.gif)
Well, here we sit "patiently" waiting...A few contractions today but nothing really consistent...Noah is still hanging on before making his debut.
Not a lot more to add over these last few weeks in the development front. I'll continue to post under this format until he is born so you'll have to stay tuned for how the blog changes at that point!!
I'm pretty pumped about the little guy showing up. I think Rachel is getting excited too but she has a little something more to be worried about than I do! Continue praying for a healthy momma and baby at the end of the process!
I'm not brave enough to say this, but I guess Paul thought that he knew enough about childbirth to make this comment:
Gal 4:19-20--My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
March 29, 2009
March 22, 2009
37 weeks
Today Noah reaches that magical day in the pediatric and obstetric world known as FULL TERM! That means that any time he is ready, he is welcome to make his appearance into the world.
Not a whole lot more to be said on the developmental front. Noah is pretty much fully developed at this point. He will likely continue to grow about 1/2 pound per week but he could make it on his own if he were to come out right this second.
I think he was just waiting for perhaps my favorite weekend in the whole world which is next weekend's Sweet 16 and Elite 8 weekend of the NCAA tournament. If he's not here next weekend then I guess Duke will have to win so that he and I can watch them together in the Final 4.
As we near the end of this journey, we've been amazed at all the support and encouragement of family and friends that we've received. We cherish all of you so much and can't wait for you guys to get to meet little Noah!
I Thess. 1:2-We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
Not a whole lot more to be said on the developmental front. Noah is pretty much fully developed at this point. He will likely continue to grow about 1/2 pound per week but he could make it on his own if he were to come out right this second.
I think he was just waiting for perhaps my favorite weekend in the whole world which is next weekend's Sweet 16 and Elite 8 weekend of the NCAA tournament. If he's not here next weekend then I guess Duke will have to win so that he and I can watch them together in the Final 4.
As we near the end of this journey, we've been amazed at all the support and encouragement of family and friends that we've received. We cherish all of you so much and can't wait for you guys to get to meet little Noah!
I Thess. 1:2-We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
March 15, 2009
Week 36
Well, 36 weeks and we're down to the home stretch. Just next week little Noah would be considered "term." And, if you ask Rachel, she gets more and more convinced that she's 2 weeks off and more like 38 now but I'm not so sure.
Nearly all organs are fully developed at this point. The liver is filtering waste products and the kidneys are almost fully functioning. The only thing left is the final part of lung development which will basically continue until just a few minutes after birth.
We're starting to make the final preparations around the house...Rachel has washed all of Noah's clothes that we got from all of you and I'm starting to move things around in our bedroom to make room for a bassinet. With all the planning we've been doing you can't help but think about what plans are in store for little Noah after he is born. One thing I know for sure is that the Lord has his entire life planned out for him and we all can't wait to see what He has planned...
Jeremiah 29:11-For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Nearly all organs are fully developed at this point. The liver is filtering waste products and the kidneys are almost fully functioning. The only thing left is the final part of lung development which will basically continue until just a few minutes after birth.
We're starting to make the final preparations around the house...Rachel has washed all of Noah's clothes that we got from all of you and I'm starting to move things around in our bedroom to make room for a bassinet. With all the planning we've been doing you can't help but think about what plans are in store for little Noah after he is born. One thing I know for sure is that the Lord has his entire life planned out for him and we all can't wait to see what He has planned...
Jeremiah 29:11-For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
March 10, 2009
Week 35
Sorry this is so late, we had a busy weekend with lots of family in town and a big shower for Noah at my cousin's house. It was a lot of fun getting to see a broad mix of different people who we have met during our time in Houston.
Week 35, we're almost there. Back in the day, doctors used to call babies who were born weeks 35 and 36 "near-term." We've gotten away from that because we feel like they can have just a few more problems then 37 and on so we now call them "late pre-term." Most babies born at 35 weeks do very well so I'm excited because for the most part we've passed up the severe issues related to prematurity. I think when you're in pediatrics it's hard not to assume that all the things you have seen along the way might happen to your child some day.
