18 WEEK BELLY PICTURE!!!

Here's the 18 week belly picture! We are off to see the 4D ultrasound.....more later!!!!

17w6d

Dear Nevaeh,

In 5.5 hours, mommy will be 18 weeks pregnant (19w1d if we are going by your last ultrasound!)....hard to believe that I will soon be on my way to see you, mommy and daddy. I can't wait to rub mommy's belly and take lots of pictures! By the way, you must be one special baby for me to drive 7 hours by myself! I've never driven this far, alone! Grandpa Dason has to work! (Boo!).....but this will give us bonding time in the womb! (haha!)

In less a few days, I will get to see your sweet face on the 4D ultrasound. I am looking forward to counting your fingers and toes once again and see how you've grown! We are also anxious to see if you are still a girl! The last ultrasound was at 14 weeks and it seemed sooooo early to tell...but the ultrasound tech assured us you were a girl....if I remember right, she even said 100% sure that you were a girl. If you turn out to be a boy....then you fooled us all! But I will love you just as much if you are a boy after all!

Hugs and Kisses,
Grandma Dason

17w5d- ULTRASOUND UPDATE

Courtney and Mike are having a scheduled ultrasound on Monday with their OB. The bad part is that they have to pay extra for the 3D/4D ultrasound because insurance won't pay beyond the 2D.....The good news is that they have decided to go to a private 3D/4D place which costs the same but will be LIVE VIDEO STREAMING!!!!!! This means family and friends get to watch it at the same time they do. The special time for this is Saturday at 12:00 Ohio time. 11:00 their time. If we forgot to tell you, call me and I will give you the website, username and password. Be patient, if you can't see the video right at 12:00....they may get back logged....this seems to be a popular thing to do on the army base since families are soooooo far away!

I am soooooo excited. I will be going there this weekend to spend some time with them, plus meeting her OB on Monday for the 2D ultrasound.....this is just icing on the cake!!!!! At first I told Courtney that I didn't need to come after all because I can see it with all of you.....but that didn't sit to well with her! She really wants me to meet her doctor and be there for her on Monday....so I will be in a Grandma fog for quite some time! Can you tell I am excited!?

17w4d

Dear Courtney,

This message is for you. I have sooooo many feelings that I need to share. As a mother-to-be, you are experiencing the morning sickness, headaches, muscles aches, tiredness along with the beautiful baby movements and heartbeat sounds that make it all worth it. Soon you will experience the huge belly, swollen feet and breathless moments because the baby has taken over your body....not to mention the painful labor....but when you see that beautiful face looking back at you, you will know it is all worth it! Once the baby is born, you will experience sleepless nights and stressful days, but the good times will outweigh the stressful ones!

I remember all these feelings as if they were yesterday. If I could give you one piece of advice it would be to take your time to cherish and love each moment no matter how stressful or tired you may be. These precious days go by way toooooo fast!

I see life differently through the eyes of a grandparent. I will cry with you... smile with you...be sad with you....and be happy with you......most of all I will be there for you! For you are my baby girl. And now my baby girl is giving me the precious gift of another baby girl. Now I know why my mother cried the day you were born!

Love Always, Mom

17w3d OB VISIT

Courtney had her usual 2 week OB visit. She continues to go every two weeks since she is high risk. The doctor found the baby's heart beat right away. Nevaeh even kicked at the probe! Courtney could hear it, but didn't feel the kick. (Which reminds me....she did feel the baby move today during class for the first time....the baby is usually more active at night!)...The blood pressure medication is working (1/2 tablet in the AM and 1/2 tablet in the PM) it was 110/60. So far she's gained 14 lbs. The doctor seems to be pleased with her progress!

Courtney told the OB the difficulties her sister is having finding a hematologist and OB who knows and employs the research of using lovenox on pregnant women who have the MTHFR blood disorder. He said that the research is controversial, but he has had 100% success with women who are identified before becoming pregnant and who start the shots with the first positive pregnancy test. His partner in the practice chimed in and called themselves the Arc Angels of Pregnant Women! I would agree! I just hope we can find the same type of care for Caitlin once she decides to start planning a family. The present thinking with Caitlin's OBGYN and Hematologist is .....WHY WORRY? She hasn't had any blood clots and she hasn't had any miscarriages.......WAIT!....Shouldn't we be proactive rather than reactive since we have family history of miscarriages and this blood disorder! I wish this OB practiced in Ohio as well. For anyone reading this post. Courtney's OB is in Kentucky near Fort Campbell! He is our ANGEL!

