"Things that make you go hummmm..."

While Peanut and I were working out at the gym this evening, we were reading our normal "gym-trash" magazines -- People, US Weekly, and the likes. Gotta catch up on Hollywood somehow! Especially without paying a dime for them!!

Anyways, I was reading the latest celeb's baby-name choices and I was shocked. I felt as though some of them were blog-worthy for comments!

Sunday Rose -- daughter of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. Why in the world do people name their children after day's of the week? (I have a patient named Wednesday). This is just cruel and unusual punishment for that poor child. They claim she was named after Sunday Reed, an Australian artist's muse ... but seriously, she will think she was named after the "day of the week" kids underwear!! What kid will get to wear underware with their name written all over it??? I know they didn't make "Allyson" underware. Those of you that are laughing now b/c you know you had that type of underwear when you were a kid! Just admit it!

Honor Marie -- daughter of Jessica Alba and Cash Warren. This isn't as crazy as some of them, but a noun or action verb for a name?? I think of "Honor" Thy mother and father... or the Honor Roll... but a cute, sweet little baby girl.... ummmm NO!

Maximilian David -- son of Marc Anthony and J Lo. I hear "Max-a-million" in his name. Maybe they thought, "Hum, our child will be worth "a max of a million dollars." Or maybe not... but what a weird name??

Finally, the strangest of them all....

Peanut Kai -- son of Ingo Rademacher (GH soap star I guess). Ok, so here is the deal... peanut is A-OK for a FETUS name, but not a BABY name!!! Their comment in US Weekly, "It puts a smile on everyone's face." Well, heck ya it does. A smile and a mental thought of "Are you crazy???" I wouldn't be surprised if "Peanut" ends up with a brother Cashew, sister Pistachio, and another brother of Walnut. Talk about a "nutty" family!!

Allyson and Peanut(s)

Somebody is listening….

This blog post brings us to week 18 of this 40 week pregnancy! We still aren’t halfway and it seems like forever until the end!! YIKES!!! Hopefully after the anticipation from the US is over, the weeks will progress a little more quickly! Here's hoping right?

They tell me in this week’s update that I am in “the full throes of the second trimester, I’m feeling—and looking—fabulous. So don't waste it!” Are you kidding me??? Feeling and looking fabulous! They must be talking about Angelina Jolie, b/c it ain’t me!! At least I am starting to feel a little better -- but no where close to pre-pregnancy energy!

Peanut update for this week….

--Peanut’s ears are now facing forward and are completely formed so he/she can actually hear me talking now. (I bet Peanut is already saying, "I wish my mom would just be quiet sometimes!")
--Peanut’s bones begin the project of ossification (AKA – hardening of the bones) this week.
--Peanut’s blood vessels are visible through his/her thin skin
--Peanut’s nerves are making more and more complex connections
--Peanut’s sense of smell, taste, sight and hearing are all developing
--Peanut’s myelin is now coating your baby's nerves (this makes nerve connections travel faster.)
--Peanut weighs about 7 ounces and is about 5 ½ inches long (the length of a bell pepper).
--Peanut is the size of pickle from the corner deli. Are you kidding? Who says this??

Finally, if Peanut is a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If peanut is a boy, his genitals are noticeable now! He may be tempted to hide them from us during the ultrasound – but he won’t if he knows what’s good for him! 

Guess we will have to wait one more EXTREMELY LONG week until the “Big Revealing of 2008!”

Love,
Allyson and Peanut(s)

Kickin’ like crazy…

I am pleased to inform you that yes, indeed I felt Peanut kicking last Tuesday night. Peanut is kickin’ like crazy these days. I can never tell when he/she is going to start their “exercise” routine! It always takes me by surprise!! It is the strangest feeling in the world I tell you. For those of you mothers out there – you know what I am talking about! Since I have yet to have an ultrasound done and haven’t seen our “peanut” on the “BIG SCREEN” yet -- it kind of feels like “ALIEN INVASION 2008”.

