Knights of Columbus
John Clare Council #15485

I have gotten busy this December, and since my 2015 "The Word Made Flesh" ended just before Advent, I thought I'd go ahead and post, as Paul Harvey would say, The Rest of the Story- the original set of 2014 by Mary and Nick Rigert. I'll be coming out with a single post of all The Word Made Flesh for 2015 blog and bulletin announcement posts after Christmas. November 30 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 37 Weeks The maximum amount of amniotic fluid surrounds Baby now. In the Weeks to come, Baby continues to grow. However, some amniotic fluid is reabsorbed by mother’s body. This decreases the amount of fluid around Baby and the room in which he has to move. Mother may notice a difference of Baby movements. For some mothers, it may seem like Baby is not moving as much as he had been. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 December 7 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 3...

November 23 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 36 Weeks Baby weighs about 6 pounds measures 20 ¾ inches. Maturation of the lungs and respiratory system will enable Baby to breathe on his own outside of the mother. Only 4 to 5 Weeks until the due date! Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 --------- Editor's note: One of the challenges given to me in rewriting this was NOT to write another apocryphal Gospel. To that end, for the 2015 version, I am drawing on my own experience as a father. My son was born, with birth defects, 4 weeks early, at the 36th week. So this is ending just before Advent. I will continue posting the original 2014 version, but this is the last pregnancy post of the 2015 version. I may continue in the advent season as time allows- but it will be the story of the new family, for our baby girl has been born. Use the appropriate tags to search for the whole thing of either version. ----------- The Word Ma...

November 16 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 35 Weeks Baby now weighs over 5 ½ pounds. Total length is 20 ¼ inches. Mother’s increasing size is due to the growth of Baby and placenta, as well as the increased amount of amniotic fluid. All these factors make estimating Baby’s weight more difficult. Emotional changes within mother are normal. Many changes are happening to mother’s body as Baby grows. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 -------------------------------- The Word Made Flesh, November 14-15, 2015 Our Baby girl is growing nicely, estimated at over 5 pounds, over 20 inches. But Mother isn't doing so well on bed rest, and her blood pressure keeps rising. Father is worried, and is waiting on mother hand and foot to try to keep her comfortable. Doctor's also worried- and so inducement has been scheduled, for November 23, 2015. She's not going to reach her due date, which was to be the Birthday of Our L...

November 9 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 8 months Skin becomes pink and smooth. Baby weighs almost 5 pounds and measures 19 ½ inches. The Baby is really getting cramped now. “Lightening” begins - the period in which the head of the Baby enters the birth canal. False labor is usually seen in late pregnancy. It seems to occur more often in women who have been pregnant before. It usually stops as quickly as it begins, and the Baby is never in danger. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 --------------------- The Word Made Flesh November 7-8, 2015 Our Mother is getting worried, she's been on bed rest 3 weeks for preclampsia. Baby is turning and entering the birth canal. A false labor episode causes quite the scare, but the child is never in danger. Her due date is still December 25, 2015

November 2 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 33 Weeks Mother gains more weight as Baby continues to grow and develop. Mother may be gaining weight faster than at any other point during pregnancy. However, mother is not putting on most of this weight— Baby is! Baby is going through a period of increased growth and may be gaining as much as 8 ounces or more every week! Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 ------------- The Word Made Flesh, October 31-November 1, 2015 This is the weekend of the Feast of All Saints, and our Baby Girl is 33 weeks along. There is noticeable weight gain for the mother- but it isn't really the mother gaining weight, it's the child growing! Psalm 127 tells us that children are a heritage from the Lord, but at this point in the pregnancy it is hard to remember that. With the weight gain, mother continues to be on bed rest for preclampsia. It helps to have father around to help out at this stag...

October 26 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 32 Weeks Baby weighs almost 4 pounds. Total length is nearly 19 inches. If mother is carrying twins, it is important to keep babies within mother to increase birth weights and to continue maturity of organ systems. The average length of pregnancy for twins is about 37 Weeks . For triplets, it is about 35 Weeks . Before ultrasound was available, diagnosing twins was much more difficult. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 -------------------- The Word Made Flesh October 24-25, 2014. >BR> It's 32 weeks into the pregnancy of our baby girl. She's up to 4 pounds. Just like St. John in the first chapter of the gospel of Luke, she's leaping for joy. But there is an issue. Today, good pre-natal care watches the mother's vitals, and about this time in the pregnancy, many women get put on bed rest for fear of high blood pressure- also known as preclampsia. Just as a prec...

