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Hi, my name is Jennifer, and I'm happily married to Larry since April, 2006. We knew we wanted a baby from the time we met, and we are so excited, but anxious too. We are not young parents, so this will be a big change for us, but we've thought long and hard and are ready for the challenge. We had a miscarriage that was devastating in June, and found out the baby had a fatal chromosomal disorder, so we know it was not meant to be. We have had so many positive signs about this pregnancy and feel so hopeful. I am a mom to 23 and 16 year old sons, so it has been a long time since I've had a baby. Larry has never been a dad, and he is so excited. We have been trying to plan our lives on whether we will be able to have a baby or not, kind of like a fork in the road...and here we are, ready to travel down this path and all that comes with it. We have our spirituality and our love for each other, so we are truly blessed.
We've had 3 U/S's, last one at 10 weeks. We could actually see the baby's profile, arms moving, baby bending forward, so cool. HR was 169, so all looks good. Next is our nuchal U/S at 12 weeks. I've been sick as a dog, well, no vomiting, but barely making it through the workday, and have been eating all the wrong stuff...carbs and more carbs. Just actually started feeling like eating salads and protein, thank God. Have only gained 3 lbs, but the tummy is growing for sure and can easily feel my uterus above my pubic bone. My boys are excited, youngest still lives with me, and knew about the MC and was so sad about it, but said 'Mom, be a fighter'. So here we are.

FIRST U/S- 7 WEEKS

SECOND U/S- 8 WEEKS

3RD U/S- 10 WEEKS

NUCHAL U/S- 12 WEEKS 4 DAYS

November 11, 2007

Well, we've made it to over 13 weeks. I am physically feeling better, still have bad taste in my mouth most of time that changes the taste of everything I eat, but it is better. I still feel the worst in the evenings, tired, more nauseated. Can't eat anything with a strong taste or spice. We had our nuchal u/s almost a week ago. We were so nervous, but saw the baby moving, kicking, waving arms immediately and even flipping over. All the measurements were perfect, but we are waiting for the blood work and the statistics/risks at this point. I'm trying not to think about it and felt very positive after seeing the u/s. I still feel strongly it is a girl, heart rate was 162, baby measured 68mm, which dated the baby bigger for age. yeah, that is a good sign, good growth. My tummy is bloated, much bigger later in day, but I definitely don't look pregnant yet. I borrowed some maternity clothes, they are really way too big still. Keep thinking I feel the baby move, tiny flutters, but not sure. My last baby, 16 years ago, I felt moving at 14 weeks. I feel pretty good, back to exercising, trying to fit in some yoga, walking, lifting some weights.

3 Months Pregnant

November 17, 2007

Well, we did get a call with our Nuchal U/S screening results. They were great! 1 out of 702 for Down's and 1 in 1,700 for Trisomies. Feeling great about this for my age, numbers were much lower. Not that this test is a sure thing, but did put me at ease. Still waiting to feel baby move, but heart rate has been consistently in the 150's, so all is well. Our big anatomy scan isn't till after Christmas, hard to be patient. Belly is growing, starting to wear some maternity pants. Very excited about our baby!

November 23, 2007

Yeah, 15 weeks, 1 day today. Had a wonderful Thanksgiving, worked my butt off to do turkey and all the fixin's. Great to have both my boys here for dinner. Still not feeling baby move, feeling anxious about this, since felt my last at about 14 weeks, but I was a good 10-15 lbs thinner, so...Heart reate 145-150 most of time. Feeling more energetic, but nervous. Can't wait till our big U/S on December 28th. I'm still thinking it is a girl, but will not be surprised to find out otherwise.

November 29, 2007

16 weeks today! Had my appoinment yesterday, FHT 144, BP 119/70, gained 10 lbs, yikes! NP said I was fine, and to plan on 1lb/week for here on out. Will be tough thru the holidays and our trip to Maui. Had my AFP blood drawn, now have to wait for that. 1 more month to find out the sex and have full anatomy u/s. Can't wait. Feeling pretty good, would like to be exercising more, hard to find the time and feel tired, but always feel better afterwards. We are excited to work on baby's room after Christmas, especially when we know the sex.

December 16, 2007

Finally got the call that my quad screen was NORMAL! Yeah! Now for the anatomy U/S on Dec. 29th, I can hardly wait. I am feeling a lot more movement now, everyday. Very reassuring. I am feeling energetic but more short of breath and difficult leaning over to pick up things, put on socks,etc. Boy am I trouble in a couple months.

