Flashlight Experiment

A few weeks ago I read that our little guy can sense light now and may respond to drastic changes even though his eyes are still sealed shut. I’ve been feeling him move around so much lately we thought that maybe we’d be able to feel if he really did respond to light.

Monday night we got a bright flashlight out, Andy held it on one side of my stomach and after about 30 seconds I could feel him move to the other side away from the light. It was incredible! It felt like a big wave going through my stomach. Andy then moved the flashlight to the other side of me stomach and again after a few second I felt him move away from the light again and actually kick a few times. It was as if he was saying ‘hey what is that, what are you doing?’. He probably didn't really like it, he used to it being all dark in there after all. We moved the flashlight from side to side a few more times and he kept moving and would kick on my left side when he moved in that direction. It must have been the way he was laying. We were both in awe, it’s amazing that he really is aware of some of what is going on out outside around him. Getting to feel him respond to what we were doing and knowing that there was a direct correlation and not just us being hopeful was amazing. I don’t really know how to describe the excitement, but it was quite an incredible feeling getting to connect with our little guy.

23 Weeks and Strong Little Ears

We are at 23 weeks; it’s hard to believe we are already over half way there! He is growing a great deal; he should weight a bit over a pound now and measure about 11.5 in long or so. With him growing so much so am I. My belly button has disappeared for the most part; it’s nearly flush with my belly now. I guess it's about time for those belly shots I've been asked about. The picture in the pink is at 7 weeks and the one in the black sweater is at 21 weeks.

Looking at the picture from 21 weeks I realize that I have grown in the last two weeks. There are days when my skin almost hurts it feels so tight its as if it has stretched as far as it will go. But then amazingly enough it stretches some more and creates more room for our lil’ guy to grow.

I read that this week that his middle ear is developing further and therefor his hearing is getting better. He can now hear our voices and will start to recognize them so that when he's born he will know him mom and dad's voices already. It also said that he will start to respond more to loud noises as they are a lot more clear. That explains his extra movments/cheering during the Broncos game monday night. I love knowing that he is already starting to get used to our voices and will find them comforting. He's also becoming familiar with Buster's whipmers and groans and the other sounds of home.

He's even kicking now as I'm writing about him.

Karate Kid

It’s hard to believe that in 17 weeks or so our little guy will be with us, I can’t wait! I’ve been feeling him move tons the last couple of weeks, his punches and kicks are getting stronger by the day. At times it feels like he’s practicing karate in there.

I love getting to feel him moving around throughout the day. He's been moving around a lot more lately, or rather I can actually feel him moving more now. It doesn’t matter what is on my mind or going on, when I feel his little pokes I can’t help but smile, nothing else seems to matters at that moment. I’m thankful for all of his little reminders that he’s in there growing strong. Andy can feel his kicks and punches now as well which is amazing. I love getting to share it with him and I know that he is loving getting to feel his little boy kick now as well. His face lights up when he feels it and he’s just thrilled to feel him. Last night I felt two of the hardest kicks I’ve felt so far; both times Andy had his hand on my belly so he got to feel them as well. He’s really getting some strong little legs in there.

I love just sitting and paying attention to our little guy and all of his movements, and I’m thankful for every one of them.

H1N1 - I was sent home for others being sick

I got sent home from work today due to others in the office being sick.

There has been a lot of concern regarding the H1N1 flu this season worldwide. Recently here in Colorado we've had many reported cases of H1N1 and hospitalizations lately. Andy and I have been following it really closely, especially information on the vaccine, because I am in the top risk class because I am pregnant. I heard today that 6% of the deaths from Swine Flu have been otherwise healthy pregnant women; typically only 1% of the population is pregnant at any one time which makes the statistics about H1N1 startling. We've talked to our doctor about it and she recommended that I get both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1. So I've had the seasonal flu shot already and will get the H1N1 when it is available, which should be a little over a week from now at my next appointment. Until then my doctor said to avoid prolonged contact with anyone who has it and to let her know if I start to have any symptoms.

I work in a very small office (about 10 people) we've had people sick on and off for the last few weeks and it seems like this week people were dropping like flies. One of the owners now thinks that he has H1N1 as well now and hopefully has gone home. I was pretty sick earlier in the week with food poisoning but have finally recovered from that now. So I was back at work today and actually feeling pretty good. This afternoon the owner called a meeting to discuss how to handle H1N1 all the sickness that seems to be going around the office. His wife is a nurse and had been on the phone with him telling him to do something; get the sick people out and to keep me away from it. In an effort to ensure I don't catch whatever it is the others have my boss sent me home for the rest of the week, and I'm supposed to check in on Monday before I go in. They have also decided to disinfect the office this afternoon to try to get rid of any germs that may be lingering. How crazy is this situation. My boss told me he's not willing to take a risk at me getting sick, I thanked him and told him neither am I.

