This little but about me. I'm 32 years old and married. My husband and I never planned on having children. WELL...The day before our 9th wedding anniversary (aware that I was quite late) I decided to take a pregnancy test. *GASP* IT WAS POSITIVE! We have been together since I was 15 and haven't been careful. I took the pil for a while in my early 20s and thought it was a waste of money. We got married when I was 23 and I quit taking the pil. So you can imagine my shock 9 years later. I kept my secret for 24 long hours and on our anniversary I gave Todd a little white box with a bow on it. In it was the positive test. Even after opening it he didn't know what it was right away. "What is it?'" he asked. "Read it." I said. He read it..."Aw honey, well this is going to be an adventure!" He walked sideways for a week, poor honey he didn't know what hit him. We are so happy, we can't wait. We've already got the room painted. I'm getting big quick and have felt movement for a while now.

Jan. 18th We had an ultrasound to determine the sex and see how we were progressing. The baby wouldn't cooperate. They tell us the amniotic fluid is low and change my due date from June 11 to June 30 because he's so small. 3 weeks difference (impossible).

We hope to find out what we are having February 1st . I'll update this page if we find out!

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A BOY!!!!!

It has been a while since my last update and a lot has happened. I had an AFP test and was told my levels were abnormally high. We didn't panic, as we knew this test was prone to false positives.

FEB 1st We went in for the second ultrasound. The visit didn't go well. My amniotic fluid was very low and our fetus was 3 weeks behind in development. With these three red flags; afp, small fetus and low fluid, the doctor was concerned. He asked me to do an amnio. Todd and I discussed the risks but, we decided we would rather know if there was something wrong. I did the amnio. They gave us the "fish" results (which are the rush results) a few days later, which were normal. The nurse was careful to tell us that this doesn't mean there isn't something wrong. We had to wait 5 more days for the full analysis.

(FRIDAY) FEB 9th AMNIO RESULTS- The fluid, again, tested high for afp (higher than previously) and we had a positive trace of acetylcholinesterase (AcHe) which is fetal spinal fluid. These results point toward spina bifida (SB). Spina bifida is when the fetus's spinal colomn doesn't fully close in development. It is wide ranging defect from mild to severe (life threatening).The doctor was pretty sure our fetus had SB but, it had not been aparent on the ultrasound so, he didn't know the degree of the defect. With this information we rushed, that day, to the hospital and had another (3rd) ultrasound. The fluid was still low and the baby's spine was turned away and they couldn't get a very good look at it. At the end of the visit the ultrasound really told us nothing and the staff and doctors looked concerned. We went home. All weekend Todd and I researched (independently) everything we could on S.B., AFP, and AcHe as well as low amniotic fluid levels. We then compared notes and felt like med students by Monday. We found out that the mother's weight as well as low fluid levels can produce high levels of afp and small bands of AcHe. Basically the less amount of fluid the more concentrated levels are, producing false positives. As far as the low amniotic fluid was concerned, we found two possabilities 1. abnormal fetal kidney function 2. leaking- either a hole in the placenta or cervical leaking (cervical, you are generally aware of the leak). We called the doctor with our findings, We had to know more.

Tuesday FEB 13th the doctor scheduals us for a fetal MRI with a follow up ultrasound. The MRI turned up clean with no traces of an open spine! NO SPINA BIFIDA. WHEW! Now, for the low fluid level.... We went in for the ultrasound. The baby looked fine and the fluid level had actually risen and was now considered low-normal. They told us to come back in two weeks. At this point we are cautiously optomistic...

Two weeks and an ETERNITY later... Feb. 27th... After FOUR straight ultrasounds showing low fluid, it was now NORMAL! The only reason we can come up with is that there was a tiny tear in the placenta that grew over. The doctor relents to my original due date ,after much badgering. I am 25 weeks, they tell us he weighs 1 pound but, that he should weigh about 1-1/2 pounds. He is still weeks behind in growth. Well, people, let me tell you, after you've been down the dark road, a small baby, YOU CAN LIVE WITH! We can breath again! I couldn't bare to post anything until I knew what was happening. I have pictures of the low-mid-and normal fluid levels. There is also a 4-D scan of the baby. It looks like he has hair but it is NOT hair. It is where the scan bounced off his head. A funny effect, I know, but it's not hair. If anyone has any questions or who is going through something similar, let me know if I can help. I've picked up a lot of information in this last month!

