Lil’ G: 28 weeks down

Size Comparison: Fisher Price Daredevil Van ca. 1977

Man, I loved the Fisher Price Adventure People series of toys. They were simple, generic, incredibly fun, and packed with creative opportunities.

The baby was interactive yesterday! There was a distinct body part poking out and, when touched, it moved! It was kind of strange but also very exciting. According to the books, there hasn’t been much change in the baby’s size from last week. Lil’ G certainly feels stronger and more active.

One of the interesting things is that the one text mentioned that doctors believe that, by this week, the baby may be able to dream. I’m not sure how they know that. It’s not as though you can take a survey of newborns regarding their in utero dreaming. I guess someone could…I wouldn’t expect much from the results, though. I wonder if babies have that dream where they’re in some kind of public place only to realize that they aren’t wearing any clothes. If so, I bet it’s a lot more fun and a lot less scary than it is for adults.

Lil’ G: 27 weeks down

Size Comparison: Tab 6-pack

Yep, Tab. Don’t ask why..I don’t know.

We had the monthly appointment with the doctor on Monday. This was the one that involves drinking the extra sweet orange soda, waiting awhile, and having some blood drawn for a blood glucose test. We haven't heard anything regarding the test results but no one is expecting anything out of the ordinary. The heartbeat remains strong at 140 bpm. Of course, the baby was probably hopped up on the orange soda so that might be a bit high. Anyway, we're on the schedule of having appointments every two weeks now. That due date is quickly approaching.

As for the progress, the baby should weigh around 2.5 pounds. It's actually doubled in weight over the last 4 weeks. Lil' G has a long way to go and will probably triple in size over the next 12 weeks. Sometime this week, I believe the lungs become fully capable of breathing air. Most of the future development is packing on the pounds and strengthening the existing organs. It's amazing to think that the baby is so far along and that the last third of the pregnancy is building upon that. Wow.

Lil’ G: 26 Weeks Down

Size Comparison: Dukes of Hazzard Lunchbox

I considered other lunchboxes (Buck Rogers, Knight Rider, and even one with Vance & Coy Duke) but went with the traditional Duke boys. One of our books actually said the baby was about the size of “a small pot roast”.

Anyway, we’ve officially entered the third trimester. Lil’ G weighs in at about 2 pounds and I believe the eyelids should now be open…not that there’s much to see in there. According to what we’ve read, the baby would have an 85% chance of survival if born now.

We meet with a pediatrician on Friday so that should be interesting. Monday is another appointment with the doctor. This one will include the blood glucose test. Yippee! Lil’ G is also starting to move around enough to make sleep a bit uncomfortable for my lovely wife. No major complaints, though.

We also got out and registered this past weekend. The majority of that is at Target with a few additional items at Babies R Us. I’m amazed at just how much baby stuff is out there. I’m also amazed at how much of it is “important”. Seriously, I was ready to get the kid a plain ol’ wooden rattle afterwards.

Lil' G: 25 Weeks Down

Baby Size: Optimus Prime's Trailer

The pregnancy continues. That's a good thing. Lil' G's movements have grown from tiny blips of kicks to actual "movements". That is, even I can feel the baby roll over. Very cool.

Plus, we've managed to actually getting some things done ourselves. We've contacted pediatricians and we're set up to meet with one next week. Even more dramatic is that we've combined and filtered our lists of baby names. We're now down to only four names (two if it's a boy and two if it's a girl). Considering we hadn't touched the name lists for probably 3 months, that's pretty significant. We were calling those names the finalists but it was pointed out to me that the championship bracket will actually be made up of one boy and one girl name with the outcome determined by the gender of the child. Anyway, we're keeping the names to ourselves which almost makes it more exciting.

Next on the list: Registering.

