20 Weeks Update (17P Injections)

20 Weeks pregnant! 1/2 way through!! Yea!! We are so excited to meet this little life growing! He/she is a little mover! I feel him/her all day long!!

The Progesterone (17P) shot went well this week! I didn't get dizzy and the soreness went away within a few hours. It's 2 days after and I had a headache all night and into the afternoon. I don't know if this is a side effect. I find myself questioning each odd thing that happens, wondering if it's a side effect or just a headache! I don't know if I will be able to tag it. I guess if it happens again in sync with the shot??

This week, the baby is 6 1/2 inches long (the size of a banana), from crown to rump and 10 ounces! Next week they start to measure from head to toe. He/She is working on how to swallow to fully develop the digestive system! There is big stuff going on in there! No wonder I'm tired all the time! It's absolutely amazing how God orchestrated each week to be a huge stepping stone in developing a baby to be perfect when it arrives! Even in the case of complications, God still sees each baby as perfection!

No bump picture this week since last week's was a little late!

19 Weeks Update (17P Injections)*

This week went so much better! Slight dizziness and pain at the injection sight for several hours BUTT (Pun totally intended!) all in all, a good week! I still have no side effects! YEA!

In other news the baby is growing hair, can hear our voices, and working on all the "sense" areas of the brain! It's so crazy what that little body is doing!

Bobby got to feel baby move this week! I started feeling him/her at about 14 weeks. It was so sweet to see Bobby's face light up when he felt the little, what he called "flutter." I can't wait until it's a little more predictable and Jeremy can feel it! We tell him there is a baby in my tummy. When we ask, "Where is the baby?" He points to me tummy and says, "Baby." Sometimes he lifts my shirt and kisses the bump. At night when we say prayers and thank God for our baby, he pats my belly! I love it! I'm not sure he understands the concept of a BABY! Oh little Jeremy, you have no idea how much your world of "play all day, multiple "walks" per day from room to room, and full attention form a well rested mommy/daddy" is about to be ROCKED! But all 1st children deal with it eventually! Ha! I'm excited to see the relationship they will have! Sierra will be over tomorrow! I will have her feel the movement and be sure to blog what her reaction is!

Down By the Station. . .*

So early in the morning! 

I'm sure only early child development teachers and moms know this song BUT it's talking about a Fire Station! 

We go to see Bobby at the Fire Station often. I thought I'd take pictures one day to show you all. It often slips my mind what a TREAT this is for little boys! 

18 Weeks Update Progesterone (17P) Injections Start*

Jeremy (20 months now) was born at 34 weeks. I went in to labor at 32 weeks they were able to stop contractions with Procardia and bed rest. I was one bed rest for 2 weeks and my water broke. Jeremy was born 21 hours later.  Since they don't know why I delivered early, I am at risk to deliver early again, maybe earlier. My doctor suggested I start getting Progesterone (17P) injections to help prevent pre-term labor.  I am at Loma Linda University Medical Center with Dr. Oshiro. He came very well recommended and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has "one of the largest and most advanced centers in the world!" We feel that we are very well taken care of.  IF anything goes awry with this baby, he/she will have the best care possible! Plus, we have God on our side! We need to be resting in the inner peace He can provide for this to be a stress-free pregnancy.

Ok back to the injections. . .
There have been many case studies where 17P has relaxed the uterus and the babies were not born until a week after the last injection, usually given at 36 weeks. We did a lot of research and decided it was the right path for us.

So, the syringes and prescription came in the mail . . . .with no instructions! A little confusion on our part since Bobby was the one shooting me in the butt!! We went to the doctor's office to get further direction. It should be noted that you have to start taking the injections at 18 weeks. I am 18 weeks, one day today! The nurse was a little concerned because the bottle had some crystals in it. The P17 is in cotton seed oil (extremely thick substance). She went to ask another nurse if she had seen it and what to do about it. They were baffled! Next step was call the pharmacy and ask what the instructions were: "Heat the bottle in the microwave for up to 30 seconds and shake. Repeat up to 4 times until the crystals are gone." WHAT??!! The nurse had never heard of this. She went to ask the doctor. He was also confused. At this point, I'm a little worried, but I didn't realize how much. There was  nurse in the office that has administered the shot previously  and said the instructions were, in fact, correct. None of the case studies we read said anything about microwaving or administering it warm. We then realized, that this is a new form of the injection and the previous form was no longer available. The doctor said to go ahead and give the injection.

We get prepped. Bobby is watching very observantly. We only microwaved it for 10 seconds, 2 times.
Shot goes in.... I get DIZZY and FLUSH! Now, I am not a person that freaks out easily; nor have I ever passed out. I feel that am good with dealing with stress and can make logical decisions when stressed out. Today, however, I guess the emotions and stress got to me. I had to lay down for about 5 minutes and drink some water. After that I was fine.

It has been 2 hours and I don't feel different then any other day. I will keep you posted! Thanks for tuning in!

