Baby Update

Today I had an NST (non-stress test) appointment, where they check for the baby's heart beat, early contractions, and ambionic fluid. I'm suppose to go these appointments twice a week but I think it's a bit much afterall, my initial appointment with them (genetic specialist doctor) said that I would only see him every 6 weeks. So it threw me off when they said to come twice a week. Appearantly it's protocol for those positive on the AFP test (click here) to be seen twice a week in addition to every 6 weeks. Anyway, today's check-up went well. He's growing on schedule and no appearant problems. Hurray!

Next week I see my OB doctor and will see him every 2 weeks thereafter. So this means it's getting close to the big day! This is so also since I've been awefully sluggish and tire easily. My sciatic nerve pain is back and it hurts to walk. Now I have a hard time chasing Sophia! I get short of breath quickly. I've also got the appetite of a couple horses! So my doctor's not going to be happy with my excessive weight gain. Anyway, I'll ask my doctor next week for the exact date of the delivery. From what he told be before it'd be on the 10th of June but I noticed on my appointment schedule a "surgery" dated for the 9th, so I'll confirm that with him next week and let you know.

Thanks for your continued support and I'll update you again later.

Still A Boy

Got another ultrasound today and confirmed that my baby's still a boy! Unfortunately, the lady couldn't get a good picture of him, so she took one of his feet!

Baby Update

Dave and I discussed the baby situation. Since I'm at that over 35 age, I'm at a higher risk for birth defects than those younger. That fact is known to us and the AFP test coming in positive just gave us a little more of specific number risk and in my case showing high risk for Down Syndrome. So we talked about whether doing the amniocentesis (diagnostic test for genetic abnormalities)would serve us good since this test also comes with the risk of having a miscarriage and we definitely want to keep our baby. So, our thinking was that we would do it if there was anything that can be done to "treat" any defects that they might discover or something the doctor might say to sway us to take the test. Well, we had our appointment with the doctor yesterday and discussed our thoughts. We then opt to decline taking the test. We did have another ultrasound done that would do a "soft marker" ... looking for certain clues that might suggest Down Syndrome. There were no positive markings that the doctor saw but again he pointed out that it doesn't mean that the baby doesn't have it, so he'd like to continue to see me every six weeks or as needed to continue to view the baby's physical growth.

I had foggy feelings after receiving the news of the positive AFP test but after talking to Dave about it and getting good input from him, I was put to ease. Dave's pretty good about seeing things as they are and I don't know how to put it ... just that he can see the practical perspective. Anyway, knowing that he is accepting with me in raising our child in any condition is such heart warming and gives me great respect and admiration towards him. Dave certainly is my rock. Thanks Hon and I love you.

Baby News

A couple of days ago I had a message on my answering machine from my doctor's RNP (registered nurse practitioner). Unfortunately, I got home after office hours so I had to wait until the next day to get a hold of her. I suspected that she had serious news for me. Anyway, after playing phone tag we finally talked the next day. She informed me that Sacramento had reported that the AFP blood test I had taken showed risk that my unborn baby might have Down Syndrome. She offered to refer me to a genetics specialist for consultation and posibbly have more definitive tests. So, I have an appointment with the doctor specialist next week. I asked Dave to go with me and so he will call off work so he can be there with me.

I don't know how to put to words how I feel. I do know that if the child has Down Syndrome, I think Heavenly Father placed him with us because we would be able to take good care of him. I certainly would do my best.

He's A Boy!

I went for an ultrasound nine days ago to determine size and date for my doctor since I wasn't sure of the exact date of my last period. The technician told me that she can't tell me anything about what she sees except the sex of the baby but being just over 12wks at the time she said that she may not be able to tell. I asked her to let me know anyways if she happens to see. Sure enough she did! "It's a boy!" she exclaimed. Oddly enough I was surprised. I was feeling like I would be carrying a boy ... being that I had milder morning sickness than I was when I was carrying Sophia ... but I had a name picked out for a girl and still have tons of girl clothes that Sophia didn't get to use so a girl would be practical. Yet, a boy would be great for Sophia. Two brothers to look out for her would be nice and she'd remain the only princess. Truly either way would be awesome. I'm just thankful we're blessed again with another child. May he be strong and healthy I pray.

I'm Feeling Better ... Hurray!!

Yeap! For about a week now I've been free of the morning sickness. Wow! What a nice feeling. So this means I've been trying to catch up on those things I mentioned I've put on the back burner.

This month is a busy one for the family ... along with Christmas it's also Dave and David birthday month, so I'm busy shopping extra for them and planning for David's 5th birthday party ... Transformer theme of course. Also, I'm trying to catch up on my house chores. My sweet visiting teacher is helping me out with that. She's watching the kids for me this afternoon so I can do some cleaning. What a big help!

No surprise I can't find my camera! I had planned to get the pictures developed this morning to get ready for sending out Christmas cards but well ... Maybe it's just not going to happen this year so in advance I apologize and wish you all truly a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

That's all for now. Thanks for your patience, concerns, and prayers. You're wonderful!!

