Tuesday, January 15, 2008

New Website/24 Week Update



Due to limitations of the Babies Online website, we chose to use a general blog website to keep everyone updated. Some family and friends have had problems viewing the previous website and we were limited on the type of media, etc we could post. This should be more user friendly and pleasant for everyone. Please let us know what you think!

At 24 weeks, our little boy seems to be doing very well! He is extremely active and kicks and moves throughout the day and night. Mom has managed to stay healthy for an entire couple weeks! She and Baby's next appointment is on Jan 18 and will include a glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes. Mom and Dad are winding down from the holidays and beginning to finalize fun things like the nursery and birth plan and even some not-so-fun things like insurance. There are only 2 weeks left in our Bradley Class, so we should be well prepared (as prepared as possible, being first-timers) for the upcoming birth and newborn care.

Thank you to our generous family and friends for all the wonderful clothes, toys, diapers, and other Christmas presents for the baby! We appreciate them and know he will too!

Willow had her patella (kneecap) repair surgery 1 week ago tomorrow and she is actually healing a bit too fast! She is putting weight on the affected leg and we have to stop her from running, jumping, etc! She is leaving her incision alone and taking her meds like a good dog. No surprise!

Previous Posts




12/21/07: Yep, Daddy got his Christmas wish and we discovered that we are blessed with a son! Our 21 week ultrasound revealed very healthy and appropriate development. All spinal, brain, facial, limb, and other structures appear normal. He (mostly) behaved for the ultrasound and the doctor was able to obtain all necessary measurements and other info. All results correlate with a healthy prognosis at this point. He was able to get three distinct views of the genital region, so we can be quite sure of the gender. The name however, remains a secret. :)


12/16/07: At 20 weeks, our little one is very active! His kicking and movement is obvious to Mom and sometimes even Daddy can feel it from the outside! Mom is feeling wonderful, despite her nasty spill down the stairs on Tuesday. The baby wasn't harmed and Mom's sprains and bruises are healing normally. We are praying that Mommy's accident-prone-ness isn't genetic!


12/29/07:
Update: Our checkup appointment was great! The baby is still very healthy and active, according to the doppler device. The heart was audible and sounds very healthy. The blood seems to move correctly and unobstructed through the cord. Mom is gaining the correct healthy weight and the uterine size is appropriate for 18 weeks. We are still trying to tackle Mom's lingering sinus infection, but baby seems unaffected. The next appointment (12/20) is our 20 week ultrasound, at which time we should have an answer to the burning gender question. We'll keep you posted!


11/15/07: In the picture gallery picture entitled J & H Bradley Exercises, Mom and Coach are working on exercises for week 3 of their Bradley Method Class. A 12 week intensive education, The Bradley Method is "Family Centered Husband Coached Childbirth". The info we learn includes how to have a healthy and low risk pregnancy, how to have a safe and natural childbirth, and how to care for a newborn. If you want to check out their philosophy, go to www.bradleybirth.com!

Holly's best friend since first grade, Joanna and her husband, Jeff used the Bradley Method which is what motivated Holly and Jerret to consider it. On November 12, Joanna had Jacinda Naomi at home and has a wonderful birth story. Congratulations and kudos to the Mason family - what an accomplishment!

At 16 weeks, our little critter has begun to noticeably kick and move around! Mom has just begun to feel the fluttery, bubbly feeling other mothers to be have described. She is feeling wonderful with increased energy and (slightly) decreased appetite. Our next OB appointment is Nov. 29th, but it's just a checkup. No ultrasound, no gender check - we still have to wait until week 20 for that.

For those of you who are anxious to buy stuff for the little one, you're not alone. We are blessed with such eager and generous friends and family members! Although the baby and its creator are the only ones aware of the baby's gender, we still have some necessary items in mind. We have started registries at Babies R Us and www.babycottonbottoms.com!


10/20/07: Our 12 week checkup on Thursday went very well. It was a long visit since we needed to go over the numerous details involved with prenatal testing and other choices. The wonderful news is that we were able to hear the baby's heartbeat along with lots of kicking and moving! The bad news is that we don't have another ultrasound picture for all of you! The doctor said this is because we have ruled out all possible complications up to this point in the previous ultrasounds. Our next one will be at 20 weeks - hopefully we will find out then if we have a boy or girl! Mom is also doing well and getting a bit less tired, but still eating like a garbage truck.

Notice the change in due date. The doctor moved it up a week, but the previous measurements taken on ultrasound indicated both May 4 and April 30. Since the two are within days of each other, it doesn't really change anything. The baby will come whenever he or she decides to anyway.


09/23/07: Mom is now feeling great (excepting extreme exhaustion) and the little one is at 8 weeks today! Everyone is starting to ask about names, so I'll just get that out of the way. We had the name conversation during our engagement. They haven't changed at all since and still remain a SECRET! We will let everyone know when we decide to tell - don't worry. The other question is whether or not we will be finding out the gender. We want to know as badly as everyone else does! The soonest the doctor expects to be able to figure it out is 16 to 20 weeks. We have a while to wait!


09/21/07: In the 6 week ultrasound picture, the baby is the fuzzy tadpole (peanut?) shape in the dark circle. This isn't the most clear picture, but limbs (although we're not sure which ones) are visible in the original.


09/20/07: After putting up with a very sick mommy and a short stay in the hospital, the doctor announced at 6 weeks that our first baby is doing fine! He (or she) seems unaffected by all the drama and is growing normally! In the 5 week ultrasound picture, the baby is the little dot in the dark circle.

Babies Online Guestbook

Name katie and micah
From UT
Time 11/30/2007 8:51:33 AM
Comments:
We can't wait to meet you Peanut! Playing together at Grammy's will be so much fun!
Name Uncle Daryl Eastburg
From Minnesota
Time 11/17/2007 11:23:21 AM
Comments:
God Bless you I couldn't be prouder of the both of you. My hope for you is God's blessings always and a beautiful child to brighten our world.
Name Joyce Eastburg
From Texas
Time 11/14/2007 7:20:41 PM
Comments:
The greatest joy in my life has been seeing my children grow up into wonderful adults, marrying wonderful people, and on their way to being parents themselves. Cheers and all my love to my son Jerret, his lovely wife Holly, and the grandchild I can't wait to hold and hug and kiss and squeeze and love. Mom a/k/a Grandma
Name Chris Horst
From CO
Time 10/22/2007 9:30:18 AM
Comments:
Wade and I are so excited for you! Zak will have a playmate soon!
Name Nathan and Sara Palmer
From Texas
Time 10/22/2007 8:08:51 AM
Comments:
What an adorable little baby bump! We are so excited for the both of you, and just know you are going to be the best parents a baby could ask for! It's going to be wonderful to have our babies born so close to one another. Hopefully they are going to be the best cousins! Love you both
Name Ashley M McGarvey
From CO
Time 10/21/2007 8:33:54 AM
Comments:
This is a great site! You look radiant!! Congrats!
Name Kirsten Ging
From CO
Time 9/23/2007 9:32:25 PM
Comments:
It's so awesome!! Congrats!!
Name Joanna
From CO
Time 9/23/2007 7:47:23 PM
Comments:
Yay!