There have been many requests for me "Brandon" to write something out here... so here goes.

For all of you who have been inquiring... Yavetta and I have finally put the finishing touches on our registries.  We are registered at TARGET and BabiesRUS.  So, if anyone, especially those without functioning computers ask you... let them know.

Well, Monday, March 17th, finally came.  Since my last prenatal visit in February, I had been counting down the days until this appointment.  I was filled with excitement just to see Peanut again on the ultrasound monitor.  Ok, so this is how my appointment went.  Of course, Brandon was with me.  First on the agenda was my ultrasound.  We were in there for about 35 - 40 minutes.  The ultrasound technician was very nice because she talked us through everything we were seeing on the monitor.  We saw that the back of head didn't show Down Syndrome, 2 kidneys, 2 arms, 2 legs, and a 4 chamber heart.  When trying to see each chamber of the heart, Peanut wouldn't cooperate.  She was asking Peanut several times to turn over so that she could get a good picture of the heart.  Instead of Peanut cooperating, I had to turn over so the technician could get the picture.  Brandon thought he was seeing one thing until she revealed that she was not even in that area to see whatever it was he thought he saw.  I was cracking up.  Both of us got the notion to go ahead and have her show us the sex, but we ended up coming to our senses so we wouldn't spoil our surprise before August.  This was a decision we had made early in our pregnancy and we didn't want to go back on our word.  I know this is upsetting to some people who like to do early planning, but so sorry.  But I can tell you that Peanut is 12 ounces.  They didn't provide us with the length.

Next on the agenda was the actual visit with the obstetrician, Dr. Artis.  We had to wait an extremely long time to see her.  My appointment with her was at 9:50 and we weren't seen until after 11.  There must have been some emergency that needed to be dealt with before getting to me.  She measured my belly, told me where the top of my uterus was, and determined that I am right on schedule for my due date.  Every prenatal appointment after this will get a measurement of my belly.  Dr. Artis was concerned with my back pain and leg problems.  As you have read in previous journals, I have been struggling with back pain that affects my left leg.  Because of the problems with my back and leg, the doctor decided I needed additional help, more help than what she could provide.  Since they don't want me to be X-rayed, I have to see an orthopedic specialist.  My appointment is on Tuesday, March 25.  Depending on how this appointment goes, I may have to go to physical therapy to strengthen my back.  I don't know if this is how sciatica is usually treated or if I have a pretty severe form of it.  I'll keep you posted on that though.

Check out the beautiful black and white pictures of our baby in the photo album.

I thought last week was going to be pretty good to me, but I had a few rough patches here and there.  On Wednesday, I had a nose bleed not long after I got out of bed.  On Thursday, I thought I was going to need 911 emergency assistance to get home.  After lunch, I could barely stand up straight.  My back was killing me.  Why?  I'm guessing sciatica.  Nothing I could do would alleviate any of the pain.  Peanut started out the day causing pain on my right side underneath my ribs - the same area that was hurting when I had my liver surgery.  My mom thinks the pain could be from scar tissue left from the surgery.  Sounds like a good enough reason to me.  After I requested Peanut to get off my ribs, I guess that's when my sciatic nerve became the new resting spot.  Boy, oh boy, did I regret that request.  I was begging Peanut to move back over to my ribs.  At least with the pain in my ribs I could still walk.  With the problems I was experiencing with my sciatic nerve, I could barely lift my left leg off the floor to walk.  It took so long to make it to the car when I decided I couldn't remain at work.  I couldn't even grab my computer to continue working when I got home.  I didn't care anything about work.  All I wanted was relief.  That relief came on Friday, after sitting on the heating pad for hours, a good deep tissue massage from Brandon, and a hot shower.  The pain wasn’t totally gone, but I was able to walk without looking like a cripple.  It’s Saturday and I’m still sore from this rough episode.