Introducing....

Our baby boy!

Thank you for all your kinds words and prayers. This has been one emotional roller coaster, and I'm sure it's just beginning! I went almost 12 weeks without seeing him and when I first saw him he looked like a little blob and he wasn't yet a he! Now, he looks like a little man. I feel like I had just met him for the first time..... I get to see him again on June 15th! I of course, will be a nervous wreck again, wondering if everything is still ok!

The first one is his toes, he has them together.

The pictures on here don't look as good in real life! :(

His whole body. If you look closely, you can see his head, body and even his legs. (I know, they are hard to see what is what)

A decent close-up of his profile!

This one is my fav.....(besides the footsies one!) He has his mouth open! He closed it right after that so I guess he was taking a breath? The white parts are bone...so you can see the outline of his skull, and the white in his mouth are his teeth buds!

I have so many more! It's really amazing that the features and everything is there. He is only about 1/2 a pound! He was so squirmy during the ultrasound, it was hard to get good ones of him at first, lol! The most amazing thing about this was seeing it all--I mean his brain? WoW! She even pointed out the cerebellum, and the chambers on his heart. Craziness!!!!

We have no names just yet but I'm working on that with the Blake. He was more willing to compromise on a girl to have a weird name (any name that is not Blake, Joe, Bob, Matt, or Mike is weird to him! So, we have some work a head of us!

So far....so good!

I can now update you all! Thanks for the good vibes. I hope they worked!

We got a phone call last Thursday that the quad screening test we took (blood test to test levels in blood) came back saying it was 'positive' for Down's. Of course, I freaked..then I cried.....and cried some more. I cried until I couldn't anymore.....you know how your head hurts because you cried so hard? I was there. Blake tried to console me but there was really nothing he could say.

I did my research and basically being positive means that the baby has a chance in having Down's. Normal 30 year old women have like a 1 in 600 (and something) of having a child with Down's but mine came back as 1 in 269. They told me to go to genetic counseling and do the amnio....It was all just so unexpected.

If you don't know what an amnio is...they basically stick a needle through your stomach to take some amniotic fluid out. They culture it and it will tell you if the baby has Down's (or some other chromosomal abnormality)

We went to MoBap this morning, I was basically a ball of nerves. Our appt with the genetic counselor was at 9:00 but they didn't see us until 9:50ish. She basically told us that we had a low chance, and that we could do the amnio to know for sure. She also broke it down better for us---If there were 269 people in the room, the same age, and had the same exact numbers on the blood test screening, then one of those women would have a kid with Down's. Then she basically told me that my risk is that of any 35 year old. Sounds weird bc I am 30 but still that is my 'risk'.
We then waited again (me with full bladder about to explode!) to see the ultrasound tech. She brought us back and my eyes could not believe how the baby had grown! The heart, the spine, the arms, the toes--everything there was perfect!!! Pretty darn cute too if i do say so myself!

The scan of the baby took about an hour to look at everything and measured the skin fold of the neck, measurement of nose to lip, the heart, and some other Down's syndrome markers. The doc then came in and said that the baby looked pretty on target, and the amnio was up to me.

I was on the fence even when he asked me but then I remember what the genetic counselor said and that there was a 1 in 500 chance of miscarriage. I declined. After seeing my perfect baby....i couldn't risk it. I will love this baby no matter what and the risk isn't worth loosing my sweet baby boy! I can now tell you it's a

BOY!!!!!

Blake was ecstatic, and clapped. I looked at him and go, 'seriously, you really clapped?"

I feel better and more at peace and pray that I made the right decision. No parent ever wants to hear there is something wrong with their child. It doesn't help that I see the worse case scenario everyday at work.

I go back in another 4 weeks to rescan and look to make sure everything is still ok. The baby and all it's 'parts' are not fully developed until 20 weeks or so which is why they want me to come back. The scan doesn't negate me from having a Down's syndrome kiddo, but it made me feel better. Something told me that is was going to be ok....