October 19 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 31 Weeks Mother’s body produces as much as 50% more blood and body fluids during pregnancy to meet Baby’s needs. Enlarging Baby pushes on mother’s pelvic veins, and blood flow in the lower part of her body is partially blocked. This pushes fluid into her legs and feet, causing swelling. Mother may be a bit (or very) uncomfortable, but Baby is being fed and kept warm. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 ------------------- The Word Made Flesh for October 17-18, 2015 Our little girl is growing, pushing on veins, causing Mommy's feet to swell. But this is normal for this stage of the pregnancy. John Chapter 16 tells us that like the pain of the Apostles losing Christ, the pain of pregnancy will soon be replaced with the joy of a new soul in the world. Baby's due date is still December 25, 2015.

October 12 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 7 months Baby weighs about 3 pounds. Baby is usually quite active during pregnancy. Still have 10 Weeks to go and mother’s body feels like it’s running out of room as Baby grows under mother’s ribs. Still, along with increased amniotic fluid, Baby continues to get larger. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 ---------------------- The Word Made Flesh for October 10-11, 2015. Psalm 139 tells us that our bodies are wonderfully made, that it is God knitting us together in the womb. Our little girl is 7 months along now, growing so large that she's beginning to outgrow her mother's womb- but she still has 10 weeks to go. Her due date is the Birthday of Our Lord, December 25, 2015

October 5 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 29 Weeks Baby weighs about 2 ¼ pounds. Crown-to-rump length is almost 10 ½ inches. Total Baby length is 16 ½ inches. A couple of interesting factors about birth weight have been identified: Boys weigh more than girls. Birth weight of an infant increases with additional pregnancies or number of babies delivered. These are general statements and don’t apply to everyone, but they consistently reflect birth trends. The average Baby’s birth weight at full term is 7 to 7 ½ pounds. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 -------------------- Psalm 127 tells us that children are a blessing. Our little girl is up to about 2¼ pounds. She's growing fast- but not as fast as Our Lord did at this stage; already the differences between boys and girls are beginning by 29 weeks; boy babies grow faster in the womb. Her due date is the Birthday of Our Lord, December 25, 2015

September 28 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the Womb 28 weeks Crown-to-rump length is close to 10 inches. Brain tissue increases. Eyebrows and eyelashes are present. Hair on the baby’s head is growing longer. The body is becoming plumper and rounder. He is beginning to fill out a little due to increasing fat under the skin. Before this time, the baby had a thin appearance. Baby has increased its weight more than 10 times in 11 weeks. Baby is growing rapidly. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 ------------------------- The Word Made Flesh September 26-27, 2015. Psalm 127 tells us what a blessing children are to the righteous man, and how blessed must our little girl's father be feeling by now, 28 weeks into the pregnancy! She's now close to 10 inches, gaining weight daily, and in an emergency, would be delivered as a premie now. But her real due date is still three months in the future- the Birthday of Our Lord December 25, 2015.

September 21 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 27 Weeks This week marks the beginning of the 3rd trimester. Eyelids will now open. The retina, at the back of the eye, is light-sensitive. It is the part of the eye where light images come into focus. These layers receive light wave information and transmit it to the brain for interpretations—what we know as “sight.” Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 ------------- The Word Made Flesh September 19-20, 2015. In Mathew Chapter 6, verse 22, Christ tells us of the miracle of the human eye- the lamp of the body. At the start of the 3rd trimester, the retinas of the little girl we are following become light sensitive; the child can now see. Eyelids open. Her due date is still a few months out- The Birthday of Our Lord, December 25, 2015

September 14 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 26 Weeks Baby now weighs almost 2 pounds and will put on more weight. Baby has distinct sleeping and waking cycles. Certain times of the day will have Baby very active, while other times he will be asleep. In addition, all five senses are now fully developed. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 ------------------------------ The Word Made Flesh September 12-13, 2015 26 weeks in, our baby girl now ways almost two pounds! She has distinct sleeping and waking cycles. Proverbs chapter 3 and 6 mention what a grace sleep is to the human race. Her due date is still the birthday of Our Lord, December 25, 2015

September 7 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 6 months The Baby will be able to hear by next week. The child sleeps and wakes, nestles in his favorite positions and stretches upon waking up. If Baby is delivered now, it would have a high chance of living. No one wants a Baby to deliver this early, but new treatment methods like ventilators, monitors and medication increase its chances of survival. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 ----------------------- The Word Made Flesh, September 5-6, 2015. Ephesians 5 repeats an old saying from the very beginning of the Christian Era, common to the people Paul was writing to: "Wake from your slumber, arise from the Dead, and Christ will shine upon you". We are six months into the pregnancy of our little girl, and she is learning to sleep and wake. Nobody wants a baby delivered this early, but with modern medical treatment, she is her own person, and would survive if delivered...

