Rock Me Mama

These words are still echoed by Sarah, my four-year old daughter. Being born at 31 weeks, we spent many hours rocking. We rocked in the NICU, we rocked when we arrived home and we continue to rock each evening before she goes to bed.

Emma, on the other hand, has never been one for being rocked. From day 1 she preferred to just be laid down in her bed and left alone to go to sleep. I am not sure what has changed - other than everything, but Emma has become quite the cuddler! I have to admit that I am loving it - a new found sweetness to my littlest girl. Last night when her sweet little voice said "rock me mama" it was all I could do to not cry (which probably has more to do with my hormones at the moment than her precious little request). Nevertheless, I scooped her up and into our purple chair we snuggled down. Me with my little baby girl, who is not such a baby anymore and Emma with her 'kiddy cat', blanket & fire (as she affectionately refers to her pacifier). We rocked until she was almost :-) asleep - a lesson learned the hard way with Sarah. It was not the last time we rocked last night, as she was up several more times after that to be 'rocked'. I cherish these moments as some day I know neither of my girls will want to rock. I hope that day is a long way off.

I do believe this is the earliest I have ever made a post. Sarah is off to Walmart with daddy picking up a few items and Emma is napping. I suppose I really should be unpacking more boxes or hanging my laundry on the line but...a post to B&B seemed like the thing to do.

Just a reminder to drop me a line and let me know you have been here - I love hearing from you.

Blessings,
Kim

Week 30

We are going into the second week of ur third trimester! This pregnancy seems to have gone by quickly. Although, there are still 7 weeks to go - enough for time to slow down and seem to take forever. Here is the low down on baby boy this week.

The baby definitely makes his presence known with karate kicks, twists and turns (usually right after I lay down to go to sleep)! I am still feeling good - just tired.

The third trimester is the one where the finishing touches are added. By the beginning of this trimester the baby has all of his bones -- 300 to be exact! Now he'll be building fat stores and muscle mass. The baby's hair should be growing, replacing the lanugo that protects his skin in the womb.

How our baby's growing:

Did you know our baby is nearly three pounds now? By the end of this week, baby boy will be approximately 15.7 inches (39.9cm) long and weigh 2.91 pounds (1319gm).

His head is getting larger to accommodate a period of rapid brain growth. Don't forget to continue to "teach" your baby in the womb by exposing to music, literature, and simply talking to him.

A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him. As he grows and fills my uterus, the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease.

His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. He spends more and more time practicing opening and closing his eyelids. His eyes can move from side to side, following a light source. He may even reach out to touch the light. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Early lanugo is beginning to disappear that served to protect our baby's skin from the water in the womb. Our little one's own hair may begin to appear (the operative word for our children being 'may'). :-)

His toenails are entering their final growth stage.

Bone marrow is now in charge of red blood cell production. These red blood cells will continue to service our baby's body by transporting oxygen and removing the wastes (carbon monoxide and other gases).

Our baby has the capability now to produce tears -- yes, within the womb.

My 30 weeks stats: weight 127 pounds, BP: 96/68 (very good!), waist (this week): 37 inches! (I am posting this info more to record it for my journal than anything.)

I have loved being pregnant in Arizona! It did get a kind of hot for a little while but over all it has been good for me. I am quite small compared to my pregnancies with the girls - could be because I am chasing two this times around! :-)

Take care - we love you and miss you all! Drop me a line and let me know you stopped in.

Blessings,
Kim

(developmental information taken from babycenter.com & pregnancy.org)

Growing Belly

Okay, here it is...a picture of my growing belly! This picture was taken last night (9/18/07) around 10:00 p.m. or so. I am looking a little tired! The night before I had only 2.5 hours of sleep due to Emma not feeling well. You can read about that on Jason's blog (much funnier than if I were tell the story). :-)
Anywho, here's me and Baby Brother (as he is affectionately referred to around here). I am standing in our family room (our fireplace is behind me). I will try to post pics of the house soon - the place is still a little messy (you can see boxes behind me in the family room still).

Blessings,
Kim

Week 29

I am 29 weeks today! Only 8 weeks and two days until our scheduled c-section. Here is what Baby Boy will be achieving this week:

Week Twenty-Nine
The baby's head is in proportion to his body now. He appears more like a newborn each and every day!
Fat continues to accumulate under the skin -- only now preparing for entering the *real world*.
His brain can control primitive breathing and body temperatures.
His eyes can move in their sockets. Soon he will be able to follow a blinking light.
He is increasingly sensitive to changes in light, sound, taste, and smell! Various studies show that our baby may indicate preferences (or disdain) for particular tastes or odors at this stage (hmmm, I have not noticed thi - wonder if that is possible?)
He is also moving from side to side (TONS!), but probably still is head up. In the next few weeks, he will move to the head down birthing position. At times I may feel as if he is performing somersaults for a circus act! (This is so true! I often find myself wondering what he ir really doing in there.)
His length is now approximately 15.2 inches (38.6cm) and weight is 2.54 pounds (1153gm)

For me, my weight is 124.5 and my waist is 36" and growing.