Average weight this week is something like 5.5 pounds. He was already packing on the pounds a few weeks ago so I would imagine that he's even bigger than that now. In addition there is lots of fat being laid down in the arms and legs so that he will be able to manage his temperature better whenever he is born. Not a whole lot else going on in the development department which is a good thing because if he was born now he would probably be just fine.
So, now we're just beginning to pray for a healthy delivery for both Rachel and Noah.
I can't wait for this "gift of the Lord" to be here...
Psalm 127:3-Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Week 35, we're almost there. Back in the day, doctors used to call babies who were born weeks 35 and 36 "near-term." We've gotten away from that because we feel like they can have just a few more problems then 37 and on so we now call them "late pre-term." Most babies born at 35 weeks do very well so I'm excited because for the most part we've passed up the severe issues related to prematurity. I think when you're in pediatrics it's hard not to assume that all the things you have seen along the way might happen to your child some day.
Average weight this week is something like 5.5 pounds. He was already packing on the pounds a few weeks ago so I would imagine that he's even bigger than that now. In addition there is lots of fat being laid down in the arms and legs so that he will be able to manage his temperature better whenever he is born. Not a whole lot else going on in the development department which is a good thing because if he was born now he would probably be just fine.
So, now we're just beginning to pray for a healthy delivery for both Rachel and Noah.
I can't wait for this "gift of the Lord" to be here...
Psalm 127:3-Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
March 1, 2009
Week 34
Week 34 of Noah's stay at the Motel 40 in Rachel's Belly, Texas. I'm in Ballinger this weekend for a sad trip for my grandfather's funeral. My mom's father passed away this week so I drove up her without Rachel since she had reached the point in her pregnancy where the doctor didn't want her traveling. It was a beautiful service and we saw a lot of family that we hadn't seen in a long time.
Well, it's time for Rachel to start dumping antibodies into Noah's system so that he will be ready to face the mean world of bacteria and viruses that will surround him after he is born. I've about decided to install a state-of-the-art decontamination room in my garage to keep from bringing all kinds of nasty germs home from work. Rachel will continue giving him antibodies until week 37. This is one of the main reasons that doctors consider babies to be full term at 37 weeks and why Noah needs to stay in for a few more weeks.
Noah has also started to open his eyes during awake times just like when he's awake (and most likely screaming) when he gets to the outside. Somehow, the Smith boys have figured out a way around the requirement of having your eyes closed to sleep as I'm pretty convinced that both me and my dad can sleep while watching TV with our eyes wide open. I don't know at what stage of development he picks this up but I'm pretty sure it's post-natal. However, I pray that when he is both awake and asleep he will have vision for his generation and that he will be a leader after God's own heart!
Acts 2:17-" 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Kristi, just write, "This is me." on the blog comments so that I will know you came by...
Well, it's time for Rachel to start dumping antibodies into Noah's system so that he will be ready to face the mean world of bacteria and viruses that will surround him after he is born. I've about decided to install a state-of-the-art decontamination room in my garage to keep from bringing all kinds of nasty germs home from work. Rachel will continue giving him antibodies until week 37. This is one of the main reasons that doctors consider babies to be full term at 37 weeks and why Noah needs to stay in for a few more weeks.
Noah has also started to open his eyes during awake times just like when he's awake (and most likely screaming) when he gets to the outside. Somehow, the Smith boys have figured out a way around the requirement of having your eyes closed to sleep as I'm pretty convinced that both me and my dad can sleep while watching TV with our eyes wide open. I don't know at what stage of development he picks this up but I'm pretty sure it's post-natal. However, I pray that when he is both awake and asleep he will have vision for his generation and that he will be a leader after God's own heart!
Acts 2:17-" 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Kristi, just write, "This is me." on the blog comments so that I will know you came by...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
