18 weeks

I thought I was behind last week because I posted the 17th week stuff as I started the 18th week. But I guess it only makes sense to post info after you've been through the week. I remember last pregnancy trying to understand how the weeks work. Like, for my first appointment she told me I was eight weeks, that was on a Tuesday. So, had I already completed eight weeks of pregnancy or was I in the middle of being 8 weeks along? Meh..either way, doesn't matter. Thomas seems to understand so that's good, haha.

Lunch by the lake.

We ate Panda Express, not exactly picnic food, but still good!

How far along: 18 weeks (due August 18)

Size of Baby: weighs between 5 and 7 ounces and is about 5½ inches long—about the size of a pickle.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: I possibly gained 6 pounds from Monday to Friday. I say possibly b/c Monday at work we had our annual medical exams. Their scale said 110, which I thought was a little low. But I hadn't been keeping food down and hadn't weighed myself in a long time. Then Friday at my Dr. appointment their scale said 116. I forgot to weigh myself at home afterwards to check for myself. I really don't care, just curious who is off.

Maternity Clothes: meh..not really

Gender: the gender determination appointment is set for the last week in April!
Movement: yes. mostly at night sitting in bed, or during the day sitting still on couch

Sleep: still good

What I miss: eating like a pig. Isn't there a time during the pregnancy when you can eat a lot. I totally remember with Sean being able to put away a ton of food at one sitting. So far I haven't reached that stage and food looks really good these days!

Cravings: sweets, although every time I eat them my tummy hurts afterwards. sandwiches.

Symptoms:  slight nausea at times.
Best Moment of the week: went to doctor appointment and listened to baby's heart beat, 159bpm. Also,  during communion on Sundays two men of our church stand at the front and hold the plate of bread and cup of wine. Each of them say something like "the body of Christ broken for you" when taking the bread, and "the blood of Christ shed for you", when dipping the bread in the wine. This Sunday the gentleman holding the wine said "the blood of Christ shed for you and your baby." I smiled at him and then it hit me, wow. Christ's blood was shed thousands of years ago for this baby in me that hasn't even been born yet! I couldn't help but cry tears of joy, feeling so grateful for being able to come into the presence of our awesome God. I guess it's just something I hadn't thought about before. I'm grateful he said that to me. It really was a special realization that Christ suffered, bore the sins of all men, and died so many years ago even for this little person in me. We haven't even seen his/her face yet..but God has.

17 weeks

So this post is a little late...one week late. I'm 18 weeks now.

How far along: 17 week s (due August 18)
Size of Baby: "Your baby weighs nearly 5 ounces and is a little over 5 inches long—about the size of a baked potato"
Total Weight Gain/Loss: no change
Maternity Clothes: not yet, sporting the Belly Band sometimes though.
Gender: unknown, won't know till the end of April.
Movement: I starting feeling what I suspected was baby movement over the last two weeks. Definitely feeling baby move now. Thomas even got to feel a kick/squirm/whatever baby is doing in there.
Sleep: Usually one middle of the night wake-up, then trouble falling back asleep. But thankfully I’m not feeling tired during the day. It helps that I go to bed at like 8:30pm.
What I miss: being able to wear whatever I want. My pants rotation is limited.
Cravings: salty. sour cream and onion Ruffle chips. Chocolate.
Symptoms: I get a full stomach quickly and then feel too full. I get excited that what I eat will stay down, and want to eat it all, but then I eat too much and can’t move, haha.
Best Moment of the week: Thomas getting to feel baby moving!