I was sitting enjoying my lunch Friday, just checking my work email and I had to start laughing b/c Peanut was kicking around my lower left abdominal quadrant. He/She gave me 5 kicks, about 20 sec apart and then stopped!! A few minutes later, it felt like he/she was doing somersaults in my lower central abdominal area. That is just the strangest feeling in the whole wide world!! Sometimes I will push back on my stomach to see if I can create a response from peanut, i.e. another kick. Peanut might come out in December with little indentations on his/her head from all my “tormenting!”

Although, on a more serious note, I am VERY thankful to feeling Peanut kicking!!! It is such a comforting (yet strange) feeling to me!! I know that my Peanut is “alive and kickin’ if you know what I mean!!

Well, more updates to come tomorrow….

Allyson and Peanut(s)

A gift...

Can I say how much I love the majority of my patients. Notice, I did say "majority" and not all!! Anywho, one of my patients brought me the "goods" from his garden! (We have been talking about garden adventures all season!) He brought me some green onions, hot peppers (for Nate!), cucumbers, and TURNIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to chuckle to myself for many reasons....

A) I have never had a turnip in my life
B) I didn't really know what one looked like until my most recent blog and google of "turnip" images
C) I have no clue what they taste like
D) I have no clue how to make them/cook them/eat them???

I just thought how ironic -- little peanut is going to sample food this weekend that it resembles this week in its growth. So.................Is that freaky or kind of cool? Hum???????????????

Love,
Allyson, Peanut(s), and the garden turnips!!!

"Baby Turnips"

Attention all: there are two turnips in the world now… Baby McHugh and Baby Long. However, Baby McHugh is much closer to “entry into our fine planet” than baby Long.

This week in the news…

-Peanut’s skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone
-Peanut’s umbilical cord (aka lifeline to the placenta) is growing stronger and thicker.
-Peanut weighs 5 ounces now which is about as much as a turnip!

- Peanut is around 5 inches long from head to bottom
- Peanut can move her joints
- Peanut’s sweat glands are starting to develop – good thing since Peanut has started her early morning and late in the evening workouts. Some people call me a “Nazi trainer” – I guess this tendency is having an impact on our unborn fetus as well! At least poor peanut can sweat during his/her workouts to cool off.

** A Random thought: I often wonder what peanut thinks of my gym sessions these days. When I am on the elliptical machine, do you think peanut gets a headache? Or he/she thinks they are on an amusement park ride? I can’t imagine it is enjoyable for 30 minutes to be bounced all around??

In other news: My dream life has kicked into high gear. I have the craziest dreams EVERY single night and sometimes more than 1 per night. I did a little research and this is what I found….

“Many women report that their dream life shifts into high gear during pregnancy. Interestingly, during the second and third trimesters, you spend less sleep time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the cycle in which most dreams occur. Why, then, all those frequent and vivid dream memories? It's probably at least in part because you may be interrupting a dream-filled cycle when you wake up to pee, cope with heartburn, leg cramps, restless legs, or a backache, or to shift to a more comfortable position. Waking up during REM sleep makes you more likely to remember your dreams.” (www.babycenter.com)

So, I guess this solves the dream issue huh? I will have to post some of my wild dreams as they come up. Everyone is going to think I am a neurotic nut by the end of this pregnancy!!

Countdown to the “official revealing”…… 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder if we will be seeing “double.” Hum!

Love,
Allyson, Nate, and Peanut(s)

Lessons learned...

On a more serious note for today's post. My mom gave me a book when we found out we were expecting, "Birthed in Prayer...Pregnancy as a Spiritual Journey." It has been up in the closet since early May, and I thought it would be appropriate to get it out and start reading. I have been really impressed with this book (and highly recommend to those that are pregnant)!

As many of you know, I have been a bit neurotic during this pregnancy (hard to believe I know). I have worried with every little twitch, pain, uncomfortable feeling.... I worry daily that peanut isn't going to survive the full 40 weeks ... worry Peanut's heart will just mysteriously stop beating (without warning) ... worry that I am not eating enough of "healthy veggies" (because they still create in me a huge gag reflex).... and the list goes on and on...

