Political Picture- sorry if you do not agree!

21 weeks, 3 days

We went to the fetal specialist today and baby (still unnamed) is just fine. He has a little calcification in his heart still, but the doctor said that doesn't really mean anything. He measured just fine and is so adorable! Oh, and he weighs a POUND!!! Here is the only picture we got from the ultrasound, and unfortunately the baby looks like an elephant. But as my mother-in-law pointed out, he is the cutest elephant ever!!! (it is just the umbilical cord in front of his face, and a shadow on his head that makes it look like he has a giant ear!)

Here is a picture of my baby bump today! I wish I could say I was pushing it out, but that is all belly!!!

21 Weeks

I am officially more than 1/2 way done with my pregnancy! Woo-Hoo! (that is unless i go a couple of weeks overdue, but lets all pretend that will not happen!)

This week the measurements for the baby start including the legs, whereas before it was just a head to rump measurement. Can you guys believe that there is a 10.5 inch baby inside of me? AHH!

Here is what information is given about 21 weeks:

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

John and I really need to either find our camera charger or decide to spend the $40 on getting a new one. But let me assure all of you, I officially have a baby stomach! There is now no doubt that I am pregnant. The other day I was at CVS and a random old lady came up to me and placed both of her hands on my stomach and wanted to discuss my pregnancy. YIKES!!!! Why do random people feel like it is ok to just touch a strangers belly? I just stood there, not speaking, in absolute shock! Of course afterwards I thought of all kinds of witty things I could have said/done (like placed both of my hands on HER belly and ask her questions), but the shock was too overwhelming.

Tomorrow we have another appointment with the fetal specialist to have another high tech ultrasound done. The doctor wanted me to come back to DEFINITELY rule out Downs Syndrome once I got a little further along. We are not nervous or freaked out about it at all though, we just consider this another chance (and possibly our last) to see the baby while inside.

Baby sure likes to move around, a LOT!!!!!! John was able to feel him move on Saturday and again last night. I actually saw my belly move up while Johns hand was on it last night so I know for sure it was baby kicking. SO COOL! Today he has been moving around like CRAZY!!!! Maybe he likes the two toaster strudels I had for breakfast! :)

I am starting to physically feel better. I am throwing up MUCH MUCH less (it has actually been a couple of days!), gaining a few pounds back, and able to move around more. My belly is really stretching out which is causing discomfort, and I have some pretty bad back pain, but it is so much better than the constant throwing up! Oh, and I am an emotional wreck, but that is to be expected when almost 6 months pregnant, right?

We are moving to Little Rock next week-wish us luck!!!

On a completely different subject, I just found out that my boss' daughter committed suicide last week. Please keep their family in your thought and prayers!

20 Weeks Along

Does it scare anyone else that the fruit used to describe the size of Baby Salotti this week is a cantaloupe?? YIKES!!!!!



Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

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I am doing a bit better this week! I have not thrown up in a few days and I have started eating more. John got home last weekend after being gone for 3 1/2 week to Washington State for training. It was a long 3 weeks to have him away and he definitely missed a lot going on with me and baby (including a stay in the hospital!)I am so glad to have him home.

Now we are preparing for a move to Little Rock in just 2 weeks! It really snuck up on me. We are moving minimal things ourselves to Little Rock- just what we "need" for the 6 months we are there. The rest of our stuff will be packed up by the military and stored until we get to North Carolina. So this week we are just trying to decide exactly what we want to take and what we can live without.

This is quite an exciting move though because we will have the baby in Little Rock. I think once we arrive things will start to feel real!!I reconnected with an old friend from Elementary/Middle school a couple of weeks ago and she and her husband live in Little Rock. She has been a great resource for me on choosing a doctor/hospital in the area.

My belly has definitely popped out!!! As soon as I find my camera charger I will take a photo to post. :)

Help with naming our baby

We could sure use help naming our little baby boy!!!

http://www.babynames.com/namelist/9661388

Please click on the link above to vote!

Halloween Pregnancy Humor

I have spent the last few days throwing up everything I put into me, plus some I think! So I just decided to look for some fun pregnancy things to cheer me up. Here are GREAT pregnancy Halloween costumes!! We have plans to go to a Halloween party so perhaps I should start thinking about my creative costume! :)

A nice/much needed little slap in the face

Yesterday was a really really difficult day for me. I went to lunch with a girlfriend and soon after I got incredibly sick. I threw up several times in Target, in my driveway, and filled a trashcan with my stomach acid. To top it off I also started having Braxton Hicks contractions- which are not supposed to hurt, but mine really really did. I am sure that they started because of the trauma of all of the vomiting, but it was still really scary.

I am starting to get really down about this whole sickness/pregnancy. I have tried to hold a happy face about it all for the past 19 weeks, but I am afraid I may have reached my breaking point. I am just so nervous about how in the world I am going to make it another 21 weeks, while moving to Little Rock. I feel defeated because I can not do normal things that I want to be able to do. I can not heat, go shopping at Target which everyone knows is my favorite thing in the world, and I can hardly walk up/down my stairs. I also hate the fact that I can not work right now. I never thought I would have to go on disability while pregnant.

Here comes the slap in the face.

This morning I came across a very touching blog - http://sgirl79.blogspot.com
{Warning, if you click on this link it does show some graphic photos}
At 12 weeks the family of this child learned that he had many issues and that if he did make it full term, he would more than likely die shortly after birth. He was born last week and did pass away after being alive for only 16 minutes.

When I read something like this it really puts things into perspective for me. While I am not having the easiest pregnancy at all, it could be worse. It could be MUCH worse.Thankfully throughout this whole time even though I have been sick and miserable, my son seems to be JUST FINE!