I have to say......

I am so in love.......and more than i was before. I cannot imagine actually seeing this baby and holding him!

Now to pick out names!!!! I will post some pics later---I got some pretty good ones of his adorable little feet, and him with his mouth open!!

Need some good vibes, please!

I really don't want to go into details just yet but I could really use some good vibes and prayers sent our way. Sometimes, there are times in your life where you have to make a decision and you don't know what you'll do until you are there.

I'll keep you all posted soon.....hopefully full of good news!

That really happened?

Lily does not like to go outside when it's raining. If it rains all day, she refuses to go outside all day. Last night, Blake tried to get her outside and she ran under the kitchen table. I called her and she ran by me. Blake decided he needed to pick her up and carry her outside.

I was sitting on the couch, legs straight out, laptop on my lap. He picks her up and as soon as he does I notice a wet feeling on my legs. I look up and he is holding her straight out in front of her and there is a huge, yellow stream coming from her........

I scream, OMG! OMG! Blake....she is PEEING!

It took him a few minutes to register what I was saying and he kept turning in my direction and then the opposite. Then he felt it.....

It was EVERYWHERE! The rug, the couch, my leg, his leg.....

We cleaned it really good but I don't know if the rug will survive. and we just got the damn thing! While it totally sucked....I laughed for like an hour straight just imagining the look on Lily's face, and the stream coming from her. Oh my.

A few things.....

I posted a little gender poll--so come out from GR and vote!

Story to tell this baby.....

I wake up to pee one night, and struggle to move to the bathroom. I hear a screeching sound--oh crap! I stepped on the cat! (and pretty forceful too!) and then I ran into the wall.

So much for grace huh?

p.s. No cats were injured....she is fine and dandy!


oh yeah, 16 weeks today! I will try to post a pic later!

Tidbits

I am officially a free woman! The semester (a rough one at that) is finally over! The last month has been nothing but craziness so I am glad to be a part of the real world once again!

I got a really cool surprise a few weeks ago! A friend dropped by and brought us a brand new swing, and a high chair. Apparently her momma was at Baby's R' US and they were getting rid of the floor models. The most unexpected, yet much appreciated gift! I can't wait to use them!
I have a review with a fun little giveaway coming soon!

Went to the doc today for my 16 week visit and I scheduled the BIG ultrasound! June 15th is the big day! Blake wanted to go after work so he is forcing me to go ALL damn day.....ah. I can't wait!
Heard the heartbeat again today beating strong at 154. It was kind of hard to hear because the placenta is in front of the baby (my last ultrasound at 61/2 weeks showed it was developing in front of the baby) which means I might feel the baby later on than most. Booo!

Trying to find some inspiration for the nursery. Any good places to look?

Blake and I have compromised on a name for a girl, not so much on the boy. He wants to name the boy after him. I'm hoping it's a girl.

After a conversation with him, he really has no clue about babies. "I know they cry a lot, they poop, they eat a lot, and they cry a lot. I know that when they get bigger they move around and walk......" Oh boy, we are in for some trouble!

We toured both of the hospitals my OB delivers at and decided on Missouri Baptist. I had a mini-freak out after visiting the first one. It all sunk in that this is real and that a bowling ball will be coming out of my pickachu. I don't know if I am ready for all that. Just knock me out and wake me when the kid is out.

The first hospital kind of smelled and reminded me of a hospital. I hate hospitals. HATE them. MoBap had a somewhat more homey feel to me (and had a ton of other things I liked better...like the baby is with you the whole time and not whisked away to be cleaned, or checked out, it's all done in YOUR room!)

I took a belly pic last week but it wasn't very good so I am going to take one on wends. for week 16, and I'll post them both for your satisfaction!

The nitty gritty down and dirty. well, kind of!

I have had several hundred (ok, not THAT many) requests for belly pics. I will try and get one tomorrow--15 weeker one!

