The Dancing Nugget...

Last week at work I attempted to use a Doppler (a hand held device that can pick up the baby's heartbeat for anyone to hear) to listen to our little nuggets heartbeat.  Actually, a couple of the girls at work, Jeannine (who will receive the baby after delivery) and Crystal (who will be my primary nurse for labor) were the ones trying to find the baby's heartbeat.  We couldn't find the heartbeat, and just came to the conclusion that perhaps it was still just too early to hear it via this particular machine.  Still, being the crazy nurse I am, I couldn't help but think, we heard it so loud and strong at the doctors office nearly 4 weeks ago on the ultrasound, why can't we hear it now?

So I mentioned it to my neighbor friend, Mandi (who is literally my saving grace here in Salina, she is an AMAZING woman).  Mandi is married to Chris, an OB/GYN doctor who practices here in town.  Well, of course Mandi recommended we go do an ultrasound, just to help ease my mind (again why she is my saving grace :).

Sunday afternoon, Mandi and I went to see the movie Life as we know it (with Katherine Heigl -- from Grey's Anatomy), which was really good, by the way.  Then went to dinner with Mandi, Chris and their two kids, and then to have an Ultrasound done.

It was INCREDIBLE!  Chris (or Dr. Graber) left the Ultrasound wand on my tummy for about 15-20 minutes and during this time, we got to see the Nugget jumping from one side of my uterus to the other, stick it's little foot in it's mouth, moon the camera, and snuggle into a little ball to rest before the next big performance.  Phillip was simply astonished.  He would talk to my tummy, and the little nugget would move some more.  We are considering video recording the next ultrasound so you can watch the little nugget in action!  The books all say that they started twitching their arms and legs at about 9 or 10 weeks, but we had no idea this little nugget would be bouncing all over the place!  We were able to clearly see 2 arms, 2 legs, a great big head, and plenty of amniotic fluid (which means that the kidney's are already functioning well).  It's just so interesting to me, that all this is happening, and I don't feel a thing, well, except nauseated.  The books say I may start feeling movements as early as 14 weeks (which would be around Halloween) or as late as 22 weeks (which would be Christmas), so I will be anxiously awaiting those first twinges!

Here are a couple of photos Chris printed for us...

This photo shows the little nugget all snuggled up in a ball, resting in between performances.  You can see the head, torso, and just across from the head, little legs, kinda all scrunched up.  Grampa Van Court swears he can see the Van Court dimples here :)

Here is photo I sent out via mass text message from Phillip's phone (sorry if he didn't have your number).  Here the little nugget just finished a jump and has turned all the way around from the previous photo.  You can see the little arm and leg, and it's resting it's head against the placenta.

It's all so incredible really.  God sure knew what He was doing when he created the miracle of life.  We are so blessed to have the friends and resources we do to see the nugget like we have and we are not taking any of it for granted.

Phillip and I are still struggling over whether or not to find out the gender of the nugget...  we will certainly post as soon as we have made our decision!

In other news, Fall Harvest is approximately 1/2 over which is really exciting.  Phillip has a great team of people working for him that has made this fall harvest better than last years by far, plus I've gotten to see him more :)

We FINALLY received our wedding album (a year and a half later), and have been told to expect the CD with all of the wedding & engagement photos within the next 2 weeks.  Phillip plans to make a few copies of this to give to each of our parents, we'll also give you a copy of the copyright release so you can have them printed at Walmart or where ever (sorry it's taken FOREVER!)

We have decided to spend Christmas in Cheyenne this year.  It will be my first Christmas away from home, so I'm not sure how it will all work out... as far as seeing everyone, but I will be excited to be guaranteed a white Christmas :)

Sorry it's been a week since the last update... I will try to do better!  Also, my goal is to have Phillip post sometime this week so you can hear some of his thoughts about life and the nugget.