bump #106: an update on our BIG baby boy

This morning was our 32 week "growth scan" ultrasound to check on the choroid plexus cysts that were seen on Everett's brain at the 20 week anatomy scan. So basically, we've been holding our breath for the last 3 months, praying that our sweet baby boy would be healthy, and that the cysts would dissolve.

Once again God answered our prayers! No CPCs anywhere! And all lab work came back negative for any markers of chromosomal abnormalities that often accompany choroid plexus cysts. So double praise!

We also learned some BIG news about baby Everett... mostly that he's HUGE!!! He already weighs 4 1/2 pounds, is measuring 35 weeks along, at least his head is :), and he's breech. That explains why I have trouble breathing sometimes... his head is wedged into my ribs! It does make for amazing kicks and belly waves though! This is how I woke up yesterday morning... So crazy, but it's the BEST!!!

I got a few pictures from this morning's appointment, but admittedly, I can't tell you what they're of! I mean I can make out a hand and a foot in one of them, but the rest look like random blotches.

Luckily, we got these pictures from our last 4-d ultrasound at 30 weeks. Everett was snuggled up next to the placenta so it was hard to get a clear shot of him, but so fun to see him! He looks just like Oliver did!

sucking his thumb

tugging on the umbilical cord... "Can I get some womb service please!"

Deep in thought or perfecting his glamour photo pose... just needs a fluffy feather boa and some blush!

holding onto the umbilical cord.

As of today, Everett will be delivered via c-section on Thursday, April 21 at 9:00 am. That is only 7 weeks from right now... Too much to do!!! I asked the doctor if she thought he would come early since he's running out of room in there, but she's pretty sure we'll make it to at least 37 weeks. We'll see! Oliver only weighed 6 lb 15 oz at birth. Andrew and I have a bet about how much Everett will weigh. I may have to change my prediction after this morning's revelation. I hear babies gain a pound a week in the last few weeks. Yikes! I think he'll be 20.5" and weigh 8 lbs. Andrew thinks he'll be 21" and weigh 8 lbs 5 oz. Winner gets a dozen donuts! Oh that reminds me, by nothing short of a miracle, I passed my glucose test and don't have gestational diabetes. Phew! So much to celebrate!!!

bump #105: 25 week ultrasound

My favorite thing about pregnancy is when the baby kicks and moves around. I still find myself stopping everything to hold my belly and smile when Everett starts his gymnastics routine. But my second most favorite thing about pregnancy is, of course, the pictures...

Here are some photos from our 25 week ultrasound at The Ultrasound Experience.

**Huge THANK YOU to my parents for (once again) gifting us with the "triple the fun" 3 visit package. We get to see Everett again next month :) **

We love him so much already!!!

He looks JUST LIKE Oliver!!!

My momma heart is bursting with joy!!!

Next week is the gestational diabetes glucose screening test and then in February we have another ultrasound to check if the cyst issue has resolved. My last doctor's appointment went great and Everett seems to be happy and healthy so we are praising God for keeping him safe.

Thank you for prayers!

bump #102: oh boy

 

I will be 15 weeks along tomorrow and am so happy we can call our sweet baby boy by name now.

 

Everett Michael

 

We are so grateful for two boys!

 

bump #84: 31 and 31 weeks

31 weeks looks like this:

Andrew's parents and my mom came down to San Diego for the long weekend 

and we had our third and final 4d ultrasound at The Ultrasound Experience.

Feeling Oliver move around inside my tummy has been the most amazing experience of the whole pregnancy, but seeing him move around on the big screen and getting to share that with our friends and family is incredible.

He seems to be pretty easy going and mellow. He moves around a lot, but looks peaceful and cozy.

He even gave us a little smile this time! And the dark spots on his head are shadows; 

he doesn't have a comb over!

He can open his eyes now. A little strange looking, but you can tell he is a very deep thinker, obviously really inquisitive and intellectual :)

From here on out he's just packing on the pounds. Look how his little arms and cheeks have filled out!

Here is is smirking again and you can see both hands and a foot in the lower right corner. 

He has some big feet!

And here he is all squished up in a ball with his chubby little legs and shadows that make it look like he has crazy thick hair. He has hair, but it's light and fuzzy.

