Who Would Of Known???

A few more days and we will have made it to the 34 week point and I find this fact to be the most interesting thing... of course if you've been following our story then you will know that we have had ALOT of ultrasounds and at pretty much every single one, Malaysia doesn't allow us to see her face. She always has her hand in front of her face and this time she had her foot there so that we couldn't get a perfect look at her adorable little face. Each time this happens, we comment on it and laugh and say that she was already showing signs of being stubborn but I just found this little fact about a baby's development and just had to share.

"The baby can be irritated by the ultrasonic examination due to the light which can disturb its sleep. It may try to avoid the light by shielding its eyes with its hands."

See that "PERFECT" shot of her foot covering her face... that's exactly what I've been talking about.  Believe me, it wasn't from a lack of trying to get her to wake up and move into a different postiion - shaking the belly, etc. - she just wasn't having any of it.

If you look very closely here, you can see just to the left of the word "FACE" on the picture, one of her little eyes and now follow the path straight down and yous can see her nose and then a little farther down and you see her mouth.  Almost a frontal view of her face but not complete with her foot and hand in the way.

and here's that "HAND" again, I think she is telling us

GOODBYE, ADIOS, ARRIVEDERCI

32 Weeks ~ GROWTH Ultrasound

Okay, we've made it to 32 weeks, which I believe I mentioned before is considered FULL TERM for High Risk Pregnancies. Today was a BIG day in our weekly journey of doctors visits and ultrasounds because today's ultrasound was a GROWTH Ultrasound. The doctors were measuring to see if the baby had grown during the time since the last Growth Ultrasound 3 weeks ago. And I am PLEASED to announced that she definitely has GROWN - she is now up to 3 LBS and what was really surprising to the doctors was that she jumped from 14% on the growth chart to 18% WOWZA!  There is fluid in her bladder and stomach; she is swallowing good and even gave us a few hiccups; she was very wiggly today which is great becasue they are looking for lots of activity; they measured her abdomen, legs and head (all good); her heart beat was rapid at 145 bpm ~ all of these things are signs of FETAL WELL BEING!

GROWTH ULTRASOUND


NON-STRESS TEST

All Malaysia would give us today was a little wave - look at those chubby little fingers.  She wouldn't allow us to see her beautiful little profile today even after all the shaking of her momma's belly.


I ask for this next picture so that you all could see a picture of one of the many CYST's that are on Shamara's placenta.  It is the black bubble outlined in white/gray color that has the word CYST written in the middle of it.  There are many many of these on one side of the placenta and this is what the issue is.  However, God is allowing Malalysia to get what she needs to continue to grow healthy and we are so THANKFUL!

The NURSERY!

Okay, so here's a sneak peek into the nursery... which is not complete yet and yes I did take pictures of the right room it's just that the colors are not your usual nursery decor and that would beeeee because Shamara is not your ordinary girl. That being said let me explain or better yet take a look at the slideshow below and let the pictures tell you the real story... Shamara LOVES COLOR! and that's as plain as it gets but not just regular colors she LOVES them

LOUD & BRIGHT!

Turquoise & Hot Pink are a couple of her favorites and soooo she wouldn't have anything less in her daughter's room...

...while I detailed clean the nursery today, she (supposing to be on bed rest) sat and sorted through the baby clothes that they've received so far.


I am loving the clouds on the ceiling...

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT...

Still Week 31

Today we went back to Phoenix Perinatal Associates (PPA) for your 31 week checkup which included both an ultrasound and stress test.  Such good and comforting news...  We saw Dr. Lin today, and she was such a positive spirit.  She told us that everything was still looking very good and that next week they were going to do the Growth Ultrasound again to see how much Malaysia has grown.  She also informed us that if for any reason her growth had fallen beneath the 10% mark then they would probably put you back into the hospital for more constant monitoring.  Dr. Lin also said that as we are fast approaching your 32nd week, they as doctors get super excited because to them in a HIGH RISK Pregnancy (which yours definitely falls under that category), 32 weeks is FULL TERM.

...but that's next week, for today we are excited to report that we have a very active 31 week old baby girl, whose heart rate is going strong at 144 beats per minute...  You were having a few constractions but they weren't to concern about that, but did tell you to just be aware of them and of course if they increased in any consistent pattern that we needed to call in.

GETTING READY FOR THE ULTRASOUND... love that 31 week Belly!





STRESS TEST...

Just look at our little sleeping ANGEL!



Awww, look at that perfect little ear and can you see her little hand sitting on her shoulder... we could actually count her 10 little fingers.

The technician told us that she has lots of hair... I'm not sure that I believe this but in the picture below, can you see what looks like rolls of skin?  We'll that is actually rows of curly hair, IMAGINE THAT!

31 Week Checkup

WE'VE MADE TO WEEK # 31!!! Everyday that goes by is so precious, knowing that Malaysia has had 24 more hours of nourishment inside your womb getting what she needs to grow and develop into a healthy baby. These pictures are from our visit with Dr. Yosowitz on this past Monday, June 13, 2011. He did a physical measurement and he noted that he can definitely see some external growth (YEAH!) exaxtly what we are looking for. He is such a good sport with my picture taking...

During your 31st week of pregnancy, your baby's body and brain continue to make the connections that enable her systems to work as a whole. Also when you're 31 weeks pregnant:

•Your baby's reproductive system continues to develop. In girls, her clitoris is visible, but her labia are still growing to cover it.
•Your baby's lungs are now more developed but are not completely mature.
•As trillions of brain connections develop, your baby is already using all five senses.
•You might notice that your baby has more defined periods of being awake (and active) or asleep.

Dallas Baby Shower

This past Saturday (6/11/11) we were suppose to be in Dallas for the baby shower that Ken's cousin Osafu hosted for Shamara & Ken at his parents home. But if you've been following our story then you know that Shamara has been placed on bedrest and along with a long list of other "THINGS SHE CAN'T DO," is traveling. Since she's been doing really well, and with my assurance to Ken that I would keep a very close eye on her, he went to Dallas for the day to celebrate with his family and friends. At one point during the shower Ken called and they did the FACETIME thing and she got to see how beautiful everything was and talk/see everyone that attended the shower. You have got to LOVE technology, I DO! Here are some of the pictures I was able to get compliments of the Iwebema's.