It's A Girl!!!!

The verdict is in and we couldn't be happier! We're expecting a little girl named Molly Joy. The ultrasound was such a fabulous experience and one I'll never forget. Molly was very active, squirming all over the place and putting on quite the show for us. The 3-D images they have now for sonograms are so amazing. I felt like she was right there in front of us and we were looking at her adorable little face. I definitely think she has my Corbin-family chin and perhaps a Frueh-family nose. As soon as I can find a scanner to scan the pictures, they'll be up here and you can see what you think for yourselves.

Both Eric and I are very excited to have a girl. Coming from a family of all girls, I feel better prepared for parenting a girl. I'm not sure I'd know what to do with a boy! And this will make an even 3-3 split of boy and girl grandchildren for my parents. From Eric's perspective, he's coming from a family of all boys and he's looking forward to something a little different. Plus, there's just something about that Daddy-daughter connection that is so special. AND I can't wait to shop for little pink socks, hair bows, and dresses!

Molly is right on track for growth, measuring in at 6 inches in length and 11 ounces in weight. As she showed us at the ultrasound, she loves her daily workouts and is exercising those muscles for sure. I can feel her squirming and bouncing around all the time now and I never tire of it. She is especially active in the evening after our dinner and walk. Every night at 7:00, Eric reads aloud to me and Molly and she absolutely loves it. As soon as I lay down on the couch, she starts her squirming and kicking and for a full half hour, she keeps it up. The other night I even saw a little tiny foot or fist poke out of my belly. Even Daddy can get in on the fun now. When she's at her wildest, he can feel her as well, which has been such fun!

There was one small problem detected during the ultrasound that we're hoping will resolve itself before too long. The doctor found that my placenta is very low and partially covering my cervix, a condition called "placenta previa". A low placenta is detected in about 10% of pregnancies during the 2nd Trimester. The good news is that, in the vast majority of these cases, the placenta moves upward as the uterus grows larger. In all likelihood, that's what is going to happen, but we'll go back for a 30-week ultrasound just to make sure that it has moved up and is no longer covering the cervix. 90% of the time, that's what happens. In the unlikely case that the previa persists into the 3rd Trimester, I could find myself on bedrest for the last month and welcoming our little Molly with a C-section. Fortunately, that's a rare situation, but I'd still appreciate your prayers that my placenta would trek its way up there a bit higher.

"...A Time to be Born and a Time to Die..."

At this moment, I am caught in a place that I don't know how to understand...a place of joy and a place of sadness. I am celebrating the amazing life that is growing inside me, but I am also mourning the loss of a great life...my Uncle Jim. He went home to be with the Lord on February 28th and the week since has been a rollercoaster of emotions. I know that he is celebrating with our Savior and drawing in full, sweet breaths of clean air for the first time in a decade and for that I'm so grateful. But the hole he's left behind is going to be a difficult one to fill.

It's interesting to look at the pieces of a life that are left behind when that life is gone. Uncle Jim's house is filled with interesting trinkets, books, newspaper clippings, and lots of Ralph's dog hair:-) But amongst all of the random bits, we found Uncle Jim's daily life lines, the items that made their way into each day he lived in that cabin: his Bible and his prayer list. As I opened the Bible, I found a list of Uncle Jim's favorite verses, bookmarks in special passages, and devotionals that were meaningful to him. In his little yellow legal pad, I found the prayer list of a man who's faith I can only hope to emulate. Page after page of names...friends, relatives, neighbors, church family...all with specific requests listed next to the names. I could see where he'd added new petitions as time went on. He also recorded in red pen the date and way that each request was answered. What a blessing to find my name and know that, each day, he was praying for my health and spiritual growth!

Yes, a great man of faith has left this Earth and it saddens me greatly that our child will never have the chance to meet their Uncle Jim. They'll never see his perpetually bare feet, never receive a children's book for Christmas or a birthday wrapped in the Sunday comics and signed "Love Uncle Jim", never hear him tell his crazy stories of days gone by, and never hold his hand in prayer. But what a great example he has left for me, even in his death. Here was a man who had plenty of reason to feel lonely and sorry for himself...but he didn't. He, instead, spent his time recording what he was thankful for, praying for the needs of others, poring over God's word, and singing his worship to the Lord...even hours before his death. I can only hope that I can be the same kind of example for our child.

