Weeks 25 - 27 and counting...

Well, folks I apologize for getting behind each week on GB's weekly updates. Happy 27 weeks to GB today, although my new ob/gyn is counting each new week beginning on Fridays (since my actual due date is a Friday). But I'm still going to stick to new weeks beginning on Wednesdays for the record.

Pregnancy Highlights: GB stands for Gummy Bear

How Far Along: 27 weeks

Fruit / Veggie: GB went from an average rutabaga (25 wks) to an English hothouse cucumber (26 wks) - I have no idea - to currently a head of cauliflower (27 wks).

Size: 13 1/2 inches from head to heels and about 1 1/2 pounds (25 wks)
14 inches long and about 1 2/3 pounds (26 wks)
14 1/2 inches long and about 2 pounds (27 wks)

Baby changes:
25 wks
* beginning to change the long lean look for some baby fat, wrinkled skin will become more smooth
* hair is growing more and more - if we could see it now, we'd be able to discern its color and texture

26 wks
*network of nerves in GB's ears are better developed and more sensitive than before
* GB may be able to hear not only my voice, but Johnny's too
* inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid
* if it's a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum - a process that could take 2-3 days

27 wks
*GB is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing eyes and perhaps even sucking its fingers
* brain is very active now
* lungs are still immature, but if GB was to come now, they would be capable of functioning with a lot of medical help

Total Weight Gain / Loss: I'll find out next week at my glucose screening appt. After next week, my appointments will go from every 4 to every 2 weeks at the start of my 3rd trimester.

Best Moment this week: Johnny took me to Nacogdoches (my very 1st time) on Saturday to show me around SFA and we went to the football game versus Lamar...or shut-out I should say.

Gender: We've chosen to be surprised!

Movement: I am loving this part of being pregnant! Johnny got to feel the first movement on Sept 11. I have definitely seen movement through my shirt and am noticing GB's more active and non-active patterns during the day.

Food/Drink Cravings: I want to eat all the junk! I never struggled with or desired to drink a soda before I was pregnant, oh but now that I am, I could have a coke every day...and that's just one example. Don't get me started on the aisles of Halloween candy...

I think the Apostle Paul summarizes this up for me well in Romans 7:15-16...(yes, totally taken out of context) 'I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.'

Basically I want to eat whatever I want / whatever sounds good and justify it because 'I'm pregnant.' I know full well it's not the best choice for me and our baby. Oh the temptations of life...and a pregnant woman.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now...

I've been eating pineapple, strawberries, oranges and purple grapes these days (I love fruit and fortunately, always have)...applesauce and Kozy Shack rice pudding. I'm also keeping Kellogg's and General Mills in business with my cereal consumption. That has been one thing that has not changed during this pregnancy - cereal, any time of the day. I made a chicken tortilla soup this week to welcome the cold front (highs in the 80's and lows in the 50-60's).

What I miss: sleeping through the night...not waking up to pee every couple of hours

Sleep: still sleeping pretty good, I can definitely feel the need for support on my growing tummy when I'm laying on my sides.

What I am looking forward to: Johnny and I are taking a 'Baby-Moon' this week to Austin. A friend blessed us with a 2 night stay at a boutique hotel and we are looking forward to getting away, probably our last time to do this before GB is here.

Symptoms: I am off the Benadryl I was taking before I go to bed as of this week and symptoms have been fine. I think it's because my cough that I've had since May is finally gone. The drainage and cough was sometimes causing me to vomit.
I am feeling the weight / pressure of baby on my bladder now and have noticed the frequency of bathroom trips are much much more. I won't even drink anything and need to pee 15 minutes after I just went.
I do have to re-adjust when sitting for a while because my left rib starts getting sore.


Other than that, I have really been feeling great. Lots of people have been sweet to compliment me and tell me I look great and my 'small belly' too. :) Although my belly looks big to me, I can't imagine what it will be like near the end. Minus the cellulite in my thighs and a fuller face, I think I have been fortunate enough to gain OR at least look like I've gained most of the weight in my belly. And I am very aware that that will probably all be changing, but just let me relish in this moment right now please. :)

26 weeks of Belly-ness

You may need sunglasses to view this bright 'whiteness'

And I had to throw in these scandalous pictures of my husband in maternity jeans (Sorry Heather)

They fit him perfectly, but I may be growing out of them soon ;)

Bafflin'...

Our pastor used a statistic today in church that I cannot quit thinking about...

The Average Christian will be involved in the following things in their life:

1,600 services

1,600 sermons

20,000 songs

10,000 public prayers

All of this resulting in this individual leading ZERO people to faith in Jesus Christ!