A Prayer

The purpose of this post is twofold. First, it's of a purging of what I've been unable to voice. Secondly, I had the opportunity to say a prayer amongst a group of friends over this past weekend. We'd just attended the funeral of a very close friend and there were a lot things I wanted to say. Once I started, the tears welled up and I sputtered through something that was altogether shorter and crammed with "ums" and "ahs". I'm certain God knows what was on my heart and I'm pretty sure my friends knew what I intended. Still, if the gang is reading this, it may clear up what was previous masked by my quivering lower lip. I apologize for the butchered wording and grammar. I'd like to think God won't deduct points for sentence splices, fragments, and punctuation.

Likewise, I'm not going to pretend to be a theologian and I hope my thoughts and beliefs are not completely ungrounded.

Father,

I come to you flooded with emotions. I'm in shock. Overwhelmed. I'm triply hurt. I hurt for BK, beautiful, fiery BK. I hurt for BT, a friend so much stronger than I. And I hurt because my BSU friends...people who have gotten me through some of the darkest periods in my life...people I love and consider family...people I would do anything for...are hurting. The tears come so easily. My foundation has been shaken.

Lord, I'm afraid. Afraid of such circumstances that can take someone so young and so valuable so quickly. Afraid that such a tragedy could happen to anyone. Afraid of how fragile something so precious as life can be.

Lord, there are few things that really anger me. But I am furious right now. Angry at the fallen world so full of peril. And I'm angry at you, Father. I feel you've stolen a friend! Because of you, another friend is now a widower. I feel you've personally attacked my family! Finally, I'm angry that I am completely powerless.

As strange as it may sound to many, Father, I take comfort in you. Through your son, Jesus Christ, you conquered death. Even in death, there is hope. The spirit lives on and death is a mere affliction of the earthly body. In fact, death is often referred to in scripture as nothing more than sleeping. While accepting that is so much easier said than done...especially in this time of darkness...I'm comforted in knowing BK is no longer troubled by the suffering of this world. In Luke 23:43, Jesus tells the thief "today you will be with me in paradise." There was no delay. As I type this, I have little doubt BK is in paradise. Likewise, I am comforted by the belief that, one day, our BSU family will be united in full. Matthew 8:11 states many "shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven". If I will recognize and with Abraham...why not the gang? Perhaps we're share some world-infamous "Out of Bounds" nachos. On second thought, perhaps we'll skip the nachos.

I lift up BK's family. I especially pray for You to bring peace and healing to BT. As overwhelmed as I am, they are going through so much more. Father, bless my friends with your healing. Give us comfort. Give us peace. Help us to come to terms with what has happened. Allow us to move from dwelling on this tragedy to remembering BK for her laugh, her joy, her strength, and even her southern phrases that made so little sense to us. Guide us to where we can be thankful for the few blessed years we had with BK. Help us to cherish the moments we have with each other.

I wonder want BK would think of this grief. Would she think it silly. Would she prefer a party to the Beatles over sobbing to a hymn.

Amen.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. - Matthew 5:4

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. - John 16:22


He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; - Isaiah 25: 8a

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it. - Ecclesiastes 12:7

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." - Luke 23:43

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. - 2 Corinthians 5:1

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus. - Luke 16: 19-31

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 8:11

Untitled

Why is it so much easier to accept my own mortality than it is to deal with the mortality of a friend?

Lil' G: 24 weeks down

Baby Size: A Coleco Tabletop Pac-man Arcade Game

The kicks are stronger now. Lil' G seems more active, too. But, maybe that's just because the movements are more pronounced. Either way, it's very exciting. I don't think they're enough to wake my wife up in the middle of that night but I'm sure that day is coming.

We still haven't found our new pediatrician. It's pretty high on the list of priorities but other, more important, things have come up. We've also failed to finalize our baby name lists. The plan was to take our individual lists on our road trip last weekend so we could discuss them as we traveled. That plan failed when we left the lists at home. Sigh. I have managed to go back over my own list and I think I weeded out a few names that no longer sound appealing. At least the list will be shorter when start combining the suggestions.

Now, for what we have actually done. We picked up an absolutely awesome stroller and matching carseat over the weekend. We're pretty excited about that. It's almost a shame to have to wait so long before we can even use them.