Week 18

The Babe:
Now since the babe's ears are in place and are completely functioning...the babe is learning a whole lot about genetics and evolution from my lectures all day long. And if repetition is truly the key to learning the babe hears the same lecture four times a day!! This week is also the beginning of ossification, which is the hardening of the babe's miniature bones. The nerves are making more and more complex connections. The sense of smell, taste, sight and hearing are all developing. A substance called myelin, which makes nerve connections travel faster, is now coating the babe's nerves.
The babe now weighs between 5 and 7 ounces and is about 5 1/2 inches long—about the size of a pickle from the corner deli.

Me:
Since I am now keeping everything down I have begun the weight gain...oh well I guess this is just how it goes. I am looking forward to spring break and family coming in for Mary Alice's birthday in a couple of weeks!!
We had a doctor's appointment this week and Ben and Mary Alice got to hear the heart beat...though it took the doctor far TOO LONG for my comfort to find it!
But he did, so all is well.

Ben:
Ben is gearing up for the Easter musical with only limited practices... However, he always seems to pull things off! We are both looking forward to him having some time off for Easter (all THREE of us together!!)

Mary Alice:
She is still fighting an ear infection (on to the second antibiotic) and congestion and cough. It has been about a month now, but no one seems all that concerned about her so I guess we don't need to be either.
No surprises here, but Mary Alice is really taking off VERBALLY!! She has added to her vocab, "kisses" which is more like "sisses" and "thank you" which is more like (can't spell it) but she now mimics when you say thank you with the same syllables.
She is still eating like a maniac all REAL food she can get!!