Baby#2 - Week 24, Baby Shower Invitation and Misc Photos

(ABOVE: Jaden posing in Aunt Nancy's Flower Garden - she looks so pretty!)
(ABOVE: This was part of the Baby Shower Invitation done by Jolene - it is too cute!)
(ABOVE: Jaden getting a push from Jason - no training wheels mom!)

(ABOVE: Jaden posing before riding her bike at Aunt Nancy's House)
(ABOVE: Jaden with Trevor - going on a date in the T-Bucket)
(ABOVE: Jaden having some cake at Trevor and Lisa's house - we celebrated Lisa turning 40!)
(ABOVE: Jaden climbing high at Edinborough Park's indoor play area)
(ABOVE: Jaden on the uneven bars at The Little Gym)

Well it is Tuesday Night and raining here in Minnesota. We just got back from gymnastics at The Little Gym - Jason headed to Snap Fitness, Jaden is in the shower and I am sitting here with a hot cup of Mayan Chocolate (sugar free) coffee topped with whipped cream - can it get any better than that? Actually we have had a good weekend and start to the week, aside from mer taking today off becuase my tummy is not too happy and I am just a bit tired all seems to be well. Jaden - if you read the post below - learned to ride her bike without training wheels last night. Jason and I are very proud of her ... she is pretty proud too! This weekend we are hoping to head to a local Corn Maze - it is HUGE ... if the weather cooperates of course - if not we'll be back at Edinborough Park with Hannah and Katie this time ... I am also doing some 'shopping' at Jolene's house this weekend! I am going to weed through her baby goods and borrow what I need ... I am excited - who doesn't get excited when they look at teeny tiny clothes?? Jolene and Heather (2 of the GREATEST friends I could be blessed with) are having a shower for me and put together the cutest invitation - I added a picture of them ... it isn't too far off either! The house construction starts in 2 weeks and we are all giddy with anticipation! Other than that news ... here is a Baby#2 update ... and some misc photos from the past few weeks ... Hope you are having a great week ...

How your baby's growing:Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

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How your life's changing:In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball.Most women have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between now and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition. Untreated diabetes increases your risk of having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow too large, especially in his upper body. It also raises your baby's odds for other complications like low blood sugar right after birth. A positive result on your GCT doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you'll need to take the glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out for sure.

I haven't had my glucose test yet - I assume it will be at 28 weeks ... I am a little concerned about taking it mainly because since I had Gastric Bypass Surgery my body can not and does not handle high levels of sugar intake - nor does it like carbonated beverages ... being that the drink you take for the test has about 50MG of sugar I am worried I will go into what is called a 'Dumping Episode' ... if that is the case it is very unpleasant ... I have my 24 week appointment tomorrow so we will have plenty to talk about ... normally my blood sugar level is around 65 - which is low - and I experience shaking and numbness in my fingers - so maybe I won't have any issues either way ... I will let you know ... other than that things are a chugging along ... I will have Jaden take a new picture of me tomorrow and post it then ... Have a good night!

Love ~ The Clark Family ~ Rebekah, Jason, Jaden & Baby Charlotte