Home doppler and Iowa

Yes, I am late in posting the 14 week update, so sorry but I have an excuse, really. Andrew and I took some time to travel up to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to assist with some of the rebuilding needed in that area after a huge flood there last Spring. No, I did not build like I did in New Orleans, I cooked instead. And while I loved cooking, I just have to say I was completely frustrated with staying behind while the others sheetrocked, mudded and taped a house. Here's my awesome man, hard at work!



And here's me, doing what I typically do right now.


As you might be able to see, I don't look pregnant, just like I've been doing a bit too much eating. I just hope I manage to get all the weight off as fast as I put it on, lol!

So, what was up with us. Week 13 into 14 was quiet, thankfully. But week 14 has been interesting. Thanks to an infection I picked up, I get to have another ultrasound tomorrow that was unexpected, and the infection rather frightening. After you've been through what I have, any hiccup can create rather a lot of panic and then it didn't help when the doctor wanted me to come in right away for an ultrasound. All I could think of was something was wrong and I'm in Iowa and can't get to the doctor until Monday. So managed to make it home on Friday with my sanity intact and plopped that doppler right on me belly about 5 minutes after we walked in the door and got ourselves organized for the night. Had a few moments of more panic as I couldn't find the heartbeat right away. Shrimp was sleeping, I can only assume, and hiding. But I did finally find it and we timed the rate to come up with a bpm of 156, so right in the range of where he was a week ago. And yes, I keep calling Shrimp "he," not because we've had any confirmation that it's a boy, but just because I have it in my head that it's a boy. If I have my way, we won't know till January, and even if I don't have my way, you probably won't know till January! ;) So anyway, the home doppler has proved to be much more of a reassurance than I ever thought it would and I'm never going out of town without it again, lol!

So here are the notes on Shrimp on entering week 14:

Welcome to the second trimester! This weeks big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him - a process he'll keep up until birth. he can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches - about the size of a lemon - and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

Wow, now if only I can actually get to the point of looking pregnant. Several people asked why I wasn't out with the crew and when I explained I was pregnant and they didn't want me out around all the heavy lifting and dangers of the work site, they would look at me rather strangely and say you don't look pregnant! Oh well, I'll have my day. Already needing to shop for pants. I was hoping to get to August, guess I should lay off the food and maybe my one pair that fits will last just that much longer.

So I'll do my normal update on Tuesday when I'm officially 15 weeks and let you know what the doc says. Love to you all, and thanks for the prayers that I know you are continuing. Honestly, I couldn't have gotten through the last week as calmly as I did without knowing that God was with me and had everything under control.