I am so disgusted right now... Where are my brothers and sisters in Christ that are chasing after a lost world and winning them to Christ?

Turn off your television.

Shut Down your Freakin' Facebook.

Get off your couch.

Engage a lost world.

The reality is this... We want IMPACT at little or no discomfort to our lives.

When was the last time YOU were uncomfortable? YOU had discomfort?

Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

That is my prayer for you this day if you are the latter of the two...

Get some of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA_uwWPE6lQ

Do somethin' with your LIFE!

~jdr

Meet Daniel Patrick O'Rourke

My precious nephew was born on Monday, September 13 weighing in at 6 lbs and 12 ounces. I got to spend a whole week with him and miss him already. His proud parents are Dan & Kylee O'Rourke. Can't wait to see you guys again at Thanksgiving.

Strout Fork

kitchen

Bourne and Bauer are loving life in the country

front door on your left and bunk house door to your right




living room

view from the front porch

Welcome to what we like to call 'Strout' Fork.

The Strout's have graciously provided their guest house for Johnny and I to live in for the next 60 days of our lives (until November 3). They even put in a mini deep freeze and stocked it with my favorite (thank you pregnancy) frozen pizzas.

What great community and love has been poured out on us since we got to Tyler. We are truly blessed even in our unsettled situation of living in different homes until ours in Killeen has sold and we can, Lord provided, purchase our very own here...and being pregnant and all.

We hope you'll come visit us!

Weeks 21 - 24 and counting...

Pregnancy Highlights: (GB stands for Gummy Bear)

How Far Along: 24 weeks

Fruit / Veggie: carrot (21 wks)

Length of a spaghetti squash (22 wks)
Weight of a large mango (23 wks)

an ear of corn (24 wks)

Size: 10 1/2 inches long (21 wks)

11 inches and almost 1 pound (22 wks)

more than 11 inches and just over 1 pound (23 wks)

almost 1 foot long and has gained 4 ounces since the previous week (24 wks)

Baby Changes:

21 wks

* initial fluttering movements turn into full fledged kicks and nudges

* GB's eyebrows and lids are present now

* if GB is a girl, her vagina has begun to form

22 wks

* GB is starting to look like a miniature newborn

* lips, eyebrows and eyelids are becoming more distinct

* tiny tooth buds are forming beneath gums

* eyes have formed, but irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment

* pancreas is developing steadily

* GB is sporting lanugo (fine hair) and wrinkles

23 wks

* sense of movement is well developed - GB can feel me dance

* may be able to see GB squirm beneath my clothes

* blood vessels in lungs are developing to prepare for breathing

* the sounds that its ears are picking up are preparing GB for entry into the outside world

24 wks

* body is filling out proportionally and will soon begin to plump up

* brain is growing quickly now

* taste buds are continuing to develop

* lungs are developing 'branches' of the respiratory 'tree' as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help air sacs inflate once GB is here

* skin is thin and translucent, but will begin to change soon

Total Weight Gain / Loss: 7 lbs in 4 weeks...this puts me at a total of 18 pounds. Yikes! I'm almost to my target gain and still have a ways to go...

Best Moment this week: We moved to a new place last Thursday with our cats and got to have Johnny's parents in to visit for the first time over his birthday weekend.

Gender: We've chosen to be SURPRISED!

Movement: Oh yeah! Lots of 'thumps,' every day. I can't wait for Johnny to experience it - every time I have him feel for it, the movement stops.

Food / Drink Cravings: my sweet cravings are back...unfortunately. I actually miss NOT having the desire for sweets after every meal. This probably has a little bit to do with the 7 lb gain in 4 weeks. :/ Still eating pizza - although the last 2 times I had it, I threw up.

Sushi, cereal, strawberries, ice water and orange juice

What I miss: We miss living with our sweet friends, the Wallace's, but are so thankful to the Strout family for opening up their guest house to us and our cats.

Sleep: sleeping pretty well in our 'new' place - I'll blog about this too - although my ribs feel sore every day, especially when I sleep. We are sleeping in a queen size bed now, rather than the full size we've been in the last month - this is wonderful, especially with the necessary extra pillows.

What I am looking forward to: flying to Florida next week to be there for my sister's baby's delivery - talk about first hand experience. We can't wait to meet Daniel Patrick.

Symptoms: I felt like I had a great 3 weeks, and have digressed (once again) a little bit. It's nothing extreme, just noticeable - I've increased my zofran dosage some days and have thrown up as well; sore ribs, but that's about it.