MARCH 13th, We had another ultrasound today. At 27 weeks he is 1 pound 7 ounces. He is 18 days behind in development which is exactly what he was last time. The doctor said his growth has stabilized! He has lots of fluid to move around in and he is VERY active. I picked up a good tidbit of information on this visit. The doctor said that a baby's chance of survival outside of the womb dramatically increases when he reaches 2 pounds. We have another visit in 2 weeks. We have exactly 3 months to go if we go to term!

MARCH 27th, We had another ultrasound today. 2 grandmas, 1 grandpa and an aunt came with us! At 29 weeks he weighs 2 pounds 3 ounces!!! In just two weeks he put on nearly 1 pound and now instead of being 18 days behind, he is 12!! His fluid level is roughly the same, which is great. He looked great and was very active. He was practicing his yoga folding himself in half so the pictures weren't very clear. What a great appointment! Here's a tip; If you want an active baby for an appointment, down some orange juice. It is like Red Bull for babies!

MARCH 30th, We went in for our 4-D ultrasound today. It was a GREAT experience! We paid $155.00 and we got 50 color 4-d pictures on a dvd, a vhs and dvd real-time video of the entire ultrasound (about 25 minutes). If anyone is considering it and has the means, I highly suggest it. I have posted 4 of my favorite pictures. There is a picture of him SMILING! We love him. He is so darn cute we can't stand it.

April 10th/11th, Todd and I went in for the regularly schedualed visit and ultrasound. He was 2 pounds 3 ounces two weeks ago and yesterday weighed 2 pounds 8 ounces. (not much growth) His heart rate looked good, he was active and had plenty of fluid to move around so, we were happy. WELL....The doc takes us in his office, rubs his face, sighs and says well he's falling back in growth again. I just wanted to walk out. The doc asks me can you be hospitalized? I said, "I can, when?" He says now or tonight. Okay why? He said he thinks the placenta doesn't look like it is nourishing the baby. He wants to give me steroid shots for the baby's lung development and deliver me cecarian in 3-5 weeks. I immediatly think this is a load of BS. We agreed to be hospitalized the next day and get the shots. After we leave his office, Todd and I agree they are not delivering him early unless we see proof that he is struggling. We believe he is just small. I get my shot and I and the baby are monitored. Every 15-20 minutes the come in my room and move the heart monitor around because junior is so squirmy. They won't let me pee or roll to my other side. The nurse comes in and says they are going to give me another shot at 7:00 PM and monitor me for the night...huh...why?.... A new doctor comes in (very cool doc) and questions me about the whole pregnancy. When I found out, last period, due dates, ultrasounds, bad tests, low fluid the whole thing. She tells me the monitor readings were excellent. I tell her I'm not a bit concerned. I believe he is fine and I want to go home. She doesn't think this is unreasonable. She comes back hours later and says other than the low fluid everything started from the due date being off. In order to stop this roller coaster of false development (growth) we can change the due date. My original due date is a little early (June 11th), the new due date they want to give me (June 30th), is a little behind. At this point, I don't care. They can tell me he will be due next year. As long as his vitals look good, I'M NOT STRESSIN'! He gets here when he's ready. This doctor "gets me" enough is enough! She said "I don't want to see you again until you're contracting and in labor!" I tell her "likewise". After talking to many nurses, they tell me that OB and delivery doctors are the most sued docs in the medical profession and because of this they are overly cautious. I go back to my regular doc again in a week....sigh.

April 18th. I went to my regular doctor today for a follow-up non-stress test, weight gain and blood pressure check. My nurse said "Okay, so your due date is June 11th...." Now wait a minute! My due date was changed to the 30th last week. She looks at my chart again. "Well, I see June 30th but, someone has scratched it out and put June 11th." Okay, whatever I'm not going to argue. I go down the hall...my fundal height measures at 32 weeks, that means June 11th is right on. (Does anyone want to place bets on when I deliver?) I go in for an ultrasound next week.

