21 Weeks 4 Days!

How Far Along: 21 Weeks  4 Days

Total Weight Gain: 18-20 lbs

Milestones: Baby's digestive system is developing.  

Baby Is The Size Of: a Banana

Sleep: Sleep is so so. We got a new bed yesterday so that's nice. We finally have a king and it's firm. Our other bed was WAY TOO SOFT. I still love my Leachco Back & Belly pillow. I'm up peeing, having weird dreams and just can't sleep. I think my body is getting ready for the sleepless nights to come sooner than I know! My hips and knees have been hurting a little lately too. I think it's the extra weight. 

Best Moment This Week: Finding out that Graysen's cysts are almost gone!!! Just a little puddle of fluid left on the left side where a cysts was and the one on the right is completely gone!

Miss Anything?: Coffee and Lunch Meat STILL!! Sleeping on my back! We had my grandpa's funeral today and they had cold meat sandwiches. I had to have cheese on a bun & cake. 

Movement?: Graysen is still VERY ACTIVE. My short torso makes it hard for him to get around...so you'd think! His feet get stuck under my ribs already. He is still managing to get in those somersaults though! 

Food Cravings: Toast with cream cheese, Auntie Anne's pretzels, Lunch Meat, Cookies & Cream Ice Cream, Cinnamon anything! Cinnamon Rolls, Cinnabon Cereal, etc.

Things That Make Me Queasy: Raw meat, Onions, Pledge, Our dog's smelly gas!

Gender: BOY

Labor Signs: I think I had a Braxton Hicks contraction today but nothing serious. 

Symptoms: Grandma informed me yesterday, "You're really coming out!" Well...she's right. My belly is popping out and getting bigger every day! I'm feeling the stretching ligaments too! His feet like I said earlier, get stuck under my ribs so that's kind of uncomfortable at times. Otherwise...I'm feeling pretty good. I wish my acne would clear up! I didn't break out this bad during puberty! I thought "Never looked better!" with a boy! WRONG!!! Though my uncle keeps telling me, "Pregnancy suits you! You look good!"

Inny or Outy: Belly Button is getting flatter but still in slightly.

Wedding Band On or Off:  On though it's getting tighter. 

Mood Most Of The Time: HAPPY now that we've found out Graysen is going to be ok and got good results at our level 2 ultrasound. Still very tired from the stresses we've had the last couple weeks between Graysen's cysts and my grandfather getting very sick and passing away. 

Looking Forward To: Getting the nursery ready! I'll post pictures as we go. 

Level 2 Ultrasound Results

YAY!!!!!!!

We are excited to announce the results of Baby O's level 2 ultrasound are wonderful! The Choroid Plexus Cysts (CPCs) that they found bilaterally in Baby O's brain are already resolving themselves. The left side is completely clear and there is just a small amount of fluid on the right side that is disapating.They also moved my due date....AGAIN! Started out at June 1st, then moved to June 6th, then June 3rd at last ultrasound and now back up to May 31st. So...I'm 21 weeks instead of 20 weeks right now.  Here are some pictures from the ultrasound. They aren't as clear as our other ones but they had to zoom in so close to see all of his little organs and limbs. I wish we would have gotten all of the pictures, but they only gave us a few. Here they are!

Baby O's little heart. If you look closely, you can see the 4 chambers. There were better pictures, but she used this one to check his fetal heart rate which was 139.

More pictures of Graysen's feet! They already look bigger than his 19 week ultrasound.

Hard to see, but this is Graysen's hand. You can see his fingers. The little hand is pointing to his 5th finger. They were looking for a Trisomy 18 marker...didn't find any!

Baby's face. It's turned to the side so you may have to tilt your head to the right to see it.

Graysen's face again! This time his mouth is open. We did get to see the lenses in his eyes too. Hard to see in these pictures, but that's neat! He really wanted that left hand by his face too! Stubborn little turd...we were trying to see if his fist was clenched (that is another marker) and he wouldn't move the darn thing or he would wave it quickly and all we would see what a blur. We finally found it incidentally!

Profile picture from the left side. Again..wanted his fingers in his mouth or up by his face.

Profile from the left again. Our other images are clearer but like I said, he would not stop moving today so some of them are a little blurry!

One last profile from the left side.

Toilet shot to see Femurs and show once again..It's a BOY!

Profile from the right side. Again...sorry it's blurry.

Here is a better profile picture from the right side.

After talking to the Dr. today, we are very pleased with the results. We could go back in 5 weeks for another ultrasound to make sure that everything has cleared up but by the way everything else looked, we are opting not to have one. If they had found other markers for Trisomy 18, we would maybe think about it. At this point, they have found nothing and even if they had...it wasn't going to change anything with the pregnancy. We are very thankful to have things turn out the way they did and by the way he's constantly moving and already acting stubborn...I think we are going to have our hands full!

20 Weeks and Gender Reveal Party!

Wow...20 weeks! Half way there!!!