Courtney's ultrasound is scheduled for Monday at 2:30!!!! I will drive to KY after school on Friday and spend the weekend with Courtney and Mike. We hope to paint the baby's room! I have been smiling all day!

17w1d MORE MOVEMENT TODAY!

Dear Nevaeh,
You must be growing on schedule. Mommy called me today and said that she is definitely feeling you fluttering around more than usual today. The movements are still light, rolling, crawling, popping actions....soon she will be sharing your kicks with me. I can't wait! Only 3 more weeks til mommy reaches the half way mark of this pregnancy! (Two weeks if she is going by your last ultrasound measurements!)
Love, Grandma Dason

17 WEEKS BELLY PICTURE!

Courtney is 17 weeks pregnant today!!!! (Nevaeh is measuring 18w1d). Since the baby is measuring a week ahead, I am guessing that she is about 7 to 7.5 inches long from head to toe and weighing around 7 oz. She is very active and Courtney feels pops and bubbles here and there, but no real kicks yet. Baby Veah's uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place by now! Wow....amazing just thinking about it! That is, if she is still a girl at the next ultrasound in a few weeks!

We are looking forward to the second-trimester ultrasound just around the corner! Hopefully we can nail down a more accurate due date. Since Courtney is on blood thinner shots (Lovenox), she will probably be induced earlier than the expected date. The OB will probably switch her over to Heparin before the induction. Only 6 more weeks to the viability date! (or 5 weeks if you are going by the baby's measurements!)

16w6d-Round Ligament Pain

In approximately 4 hours, Courtney will be 17 weeks (baby measuring 18w1d)! Lately she has been experiencing sharp pains in the lower abdomen every once in a while. I remember getting these when I was pregnant, so I looked it up on the Internet. These sharp pains are from the round ligaments surrounding her uterus. The ligaments are stretching to accommodate growing baby Nevaeh! Which is a good sign that the baby is growing on schedule!

Courtney has her next OB visit on Monday. It will be the usual heartbeat check...but the exciting part is that she will get to set the ultrasound date. Once we know the date, I am going to take some time off work to go with her. Since she lives 7 hours away, we hope to get an appointment on a Friday or a Monday....that way I can spend some time with her over the weekend. We also hope to work in the baby's room. I am smiling as I type this post....still in a baby fog! Stay tuned for the 17 week bare belly picture!

16w5d

Courtney called me last night to listen to the baby through the doppler. It has become our nightly routine and I am loving it! She found a nice strong heartbeat in the 150s for a long time. For once baby Vaeh was staying in one place. Typically the baby is head down and more on the left side rather than in the center. Courtney scanned the rest of her belly with the doppler to listen for movements, but all was quiet this time. I could hear it in her voice that it was unnerving to her because Vaeh is usually active. I reminded her that fetuses do sleep all the time...just as newborn babies do and that Vaeh was just sleeping....after all the strong heartbeat should be the sign that all is well....this still did not settle well with Courtney...........upon hanging up, Courtney told me she was going to have her usual bowl of fruity, sugary cereal......surely the sugar surge would perk the baby up! I just laughed!

This morning, I asked Courtney if the sugar surge worked and here's her response....."I know my baby pretty well already, Mom....the bowl of Trix worked! Nevaeh woke up and started moving!" I can picture it now...Courtney will be one of those moms who wake their babies up just to make sure they are OK. But then again, reflecting back....I was one of those moms! HAHA!

16w4d

Morning Sickness (or should I say all day sickness) found Courtney again.....just when she was starting to feel more like herself.....the pregnancy sickness hit again. She said she knew she was sick from the pregnancy and not the flu because one minute she would be craving food, the next minute she'd throw up, and then turn around and eat the very food that made her sick in the first place! At least she can laugh about it!

