This pregnancy has continued to go smoothly. Next week I'll be 8 months! Wow! I'm still feeling good, but have definitely started to find it difficult to get comfortable when I sleep. My sister-in-law sent me a giant pregnancy pillow and that has helped me out. (Thanks, Michelle!)
I have a doctors appointment and growth scan this Friday. The growth scans give me such peace of mind that Baby Girl is doing well. I pray that she continues to grow on schedule and that I have a very boring third trimester. I'm a little anxious about the growth scan on Friday because at my last appointment, I had not gained any weight in two weeks. I'm eating plenty, so I just hope she is growing well.
At this point in the pregnancy she should be just over three pounds, which would make her bigger than Tennyson when she was born. I feel like she is bigger judging from the belly earthquakes she creates throughout the day. She's active and I love it. When I count my kicks, I only have to count for 30 minutes at the most. I think I felt her knees poking through my belly today!
I met my Doula that the hospital matched me with and I really like her. She wasn't annoying at all (I was a little worried about that!), and she seems very calming and supportive.
I feel a little ahead of the game in terms of being prepared. I've washed and folded her tiny little clothes and they are in her dresser drawers already. I have preemie clothes in my hospital bag just in case and will switch them out with newborn size clothes once I hit 37 weeks. I think she could wear a new onesie or outfit everyday for the first 3 months. She has so many cute clothes. Most of them are hand-me-downs from Tenn, but I have also been given so many cute clothes from friends.
As I get closer to my due date, I can't decide whether or not to take birthing classes to prepare for labor. If you took birthing classes, do you think they helped you? If you didn't take birthing classes, do you wish you had? The plan is still for me to attempt a VBAC up until my due date and then I will proceed with a c-section.
Amy
tennsense@gmail.com
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Monday, December 10, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
{Pregnancy Update} 28 Weeks
Today marks the beginning of the third trimester! I'm getting excited to meet this little girl (in February...not November, December, or January)! Overall I'm feeling good still. I noticed I was a little more tired this past week, and the random nosebleeds are back, accompanied by bleeding gums when I brush my teeth. Gross.
Last Friday I had a growth scan. Although this pregnancy is going great, I'm getting monthly growth scans since Tennyson was so severely growth restricted. Baby measured four days ahead of schedule and everything looked great. She is nearly the size Tennyson was when she was born!
I also had my glucose test while I was at my Friday appointment. I passed with flying colors with a result of 94. I didn't even mind the orange sugar drink. I also received the TDaP vaccination.
I met with a different doctor this past appointment. I know I should try and meet with other doctors in case mine isn't available on the day I deliver, but I just really like my doctor. I liked this doctor as well, but I still hope I get mine for the big day. I went over my history with him and he listened and asked questions, which I always appreciate. Now that I've entered the third trimester, I'll have appointments every two weeks.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to have a phone appointment with Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg. It took a lot of coordinating, but I was really grateful for the opportunity to talk with her. She is the director of the clinical trial for cord blood transfusion to help kids with cerebral palsy. We contacted her when Tennyson was around a year old and asked to be part of the clinical trial, but were declined since we didn't have Tennyson's cord blood banked. We don't want to miss the opportunity to bank this baby's cord blood.
Dr. Kurtzberg is also the director for Carolinas Cord Blood Bank (CCBB). After talking with Dr. Kurtzberg, we have been approved for "directed donation". Directed donation is for parents who have a child that is need of a cord blood transplant. This means the cord blood will be banked with the intention of Tennyson or Baby Girl getting to use it in the future. I am beyond thrilled we have been approved. There is no annual fee to bank at CCBB. There is a one time fee that is charged, but our insurance will be billed first to see if they will cover it.
The point of me telling you about CCBB is because I also met with one of the cord blood collection nurses last Friday. The doctor I saw wanted to make sure I was on their radar for directed donation. I have a large packet of paperwork to go through and read, but I feel better knowing everyone is tracking the cord blood is being banked.
I've started packing my hospital bag already. I didn't get to pack my bag last time and had to rely on my husband to choose clothes for me to wear home. He chose pre-pregnancy clothes and I didn't fit into them. I'm not messing around this time.