    I am so grateful for the blessing of life, given to women in their womb by our creator. And that life that you are given sometimes isn’t from your own womb, maybe another woman carried your baby and God brought that baby to you through adoption. But at one point that life was in a woman’s womb, starting from mere zygotes and on its way to becoming a fully formed human. Only God can orchestrate such a miracle!
    I want to celebrate this life inside me, but I don’t want to forget those that have lost the life of their child. There have been recent happenings in my little world involving new life. A friend was able to finalize the adoption of her son and give him a forever home. A friend’s baby girl was born in to heaven. Another friend lost a really new life that was in her womb. A bloggy friend is starting the process of adopting two young boys from Africa. Two bloggy friends announced a pregnancy. I’m not sure what my point is. Basically, I know how easy it is to celebrate new life, whether it is adoption or pregnancy, or even a new life for someone through Christ. But what about when that new life is no longer?
    Not many days go by when I’m not reminded how fragile life is. Some blogs I read that tell a story of losing a child are all written by Christian women, all have faith in Christ and hope in Heaven. I am amazed by their stories and commitment to Christ, knowing that all is done for God's glory. It’s the times when you’re hurting the most that you cry out to God for peace, hope, understanding. I couldn’t imagine the stories of those who’ve faced loss without Christ. I’ve heard it quoted that it’s”the difference between night and day.” I bet it is. Darkness without the hope of Christ, a ray of light with Him.
    Again…what’s my point? When you are celebrating new life and praising God, don’t forget those that have lost a life and are missing their child. And likewise, when mourning the loss of a life and crying out to God, don’t forget to praise him for the new life only He creates.

Blessings

I was looking at my desk calendar to see what the weekend holds. Saturday a funeral, Sunday a birthday party. Both are celebrations for two very sweet little girls.

Saturday we will be attending the funeral service of a baby girl who never experienced the pain of this world. As her mother and father say, she was born to save her mother. Below is an excerpt from the mother's caring bridge page...

"She was 32-weeks pregnant, went into congestive heart failure due to a congenital heart issue which was worsened by an infection in her heart which decreased her pumping ability making her heart unable to pump and certainly unable to pump the extra blood volume from the pregnancy. They did an emergency c-section which the baby did not survive, then CPR began because her system crashed and had no heart rate. Once she was stabilized enough for transport, she was flown to [a near by city] where an emergency 9-hour open heart surgery was performed in which multiple complications were encountered. Her aortic valve was replaced at that time, the infection was removed, and she was placed on a heart-lung machine to keep her alive because her heart was not functioning. The next day, she had another emergency open heart surgery because one of the cannula got dislodged and she was starting to crash. Her chest was closed at that point. She was on ECMO (heart-lung machine) for 7 days....”

The ECMO machine was removed and she began recovery. In the beginning all of the options were grim. If she survived, if, she would need a heart replacement. I think there were also options of permanent technical assistance from a machine. But the point is, in the beginning it was bad, really bad. God reached down and healed her, He displayed his power of healing. Jehovah Rophi - God who heals. She left that hospital with her own heart, truly amazing! Doctors were astonished at what she'd been though. Countless people from every corner were praying for her and desiring for God to be glorified in all this.


She went home just 20 days after this all began! Amazing! Her and her husband, along with her church family, give all the glory to God. This journey is truly a miracle. Her family in Christ poured out prayers and pleas to God and He bestowed His grace on her life. I have seen God using this situation to bless many, to strengthen faith, to teach, to show His awesome power. And we are honored to celebrate the life of this little baby, who truly did save her mother's life. Their journey does not end here. We continue to pray for strength, faith, and hope as the family faces the grief of loss.

Sunday is the celebration of the 3rd birthday of my niece. She's a sweet little one that is in God's hands.

When I saw my calendar with these seemingly opposite occasions a verse came to mind.

 "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." - Job 1:21

 I have to remember in both occasions to celebrate. Celebrate the blessings of Christ. God was the one who placed these girls in their mother's wombs. Before the foundations of the earth these little girls were in God's hands. He knew the plan for thier lives. I will praise the Lord in all things, for He does give and take away. But after all they were His in the first place, and still are His! =)

If you know someone who has lost a child please take a minute, right now....right now, not later (cause you'll probably forget) and pray for them. Pray God's love wraps around them, that His peace flows in their lives and that they know the love of Christ every second.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!