IT'S A BOY!!! (we think...) Friday, May 9th, 2008 Well, I had to go back in for an ultrasound today because the doctors needed to do a Nuchal Translucency test. The baby was moving around so much this time. My other ultrasounds he/she was sleeping. Today, the baby did two complete summersalt's. The nurse/technition was having a hard time getting all the measurements because she said the baby kept moving away from the camera. She was laughing and saying our baby is very active. The heart rate was 160. The baby kept putting his hand all over his face. It was like he was rubbing his eyes and nose. Adam said, "He probably has allergies already." Funny huh? The Nuchal Translucency screening is a test that can help the doctor assess our baby's risk of having Down syndrome and or other chromosomal abnormalities or heart problems. The test is performed with an ultrasound to measure the clear (translucent) space in the tissue of the back of the baby's neck. Babies with abnormalities have more fluid in this area of their necks than average. The test must be done when I am between 11 and 14 weeks pregnant. The nuchal translucency test was ordered because of my results from my First Trimester Combined Screening. I tested as having slightly abnormal amounts of PAPP-A (a protein in blood during pregnancy). The abnormal amount of PAPP-A in my blood signified a small risk for having a baby with abnormalities. This is why I had the nuchal translucency screening today. The doctor said that 95% of the women who test positive for the blood test come back with normal Nuchal Translucency tests. My doctor said that the test looks great and there is most likely nothing wrong. (Thank GOD). My official results will be given to me next Monday or Tuesday. But the fun part is that we got a peek at the babies possible gender! It looks like a boy. Even though most mom's cant tell the sex of the baby until at least between 16-20 weeks--I read that the modern equipment used in the Nuchal Translucency screening is able to make a diagnosis as early as 11-12 weeks. I am 12 weeks and 2 days. (Every wednesday I will be one more week pregnant). At 12 weeks the accuracy of gender assignment is 98.7% and at 13 weeks the accuracy is 100%. Soooo---the baby might be a BOY!!! How cute huh? I am excited because I think the first born child is best if he is a boy. ADAM IS SO EXCITED. I called him and told him I am going to give him a son! He has been jumping around excited all day. He says this is an early birthday gift. He has a rock from Blankensopp castle with our first son's name on it. So this could be our little BRIAN THOMAS BLANKENSHIP!!! We also stopped at Adam's parents house to pick up some of Adam's baby pictures. My mom is going to scan them and make a slide show of my baby pictures and Adam's baby pictures. That is going to be soooo cute. Oh and it's almost mothers day. I am a mommy now.
2008-04-29 (11 weeks)
I got to see our baby again! Yeay! I am so excited. I got to see my baby in the ultrasound yesterday during my doctor's appointment. This time it was a regular ultrasound where they were able to just put the ultrasound on my belly instead of vaginally. This was only my third doctors appointment so all I knew was that it was going to be a physical and one more blood test. My first appointment was with Adam when we got to see the baby for the first time. My second appointment was just to get a pregnancy chart and calender set up. Anyways, I found it really exciting that I was able to see the little peanut again. I can't wait to find out the sex of the baby so we can start saying "Him" or "Her" even though we have been saying "Him." The baby has doubled since the last ultrasound. So there is a lot less space for his/her little body in that sac. The doctor used the ultrasound again because she just needed to see the heart beat because it's still too early to hear it. Heart beat is still fine!!! I am so thankful to God that this pregnancy is going so well. I would be having such a hard time in school if I was feeling sick, tired or achy or anything else. This morning I thought of something pretty neat. I just remembered that I have a piece of Adam growing inside of me. I had to call Adam and tell him my thoughts. I just feel so lucky to be able to have this baby growing in me. And I think it is even more amazing that this baby was created as a result of our love for each other. It's also cool that this little baby is a little bit of me and a little bit of Adam. This little baby will also have little bits of everyone else in the family. How cute!!! Today Danielle and I went to the mall while she waited for her girls softball game to start and we stopped in the Disney store. I always secretly laughed at mom's who feel like bad mom's for silly reasons but this past weekend Lori was showing me a bunch of baby clothes that she had for her baby already and I felt like I was going to cry. I was secretly telling my baby that I was sorry for not getting him or her any clothes yet. That is so silly. I have been laughing at my self all day today. But I finally bought our baby's first pajamas when me and Danielle were at the Disney store at the mall. It was so cute-it was a yellow Dumbo pajama for 6-9months of age. (Danielle is my friend with the same name as me who I go to school with every day...I'm not just crazy). When I'm not so busy I will put a picture of it on my photo album. I will also put the new ultrasound picture on there. Oh and if you are reading this I wanted you to know that you can leave a message on this journal if you want to chat.
2008-04-21 (9 weeks)
Seeing our baby for the First time! Wow! That was the most amazing day of my life. On Wednesday, April 16th Adam and I were able to see our little baby. We could see the little arms and legs. I think I was able to see the face profile on one of the angles. I still feel like it is very surreal. The doctor was very nice. He let us gaze at our baby for about 15 minutes it felt like. Mom and Brandy were able to come in the room and see the baby also. Mom took all the pictures and videos that I was able to put on my photo album on this website. The doctor was able to tell me that on that day I was 9 weeks and 2 days pregnant. The due date was changed to November 18, 2008. One of the first things I thought was, "Oh my gosh...There is actually a baby inside of me!" I finally believed that there was a life growing inside of me. I thank God everyday for His amazing miracle and gift of allowing me to grow this child inside of me. It is soooo awesome that God chose me to knit this beautiful new spirit inside of me. Now Adam is rubbing my belly almost everyday. This is so much more real to us now. I wonder what he or she is doing in there. I wonder when he or she is sleeping or awake. I wish I could see in there everyday.
2008-04-04 (7 weeks)
Week Seven!!! (Hands & Feet) My little blueberry sized son or daughter has doubled in size since last week and is now growing his or her hands and feet. I am really excited about that because I cant wait to hold their little hand. I think of all the times I will be washing his or her hands for her as I sing, "This is the way we wash our hands...wash our hands." I will be clipping those little finger nails, and examining those little wrinkles around the knuckles. And his or her toes are growing, the little toes that might look like Adam's "light bulb toes," or my "little squared toes." Adam says my toes look like someone hammered them in flat like little squares. I call Adam's toes 'light bulb' toes because, well they look like light bulbs. I think of all the tiny socks we will be putting on his/her feet. I already don't want him or her to grow up. But I cant wait till I get to hold their little hand as they walk by our side. It's interesting to me that I don't have to do anything special and this little human is growing. For flowers and plants you have to remember to give it sunlight and enough water. Oh and as it grows you have to give it a bigger pot and more soil. But for babies we (mothers) just sit back and let God use our bodies to give the baby what he or she needs to grow just right. As far as symptoms, I am still having to pee like every hour. I read thats because of the extra blood volume and extra fluid in the kidneys that eventually ends up in the bladder. Right now I have about 10% more blood than I normally do. By the end of my pregnancy, I will have 50% more blood in my body.
I want to also start writing people's advice and comments in these journals so that I don't forget them. Terryn said to me and Adam, "I want to give you guys the best parenting advice that anyone could give you. Don't listen to anyone! Just do what works best for you." Danielle told me yesterday that when were buying toys that we should always invest in buying only high quality stuff because it will last through all our kids use.