Our baby still doesn't have a name. We did have a name for a few weeks until my husband vetoed it. I was bummed. We had decided on Harlow. I thought it sounded pretty and girly, he thought it sounded manly. He ruined it for me when he said it like a pirate. "HARRRRRRlow". I fought for it still, but he said it sounded "HARRRRRRD" and "HARRRRRSH". I still love the name, but he has to also so the search continues.
Amy
tennsense@gmail.com
Last Friday I had a growth scan. Although this pregnancy is going great, I'm getting monthly growth scans since Tennyson was so severely growth restricted. Baby measured four days ahead of schedule and everything looked great. She is nearly the size Tennyson was when she was born!
I also had my glucose test while I was at my Friday appointment. I passed with flying colors with a result of 94. I didn't even mind the orange sugar drink. I also received the TDaP vaccination.
I met with a different doctor this past appointment. I know I should try and meet with other doctors in case mine isn't available on the day I deliver, but I just really like my doctor. I liked this doctor as well, but I still hope I get mine for the big day. I went over my history with him and he listened and asked questions, which I always appreciate. Now that I've entered the third trimester, I'll have appointments every two weeks.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to have a phone appointment with Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg. It took a lot of coordinating, but I was really grateful for the opportunity to talk with her. She is the director of the clinical trial for cord blood transfusion to help kids with cerebral palsy. We contacted her when Tennyson was around a year old and asked to be part of the clinical trial, but were declined since we didn't have Tennyson's cord blood banked. We don't want to miss the opportunity to bank this baby's cord blood.
Dr. Kurtzberg is also the director for Carolinas Cord Blood Bank (CCBB). After talking with Dr. Kurtzberg, we have been approved for "directed donation". Directed donation is for parents who have a child that is need of a cord blood transplant. This means the cord blood will be banked with the intention of Tennyson or Baby Girl getting to use it in the future. I am beyond thrilled we have been approved. There is no annual fee to bank at CCBB. There is a one time fee that is charged, but our insurance will be billed first to see if they will cover it.
The point of me telling you about CCBB is because I also met with one of the cord blood collection nurses last Friday. The doctor I saw wanted to make sure I was on their radar for directed donation. I have a large packet of paperwork to go through and read, but I feel better knowing everyone is tracking the cord blood is being banked.
I've started packing my hospital bag already. I didn't get to pack my bag last time and had to rely on my husband to choose clothes for me to wear home. He chose pre-pregnancy clothes and I didn't fit into them. I'm not messing around this time.
Our baby still doesn't have a name. We did have a name for a few weeks until my husband vetoed it. I was bummed. We had decided on Harlow. I thought it sounded pretty and girly, he thought it sounded manly. He ruined it for me when he said it like a pirate. "HARRRRRRlow". I fought for it still, but he said it sounded "HARRRRRRD" and "HARRRRRSH". I still love the name, but he has to also so the search continues.
Amy
tennsense@gmail.com
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Seven Snippets Sunday - Short and Sweet
---1---
Tomorrow morning, at 8:00am, Tennyson gets her casts removed. I can't believe it has already been a month. I can't wait to give her a bath and see her move her legs again. I'm sure it will be uncomfortable for her at first, since she hasn't moved her legs or used her muscles in a month. She has had such an awesome attitude throughout everything she has been through in the last month. I'm really proud of her.
---2---
No, I will not be saving her casts as a souvenir. I'm looking forward to never seeing those casts again. Ever.
---3---
On Friday, Tennyson's friends and teachers at school decorated her casts. Pretty darn cute, right?
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---4---
I can't wait to give back the giant wheelchair and special Hippo car seat tomorrow. I can't wait to not have to load Tenn into a wagon padded with pillows to take her anywhere. I'm looking forward to being able to put pants on her. I'm also looking forward to her getting to go back to school full time, starting physical therapy again, and not having to answer peoples questions about how she "broke both her legs".
---5---
My one year blogging Anniversary is in one month! Giveaways will be announced soon to celebrate the big day! Stay tuned.