Originally Courtney was seeing the doctor every two weeks, which would make her next visit with the OB tomorrow.....but no luck this time....we have to wait until Monday! (Boo!) But....on Monday, the doctor has assured her that it will be time to schedule the ultrasound. (YEA!) Courtney said that it will be a 2D black and white ultrasound unless she pays an extra $100.00 for the 3D....Pretty sad that the technology is there and just tempting the pregnant mommies! It should be standard by now! Can you tell we were really spoiled with the 3D/4D Ultrasound when Courtney was 14 weeks?!

One thing that really bothers her right now is the feeling of being fat versus looking pregnant. She is in the awkward stage of putting on weight and getting a rounder belly....but not quite looking like a pregnant belly. At least that is what she thinks. I personally think she does look pregnant and BEAUTIFUL! In fact, I don't remember looking that pregnant at 4 mos.! She just sent this picture to me!

16w2d

Dear Nevaeh,
Your mommy felt you move last night just up above her belly button. She got out the doppler to comfirm it was your feet and legs moving. It was around midnight when she called and let me listen to you. That sound will never get old!

I told mommy that we need to figure out SKYPE so we can see and hear each other over the computer. She reminded me that it is not her that I want to see, it is you! (We both laughed!) I want to be able to see you and mommy every day so that you grow up knowing my voice and my face! I love you sooooo very much!

Daddy sent me a picture of your nursery. Mommy and Daddy are renting off base right now, but are able to paint the walls in this house. The shocking pink color with purple trim is way toooo bold for their tastes. The walls will probably be painted a taupe or soft light green that matches your crib bedding. The twin bed will have a bed spread to match made with love by Aunt Caitlin and me!

Love Grandma Dason

16 WEEK BELLY PICTURE

As promised, Courtney sent me her 16 week belly picture. Since baby Nevaeh is measuring 17w1d, she should be around 5 oz. and about 6 1/2" long from head to toes! According to Baby Center.com's website, she should be able to bend her arms and legs by now, but looking back at her last ultrasound, she was doing this two weeks ago! She must be a SMART baby! She can also hear mommy talk to her. Courtney is going to start playing a lullaby CD for her nightly in hopes that she recognizes the soothing sound when she is born.





PREGNANCY SURVEY GIVEN BY COURTNEY OVER THE PHONE:

How far along? 16 weeks (baby measuring 17w1d)

Total weight gain/loss: No, not keeping track!

Maternity clothes? No, and I hope not! I will just not button my jeans! Isn't that what rubber bands are for?! (Grandma is laughing at this statement!)

Sleep: On my side with a pillow and at times on my stomach!....(Grandma is worried that Baby Vaeh will get squished, but Great Grandma eased the fears, because she slept on her belly and the baby was fine!)

Movement: The baby feels like popcorn popping. I usually feel it at night. I have been feeling this on and off for about a month now!

Food cravings: Cheddar Jalapeno Cheetos, Frozen Red Baron Mexican Style Pizzas, fruity cereal, and water with lots of lemon juice!

Gender: Female! We hope she is still a she at the next ultrasound!

What I miss: I stopped smoking and it’s been VERY hard. I hope I can keep it up after the baby is born! Also living sooooo far away from family due to the Military life! I definitely miss all my energy that I used to have. I am TIRED ALL THE TIME!

What I am looking forward to: Getting to the 20 week half way mark in this pregnancy!....Then to the 24 week viability pregnancy stage and then ultimately holding a healthy baby at the end of the 40 weeks!

Embarrassing Moment: When I threw up during the middle of a one/one exam with my professor! I threw up in a sink that had no plumbing (new bathroom)….Then I had to clean it up which made me more sick! YUCK!

What I can't stand (during pregnancy)- Wet kisses from hubby...something about the saliva turns my stomach! Poor hubby!

Message to the baby: We are already sooooo in love with you!

16 weeks (Almost!)

Courtney will be 16 weeks (baby measuring 17w1d) in 2 hours and 10 minutes! I am posting another doppler video of the fetal movements. You will hear what seems to be static, but that is actually louder sounds of Nevaeh's movements. Courtney was holding the "wand" still....just listening and recording...Courtney caught her during a VERY active moment, although she couldn't feel these movements, this time.....soon she will feel the baby moving all the time!