Thank you God for providing me with a little perspective! :)

19 weeks

Tomorrow I will be 19 weeks along! Hooray! Moving right along!

Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

18 Weeks- Some bad, lots good!

This week was a very difficult week for me. As most of you know, John has been gone a little over two weeks for training (he comes back in 1 week! I can't wait).

Last weekend I started throwing up so bad that I physically could not stop. I also started experiencing a great deal of pain in my right side. Finally on Tuesday (at my sisters nudging) I called my doctor who asked to see me right away. She tested me and found keytones in my urine which is a definite cause for concern in a pregnant lady. She was also concerned because I have lost another 2lbs (about 16 at this point total, and i should have gained about 10 at this point). So my doctor asked me to go straight to the ER to get fluids and do some testing. At this point she was afraid that my kidneys were shutting down and that I was possibly having an appendix issue.

I called a fellow military wife who came to the ER to sit with me for the 6 or so hours I was there. They did tests/an ultrasound/etc. and basically sent me on my way. It was a really frustrating experience because i felt like the ER was not listening to my concerns and since they did not know what to do with me, they sent me away.

The next morning i made an appointment with my doctor again, and my military wife friend took me. They sent me in automatically for another ultrasound (my 12th) to check on the little guy again. He is just fine. He measures right at the date he should be at, and seems really healthy.

The ultrasound also showed that my placenta has MOVED!!!! So as of now, and this should not change for any reason, I am out of the woods with the placenta previa diagnosis! PRAISE THE LORD! This means I can be less concerned about a difficult delivery.

Here are two photos from the 12th Ultrasound of Baby Salotti. He is quite cute.
After the ultrasound I went back to my doctor to discuss all that was going on. She ended up bringing in another doctor to discuss what was going on with me. It was decided that they were going to admit me into the hospital to stay overnight so I could get fluids, etc.

After blood/urine tests it was determined that I have hyperemesis (severe vomiting that is not necessarily related to normal morning sickness), a bladder/kidney infection (which was causing all of the pain), and I am severely anemic.

I am very thankful for my friend who not only took care of me and stayed with me during the 2 hospital days/ she also took care of my dogs for me. THANK YOU THANK YOU!

So now I am doing better. I still am quite sick to my stomach all the time. I am trying to eat as much as I can because my doctor is really concerned about my weight loss. I am really afraid that if I do not start seriously gaining weight, it is going to harm the baby.

I am just so thankful that baby is ok. He is my main concern. And he seems to be doing just fine! He is quite a trooper.

I am still not sure on a name for the little guy. I was pretty stuck on Owen for a while, but now I am just not sure. I think he may not have a name until he comes out and we can make a true informed decision! :)

Thank you everyone for all of your prayers!

Baby Bedding

Two very important people to me have offered to get us baby bedding that I have absolutely fallen in LOVE with!

This is the most adorable little airplane bedding that I have found and I am so excited to have it for our baby boy!!
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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! :)

5 Months Pregnant!

As of tomorrow I am 18 weeks pregnant! Which means 5 months along! :)

Here is a little picture I found on my friends blog to explain the weeks/months/trimesters. I always get confused!

Here is information on this exciting week!
Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

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I actually started feeling the baby a couple of weeks ago! It started out as little flutters and I was not quite certain if it was the baby or not. However they continued to get stronger and stronger. On our trip cross country I realized this was definitely the baby! Now I feel him a few times each day- mostly when I am laying still for a while. Also if I lay on my stomach I feel him- probably because he is being squished! :)

I spent a good deal of the last few days really sick. I keep waiting for that magic "your first trimester is over now you should start feeling better" to kick in! As always, prayers are appreciated. I have some good days and some bad days. Things are definitely getting better though!

Baby Name

Ok so I decided today I am not completely sold on the name Owen Hunter. So please do not monogram anything yet! :) There is a lot of pressure when it comes to naming your child!

Baby Boy Clothing

I was feeling pretty yucky today so I decided to venture out to get some fresh air for a bit. I made it to a cute consignment shop that sells baby clothing for really cheap! I purchased several outfits for little Owen.

It was quite an important day because it was the first purchase I have truly made for the baby. In true pregnant emotional lady form I cried in the store as I was choosing the items! :)

Here are my purchases! :)

Adorable Blanket (with planes)

Footed PJ's (with a plane)

Another Adorable sleeper (with a plane)

A cute hat and bib (also with a plane, are you getting a theme??)

SOOO ADORABLE!

Because we have a camo theme!
Airplane Shirt
Sleeper
A total John outfit! (anyone that knows my husband knows he basically only wears colored polo shirts!)


Today proved that shopping for a boy is JUST as much fun as shopping for a girl!

What I will NOT miss about Texas

This is a not baby related post! Though, I could actually make it baby related at the end!

When we moved to Texas in March, we had no idea that there was a stalker that was going to live in our neighborhood. This stalker likes to hide out and strike when you least expect it.

The stalker is masked as a normal garden weed, as you can see in the picture below.

However, if you look closely, this seemingly normal "plant" is actually a STICKER plant (also called hitch-hikers, Burrs, etc). It has tiny little balls on the plant that have hundreds of tiny little prickers on them that HURT and get stuck EVERYWHERE!!!!

As you can see on the picture below, just when walking outside on my driveway, my shoes get stuck with TONS of these little PAINFUL stalkers that are impossible to get rid of.

Our entire island is COVERED with these darn things that HURT. They get stuck on the bottom of shoes, pants, the poor dogs get covered with them when they go outside, we track them inside. When you are least expecting it, and your defenses are down, your bare feet will inevitably smash down on one of these little stalkers which results in blood, screaming, and a very unhappy person!

That being said, I am quite glad we are moving away from here before Owen is born. I would never want to live here and have a child crawling around on the floor when these stalkers are looming around every corner!