Last Friday afternoon I was reading the chapter "Releasing the Way Things Were," and I stumbled upon a truth that really struck a raw bone in my body. They were speaking of Mary (the mother of Jesus) and how radical her pregnancy must have seemed. Mary responded to each unexpected challenge with dignity and faith. She knew her life was serving a great purpose for God, and she was willing to give 100% of herself to that purpose. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

In the midst of all my constant worry, I forget that "The Lord is with me and entrusts me to carry this child." I also now hear, "Do not be afraid Allyson, you have found favor with God." The authors of the book asked this penetrating question, "Are you able to accept that God's purpose for you at this moment in time is the present reality of your pregnancy?" I had a huge epiphany -- God has me in this "present reality" to carry this child and I need to be a willing servant. I can not worry about what the ultrasound will bring, what 26 weeks will bring, nor what the delivery will bring. I must focus on my "present reality" and that I must take each day God gives me to carry this child as a blessing from Him. If I want to be a faithful servant, obedience is what He commands of me. I must surrender my lack of control and desire for a "guaranteed" healthy baby to Him with a heart that speaks, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said..."

In a nutshell, those are some truths that I am still processing through. It is hard for me to think of each day, when I am always focused on the "big Homecoming event" in December. I have realized that so much is beyond my control. My fear becomes a problem when it is "based on what COULD happen rather that what is happening." I am learning that fear is "inevitable, but my reponse to it is not." So with God's grace and mercy, I will continue to allow this pregnancy to reveal more of who He is and to deepen my relationship with my Savior.

PS> I think I felt Peanut kick for the first time tonight. Hope that was it b/c it was a great (and comforting) feeling!
PSS> Stay tuned for side view photos. I know we have missed the three and four month milestone, but we will hopefully get a picture up for 4.5 months!

Love,
Allyson and Peanut(s)

Pistachio vs. Special K

Nate can't seem to get into the name "Peanut" for the baby. He said he thinks we need a name that has some meaning to it. I asked him what he preferred and he said, "Pistachio." About 4 weeks ago, I got on a pistachio kick, and I have been eating 1/4 cup of them each day! Even though his name has a little more meaning than "Peanut," I told him that we can't change the baby's name now b/c everyone knows our baby(s) as Peanut(s). He continues to call our baby "Pistachio" -- so I figure, hey, he is the dad, so he has the right to call him/her whatever he would like! Although, I just love "Peanut," so this mama will call the baby that for the remaining time!

My dad seems to think the name Special K is more appropriate. Special K is his favorite cereal and (for those of you who don't know) his last name is Kiesel.... hince the K. He thinks this baby is going to be one "Special K" kid. I told him that I was no longer a "Kiesel" but a "Long." He said that the baby is still 1/2 Kiesel which is why he likes Special K.

When our child makes it out of the womb, he/she is going to have 3 baby fetus names and 1 "real name!" Hope he/she doesn't get confused!!

Love,
Allyson and Peanut(s)

Mexican anyone?

Nate loves guacamole, and I mean, LOVES it! He just started having me purchase avocado’s at the grocery store, so he can make his own homemade guacamole dip. He adds a little fresh minced garlic, onion, fresh garden hot peppers, and avocado. I am just not a fan of the dip (too spicey for one thing with the hot peppers). However, for some reason, avocado’s leave such a crazy taste in my mouth, not to mention the fact they have a very WEIRD texture.

You are probably reading this and thinking to yourself, "Why on earth is she telling me their recipe for guacamole?" Reason: My 16th week update tells me that peanut is the size of an AVOCADO! Why an avocado? Why not a veggie or fruit a little more normal and yummy?? They pick the most random foods! Who knows, maybe eventually "eggplant" will be on the list??

I have come to realize that it is a good thing that peanut is living in my tummy and not Nate’s! I wouldn’t want the baby to crave guacamole like his/her father!! We would have a little "Mexican baby!"

Well, this week they tell me that peanut is in the middle of a growth spurt.

