30 Week Check Up

Including Ellie's Valentines outtakes!  The wind was blowing her hair everywhere--one benefit of having a bald headed baby and 1 year old was no wind blown pictures!  

 I had my weekly appointment yesterday and saw Dr Dubose.  The BPP was first and the baby was much more active in the afternoon versus my typical morning ultrasounds.  We saw it practicing its breathing instantly, my fluid level was almost an 11, saw plenty of kicks and movements, and the heart rate was 133.  We may as well just paint the nursery blue...I just know that it's a boy.  Andrea (the u/s tech) tried to get some 3D pictures for us, and the baby's position is just not cooperating for good images.  Baby continues to be breech with feet smooshed in the face and the placenta's placement just doesn't allow for good pictures.  

 My appointment with Dr Dubose was fine--she was pleased with how everything was looking.  My blood pressure continues to be well within normal limits.  I had the whooping cough vaccine yesterday which wasn't a recommendation when I was pregnant with Ellie, so I was less than pleased to have to get a shot.  My fundal height was a 29, so definite progress from a week ago.  Fingers crossed baby will have gained some good, substantial weight when we have our growth u/s next Monday at maternal/fetal. 

 I'm not anticipating going much longer than 37 weeks this time around--based on how nearly identical these pregnancies are looking from the 3rd trimester.  If in fact I do deliver at 37 weeks, we're looking at a mere 6 more weeks!  I have been working on picking up random things that needed replacing from Ellie's newborn days (which is minimal) and have purchased a couple of boy preemie clothes--we have plenty of options available if its a girl, but I don't think a "he" will look appropriate in pink and frills. Other than that, the nursery is staying the same from Ellie's (we just need to take down the couple of girly additions we made after her arrival)--and so there isn't too much on the to-do list.  

and in Ellie news--she is doing great!  Everyone told me that she would mature rapidly from 2 years to 3, and they have been right.  She has become so much more independent, NEVER shuts up and talks in circles, is finally to the point being potty trained where I don't fear accidents when we're out in public, and keeps us laughing on a daily basis.  Her tantrums have gotten fewer and farther between as her language has increased and on a typical day, she is a delight.  Her teacher has let us know on several occasions that she has progressed so much since January--finally showing her friends her social side and demonstrating cooperative play versus just parallel play.  She loves school and we could not be more pleased with how well she is doing.  Putting her in this year was one of the best parenting decisions we have made for her, as it has brought her so much confidence when she is put in unfamiliar situations.  There is no greater joy than seeing your child blossom before your eyes...she is going to be a great big sister!

29 Weeks Update

I had to put a picture of E on this post too--she's wearing one of my bishops and I loved her in purple (even if it is my least favorite color).  

 I had my weekly BPP and saw Dr Twedt following the ultrasound.  Everything about the appointment was all too familiar and I will admit that familiarity is welcome this go round--as much as I wish we weren't having to go through this yet again, knowing what to expect has certainly made it easier to handle.  My amniotic fluid level was up from a 9 to an 11, which the u/s tech was happy about.  The baby seemed to be asleep but she was able to check off that baby moved/flexed its limbs enough and practiced its breathing.  Baby proved to be as stubborn as Ellie used to be and took its sweet time to do the breathing.  The baby is already taking off its big sister, nearly identically.  It's the same position as Ellie was (frank breech) and has nearly the same stats.  

Dr Twedt was pleased with the BPP results from today as well as my blood pressure and weight.  I asked her why I was only coming once a week versus twice, because there really is no difference between the two pregnancies--and she said that protocol more than likely has been updated in the past 3 years--but that she felt certain I would be on a twice/weekly schedule in the coming weeks.  (which we already knew that was coming)  Maternal/Fetal makes the final decisions with how to proceed with high risk pregnancies and so it is ultimately up to them how often I will have check ups and who I see for them.  

For now, I am really trying to focus on getting through as many IEPs as I can in the coming weeks at school, as well as working on scheduling my doctor's appointments so that they interfere as minimally as possible.  I know the next 7-8 weeks are going to fly by and we're doing good to get by at this point!  

I can always count on this face to brighten up any day.  Her new thing is to say "thank you so much" when she tells people "thank you."  It is my absolute favorite thing right now and I get her to say it throughout the day, even when she's not thanking me for anything.  In the midst of all the craziness that is around us, she is not phased in the least and we pray that it remains that way!