August 31 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 24 Weeks Baby is filling out. Its face and body look more like an infant at the time of birth. Amniotic fluid continues to increase as the due date approaches, and its composition changes during pregnancy. During the first half, it is similar to maternal plasma. Then, it changes to more of Baby’s own cells. There isn’t a great deal of room to move in the mother. As the Weeks pass, space gets even tighter. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 ---------------------------- The Word Made Flesh for August 29-30, 2015 Far back into antiquity, lifeblood, flowing blood plasma, was considered to be the main sign of animal life. Genesis chapter 9 contains the earliest of the Jewish dietary laws; the one still followed until today- draining all blood from meat animals to be consumed. Leviticus 17 also teaches this dietary law, and the Roman Catholic Church teaches that this prefigures the blood sp...

August 24 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 23 Weeks Baby weighs almost 1 pound. Crown-to-rump length is 8 inches - about the size of small doll. The body is getting plumper, but the skin is still wrinkled; Baby will soon gain even more weight. The pancreas is developing quickly. This organ is vital to hormone production - particularly insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to break down and to use sugar. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 -------------------------- The Word Made Flesh, August 22-23, 2015 Isaiah 7:13-17 tells us of the signs of the Messiah. One of those signs is that He will eat curds and honey, for He will know what is good from what is evil. This week, our baby girl is the size of a small doll, and the pancreas is developing- the organ which produces insulin, which allows us human beings to digest sugars, such as honey. The same verse predicts that Immanuel will be born of a virgin- the event we celebr...

August 17 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 22 Weeks Baby continues to grow; the body gets larger every day. Eyelids, and even eyebrows, develop. Fingernails become visible. Baby’s organ systems begin to specialize for their particular function. The liver cleans the blood. A Baby born with ‘jaundice’ results from an incomplete formation of this liver function. This yellow tint to the skin and eyes is easily treated with phototherapy. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 --------------- The Word Made Flesh for August 15-16, 2015. Deuteronomy 28 tells us that among the bad things that could happen if we disobey God's will is Jaundice. We've learned a bit since Moses's time. At 22 weeks in, our Baby Girl's organs, in particular the liver, are beginning to function. A common birth defect here often reduces the liver's functionality a bit, and a baby struck with this birth defect will be born with Jaundice, a ye...

August 10 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 5 months Mother may feel the Baby kick, turn or hiccup and may be able to identify a bulge as an elbow or head. Each side of the brain has a billion nerve cells. Different organ systems within Baby are maturing. Baby swallows more to promote growth and development of the digestive system. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 -------------------------------------- The Word Made Flesh August 8-9, 2015 We're 5 months in and our baby girl is learning to kick, turn, hiccup, and the brain, the computer of the soul, is developing. The nervous system is getting more complex. Luke 1:40-45 tells us the story of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth, and the baby John the Baptist recognizing the Messiah and leaping for joy in his mother's womb. Baby's due date is still the Birthday of Our Lord, December 25, 2015.

August 3 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 20 Weeks 20 Weeks marks the midpoint of the pregnancy. The skin covering Baby begins growing from two layers: the epidermis, which is on the surface, and the dermis, which is the deeper layer. The dermis contains small blood vessels, a nerve and large amounts of fat. Thicker hair grows from new follicles. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 --------------- The Word Made Flesh August 1-2, 2015 We are 20 weeks into the pregnancy of the Baby Girl we are following- halfway to Christmas. John Chapter 1 tells us how Our Lord, the Eternal Word, became incarnate in a human body- and the more visible part of our Baby Girl after she is born is developing. The skin starts developing halfway through- and a layer of baby fat we all find so cute. Her hair starts to grow. She still shares a due date with the Birthday of Our Lord, December 25, 2015

July 27 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 19 Weeks Baby weighs 7 ounces. It is incredible to think Baby will increase its weight more than 15 times between now and delivery. Since week 6, the main divisions of the central nervous system have been established while increased development of the brain and spinal cord continues. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 ------------------------------------- The Word Made Flesh for July 25-26, 2015 The brain and central nervous system, modern science thinks, may be the seat of the soul. Our girl we are following is only 1/15th the size of child ready to be born- but she already has a soul. Psalm 139 tells us that God has knit together the soul and the body- into one indivisible whole. These competing theories of ensoulment- and many others- lead some to doubt the sinfulness of abortion. But as Catholics, we know that the body and soul are indivisible- and thus human life must be protect...

July 20 Bulletin The Word was made Flesh . . . Following Baby Jesus in the womb 18 Weeks Baby is continuing to grow and to develop, but the growth rate levels off. An ultrasound done at this point in pregnancy is helpful for confirming the Baby’s due date and examining the Baby’s anatomy. Parental bonds are strengthened with the visual picture of their Baby. Baby’s approximate due date: December 25, 2014 ---------------- The Word Made Flesh for July 18-19, 2015 Genesis 1:27 tells us we are made in the image of God, both male and female. At this point in the pregnancy, the mother of our little girl goes in for an ultrasound, and using modern technology, is able to take home a picture of her child. The due date is also confirmed- December 25, 2015, the birthday of Our Lord Jesus Christ.