12 Weeks

My first trimester is almost officially over (one more week!) -- and my body is starting to show off what's happening inside. I'm starting to feel more energized and not as tired which has been a wonderful change of pace! This week, Baby is likely spending his/her days stretching his/her newly formed limbs, but I still won't feel his/her soccer player kicks for a few more weeks. Also new this weeK: reflexes. Baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his/her toes will curl, his/her eye muscles will clench, and his/her mouth will make sucking movements. My next appointment is scheduled for Thursday, May 27th....stay tuned for an update and perhaps an ultrasound pic!

Here is a view of what Baby Millhouse should appear to look like this week:

Week 11: Lime

Baby Millhouse is just over 1 1/2 inches long and and about the size of a lime. His/Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under his/her gums, and some of his/her bones are beginning to harden. He/She's already been busy kicking, stretching, and dancing and these movements will become more frequent as his/her body grows and becomes more developed and functional.

OUCH!

It was a bittersweet day today....started out bitter and ended up sweet. I was on my way to work and just about to Roberts when I started experiencing some MAJOR pain on the lower left side of my stomach. The pain started to get so intense that I had to pull over to the side of the road because I couldn't concentrate on driving. I sat in the car and gasped for air as the pain accelerated....about 1-2 minutes passed by and the pain gradually stopped. I started to get really light headed and almost fainted over what I had just experienced. I sat in the car and let myself calm down and I started to feel great again, so I headed to work. I called the doctor and he had me come in to get checked out. I was afraid to find out what had happened, but the doc gave me great news! My ovarian cyst had ruptured! Yay!! That explains the intense pain I had. They did an ultrasound and the cyst was already starting to disintegrate and the doc said it should completely disappear within the next few days. My day ended up so very sweet as I got to unexpectedly see our little teddy graham again (see below)....and it made my heart just MELT. Baby is doing great...heartbeat was 170 bpm, and it performed all kinds of dance moves for me. It was so cute and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face!! After all the pain this morning, it was worth it as the day couldn't have ended more sweet than this!

Week 9: Green Olive

Our little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby Millhouse is kind of starting to look like... well... a baby! Our new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a Green Olive— and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. It's essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. His/her eyes are fully formed, but it's eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. His/her tiny earlobes, mouth, nose, and nostrils are also now more distinct.