Life Goes On

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this nauseating roller coaster ride doesn’t last the entire nine months! It’s not as bad as it was when I was pregnant with Sophia but unpleasing just the same!!! I can’t catch up with my house chores and I was already a terrible house keeper to begin with. I have so much in the back burner it’s not funny. I can’t stand so many scents (eg. shampoo, conditioner, detergent, …) and I cry about anything so I’m sappier than I was. Oh, my bed now is the leather recliner. It’s the only place I can lie down comfortably enough to sleep. I miss my husband but it’s better than taking the chance of throwing up on him lying flat (propping pillows didn't work!) in bed with him! But otherwise everything is great. The kids are happy. I manage to feed them everyday and bathed at least every other day (of course Sophia’s diapers are changed as needed). Dave, I throw love thoughts when I’m not nauseated. Life moves on and I go and live it as much as I can ... the kids' must go activities first then mine. I'll probably do a "Potpourri" blog later to catch up with the in-betweens ... though I must admit, I've been terrible at taking pictures lately so I'm not sure if there's much to blog about. Well, that's it for now. Got to find some gum ... seems to give me momentary relief from the nausea ... hint hint ... that's what I want for Christmas!

Answering Your Questions

Before I answer your questions that you e-mailed to me, I want to take this time to let you know how much I appreciate all of you who have congratulated us. We're so grateful for your love and support. Thank you all sooooo much!

Many of you have asked how I'm feeling. Well, that morning sickness is always there ... of course you mothers know that it's not only during the mornings. This week is more tolerable than last week. My big thing so far is that I get so tired so quickly and feel sluggish most of the time. I'm constantly hungry and the lingering nausea doesn't seem to stop me from eating! Going by previous experience, this might be a boy. Sophia gave me such a hard time! I was miserable for 6 months while 3 for David. But, it's early so anything can happen. Maybe even twins! That would be cute but I might have to die (just kidding)! I'm an older mama so that would just be awefully rough. We'll just have to stay tuned.

Some of you also asked how far along I am. I calculate that I'm close to 7 weeks along. I'm waiting for my insurance authorization to go through to see an OBGYN then I can tell you officially. Unfortunately, I didn't log the last time I had my menstrual period but I'm confident that I have a close range on it especially after estimating when we might have conceived (shortly after that Ex- incident ... let's just say we got pretty frisky that week!).

Someone asked how I came up with the menu. Well, I wanted to be creative (afterall this I think is a woman's equavalent of a man's way of coming up with a proposal) so I pondered about it for awhile. With Sophia I twicked one of my sister-in-laws idea and left a trail of baby clothes from the kitchen up to our bedroom. With David, I wasn't creative and just told him that I had an early anniversary present and showed him the positive home pregnancy test. Then I recalled vaguely a movie that the mother-to-be sprung the news to her husband by preparing a meal for him consisting baby back ribs, baby carrots, baby corn, ... and so I thought that's cute but I was too tired to go through the trouble so I made the menu instead. I went to the internet to help me come up with baby word consisting food. I then played with it. Stuffed portobello mushrooms sounded good and didn't realize that there was such a thing! I made up Grandma Betty ... it sounded real and maybe someone can really make baby leek soup, right?

Well, hope that answers your questions. Thanks again for your congratulations and concerns.

GUESS WHAT ...

APPETIZER

Stuffed baby Portobello mushrooms

MAIN DISH

Grandma Betty's baby back ribs

along with

Brussels sprouts and baby carrots

glazed in brown sugar and pepper

and

Baby dinner rolls

SIDE DISH

Cranberry and baby spinach salad

or

Baby leek soup

DESSERT

Baby Ruth layer cake

DRINK

Baby blue punch

COMING JUNE 2008

OK, did you get it? Yes, I'm pregnant! Can you believe it? I'm still in shock and I've "known" for a couple of weeks now!! I finally told Dave (five days after I took a home pregnancy test) last Sunday and it became official last Wednesday after my doctor confirmed that I am withchild! So how did Dave take it you ask? ... afterall he only wanted one. Well, he took it as he takes practically every news ... with aloofness. He is calm about everything so much so that you might think him unemotional. He's just not the type to jump up and down if he's excited or curl up in a ball if he's sad. You know what I mean if you've been around him. Anyway, he's alright. There's just changes to be made and accomodations to consider and already Dave is setting to motion his family's welfare. What an awesome man!

By the way, I sprung it to Dave similarly as I sprung it to you. I typed this menu in a fancy card (I scanned it but it just didn't come out bright enough for blog so I typed it out for you instead) and left it on the kitchen counter for him to discover when he got home from work that night. Surely enough he did and when he came up to kiss me, he asked about the card. "That card, what does it mean?" he asked. I answered, "What do you think it means?". "Are you pregnant?" he replied. "Yes." I said. Then few more private words then ... aloofness but ending with me feeling great love for my husband for the way he touched my head. That sounds weird but it's one of those things that you had to be there. It made me feel like as if he was saying ... "Everything's going to be OK and good job!".