11 weeks, Dr. Appt, and Hospitalized...

Where to start???

I felt absolutely terrible all day Tuesday at work, but attributed it to morning sickness and just thought it was going to be a bad day. That afternoon I started vomiting and headed home early for the day. After a rough night and morning yesterday we went in for our scheduled appointment and I was sent to the hospital to be admitted for i.v. fluids and medication. We were at the hospital for around 5 hours (I think), I slept through the majority of the experience. Of course Baby Lowry couldn't make things any easier....we couldn't get a heartbeat reading on the doppler....partly because it was very old and partly because the doctor said I was so dehydrated that my bladder wasn't pushing my uterus up close enough to get a read on it. I got a little worried initially even though I was reassured everything was fine. They did and ultrasound and we got to see the baby. It was so amazing!!! Baby L is no longer a blob, it is a dancing machine! It took my breath away and made all of the vomiting worth it. The baby had a heart rate of 165bpm. We also got our due date changed to 3/24/10. Last night was still pretty rough, but I am feeling much better this morning.

11 weeks, what is Baby L up to besides having a dance party???

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

I hope everyone enjoys the long Labor Day weekend!

Love,
Mark & Missy

10 weeks!

Another week has passed....I feel like they are going by pretty fast now. One week closer to getting out of the first trimester!!!! We go to the doctor again next Thursday! We should actually be able to hear the baby's heart beat instead of just see it on the screen so that will be exciting. I am still not feeling the greatest....some days are better than others, but still filled with a lot of upset stomach and heartburn. I am just taking it as things are progressing the way they should! :)

I can't believe it will be September next week! Where did the summer go? Don't get me wrong...I am TOTALLY ready for fall....sweatshirts and bonfires....I can't wait! :) Also, that means we will be getting closer to finding out what Baby Lowry is!

Hmmm....what is going on at 10 Weeks?!?!?!
By the end of Week 10, your baby graduates from embryo to fetus, which literally means "little one." It also translates to "I'm just going to keep getting bigger and bigger and so are you!" Other highlights this week: Your baby has finally morphed from a little tadpole into, well, a baby. Not only is the face more human-like, but that unflattering "tail" (really just the developing spinal cord) has disappeared, fusing into the spinal column. Your baby now has discernible fingers and toes, which will explain the steady stream of kicks and punches you'll feel down the line. Junior's skeleton is starting to grow and harden. The ears are beginning to take shape and the eyelids are no longer transparent. Tooth buds are forming, although your baby won't get any teeth until six or seven (or eight or nine or 10) months after birth. Baby's brain will make an incredible 25,000 new neurons every minute this week. While you may feel like you're losing as many as he's gaining, we can assure you it's not permanent. "Pregnancy brain," like nausea and bloating, is a temporary symptom that soon shall pass. (And then you'll get "Mommy brain," but we won't go there now.) If you're baby is a boy, he's started producing that macho hormone testosterone. And whether your baby is a boy or a girl, the kidneys are creating copious amounts of urine. Lucky for you, you won't have to change a diaper for another 30 weeks. Baby weighs only 4 grams and measures 1½ inches, about the size of a mondo Brazil nut.
I also read online that the baby has started "swimming"! It is just crazy for me to wrap my mind around the fact that there is a little one growing inside me moving around! I do know one thing for sure....we are in love already!

Please send prayers for our appointment next week! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Love,
Mark & Missy

Happy Birthday Mom!

Mom,
Thank you so much for everything you have ever done for me! You are truly the BEST!!!! We love you and cannot wait to see you as a Grandma. We are so so lucky and blessed to have you as a Mom. I hope that I can be half as great as you! Happy Birthday and we LOVE you!!!!

Love,
Mark & Missy

9 Weeks!!!

In 2 hours I will be 9 weeks pregnant!!! I still can't believe that we have been blessed like this. I have been feeling about the same. Sick if I eat and sick if I don't, but hungry all the time. I have also started having heart burn pretty badly the past couple of days. The good news is I have a second vote on things, so anytime Mark doesn't want to go somewhere or do something it is 2 against 1 so I always win! :)

What is the baby up to this week????

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

I know the paragraph says "she" but I just copied and pasted it from the internet.... I am not swayed one way or the other! Anyone have any guesses this early yet? Mark & I are both undecided as of now!

Keep sending the prayers & thanks for reading!

Love,
Mark & Missy

Spoiled...

I think it is safe to say this little one is going to be spoiled....we have already received a set of Cubs onesies! Mark was definitely pumped about this gift! I loved it too! So adorable! :) Thank you Eric, Suzanne & Laila!



Speaking of SPOILED.... today Mark and I came home from running errands and discovered the deep freezer in our garage had been off. We have no idea when this happened, but we are guessing last week when we were in Texas and our power went out. The smell was so horrible!!!! Honestly, like nothing I have ever smelled before. Mark threw up all over the driveway and I was crying because I couldn't stop laughing! We have it all cleaned out now and it is drying. Hopefully the stench gets out! :)

Who would have thought one title could cover such a great thing and such a bad thing??? :) I hope everyone is having a great weekend. I bought a baby book today and already started writing in it. I don't want to forget any dates! I have also thought of a project for our friends and family, but I will share that in another post! Keep praying!

Love,
Mark & Missy

It's official.....

is on the way!!!!!


Most of you already know by now because I didn't want you to have to read about it on here, but I just thought I would make the official post! We found out we were expecting again on July 8th and couldn't be happier! We have already had 4 appointments to make sure everything was going okay and progressing. We have seen the baby and the heart beat so things are definitely looking great! Our last appointment was Monday August 2, the baby was measuring a day ahead and had a heart rate of 130bpm. Our official due date is March 25, 2011.

As for me....I feel decent (I guess that is putting in nicely)! I have been nauseous for the past couple of weeks ALL DAY, but I am just thankful that we have been blessed again. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for a healthy baby in 7 months!

Love,
Mark & Missy

***I did a double post so keep reading! :)

Deep in the heart of Texas.....

We (my parents, mark & I) started our adventure last Tuesday and got home today. I think it is a safe to say that we all had a blast. We had a fun filled week in Plano. We toured the Rangers Stadium, Cowboys Stadium, floated in the pool, went shopping and ate at lots of great places. It was so nice to see the Zooks! My cousin Kristen introduced me to the greatest invention ever....they have frozen yogurt shops everywhere down there. Tons of flavors and every topping you can imagine. It is like a yogurt buffet.....we tested out every yogurt shop in town and were rating them!

Here are some pictures from our trip:

Rangers Stadium



Cowboys Stadium





I am sad that our vacation is over. It is back to reality now. Mark goes back to school tomorrow. I can't believe summer is over already! I hope everyone had a great week. I know we did! :)

Love,
Mark & Missy