Quick update

Mary was discharged on Monday. We 'roomed-in' with Nora in the NICU II on Monday night. Tuesday morning, Nora was discharged. We all went home and rested. Nora met her pediatrician on Wednesday morning and Dr. Shults said she was wonderfully healthy. So, we have spent a wonderful Christmas with Dolly and Pop in Cleveland.
Thanks for all your prayers and wishes. We can't wait for Nora to meet each of our wonderful, supportive friends in person.

Here's The Story Of A Girl Named Nora

Nora Katherine Miller was born to Mary and Paul Miller at 5:51 a.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009. It was somewhat of a surprise. Paul and I went to see Dr. Roussis on Thursday, December 17, for a repeat ultrasound to check the baby's growth. We thought we were going to schedule a cesarean section for the next morning if the baby was estimated to be 9 pounds or greater. At that visit, Nora was estimated to weigh 8 pounds, 10 ounces. Dr. Roussis then gave us the option to induce labor so that we could try to have Nora vaginally. This was preferable to us since it is the natural way to give birth, and I would be able to avoid surgery. Dr. Roussis felt that if we waited until Nora's due date, we would be obligated to have a cesarean section because of her size. So we opted to go ahead and try the induction. We were admitted to the hospital that afternoon to start a medication, called Cytotec, which helps to encourage the cervix to dilate in preparation for labor but does not actually augment labor or cause contractions. The plan was for us to get a good night's sleep while the Cytotec was working, and Dr. Roussis would come in on Friday morning and start Pitocin, a drug which does augment labor. Things worked a little differently for us, however. We started the Cytotec around 6:00 p.m. A little after 8:00 p.m., Dr. Stephens, who was on-call, came in to see me. He asked if I was feeling the contractions that were apparently being picked up by the external fetal monitor. I had very little discomfort but was already in labor! He examined me at that point, and my cervix was already dilated about 3 centimeters (10 centimeters is complete). He then told me he thought we needed to "break my water." I was shocked. Here I was about to have a baby, and Paul and I were watching "G-Force" on his computer! I continued to have contractions with very little discomfort until about 11:00 p.m. The contractions were more intense and more frequent at that point, and I requested an epidural. The CRNA came in to do the epidural at 11:45 p.m. My discomfort was relieved, and we continued to watch and time the contractions. I started to have more pain between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. The CRNA came back and gave me more anesthesia. My nurse then examined me around 2:00 a.m. and was very surprised to find that I was completely dilated. She called Dr. Stephens then and informed me that we needed to begin pushing. Nora and I worked very hard together, but after 2 1/2 hours of active pushing, Dr. Stephens informed us that we had made very little progress and that a cesarean section was necessary. I was initially very upset. Everything had gone so smoothly, and we had worked so hard. Now I was going to have to have surgery anyway? I knew that it would not be good for Nora if I kept pushing, so Paul and I agreed to go ahead with the surgery. The CRNA came back and added more anesthesia, and they took me to to the Operating Room around 5:15 a.m. Nora Katherine was brought into this world at 5:51 a.m. Paul and I were ecstatic. We would have been thrilled either way, but we both really wanted a girl. She was beautiful and perfect in every way. They brought her to Paul while I was being stitched up, and he held her right next to me so we could both look at and talk to her. Very soon after, we returned to our room with Nora and were overwhelmed with happiness.

Unfortunately, Nora had some difficulty with her blood sugar levels after birth. The doctors explained that Nora had begun making higher levels of insulin while she was in the womb because I have diabetes. Not all babies born to diabetics have problems with blood sugar control, and it is less common in women who are well controlled like I was during the pregnancy. Sadly, Nora was one of the few. They initially tried feeding her to see if she would bring her blood sugar up. But she was unable to keep them up in response to being fed. At that point a neonatologist (doctor who specializes in the care of infants less than 28 days of age) from Children's Hospital came to see her and felt that Nora needed to get dextrose through an IV and be watched very closely in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children's Hospital. We were devastated, but we knew that we had to do what was best for Nora. So they took her to the NICU at around 11:00 a.m. on Friday. Although we know she is getting excellent care, it has been stressful and disappointing to me and to Paul. We were expecting to have our daughter with us - to hold her and feed her whenever we wanted. Instead, we are in separate hospitals, which feel miles apart even though they are directly across the street from each other. Every morning we have woken up and headed immediately to the NICU where we spend several hours with Nora, feeding her, changing her diapers, reading and talking to her, taking pictures and video of her. We then come back to Fort Sanders for my assessments and then head back to the NICU. We generally go 3 times each day for several hours each trip. It is not ideal, but we feel very fortunate to have the ability to spend as much time with her as we have been allowed.