April 24th I went to the doctor today for my ultrasound and non-stress test. At 33 weeks he is 3 pounds 4 ounces and still 18 days behind in development, which is consistant since 20 weeks. He put on nearly a pound in two weeks. He has a healthy heart rate but, during the ultrasound he looked a little cramped. They later confirmed to me that my amniotic fluid level has in fact dropped a little. I have been put on bedrest. Next week I go in again for another ultrasound to monitor his progress. If he looks good they are going to wait one more week (MAY 8th) and give me another amnio to see if his lungs have developed enough to breath air. If his lungs are developed, the doc wants deliver him that day via c-section. If that is the case, and all goes well, he will spend a minimum of two weeks in the NICU. I would spend a minimum of 4 days in the hospital. The reason the doctor gave us for delivering early is because he is small and not because of the fluid. We are a little shell shocked and worried at this point but, I guess we should have expected this. The whole pregnancy hasn't been very typical.

April 25th After digesting yesterday's appointment, Todd and I have our doubts about delivering early. We are going to go to our next appointment with lots of questions. We are going to see if the fluid level is the same/better or worse, make sure our baby is still growing and that his heartrate is good. If everything looks fine and the doctor can't give us a good reason for delivering early other than size, we will seek a second opinion. I just can't accept an early c-section delivery with the only reason being that he is small. It is my reasoning that if he is putting on weight, he is getting nutrients and therefore he should stay in as long as possible for maximum development. Time will tell. The next appointment will dictate the direction we go in. We are open to whatever is best for our son.

April 28th I had my baby shower from my side of the family today. Everyone made it very special. They were so generous. We got so much stuff to help us get started and it was greatly appreciated! It is hard to believe such a tiny thing can require so much gear. We live in Ohio and had guests come all the way from southern Illinois to help celebrate. Other people drove a couple of hours to be there. It was a great day. Thanks everbody! I have another shower from my husband's side of the family next week. I am looking forward to it. I could have the baby as soon as the following Tuesday.

May 1st "MAY DAY" We had a great appointment today! We had a two hour appointment. The non-stress test was perfect (heartrate). My weight gain was perfect, fundal height was perfect and the ultrasound showed the amniotic fluid went back up 9cm back up to 12cm! The baby is VERY active. They gave us a cute 3-d picture. Todd and I went in with a pad full of questions to ask the doctor. We sat down quietly as he looked over our chart. He asked me if I had been resting and drinking more water. I said "yes" and he said well it shows, we'll see you next week. I go back in, in one week for another look but, he never mentioned delivering early, c-section or amnio today and we didn't ask! We are so happy. I'm really going to take it easy and drown myself with water this month! I would love to go term and have a "normal" birth experiance.

May 5th I had my baby shower from my husbands side of the family today. It was great! I think I ate to much though. My husband's cousin made me a cake. And my sister in law, Erica had the shower at her house. His family was so generous. There is hardly anything left that we really need. There were loads of presents and sweet cards. Thank you to everyone that came and sent gifts, and a special thanks to Erica. Your house looked great decorated in the it's a boy decorations.

May 8th Once again a steller appointment. My fluid is up, AGAIN! I guess all of that water is working. Once again, a perfect NST test and ultrasound. We didn't even have to see the doctor today. OH BOY, next week I'll be 36 weeks, yeah! I just might go to term. I am getting MUCH bigger. I'm starting to get Fred Flintstone feet. I had my picture taken recently but, I'm not yet brave enough to put it on. It might need some AIRBRUSHING first!

BORN MAY 15th. 3 Pounds 4 ounces. The EPIC story later........