December 31, 2007

It is a BOY! Finally had our anatomy ultrasound. Everything looked wonderful and measured perfectly. Baby was fairly active, keeping his hands up to his face so the tech couldn't look at his nose/palate, etc. He finally moved. Baby measured 15 oz's and is in 93rd percentile. Sounds like my son Tyler who was 9 1/2 pounds. Heart rate 149. Yeah!

January 7, 2008

22 week appointment, an hour wait and they couldn't find my anatomy ultrasound to go over with me, that's why my husband left work early and drove an hour...anyway, fundal height measured 23cm, which is big, but with bigger baby, to be expected, and heartrate was good, but it was slowing down while lying on my back, which freaked me out, but doc said it was the lying on my back that was doing that. Guess I won't be doing that anymore. BP was good, and weight, gained 16 lbs. She said I was right on target. Since then have heard my anatomy u/s was normal, placenta was now clear from being previa, but of course said they can't see everything, hate when they add that...baby is moving a lot, feeling lots of jabs, pings, and rolls, somedays more than others. Larry hasn't really felt it, but my placenta is anterior, so blocking some of the sensation from the outside. Oh well, soon he'll be big enough to feel for sure.

January 19, 2008

Well, feeling bigger for sure, and have felt a lot of moving around, mostly in my lower abdomen, some days a lot, some not so much. Finally started working on our baby room, took me two whole weekends to clear the crap out of my guest room. We have started priming the walls, need to go find the right colors for paint. Plan is a chair rail with a silvery blue on top, cream on the bottom, and a black chair rail. My bedding, which came this week, is French vintage toile, so black and cream, so pretty. Love it! Also got my crib and dresser this week, yeah! Having a shower end of February, so need to get my registry together. Very excited about this little boy. We have a name, but we are keeping it to ourselves for now, may end up changing it, but I doubt it.

5 months 12/07

February 23, 2008

Aahh, need to update my picture, definitely bigger. Just had my 28 week exam, a little anemic, started taking iron. Glucose was perfect, 79, so no diabetes, bp 124/70, lost 2 lbs, I'll take that! I was up 22 pounds I think before that. Feel really great, most people can't believe I'm 28 weeks pregnant, which is how I carried my last son, and he was 9.9 lbs. Our boy is so active, started doing my kick count, usually get it within 2-3 mins. I could hardly fall asleep last night because he was non-stop. My husband can't believe how strong the kicks are. I'm still working full-time, getting more tired, harder to take the flights of stairs to get my exercise. I'm planning on working up till 2 weeks prior, maybe work less days a week starting the 8th month, see how I feel. We are almost done our boy's room. I need to hang my valances, and we still need a rocking chair/glider. I saw the neatest cream, chenille-like one at babies r us, of course it was 500 bucks, will try to find one cheaper than that. It was so comfy though and would match our room perfectly. I have my first shower tomorrow, my mom has been in town past couple weeks staying with me, so we are doing it tomorrow at a nice country club close by, about 25 people. They will be having one for me at work, where I know at least 100 plus people, that will be so fun. So all is well, we are planning on naming our boy Luke Charles. Charles is his Daddy's middle name, and my dad's first name. Luke's brother's Corey and Tyler are very excited to see him. We will plan on doing a 3 D ultrasound next week probably with both my boys and my husband and I. We are so excited to see our boy. He is already so loved and so wanted. How blessed we are.

12-31-08 20 week ultrasound. Baby boys profile, spine, bladder, four chamber heart

This is our "It's a Boy picture". You tell me. If that isn't a boy, then I'm VERY concerned about my daughter... :)

3/13/2008

Well, first trip over to the doctors office worried about our boy Luke. He has been so active and then starting yesterday I noticed less movement, then I woke up this morning not feeling so good, anxious cause he wasn't moving much, nauseated and kind of crampy. So I finally called my doctor from work and went in to be put on the monitor for 20 mins or so. Well, of course he started moving around like crazy, constantly for 20 mins, his heart rate was great and sped up like it should with increased movement. Nurse Practitioner came in and said "music to my ears, what a good baby". Then my doctor looked at the strip and said, "What a great baby". She checked my cervix, which was closed and non-effaced. I was also feeling a lot of pressure in my pelvic area, which is continuing. I was having very tiny contractions on the monitor that were all apparently normal, I couldn't feel any. Wish labor was that easy. So now the boy is non-stop active. I'm thinking how can I do 8 more weeks, they are inducing me a week early, and how can I work up till 2 weeks prior? This boy is kicking my ribs and today I totally heard him hitting my pelvis. Crazy but so fun. Just can't wait to see this precious boy.