I know I haven't posted anything for awhile. Things have been crazy here. After our 19 week ultrasound, we found out that our baby has Choroid Plexus Cysts on the brain. Most of the time, they just clear themselves up by 32 weeks. Sometimes, in rare cases, they are isolated and related to some other chromosomal disorder like Trimosy 18. This is a slight risk, but we have to have it checked. We are certain though that our baby is fighter and that everything will be ok! We go to Mayo Clinic on Friday to have a Type 2 ultrasound and genetic counseling. We will know by the end of the day on Friday if they are isolated or not.

We live by this quote: "If we're handed it...We can handle it!"

Gender Reveal Party Details!

We had our Gender Reveal Party on Saturday. It was great. It was so fun to see everyone's votes and reveal the sex and name of the baby. Here are a few snapshots of the party.

We had a big box filled with balloons that we released to tell the sex of the baby.

Next to the box, we had all of our ultrasound pictures laid out so that people could look and cast their vote. Boy or Girl??? It ended up pretty even. Most of the people there voted Boy but some people that couldn't make it still wanted to vote and most of them voted Girl.

19 week ultrasound pictures of Baby O.

17 Week pictures. These were taken the day I had to have an ultrasound on my Gallbladder and Kidneys because they are pretty sure I passed a kidney stone. No gallstones or kidney stones showed up in the ultrasound so they are thinking I had already passed it. Either way...worst pain of my life!! Plus side: Got to see a little preview of Baby O. before our 19 week ultrasound.

Basically same pictures as 17 week ultrasound but 2 weeks later and what a difference in development. The top picture is hard to see but Baby O. is flexing saying, "I'm a fighter and I'll make it!!"

The bottom picture didn't come out very clear but these are Baby O's little feet. So adorable!

What are you craving?? All of the food at the party was based on my pregnancy cravings.

He/She Cookie's & Creme Candy Bars. I'm loving everything cookies and cream!

There were Cinnamon Roll Bites (biggest craving as you know), Cheetos, Pigs in a Blanket, Auntie Anne's Pretzel Bites (I drove 45 minutes to Rochester to get one of these pretzels towards the beginning of my pregnancy...sad I know!), Pickle Roll Ups (Not a craving of mine because I hate pickles and can't have ham, but pickles are a stereotypical pregnancy craving.), Hot Turkey Sandwiches, Cinnamon Bread with Cream Cheese and Cake!

Better Than SEX Cake!! What other kind of cake would you have at a Gender Reveal Party??

My aunts voting Boy or Girl...

Our party goers mingling and waiting for the big reveal!!!

Tim, Aaron and Devin probably talking basketball!

Terisa and Marit most likely laughing at the guys...

The proud grandpas waiting to hear...Boy or Girl. Notice how they both voted BOY!

I tried very hard to upload the video of us opening the box and releasing the balloons here but...it did not download dispite the 4 attempts I made. So...you'll just have to scroll down to see the picture!

It's a................

The proud grandpas again showing us that...they were right! It's a BOY! We are pleased to announce that Baby O. is a boy and will be named Graysen Harold!

How Far Along: 20 Weeks and 3 Days

Total Weight Gain: 14-16lbs
Milestones: Baby now has working tastebuds and practicing gulping (amniotic fluid right now) 
Baby Is The Size Of: a Small Cantaloupe
Sleep:So, my LeachCo Back & Belly pillow came and it is AMAZING!!!!!!!! If you don't have one...you NEED one. It doesn't matter if you are pregnant or not! It's wonderful! Of course, it does take up a lot of the bed. Good thing we have a new king-sized bed coming this week with our wedding money. No leg cramps since I got the pillow either. They aren't really cramps but pain in my hip and side of my knee. Mainly the left leg. I think it's from pressure on them with extra weight.

Best Moment This Week: Getting to tell our family and friends that Baby O. is a BOY!

Miss Anything?: Coffee and Lunch Meat STILL!! Sleeping on my back! 

Movement?: YES! All the time. I said a few weeks ago that I swore he was doing somersaults...well...I was right. We saw it on the ultrasound with our own eyes. The ultrasound tech had to "chase" him around my belly because he moves so much. I think I also said he was going to be a UFC fighter if he was a boy...again...witnessed the punches and kicks. I think Tim and I are in for a wild ride with this one!

Food Cravings: Toast with cream cheese, Auntie Anne's pretzels, Lunch Meat, Ice Cream...cookies & cream, peppermint, you name it!! Cinnamon anything! Cinnamon Rolls, Cinnabon Cereal, etc.

Things That Make Me Queasy: Raw meat, Onions, Pledge, Our dog's smelly gas!

Gender: BOY

Labor Signs: No.

Symptoms: Well, my belly is getting bigger by the minute I think. I am also having heartburn and indigestion. I wish my hair and nails would start looking better though. I though having a boy meant..."Never looked better!" Apparently not in all cases! I can't complain though because my symptoms have been fairly minimal since starting my second trimester. I am very short though (5 feet) and have a short torso. I am all belly and there is no where for it to go. My ribs, especially on the right side, feel like they are in my throat already! He is also breech right now so his head is pushing on my ribs.

