Here's what's happening in my belly:
Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound (not Cameron's son...he was spreading his legs wide to show off his goods!).
Anyway, you know what I find funny & disturbing all at the same time? That no one bothers to share with you that not only does your tummy grow during pregnancy, but so does your butt, thighs and arms. I get that your bottom half has to spread to prepare for birth, but really what do your arms have to do with it? You don't really need them to pop out a baby...On another note, I'm hoping I'm as lucky as Janel and that the longest labor I have is 5 hours and our baby comes out with a perfectly round dome. I know that's really a reach, but one can dream right? I'm sure I will be in labor for a good 15 hours and we'll have a cone head! Oh well, we'll love the little peanut regardless of his mis-shapen head! :)
Now...for the latest bump picture - this was taken at 17 weeks, 3 days (this past Tuesday). Please excuse the nice hairdo, it was sweltering outside and I just wanted it off of my face & neck!
Congratulations to our friends Bill & Jill...they got married in Cleveland, OH on Saturday! Cameron & I jumped on a flight Saturday morning to celebrate with them and many other Intercall employees! We had a fun filled evening with friends and the newlyweds looked incredibly happy! We have another Intercall wedding this coming Friday in Milwaukee. Our friends from New York are coming in for the wedding, so we'll have the opportunity to spend the weekend with them as well!
The week is finally here for the Zehring family to head down to Bloomington, IN for 6 weeks of treatment (they did change it - he was supposed to start last week). We just ask for continued prayers for them while they are there - we want this cancer GONE completely and we know that is all in God's hands. We are also hoping for no bad side effects for Andon - he's been through enough in his young life! If you want frequent updates, please go to Andon's website on the right side of our blog. We'll also update, but probably not as frequently as they will. Thank you!
Yes, the hair is darker & shorter:
So, Cameron left Monday morning for a "work" trip to Las Vegas...I'm sure he worked really hard! :) I only say this out of 100% jealousy that I wasn't there poolside with him! He arrived home on Wednesday evening tan (how dare he) and looking relaxed. While he was gone I caught up on my chick flicks and also went shopping with Teresa. Teresa bought us this really great gift - it's a set of things to interact with the baby in the womb...it came with a doplar heart monitor with two headsets so we can listen to the baby's heartbeat whenever we want, a speaker with 2 microphones so we can talk to the baby and also 2 cd's to play for the baby. As you can tell, our lives have slowed down a bit finally and we don't have anything too exciting to share right now. Hope you're all well! Our 20 week ultrasound is only 2 days away...can't wait to see baby Dane again!
Today Andon will travel to have beads placed in his head for his radiation treatments. Please pray that all goes well for this surgery. Please pray that Andon has no pain from this and that the recovery is easy. Mostly, I ask that you keep him in your prayers for this new treatment starting on September 24th. Five days a week for six weeks, Andon will receive a targeted radiation treatment right to the tumor bed. We're all very excited about the possibility that this will be the end of treatments for him and that he will be completely HEALED of all remaining cancer from this proton beam radiation. If you want to learn more about this treatment, please click here. Also, Janel & Brian will be updating a lot in the coming months on Andon's caring bridge site...the link is on the right side of our blog. We appreciate all the thoughts & prayers for Andon through the last 2 years...we're asking for them now again! Hopefully this radiation will be the end of treatment for Andon! Thank you!
My brother-n-law turns 30 today...happy birthday to you, Brian! And what a birthday he's had...a new baby a little over a week ago - Princess Presley! We're all thankful you're part of the family! Have a great day!