- Peanut will double his/her weight and add inches to his/her length
- 4 ½ inches long and weighs about 3 1/2 ounces
- Peanut’s legs are much more developed
- Peanut’s head is more erect than it has been before
- Peanut’s eyes have moved closer to the front of his head (well, that is a good thing. We wouldn’t want peanut looking like an alien from Mars or Venus!)
- Peanut’s ears are close to their final position (Thank heavens – peanut needs to be able to hear when his/her mommy or daddy disciplines him/her!)
- The patterning of his/her scalp has begun, though his/her locks aren't recognizable yet
- Peanut’s heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day

.....And for the best thing of week 16 (in my opinion)

- Peanut has started growing TOENAILS!!! If it is a girl, our little princess will have to get pedicures!! If it is a boy, well, we might have to think of other alternatives.

In other news, I am still battling with the nausea! It usually occurs at night by 8pm and nothing really helps it! (Believe me, I have tried everything!) I thought for sure by 4 months, I would be free of sickness and feel like a rockstar. However, that is just not the case. I keep waiting for it all to "turn-off" over night and me be back to my pre-prego self: tons of energy and very lively! I know Nate is ready for that phase to start too!

Yesterday before Apryl and I went for our weekly walk, I was able to use my "borrowed doptone" and listen to peanut's heartbeat. It is going strong!

We are excited and counting down to August 5th! The theme for that day will be "stick 'em up and spread 'em!!" (if you know what I mean!)

Nate, Allyson, and Peanut(s)

Treasures or JUNK?

Well, peanut participated in his/her first garage sale with Aunt Sarah yesterday! Our neighborhood planned to have its sale on Saturday July 12th. All week the weather was looking great, and I was thrilled b/c I needed to get rid of a lot of "junk" to make room for peanuts stuff that will be arriving before we know it!

Thursday the weather took a nose dive and Chuck Lofton, my trusty Channel 13 weather man, informs me that Saturday afternoon and evening it was going to rain! Well, he changes his mind on Friday (go figure) and says that it "might start a little earlier"... well, a little earlier was right -- b/c when we got up at 6am Saturday, the rain was coming down so hard, I could barely see through the windows!! Now who in their right mind wants to go to garage sales in the pouring down rain!! At this moment in time, peanut and I starting pouting.... "How can this be? I spent all this time pricing, setting up, and the weather is going to ruin it all!" Just my luck, the weather was perfect on Friday and was going to be perfect on Sunday, but just royally STINK on Saturday!! I had prepared myself with the reality that I was going to have to spend all next Saturday selling my junk -- but God was very gracious -- the rain stopped about 10am and it was dry for the rest of the sale.

To set up the scene, 7:30am, Aunt Sarah arrives to our humble aboad.. or should I say arrives on Noah's Ark during the flood and downpours.

7:45am -- Peanut and I lay on the couch continuing to pout about the weather

8:00am (the time the sale is supposed to start) -- I ask Nate to start watching for "slow driving cars" in the neighborhood through the office window.

8:05am -- Still pouting and feeling sorry for myself... and all the crap I still will have to keep or donate...

8:10am -- Nate spots the first "slow moving car" and I tear out into the garage, put the garage door up, and Aunt Sarah runs to flag down the two ladies in the blue Aveo!! "We're open!" Yes, we are dorks!!

8:12am -- the two die-hard "treasure hunters" pull into the driveway in the pouring down rain to look at our "JUNK" and they each find a "treasure" they can't live without ... and VOILA ... Our first sale....

I think we were the only brave ones to put our garage door up in the pouring down rain.

8:20am -- the neighbors across the street put their door up...

8:25am -- our second customers.... and the rest is history...

I have learned that rain or shine -- the die-hard "treasure hunters" come out of the wood works and shop till they drop!!!

The most unusual request: Old license plates. To think, I just threw out my old Butler License plate that I had kept for over 1 year in the trash two weeks ago. This guy would have been willing to pay top dollar for it too!! Tear!! He has over 8,000 old license plates -- the most in Hendricks County and travels the country displaying these plates!! Wow -- very interesting huh??

Well, Peanut and I ended up making a whole $48.50 while Aunt Sarah made $43 and Grandma Debbie made $25. So if I calculate what I made per hour -- that would be a grand total of $8.08/hr. That isn't even minimum wage is it??? Hey -- but at least I have been able to make a profit on our "junk" that has become someone else's treasure.....

