The fragility of the human neck

I've been thinking about our necks recently. Our necks contain some really important stuff to keep us alive, including the trachea, which allows air to get to our lungs, and our spinal cord, which carries information between our brains and the rest of our bodies.  I would think that, with all this vital stuff inside it, the neck would have better protection than just skin - like a plate or armor or something.

I've been thinking about this since, now at 25 weeks pregnant, this baby doesn't move all that much (well, at least compared to what I remember with Joshua who was only still while I was moving around or riding in the car).

Often, doctors recommend doing "kick counts" starting at around 28 weeks when the baby's movement is limited due to its size. Ten movements should be felt within 2 hours.  I've started doing kick counts with this baby. And I feel relieved when I feel those 10 movements within about 20 minutes.

Perhaps that means this baby will be calmer and will sleep.  But between that umbilical cord floating around in there and only some skin protecting the trachea and spinal cord, I worry when I don't feel him even for a few minutes.

Doctor appointments

Joshua had his 3 year well-child check on September 14, a month and a day after turning 3. He weighed in at 36 lbs and stood 39 inches tall.  That puts him in about the 85th percentile for both height and weight. 

I had my 24 week appointment on the 20th and after peaking at 0 pounds gained at my 20 week appointment, I'm back in the negative at -2 pounds gained. I can only eat small meals without feeling sick, so I'm now supposed to eat high calorie foods like those gross bars hikers take with them.  Brian says I'm just gonna have to take one for the team! As you can see from the photo below, my belly is still growing as normal, so we're not worried about the health of the baby, but I do need to figure out how to gain some weight. I'm thinking milkshakes.

Me at 24 weeks pregnant this time



And this is me at 22 weeks pregnant with Joshua and below this is me at 26 weeks pregnant. I seem to be about the same size as last time.

20 week belly

This photo was taken on August 21st, so it's nearly 3 weeks old.  Will take another one next week.  And try to post it sooner than 3 weeks later!

I'm bad at blogging

I have decided that I'm a bad blogger. Things get so hectic and then I feel overwhelmed with having to post things in order and more things keep happening and so nothing gets posted. 

So, I've decided to go from here and hopefully go back later and post pictures from Joshua's 3rd birthday and our trip to bakersfield and my 20 week belly and our ultrasound.  But if I don't get to those, it's not the end of the world!

Readers (Mom and Tori), know that the party went well, Bakersfield wasn't too hot, my belly is growing and we're having a boy.  :)