10 out of 10

So, tonight was our first of many more ultrasounds to come. Starting tonight we get an ultrasound every Monday night at 7 pm from now until our due date. Little Sweet Pea was good and cooperated like a good girl. Each week, they will be counting the heart beats per minute, checking to see if she is doing breathing exercises, blood flow, and measuring. Since we have an ultrasound on Wednesday with the high risk doctors, they didn't do any measuring tonight. Little Miss did every thing she was suppose to do tonight. Let's hope she listens to us that way after she's born. :)

As long as we're on the whole update deal, February 17th, we landed ourselves in the hospital so baby could be monitored. I am on restrictions at work, but they haven't been followed as well as they should be. I came home from work that day and had...what I thought was spotting. Well, it just so happened that my doctor was the on call doctor that night. The nurses paged her, and with in a half hour, she had called me and told me to go in so they could monitor the baby, just to make sure everything was still ok. Well, it turns out...everything was just fine. Better than fine actually. The nurses were very impressed with her heartbeat. We were told they don't normally see that kind of heart rate on babies that young. Needless to say mom and dad were very happy to know everything was better than fine.

It's so crazy to think that in 12 weeks we could be holding this little girl in our arms. Don't ask us about names, because we don't have one nailed down yet. We do have it narrowed down to three, but we are going to wait until she's born to make a final decision. The crib is up, changing table is put together, and the dresser is in pieces down stairs. All we need now...in 12 weeks...is Sweet Pea to join us.

Thank you again for all your prayers, we can feel them all.

We're Seeing Pink!

Well, it has been a while since I've posted anything on here. Lots has happened since May when I've last posted, but let me tell you...the wait was worth it. At least for me/us it was. Well..here's the news...

!!!!WE'RE HAVING A GIRL!!!!

Yes, you read that right! We are having a girl. We've known since October, but chose to keep it quiet for quite a few reasons. I don't really feel I have to tell those reasons, but out of respect for those of you who have taken the time to read this, here are a few of them:

1. We've lost 3 babies in the past 4...almost 5 years of being married

2. We knew we would have a TON of test done

3. We knew we would be ultra high risk when we did get pregnant again

4. If we lost this one, we didn't want to un-tell a ton of people

This was a HUGE surprise to Josh and I. I think more me than him, but still we were surprised. We have been wanting a baby for so long, and didn't really think it was going to happen. Well...I guess when you put it on the back burner, that's when it happens.

Since October when we found out, we have had nothing but doctors appointments, and tests. They have done the typical tests that any normal prego chick would have, but on top of that, we have had many, many more. I think I can honestly say I have had AT A MINIMUM, 20 tubes of blood drawn, and I'm NOT done yet. So far we have been tested for:

1. Trisomy 13

2. Trisomy 18

3. Downs

4. Clotting issues between Josh and I (he had blood drawn for this too)

5. Genetic tests

6. More that I can't think of right now...but we've had more than this.

At one point Josh and I both had to get blood drawn at the same time...he had 5 tubes taken, and I had 12. Yes, this was in one shot. Our blood had to be tested to make sure our blood together didn't clot. Thank God, those tests came back normal. Had those test not come back normal, I would have had to have weekly IV infusions of something to prevent the clotting. I'm so thankful I don't have to have this done, although each trimester I do have to have blood drawn for this test to make sure nothing develops. Thankfully the 2 I've had done so far have come back clean. Lets hope #3 comes back the same. :) The reason for this test...Noah died from a hemorrhage/clot on the right side of his brain.

Not only have we had tests up the wazoo, but we have also had to date...8 ultrasounds. Yes, 8. It's amazing to see how much she has grown since the first one at 8 weeks. Why so many ultrasounds? High risk. I see the high risk doctors every 4 weeks for super involved ultrasounds. They have been doing 3D ultrasounds, and a TON of measurements on each one. Thankfully things measure fine, and we are right on track with growing. In the last 2 ultrasounds, they have been doing 3D and it seems to me that they are mainly watching the hands. I think the reason they are doing this, is because Noah was born with an extra thumb on one hand. So far they haven't seen that with Little Miss. :) Starting February 28th, we will be having weekly ultrasounds, along with still seeing the high risk doctors for ultrasounds every 4 weeks still.

As of now I'm pretty much being seen every 2 weeks by either my OB or the high risk doctors. My OB doc rocks...even Josh likes her. :) She's been awesome through this whole process, and has been so patient with us and our fears. I honestly don't think I could have asked for a better doctor. God definitely knew what he was doing when we got hooked up with her as our doctor.

My next appointment is on Wednesday the 16th...I have the lovely glucose test to look forward to. Please pray this test goes well, and things continue to go well with our little one. From here on out I'll have to refer to her as Sweet Pea. That's my dad's nickname for her. It's stuck since.

Well...this the update and the low down on what we've going through with this little one. She must know I'm talking about her cuz she's kicking me. :) That's one thing I'll never get tired of feeling. As long as I'm feeling kicks, I know she's ok.