Nora has improved dramatically in the las 24 hours. Her IV came out late Saturday evening, and the doctor decided to leave it out as long as her blood sugar levels remained stable. Her blood sugars have been excellent since she stopped receiving the fluids, and her appetite has increased significantly. She is more alert and active. The swelling she had at birth related to trauma during the labor process has improved, as well. The doctor, who saw Nora today, told us that he is very pleased with her improvement and that he is hopeful that she will be discahrged soon. We told him that I was going to be discharged on Monday, December 21, and he told us that there was a possibility that Nora could go home with us if she continues to eat well and maintains her blood sugar levels.

Please pray for all of us. We are all doing well, but we have been through a lot. We are looking forward to taking our daughter home and spending Christmas with family. We hope that all of you are well and that your holiday season is as bright as ours.

Dad's short story

Had a minute. So, I uploaded the pics. Later tonight or tomorrow, I will get Mary to help me post the details from delivery to current. The short story is:
We had a baby. Baby and Mom are recovering fine. We will all be home in time for Christmas!

Nora Katherine Miller

Nora Katherine Miller
Born December 18, 2009 at 5:51 AM
9 pounds
21 inches
& a full head of hair!

Poor Correspondence

So sorry for the lack of updates. Things have been really hectic. In addition to preparing to give birth, I am also trying to wrap things up at work and prepare for Christmas. Whoever thought Christmas was a good time to have a baby was mistaken.

Both the baby and I are doing well. The baby continues to grow at record speed. We are having another ultrasound on Thursday (December 17th) to estimate the size. If the baby weighs over 4000 grams (8 pounds, 13 ounces), we are having a cesarean section on Friday (December 18th). Dr. Roussis tells us that with a baby this large, there is a risk that his or her shoulders could get caught in the birth canal (a disorder called shoulder dystocia). If this occurred, it could cause permanent damage or disability to the baby. Shoulder dystocia is more common in infants weighing more than 4000 grams and in babies born to diabetic mothers. The risk to me, with a cesarean section, is minimal. So if the baby is at risk, we have opted to do whatever we need to do to lessen the risk to the baby. We will know more after the ultrasound on Thursday. Of course, we could go into labor between now and then, but I doubt it. This baby seems very content, and I do not think he or she has any plans to leave anytime soon.

The swelling in my feet and ankles has gotten a little worse. My blood pressure has been up a little from my norm this last week, but Dr. Roussis is not overly concerned. I am monitoring my blood pressure 3 times per day at work. So far so good. Speaking of work, tomorrow is my last day! Yay! I have 3 months off for maternity leave and will go back part-time in April. Paul has recently had some promising leads at Oak Ridge National Lab, where he has been doing his internship, and we are hopeful to stay in Knoxville.

I will make a point to update the blog on Thursday after we have the ultrasound. That way everyone will know if the baby will be born on Friday or in his or her own time. We appreciate everyone's prayers and support.

The Ankles Begin to Swell

So today was not my favorite day at the doctor. My ankles had swollen pretty badly yesterday and were not back to normal when I went in for my appointment. My weight was up 5 pounds since last Monday! They feel like it's all fluid, and they are a little bit concerned about blood pressure and fluid retention. Apparently being an old lady and having diabetes put me at increased risk for something called pregnancy-induced hypertension (or toxemia). I think they are just being cautious, but they ordered a bunch of bloodwork and urine tests today. They want me to take my blood pressure and record it each day at work. I follow up with them again next Monday (11/09), and we will see how things stand. If the swelling is better, my weight is back down and my blood pressures are all normal, we have nothing to worry about. If the labs or my blood pressures are abnormal, I may have to go on bed rest. It sounds like a nice treat, I know, but I'm pretty sure it would get really boring really quickly. My gut reaction is that this is no big deal. Everybody has swelling with pregnancy, and I have had none until now. So no worries until they tell me I have something to worry about. On a good note, my blood sugars continue to get better and better. The baby is doing great. He or she continues to be very active. All things baby look good!