As I was grieving the loss of Uncle Jim this week, our precious bundle chose the perfect opportunity to cheer me up with a few swift kicks! I've been waiting and waiting to feel those first movements and they came just a few days ago. It was definitely the most amazing feeling in the world, and the perfect pick-me-up. I felt a sudden sharp pain in my lower back that lasted for about 15 minutes. Then, all of a sudden, I felt it...something like popcorn popping deep and low in my abdomen. Then, just as suddenly as it came, the pain in my back was gone. I guess our little bambino found a nerve to sit on for a few minutes and then, thankfully, decided to find a new position. Since then, I've been enjoying our little baby's movements several times throughout the day (and night). Right now it kind of feels like someone's giving me a belly massage, but from the inside. I hope his or her movements stay this gentle for the next 20 weeks, but, from what I hear, I fear that may not be the case. Ooooh, there was a bit of swift punch just now...guess I spoke too soon:-)

Since the last post, our baby has grown quite a bit. He/she is now 6 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs over 1/2 pound! The arms and legs are now proportional to the body, which is probably why he/she is making swift use of them to massage Mommy from the inside. Gotta get in those calisthenics each day to build those big muscles. The brain has had quite the workout as well; it is busy specializing areas to process sensory information about sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. And Baby is already processing sensory information that he/she gathers in the womb, such as Mommy and Daddy talking, pokes to the belly, and changes from dim light to bright light.

I thank God every day for the opportunity He is giving us to bring this life into the world and I pray that I would live and love and pray in such a way that our child will see Christ in me the way I saw Christ in Uncle Jim. Give thanks today for the blessings God has given you.

Woosh...woosh...woosh...the most beautiful sound in the world!

I had my first appointment at the Birth Center this week and it was a fantastic experience! The midwives are so knowledgable, but they're also patient and reassuring. They really take the time to make sure you're feeling comforted...body, mind, and spirit. My first official weigh-in since 8 weeks confirms that I've gained 10 lbs. so far!!!! This seemed like a lot to me, but the midwife said this was right where they wanted me to be. My uterus measured in just right as well...right at 16cm (although the midwife said I looked like I was showing like an 18-weeker). She said there's just nowhere in my petite torso for my uterus to go, so it has just pushed everything straight up and straight out! The absolute highlight of the visit was being able to listen to our little bambino's hearbeat with a Doppler. It made this perfect "woosh...woosh...woosh" sound at a rate of 146 bpm. As soon as I heard it, this huge smile spread across my face and when the midwife saw it she put the Doppler back on my belly and let me listen a little bit longer. I could have listened to that sound all day long. It's just so amazing to think that there's a little tiny person in there with a little tiny beating heart!

The only bad news of the day was that I tested positive for Group B strep. About 20% of women are carriers for Group B strep and I just happen to be one of them. It has no effect on me at all, but it can be dangerous for the baby if he/she contracts it during delivery. It could cause pneumonia or meningitis in the baby after delivery. I've started antibiotics and I'll be tested again at 36 weeks. If I'm positive again, I'll need to be on IV antibiotics during delivery and the baby will have to be monitored afterwards. With antibiotics, the chances of complication are 1 in 4000. I was hoping to be IV-free for labor, but obviously it's pretty important so I don't mind too much.

This week, our little bun is 4 1/2 inches long and weighs 3 1/2 ounces...about the size of an avocado. His/her head is nearly erect and the pattern of hair follicles on his/her head is almost complete, even though there is no hair. This is so amazing to me...it reminds me of that verse that says that God knows the number of hairs on our head. Even now, God knows the exact pattern of hairs on our little baby's scalp!!! That little heart that I was listening to yesterday is now pumping an average of 25 quarts of blood per day...a number that will continue to increase throughout pregnancy. With legs now proportional to the arms, and developing muscles, Baby Frueh is kicking and punching up a storm. I haven't felt any of these kicks or punches yet, but most first-timers don't recognize them until 18-20 weeks. I'm eagerly awaiting those first movements! For now, I just keep replaying that "woosh...woosh...woosh" in my head.