I tried to talk her into a bare belly pic, but she is going to make me wait until tomorrow, since that will mark the 16 week/4month date! Stay Tuned!

Material For Twin Quilt

The receiving blankets match the crib quilt and pink crib sheet (in background). Caitlin and I plan on using the material from the receiving blankets plus soft pink, green, brown and cream plush material to make a twin comforter for the bedroom. This way, the bed and crib sets will match! I will post a final picture when we are done with the quilt. We probably won't have time until Christmas break to do the actual sewing, but at least the planning and cutting will be out of the way! We also plan on making the cradle set to match! Nevaeh is one spoiled little baby already!

15w6d

Courtney and Mike sent me a picture of the crib set up. It is in the living room right now because they want to redo the baby's room. They set it up to make sure all the pieces and parts were there! Daddy is showing it off in the picture.

Courtney also sent me a picture of her belly. She promised to send me one tomorrow for the 16 week bare belly shot for the video. Courtney says the baby moves more at night (rarely during the day) and the movements are getting stronger. No real kicks yet!

First Baby Gift!

Boss's Day was observed today in my school. I am soooooo over the moon about this baby that my whole staff is updated daily on the baby progress! So for Boss's Day they gave me one of the most thoughtful gifts.....my first GRANDMA gift basket! HOW EXCITING!...I can't wait to read these books to my granddaughter!

Nursery Furniture

Courtney and Mike picked out this nursery set at Babies R Us. Grandma and Grandpa Dason and Grandma and Grandpa Baker planned on getting this set (Crib converts to a toddler bed and then a full size bed) in the ebony color pictured below when it got closer to baby Vaeh's due date......However, Courtney found this exact set online for about a third of the original price! We decided to buy the set early as not to miss out on such a wonderful deal! She is one lucky baby!!!!

Great Grandma and Grandpa Richards bought Courtney's nursery set when she was a baby. I still have the crib, which baby Nevaeh will use when she stays at our house. Hopefully Courtney will keep up the tradition and buy Nevaeh a nursery set when she grows up and has a baby of her own!

Great Grandma Martin bought Courtney's baby quilt set (quilt, bumper pads, skirt...) when she was a baby. That was well used, so I didn't keep it.....However, that will be another tradition that I keep up. The baby set posted earlier will be purchased for baby Vaeh, also. Hopefully this will be another tradition that Courtney keeps up!

BETTER START SAVING YOUR MONEY NOW, COURTNEY AND MIKE!

15w3d- Fetal Movements Caught on the Doppler

Dear Nevaeh,

Mommy and Daddy sent this video to us over their cell phone. When you are older, you will be able to watch and listen to this. At first the video is quiet...about 8 seconds of listening to the doppler, you will hear a small swoosh. Then about 14 seconds later you will hear a bigger swoosh and a followed by an even bigger swoosh. Then you will hear daddy's voice saying "And that's Nevaeh swimming around!" We must be hearing your arms or legs moving inside of mommy. Sometimes we even hear thumps and bumps....but we didn't catch those on the video. That must be when you are trying to tell mommy...."Enough of this doppler stuff. Quit sticking me with the microphone! I hope you enjoy listening to this one day, just as I did my first time!

Love Grandma Dason

15w1d

Courtney called and shared Nevaeh's heartbeat via the doppler. As we were listening we could also hear her moving around. It is obvious when she moves away with a swish and then Courtney has to search for the heartbeat again. We can also hear the baby kicking at the doppler because we will hear thumps and bumps! This reminds me of something I forgot to post regarding her last OB visit. I posted that it took about 3 minutes for the nurse to find the heartbeat and Courtney started getting nervous. What I forgot to post was that once the nurse realized how nervous Courtney was (due to tears in her eyes!)...the nurse reassured her that the baby was OK because she could hear the baby moving with the doppler. So the sounds we questioned way back when about the swishes and thumps were and are indeed Nevaeh moving! HOW EXCITING!

15 WEEK BELLY PIC!

Courtney just sent this picture to me. This is her 15 week belly pic! I am amazed with the growth in just one week. Courtney doesn't notice it...but I bet she will when she views the belly slide show at the top of this blog!