Foot and Hair

Monday, October 26, 2009

31 Weeks

Once again, our little bean likes to hide from the camera. Today we were only able to get pictures of his or her foot, which measures about 2.5 inches (see top photo), and they tell us the baby has hair on his or her head. They promise us that there is evidence of this in the bottom photo. I'm not sure I'm buying it. See for yourself.

Whoa Baby!

Monday, October 26, 2009

31 Weeks

4 Navel Oranges

Ok, so they say the baby is supposed to be the size of 4 navel oranges at 31 weeks. Well, our baby is the size of Texas! Today we had another ultrasound, and the baby is estimated to weigh 5 pounds! I will say it again, 5 pounds! Some babies are born at 5 pounds, and this baby has 2 more months to go! Dr. Roussis was very encouraging about the baby's size (he or she now measures at the 95th percentile). He does not feel that this is a reflection of poorly controlled diabetes. My blood sugars continue to get better and better. My weight gain has been minimal. I had gained 11 pounds at 27 weeks but have lost 1.5 pounds since then. Don't worry, I am eating plenty, and the baby is obviously growing just fine. He thinks I am simply destined to have a big baby. Unfortunately, this puts us at higher risk of having a cesarean section, which means they might have to cut my belly open to get the baby out! I am praying that the baby does not get that big. I think they may be wrong about our due date. I am thinking the baby might actually come some time around the 1oth of December. All of the baby's measurements (weight, femur length, head and abdominal circumference) measure ahead of shcedule - at about 33 1/2 weeks. Dr. Roussis says the early ultrasounds are very accurate, and they estimate our due date as December 25th, but I am not convinced. We shall wait and see. On the bright side, we don't have to worry about having a runt! Both the baby and I are doing well. We start weekly visits next Monday, November 2. We'll keep you posted!

Breathing and Relaxation

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Breathing and Relaxation Class

Paul and I opted to attend a Breathing and Relaxation class to help us prepare for labor and delivery. There were 5 other couples there, and our due dates ranged from early November until February. Not only did all of the couples know the sex of their babies, they had also already chosen names! The class was informative and helpful. I think we may utilize some of the stress-relieving measures we were shown. I will say, however, that it is not helpful to watch a video of women, who are in labor. Watching people in pain makes me want to vomit. I think it's better to deal with what comes than to anticipate the worst. After all, women have been doing this for thousands of years, right?

Butternut Squash

Monday, October 12, 2009
29 Weeks
Butternut Squash

Another good check-up at Dr. Roussis' office. My blood sugars are improved on the insulin pump, but they are still tinkering with it. Always room for more improvement, I guess. My belly measures exactly where it should, which means the baby is growing just as expected. I had not gained any weight from the previous visit, which pleased me. They seemed to be okay with it, too. They are very concerned about my getting H1N1 ("Swine Flu"), since I work with sick children. I assure you all that I am taking every precaution. I wear gloves with every patient I see, sick or well. I also wear a mask and gown with any sick child I see. It can get pretty hot with all that garb on, but it's worth it to prevent illness. The hospital should have H1N1 vaccine soon, and I will be first in line to get it. The dietitian was pleased with how much dairy I include in my diet. She said that the baby is working to harden his or her skeleton right now and is depositing about 25o mg of calcium into his or her bones each day! We return for another check-up with an ultrasound on October 26th. After that visit, we have to be seen weekly with ultrasounds to check the baby's growth.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Right-click to download

So we finally figured out how to upload the video to the blog. The video is subtitled, so you should know what you are looking at. No, we still do not know the sex of the baby. We chose this song, because we thought it was appropriate for a baby video, regardless of the baby's gender. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we have enjoyed editing it!

Sweet Baby

Monday, September 28, 2009

27 Weeks

Here is the baby's profile. His or her foot and hand are both up near the face. It looks as if the baby is blowing bubbles (there are no bubbles, though, because there is no air in the lungs...yet).

