Friday Update

Hi everyone! Hope you are all happy and well. Busy weekend ahead for me and Brent. Tomorrow morning we are going to volunteer with "Keep Brevard Beautiful" (we live in Brevard County) and do a park clean-up organized through Brent's school. Some of the students will be there, so should be fun. As fun as picking up trash can be, I guess! Then on Sunday we will drive over to see Brent's grandparents. They come to Florida for the winter months and stay in a little town in central Florida. Takes about an hour and a half to get there. We always visit once while they're down here. I'm in the mood for some of Grandma Hartsell's homemade pie (maybe I'll have to eat two pieces since I'm eating for two.....kidding).

Well, I had a hormonal meltdown one evening this week. I laugh now. I started to cry because some of my pants are getting tight! Poor Brent - he comforted me, the crazy loon I was. It's just such a weird - wonderfully weird - feeling when all these changes take place. So, from now on I'm not touching the "too tight" pants (two pairs so far). I'm doing fine with my others.....for now!

One week till the first ultrasound. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

Nice Weekend

Hi everyone! Hope everyone had a good weekend, now it's back to work! Brent and I had a nice weekend. Friday night we saw Jerry Seinfeld and it was the funniest comedy show I've ever seen. He was fantastic and Brent and I laughed so hard it hurt! If anyone is a Seinfeld fan, I highly recommend trying to see him. He's hilarious!

Saturday it rained and I stayed in most of the day, which was actually quite nice. Brent had tutoring at school and then later went to watch his school's grade school soccer game. Some of his students play, so he likes to go once in a while. I thought a lot about Baby Hartsell on Saturday. I looked around online and dreamed about the baby.

On Sunday Angie, Matt, Olivia, and Bella came over! We went to the park, out to lunch, and went shopping. Ang bought me two matternity shirts and bought the baby a cute outfit. She is so sweet. We also bought the baby the cutest little plaid shoes and plaid hat to match - Bella was the model. The shoes and hat can be for either boy or girl and were just too darn cute to pass up! So, we will have the best dressed Mommie and Baby Hartsell! Must mention that I have the cutest neices in the world. They're delicious. Livi colored chalk on our driveway and I smiled twice today when I saw it - on my way out the door to work and when I came home. Bella is just so joyful and her laugh is just precious.

I have been feeling "green" off and on the past couple of days. Cranberry juice and saltines saved my life at work today. I snitched them from the hospital kitchen - good thing they have food for people who don't feel so hot. But, I'm feeling better at the moment - it comes and goes. I'm going to take Jo-Jo for a walk and relax the rest of the night. Brent is off to play a softball game, I hope his team wins. He's #18, so go #18!

I'll write soon!

Six Weeks

Six weeks along now!

• Baby is 1/2-3/4 inch long. About the size of a pinto bean!
• Eyelids are forming and the retina are beginning to develop.
• The tip of the nose is present and ears are forming internally and externally.
• The arms are longer and bend at the now present elbows.
• Digital rays, which become the fingers, are notched and toe rays are present on the feet.

It is so amazing, this process. Brent and I cannot wait for the first ultrasound. It will be even more real then!

Brent and I went to Chili's last night for dinner. Then we went to Baby Zak's, the cutest baby store ever! We looked at crib sets - they have such cute patterns to choose from. We want to keep the nursery gender neutral as much as possible because we want to use the same room and crib for each of our kids. So we don't want a lot of just pink or blue. There are so many patterns that can go either way, so there are lots of options!

It looks like it will be a nice warm Florida day here. When Brent comes home from tutoring, we'll probably take Jo-Jo for a nice long walk - she'll be so happy!

A good weekend to all!

Quick Update

Hello, all! I haven't had much time to post this week. I've been pretty tired in the evenings and often stuck to the couch (watching American Idol, of course!). Still feeling pretty good, sometimes yucky in the evenings and mornings. Have taken to 7-Up in the mornings, which works psychologically if nothing else!

