17 Weeks - Baby Moves!!!

Hey guys...this week has been great and not so great for us ole' McColloughs. My migraine that I battled last Saturday to ummm Tuesday, that's right, turn into a nasty cold, my first of the season and not my last I'm sure. So Monday I attempted work but it just wasn't happening so I ended up taking a 1/2 day and coming home at 11:30 to get into bed and sleep! Tuesday I had jury duty and Wednesday was back to the grind of school. I was definitely not 100% this week and also had to start this training that my lovely district makes me take, G/T, that's on Thursdays from 4:30 - 7:30 PM...uh yeah! So come Friday I'm dead. Good thing is this training is only 6 weeks long, 5 more, I can do it!!

Luckily, I'm over the cold and feeling much better. I even cooked this week and now I'm doing laundry and cleaning...it's a miracle!! Even more exciting this week was the fact that I felt the baby kick!! I've been feeling these little flutters all week long but figured it was my stomach doing something odd with all the drainage I've had this week. But Friday and Saturday night when I'm laying on my back and being perfectly still I feel these little pokes from the inside. They are very light and I can only feel them every once in awhile but there's no mistaking its the baby! I can't wait until he/she gets a little stronger and I can feel them more often. Words cannot describe the feeling when you first feel your little one kick inside you. It's truly amazing and thrilling! Brandon can't wait to feel the baby and has already started to put his hand on my stomach (which apparently has popped this week!) in hopes of feeling something besides my gas :)

Nana has been busy this week getting started on the baby's bedding. She was by earlier to get some measurements and to show me what she's worked on this weekend! I'm so excited to see the final product, so far its gorgeous!
We've got some of the baby furniture in place and starting to get a few things here and there.


Here's what's going on with baby M at 17 weeks:
Your baby's weight has doubled in two weeks and now weighs about 3.5 ounces! The crown-to-rump length of your growing baby is 4.4 to 4.8 inches. If you spread your hand out opened wide, you can see about how big your baby is. You may have felt your baby move already. However, you might not feel it move every day at this point. As your pregnancy progresses, movements become stronger and more frequent. Feeling your baby move can help reassure you that your baby is doing well. Huge changes continue to take place within your developing baby. This week fat begins to form and will continue to do so until he is born. Fat is important to the body's heat production and metabolism. Right now, at 17 weeks, water makes up about ounces and fat 0.018 ounces of your baby's body. In a baby at term, fat makes up about 5.25 pounds of the total average weight of 7.7 pounds. The placenta is continuing to grow at an amazing rate. The placenta will continue to develop in tandem with the fetus and it will weigh more than a pound at birth! By this week, the placenta is large and well established with a network of blood vessels that exchange nutrients and waste. The eyes are facing more forward. The ears are now close to their final position. Your baby is more flexible with ability to move head, mouth, lips, arms, wrists, hands, legs, feet, and toes.

My mom and I went shopping this weekend and she got B this blanket, isn't it the cutest!

We also got this outfit for next year :)

And I found this boopy that matches my ABC fabric!

Here's last week and this weeks belly pics, definitely growing away!!
Also check out the poll we have going on, whether we are having a boy or girl. We find out in 22 days!! It's definitely neck and neck!

16 weeks

17 weeks
Also I wanted to share with y'all my favorite bible verse. I have several of course but this one I feel speaks to me in a different way than others. Anytime I see or read this verse I'm reminded of so much. It's as if God is saying, silly LeAnn, what in the world are you worrying about, don't you know that I will take care of you, if only you put your faith in me and let me handle it. If anyone knows me, they know that I'm a control freak and can be somewhat of a worrywart when things aren't like I planned. I've learned over the years that my plans are not always his plans and that I'm not the one in control, my God is the one in control and thank goodness because he knows exactly what I need! Whenever life throws me a curve ball I automatically begin to worry. I think it's programed in me and it's second nature. Luckily, my faith steps in and I always surrender to the Lord and let him take control, knowing that he knows the way and that I shall follow in his footsteps that he has bestowed for me. Well at church today James gave the message. I love listening to James. To me, it's like he is an open book and speaks from his heart, which is very rare and also amazing to see/listen to. So this week was Matthew 6:25-34
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Isn't it beautiful?! It's so hard not to worry sometimes but after you read this it's like how could you worry! Just wanted to share with y'all!
Til next time,
LeAnn

16 Weeks

Hey there! This 16 week update is going to be short and sweet, I'm battling a migraine that I've had since Saturday night...I think I might have overdid it a little. We went to the A&M game and I either got the migraine because they got their butt kicked so bad, which usually I wouldn't mind or its because I was outside all day and my sinuses just can't handle it. My throat is also getting sore so I'm thinking sinus infection...YUCK! But a big thanks to Deneise and Shane for allowing me the opportunity to go to my first college football game...those AGGIES sure are loud with all their whooping!