Happy Valentines Day!

Daddy and Me Day

Ellie had her Daddy and Me day at school last Thursday.  She was so excited about Josh going to school with her--and I think he was as well!

 All of the daddies spent an hour in the classroom and pretty much just going about a typical morning together.  Ellie loved playing in the shaving cream center, in the coffee bean box, and "making coffee" in the kitchen.  They had circle time where Ellie sang her songs and found her name/shape on the flannel board.  When she was finding her way back to her seat, she pointed to Josh and told everyone "That's my daddy".  

She was supposed to have grandparent's day tomorrow but it got postponed due to this crazy weather we're having.  Mommies have their turn in March!  

28 Weeks

We had our 28 week appointment today--started it off with my glucose draw, had a growth ultrasound and ended with Dr Mac. Our ultrasound didn't go as well as we had hoped, with news that the baby is measuring small and had nearly identical stats that Ellie did at 28 weeks.  Dr Mac was nearly certain that I would have a diagnosis of IUGR (again) but she sent me to maternal fetal directly after I left Piedmont for verification. Needless to say, I was incredibly disappointed and selfishly sad for myself as I made my appointment for Thursday for the start of my weekly NST's and BPP's.  

Dr Mac arranged my appointment with m/f and I made my way downtown to meet with Dr Dellenger.  He was my favorite m/f doctor when I was pregnant with Ellie and I was thankful he was the one there today.  I had a lengthy ultrasound--getting a close look at the anatomy, the heart function, measurements and the tech also went ahead and completed a BPP for the week.  Dr Dellenger came in and honestly gave us the best news that given the circumstance we could have gotten.  The baby weighed 2 oz more (baby weighed 2 lbs, 2 oz) at m/f than at Piedmont (just a variance of machine) and so the overall percentage was in normal limits.  The area of concern is the size of the abdomen, being below the 3rd percentile.  Because the abdomen is made of tissue and no bones, it is the best indicator for doctors to predict size of babies--so, in other words, because the abdomen is so small, it is a good indication that we will have a small baby.  I did not get a diagnosis of growth restriction today (due to the overall size being in the normal range) but instead one of "abdomen circumference lag".  There is an obvious chance that eventually we will get the diagnosis of IUGR, but for now I just have to go once a week for BPP ultrasounds rather than twice a week for BPP/NSTs.  

That was probably more technical information than the average person wants to read, but I love the documentation and also love being able to look back at the posts when I was pregnant with Ellie and being able to see God's hands in it all.  I told Dr Mac today as I teared up when I saw her look of defeat when she read the u/s report, that I am not stressed or worried about the health of the baby.  I have full confidence that this baby is going to be fine.  Having gone through this exact situation with a previous pregnancy gives me much peace of mind and a much more clear mental state and I am able to see that just like last time, we are all going to be ok.  

The biggest encouragement of all is being able to look at my perfectly healthy, giggly, wild 2 year old.  All three of us were in her room tonight and Josh and I were trying to teach her how to skip--we were all laughing hysterically--and it was a sweet moment for me as I was able to truly appreciate and soak it in.  I was rocking and reading her books to her after her bath and she put her sweet hand on my face and said "mommy so happy"-- a perfect reminder that I don't have time to dwell in my disappointment or sadness.  We'll just keep on marching on for the next 10 weeks, having faith that we'll have a repeat healthy (tiny) baby in April.  Even given this obstacle, we have much to be thankful for.

Circus 2014

The circus was in town last week and of course we took Ellie to the Greatest Show on Earth!

We went to the "elephant brunch" after school on a Thursday with Grammy--it was a free event that was great (and short)  for Ellie.  It gave her a good taste of what the show would be like.

 Josh and I took her to the morning show on Saturday--when the elephants came through the tent with the woman riding it, her mouth literally dropped to the floor.  I wish I had a video of it--it was worth the price of the tickets alone.  

She loved the animal acts (just like last year) with the dogs being her most favorite.  She got antsy and didn't want to sit still through a lot of it as well, but we made it through the entire show.

 Luckily Ellie doesn't seem to notice the paraphernalia (also known as junk) that is sold...or is ok with just looking at it rather than asking for it...and we left without purchasing a stuffed animal or a light up flasher. We call that a parenting success!