---6---
Tomorrow I'll be 27 weeks pregnant! One more week until the seventh month and 3rd trimester starts! I don't think I have shared a pregnant picture here on the blog. This was taken on Halloween. I have my gestational diabetes test this week and a growth scan to make sure Baby Girl is growing on schedule.
Tomorrow I'll be 27 weeks pregnant! One more week until the seventh month and 3rd trimester starts! I don't think I have shared a pregnant picture here on the blog. This was taken on Halloween. I have my gestational diabetes test this week and a growth scan to make sure Baby Girl is growing on schedule.
---7---
I promise that I'll be blogging more than Sunday Snippets and Pregnancy Updates soon. I know it's been a little slow and lacking substance around here, but hang in there. It's been a crazy month.
I promise that I'll be blogging more than Sunday Snippets and Pregnancy Updates soon. I know it's been a little slow and lacking substance around here, but hang in there. It's been a crazy month.
Amy
Monday, October 29, 2012
{Pregnancy Update} 25 Weeks
I know I've said it before, but it's true - this pregnancy is flying by. I haven't posted a pregnancy update in 3 weeks, so it's about time.
I feel a new sense of responsibility now that I've passed the 6 month mark. Viability begins at 24 weeks, so if something crazy were to happen and this baby suddenly ended up being born, she could survive. I'm still trusting God's plan, but feel the need to be extra vigilant from here on out. I'm already counting kicks, but I don't think I technically have to start that until 28 weeks. It brings me peace of mind.
Even though I feel so much more aware and educated this time around, I still have my "crazy pregnant lady" moments. For instance, I bumped my belly the other night on a door handle and it bruised the following day. I worried I hit the baby in the head (the head seems to be a constant area of concern for me), or that the placenta was damaged. I called the OB on call at the hospital just to make sure they didn't want to check on the baby. I refrained from asking them if they thought I hit the baby in the head. They were not worried about me (not unless I was leaking, bleeding, or contracting - which I wasn't). Baby Girl was moving around just fine. I also decided someone should invent a helmet for baby bumps.
I felt silly calling the doc about bumping into a door handle, but at the same time, as I get farther along, I'm needing more reassurance everything really is going well. Since our only experience is "the path less traveled", it almost feels surreal my body is truly working how God intended it to, and I'm carrying a healthy child. It makes me incredibly emotional (I'm blaming those lovely pregnancy hormones).
Anyways, enough of the therapy session. Here's an actual update on our sweet (still un-named) Baby Girl.
Two weeks ago, I had the ECHO ultrasound to check on the baby's heart. At the anatomy ultrasound at 18 weeks, there were a few images that made the doctor want to double check the baby didn't have a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). She doesn't. I didn't think she did. They gave me some really cool pictures of her.
Her kicks are getting stronger and it's the coolest thing to feel her move throughout the day and night. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law were able to feel her move when I put their hand on my belly. I feel really proud when people tell me I'm getting bigger. She is growing right on schedule and I will have another ultrasound in 2 weeks to make sure she continues to grow well.
tennsense@gmail.com
Amy
I feel a new sense of responsibility now that I've passed the 6 month mark. Viability begins at 24 weeks, so if something crazy were to happen and this baby suddenly ended up being born, she could survive. I'm still trusting God's plan, but feel the need to be extra vigilant from here on out. I'm already counting kicks, but I don't think I technically have to start that until 28 weeks. It brings me peace of mind.
Even though I feel so much more aware and educated this time around, I still have my "crazy pregnant lady" moments. For instance, I bumped my belly the other night on a door handle and it bruised the following day. I worried I hit the baby in the head (the head seems to be a constant area of concern for me), or that the placenta was damaged. I called the OB on call at the hospital just to make sure they didn't want to check on the baby. I refrained from asking them if they thought I hit the baby in the head. They were not worried about me (not unless I was leaking, bleeding, or contracting - which I wasn't). Baby Girl was moving around just fine. I also decided someone should invent a helmet for baby bumps.
I felt silly calling the doc about bumping into a door handle, but at the same time, as I get farther along, I'm needing more reassurance everything really is going well. Since our only experience is "the path less traveled", it almost feels surreal my body is truly working how God intended it to, and I'm carrying a healthy child. It makes me incredibly emotional (I'm blaming those lovely pregnancy hormones).
