12 weeks!

I am pretty much done with my 1st trimester, thank goodness! This pregnancy has been SO, SO different from my other two. The nausea is almost completely gone and I have much more energy these days. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband who has been so understanding, patient, and caring with me as I have not been able to carry through with many of my normal day to day activities around the house. I foresee a cleaner house and more homecooked meals very soon. Thanks honey!! Kalyn and Sheldon have also been so helpful in doing more things for me around the house...love you two SO much for helping mommy without complaining (most of the time anyway)!

Ricky and I went to a doctor's appointment this morning to do a 1st trimester screening to check for any possibility of birth defects...they do this when you hit the magic number of 35 (pfffttt). Anyway, we talked with a genetic counselor and she got both of our family histories and explained some further testing (amniocentesis, CVS, Cystic Fibrosis, etc) that we could opt to have after today's bloodwork and ultrasound. Ricky and I both feel strongly that God has blessed and entrusted us with this little life that there is no need for any further testing. We will love this kid no matter what!! We went into another room and the nurse did the blood test on me which results would be combined with the results from the ultrasound to determine the birth defect risk precentage. She poked my finger and it HURT...Ricky laughed and got a kick out of my facial expression and said it was just priceless (whatever!) Then we proceeded with the ultrasound to check the fluid space behind the baby's neck and the wall of my uterus...all was normal (if the measurement was over 3mm, I think, that would indicate a "chance" for Downs Syndrome, Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18, etc). Our measurement was 1.5mm. The heartbeat was 157 per minute and all measurements were within the normal range. Ricky and I were relieved to hear this wonderful news...praise God! It was so AMAZING to see how much this little one is moving around and everyone in the room had fun witnessing that. I loved watching Ricky experience that joy for his very first time...God is so good! Here is a cute picture of our "wiggle worm"...she/he had arms behind her/his head and legs kicking in the air! Looks like an active kid already...gotta get ready! :o)