Home Made Christmas Gifts

We love meaningful, well thought out, and/or useful gifts, and honestly we have a hard time with the obligatory gift giving that has become Christmas. That being said, we try to be thoughtful, practical, and loving in all of our gifts each year. We made some different things for specific members of our family, and friends. The process of making the gifts was SO MUCH more fun than picking up an obligatory gift while thinking, "I think Grandma will like this" or "Well.  . . I really cant think of something for my dad, so I will just grab ____" During the process of making the gifts, we had family time in the house and the garage. Kiki taught me about modge podge, and I showed her and Jeremy a belt sander. Such a fun process.

Here is are the finished products. . . .

Blessing Blocks: We made 4 different version of this set up for each of our parents. There are pictures on the sides of the blocks, as well.

You will need:

     4x4 Piece of wood (length varies by number of blocks)

     Stain color of your choice (we used Golden Oak by Win Wax)

     Pictures (2.5x2.5, printed in Microsoft Word)

     Vinyl sticker for the sayings (printed to exact size by Totally Couture) 

     Foam Brush

     Modge Podge (Matte or Shiny will work)

     Cute ribbon

Step 1: Cut blocks. Blessings block is 7.5" long, picture blocks are 3.5"x3.5". I have heard Home
             Depot will cut into the size you need. 

Step 2: Sand with 220 grit sand paper and Stain Blocks.

Step 3: Use Modge Podge to glue the pictures onto the wood blocks. Let them dry for about 15 

            minutes.

Step 4: Stick the words on, brush modge podge over.

Step 5: Brush Modge Podge over the pictures. 

Step 6: Let dry overnight, Stack blocks, tie a pretty ribbon on.
I found the original instructions here. <--- My first time inserting a link! So Cool!

Homemade Laundry Soap: This was super simple, smells wonderful and adored by all the people we gave it to! It's also cheaper then buying laundry soap!  

You will need:

     9 cups Borax

     6 cups washing soda 

     6 cups baking soda

     6 cups Fels-Naptha bar soap (almost 2 bars)

     Cute Ribbon

     Paper to print label

     Clothes Pins

     Mason Jars I made most of them in the smaller jars. A few for big families in the large ones. 

Step 1: Mix all ingredients in a large bowl or bucket. I recommend mixing outside because the powder gets every where. 

Step 2: Fill jars. These measurements filled 16 smaller jars, 1 medium jar and 2 large jars. 

Step 3: Print Labels here. Tie cute ribbon and attach clothes pin. 

I found the original instructions here.

     

Homemade Brown Sugar Almond Scrub: A great way to say, "I Love You" to your girlfriends, Mom, Aunt, etc!  

You will need:

     4 Cups White Sugar
     4 Cups Brown Sugar
     1/2 Cup Olive Oil
     Whole Almonds
     Labels, Mason Jars, Ribbon

Step 1: I don't know the exact measurements! YIKES! I mixed 50/50 white and brown sugar in a
             bowl. 

Step 2: Pour in Olive Oil and let it soak up. Stir it up. Again I'm not sure exactly on the measurements.
             It should look like a fluffy paste. If that makes any sense! 

Step 3: Stir in almonds. The site I got it from said to put in Almond extract but the store was out and whole almonds were the cheaper way to go.

Step 4: Divide into jars (I made 10 jars). Make it pretty with labels and ribbon! 

I found the original instructions here.

Mini Muffin for the new neighbors: I just love the presentation! 

No steps needed for this one. Just bake your favorite muffins... these are banana. Take the label off the egg carton, add some cute scrapbook paper (I didn't have any patterns on hand. Boo!) Tie a bow and label! The little round label says, "From the Kitchen of KiKi Martens." Bobby got them for me a few years ago!  

Hope you enjoyed!! 

Merry Christmas

Christmas has never been one of our favorite holidays. 4th of July is the favorite! However, we throughly enjoyed the holiday this year. There's a number of reasons and picture to show them all!

1. Jeremy is old enough to enjoy it 

We woke up Christmas morning to find a family dressed as Santa and elves,
driving a tractor down the street! It was so cool! Jeremy loved it!

2. We are treasuring the time we have left as a family of 3 

We got a hiking backpack from my mom! Yay!

3. We hand made most of our gifts this year. There will be a blog to follow with how we did it! 

4. Jackie got engaged at our annual Christmas Eve Family Party! 

Garrett was really sweet with his proposal!
He had clues all over the house.
It ended with him on the couch with a gift.
The gift was a GreenBay jersey with "Mansfield" on the back
and a ring attached to it! 

We hope you all had a great Christmas filled with family time and great food! Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!! We are so grateful for HIM!

Baby Duece!

Our Christmas card this year! (2011)
This is how we told the family!
We had it as the centerpiece for Thanksgiving.
Then sent the Christmas cards out the next day for the family that lives out of state.

We are excited to have baby #2 cooking in the oven. Due Date is June 2! SAME due date as Jeremy and our anniversary! I am 14.5 weeks. I already feel like I am bigger then I was with J. We are not finding out the gender, until the baby is born. This is especially difficult for me! Bobby is super excited. When we ask Jeremy, "Where is the baby?" He points to my belly and kisses it! So sweet.

12 Weeks