Anyone have a PhD in genetics or statistics?

To all those in blogger world... does anyone have a PhD in genetics or statistics? I have some updated "multiples" information and I am curious if there is significance! Here is what we know thus far...

- Nate's grandpa was a twin (His mom's dad)
- Nate's mom and dad both have a second cousin each with a set of triplets
- I have a second cousin or third cousin that is a twin.
- We got pregnant the first month off the "pill" -- so does the body shoot off more than one egg as it goes through "pill-withdrawl" and tries to regulate? (I know, kind of a crazy question, but it crossed my mind!)

Here are my questions for that genetic or statistic genious:

1. Are "multiples" passed through the X or Y gene?
2. What are our computated odds of having a "multiple" with the known information cited above?

Such simple questions, right??? Sooooooo.... who knows the answers? Please leave your answers in the comments field!!

Thanks!
Nate, Allyson, and Peanut(s)

15 weeks ....

It is time for our weekly Peanut growth update! They tell me that peanut is the size of an apple right now! I have to agree with Katie McHugh when she felt it quite weird that they compare a human being to a type of food each week! Who comes up with these comparisons? How do they know exactly what each week should be compared too? Some people really have no life!!!

On to the details you are all dying to know.....

- Peanut measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump
- Peanut probably weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces
- Peanut spends most of her/his day busy moving around in amniotic fluid
- Peanut's primitive air sacs in his/her lungs are beginning to develop
- Peanut's legs are growing longer than her arms now (which is a good thing huh?)
- Peanut can move all of his/her joints and limbs
- Peanut can sense light even though her/his eyelids are still fused shut. If a crazy person would shine a flashlight at my tummy, he/she is likely to move away from the beam.
-Peanut is forming taste buds.

Nate, Allyson, and Peanut

One "nut" or Two.... a twist in the story....

Peanut and I went to the doctor today for our 15 week check-up. We chatted with the doctor for 15 minutes or so -- you know I had a list of questions as I do each time! After we were done talking, Karla got out the doptone machine and found peanut's heartbeat. I asked her (somewhat joking), "How do you know there aren't two of them down there?" She kind of paused, and said, "Well, I don't know for sure." She started pressing around my stomach to see how my uterus was measuring and she said, "Hum..." Oh course this triggered worry-wart Allyson to say, "What's wrong?" She said "nothing is wrong, but your uterus is measuring about 16.5-17 weeks instead of 14.5-15 weeks... plus you have still been sick, so I can't rule out twins."

I had to take a step back for a minute and think about what this means... there is a slight possiblity there could be two peanuts growing inside of me?? Wow -- that changes everything huh? The chances of twins are highly unlikely, considering there are only one distant set of twins in each of our families. However, the incidence of fraternal twins in the US are anywhere from 1:100 to 1:250 without using fertility treatments! (Goodness knows we didn't have a problem with fertility!)

So that is the update from peanut and I today. We have our Ultrasound scheduled for 8/5/08. Hopefully peanut(s) will not be bashful and will gladly show off his/her sex to Mama Al and Papa Nate!

** Slight ammendment to the post -- I was informed by my mother-in-law that her dad (Nate's grandpa) was a twin. So, they are closer in lineage than we think!!

Tomorrow I will post the 15 week highlights.....

Nate, Allyson, and Peanut(s)

A legume or a nut??

PEANUT - Is it a legume or a nut? Or a name for a baby fetus?

Thanks to everyone who emailed me fetus name suggestions and posted comments! It seemed like "Peanut" was one of the most common suggestions.

For some odd reason, the name has kind of stuck. Today, I looked down at my stomach and thought, "Wow peanut, you are really starting to show the world you are growing. People wouldn't know you are only the size of a lemon right now!" Also, I was talking with my mom on the phone today and I said, "Peanut and I are going to go workout now, we will talk to you later." I really like the sound of it!

So, until a more "catchy" or appropriate name is suggested OR we find out the sex and have a gender specific fetus name, PEANUT it is!

Thanks to everyone else for their suggestions. I greatly appreciate them all!

Nate, Allyson, and Peanut