Anyways, enough of the therapy session. Here's an actual update on our sweet (still un-named) Baby Girl.
Two weeks ago, I had the ECHO ultrasound to check on the baby's heart. At the anatomy ultrasound at 18 weeks, there were a few images that made the doctor want to double check the baby didn't have a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). She doesn't. I didn't think she did. They gave me some really cool pictures of her.
Her kicks are getting stronger and it's the coolest thing to feel her move throughout the day and night. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law were able to feel her move when I put their hand on my belly. I feel really proud when people tell me I'm getting bigger. She is growing right on schedule and I will have another ultrasound in 2 weeks to make sure she continues to grow well.
tennsense@gmail.com
Amy
Monday, October 8, 2012
{Pregnancy Update} 22 Weeks
I'm completely enjoying this stage of my pregnancy! I feel good. I'm not tired. I'm not nauseous. I've stopped having nosebleeds. I'm not uncomfortable. I'm sleeping good. It's wonderful! According to my babycenter.com e-mails, baby girl is about 11 inches long and weighs just around a pound.
It was only a few weeks ago I was waiting to feel this baby girl kick. Now, she makes sure I know when she's awake. It went from soft little flutters to full on kicks within two weeks!
I only have 15 more weeks until I'm technically full term (37 weeks). With the unexpected scheduling of Tennyson's surgery, I feel like the next few months are going to go quickly. Tenn's surgery is next Tuesday. I have an ultrasound to look at this baby's heart the following morning, and the next day, I'll get to see my doctor. At least I'll be in the same hospital for all of this. It actually makes it quite convenient.
I've been contemplating using a doula for this birth. The hospital has volunteer doulas that are on call and they don't charge for their services. I'm in the process of being matched with one. I think I've started to process early enough to find someone I'm comfortable with.
Last time around, I read every single chapter of "What to Expect When You're Expecting" except the chapter on c-sections. I even had written a birth plan. About a month after Tennyson was born, I found my birth plan and I half laughed, half cried as I read it. Everything happened so differently than what I had planned.
This time, I'm not planning. I have discussed a 'loose' birth plan with my doctor. If I have a healthy, boring pregnancy, then I will attempt a VBAC. I'm lucky to have a doctor who actually recommended that route. I've always heard of women having to fight for a VBAC, or having to find a doctor that would actually support them in trying for a VBAC. However, the baby comes first - not the birth experience - so a c-section will remain an option as well. As the pregnancy progresses and the growth scans of baby begin, I'll have a better idea what delivery route will be best.
I'll try to post a belly picture soon. (maybe tomorrow). The baby belly is definitely getting bigger. I found Mama Bee Belly Butter and Oil by Burt's Bees. I'm in love with this stuff! I'm slightly obsessive about moisturizing while pregnant. It doesn't stink and it's not greasy. I definitely recommend it.
On a completely different note, I'm excited to share that I have a phone appointment with Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg. She's the doctor in charge of the clinical trial at Duke using stem cells to treat cerebral palsy. I'll hopefully get to address some questions about Tennyson, and get some answers about banking the cord blood with Duke's Cord Blood Bank. It's a small step, but one that will hopefully open up doors for us in the future.
tennsense@gmail.com
Amy
It was only a few weeks ago I was waiting to feel this baby girl kick. Now, she makes sure I know when she's awake. It went from soft little flutters to full on kicks within two weeks!
I only have 15 more weeks until I'm technically full term (37 weeks). With the unexpected scheduling of Tennyson's surgery, I feel like the next few months are going to go quickly. Tenn's surgery is next Tuesday. I have an ultrasound to look at this baby's heart the following morning, and the next day, I'll get to see my doctor. At least I'll be in the same hospital for all of this. It actually makes it quite convenient.
I've been contemplating using a doula for this birth. The hospital has volunteer doulas that are on call and they don't charge for their services. I'm in the process of being matched with one. I think I've started to process early enough to find someone I'm comfortable with.