April 5, 2008

Had my 34 week md appointment 2 days ago. I've gained 26 total pounds, SBP 120, baby boy is head down and Dr. thinks he's a big boy. Everything looking good, hr 130's. He has been so active and the kicks and movements are becoming almost painful. He often gets a foot or elbow and pushed out in middle/right of my abdomen like he's trying to put it through the skin, makes me almost yell. He is so strong, not a wimp for sure. His daddy almost jumps when he feels him, it is almost shocking it is so hard. We can not wait to see him, getting, so, so excited. I only have 2 more weeks of work, YEAH! Going for outpt PT for my sciatic pain, also includes massages, will wait to get that when I'm out of work, planning on getting my pedicure and eyebrows and hair done then too. We still need to get out glider, otherwise, pretty set, waiting for somethings I ordered in the mail. Still nervous about how my dog will react to all of this, hoping she just gets used to baby boy. Feeling good, hoping things will be progressing when I have my first internal exam. Still trying to figure out induction date, we will when the time comes, need to get my bag totally packed though.

April 23

Well my 36 week appointment was actually last week, 37 week tomorrow. My BP was good, no protein, glucose in urine, baby boy's head is down, but way up high. When I had my internal, no dilation, and she could barely feel his head it was so high. Know this is normal for 3rd baby, but was hoping he had started his dissent a bit, since I think this has been a major problem with my past deliveries. Tomorrow we are having an ultrasound to check amniotic fluid, can't wait to see him, and also a non-stress test. My husband will be with me, and we are both excited. I did wake up last night to at least 3 or 4 good contractions, then gone, so just BH. Made me feel anxious, especially since I am NOT ready yet, still have a lot to do.

April 25, 2008

37 weeks yesterday. No engagement or dilation. Had non-stress test, baby looked great, no problems. Had a very brief u/s to evaluate amount of amniotic fluid, normal. We did get to see our boys face, could see his fat, chubby face even on the black/white 2D u/s. My doctor will not induce me more than 1 week prior, doesn't want it to be a 2 day induction. So plan for now, is induction May 14th. Hopefully I won't go into labor prior, want to attend my son's Confirmation on May 8th, and my doc isn't on call till the 14th after that. I did a lot yesterday and my sciatic pain resurfaced, will take it easy today. Feels GREAT to be out of work, been working full time for 8 years, rarely take a sick day, so this feels unknown to me. Glider is on its way being delivered and we are going to a cloth diaper demonstration (need to order them) tomorrow then out to dinner for our anniversary.

May 1, 2008 (Week 38)

Okay, just got back, and there is still NOTHING going on. Hasn't dropped, no dilation, cervix is softening on the outside, nothing on the inside, head is WAY up there. My docs words were, your cervix is unpenetrable right now. GREAT :( My U/S was again brief, saw baby boy's face, plenty of aminotic fluid. Also was put on monitor again, everything great. Told doc I've been having more cramps today, BH, she said that on the monitor you could see uterine "irritability". I thought, yeah, I'm getting irratible too. But really, I do want to wait till the 14th to be induced, it fits best into my life right now, so I should be grateful, would just be nice to be able to sleep better without my hands going numb, my hips going numb and heartburn, indigestion. Then I wake up and think about all things I need to accomplish before baby boy is here. I think I'm up 29 lbs, they don't even mention it anymore, so all is well.

May 7, 2008

Well, big news. Went to md appointment today. U/S shows concern for meconium. Not sure, but concerning. So plan is going in tonight to start induction process with cervical gel, since I am completely not dilated and baby hasn't dropped at all. I am nervous, but so anxious to see my baby and hold him in my arms and know that he is okay. They won't know its meconium till they break my waters. If it is then they will be concerned about aspiration at birth, if not, then we are good to go. I will miss my 16 year old son's confirmation but we need to make sure this baby is okay. Now I'm frantically trying to run around and get things done. All will be well with God's love and mercy.