Went to the doc today for our 4 month check up. Baby is doing great with heart rate in the 150's. We talked a lot about the lovenox and what that means with my birth plan. You can't have an epidural for 36 hours when you are on lovenox, which I thought it was only a 12 hour wait. So at 30 weeks I will switch to heparin, which has only a 12-24 hour wait for an epidural. Only downside to heparin is that I have to give a shot in my stomach twice a day vs. once a day but hey, what's one more shot a day! As of right now I will be induced at 38 weeks and will be treated here on out as high risk. She pretty much said I will be checked more than any other person in her office to make sure placenta and baby are doing ok. So that makes me feel better...B always said I was special :) The only reason why I wouldn't be induced at 38 weeks is if my cervix is closed tight and doesn't want to open up, then we will cross that bridge when it comes. So looks like we will be having a February baby vs. a March baby. I'm fine either way as long as baby M is healthy. Our next u/s will be on October 20th and that will be the big one where we will hopefully find out the gender! From there on out I will have a u/s every 4 weeks and then weekly when we hit the 30 week mark.

Sorry so short but this migraine is kicking my tail!

Til next time,
LeAnn

15 weeks

This week has been great. B and I started a bowling league with the church last week and I love getting out instead of coming home and getting into bed like I do every other night. Come 4 o’clock I’m ready to amputate my feet because they are throbbing so bad but I know that’s only going to get worse. At school I’m constantly on my feet moving around so I know that plays into it. I just can’t seem to sit down while my students need me up and running. Since the weather is going to be gorgeous this week B and I plan on getting back into a nightly walking routine and I think that will help a great deal. Anyone who has been pregnant please tell me you had terrible rib pain. All week I’ve felt like I’ve been hit in the ribs. My lower ribs are killing me especially when I breathe in deep. Anyone else have this?

I’ve learned a lot in one week about giving yourself shots. For someone who hated needles and use to get queasy when giving blood I’ve come a long ways. That fear is long gone and they really aren’t too bad. The needle itself doesn’t hurt but the lovenox going in is a whole different story. The best way I can describe it is someone lighting a match and letting it burn for a few minutes and then putting it on my stomach. It really feels like I’m being burnt. It is also a 20/20 catch. The slower I administer the drug the less bruising I have but more burning, the quicker I administer the drug the bigger the bruise but less the burn. So thus far I have one bruise and 9 needle marks. I’m sure the bigger my tummy gets the uglier it’s going to look. Oh well, only 170+ more shots, small price to pay for my little nugget.
Brandon was telling me to smile...

Notice the ice pack, it helps alot with the burning!

Please ignore the pregnancy pants, I can't even blog about maternity clothes, it's just wrong!

Here’s what’s going on with baby M:
Your baby now weighs in at about 1 ¾ ounces and is about 4 inches long. Finally the growth of the body is catching up with the head so that they the baby doesn’t look so top heavy. The hair follicles begin to make pigment for dark haired babies and their bodies are completely covered with lanugo, fine hairs that protect the skin. These hairs will disappear before birth, usually. Hearing is becoming more sensitive and if you play music or sing your baby can hear it. Loud noises can startle the baby at this point in time. The heart is still pumping away, practicing for the larger volume of blood it will pump when born.
Babies are practicing inhaling and exhaling movements. Fingernails are completely produced and the legs are getting longer than the arms. The skeleton is getting harder and taking in calcium quickly. Muscles are developing, as is the very thin skin.
15 week belly shot:

Please keep everyone that was affected by hurricane Ike in your prayers as they try to make their way back home and assess the damage.
LeAnn

