Our miracle is here

Our son was born August 8. It's been a month, and I still can't believe he's really here. I'll try to update with photos later, but in the meantime, all are healthy and doing well. We are truly blessed.

36.5 weeks

I just wanted to stop in with a quick update. All is going well, and our Bean is due to arrive in 3.5 weeks. I still can't believe it. They are estimating that he's 6 lbs 15 oz already, so I don't think he'll be a small baby.

29.5 weeks!

Wow, I can't believe we're here! There's not much new, which is good news. It just feels like this pregnancy got put on fast-forward. We have so much to do to prepare for our Bean, and I feel so behind!

We're feeling his kicks get stronger every day, it seems like. I never get tired of feeling him move.

24.5 weeks...

Wow, I can't believe I'm already 24 1/2 weeks! We found out at our ultrasound last week that The Bean’s kidney with too much fluid got worse, so they are referring us to a pediatric urologist at the local children’s hospital. I was pretty upset at first, since when I asked the OBGYN how worried we should be he said he honestly didn’t know, since it wasn’t his area of expertise. But after I talked to one of the docs at the hospital and he assured me that babies with this condition generally do well and live long healthy lives I felt much better. They got us in for the “first available” appt., which isn’t for a month. They won’t actually do anything for our Bean until after he’s born--if anything (such as surgery) is needed--but they want to meet with us ahead of time so that if he does need surgery we’re not meeting with these docs for the first time right after I give birth. I really don’t have a lot of information about all of this, but just plan to bring a long list of questions to our appointment at the end of May.

Other than that, he looks good and is measuring on track. We were very happy to see him again, and got a 3-D ultrasound this time. Oh, and the nesting instinct is kicking in big time. I never thought I'd be able to do anything before he's born, but now we're actually talking about ordering a crib (we can get a discount if we order before May 15). I think it's how I deal with any anxiety I have about The Bean. Whenever I start to get nervous, I research nursery decor!

It's a Boy!

Well, we had our 20-week ultrasound last week and we're having a BOY! Of course, I'd be just equally happy if we were having a girl. It's just so exciting to know more about our Bean.

Our appt. wasn't without some worry...there was a little extra fluid in one of the kidneys, which they said could be a soft marker for Down Syndrome. I guess soft markers show up all the time in kids with the average number of chromosomes too, so they told us to try not to worry too much. My first tri genetic screening came back negative for Down Syndrome, as did my quad screen. However, the bloodwork part of my quad screen was positive for Down Syndrome and no one told me. (My doctor was out so I saw someone else in the practice, but I'll be giving my doc an earful next time I see him.) The dr. we saw at this visit told us odds are our baby is fine. We know we're going to love him like crazy no matter what, but it would be nice to know before he's born if he may have special challenges. I just can't bring myself to do an amnio at this point. It just seems too invasive.

Other than that I can eat again, and am actually getting to the point where I may have to start keeping an eye on my diet so I don't go too crazy. Mostly, I'm just starting to believe that someday I might really get to meet my SON!

19 weeks, 3 days

Ok, I'm the worst blogger ever. I can't believe it has been so long since I've posted an update. I'll spare you any complaints about nausea and vomiting, since I was grateful to have those symptoms--I just wish they hadn't lasted until I was about 18 weeks pregnant. But again, I'm beyond grateful to still be pregnant so I'm really not complaining (too much).

Things continue to go well. We had a quad screen at 15 weeks which came back good enough that we again opted not to have CVS or an amnio. Oh, and we finally felt comfortable enough to start taking belly shots. The above one is of me at 18 weeks.

On Wednesday we'll have our 20-week ultrasound. We're both so excited, nervous, and hopeful. I'm so excited to know the gender since it'll make things seem more real to know this bit of information about our Bean. But also anxious to find out if everything else is developing normally.

12 weeks 2 days

Our 1st tri screening yesterday went really well! My risk for trisomy 13/18 is the same as a 28-year-old's, and my risk for Down Syndrome is the same as a 33-year-old. Based on that they are just recommending that we do another bloodwork screening between 15-18 weeks, but they don't recommend anything else for the time being.

The Bean was measuring right on track (actually a day ahead). I didn't get to see him/her much b/c I couldn't see the u/s screen, but DH had a better view and got to see a lot more. They showed me the baby at the end, but by then it was done moving so I just got to see it lying stil.

I'm still just in such shock that this one might really make it. I'm not sure when it will sink in!

10w4d and counting

I'm sorry I've been so bad about posting an update. My long-prayed-for nausea is in full swing, so I've been lying still a lot lately and have been online a lot less.

We saw my OBGYN last week at 10 weeks. He did bloodwork, etc., but wasn't planning on doing an ultrasound until I pressed for it. So he ended up doing a quick one--we got to see our little Bean moving around in there, which was amazing. It was measuring 3 days behind, which really upset me at the time since it's been 100% on track up until then. But the OBGYN reassured me that plus or minus a few days is OK at this point. I hope he's right.

We go in on Feb. 4 to see a genetic doc for our first trimester genetic screening. Considering my age, that's our next big hurdle.

Other than that, I still wake up every day in shock that I'm still pregnant. The nausea/vomiting is reassuring, but I think I've finally hit the breaking point where I'm going to have to ask my doc for some drugs. I've been trying to avoid them, but last night I was up until 7 a.m. because I felt too sick to sleep. Plus I can't keep my prenatal vitamins down (I started taking folic acid separately since that doesn't seem to make me vomit). I feel so guilty when I complain about feeling bad. If this little guy makes it, it will be so worth it!

our best ultrasound ever...

Today we saw our little bean measuring right on track at 8 weeks, with a good strong heartbeat of 164. We are still in happy shock. I've never had a 100% good u/s before! We got released back to my obgyn (also a first), and we see him in 2 weeks.

We're trying to remember that there is a long road ahead and a lot that can still go wrong, but are feeling so hopeful. The RE said considering my age (42) our next big hurdle is genetic testing.

There seems to be confusion about the SCH/bleed...the u/s tech we saw last week saw one. The tech this week saw what she thinks might be a non-developing 3rd sac (the thing we saw at the first u/s) and a fibroid, but no bleed. The RE said no exercise, but I'm OK for normal activity otherwise.

Our little one has a head, and arm and leg buds. I'm just in awe.