Baby Update!!

We had a 36-week ultrasound on May 15 and the baby appeared to be about 5.88 pounds at the time. The baby is head down and probably will stay that way until birth. Here is a photo from the ultrasound of her head with a profile of her face. Her nose and upper lip loo really huge, but the image is just at a bad angle.

I went to a doctor's appointment on May 25 (37th week) and the doctor listened to the baby's heartbeat. It was quite amusing as the doctor chased the baby around to keep the heartbeat. The baby was being very active at the time. Everything still looks good! My cervix was starting to soften is is 50% effaced (look it up, knowledge is power). So, it doesn't look like anything has really started happening yet and we're gettin g afraid that she, the baby, won't be here by her due date. We're going to try walking more in the next couple of weeks, because we hear it can help things progress. We'll see. Only 2 weeks left from Monday, May 29, to the due date of June 12.

--Shana

Shana's two cents

So, I decided you all need to hear from me also. Things are going well. I'm very happy that we have had no complications with the pregnancy. I wish I could tell whether my body is gearing up for labor or not. As far as I know, everything is the same as normal. I'm starting to fear that I will carry past my due date, especially since we have family coming up to visit the week I'm due!

Other than baby stuff, I've been trying to come to a stopping point for several projects I'm working on at USGS. But, they keep coming up with more things for me to do.........ugh! Office work is about to kill me, but I shouldn't be out in the field working hard. At least I'm staying busy, so that I don't sit around wondering when labor will start.

We're starting to get settled here in this mountainous state. This has taken a while for me. The bonds I have with family and friends in OK are pretty strong, and making new friends takes time. We have been involved with CU intramural sports, such as football, basketball, and ultimate frisbee. Chris even attempted intertube water polo, which I understand was pretty hard. We are playing softball this summer in a CU league. I hope to be able to play by late June (please). I have truly missed playing sports. I also can't wait for that first pint of beer I can have (as my mouth waters).

I would have attached a photo of me with my buddha belly, but I don't like any that I have on hand. We are planning to go to the Boulder Creek Festival this weekend and hopefully I can find a henna artist who will do some henna design on my belly. Then, Chris will take a photo of my belly so that we can print and frame for the baby room. I will share this photo with you all, if this falls into place. Wish us luck!

View from Campus

This image was photographed on February 22, 2006 from the University of Colorado campus. The weather in Colorado has been nice, for the most part! However, we miss the moist Oklahoma air and springtime thunderstorms.

The semester is officially over...one year down and 3 more to go. Currently, I'm on vacation in Houston attending a small workshop on planetary chronology!! After today's session, I decided to drive down to Galveston to take a swim...might as well since I was here. Remember, an ocean full of syringes and trash can do wonders for the soul! I've also been TA'ing a introductory field geology class since the end of the semester. The duration of the course is only a couple weeks and I can refresh my Colorado geology we (those of us privileged to attend geo-field camp in Canon City) learned years ago. Speaking of field camp, Shana and I have been discussing visiting Dr. Puckette in "Shantyville" this year. Shana communicated with Dr. Puckette several weeks ago and he indicated that OU had 16 students enrolled and total enrollment was somewhere around 64 students!!!

Now things will really gear up with the addition of the third member of our family in the next couple of weeks. Shana and I are anxious for "baby girl" to begin her journey. We still haven't decided on a full name...however, her name will not be any of the following as suggested by various people: Yukon Cornelius, T. Boone (or any variation), Snake Plissken, Apollo Creed, or Berton Ernie. Some of the more tasteful names that have been suggested by our loyal friends include Mica Michaelangelo, Liesa Gange, and Emily Elizabeth. Any other suggestions, let us know.

Shana is still plugging away at the USGS and to quote her, "I figured as long as I can sit, I can work (at a desk)". So, she'll more than likely begin labor working on water quality data...maybe we'll name the girl after a particular well she examined that day...say, Lumberjack #3 Neel or Butts Well Neel...etc. Shana has been getting increasingly uncomfortable as the weeks go by, which is to be expected. She's a warrior!! She and I are also looking forward to seeing our families when the baby arrives...hope everything goes well!

--Chris