At 31 weeks I'm feeling...

Excited: about 2 baby showers coming up next month! I can't believe this is my life! I get to have a baby shower because I'm really having a baby?!

Nervous: about the whole delivery thing. I honestly never thought this day or the ones ahead would come, so I never planned that far ahead. I'm in the beginning stages of making a birthing plan. So far it just says "epidural."

Happy: that we got to see the baby smiling. How cool is that?!

Uncomfortable: This week I got my second cold/flu of the month and it made sleep impossible. Fever plus can't breathe plus a cough that won't end equals misery. I just hope the baby is developing a strong immune system and antibodies in the process. I am incredibly grateful for this pregnancy and elated that Ollie is healthy and growing on track, but with the third trimester, I am also experiencing sciatic nerve pain in my back, numbness in my legs, intense exhaustion, and gag worthy acid reflux. It will all be worth it though! There is a part of me that wants to keep him in there forever, but as the weeks get closer I'm beginning to understand why most pregnant women are like "get it out!"

Ready: for the 6 week childbirth and infant care preparation course we signed up for at our hospital. It starts next week and I'm hoping it will put my fears about labor and delivery at ease. It will also be fun to meet other expecting couples and make some new friends. And of course, compare belly sizes and maternity wardrobes because I'm mature like that.

Relieved: there's still no sign of stretch marks and even though I feel swollen everywhere, all my jewelry and shoes still fit comfortably.

Silly: I've started my "push" mix playlist and it makes me giggle. I'll post it once it's done.  I added Semisonic's "Closing Time" after watching this video about how the song is really about a child exiting the womb, and not getting bounced from a bar.

Well travelled:  We flew to Austin for Andrew's graduation last month and just got back from a whirlwind baby moon / birthday weekend in Canada. Pics here. I am now 31 years old and 31 weeks along. Yay!

Tired: I am presently in that special place where pregnancy exhaustion meets illness exhaustion and I have succumbed to the Benadryl I took right before writing this post.

Goodnight!

bump #81: 24 weeks

 24 weeks, baby!

I thought I was already so huge, and then POP! I got even bigger! But the bigger I get, the bigger the baby gets, and he is growing strong and healthy in there, so I am absolutely thrilled and waddling around with pride :)

We had our 23 week 3-d ultrasound November 25 and it was so amazing to see our little Oliver moving around.

He lays on his back with his head on the left side of my stomach and his feet on the right. He keeps his feet crossed and his hands tucked up by his face like a bunny. He was in the same position last time we had this ultrasound at 14 weeks. Soon he's going to run out of room in there!

You can see the umbilical cord wrapped around his little legs below.

At one point, he rolled over as if to say he was done with the photo shoot. 

Uh oh, he better get used to having his picture taken all day everyday!

 We got to see him stretch and work on his dance moves.

 He's often deep in thought!

 Sometimes he sucks his thumb.

 And pulls on his umbilical cord.

 I feel lots of kicks all day long and it is MY FAVORITE thing in the world!

In fact, I'm the opposite of the typical pregnant lady who doesn't want strangers touching her belly. 

I'm like "Oh, he's kicking right here! Feel this! Wow!" and I make anyone who's near me feel my belly. 

I'm sure they're over it by now, but I can't help it! This is the best... until I get to meet him and hold him in my arms. I can't wait!!!

bump #79: nothing short of a miracle

God answers prayer.

There is no other explanation for what has happened.

Ollie at 23 weeks   1 lb 2 oz

profile, arm, and foot

I had vasa previa 3 weeks ago and today it is gone.

I was praying constantly for healing, but also preparing for the worst. This prognosis meant incredible danger for the baby and myself. It would have required immediate blood transfusion and resuscitation following an emergency C-section for the baby. We would have approximately 3 minutes to revive him and he would have stayed in the neonatal unit and NICU for many weeks  possibly suffering brain damage. In severe cases of vasa previa, a hysterectomy (complete removal of the uterus) becomes necessary, which would mean no more pregnancies. This was all around heart breaking news and the last few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster for us. I simultaneously rejoiced and worried over every kick I've felt. I love knowing that he is ok in there, but I'm freaked out that he's going to rupture the placenta if he moves too much. I cried and cried at the thought of never getting to be pregnant again and couldn't stop thinking about our one little remaining frozen embryo. All I could think was what if, what if, what if? And none of the scenarios ended well.

