for the love of benadryl (17 weeks)

Well, I've been a little "under the weather" this week :( I have had some allergies or a cold...not sure which one...with congestion and some sinus issues. Let me tell you, that doesn't mix too well with pregnancy. Unknown by me until this week, there's a pregnancy side effect that some women get called excessive saliva--ew, gross. I will spare the gory details, but apparently a cold and/or allergies (which ever I may have) can aggrevate this condition and let's just say I've had my fair share of miserable, looooooonnnng nights lately. I did however, get another hero in my life this week, (don't worry Court, you didn't get back seat--you just have to share co-ownership of the title now) the RN at my OB, Linda, and she's super. She worked with me for 2 days to help me find a solution so that I could get some rest and yesterday the remedy was discovered--BENADRYL. That stuff is just plain fantastic and I finally got some sleep last night, hooray!

Now, on to bigger, and better things...

So I'm starting to feel movement quite frequently lately. Sometimes I can talk to Flair and get it going which is way fun. Oh yeah, and apparently he/she likes orange juice (my one craving) because every time I drink it, I start feeling movements. Tony keeps trying to see if he can feel movement, but no success yet...I guess it helps that I can feel it from the inside and that helps me figure out where to put my hands.

Also, 5 days from now we shall retire the name Flair and be able to start using the real name! Good thing too, I mean what poor kid wants to go around with the nickname Flair their whole life...especially a girl, can you imagine? So, next time I post, I will be posting with our baby's real name...YAHOO!!!

Last, but not least, here the stats on Flair "the onion" this week...

17 weeks--An Onion

Baby is about 5 inches long and more than 3 ½ ounces — the size of your open hand or an onion.
Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

Your baby is almost certainly listening up by now. In fact, loud noises — the dog barking, the doorbell ringing — will actually startle him/her. Your baby's eyes (which have fortunately finished their migration to the front of his/her head) are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids are still sealed.

And since practice makes perfect, your baby is sharpening his or her sucking and swallowing skills in preparation for feeding. In fact, most of the survival reflexes that your baby will have at birth are being perfected in utero right now.