The Down Syndrome Test

I'm so glad all appointments have gone well and Yes, Sarah, you need to scan and post the pictures!

Hmm, with the food aversions, I'm wondering if there isn't some more blue heading our way. I definitely wasn't nearly as nauseous with Julian as I have been with baby girl, and I seem to remember some particular aversions. More prominent was the craving for Mexican - which I ate AT LEAST once a week.

Regarding the down syndrome test, yes, it's generallly the nuchal translucency these days. I had an AFP (just blood) the first time and got the nuchal this time around. Generally happens between 11 and 13 weeks and is a combination of a measurement of the fluid at the back of the baby's neck as well as a couple of finger pricks. Jenn Derkits had her blood work done like a week before her appointment, but for me they took my blood during the ultrasound. The test is a little tricky because the baby's chin has to be at a certain angle (nearly 90 degrees) from the neck otherwise the measurement can be off.

For me, it was the same as last time, essentially. The scan turned out fine, but the bloodwork showed an increased risk. That put me just above the cut-off so they offered to send me to the perinatologist. Of course, I knew what would happen - same thing that happened last time. I'd go in for the high-density scan and they'd find some small discrepency with something that would increase my odds, freak us all out and then I'd have an amniocentesis. Now that I've been there and done that, I was not in the mood to try it again. Especially when you really look at the odds. My odds sounded bad - like one in 270 or something. But when you look at the percentages, it's less than half of one percent. So, we decided not to do anything about it and I feel so much better. Trust me on this girls - amnios are NOT fun.

Sarah - be sure to post your due date so we know when the big day is for you (and how close you are to Nicole). Speaking of which, March 11th is Scott Huber's birthday! =)

You'll have to wait for my pictures...

Hey all,
I had a sonogram at my appointment last Thursday. Sorry Michael hasn't scanned it in, so you'll have to wait for pictures. The little one was waving it's hand at mommy in the sonogram. Compared to Elizabeth's first one, this little one looks sort of like a baby. It has a head, arms, legs, instead of being a blob. Elizabeth's first was at 6 weeks and this one was 10.

I only got the sonogram this time, didn't see a doctor. Next time, I'll do bloodwork and just see a nurse. I think I'll be in my second trimesters before I see the doctor again.

I understand what you mean Nicole about food aversions. I'm having the same troubles with dinner, only I make Michael fend for himself some days. I'm keeping everything down, I just don't feel like eating or NOTHING sounds good. But my nausea is relatively gone besides that "Yuck, that does NOT look good, sound good and I'm too afraid to taste it."

I'm already pudging out in the middle and maternity clothes feel much more comfortable. I'm going to tell my principal next week. So we'll see how she takes it. Say a little prayer.

P.S. Michael and I are praying that your children are "healthy" and "good", which was Mia's request for her baby. So you're going to have to let me know if you want other specifics. And the praying works, because for Elizabeth we prayed for her to be "healthy" and "strong". She is very healthy (eats like a piggie sometimes) and is very strong (likes to carry around cans of peas and full gatorade bottles) besides being "strong" minded, and "strong" willed. So just becareful what you pray for.

First Doctor Visit

I had my 8 wk visit today and everything was good and normal. The kiddo didn't move around as much as Nathan did at his first appointment, but that was about a week and a half later in gestation. This time they showed us the 3-D sonogram too, which is pretty cool.

My due date is March 11, 2009.

I'll have an ultrasound at the next visit too, which is new since my last pregnancy. I guess it's a new way to test for Downs and they can do it in the office now. Last time they gave me the option to go to a specialist, but we declined. But this way, we get to see the kiddo again and he or she should be more active, so that should be fun.

I am definitely having more nausea and food aversion this go 'round than before. Haven't actually been sick yet, thankfully. We're eating a lot of takeout because, while I'm hungry, I don't want to think about food enough to prepare dinner. I'm hoping that calms down in the next couple of weeks, if not before.

It's Official - we're having a...

BABY!

Okay, so it's more like we're having an alien baby, but you remember what these things look like! =)

The baby is definitely low with my placenta in the back. But everyone is hale and healthy in there and Mommy is feeling good too.

Have I kept you in enough suspense yet?

As you might be able to guess the gender from the wishbone in the last picture (turn your head to the left), Julian is slightly disappointed to be having a baby sister instead of a baby brother.

I guess I'll be borrowing some clothes from you Sarah! We'll have to wait and see if it's a swap!

Life

This is great, Beck!
Life for me is just going. Some days too fast and other days too slow. I just, just (only about an hour ago) finished my final project for my grad classes this summer. I only have to physically turn it in. Hallajuiah!

Tomorrow I go for my first ultrasound. At my first appointment they had me pee on a stick and said, "Yup, you're pregnant!"

I'm 9 1/2 weeks pregnant now. So Nicole you really aren't far behind me!

My nausea is getting better (maybe because my stress level is down because of that stupid class.)

This week I've been dealing with interviewing home day-care providers and figuring that all out. I'm just not sure which one to choose. I'm in between two and there are pros and cons to both. Hopefully, Michael and I will sit down tonight and try to make a decision.

Great idea, Beck!

I think this is a brilliant idea! Thanks for setting it up.

As for me, I have my 8 wk appointment next Wednesday and I feel like I'm holding my breath until then. Just want to see that ultrasound and know everything is normal, not that there is any reason for it not to be.

I just found out today that a good friend is also pregnant, about a week or so ahead of me. There are just going to be babies EVERYWHERE!

It's a...

The update on our end:

Due date: 12/8/08
Current progress: 20 weeks

Our ultrasound is coming up on Tuesday the 29th. So, if baby cooperates, we'll get to find out whether it's a boy or a girl. We're taking Julian so I'm sure it'll be an interesting visit!

I heard the baby kick!

I suppose traditional blogs start with introductions of people, but that seems so weird since I'm starting this for us girls to chat. I've started sharing the story already.

Monday night Julian and I were hanging out watching TV. While laying on the couch, I put his hand on my tummy hoping that maybe he'd feel the baby kick (since we're to the point where kicks can be felt by people other than me). Naturally, since he's almost 4, his attention span lasted about 10 seconds when he didn't feel anything. So, he asked to put his ear to my stomach so he could "hear" the baby. I agreed and less than 5 seconds later, boom, foot to the ear! Julian's head pops up, eyes wide and says, "I heard the baby kick!" Then immediately he put his head down again saying he wanted to hear the baby kick again. Unfortunately, lightning didn't strike twice. But he was so excited and the next day at school, he told the teacher that he "heard the baby kick last night!"