15 Weeks and Counting...

We've reached 15 Weeks and the inevitable wardrobe crisis. Up until now, I've been able to squeeze by, literally, with some big jeans from high school, my BellaBand, and some too-big t-shirts. It's not working out so well this week. I've been fortunate enough to have found a great number of maternity clothes items at very reasonable prices through friends, consignment shops and the wonders of Craig's List. However, I'm currently at that unfortunate stage where I'm too large for most of my pre-pregnancy pants and blouses, but I'm still swimming in most of my maternity clothes. I'm sure the extra room will be welcome in a few months, but right now it just looks a little ridiculous. It takes quite a while to get dressed in the morning because I have to pre-screen all my outfits. I try in vain to make some of my old clothes look normal on me without making it obvious to the entire world that I'm walking around with my pants unbuttoned and unzipped. Then I try, in vain again, to find a shirt that doesn't cling to every curve and ride up all over. Eventually I concede and slip into a maternity top and "BAM!!!". . . instant preggo. There's something about putting on a maternity top that makes you instantly look about 10 lbs. heavier. Believe me, I LOVE my pregnant belly. I think it's absolutely gorgeous. I just don't want to end up wearing the same clothes over and over again for the next 6 months. Oh well, the maternity clothes era has begun...ready or not...here it is!

The Frueh Baby is now about 4 inches long from crown to rump, about the length of the palm of your hand, and weighs 2 1/2 ounces. He/she is practicing breathing motions by moving amniotic fluid through his/her nose, mouth, and lungs. This helps to mature the air sacs in the lungs. Last week, Baby Frueh's arms were longer than his/her legs, but this week, the legs have caught up and surpassed the arms in length. They're now both proportional in size to the body. The taste buds have also started to form on his/her tiny tongue and Baby Frueh may even develop a preference for food flavors passed to him/her in utero. If I had an ultrasound this week, we could FINALLY tell if our baby is going to be a boy or a girl!!!! Unfortunately, we'll have to wait a few more weeks until my scheduled ultrasound. I will be so excited to finally be able to refer to our little bambino by name! Guess that means I better hit the books...the baby name books, that is...

We have arrived...2nd Trimester!

I'm officially into my 2nd Trimester and Baby Frueh has definitely made his/her appearance. The pregnant belly is now absolutely unmistakable, although I believe the disappearance of my first trimester nausea is partly to blame. I now want to eat anything and everything I can get my hands on...at all hours of the day and night. My new must-have favorite foods include gala apples with cheddar cheese, cereal (at any time of day), popcorn, and chocolate ice cream. I literally have not purchased ice cream in years...we just don't eat it at home. But I was grocery shopping the other day and ice cream was on sale. So what did I do? I bought FOUR half gallons! I think Eric decided he'll "help" with the grocery shopping from now on:-) I also had quite the feast on Sunday night as I watched my Steelers win their 6th Super Bowl victory...GO STEELERS!!! Something about that nail-biting fourth quarter sent me into a nervous eating frenzy that may have contributed to the roundness of this belly!

Speaking of great news, I was accepted this week at the Women's Birth and Wellness Center in Chapel Hill for my prenatal care and delivery. I'm so excited!!! WBWC is the only free-standing birth center in the state and it just so happens that we only live 30 minutes away. The midwives there are absolutely fantastic and their practice matches my views on natural childbirth with limited intervention. I think they'll really help my childbirth experience be something that I look back on with positive memories. My first appointment is in 2 weeks so I'll keep you updated.

This week Baby Frueh has grown to 3 1/2 inches in length and weighs 1 1/2 ounces. He/she is sprouting hair just about everywhere...on top of the head, eyebrows, eyelashes. There is even a fine layer of fuzzy hair all over his/her body called lanugo. It's kind of like a fuzzy blanket that keeps the baby warm, but it will all shed during the third trimester. The liver and spleen are fully developed and functional, producing bile and red blood cells respectively. The brain is also maturing nicely and the baby can make various facial expressions depending on what he/she is experiencing. My body is going through many changes as well...the diameter of my arteries is increasing and my blood volume is doubling in order to carry enough nutrients and oxygen to the baby. This caused a slight problem this week as one change happened, but not the other. My arteries are expanding, but my blood is trying to catch up, resulting in a very low blood pressure. Consequently, I've had a couple scary bouts of dizziness as I get out of bed in the morning. I've been assured this is totally normal...just a bit unsettling. Hopefully by next week, my blood will have caught up with my body!