I have thought about what some of you and other people have said about wanting to know all about pregnancy. Well, let me put it out on the table right here!

Who knew my boobs would turn blue. Ok, not really but the highway of veins makes me wonder where they came from.

I am congested all the time. Yep. Who knew it was a pregnancy thing. By the way, some people's allergies get worse too. Get use to saying 'bless you' every ten minutes if you're around me! (or like Blake tell me that he doesn't have time to tell me each time)

Brushing your teeth becomes like Russian Roulette. You do it as fast and efficiently as possible to refrain from gagging yourself and puking.

Burping. I sound like a ten year old boy that just chugged a gallon of Pepsi. Coworkers are so used to it by now it doesn't even phase them.

Oh, and digestion issues, one word-- Constipation.

Food. Let's talk about food because it really goes with the subject of pee and poo and bodily functions. Apparently, your organs and innards are all mushed around because of the baby...which makes less room for....your stomach and bladder. (Those are two things that shouldn't be used in the same sentence again.) I am starving so I eat. I swear ten minutes later....I'm starving AGAIN!

Speaking of bladder..... I miss sleeping through an entire night. Sadly, I don't think i will be doing that for a long damn time. I love you interrupted blissful slumber. So, you ladies who are planning to get knocked up....enjoy your sleep now!

Oh, and sleeping comfortably? So, what is that? I'm a stomach sleeper so that is obviously not gonna work. Trying to get myself to sleep on my side but it sucks worse than many other things.....(besides having a sleeping dog who farts under the covers, and climbs out... Yes. My dog sleeps UNDER the covers. She is weird but we love her anyway. Stinkiness and all) Did you know that by 16 weeks you cannot sleep on your back? So, side sleepin' it is!

Who knew that I'd use the word uterus as much as i have lately.

Who knew that I'd write a blog post about my blue boobies?

Who knew that my brain will fail to function so badly that I show up at the wrong meeting.(and it only took me for them not to show up to realize it) Yep. I did that. Even after looking at my calendar 4 times that day.

Who knew that I'd tell my husband that I love him 346 times in an hour and that I hate him (ok, hate is a harsh word, more like i can't stand you right now kind of thing) 694 times in an hour. Yes, hello crazy mood swing lady.

So, since this post is in dire need of a picture. I will leave you with a picture of my other babies--who are both after the same thing....

..............a fly. I love how they both have their paws up!

Goodbye 1st Trimester!

Hello 2nd! Yes! Finally! I made it and survived. I feel like I should buy T-shirts and celebrate. Ok, not that far but you get the excitement.

I have been super busy with the end of this semester wrapping up (and Amy playing catch-up on a whole semester of work that I put off because of the whole wanting to puke 24/7 thing!) I have one more paper to do, and a test next Tuesday. Then, home free (and time to catch up on work too!)

This past weekend was our 1st Anniversary. I wrote a post about it and I forgot to post it. (Baby brain has begun...) It was good to get out of the house and into the real world for a bit and eat (and boy did we!) I haven't been the nicest person to live with lately and he has been so understanding. I am getting all nostalgic now, so i will stop!

Time really is flying by fast. I go back to the doc in 12 days and we schedule the BIG ultrasound then. I can't wait. Plus, more than anything I can't wait to see our little nugget again and see how he/she has grown. The last time I saw him/her (see this whole gender thing needs to be figured out!) it was like looking at a little blob (a cute one though!) Plus, we get to see how our nugget is developing and if everything is going ok. I got so nervous before the last ultrasound, and I know I will be nervous for this one! I can't wait!

finally broke down and bought maternity pants. O.M.G! They are amazingly comfortable and I am sitting her feeling like I am wearing sweatpants. I love you maternity pants! I really do! Plus, it's pretty efficient when you have to pee and there are no zippers or buttons to slow you down! :)

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck.

By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active! From babycenter!

Baby sure is growing!