WEEK 25- April 4th, 2012

Baby Stone was popular this week...pictures taken, audio recorded, and video taped.  Mommy and daddy made a trip to the High Risk perinatal center at St. Anthony's Hospital on Monday, April 2nd, to get a better view of our little eggplant. The ultrasound started at 8:15 in the morning in the BMW of ultra sound rooms and quite a comfortable chair. That time of the morning happens to be baby's active time of day. In order to assure baby would be awake, mommy followed the advice of her friend, Kristen, and had peanut butter and honey on an English muffin for breakfast.  Our ultrasound tech, Marylou, said that this might have worked because she had baby's undivided attention and the appropriate amount of movement... at least for a little while. Marylou was able to get all of the necessary measurements putting Baby Stone in the 63rd percentile weighing 1 lb 14 ounces (with a normal sized head, thank you very much!).  Baby started to get a little rambunctious when Marylou tried to get pictures of baby's face so we could see fully formed lips, palate, and nose (for the speech language pathologist in mommy). Every time Marylou tried to get a shot, baby turned the other direction or kicked the ultrasound wand.  Marylou had to call in back up and that is when we met Dr. Webb. Dr. Webb was able to get the right glimpses of our baby's face to report everything is fully formed. While the doctor did his work, daddy and mommy got to see all four chambers of the heart, fully formed major arteries pumping blood, got a great look at all of the major sections of baby's brain (we think we have an Einstein on our hands), and even witnessed a really good kick on screen. Baby is also already head down. Fingers crossed he/she stays there so no worry about breach. Our sweet little baby got a stellar report from Dr. Webb.  The relief was overwhelming! Daddy pointed out to Dr. Webb that baby's legs were crossed at the last ultrasound so we wouldn't have been able to find out gender then.  Dr. Webb said that he knew the sex of our baby within a few minutes of exploring.  Mommy and daddy did not budge and we still look forward to finding out our surprise in July.

Later that day, mommy and grandma Char went to the monthly doctor's visit with Dr. Gosser.  Baby Stone is measuring out just on target at week 25 and we got to hear the heart beat again... So AMAZING! Dr. Gosser is a wonderful Christian man and spent a lot of time calming mommy's fears with the recent loss of baby Jordyn. The report from the high risk clinic was faxed over while mommy and grandma were with Dr. Gosser and he restated the glowing report.  NO NEED for further appointments with the at-risk doctors! Praise the Lord!

Baby Stone has been an active little booger all week and mommy wonders if there has been any sleep at all. It seems that baby is rocking and rolling all of the time and really likes music.  There is extra activity during music worship at church and while Pastor Matt is preaching.  We hope that means baby will be on good behavior when we go to church as a family.

Mommy's feet have started to swell quite a bit in the last week and hoping it will be under control with a few suggestions from mommy's friends.  The unseasonably warm weather is not helping the situation, but the feet go up whenever mommy is stationary.  Aunt Melissa sent daddy on a mission to get the Cadillac of all pregnancy pillows so mommy has been sleeping like a rock since last Friday night. THANK YOU Aunt Melissa for spoiling mommy!

We appreciate all of the love an support we have gotten from all of you!

Big hugs,

Justin & Erin

Week 25 of Pregnancy: Baby's Lung Development

Your baby is about nine inches long and more than a pound and a half in weight this week. And don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker as small blood vessels form under the skin and fill with blood. Lungs and nostrils are also growing at this stage of fetal development.

At nine inches and more than a pound and a half in weight, your baby is taller than two juice boxes stacked one on top of the other, and almost as heavy as four of those little boxes (an analogy you'll find particularly apropos in a few years, when those juice boxes start taking over your refrigerator, your pantry, your car.…).

Don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker. No, not because he or she's getting overheated (in fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate controlled, keeping your baby at an always comfortable temperature), but because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But at 25 weeks pregnant, those lungs are still very much works in progress. Though they are already beginning to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs expand after the baby is born, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he or she exhales.

The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open this week. This actually allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths. (Of course since there's no air in there, your baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, but it's the practice that counts, right?)