15w0d TODAY!

Courtney is 15w0d today! If the baby is still measuring ahead, then she is more like 16w1d. Last week's ultrasound measurements of the baby were 5 1/2 inches from head to toe and around 2.5 oz, which is right inline with babycenter.com 15 weeks pregnancy updates.....which means that Nevaeh should be around 6 inches long from head to toe and weigh around 3.5 oz by now!

I just got off the phone with Courtney. She should be sending me a 15 week belly picture soon to post. She is also feeling the baby move more. Before I explained it like flutters but she says it is more like a roll or a crawl that she feels.

For those of you interested in the fetal doppler information, I posted it below. Hope you find the information helpful.

Fetal Doppler

For those of you interested in the doppler information, I posted the info again. Courtney has been using it since she was 9 1/2 weeks. Here's a picture of the doppler:

FDA APPROVED - Baby Fetal Heart Prenatal Doppler by Contec.

Courtney purchased this fetal doppler from Amazon.com. With gel, it was $95.00. My advice is to buy more gel....especially if you plan on using every day like she does. She is now on her second bottle and its only been 6 weeks! She was 9w6d when she tried it. She picked up a faint heartbeat but the doppler did not record it correctly. It states on the package for 12 weeks and up.....but she has been successful hearing the heartbeat every day! IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY....OR SHOULD I SAY EVERY DOLLAR! (LOL!)

14w5d OB VISIT

Courtney just called with the OB visit updates. She said she started to get nervous because the nurse took 3 minutes to find the heartbeat! Nevaeh moved to the upper half of the uterus! Her heartbeat was 150. If the baby would have hidden a little longer, she may have gotten another ultrasound...but no luck. Oh well, we will have to wait until November 4th for the next ultrasound, which will be a level II. This is when they start measuring her cervix. If it is a 2 or below, she will have a cerclage. If she measures between a 2 & 4 they will determine if the benefits outweigh the risks of a cerclage (case by case basis due to a slight chance of miscarriage or other pregnancy related problems). If she measures a 4 plus she is good to go! If she measures in the risky categories, then she will be scheduled for more ultrasounds as needed. Courtney will be 18w5d for the level II ultrasound. Hopefully Nevaeh is still a little girl when we see her next!!!!! If not, the baby will read these posts one day and laugh at all of us!

Courtney's blood pressure is under control 112/60. So the medication is still working nicely! Hopefully this holds true throughout the entire pregnancy. For some reason she will not share her weight gain with me....she says she keeps forgetting to ask. Hmmmm! Not sure if I believe her! The doctor discussed her tilted uterus with her, and said not to worry that approximately 40% of women have this problem.

Courtney asked about the flu shot and the H1N1 shot. Her OB is not in favor of either. Some flu shots make people sick....he doesn't want to make her sick needlessly. However, the first sign of flu symptoms she is to go directly to the emergency room. It may be tricky to determine the first signs of the flu since she is nauseous several times a day! We will say extra prayers that she stays healthy for the baby!

Next OB visit is in 2 weeks. Courtney will be 16w5d. She showed him the ultrasound pictures from last week along with measurement predictions of a week ahead. He just smiled and said it is not unusual for babies to measure ahead or behind the given due date. So I guess we are sticking with the original April 1st EDD.

14w4d

Courtney has another OB appointment tomorrow. Here are some questions she plans on asking:

1. Should she get a flu shot?
2. When the H1N1 flu shot is available, should she risk taking that one as well? Of course she is SCARED out of her mind on possible consequences it may have on the baby.
3. Weight gain so far?
4. Blood Pressure?
5.Next ultrasound date? Is it a level 1 or 2?
6. When will he start doing cervical checks to measure the length?

All I can say is thank God for the heartbeat doppler. Hearing the baby's heartbeat everyday has eased everyone's minds (not to mention last Friday's ultrasound)....I think Courtney is actually starting to enjoy the pregnancy versus continual fear of losing the baby. And then there is me....I am in a happy baby fog and loving it!

