispered to Richard that I needed to go to the restroom but figured I would wait through this “special song” since we were not standing. Then at that moment I heard the music and looked over and said it’s the river song, omg that’s it I know it. We were shocked and listened again to this song that popped back into our lives two weeks ago. I of course was tearing up as I realized that Monday morning from two weeks ago had more meaning than I ever knew. I all of a sudden had a sense of peace that this pregnancy is going to stay healthy for the rest of the term.

Health Update:

In the bottom of the uterus lying very low with her head down and feet in her mommy’s ribs weighing in at 1lb 7oz with a heartbeat of 134 we have Blake Evelyn Foster. At the top of the uterus head on the left side and feet in his sister’s face weighing in at 1lb 13oz with a heartbeat of 154 we have Dax Glenn Foster. Both babies are doing well and we have made it far enough to where they could both survive outside the uterus “ring”. I was told to keep walking and I have officially made it past the first week of anticipated bed rest. I have a 26 week appointment this afternoon so fingers crossed that I’m still free of the bed rest.

As always, thank you for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. Goals: 36 weeks, healthy babies, and no bed rest.

Hen and Foxy Father To Be

The song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6A27qm79oQ

How your baby's growing

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

25 WEEKS

A bull and his babies...

A hen and her babies....

The diaper change....

Dax kicking his sister in the face on the left and sleeping like his dad on the right.

24 Weeks Prego-01-05-2011

Week 24:

This has been a fun and busy week. Mission accomplished on the turquoise, purple, and the combo shirt for the maternity pictures, cribs (thank you grandma Foster for the cribs) and mattresses have been ordered, and the diaper bag has been purchased. I found that when I’m not working I’m spending money. Now what is wrong with that picture?

Our New Year’s celebration was a first-I was asleep on the couch by 12:15; however we were in good company. Saturday we celebrated the OU victory with friends and Sunday we had our dinner club dinner. Overall we had a good week with our friends and had some great food.

I had my first prenatal massage on Monday which was a life saver. It helped so much that I have not used my heating pad since the massage. Lately every night my back has hurt so bad that I’ve been propped in Andy’s recliner with a heating pad. Note to self prenatal massage is the way to go. Why am I just now doing this you ask? Reason is that I’ve just now been released to actually do this. We tried in Florida however I did not meet qualifications since I was considered high risk and did not have a note. Still walking on the treadmill and still not breaking a sweat as I watch over the balcony at the Health Club of those below me on my beloved stair climber.

TB has finished his book “Dad’s Pregnant Too” and is now reading “Babywise”. I’m still in the middle of “The Happiest Baby on the Block”. Our goal is to get these little ones on a schedule and work as a team while accomplishing this task. Tonight we start our classes and tomorrow we will have another doctor’s appointment so I’m anticipating next week’s blog to be more exciting.

As always thank you for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. Our goal is 36 weeks and healthy little ones.

The Hen and The Bull

How Blake and Dax are growing:

Your baby's  are growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts Blake and Dax at just over a pound. Since they are almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), they cut a pretty lean figure at this point, but thier bodies are filling out proportionally and they will soon start to plump up. Blake and Dax's brains are also growing quickly now, and thier taste buds are continuing to develop. Thier lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once they hit the outside world. Thier skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

24 WEEKS-Little monkeys are starting to kick near my rib cage.