Today we went to the appointment expecting the worst.

We held our breaths through the 10 minute anatomy scan, reassured to see Oliver continuing to grow and develop right on track. The doctor came back to get a second look with a trans-vaginal ultrasound that would show a better view of the cervix, umbilical cord, placenta, and extra lobe that is on the placenta. The perinatologist reviewed the results of these scans and cool as a cucumber, said "Well I won't be seeing you anymore. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy!" My response was something like... "But I have 3 pages of very specific questions for you pertaining to complications with vasa previa and I need to know what our next steps are." He said we definitely don't have vasa previa, but there is an "accessory" lobe (succenturiate) located higher on the placenta (in the fundus, whatever that is!) so it does not block the cervix and is not at risk for rupturing. The only potential risk with the accessory lobe is making sure the whole placenta is removed after the baby is born to prevent infection. That may require a c section delivery, but not an emergency c section. There are no free floating blood vessels that could burst at any time, like we thought. In fact, nothing is blocking the cervix except for the umbilical cord, and it moved when we pushed on my belly, so that is not an issue. They went on to perform a 3rd high resolution ultrasound (for my piece of mind) and there was absolutely no vasa previa. Yay! I think we were all surprised. We have an appointment next week with my regular doctor to discuss the results and I will ask for another scan in the third trimester just to be safe, but this is such a relief!

Thank you for lifting us in prayer. I certainly don't understand all of the medical talk, but God has definitely performed a miracle for our family and we are in awe.

bump #76: 20 weeks and anatomy scan

This is already the half way mark! Unbelievable!

 

Part of me wants to freeze time because it's going so fast and I love being pregnant.

The other part of me wants to speed it up because I can't wait to meet him and snuggle him up!

The anatomy scan (detailed ultrasound of baby's vital organs) today went great. He is measuring 20 weeks exactly and weighs 11 ounces. We counted 10 fingers and toes, his heart rate was 154 bpm, and he is cozy and mellow. He cooperated and only moved his arms and fists around a little bit. I haven't felt big punches or kicks yet, but I do feel him rolling around some. New symptoms this week include minor back pain (sciatic nerve?), daily bacon cheeseburger cravings (I might have to name him Carl after my favorite fast food: Carl's Jr.!), a little dizzy spell (prompting me to retire my 4" heels and stick with more practical shoes: 2" wedges), and more *ahem* undergarment shopping. It appears that along with IVF, I got a complimentary boob job :) On the bright side, think of how much money I saved! Next up: a "designer" C-section with a follow up tummy tuck. Just kidding. Unless they offer that as a package deal... I am getting so big and this is only the half way mark!

20 week bump

Some days I feel HUGE. Other days I just feel blubbery. It is safe to say I will not be one of those cute preggos who only gains weight in the belly. I am bigger everywhere! My bottom and my tummy wobble like a teeter totter! It's pretty precious. But as long as the baby is comfortably cushioned in there, I will happily go on growing. *chomps into another burger bite*

And now I get to focus all my shopping energy on toys and clothes for a baby boy! I'm so excited! I've never been to Lego Land or played with GI Joe's and Transformers. This is a whole new territory. Challenge accepted!

And just in case there was any doubt about the gender, that right there is the money shot.

He is ALL BOY :)

 

 

bump #73: 14 weeks

14 Weeks!!!

Ignore the sweaty armpits and the poison oak I'm standing next to... 

This was after a bit of a hike on a very hot day! 

When I learned that you could find out the gender at only 14 weeks, 

I made an appointment at The Ultrasound Experience right away!

 Andrew in the waiting room.

Yesterday we got to see our baby bear on the big screen!

We even got a 4d preview and saw the baby moving and kicking. 

We DID find out the gender, but we are keeping it a secret until we tell our families in person in a couple weeks. Andrew thought the baby was a girl and I thought the baby was a boy. One of us is right and both of us are super excited!!!