14w3d

Dear Nevaeh,

Grandma was admiring your pictures again. I don't know how I missed this one of your sweet little hand....as if you were pressing on the bubble of water keeping you safe inside...and wanting out!...There will be time for that later. You just stay safe and sound inside your mommy for now....One day I will get to hold that little hand of yours....I dream of you nightly!

As I look at this next picture, I see your mommy! She would always have her hands up around her head when she slept! Hard to believe that was almost 22 years ago! Soon I will get to watch you sleep...just like I used to watch over your mommy! I love you baby Vaeh!


Love, Grandma Dason

14w2d

Courtney is now at the 100 day mark in her pregnancy at 14w2d, but measuring 15w3d! Mike and Courtney headed back home to Kentucky today, so we had to take one more belly picture before they left. Hopefully she will send me a picture each week to track the belly growth throughout the pregnancy!

14w1d Measuring 15w2d!

Courtney and Mike have been busy registering at Babies R Us! Here's an idea of what they registered for. Nevaeh is one spoiled little baby already!






This is a picture of the bunny that contains the recording of Nevaeh's heartbeat! Grandma Barnett embroidered Nevaeh's name on a heart and added it to the bunny today. HOW SWEET!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Wonderful news! Our baby girl is having a girl....no boy parts at all! We were convinced once the labia lines were pointed out! Courtney is measuring one week and one day ahead which puts her at 15w1d with a due date on 3/25/10. So now I am not sure how to post. Do we change the due date and skip a week, or is the baby just a big one?! If she is due earlier, she may be born on her mommy's 22nd birthday! Courtney is naming her Nevaeh Grace (This is Heaven spelled backwards....because she is a true gift from God!)... and I am nicknaming her Vaeh! She is measuring 5.5" long from crown to toes! All bones are forming properly....no cleft pallet, closed spine, 2 arms, 2 legs, 10 fingers, 10 toes! The lovenox shots are doing it's job...the blood flow to and from the baby is perfect. The chambers of the heart are formed with a beat in the 150s. The umbilical cord is perfect and the placenta is in a good spot (not near the cervix)! YEAH!

Ultrasound Tech was wonderful. She spent about an hour with us. Courtney left with way more than the original package offered....62 (2D and 3D pictures), 4D Video to music and a brown/pink bunny with Vaeh's heartbeat sound inserted inside! Courtney drank a Mountain Dew before her appointment in order to "wake up" the baby....She moved the whole time!

Now I will have to change my blog colors from blues and browns to pink and browns! I had myself convinced she was having a boy......while secretly wishing for a girl....In actuality, I am completely happy she is having a healthy baby, period!


The white lines between her legs are the labia folds. The other thing is the umbilical cord!

The ultrasound tech pointed to this area and stated that nothing was floating up, another sign of a GIRL!

I love this side view of Nevaeh! You can't see her head that well, but you can see her arm, body,umbilical cord, thigh, leg and foot! See how she is pressing on the wall of the uterus with her foot? Courtney feels those movements sometimes!

Another between the legs shot! I guess boys do not have those white lines present! She is all GIRL!

I love this profile shot! Look at the perfect nose and mouth!

This is one of my favorite 3D pictures because you can see Nevaeh's whole body from head, hands to toes!
This is a picture of a perfectly formed spine! What a relief!





When you play this video you will hear Courtney's sister Caitlin say:
"Is that pose one of the pictures?"
"She moves alot doesn't she!?"
"Are you POSITIVE that is just the umbilical cord!?"

Aunt Caitlin could not be at the ultrasound because she had clinical classes for college to attend. Maybe next time!

The Lovenox Shot-Nightly Routine!

READERS BEWARE!!!! If you have a weak stomach you may not want to see or watch this post. It is of Courtney's nightly routine with lovenox shots. She will do what she needs to maintain a pregnancy for a healthy baby!

14w0d In 3 Hour and 45 Minutes!

Yes, crazy grandma is posting another heartbeat video! Courtney will be 14wOd in 3 hours and 45 minutes! Courtney thinks I'm crazy! The video shows the heartbeat at various rates. We think it is because the baby is so active. Courtney said she felt the baby move at the same time we heard a thump on the monitor. In less than 14 hours we will see lil' baby Barnett's face!