Looking forward to the weekend! Brent has tutoring Saturday morning at school for a couple of hours. We have tickets Saturday evening to see Jerry Seinfeld, the comedian. We're looking very forward to that, we've had the tickets for months now. On Sunday, Angie and Matt are bringing over Olivia and Bella and I cannot wait to see them!! Maybe we'll go to the zoo. Bella is taking steps on her own and I can't wait to see.

Hope everyone is doing well. Talk to you soon!

Monday Monday

Back to work today, oh how I hate Mondays! Brent had the day off from school for President's Day. Why can't the hospital close for such days? Mondays are always crazy at work, but what day isn't crazy?? I rested up over the weekend. Lots of napping on Sunday, which drove me nuts in a way because I'm normally always busy doing something. I just didn't feel that great Sunday, so I napped and napped some more.

Brent made dinner tonight and the house smelled so good when I came home from work. Homemade sloppy joes, french fries, and veggies. So good and it tastes better when someone else makes it for you! AND, he washed my car inside and out while I was at work - I'm so pleased! AND, laundry was going and the house was picked up. He's so good to me!

Hope everyone is doing well. Just a note - if anyone tried to leave comments on the blog and wasn't able to, I changed the settings - I noticed that it used to request you create a username before leaving a comment and I changed it so anyone can leave comments under anonymous and you don't have to create a username unless you want to. So, if you had trouble before, try again - it should work now. Bye for now ~ love ya!

Five Weeks

Baby Hartsell is five weeks old this week. I think I am right about conception and the age of the baby, but the doctor will confirm this when we have the first ultrasound March 7th. Based on my best guess of conception, baby Hartsell's weeks are from Thursday-Friday. So, baby turned five weeks yesterday. Angie let us borrow a week-by-week book she used when she had the girls. It's an awesome book and lets you know what's happening each week of pregnancy. It's amazing all the development and changes that happen each week.

5 Week stats:

• At start of this week baby measures 0.16 to 0.2 inches, and by the end of the week baby has doubled in size to about 1/2 inch.
• Leg buds appear as short fins.
• Arm buds are longer and have divided into a hand segment and arm-shoulder segment.
• The hand and foot have a digital plate where the fingers and toes will develop.
• The heart bulges from the body and has divided into the right and left heart chambers.
• The primary bronchi (air passages) are present in the lungs.
• The cerebral hemispheres, which make up the brain, are growing.
• Eyes and nostrils are developing.
• Intestines are developing and the appendix and pancreas are present.

Let's catch up on the past weeks:

4 Week stats:

• Baby is 0.08-0.16 inches.
• The body has a head and tail.
• The neural groove closes and early brain chambers form.
• Eyes are starting to form.
• Limb buds appear.
• The heart tubes fuse and heart contractions begin.
• Often the heart beat can be detected on a sensitive ultrasound.

3 Week stats:

• Baby is 0.05 inches.
• A plate develops that will later become the heart.
• The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and muscle and bone formation are beginning.
• The skeleton is also starting to form.

2 Week stats:

• Very tiny at 0.014 - 0.04 inches.
• Implants deeper into uterus.
• Amniotic cavity which will be filled with amniotic fluid starts to form.
• Placenta is forming.
• The vascular network that contains maternal blood is becoming established.
• Three layers of cells form: Ectoderm will become the nervous system; Endoderm will develop into the lining of the GI tract, liver, pancreas, thyroid; Mesoderm forms the skeleton, connective tissues, blood system, urogential system, and most of the muscles.

1 week stats:

• The embryo is only a group of cells, but is multiplying and growing rapidly.
• Embryo is the size of the head of a pin, 0.006 inches.

The book has week-by-week pictures, too. I found a website that has really neat pictures, but they don't match totally with the book I have, but will give you a good idea of how baby looks. It's amazing!! http://www.pregnancy.org/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment1.php

I am still feeling good, twinges of yuckiness once in a while but nothing too bad. Maybe more tired than usual and I'm sleeping very soundly. Otherwise, I'm doing fine and am happy! I'm going to enjoy the weekend and relax and rest up!

