Hi friends and family,
Just a quick update to let you know that everything is well at the Hart household. Although our 22-23rd week brought me a horrible rash all over my belly and chest, We pushed through and thanks to Aveeno, ice packs, and cold showers- I have managed to keep it under control. The rash still flares it's evil head every once and a while but it is not nearly as bad as it was the last week. I am praying that the rash is not the early stages to a condition known as PUPPP which is a severe rash that usually occurs in the third trimester. On the up side, Addisyn is kicking like crazy and Steve just felt her for the first time a few nights ago. I think it feels like she is doing kicks in a swimming pool. Sometimes she kicks so hard, I swear you can see it.
So going into week 24, Steve and I have been very busy preparing three rooms in our town home. We have organized, arranged and decluttered our Master bedroom, our 1st floor entertainment/family room and Addisyn's nursery/guest room/day room. We feel we are well on our way to having the house ready for little Addisyn Faith. The nursery is painted, the crib is set up, and now we are just waiting on a few more items to purchase before we call it, "complete". I will post pictures as soon as we finish it.
What else is going on.....
This past weekend was my first week of class for my MFA in Photography and it was a huge reality shock. Graduate school is a lot different than undergrad and a lot more work. Yikes! It might be an emotional third trimester. I am just praying that I can keep all my emotions in check with this extra stress. What was I thinking? I am just gonna have to evaluate the workload before going into each semester.
Steve took his AFOQT test last week. If he scores a high enough score, we are going to move forward with the process of him applying to become an officer. I am very very excited to see where this road takes us in the future and I will be sure to update you all.
Until next time.....here is what is going on this week.
Week Twenty Four: Practices breathing
You are 24 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 22 weeks)
The child is now gaining around 3 ounces (90 grams) a week.
Baby weighs about 1.3 pounds and is 12 inches long.
Baby weighs about 600 grams and is 30cm (crown to heel) long.
The eyelids can be seen very clearly.
If born at this stage is officially considered viable, they may well be able to survive.Your baby is producing surfactant. This is stuff that keeps the small air sacs in our lungs from collapsing. The unborn baby is covered with a fine, downy hair and the skin is protected by a waxy substance. Some of this substance may still be on the child's skin at birth at which time it will be quickly absorbed. The baby practices breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid into developing lungs.Baby gains about 3 ounces this week. The weight is in muscle, bone mass and organs. The body begins to fill out with his appearance increasingly becoming more like a newborn. Taste buds begin to form. If mom drinks something strange or bitter, baby may be observed showing his or her distaste. Little creases have appeared on his palms. The muscular coordination of the hands has improved as they sucks their thumb. Over the next week or so, the sweat glands will be forming in the skin. The lungs are developing branches of the respiratory tree and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily. After this week your baby is officially considered viable. 36% of babies can survive premature birth at 24 weeks - However, serious complications are still possible. Baby now weighs about 1.3 pound (600gm) and is around 12 inches (30cm) long.