Last time around, I read every single chapter of "What to Expect When You're Expecting" except the chapter on c-sections. I even had written a birth plan. About a month after Tennyson was born, I found my birth plan and I half laughed, half cried as I read it. Everything happened so differently than what I had planned.
This time, I'm not planning. I have discussed a 'loose' birth plan with my doctor. If I have a healthy, boring pregnancy, then I will attempt a VBAC. I'm lucky to have a doctor who actually recommended that route. I've always heard of women having to fight for a VBAC, or having to find a doctor that would actually support them in trying for a VBAC. However, the baby comes first - not the birth experience - so a c-section will remain an option as well. As the pregnancy progresses and the growth scans of baby begin, I'll have a better idea what delivery route will be best.
I'll try to post a belly picture soon. (maybe tomorrow). The baby belly is definitely getting bigger. I found Mama Bee Belly Butter and Oil by Burt's Bees. I'm in love with this stuff! I'm slightly obsessive about moisturizing while pregnant. It doesn't stink and it's not greasy. I definitely recommend it.
tennsense@gmail.com
Amy
Monday, September 24, 2012
{Pregnancy Update} Week 20
I'm officially 20 weeks pregnant! Only 5 (or less) months to go! This one seems to be going by much more quickly than when I was pregnant with Tennyson.
I finally felt her move last week! Every night, after Tenn is in bed, and I finally have a chance to sit down and put my feet up, she lets me know she's awake. Just this morning, I felt her move before I got out of bed. So, she's definitely getting bigger and more wiggly. I love it! When Tenn was born and my pregnancy ended so abruptly, feeling a baby move inside of me was something I mourned. I missed it terribly. So I am really loving and appreciating all the sweet kicks I get to feel.
Changes to report:
Speaking of baby names... so far, The Husband has not liked any names I have thrown out there as possibilites. We want to pick a name soon so that we can start preparing Tennyson (and I can start monogramming!). It's been hard to find a name that can follow "Tennyson". We like our girl names unique (obviously), pretty but strong, and not made up. Any suggestions?
Here are the names that have not made the cut (unfortunately):
That's my update for ths week! All is going well. I'm feeling good other than some random round ligament pain here and there. I'm loving that my belly is growing bigger. I'm not uncomfortable, and now people can tell that I'm pregnant!
Thanks again for all of your kind e-mails and prayers. They are so appreciated!
Amy
tennsense@gmail.com
I finally felt her move last week! Every night, after Tenn is in bed, and I finally have a chance to sit down and put my feet up, she lets me know she's awake. Just this morning, I felt her move before I got out of bed. So, she's definitely getting bigger and more wiggly. I love it! When Tenn was born and my pregnancy ended so abruptly, feeling a baby move inside of me was something I mourned. I missed it terribly. So I am really loving and appreciating all the sweet kicks I get to feel.
Changes to report:
- I've finally gained nearly 2 pounds. I was much more nauseous this time around. It didn't really let up until 16 or 17 weeks, so I didn't have much of an appetite. Babycenter.com says that I can expect to gain a pound a week from here on out. I don't weigh myself though, so I'll just keep the weight checks at the doctor visits. No cravings to report yet.
- I started to have nose bleeds last week. They are so annoying. They seem to be fairly common in pregnancy, but my doctor had me get a blood draw just to make sure all is well.
- I got a flu shot. I'm glad I was able to get it. Tennyson is next. Apparently we need all the help we can get to stay healthy this season. I hope to get the pertussis vaccine as well.
Speaking of baby names... so far, The Husband has not liked any names I have thrown out there as possibilites. We want to pick a name soon so that we can start preparing Tennyson (and I can start monogramming!). It's been hard to find a name that can follow "Tennyson". We like our girl names unique (obviously), pretty but strong, and not made up. Any suggestions?
Here are the names that have not made the cut (unfortunately):
Briony
Delaney
Finley
Henley
Emerson
Kenley
Lucy
Whitley
Delaney
Finley
Henley
Emerson
Kenley
Lucy
Whitley
Eliza
Charlotte
Willow
Rowan
Sophia
Christiana
Felicity
Vivian
Brenna
Emmalynn
Piper
Cora
Thanks again for all of your kind e-mails and prayers. They are so appreciated!