Mom & Dad R's visit to Florida

Mom & Dad R. just left today, back to Indiana. Their plane got delayed for a couple of hours due to snow in Pennsylvania. But they made it home safe...and back to shoveling snow much to their dismay! We really had a great visit when they were here. The weather was great for the first couple of days - perfect Florida "winter". Tuesday it rained all day, even had a tornado in Cocoa Beach to which we were totally oblivious, if you can believe that. I guess it was all the baby clothes shopping that was distracting us! We got Baby Hartsell's first onesie - it's very cute! We bought Cousin Alexia a outfit or two, just because we couldn't help ourselves! Mom and Dad bought me my first two matternity shirts, which was very special for me. I had the whole day off work on Tuesday, so Mom an Dad and I made a day of it and met Brent for dinner at Meg O' Malley's (aka best Irish Pub in the world). I was sad to see them leave, of course, but look forward to our next visit! Maybe I'll be fatter then!

My first doctor appointment was on Tuesday. Dad took me and even waited in the waiting room. It was so nice to have his company and support. This appointment was with the OB Coordinator, Kim. She is so nice and she took my health history, answered my questions, and just gave me a little more info on what to expect. She gave me new prenatal vitamins, which is prescription strength and they are huge horse pills! My next appointment is scheduled for March 7th. Brent and I will go together to this appointment. It will be about two hours and we will have our first ultrasound. They will be able to tell baby's age best at that time and give me the most accurate due date. We will get the black and white ultrasound pictures to take home with us - how exciting!! March 7th is actually the day I fly to Indianapolis for "Spring Fling" at Joan's. So I'll have baby pictures in hand to share!

Hope everyone is doing well - thinking of all my family and friends. Remember to say prayers for baby!

Family & Phone Call

My parents arrived yesterday evening from South Bend! It's so great to see them! Mom says I haven't changed much - can't tell yet! Dad and Brent cooked a great meal tonight...homemade crab cakes for the boys and steak for the girls. Now we're all fat and happy and almost ready for bed.

Earlier today we took Jo-Jo for a walk in the park. I got a surprising and very fun phone call while we were there - Phil Jr all the way from Afghanistan. He told me in the first message he left for me that he would call me again, and he did. He told us congrats about the baby again and we passed the phone around. The picture posted is me talking to him. Very special moment for us here - my Mom got teary when we hung up. Phil said it's freezing there, but he was inside the office today. He said he is ready to come home in April and we're all ready to have him home, too. It was just so great to hear from him!

I have Tuesday off work and will spend the day with my Mom and Dad. I have my first doctor's appointment (just the check-up), so it will be kind of fun to share that with them. Then we have plans to look around at baby stuff - how fun!

Baby Names

Today is Thursday, which means the weekend is only one more work day to go! I have been a little tired this week after work. But, it has been a busy and emotional week! Such big news takes it out of a girl! Lots of people are learning about the baby around the hospital and everyone is very happy for me. I do have really nice co-workers, in my case management department and elsewhere in the hospital. One of the doctors found out and gave me a hug. The physical therapist calls me "Little Momma" and one of the nurses said he knows I'm going to have a boy. How funny. Also very funny how everyone has a pregnancy horror story to share! And also their two cents of advice - "Take your vitamins", "Don't do the cat litter", "Speaking of cats, don't let the cat near the baby's crib", "Start reading to the baby now", "You won't get an appointment till your 10 or 12 weeks" (I have one next Tuesday). People are funny and I'm actually really enjoying it all. I even got these questions - "How old are you?", "Are you married?" Funny.

