Chestnut Week 18

That belly keeps on a-growin'!

Busy week, friends!

This past Saturday, we drove down to Oregon to visit my newest nephew, Jimmy.  On our way to the hospital, we got into a car crash.  Thankfully we are all safe - Chin, Camille, Chestnut, and myself.  Our trusty 10-year-old Corolla did not fare so well, though. :(

Ouch

Our insurance company got back to us and the settlement for the car was quite a bit - much more than we had anticipated!  Praise God!  So, in being responsible for protecting God's green earth, we decided to reinvest this sum of money in a Toyota Prius.  More pictures to come (we don't have the car yet, picking it up tomorrow)...

We found out this afternoon that we are having a healthy baby boy!  Here is a profile shot:

Handsome like his BaBa!

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• Chestnut is the size of a bell pepper - ~5.59 inches and 6.70 ounces.
• He can hear sounds and may be startled by loud noises.
• Recognizable active and rest periods.
• Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs and the vocal chords are formed. Baby goes through the motions of crying but without air doesn't make a sound...yet. 
• The skin is building a protective wax layer (vernix).

Physical:

• Weight: 124 lb (+10)
• Belly circumference: 35.50 in (+7.00)
• No vomiting this week.  Very little nausea, too!  I've been eating more frequently and I feel good.
• Good mother of freckles!!  I looked into the mirror the other day and discovered that I have so many dark freckles on my cheeks now.  I guess that is just part of the chloasma/melasma - the so-called "mask of pregnancy."  The linea nigra is also noticeably darker, too. 
• We (Chin, Camille, and I) were all feeling achy this week.  There was some delayed reaction to the impact of the crash, but after 24-72 hours, we were all feeling the effects of being tossed around.  Chin has been going to his regular chiropractor where he is already being seen for lower back problems.  I've continued going to my PT where I'd recently established care for my wobbly pelvis.  Camille has been more irritable in the evening, before bedtime.  We just read to her and play with her - those things seem to help.
• My pelvis has become very wobbly.  On top of the aches & pain from the car crash, the wobbly hips don't really help.  I tried to scoot across the floor on my knees to get something on the TV stand the other day and I found that, "Uh oh, I can't do this motion anymore.  It hurts!!"  I woke up one morning this week and felt like I couldn't move: my head was throbbing, my neck was stiff, my shoulders and upper back were tense, my lower back was achy (compensating for the wobbly pelvis), and I felt like someone had just kicked me in the crotch.  Oy!  But I do feel that the exercises given by my PT will help strengthen and stabilize my pelvis.  Not working yet, but I am really hoping that my hips will be stable soon!
• I have a slight outie.
  

Spiritual & emotional:

• I had to miss most of my classes this week because of neck/shoulder/back pain.  So frustrating!
• Chin is a wonderful husband.  I have been appreciating him a lot this week.  He does so much for this family out of genuine love and care.  Also, he is funny and makes me laugh all the time.  And he gives me massages without demanding sex in return (only the occasional, innocuous hints).
• I am feeling more kicks...which makes me love this little boy so much!

Click here to see the comparison to my pregnancy with Camille (MacNut) at the same gestational age.

Chestnut Week 10

Finally!  A profile tummy shot.  I look pregnant, don't I?

Chestnut is now a fetus.  We made our pregnancy "Facebook official" on Wednesday. :)  Below is the picture we used to make the announcement.

If you're curious, the answer is "No" - we did not plan to have a baby born in the year of the tiger and then one born in the year of the dragon.  Two very auspicious years for Chinese culture.  But it's kind of cool.  We kind of have a kung fu team on our hands!

I had another ultrasound on Tuesday of this week (one to determine the size and probable date of delivery).  Chestnut is doing fine and dandy, measuring appropriately, and the approximate date of delivery is exactly as we thought - 7/7/2012.  S/he was moving around quite a bit during the ultrasound, too!  Camille got to be there.  She pointed and said, "Baby."  And said, "Thank you" to the ultrasound tech when we were done.  So sweet!

