25 weeks

Well, I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. The email update I received today reminded me I hadn't, when I read that my uterus is about the size of a soccer ball. That is no shock to anyone I've seen recently, since it looks like I have swallowed one, and since Elijah seems to think he's in a match with David Beckham or something, with all this kicking. :-) I sure am happy to feel it though, especially in light of other families who have never experienced the blessing of a pregnancy. I was reminded again today of the struggle many face in trying to have a baby, and thanked God again for our busy little boy.

My update also said that E's "skin is turning pinker. No, not because he's getting overheated (in fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate controlled, keeping him 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 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. In his gums, buds for permanent teeth line up behind baby teeth. He's practicing using his arms and legs (I would certainly agree!), but his skin is still loose and wrinkly, and hangs like a too-big pair of pants."

I had a weird episode today that was almost scary, until I told James and we both realized what probably had happened. I went out early this morning to water the recently planted mums and pansies, and also kept leaning over to pull up weeds. After about a half hour of this, I got very light-headed and my heart was hurting so bad, I felt like I was going to pass out. I sat down, in the yard, trying to process what was happening, and caught my breath a little. I could hear my pulse so loudly in my head it was wild! I then walked slowly on in the house, but by the time I got in there, was so faint, and hurting so bad, I jokingly (kinda) told James I thought I was about to die of a heart attack. Once I sat for just a minute, I was fine, just tired-feeling. Describing it to him and thinking about what triggered it, we both assume this is one of those vena cava issues I've heard of later in the pregnancy. With the pressure of the enlarging uterus on my organs , and my repeated bending over, I guess I was cutting off my own blood circulation, and my heart was letting me know it!

Since James had just gotten home from working all night and was going to sleep, I was so thankful I recovered quickly, and didn't pass out in the yard! :-) I told him, as I leaned over to turn off the water faucet, I just knew I was going to keel over, and a few hours later when the kids got hungry enough, they'd have found me face-first in the flowerbed. So, no more bending and weeding, from now on. I'll have to just plop down and work, I reckon...

It's been a nesting kind of week, as James and I have been working on projects around the house to ready it for putting on the market. We are just about ready, and it's crazy, but exciting too. We have no idea that it will sell in this current market, but feel that God has told us to at least try. We're assuming if it doesn't sell we'll just figure out a way to squeeze in one more little person and a whole lot of baby stuff, and if it does sell, that God is truly providing us the opportunity to move. I've even been washing up baby clothes that are hand-me-downs, or were Isaac's and had been in the attic. It's nice to just have something to handle and do, relating to Elijah, in this last few months while we are just waiting on him to arrive. Isaac and Abigail love ooh-ing and aah-ing over the sweet, tiny clothes. It's very fun to share these times of anticipation with them, and see their excitement. We can't wait to meet you, little brother!!