I got the first suggestion for the baby's name from Phil Jr over e-mail today: Fantasticles Hartsell, (pronounced Fantasticlees). Brent and I had a good laugh! We'll consider it....maybe. We actually do have two names picked out. If the baby is a girl ~ Anna Marie. Marie because it's so wonderfully Brechtl (Bernie, Joan, Jenna, Delaney). If a boy ~ Rowan Scott. Scott because it's Brent's middle name and my brother Scott's name (aka the coolest uncle in the world). We are pretty set on these, have had them picked out for a while. But Fantasticles is tempting. We want to find out if it's a boy or girl when we are able. I used to not want to, but I have changed my mind. Finding out will be fun - and make shopping easier! :o)

That's all for now. Love to all ~

Great Response

I got the BEST voice mail message today. It started like this..."Hello, Laura Lou. This is your cousin Philip James. I heard something about you and I'm exciiiiited!" I wish I would have been able to answer my cell when he called, but I turn my phone off while I'm in the hospital at work. But what fun to hear Philly's voice and his "congratulations". I listened to it twice in a row! THEN I got an e-mail from Michelle and she is also very happy for us. Good wishes all the way from Afghanistan, holy moly...how lucky we are!

What a great response the blog has received! I loved the comments on the blog and the several e-mails from everyone. I'm SO touched by everyone, your support and excitement. This is the most amazing family ever!!

First Post

Hello! Our big news - we're pregnant! I was talking to Brent about starting a journal, just to record our thoughts and feelings during this special time. He showed me how to make a blog and I'm hooked. I hope everyone enjoys reading once in a while - it's a good way for me to keep in touch with all my long distance family and friends!

We are just thrilled about having a baby. We have been trying for about three months - third time's a charm! Brent and I have been talking about a baby for some time. We're lucky and blessed that we were able to get pregnant so quickly.

STATS: Found out I was pregnant 2/1/08. ~ Second postitive test 2/2/08 and we told Mom & Dad R and Mom & Dad H. ~ 2/3/08, told Angie and Scott and then all of the rest of the family (we were on the phone the whole day it seemed!) ~ 2/4/08, Laura told co-workers and continued calling friends. ~ We think the due date will be around October 25th - we'll see if the doctor agrees!

One of the best parts of this whole thing is that our family and friends are so excited and happy for us! It's been so nice to get all the support and good wishes already. Oh, what a baby does!

Best lines from the family:
"This reminds me of when me and your Dad told my Mom and Dad about Scott." ~ Mom R
"I'll remember this day forever - 2/2/08." ~ Dad R
".....SCREAM...." ~ Mom and Dad H
"What fun this will be!" ~ Scott
"The house across the street from me is for sale, ya know." ~ Angie
"Move home immediately and I'll baby sit often!" ~ Jenna
"Call me anytime, I love to talk about this stuff." ~ Jessie
"My prayers are starting now." ~ Joan
"It's like I have a second daughter." ~ Phil
"Hell yeah!" ~ Charlie
"I've been waiting for this day!" ~ Carol
"Maybe since you're hungry, you won't get sick." ~ Kasey (Oh, I hope so!!)
(Me: "Can you believe you're going to be a Great Grandma?") "No!" ~ Grandma Richmond
"Fantastic!" ~ Grandpa Richmond
"There were still days open in August!" ~ Denton
"Now Alexia will have a cousin her age." ~ Ryan
"What wonderful news! We're going to be Grandparents again!" ~ Grandma & Grandpa Hartsell
"You know we'll all want to see you more when the baby is born." ~ Rob & Jas
"Wonderful news." ~ Great Grandma Kuemmerle. She will be a Great Great Grandma!
"I'm so happy for you, keep me posted!" ~ Judy

I am feeling good so far - waiting for the morning sickness to start. I have been hungry (starving at moments), which I guess was one of my first signs. I am making a huge effort at eating good and getting all my fruits and veggies. My mom said "lots of protein", so I bought extra chicken at the grocery store to take in my lunches.

I called the doctor today and have an appointment 2/12/08 for my check-up with the "OB coordinator". It's about a half hour appointment just to get me started and answer any questions. I thought this was really cool, so I'll be there with bells on! Then after that, they'll schedule the next appointment for the doctor visit and first ultrasound (oh my gosh). I think that will be at 8-10 weeks along. Brent will take the day off work for that appointment. I just can't believe all this!

Well, that's enough for now. Keep Baby Hartsell in your prayers. A strong and healthy baby, that has been my priority and first thought ever since 2/1/08. Thank you, Lord Jesus for this gift.