Tuesday May 15th. Todd and I went in for our regularly schedualed appointment. The exam went well and the ultrasound looked good. Then we went for the NST believing we would be off to work shortly. During the NST our baby's heart rate decelerated. The nurse and doctor come in but, by the time they get there it is back up again. A few minutes later we have another decel. This time our doctor and several nurses RUSH in with a wheel chair. I am told to get into the wheel chair immediatly and the doc shouts to us as I am being wheeled out "prepare to have your baby today!" They are litterally running down the hall with me and Todd is running behind me. They have an elevator waiting for me and we are rushed upstairs to delivery. I am reeling. They take Todd off to another room for admitting information as I am being placed on a bed, hooked up to monitors and preped. After seeing that the baby's heart rate is normal again, I tell the doctor that this is happening a bit to fast and that I am not consenting to a c-section at this time. This gets the doctors attention. We have a serious talk. I tell her that I want to try to have a normal delivery but, that I am open to a c-section if the baby is struggling to survive. I am taken to a regular room and I'm induced. They give me medicine to loosen the cervix, as I am not dialated AT ALL. I start mild labor contractions (uncomfortable but not painful). I am told the next step would but Potosone then a Foley catheter. A Foley catheter is a ballon threaded through the cervix then slowly inflated to help with dialation. After several hours of mild contractions they check me for dailation and conclude that I am a "dimple." They decide to put in the Foley catheter before giving Potosone (I have no idea why). Now this, my friends, was the worst part of my labor. A nurse trys to FORCE this object past my fully closed cervix. I have a high threshold for pain but, this was beyond the scope of my imagiantion! She finally, mercifully relents that it is not going in. Before she leaves she turns and says "if it's any consolation it hurt my hand". Shortly after that the doctor comes in. She tells us that the anistisiologist is on the floor and asked if I would like the epideral. She explains that the epideral, once installed can admit medicine at anytime for regular delivery or for a c-section. Without epideral, If I were to have an emergency c-section Todd could NOT be there, I would be gassed to sleep and not concious for the delivery. I order the epideral. They should be there in a matter of minutes. Todd sits next to me and holds my hand. He knows how I hate needles and I have been scared of this moment. As we are talking I am watching the baby's heartrate on the monitor. It is decelerating again. "Oh no, Todd you better move they are going to come in again." Moments later about 10 people burst through the door. One lifting my gown, one shaving my belly, another on the phone, another flattening the bed for transport, another on the phone to the c-section room and doctors, more people taking blood pressure asking me about allergic reactions reporting the stats on the monitor. Meanwhile Todd is asking what do I do? I tell him call the parents. They wheel me out of the room before Todd can even realize that I'm gone. I'm wheeled in for the emergency c-section. I am gassed to sleep and deliver 10:57 p.m. Lux is 15-1/2" long 3 pounds 5 ounces. He had his cord wrapped around his neck twice. It isn't until 3:00 a.m. that I finally get to see him. I am BARELY concious but, I can't sleep until I see him. First of all he's adorable! Now I mean showbiz cute! When I first saw him, he had tubes and wires running everywhere and he was laying on the warming tray at the NICU trying to breathe. He was so tiny and so sweet/sad. After spending some time with him we finally get to bed. The doctor comes in the following morning and said he had a bad night. He quit breathing and his lung collapsed but, they got his lung reinflated and he is now on a breathing machine. They also found a hole in his heart associated with premies. I was released form the hosiptal 5-19. They gave him medicine to help heal the hole. He had 18 DAYS of intensive healing in the NICU with ups and downs in health and in weight. We had countless trips to the hosptal. (Thank you family and friends.) It was exhausting. He was eventually weened from the breathing machine, his heart healed and he was able to meet the standards for release. We finally took him home! The day we took him home, he weighed 3 pounds 12 ounces. We had to buy a special car bed because, a car seat doesn't work for a baby his size. We've had him home for 2 weeks with maternity leave with Todd. We'll see what he weighs tomorrow. He has been doing very well and is a very good baby. His smiles are darling. Today is Todd's first Father's day (6-17-07). He's a month old!

7/20 Lux went for his 2 month appointment. He weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and received a perfect bill of health....we're so proud! He can hold his head up now to. The boy NEVER sleeps. I swear he must sneak sips of my coffee when I'm not looking! There is a new picture of our little guy in Daddy's favorite blue outfit.

I found a really cool developmental sight. It has real development pictures and movies. CHECK IT OUT. http://www.ehd.org/science_imagegal_4.php