Cooperation!

As I stated in recent posts, because this baby was not cooperating for the last 2 ultrasounds and we couldn't see it's lip and nose, we were scheduled for a Level II ultrasound.

Today was the day...25 weeks and 6 days along to be exact!

It didn't start out well.  The kid was once again being camera shy and refused to let the face be seen.

After a few measurements, she went back to the face and had much success!  We even got a profile picture.  It sounds weird, even to me, but until I saw that little face, it almost didn't seem real until now.  The tech was also kind enough to take a 3D picture of the baby's face, but it still looks a  little alien-like, so I'm leaving that picture off.

It likes to have it's hands up by its face.  Rob said it's cause the baby's pissed about all the ultrasounds being done! :)  He was actually waiting for it to flip us off.

We even saw it yawn/open it's mouth today.  Rob told me that is what he liked the best about today.

It's little hand!

Profile

Profile with it's hands and arms up by it's face.

After the ultrasound, the perinatologist came in.  He's someone I've worked with before and was thrilled when I found out he was working today.  He told us everything looked great!  No "markers" for any type of chromosomal abnormalities and all parts of the baby looked perfectly normal.  We couldn't be more happy!



I also wanted to say Congrats to my cousin, Maizie and her husband Tony on the birth of their 4th child today!  Benjamin Thomas arrived sometime this morning and I'm told he is very handsome!  Congrats!

Thank Goodness!

To all 6 of you who have been dying to find out the results of my 3-hour glucose challenge test...


I PASSED!!!! 

I didn't even have to stay at the clinic the full 3 hours.  After the 2 hour mark, the lab tech said that my first 3 results were so good that I wouldn't have to wait around to do the 4th poke.

To celebrate, I called Rob and suggested going to Olive Garden for lunch.  It was delicious and not taken for granted in the slightest.

Thanks everyone!

Seven measley points...

I'll start off with the good news first...

I had my 25 week appointment today!  For those of you who are not familiar with the "Birthplace" vocab, it means that our little one is now viable, meaning that if it had to, it could survive outside of me.  Don't get me wrong.  I will be more than happy to wait 13 more weeks to meet him/her.  However, like I said, if it had to be born now, it could survive!

Since the US tech couldn't see the baby's lip and nose last time (1 month ago, already!), she had to look again today which means we got to see the baby again!  Once again, it has been confirmed that we have a stubborn baby on our hands cause it wouldn't look at us.  This means that we will now be scheduled for a Level II ultrasound.  Not seeing the lip and nose is not a huge cause for concern, but it's something the doctor really wants to see...thus, the Level II.

I was also scolded today but the nurse pracitioner to keep an eye on my blood pressure when at work and to slow down on the weight gain, which has hit the 13 pounds mark.  I was so tempted to say "Preachin' to the choir."  However, now that it has been officially made a "concern" by the NP, I'll be more apt to watch what goes in my mouth.

Which brings us to the not-so-good news...

I also had my repeat 1-hour glucose test today.  They had me drink the "glucola" before the ultrasound and my NP appt, so I only had to be bored for 30 minutes instead of a full hour.  The same lab tech drew my blood this time as last, so I feel we have a bond :).  I could tell by her expression as she ran the test, that I had failed.  In order to pass, I had to have a result below 130.  Lucky me, my result was 136.  Seven measley points that will totally ruin my morning tomorrow.  I have another appointment tomorrow morning at 8am for 3 loooooonnnnngg hours.  Which means I have to sit there for 3 hours. Not moving.  Not walking.  Not eating breakfast other than more orange flavored, high-sugar, cola drink.  I also get my blood drawn every hour on the hour during that time for a total of 4 pokes.  Please pray for me as I may not be the most pleasant person if I have to limit carbs for the next 13 weeks.  But please don't get me wrong.  I will do what I have to do for my health and the health of the peanut.  I just hope I pass.

Since we couldn't see much of the baby today, we didn't get many pictures, but we did get one of the baby scratching its head.  The head is the white half-circle and the hand is next to it on the left with the fingers bent.

Enjoy!

The Filter

I've gotten a lot of comments from friends and family lately.

Most of those comments have to do with some of the things that are coming out of my mouth.  No, not vomit.  It's those snippy comments when my tolerance for bull$h!t is at an all-time low.  Usually those comments stay in my head or are said under my breath when no one around me can hear.  I also don't put up with rude comments or actions from people lately.

My reason?

The Filter.

I've decided that this pregnancy has removed the filter from my brain to my mouth and is now letting me express myself in all ways possible to let others know how I really feel.

I had an awesome day with 6 friends from high school this past Saturday.  During that day (including a road trip to Albertville), I apparently let some comments and words fly that my best friends had not heard me say or even think to say before.  Let's just say the f-bomb was repeatedly uttered in many different forms.  It's a beautifully diverse word :).

I should clarify that I am fully aware that being pregnant does not give me an excuse to be a b!tch.  But like I said before, my tolerance level has dropped dramatically.

I'm not sure if this filter will return once I no longer have a placenta, but in the words of Chantel, "I like Jenny without a filter." (Yes, my long-time friends do call me Jenny)

Welcome to my new world!  :)

One year ago today...

*****Disclaimer - Medical talk and some disgusting stuff will be discussed.*****

I was sitting in Pre-Op at this exact time (10:14am) waiting for the OR to be cleaned as I was the next patient in line.

It was my first experience being in the hospital as a patient and even though I tried not to show it, I was soooo nervous!  My first IV, my first admission, my first surgery, my first general anesthesia, and the best part, my first PCA.

I had found out about a month earlier that I had fibroids aka non-cancerous tumors on my uterus.  Usually not a big deal, but for someone who was trying to have a baby, it was something that needed to be removed in order to prevent infertility, miscarriage and pain.  Most people with fibroids have a hysterectomy, but since we were wanting kids, my doctor recommended removing them.  On the first ultrasound, they anticipated the largest fibroid to be about 8 cm in diameter.  The next day, I had an MRI and the size was then noted to be 9cm, but I also had several others of unknown size that needed to be taken out.  Surgery was scheduled which brought me to my day of firsts.

Surgery was uncomplicated tother than the fact that my uterus was the size of a 20 week pregnancy and the doctor had a hard time getting my uterus out of my abdomen in order to remove the fibroids.  The result of which was an 8 inch long incision on my lower abdomen.  It turned out that the largest fibroid was actually 12 cm, followed by another at 5cm and 6 more between 1-2cm each.  Rob joked that I had octuplets!  My doctor was even kind enough to take pictures of the fibroids once they were removed...picture to follow :)

For the next 3 days I was a patient and lucky enough to have wonderful friends and family come visit me.  I'll admit I was not the best company...especially for the first 2 days.  I would often doze off in the middle of conversations.  I think I made Rob extremely worried.  I remember my mom trying not to cry the first time she saw me after surgery.

On November 7th, I was discharged from the hosptial and spent the next 4 weeks at home laying low and getting the royal treatment from Rob, my parents and his parents who each brought us a meal to enjoy without having to cook.

When I think back to everything that has happened within the last year, I am in awe!  Surgery, our first wedding anniversary, the birth of a nephew and 2 nieces, not to mention the wonderful new addition that has been created and will arrive come February.

To all my family and friends...Thank You for being You!  You all have made this last year so much better just by being there for Rob and I.  You are amazing!