Week 18

Rebekah's Update for Week 18:

We celebrated Rusty's 37th birthday this weekend. His birthday is actually today, but it worked out that Rusty was out of town picking up Cody for the summer (woo hoo!!), so we were able to get everything together for a "surprise dinner". It wasn't necessarily a "Surprise Party", but Rusty was surprised (and relieved) that he didn't have to cook dinner - Joey cooked his infamous lasagna! I must say, it was quite possibly, the very best lasagna that I have ever tasted.


One issue with this pregnancy that I have not mentioned before is that I have a serious issue with high quantities of dairy products. I guess it goes back to "every pregnancy is different", but good grief. Anyone who knows me well knows that dairy is by far, my most favorite of the 5 food groups! I don't think that Joey's lasagna alone contributed to my all night vomiting stint on Saturday night. I think the combination of the dairy in the lasagna and the dairy in the most fabulous birthday cake that Mom brought over for Rusty's birthday made my stomach ache like it had never ached before and ultimately come back up. Poor Rusty stayed up with me nearly all night long giving me a wet hand towel and rubbing my back. I was miserable. I woke up Sunday morning and looked at my face. Busted blood vessels ALL around my eyes and down the side of my face! Blah! I really worked hard Saturday night apparently.


For the record, this is the first time that I have vomited with this pregnancy; hopefully the last! I vomited three times with Rachel and was fortunate enough to get away with no vomiting while I was pregnant with Sam.


Other than Saturday night, Week 18 was relatively uneventful! We had a doctor's appointment last week. As I suspected, it was also uneventful. We did, however, schedule the ultrasound! I think that I have family members more excited than I am to find out what this baby is going to be! I have often wondered why people don't take the opportunity to find out what the sex of the baby is going to be. To me, it's the best way to plan! They say, "We want to be surprised" and all, but aren't you just as surprised when you find out earlier? I guess I'll never know. I've known the sex of all the past kids. I'm not about to change that. Not to mention, if this one is a girl, I have a ton of shopping to do!


The ultrasound is scheduled for July 15th. Two days from when we get back from vacation! (Which, by the way, starts in 4 days!!!!!!!)

**WARNING TO THE SQUEAMISH**

-This quite possibly is too much information for you-

This is the update from the Website: Week 18

Your Baby's Development
Ears move to their final position and they stand out from the head. And start brushing up on your lullabies — in the coming weeks, your baby will probably be able to hear! The bones of the middle ear and the nerve endings from the brain are developing so that your baby will hear sounds such as your heartbeat and blood moving through the umbilical cord. He or she may even be startled by loud noises! Your baby's eyes are also developing — they're now facing forward rather than to the sides, and the retinas may be able to detect the beam of a flashlight if you hold it to your abdomen.
Until now, your baby's bones had been developing but were still soft. This week, they begin to harden, or ossify. Some of the first bones to ossify are those in the clavicles and the legs.

Your Body
You're probably beginning to prepare for life with baby. Your preparations should extend beyond gathering the layette and decorating the nursery, though. This is a good week to begin your search for a pediatrician or other health care provider for your child. Schedule visits to meet with potential doctors to discuss issues such as appointment availability, immunization scheduling, and when to call in an emergency. You'll also want to learn as much as you can about their practices and procedures.
Some good questions to ask: How many health care providers are in the practice? Who covers nights and weekends? What is their policy on phone calls? Which hospitals are they affiliated with? What insurance do they accept? What specialists do they work with? How are emergencies handled?
It's important that you feel comfortable with your child's doctor, so do your homework and make your decision carefully.