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• Chestnut is the size of a kumquat - ~1.22 inches and 0.14 ounces.
• From this week until birth, the developing organism is called a fetus (or, yunno, a BABY).
• The fetus is now the size of a small strawberry.
• The feet are 2mm long (one tenth of an inch).
• The neck is beginning to take shape.
• The body muscles are almost developed. Baby has begun movement.
• The jaws are in place. The mouth cavity and the nose are joined.
• The ears and nose can now be seen clearly.
• Fingerprints are already evident in the skin.
• Nipples and hair follicles begin to form.

Physical:

• Weight: 115 lb (+2)
• Belly circumference: 31.5 in (+3.0)
• Boarded the vomit comet twice (v4, v5)
• Foods that suck: meat (esp. roasted), even phở sounds not so appetizing, cumin.
• Foods that are awesome: buttered cut corn, orange creamsicles, salads, mac 'n cheese.
• I've been pretty tired still this week.  I don't feel like preparing anything to eat.  Whenever I am hungry, I just eat the sweets that I see around me.  (I know, so bad!)  And when I do, my mouth and stomach totally revolt what I had just put down and respond by producing this incredibly gross sour taste in my mouth.  Sometimes this taste even make water taste bitter.  Eww!
• I've been craving salads...which is great!  I think I just generally need more fiber in my diet to improve gut motility and combat the constipating effects of progesterone.  Yuck.

Spiritual & emotional:

• After the previous blog entries of this pregnancy (the ones written in stealth mode) went public on Wednesday, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support for our family in regards to this pregnancy!  I felt very loved hearing from all sorts of people about how their "unplanned children" (or themselves being unplanned) have turned out to be great gifts to the family and they would not have had it any other way.  Thank you, friends!
• I finished my fall quarter!  Awesome!  More time to rest?  Yes.  But this also means I'm full-time mom during this break.  I'm sorry that this sounds really bad, but I don't look forward to spending most of my waking hours taking care of Camille.  I just feel like she gets better care and socialization at daycare.  Camille is also a very social child.  Which means I need to take her out at least once a day so she can see people and expend her energy.  Otherwise she gets cabin fever and goes completely nuts!  So, all that's to say that feel (1) that I can't provide as much as I can for Camille, (2) frustrated that I don't have enough energy to do much, and (3) really tired.
  

Click here to see the comparison to my pregnancy with Camille (MacNut) at the same gestational age.

Chestnut Week 9*

I was going to cheat and take some belly pictures retroactively with my tummy sucked in...  But I considered the sanctity of this blog and our dedication to being open and honest.  So, there have been no profile shots of my belly so far during this pregnancy.  That is simply the reality of the decreased amount of time and attention spent on younger siblings. *sigh*


BUT, at the beginning of this week, I got to see Chestnut for the first time via a sonogram while at my clinical rotation.  Check this out!

Chestnut ultrasound at 9 weeks 2 days - measuring at 2.3cm

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• Chestnut is the size of a grape - ~0.90 inches and 0.07 ounces.
• The fingers and toes are well defined. Cartilage and bones begin to form.
• The upper lip as well as the nose tip is being formed.
• The tongue begins to develop and the larynx is developing.
• The eyelids are developed, although they stay closed for several months.
• The main construction of the heart is complete.

Physical:

• Weight: 116 lb (+3)
• Belly circumference: 31.0 in (+2.5)
• Boarded the vomit comet once this week (v3).
• So, I'm not sure why I am gaining weight.  But I am.  A lot of people have commented that my face looks thinner.  Maybe that's the reflection of the fatigue.
• My belly is growing really fast!  This week, I feel like maybe Chestnut has popped out of the pelvic bowl because I'm going to the bathroom less frequently at night.
• Foods that suck: all types of meat (incl. seafood), ginger, garlic, onion (cooked).
• Foods that are awesome: anything with ranch dressing, black beans, pickled foods to add variety to a meal, 炒年糕 (stir fried rice cake).