Inny or Outy: Belly Button is getting flatter but still in slightly.

Wedding Band On or Off: On
Mood Most Of The Time: HAPPY though very tired lately and have some stress with other things going on. I haven't gotten a lot of sleep so my patience isn't quite as long as it used to be.
Looking Forward To: Our appointment at Mayo on Friday where we will have a Type 2 ultrasound and find out if the baby's brain cysts are isolated or not. Even though it's crappy that we have to go through this, we will get a video of the utlrasound instead of just a picture!

Cini-Mini CRAVING!!!!!!!!

My biggest craving...CINI-MINIS!!!

Ok, I LOVE cinnamon rolls and right now, I'm craving everything sweet. Not so much chocolate, but I don't really like chocolate when I'm not pregnant. I know...weird! A woman who doesn't really care for chocolate. Lately though, I'm craving sweet! Cinnamon rolls, pancakes and syrup, ice cream, mini donuts...donuts WITH ice cream! (By the way, the best place to get this is in Grand Marais, MN. Go to World's Best Donuts first thing in the morning and get a fresh raised glazed and then go down the street and get a scoop of homemade custard on the boardwalk! Oh...I'm contemplating the 7 hour drive just to get one!!) Here is the latest Cini-Mini recipe I'm trying tonight. I'm pretty sure they are going to be to die for!

Recipe:

Ingredients

1 can of Pillsbury crescent rolls

4 T brown sugar

1 t cinnamon

1 T butter

1 T flour

1/2 C powdered sugar

2 t milk

Directions:

Use half of package at a time so the dough stays cold.

In a small bowl mix together a tablespoon of slightly melted butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, and flour. Open crescent rolls, take half of dough and separate at the vertical seams. Press the diagonal seams of dough together so that the dough is smooth. Spoon half of the cinnamon mixture onto dough, roll short side up then continue with the remainding dough. (I used one sheet of Pillsbury Crescent Dough...no seams. Worked Wonderfully!) Cut 2 inch slices and place all the rolls on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

When rolls have cooled, mix powdered sugar with  milk. Add more sugar/milk to get frosting to the consistency of your liking.I had to add more sugar. Drizzle the sugar over the rolls then let dry. (I couldn't wait and wanted to eat mine warm so I drizzled the glaze over them as soon as they came out of the oven.) AMAZING!!!!!!

Happy Eating!!!

18 Weeks!

How Far Along: 18 Weeks
Total Weight Gain: 14lbs or so
Milestones: Baby is kicking like a UFC fighter and practicing sucking.
Baby Is The Size Of: a Sweet Potato
Sleep:My Leachco Back & Belly Pillow is on the way!!! I'm so excited! This should mean better sleep. Sleep has not been horrible but it's so hard to find a comfortable position that doesn't make my hips & knees hurt. Hopefully it will fit on our bed!!! :)
Best Moment This Week: Ordering my pregnancy pillow and continually feeling Baby Ostrom practicing kicks, punches and what feels like elbow smashes!! I think the baby thinks its a cage fighter and my uterus is the cage!!
Miss Anything?: Coffee and Lunch Meat STILL!! Sleeping on my back! 
Movement?: YES! All the time. Sometimes it's faint and other times I swear it's doing somersaults in there!
Food Cravings: Toast with cream cheese, Auntie Anne's pretzels, Lunch Meat, Ice Cream...cookies & cream, peppermint, you name it!! I was on Pinerest the other day and I think I pinned 5 recipes for cinnamon rolls!! Dang it...now I really want a cinnamon roll!
Things That Make Me Queasy: Still the smell of raw meat! Tim was using Pledge the other day and I thought I was going to vomit, the smell was so strong. (At least he was cleaning so...I'm not going to complain too much!) I also went to my Mother-In-Law's to get leftover Ribs/Saurkraut from New Year's Day for Tim and yep...there was another queasy-inducing smell!
Gender Prediction: Girl
Labor Signs: No.
Symptoms: Had a lot of indigestion this week. Not so much heartburn but burping up acid. I'm getting some leg cramps at night despite the large amounts of water I'm drinking and the bananas. Hopefully this new pillow will help. My belly has "popped" as my friends tell me this week also. Looks more like a "baby belly" and less like a "beer belly"! Although...my friend, Tonya, just informed me today that the phrase "baby belly" has been outlawed now at Michigan's Lake Superior State University from the Queen's English for its misuse, overuse and general uselessness! Huh...I'm still going to call it a baby bump!
Inny or Outy: Belly Button is still in!
Wedding Band On or Off: On
Mood Most Of The Time: HAPPY!
Looking Forward To: Finding out if it's a he or a she in ONE WEEK and having our Gender Reveal Party for our friends/family!