Amy
tennsense@gmail.com
Thursday, September 13, 2012
{Pregnancy Update} 18 Weeks
Monday marked 18 weeks for this pregnancy. It's hard to believe that I am nearly to the halfway point of this pregnancy.
This morning I had the anatomy ultrasound. I was hoping to be able to find out the gender, but more importantly, I wanted to see the baby is growing well and is healthy. I was somewhat nervous as I drove to Chapel Hill this morning. I have not felt the flutters of this baby growing inside of me yet. I started to think about all the bad things they could tell me and I started to get overwhelmed. I prayed about it and took comfort in knowing that whatever happened was in God's hands and out of mine.
I really liked the sonographer I had for my last ultrasound, so I requested her when I checked in for my appointment, but it was her day off. Bummer. Sometimes it's hit or miss with sonographers. They see so many babies everyday that they sometimes don't get excited the way we do as expecting mothers - but I got lucky today. I always want to make sure they know my history with Tennyson. She knew the basics, but I filled her in on the details and jokingly warned her that I ask a lot of questions. I'm such a different pregnant woman this time around.
I know most women think of this ultrasound as the gender reveal. That was just going to be a bonus for me. I wanted to know how the brain looked and if she saw a choroid plexus cyst; if the heart had four chambers; if the baby was growing on schedule. I wanted to know the placement of the placenta and to know if she could see how big it was; I wanted her to check for blood clots in it. I asked about the umbilical cord...all the things that went wrong and unrecognized with my last pregnancy.
I let her know I had not felt the baby move yet. She told me that it was most likely because of the positioning of the placenta. It's right on the top of my belly, so this baby is going to have to get a little bit bigger (or kick harder) before I feel the flutters.
As she went through her ultrasound routine, checking all the body parts of the baby, I got to hear the heartbeat (a strong 154 beats per minute), see the baby wiggling around, see hands and feet, and just as she was about to tell me the gender, I beat her to it. I knew right when I saw it on the screen. I said, "Oh! It looks like a girl!". She said, "You're right. Wow, you're good."
Overall, everything looked great with our sweet baby girl. Today I am 18 weeks 3 days, and she measured exactly 18 weeks 3 days. My due date is February 11th.
I will have to return in a month so they can get a better look at her heart. In most of the images, her heart looks perfectly healthy. But there were a few questionable images that made the doctor want to make sure she doesn't have a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). She assured me it was not something that is life threatening or anything that would affect her developmentally IF she does have it.
My Husband called me after the appointment. I said, "you know how you're outnumbered right now with Tenny and I? Well, you're about to be really outnumbered because we are having another girl!". He was excited. I don't know how people have the patience to wait for gender reveal parties, or any other cool gender reveal ideas I've seen on pinterest. Once I talked to my husband, I made about 20 phone calls. People were waiting and I was excited to tell them!
We are excited for another girl! I would have been happy for a boy as well, but I'm really happy the 5 giant bins of girl clothes I saved from Tennyson will be put to good use!
Tennyson is going to be an awesome big sister.
Amy
tennsense@gmail.com
This morning I had the anatomy ultrasound. I was hoping to be able to find out the gender, but more importantly, I wanted to see the baby is growing well and is healthy. I was somewhat nervous as I drove to Chapel Hill this morning. I have not felt the flutters of this baby growing inside of me yet. I started to think about all the bad things they could tell me and I started to get overwhelmed. I prayed about it and took comfort in knowing that whatever happened was in God's hands and out of mine.
I really liked the sonographer I had for my last ultrasound, so I requested her when I checked in for my appointment, but it was her day off. Bummer. Sometimes it's hit or miss with sonographers. They see so many babies everyday that they sometimes don't get excited the way we do as expecting mothers - but I got lucky today. I always want to make sure they know my history with Tennyson. She knew the basics, but I filled her in on the details and jokingly warned her that I ask a lot of questions. I'm such a different pregnant woman this time around.