The Thinker

Monday, September 28, 2009

27 Weeks

Here the baby's finger is posed against his or her cheek as if in deep thought. Told you we had a smart one brewing!

In Your Face!

Monday, September 28, 2009

27 Weeks

It's kind of hard to see, but the baby is sticking his or her tongue out at us in this picture. Paul said is was a sign that the baby was going to bad like his or her Mama. Not true! The dark spots are shadows from the baby's foot, which he or she had positioned over his or her face nearly the entire time. Very agile!

Head of Cauliflower

Monday, September 28, 2009

27 Weeks

Head of Cauliflower

From a rutabaga to a head of cauliflower in 2 weeks! That's what I call growth. The baby now weighs 2 pounds 12 ounces (he or she has doubled the weight from 1 month ago). Today the baby's weight measured at the 78th percentile, and Dr. Roussis was very happy with his or her growth. Everything looks normal on ultrasound. The head measures a little ahead of schedule. I figure this is either because he or she has a huge brain and is ready to enter the "Think Tank" or because he or she takes after Paul (he has a big noggin). We were able to see the baby "practice breathing" on the ultrasound today. The baby does not really breathe right now, because he or she is in a fluid-filled environment. However, babies begin to "practice breathing" in utero by moving the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. Dr. Rogers, my boss and a pediatric pulmonologist, said that it's a very good sign that the baby is doing this already (a lot of babies don't practice this early). As always, the baby prefers to keep his or her back to the camera, but we were able to get some 3D/4D shots of his or her face today (see next posting). We also got video of the baby today and will post it as soon as Paul can transfer from VHS to digital (hopefully later this week or this weekend). I started the insulin pump today. Blue Cross Blue Shield finally gave us the "OK." So far things are going really well. We have to start counting the baby's movements once per day to make sure he or she moves at least 10 times in an hour. I assure you all that he or she moves way more than that. It's like there is a gymnastics class in my belly! Our next appointment is on October 12th, and we have another ultrasound on October 26th. Starting November 2nd, we have to go every week and will have ultrasounds at each visit. Time is flying by, and the baby will be here before we know it.

Rutabaga

Monday, September 14, 2009

25 Weeks

Rutabaga

So the baby has become a rutabaga, but he or she feels more like a bowling ball. We had another uneventful day at Fort Sanders Perinatal Center. The baby is doing great, as always. My blood sugars continue to fluctuate, but I am feeling good. We will hopefully hear something soon about the insulin pump. I am actually excited to use it, because I think it will smooth things out for both of us. The baby is moving so much! Such an active little thing. I have grown accustomed to the pokes and prods, and I miss it when the baby is resting. My belly continues to grow - mostly forward. It's like carrying a basketball around all the time. I have started to notice a change in my center of gravity, and I am somewhat clumsy these days. We are having lots of fun getting ready for the wee one to come! We will have another ultrasound on September 28th, and I am going to see if they will record it on a CD-RW. If so, I will post it here so that all of you can see this little acrobat in motion.

Uncooperative Little Thing

Monday, August 31, 2009

23 Weeks

So the baby was somewhat uncooperative for the ultrasound today. The top photo is the only profile view we were able to get, and that one took some real coaxing. You can definitely see eyes, nose and mouth, though. The bottom photo is the baby's spine, and that's what she or he really wanted to show us today. It was like pulling teeth to get the baby to flip over!

Mango

Monday, August 31, 2009

23 weeks

Mango

Sorry for the delay in updates. We have been crazy busy around here! So this was the day we had the fetal echocardiogram (baby's heart ultrasound). Survey says . . . everything is totally normal! Yay! It's very cool to know that your baby has a perfectly normal heart even though no one suspects anything different. We also got to see the baby hiccup on the ultrasound. I don't think I can feel her/him do it, but we could definitely see it. It was aggravating to the ultrasound tech, because it made it harder for her to get the pictures she wanted. I thought it was hilarious. Speaking of feeling the baby, we definitely know he or she is in there. The baby is very active, and I feel movement throughout the day but mostly at night. As you have seen from Paul's postings, he can feel and even see the movements from the outside. It is truly amazing. The baby now weighs 1 pound 6 ounces, which blows me away. I see patients every day, who weighed less than that at birth! This baby is going to stay put, though. We think he or she is very comfortable in there. We continue to grow more and more excited. We go back on September 14th for a regular check-up, and we have yet another ultrasound on September 28th, so we will keep you updated. The third trimester is just around the corner. Time is going so fast.