14 Weeks

This week has been great for the McCollough’s. I feel like I’m getting a lot of my energy back and overall feeling fantastic. I’m on day 3 of my shots and last night’s shot left a little bruise. I have a feeling with each shot the area will become more sensitive and bruised. But all I have to do is look at those sweet ultrasound pictures and it makes all this worth it. I feel a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders with this decision to go on the blood thinners and I feel I’m doing everything possible to keep this baby in good health and to protect myself from clots as well. God has truly blessed me with amazing doctors who have taken a proactive approach and given us the time and energy to make sure all is well with the baby and I. Mom and I went shopping this weekend for maternity clothes. I’m so excited that all the fall items are out and that cooler weather is on its way. It’s my favorite season! Baby and belly are definitely growing and others can now tell that I have a baby bump.
Here’s this week’s development:
Crown to rump, your baby is around 3 and a half inches / 9 centimetres long and weighs one and a half ounces / 43 grams. The body is now growing faster than the head. This week, its parchment-thin skin covers itself with lanugo (ultra-fine, downy hair that usually disappears before birth). Though eyebrows are beginning to grow and the hair on top of the head is sprouting, this hair may change in both texture and colour after birth. About now, the fetus can grasp, squint, frown, and grimace. It may even be able to suck its thumb. Researchers believe these and other movements probably correspond to the development of impulses in the brain.
We go back to the doc on Sept. 22, 2 more weeks!
14 Weeks:

Yesterday was Ben’s 3rd birthday. I cannot believe he is 3. I asked Andy last night if they would stop growing and he just smiled and said I can’t do that. They aren’t babies anymore. We had a great time, forgot my camera and Ben got a lot of great gifts. Happy Birthday Ben!
Have a great week and thank you for all your prayers, they are greatly appreciated and have been answered.
LeAnn

Cutest Baby Ever!

In this pic the hand is close to the head and you can also see the umbilicord at the belly.

Baby is upside down in this picture but it's amazing to see his/her spine so clearly. In the next pic the baby decided to flip over for us:

Profile pics


Today we went to the high risk OB, Dr. Tabor, who I liked very much. The two hour wait was well worth it because we got to see baby McCollough for about 20 minutes. They had a big tv screen so that both B and I could see the baby without straining our necks. Boy has this baby grown!


At first the baby was sleeping so the nurse kept shaking my stomach with the U/S thingy to wake him/her up. It was the sweetest thing ever, our baby started rubbing his/her eyes!! (S)He was very sleepy and didn't want to be disturbed. Immediately the nurse and I started awwwww'ing and she tried to capture in time. She said it was moments like this that made her love her job so much...I of course started tearing up. I must say this baby is the cutest thing I've ever seen, chubby checks and was even blowing kisses to us during the ultrasound.


This by far is my favorite pic. If you look closely this is where the baby was rubbing his/her eyes. See the little fist(hand) by the eyes and the little arm, too cute! The head is at the bottom right for those who have a hard time seeing body parts amongst the fuzz.

Dr. Tabor then came and started measuring the baby to make sure all was ok. Baby got a good bill of health and my placenta looks good as well. After discussing our options he suggested I go on the blood thinner, lovenox for the remainder of my pregnancy so that I don't have the chance of clotting and losing this precious baby. I, doing my research before hand, agreed with him and off I went to learn how to shot myself in the belly. I have to give myself a shot once a day which will cause by belly to get lovely bruises from the blood thinner and I'm sure will begin to strat hurting. Today wasn't bad at all and I was actually very proud of myself considering just a year ago I would get queasy just getting my blood drawn. I guess my fear of needles will soon fade. Here's a shot of these little boogers!


There are a few downsides to the lovenox. I can't have an epidural while on lovenox so I will have to talk to my doctor about a birth plan so that we can work around this problem. I have to be off lovenox for at least 24 hours before getting an epidural so hopefully we can work something out because seeing the size of this baby's head I highly doubt I will be able to do this all natural! Cost is also a huge bummer with these shots. They are outrageously priced but then again I new a child would be expensive :) And I'm so thankful insurance will pay a portion of the cost, without insurance they are $544.00 for a 10 day supply!! So I feel very blessed for the insurance even if it's not the best of the best (I'm a teacher ya know how that goes!)

Please keep us in your prayers that I won't bruise or become a chicken while I give myself these shots. Only 180+ shots to go!
LeAnn