Please continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy and lung maturity (by the amnio date) so our c-section does not need to be postponed. Also pray that the girls will do well while Jason is gone on his next mission trip. They are usually missing him bad and ready for him to be home after a week - this next trip to Nepal is 15 days. I am sure we will all be glad that he is home at the end of those 15 days!

We are loving our AZ weather right now. We have dropped out of the triple digits fort he first time since May (I think). It is around the low to mid 90's by the middle of the day and absolutely beautiful! This is the first time in my life that I can recall looking forward to Fall & Winter.

For those of you asking to see my belly - it is coming! So, that is all for tonight. Thanks for checking in! Leave me a post sometime and let me know you stopped by.

Blessings,
Kim

Week 28

OK, so I am posting this info a little late (I will be 29 weeks tomorrow). However, I thought you all might be interested in knowing how Baby Boy LaBombard is developing anyway. My plan is to post this same kind of thing each week as I head into the final stretch.

How our baby's growing:
By this week, he weighs in now at 2.2 pounds (1005gm) and is 14.8 inches (37.6cm)from the top of his head to his heels.
The eyes are completely formed now. Quite a view from inside! He can open and close his eyes, which now sport lashes. This movement is more of a reflexive blink than a deliberate opening and closing. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through my womb.
He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. The hair on baby's head is growing longer. Some babies are born with almost none at all (our babies fall into this category), while others appear to be ready for their first haircut!
Baby boy's body is getting plump and rounded. Most of that increase is muscle tissue and bone. Fat will be added during the third trimester. His muscle tone is improving. Preparation for the Olympics feels like it is taking place in your womb! (Especially at night - he has been doing gymnastics tonight)!
His lungs are capable of breathing now (but he would still struggle and require medical attention if born now).
He can recognize my voice now.

For me, I weighed in at 124 on Tuesday (my 28th week) my BP was 100/62 (fabulous), and my waist measures 35.5". I would have loved to have been able to keep track of that throughout this pregnancy so I could compare it to the girls. I KNOW I am smaller this time - just not sure how much. Arizona has been good for that.

Well, that is all the info I have on week 28. I'll be posting week 29 tomorrow.

Blessings,
Kim

I am still here!

Between our internet being down for a bit, cleaning our new house and unpacking boxes - it seems I have not had a moment to update Butterflies & Bullfrogs. So, even though sleep is creeping up on me, I figured I'd post a little tonight.

First, baby update - Baby boy is perfect. He measured right at 28 weeks on Tuesday (the beginning of my 28th week). His heart rate was in the 140s and the Dr. says my weight gain is good. I had my glucose test (YUCK) but the results were normal - no gestational diabetes. However, my hemoglobin showed low levels of iron so I need to take an iron supplement - yeah! another vitamin (that makes 8 per day)! My c-section has been scheduled for November 15 at 7:30 a.m. We will have an amnio a day or two before that to check for lung maturity. Please pray that it shows good level of surfactant - if not we have to wait and that just complicates things all the way around - so, prayers for lung maturity would be appreciated!

Second, the house! We are enjoying being here. The house is finally clean! there is a little cleaning left in the bathrooms (walls in both and the cabinet in the master). The carpet is in and boxes are being unpacked. We did a little work outside in our "garden" today. Sarah informed me this morning, when I went out to join the family, that she was planting. "Planting what?" I inquired - Sarah responded with "planting dirt and rocks!" :-) Out of the mouths of babes. She is so cute! I really will try to post some pics of our place soon. I'd rather not show you pictures of rooms full of boxes...we'll see.

Third, our weather!! It is still HOT here. Unseasonably in fact. We have been hearing that word since we came in February to finish Jason's interview. I will take it, especially after talking earlier this week to a friend back home in MI - it was in the 40s and only got up to 60 that day. I am so glad (thankful!) I do not have to live through another MI winter! It will be amazing to be able to take the kids on walks and to the parks in December and January. I am looking forward to it. Imagine that, me, looking forward to winter! Bet you never thought you'd hear that, huh?

Well, I am gonna go for tonight. Sleep well, see you on the flip side.

Blessings,
Kim (& baby boy - who is wide awake and kickin' at the moment)

Girl speak

As Jason has previously posted on his blog...our girls like to make up their own words. Words like 'handsitizer' and 'mahdah'. Sometimes it is hard for us as parents to figure out what it is they are trying to communicate. For instance, while swimming the other night Sarah used the word 'contectedly'. What does this mean? She isn't really clear on the meaning and neither are we. Best we can figure, she was trying to say technically. (Why is it that these stories seem much more funny when Jason shares them) :-)
Emma was a little more clear on how she got the nice little black and blue goose egg in the middle of her forehead - I fall down, bonk! That is pretty much what happened. However, we are still not clear on what originally transpired the day before, during the first bonk on her forehead (this bonk somehow invovled her older sister). Currently they are both sporting matching black and blue gooseeggs in the middle of their foreheads...maybe I can take a picture then figure out how to post that. Ahh, my next blogging challenge. TIll then.
TTFN!
Gotta get some rest - the paint for new place was purchased today (all 15 gallons - YIKES!)
Blessings,
Kim