Push!

I have seen the little crazy pushing on Mary's belly! I think he/she may be athletic -it was a BIG bump.
A oft-repeated quote from my Dad: "You can't hurt steel." Hopefully, I can get in shape before our kid figures out that I'm not as tough as my steely Dad.

Is anybody out there?

I have made contact with the baby in Mary's belly! I felt him/her kick and move around. Every little thing makes it more and more real. More immediate. I can't wait.

Banana

Monday, August 10, 2009

20 Weeks

Banana

So now the baby is the length of a banana, which somehow seems smaller than a bell pepper. It is longer, though, I guess. Our appointment today was uneventful. My blood sugars are still a little erratic (high every morning with some lows in the afternoons). This is frustrating to them and to me. They recommended an insulin pump today. I have used one before (aboout 7 or 8 years ago). They are much improved, and I am not opposed. We just need to make sure our insurance will cover it. They are very expensive. Otherwise, things are good. Heartbeat is still great. Measurements are all normal. We both seem to be doing what we are supposed to be doing, namely growing. I will not be posting belly pictures, as I find them frightening. But for those of you, who will see me in the next few weeks, you will definitely notice a change. We go back to the doctor on August 31st for the repeat ultrasound and fetal echocardiogram, so more pictures to come.

Bell Pepper

Monday, July 27, 2009
18 Weeks
Bell Pepper

So I have already updated as to the findings at our doctor's appointment today, but I wanted to continue the tradition of comparing our baby to a food item. According to those who measure babies in utero, our baby is now a bell pepper. This is a bit strange to me, as I am kind of partial to bell peppers (and all other yummy fresh vegetables and fruits) right now. I now think about the baby when I eat some of these things that I love. I comfort myself with the knowledge that, given the opportunity, I would not eat my baby.

Baby Feet

Monday, July 27, 2009
18 Weeks

This is ridiculous! I mean, look at those little feet. Tell me you don't want to nibble on those little piggies.

Baby Legs

Monday, July 27, 2009
18 Weeks

I thought this was very cool. You can actually see the bones of the legs, and you can see little toes! The baby was definitely moving those legs today, but I still don't feel anything.

All The Parts

Monday, July 27, 2009
18 weeks

We are very happy to say that all went well at Dr. Roussis' office today. We had "the biggie ultrasound," and everything looked great. The baby weighs about 10 ounces now and is growing bigger every day. They were able to visualize everything on the ultrasound. The brain is developing on target. We were able to see the nose and lips (no cleft lip for those who were nervous). We got to see the belly. They said that the baby is swallowing well, because they were able to visualize the stomach within the abdomen. The umbilical cord, which is currently connected to the placenta, has 3 vessels (2 arteries and 1 vein) just as it should. The baby has 2 kidneys, which is excellent. Although you can live with 1 kidney, it is always better to have two. We saw the legs, feet, arms, hands and spine. All looked totally normal. They were able to visualize the heart but could not see everything they wanted to see. So we have a more detailed ultrasound and a fetal echocardiogram (ultrasound of the baby's heart) in 5 weeks. We could have determined the sex of the baby today if we had been interested. Of course, you all know that Paul and I want to be surprised. I am uncertain whether or not the ultrasonographer now knows if the Miller Bean is a girl or a boy. We did not see anything telling while viewing the ultrasound, and if she knows, she respectfully kept it a secret. Dr. Roussis was pleased, which, in turn, is pleasing to us. This picture gives the best profile image. I am also going to post some of the baby's legs and feet!

