16 Weeks

4 months down, 5 to go!

Bebs: Bebs is experiencing a growth spurt! In the next few weeks, baby will double his/her weight and add inches to his/her length. Bebs is about the size of an avocado--about 4 1/2 inches long and weighs about 3 1/2 ounces. Legs are much more developed, the head is more erect than it has been, and his/her eyes have moved closer to the front of the head. Ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of the scalp has begun. Bebs even started growing toenails! And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, the heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as Bebs continues to develop.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think I've been feeling Bebs squirm around in there. Occasionally I will feel little bubbles or flutters. I definitely feel pressure in there, pretty much all the time. The other day I was eating strawberries and all of a sudden I felt this weird, almost barrel roll type movement in my uterus; like Bebs flipped over or something. It was crazy! Maybe s/he either really likes or really dislikes strawberries?!



Hebs: I will take back the nausea, dry heaving, vomitting, metal mouth taste, and food adversions if I can get rid of these headaches. Seriously. Please? Any pregnant ladies out there want to trade symptoms? I feel like I've had the same headache for two weeks straight. It's never really gone; some days its just less and bearable, and other days all I want to do is just lay there and try to numb the pain with ice. It feels like my brain is too big and is expanding outwards to crush my skull. It's just awful. I've tried Tylenol (the only medication you can take while pregnant), icing my neck and forehead, massaging Emu oil into my neck and forehead, both drinking caffeine and avoiding caffeine, and drowning myself with water. The only way I've gotten relief so far is by taking two Tylenol PM's at night and sleeping in a cold, dark room. But even then I wake up with a headache.

I know I have issues with my neck thanks to my double vision as a child (my head was constantly tilted to the right to try to see correctly--it wasn't until after my surgery that my doctor realized I did that!) and the car accident I was in last year (hitting an airbag feels more like hitting a brick wall than a cloud, which is what I always thought!). The new chiropractor I'm seeing is definitely helping with that aspect. I was adjusted last night by the other doctor in the practice and he actually did a mini eye exam on me when he heard about how severe my headaches have been. Never did that with a chiropractor before! He seemed a little concerned until I told him I wear glasses, had surgery, etc. and that this was as good as it was going to get. He "massaged" (aka dug his hand into my muscle until tears came to my eyes) the right side of my neck, upper back and shoulder to try to get that muscle to relax. Apparently that muscle (I believe it's the trapezius muscle if I remember back to my chiropractic assisting days ;)) is wound too tight from years of supporting my weird head tilt and horrible posture! We also talked about how I sit at the computer and how I need to move things closer to me so I stop straining my neck muscles, and my eyes for that matter. Interesting stuff!

I have an appointment with the OBGYN tonight so I will definitely be asking if there is another medication I could take to help with these headaches.

Ok, since I did enough complaining, here are some things I am thankful for!

1. My awesome Dad for painting our new bedroom for us. It was SUCH a huge help, I can't even express how grateful we are. My Dad is a rare breed--he genuinely enjoys helping others. I don't think he knows how to sit still!

2. My mom for buying me maternity clothes, listening to me complain, and always reminding me to drink water. :)

"Just keep drinking" is our motto! Water, that is!

3. My cousin Christi for letting me borrow all of her maternity clothes. I officially do not fit in ANY of my pants unless I'm wearing a belly band or have maternity pants on. I truly appreciate it!

4. My girlfriends, the dom5, for sending me a gorgeous flower arrangement last month.

5. My boys. Just because. I've been irritable and cranky and both of you continue to put up with me and want to lick my face. Well, sometimes. :)