I know most women think of this ultrasound as the gender reveal. That was just going to be a bonus for me. I wanted to know how the brain looked and if she saw a choroid plexus cyst; if the heart had four chambers; if the baby was growing on schedule. I wanted to know the placement of the placenta and to know if she could see how big it was; I wanted her to check for blood clots in it. I asked about the umbilical cord...all the things that went wrong and unrecognized with my last pregnancy.
I let her know I had not felt the baby move yet. She told me that it was most likely because of the positioning of the placenta. It's right on the top of my belly, so this baby is going to have to get a little bit bigger (or kick harder) before I feel the flutters.
As she went through her ultrasound routine, checking all the body parts of the baby, I got to hear the heartbeat (a strong 154 beats per minute), see the baby wiggling around, see hands and feet, and just as she was about to tell me the gender, I beat her to it. I knew right when I saw it on the screen. I said, "Oh! It looks like a girl!". She said, "You're right. Wow, you're good."
Overall, everything looked great with our sweet baby girl. Today I am 18 weeks 3 days, and she measured exactly 18 weeks 3 days. My due date is February 11th.
I will have to return in a month so they can get a better look at her heart. In most of the images, her heart looks perfectly healthy. But there were a few questionable images that made the doctor want to make sure she doesn't have a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). She assured me it was not something that is life threatening or anything that would affect her developmentally IF she does have it.
My Husband called me after the appointment. I said, "you know how you're outnumbered right now with Tenny and I? Well, you're about to be really outnumbered because we are having another girl!". He was excited. I don't know how people have the patience to wait for gender reveal parties, or any other cool gender reveal ideas I've seen on pinterest. Once I talked to my husband, I made about 20 phone calls. People were waiting and I was excited to tell them!
We are excited for another girl! I would have been happy for a boy as well, but I'm really happy the 5 giant bins of girl clothes I saved from Tennyson will be put to good use!
Tennyson is going to be an awesome big sister.
Amy
tennsense@gmail.com
Monday, September 3, 2012
Seven Snippets - A Little Bit of Everything
--- 1 ---
Did you notice the pretty new blog template? I won it! Designer Blogs does a monthly giveaway for one of their Templates each month, and I was the winner for July. I have been dreaming of updating the blogs look since I started last December, and I was so excited to win. I never win! Check them out! They have great designs.
--- 2 ---
Since last April, we've been battling to keep Tennyson from losing weight. It seems whenever seizures start up, vomiting does as well, and it's difficult to keep her hydrated and meet her calorie needs. Last April she was around 26 pounds. Two weeks ago at her weight check, she was down to 23 pounds. Seizures have been showing up every few weeks, but this weekend she had them daily. We see the neurologist tomorrow and are hoping to try yet another medicine to get rid of these stupid seizures once and for all. She also has a weight check to see if she has gained anything in the last few weeks. I hope she has!
--- 3 ---
We have been discussing a blended diet with her GI doc, feeding therapist, and dietician for some time and we are finally at a point we can begin. Tennyson's diet has always been formula based, and she's never had a diet of real food. My Mom bought a fancy VitaMix blender for us to have for the transition. We should be starting within the next week or two. Her dietician will be creating a few starter recipes formulated specifically to meet her nutritional and calorie needs. It will be more work on my part, and more expensive since we will be buying natural, organic, fresh foods, but I think we will see it pay off in Tennyson's overall health.
--- 4 ---
Tennyson's school has arranged for her to do theraputic horse back riding! She will get to go once a month from September to December. I'm so excited for her. Horse therapy, also known as hippotherapy, is great for children with cerebral palsy.
"The idea behind hippotherapy is that the horse's movement provides a sense of rhythm to the rider as well as forces the rider's torso and hips to align and move in the proper physical way. Hippotherapy for patients with cerebral palsy essentially improves rhythm and movement, encourages step spacing (horses step with approximately the same frequency as humans), and promotes normal off-horse movement by training natural motor responses." - The Cerebral Palsy Source
--- 5 ---
Tennyson turns 3 years old next Saturday! We are so blessed she is ours. Life is good!