Cravings and Aversions

So I will admit that this has not been a major problem for me, but people keep asking me what I have craved and what I have detested during pregnancy. In the first trimester I had very little appetite. When I was hungry, I wanted salt and cheese (e.g. cottage cheese, salt & vinegar potato chips, pizza). However, I have also been dying for fresh fruits and vegetables since the beginning and continue to want them every day. The fruit and vegetable cravings are not a deviation from my norm. Plus, it is summer, so everything is fresh and delicious. I was totally unable to eat or smell onions, fish or Asian food during the first trimester. Thankfully I am able to eat Asian food now. I love Thai and Vietnamese food. I am now iffy on the onions and fish. I have never been a huge egg fan, but since becoming pregnant, I have been totally unable to stomach them. So far, the second trimester has been kinder. My appetite is definitely back. I have had 2 weird cravings this month: peanuts and hearts of palm. Sadly, I have become averse to corn, but I am hoping it will go away soon. Ordinarily I eat corn 2 to 3 times per week in the summer. The smell 0f raw meat has and continues to disgust me. If we eat meat, Paul has to take it out of the packaging and grill it. Needless-to-say, we have been eating less meat!

Avocado

Monday, July 13, 2009

16 Weeks

Avocado

Phew! The baby is no longer a lemon. Today, at our doctor visit, we found out that the baby will double his/her weight over the next couple of weeks. That's a lot of growth! Also the baby's heart is already pumping over 20 quarts of blood each day! Everything looked great at our visit. They were able to detect the baby's heartbeat immediately with the doppler (ultrasonic sound but not picture). The baby's heart is so strong, they have never had any difficulty finding it. They also measured my belly for the first time today. It was 17 cm, which they said was right on target. I have no idea what that means but was glad to hear it was right. I might be able to feel the baby between now and the next visit, so I am trying to lie still at night to see if I detect anything. Some women don't feel anything until 25 weeks, though, so we'll see. I had lost 2 pounds since my last visit, which puts my weight below the weight at my very first visit. They were minimally concerned about this. I told them there was no need to worry, because I have plenty of extra weight, and I am definitely eating. As long as I continue to gain steadily, they do not think there will be a problem. The biggie ultrasound is next (July 27th) to check anatomy and heart function, so stay tuned, but there will be no news regarding the bean's gender. Keep the votes coming. I assure you we are not having a puppy, and we have so far only seen one baby.

Picking a Name

Picking a name is hard work. Not only is there the stress of knowing that you have labeled this child for life, but everyone else has a criticism for any name you have considered. We are hopeful to narrow the list to 2 girl and 2 boy names within the next 2 to 3 months (by 25 to 30 weeks). When the baby comes, we hope to be compelled by some type of baby naming spirit to choose the right one of the 2 choices. Or maybe the baby will somehow tell us what his or her name should be. A friend recently told me that Picabo Street named herself when she was old enough to talk. Is that true? Anyway, if you have suggestions, let us know in your comments. We will certainly consider them.

Girl or Boy

So we don't know now nor will we until the baby arrives. But lots of people have feelings about what couples might be having. I think it's a girl, but I don't know why. Just a hunch. Paul thinks it's a boy (but secretly wants a girl). Even though there is no validity to any of it, we are interested in what any of you think the baby might be. I have added a poll to the blog so you can vote if you're interested.

Creating the Nursery

Paul and I have been working very hard on the baby's room. I thought it would be so difficult to create a room for a person we haven't even met yet, particularly when we don't know if that person will be a boy or a girl. But it turns out it's not that hard. We decided to use light greens and blues for colors. I painted wide horizontal stripes on the walls in blue and green. Paul helped me with the tape. It was an arduous task but well worth it. We think it looks fantastic! I have finished making the baby's mobile - different types of birds cut out of contrasting fabrics, which hang from artificial tree limbs. It turned out a lot better than I thought it would. I also made a lamp shade and got new drawer pulls for the baby's dresser. I am hoping that Paul's sister, Melissa, will be able to paint a tree in the corner of the nursery overlooking the crib. My goal is to hang the mobile from the ceiling but for it to appear to be hanging from a limb of the painted tree. I have more and more ideas every day. At some point, I will have to stop, but I'm really enjoying all the preparation. It is very difficult to take pictures of a room from inside the room, but I promise I will upload some soon.