Spiritual & emotional:

• My physical fatigue really translates to emotional and spiritual fatigue.  I dread Wednesdays and Fridays - days that I am at home with Camille.  I am so tired.  I can't make food for her because everything makes me gag.  I feel really bad for Camille.
• I realize that listeria is a big concern for pregnant women.  But sometimes I just don't want to give a rip.
• Was this pregnancy planned?  Well, we do want more than one child and we wanted our kids to be about 2 years apart.  We weren't using contraception but we did not think I would be so fertile (although...I knew).  So, a bit of a surprise.  But make no mistake about it, friends: This child is loved and wanted and meant to be.  When I break the news to some of my friends and family members, they express concern about how this would work in the scheme of finishing school (planned graduation date is end of Fall 2013).  I do appreciate these concerns and, trust me, they're our concerns too.  But as we have had more time to come to grasp with this news and have embraced our child more, it sometimes stings to get a sense that people think Chestnut is a mistake.  There is no mistake.

Click here to see the comparison to my pregnancy with Camille (MacNut) at the same gestational age.

*This blog entry was written in stealth mode...before the news went public.

MacNut Week 30

I am 3/4 of the way through my pregnancy! In merely 7 weeks, Camille will be full term!

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• MacNut is the weight of a large cabbage (sheesh, how's that for arbitrary!!) - ~ 15.71 inches and 2.91 pounds.
• She will gain about half a pound a week until week 38 (whoa, Nelly!).
• The head is almost 3.5 inches (8cm) in diameter.
• The feet are nearly 2.5 inches (6cm) long.
• Eyebrows and eyelashes are fully developed, and hair on the head is getting thicker. 
• Head and body are now proportioned like a newborn. 
• Hands are now fully formed and fingernails are growing, eyelids are opening and closing. 
• The wrinkled skin is becoming smoother now.
• The baby controls her own body temperature.

Physical:

• Weight: 148 lb (+22)
• Belly circumference: 38.75 in (+8.25)
• Fundal height: 29 in 
• Hospitalization - *sigh*:
• On Monday night, I went out on a walk with Chin and started having a contraction  (moderate, I would say; not strong but definitely not mild).   After 20 mins, it was still going continuously!  I called the midwife on-call and was told to come in (GH-Capitol Hill).
• On the way to the hospital, the ctxs stopped (so it lasted about 30 mins).
• Got there and got put on the monitor.  The midwife who cared for me was Nicola - a MEPN3 student!  She was fantastic!  Which gives me a lot of hope :)
• After not finding anything too disturbing, they decided to let us go and said, "Wait here, we'll give you your d/c instructions."
• While we were waiting, I started having another ctx.  I had Nicola feel my belly and she said, "Let's get a urine culture and do a pelvic exam."
• Pelvic exam indicated I was 1cm dilated, cervix short & soft.  The dilation isn't a big deal...but the short & soft cervix worried the midwife a bit as this could be a sign of impending labor :(  Doh!  We almost got away!
• Admitted to the hospital.
• 1 shot of Betamethasone at 1am 6/29.
• Ultrasound in the morning indicated that my cervix was short...but not waaay short.  U/s @ 19 wks showed my cervix being at 3.5cm.  U/s this week showed a range between 2.6cm and 3.5cm; where 2.6cm was during a ctx.  I was told that they don't start really worrying until I'm shorter than 2.5cm.
• The u/s also showed that Camille is doing very well.  She measured at our exact estimated due date and weighed a little over 3 pounds.  The u/s tech was a former professor of the trade so I had lots of questions for him.  We checked out the AFI (18), reconfirmed that Camille has girl parts (checked!), examined whether the umbilical cord was tangled (it wasn't), and even checked to see if she had a cleft palate or lip (she doesn't!).  Hehe...it sounds like paranoia, but we were just curious.  Chin was so excited that we got to see her again via u/s.  Womb with a view!! :D
• 10pm 6/29: Fetal fibronectin (fFN) test and another pelvic exam.  Cervix remains the same as last check. 
  
