5 WEEKS!!!

Thank you so much for the prayers for my progesterone shot last night. It hurt for a second, but I don't feel a thing today! Next one is scheduled for Friday. And so is my next blood draw. Please pray that Friday's blood draw will determine that my body is producing enough progesterone on its own, so I no longer need to take these shots. P.S. I'm CERTAIN that these shots are what's causing my cramping. No cramping for a couple days, then I get the shot, then bam, the cramping is back. Yet another reason to not want to take these shots anymore!!!

Amy is 5 weeks pregnant this week!

This marks the first "milestone" for us. The first miscarriage we had was around 4 weeks. The second one was at 9 weeks, but we knew that we were going to miscarriage around 6 weeks when an ultrasound showed an abnormal sac and no heartbeat. The ultrasound is scheduled for Monday, November 29th. Please be praying for a heartbeat and that everything looks normal!

Izzy is holding a sesame seed to represent the size of her brother/sister

Deep in Amy's uterus our embryo is growing at a furious pace. At this point, he/she's about the size of a sesame seed, and he/she looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He/She is now made up of three layers — the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm — which will later form all of his/her organs and tissues.

The neural tube — from which Punkin's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout — is starting to develop in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will also give rise to his/her skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, and tooth enamel.

Punkin's heart and circulatory system begin to form in the middle layer, or mesoderm. (This week, in fact, his/her tiny heart begins to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood.) The mesoderm will also form your baby's muscles, cartilage, bone, and subcutaneous (under skin) tissue.

The third layer, or endoderm, will house Punkin's lungs, intestines, and rudimentary urinary system, as well as his/her thyroid, liver, and pancreas. In the meantime, the primitive placenta and umbilical cord, which deliver nourishment and oxygen to Punkin, are already on the job.

How our life's changing:
Amy notices some pregnancy-related discomforts already. Many women report sore breasts, fatigue, and frequent urination starting in the early weeks. No nausea yet, though it's more likely to show up in the coming weeks.

The outside world won't see any sign of the dramatic developments taking place inside Amy — except that shhe's turning down that glass of wine with dinner.

Amy is also continuing to go to yoga a couple times a week. Exercise helps Amy develop the strength and endurance she'll need to manage the extra weight she'll be carrying. It may help prevent some of the aches and pains of pregnancy, and many women find that it's a great stress-reducer. Exercise can also help Amy get ready for the physical rigors of labor.