I am thankful that they are being so thoughtful and looking out for me and our babies best interest, and that so far I've managed to avoid it. I am also thankful for their wives who where very firm that they needed to make sure I wasn't stuck around whatever has been going around the office because I'm pregnant and more susceptible to it.

The owner and another principal of the company both have wives who are nurses and have heard of all the work cases that are around. One of them, who works at a Denver hospital, said that they had a woman in the other day who was 26 weeks along and had H1N1. She ended up loosing her baby due to the flu. It pretty scary what is going on right now. I just pray that God will watch over us and keep the baby and I healthy and safe, and get us through this flu season.

Our baby boy!!!

We went for our 20week or 5month apt last Monday and found out that we’re having a little boy!! How fabulous is that! We were so excited to find out; we’ve been waiting anxiously and could hardly believe it when the time was finally here. We had the ultrasound tech print out a picture for us, label it and put it in and envelope so we could open it over dinner just us. The tech was really funny because she made sure that we couldn’t peak through the envelope, she even sealed it shut and marked it with and x so I’d know if Andy peaked. It was so great to get to open it just us and get to really enjoy the moment, celebrate and be close as a family, instead of being in the doctors’ office and having to go finish our appointment. It was so amazing to get to see our little boy!

We could hardly believe it, our excitement was right up there with when we found out that I’m pregnant. It’s so special to get to find out more about our little guy, (that he is a he) and getting to see him on the ultrasound! I feel even more connected to him now, getting to know a bit more about him, talk to him, and thinking of all the things he’ll do and who he’ll be. Oh and I’ve been feeling him move now as well which has been incredible! I love all the little reminders that he is in there growing. It's like little pokes from him to say hi.

From his pic we think it looks like he’ll have my chin and Andy’s nose. We even got to count fingers already, one less thing to do at the hospital. Yup all 10 are there! It’s amazing what you can se in the 20 week ultrasound. We could see his spine and all his vertebra, his brain, heart, kidney’s, and it the top one you can see his fingers and thumb, and his knee and leg, and all. I love that we got to see his expression on his face. The tech measured everything, the heart and checked all the chambers, kidneys, and his brain; she said it all looked perfect! He kept on reaching up to play with his ear as well, kinda like ‘what is this thing’. How cute!

Andy already can’t wait to get his little boy on a pair of skis! We’ve been starting to look more at things for the nursery a bit now and it’s been a lot of fun. We found this cool play rug at Ikea that has a picture of a town on it with roads etc for driving cars around. Andy was saying that was one of his favorites as a kid. I’m guessing there are many hot wheels in our future. There were also some cool wooden train sets that we may have to get later on down the road for our little guy to play with. I know that Andy is going to love to get to show his son all about cars and trains and skiing and all sorts.

Lil' Mango

We’re 19 weeks today and our little one is now the size of a mango. I read on the Baby Center today that his/her “brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.” How anazing is that, she can hear us now! Andy already sings all the time so I’m sure the baby will recognize her dad’s singing pretty quickly and love it like I do! We have a bunch of kid books from when I was little that we’re going to start to read to our little one at night as well.

Andy and I have both noticed in the last few weeks that my belly seems to be growing quite quickly now, my skin is so tight. I felt flutters of movement a few weeks ago but the flutters have mostly stopped now. I have felt some pressure is certain areas randomly as if he/or she is pressing their head or something against me. I'm looking forward to getting to feel more! Andy and I will lay there holding my belly trying to feel for him to kick, but no kicks yet, maybe soon.

One week till we find out if we’re having a boy or girl and we can’t wait!! At first we were pretty sure we knew what we are having. Now Andy has switched and is set that it will be the other because of the way the heart beat sounded, and I’m not sure, I go back and forth.

Baby Pultorak's new room

We got our crib and dresser (thanks for your help dad)! We actually got it a few weeks ago but I'm just posting the pics. We've been looking around for a while and found this great set that we both really liked. When we found the crib and dresser my dad came by with his new truck to help us bring it home. What a way to for him to break in his new truck; picking up his first grandson or daughters crib. Andy was great about getting it all set up for us when we got it home! He moved all of our furniture out of the nursery into our new bedroom and got the crib all put together for us.

Things are coming along quite well! We have a nursery now, and even though it’s still pretty empty it’s really nice to have a space in our house that we've created for our little one. I love the way the nursery is starting out and I can’t wait to have it all together and ready for when we get to bring our little one home with us!

Proud Dad!!