We had Tennyson's I.E.P (Individualized Eduacation Program) meeting last week. This meeting outlined which services Tenn will receive, and how often she will get them. I've heard many horror stories about these meetings, but I wasn't really worried about Tennyson's. I knew I wasn't going to be fighting for services. Her school, teacher, and therapists all want the best for her. There were many evaluations of Tenn leading up to the meeting, and I requested copies of them prior to the meeting. I met with the psychologist before the meeting, and I'm glad I did. The only emotional part of the day was hearing the results of her evaluation. Hearing her use the words "profound" and "severe" to describe Tennyson brought tears to my eyes. We obviously know that Tennyson has extreme delays, but hearing someone else point out just how far behind she is, was just plain hard.
I am officially 17 weeks pregnant! I can't believe I'm almost to the half way point of this pregnancy. In the last week or so the all-day-sickness has let up and food actually sounds appealing again. I don't remember being sick for very long with Tennyson, so part of me is thinking this baby is a boy. But then again, I thought Tennyson was a boy, so I probably should be thinking I'm having another girl. We find out the gender on the 13th. Only a few more days!
Here's a cute picture of Tenn...just because she's so adorable!
Here's a cute picture of Tenn...just because she's so adorable!
She makes me smile every single day
For more Seven Snippets, visit Bringing The Sunshine!
Amy
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Changes
I’m so sorry for not posting these past 2 months. I’m hoping
this update will more than make up for it! These last couple of months have been a little crazy. We've been busy with many changes.
Remember last April, when I mentioned we bought a house? Well that deal
ended up falling through and our house hunt was back to square one. We actually
found a different home we loved quickly, which was surprising. It was important
to us that any home we purchased have complete accessibility for
Tennyson. We wanted a one story home with hardwood floors throughout, for the
right price. That doesn't sound too crazy, right? We didn't think so either
until we saw our slim pickings. If we were into flipping houses, we would have
been in heaven! But we aren't and we didn't want to renovate. We ended up in a
great house which fit all of our criteria and we feel really lucky to have it.
We were lucky enough to have family come and help us move. We couldn’t have
done it without them! Moving and trying
to set up a house has taken a lot of time. |
| Tenn was such a trooper during the move! |
One of my favorite things about where we live now is how close we are to Tennyson's new school. It is only a 4 minute drive down the road! She was accepted into a private school with a curriculum-based developmental day program. I love that it has inclusive classrooms (part special needs kids and part typical kids) and she is in a class based on her age, not her physical capabilities. Otherwise she'd be in the infant room. We are really lucky she is going to such an incredible school. She has been on the half-day schedule for the past three weeks. The first few weeks she would cry when we pulled into the parking lot and the entire walk to her classroom, but at the beginning of the third week, she stopped crying and is now actually excited when I tell her she’s at school.
Tenn in her gait trainer - I love this picture of her.
The biggest change to announce is the most exciting!
Come February 2013, Tennyson will be a big sister!
I am 13 weeks pregnant with baby #2! We found out we were expecting ridiculously early (at 3 weeks) and we told our immediate family right away. I went and confirmed the pregnancy with a blood test the next day and was transferred to UNC at Chapel Hill to be followed by a high-risk OB/GYN in Maternal Fetal Medicine. Given the history of complications that went unrecognized with Tennyson (like her rare chromosome abnormality) and my gene mutation, it makes sense to be checked more often this time around.
I have already had 3 ultrasounds (at 6, 10, and 12 weeks) and so far everything looks great. The morning sickness (aka all-day-sickness) started around 6 weeks and has yet to let up. Hopefully once the second trimester begins next week, I’ll get some energy back and start feeling better.
Baby #2 at 12 weeks
We have always known we wanted more children, regardless of what challenges we faced with Tennyson. Tennyson will turn 3 next month. We understand her capabilities and where we need to focus to help her reach her full potential. Her services and therapies are set up, she is attending and excellent school, and she has great doctors. We are ready and we know Tennyson will be an amazing big sister. We are so excited for her!
This time around we pray things go differently. We are trusting God’s plan for our family and continue to thank Him for each day of this pregnancy.
We are excited to share this next journey with you!
Amy
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