Lemon

Monday, June 29, 2009

14 Weeks

Lemon

Crap! Now the baby is a lemon! I spoke too soon. The visit today went pretty well. My blood sugar levels are still pretty erratic (high in the mornings and low in the afternoons), but they told me that things should start to smooth out around 18 weeks. We will be 15 weeks on Friday, so I'm looking forward to more even levels. Today is the first time I had actually gained weight, and I was up 0.6 pounds. I have been working very hard to manage my weight during the pregnancy, and I made it through the first trimester without gaining a pound (still safe for baby). My hope is to gain 15 pounds throughout the pregnancy, and the docotors think this is a good goal, too. The less weight I put on, the less stress to me and the baby.

The Acrobat

Monday, June 15, 2009

12 Weeks

So the picture is not very clear, because the baby was doing flips the entire time. Every time the ultrasonographer got a good view, the baby flipped. Then the ultrasonographer had to find her/him again. It made it very difficult for her to accurately check the heart rate. However, it's supposedly a good sign that the baby is that active. I was very surprised to see all the movement and be totally unaware that all of it was taking place in my own body. They said it will be another 4 to 8 weeks before I actually feel the baby moving. Paul and I were both amazed to see it. It makes it so much more real! We will have another ultrasound on July 27, 2009 to check anatomy (e.g. organ strucures, function of the heart). You can often find out the gender at this visit, but Paul and I want to be surprised. Sorry to all those who like to plan, but none of us will know until the little bean gets here.

Lime

Monday, June 15, 2009

12 Weeks

Lime

Well, at least the baby's not a lemon. I'm still amazed at the rapidity of growth. From a kumquat to a lime in 2 weeks? That seems crazy! We had another ultrasound today. The baby was moving around so much. She/he was actually doing somersaults, and we could see it! Totally amazing. The movement made it difficult to get good pictures, but I will post one anyway. Be patient. The pictures will get better as the baby gets bigger and begins to appear more human.

Kumquat

Monday, June 1, 2009

10 Weeks

Kumquat

So now the baby is the size of a kumquat. Why all the food references? No ultrasound today. More bloodwork. Good visit with the diabetes team. Everything continues to progress as expected. Do I really need to do this every 2 weeks? The answer is "yes."

Welcome Little Bean!

May 15, 2009
8 Weeks

This is our first ultrasound picture (only 8 weeks)!
We were able to both see and hear the baby's
heartbeat today - 167 beats/minute!
You can clearly see the baby's head, and there are little buds
that will soon become the arms and legs. Very cool!

Large Raspberry

Friday, May 15, 2009

8 Weeks
Large Raspberry

So now the baby is the size of a large raspberry. Seriously? From an orange seed to a raspberry in 19 days? That's some serious growth. No wonder I am so tired. Today was our second visit to Dr. Roussis. Everything continues to progress well. We had another ultrasound today, and it was amazing. We got to see and hear the baby's heartbeat. I hope to upload the picture for your viewing in the very near future. We have to go to the doctor every 2 weeks, so we are gearing up for the long haul!

First Doctor Visit

Monday, April 27, 2009

5 Weeks
Orange Seed

We had our first visit with our new doctor today. They say the baby is the size of an orange seed! Because I have Type 1 Diabetes, we have to see a high-risk OB/Gyn. Our doctor's name is Perry Roussis, and he is fantastic! He's very direct, which I like, and very kind, which Paul likes. The baby and I have to be super aware of what we eat (in fact, I have to write down every morsel of food I put into my mouth for the dietician and diabetes nurse educator to review). I also have to watch my blood sugar levels very carefully. Already I am seeing more fluctuations than normal. They say it's due to the hormones (by the way, every symptom you ever have during pregnancy is blamed on the hormones). They collected 9 tubes of blood, and we had an ultrasound, too. The baby was too tiny to see anything, so they are going to do another one in 2 weeks. So far things are looking good, and everyone expects both of us to well (as long as we take care of each other). Good news is Paul is taking great care of both of us!

When We Knew . . .

The original positive pregnancy test was
on Friday, April 17th, but we just couldn't believe it.
So . . . we took three more the next day.
I guess we're having a baby. Yay!

Hello World!

So that Mary and I can share this time with friends and family far and near... here is our baby's blog. I will start uploading some pics soon!