Week 8 is starting

Clover, you're 7 full weeks and we start week 8 now.  You'll grow to the size of a raspberry this week.  Your eye retinas are developing pigment and your intestines are growing so fast that it can't all fit in you--some of it's in the umbilical cord.  Your hands and feet will start to separate into individual finger and toes, but will stay webbed for a while.  Whether you're a girl or boy was decided at conception, but your outer parts will begin to take shape this week.  Your tail is almost gone and your nose is starting to protrude, as well as your lips.  We love you very much.

I've been sick since Tuesday with a sinus infection--it got worse until Friday and I feel only slightly less awful today.  That's taken the front seat to any pregnancy symptoms I might notice.  But I am so, so tired all the time, breasts hurt, out of breath, and I've had a bit of acid reflux and a lot of night sweats.  Lovely, right?

We shared our news on Facebook this week with a photo--we made a tin can "phone" and I held one to my belly and Kathryn held one to her face.  I thought it was cute, although Kathryn doesn't grasp the situation.  Mostly that it's hilarious to think there's a whole baby in mommy's tummy.

This Thursday, we'll meet with an ob, about whom I've heard amazing things.  The only concerns I have are that her office will only do 1 ultrasound during pregnancy, and the hospital I would deliver at doesn't have any kind of newborn critical care or intensive care.  NICU was an immediate need for Kathryn, and if we hadn't had it, she would've likely had permanent brain damage or even died.  So I want to hear the ob's side and then decide if we want to shoot for WakeMed Cary instead.  Very nervous, of course, for the first visit.  I hope to persuade them to do an ultrasound, but at least let us hear the heartbeat.  I need that.