• 2nd shot of Betamethasone at 1am 6/30.
• fFN returned negative at 1:30am!  At which point I asked to be discharged immediately! :)  I wanted to get good sleep at home.  Also, did I mention that I was on this excruciatingly ridiculous ADA diet?!  $*(&#@(^) $*&#*(@!!!
• Before the hospitalization saga, I was doing very well physically.  I was getting enough sleep and my hips were even feeling quite good.  Being in the hospital for two nights and sleeping on that darn bed threw everything off kilter.  *hmmph*
• I think that's also why I actually lost one pound this week.  That and the fact that I'm more carb-conscious.  Which is probably a good thing.
• Camille's kicks are becoming more and more, well, shocking.  Some of her movements are like, "Whoa! Quit digging your bony-whatever into my [insert name of an internal organ]!!"
• My feet are less fluffy this week due to the cooler weather...and being at the flippin' hospital for two days, as you can see here:

Spiritual & emotional:

• Even when I called the midwife on Monday night, I didn't feel like I should have to be admitted.  But, I guess the healthcare team was just trying to be more cautious.  I really didn't like to be at the hospital and it really bummed me out.  I fell behind in school and I hate that feeling!
• Being in the hospital for a couple of days was annoying.  But it also gave Chin & me a chance to be together around the clock (thanks to the generosity of his teammates who allowed him to be with me)...which was very nice.
• We continue to fervently pray for my nephew Caleb.  He makes a little bit of progress each day and it seems that his quality of life is quite good.  I think he's getting a little more frustrated this week, though, as he is coming to grips with things that his body is not capable of doing. :(
• Chin & I are driving down to Longview and Portland this weekend.  My sisters & AnnetteVoLam are throwing me a baby shower on Saturday.  We will also get to see Caleb.  Mixing such strongly opposing emotions is a little stressful for me...

 Camille Ng at 30 weeks and 3 days.  Her right fist is on her nose.

MacNut Week 19

It's a girl!!!  We found out on Thursday that we're having a healthy, active baby girl.

Ain't she somethin'?

Here's a little wave :)

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• MacNut is the size of an heirloom tomato - ~6.5 inches and 9 ounces.
• Your placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby.
• Features of your baby's heart, should be visible during an ultrasound.
• Your baby's genitals are distinct and recognizable.
• Scalp hair has sprouted and continues to grow.

Physical:

• Weight: 134 lb (+8)
• Belly circumference: 34.75 in (+4.25)
• Continue to feel great!  I refuse to believe that I'm "huge"...because I'm pretty sure I'm going to get much bigger.

Spiritual & emotional:

• We were a bit nervous the days leading up to the ultrasound, to be expected.  But the morning of the appointment, we felt completely serene.  It was amazing that the Lord has brought us to this point of complete surrender!
• Also relieved that as I was driving home from the ultrasound, the nurse at my midwife's office called to let me know that the result of the second glucola test indicated that I don't have gestational diabetes (GDM)! *phew*
• Excited to meet our little girl in a few months!

MacNut Week 6

The spotting hasn't stopped.  There was significant bleeding one day and we made an ultrasound appointment.  Result below. :)

This week is brought to you by the letter V.  V is for vomit.  It has hit me big time and I am not a fan.  How can something the size of a lentil cause so much ruckus?!!

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• MacNut is the size of a lentil.
• The arms and legs continue to develop - These limbs are stretching out more and more. Later on you will be feeling those feet and elbows up close and personal right in your bladder!
• Brain is growing well - Did you know that over the course of the remaining months that your baby's brain will develop over 100 billion neurons? This is just the beginning!
• Lenses of the eyes appear - If you could catch a glimpse inside, you would notice your baby's appearance becoming increasing like a newborn's.
• Nostrils are formed - The position of the nose seems to shift into its proper place as well. Soon, the nerves running from the nose to the brain appear.
• Intestines grow - Initially these are actually located outside the baby's body within the umbilical cord.
• Pancreas - Your baby is now equipped to deal with digestive enzymes and take on processing the insulin and glucagons the body needs to function.

Physical:

• Weight: 126 lb (+0)
• Belly circumference: 30.50 in (+0)
• On top of having no appetite, nausea is hitting me like crazy.  Started vomiting this week, too (v1, v2, and v3).

Spiritual & emotional:

• My physical state really affects my mood.  I just feel like crap!