Just Couldn't Wait for our Little Pumpkin!

It was a boring Sunday afternoon until my mom and I decided it would be fun to paint my stomach to look like a big jack-o-lantern! I know, we are dorks, but it is pretty funny. The funniest part, the paint wasn't "water on - water off" so how funny would it have been to go to the hospital like this? Luckily a little warm water, soap and scrubbing did the trick! Now my tummy is all back to normal! HA!

OB/GYN Appointment Week 37

Today's appointment was great! Here is what we found out:

My weight was only up 1lb - yea!
My blood pressure was 110/62.
We forgot to ask what Natalie's heart rate was, but it was nice and strong.
I am dilated 1.5 centimeters.
I am 75% effaced.
Natalie is head down in the correct position.

We did find out that our Dr will be on vacation starting October 20, which is our due date, so we are hoping she will be early! So, if you want to come over and walk with me in the evenings, just give me a call!! Or if you have any other suggestions, let me know! Jeff asked if he had a prediction and he said, she might be early......

OB/GYN Appointment Week 36

Yea! Again, another appointment with no events. My weight was only up 2 pounds, a pound a week is the goal so I was right on target! My blood pressure was at 104/64 and Natalie's heat rate was strong at 165.

The doctor mentioned that he hoped this "odyssey" we have been through with Natalie doesn't deter us from having more children. And that the chances of a "normal" pregnancy next time are very high. Good to know.

So, now I get to meet with the doctor every week to check for progress. Our next OB/GYN appointment is next Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 9:30.

Faux Fall Anyone?

As lots of you know I love planting flowers. What I found out I don't love doing is planting and caring for flowers 8 months pregnant. Jeff tried to keep my summer flowers alive, but it really isn't his thing. Without constant nagging they would not get watered. The thought of bringing little Natalie home and taking our first family photo on a porch with pots of dead flowers wasn't an option. So, what does one do? Buy fake flowers, that's right, fake. Last weekend I went to Hobby Lobby and bought fake fake flowers to fill the pots. Above is the end result and I think it is just perfect. Hopefully they won't fade from the sun or run in the rain. I think in photos they could pass as real! When Jeff and I arrive home together he always points out what great care he is taking of my new flowers....HA!

So Long Month 8

So, this weekend I am officially in my 9th month! Yea! I can't believe how fast and slow the time has gone. I thought I would post a tummy photo in case you were wondering just how big I was getting. I have grown to an unbelievable 40 inches around. The women's body is an incredible thing. Jeff and I are so excited and can't wait to meet our little Natalie. Jeff thinks she is coming early....we will just have to wait and see!

Should we buy a lottery ticket?

I know it seems to Jeff and me that the past 8 months have proven that you never know what you are in for or what to expect. You certainly never expect to fall into the 2% category of anything. I think we are passing on our lack of luck to Jared, who found out today that he has the West Nile virus. I think he is the second documented case in Wichita.

If any of you know Darryl, you know his addiction to landscaping and since Jared has been home they have been working on redoing a bunch of the landscaping in the back. I know they have been wearing Off, but it seems it didn't totally work. Jared started displaying symptoms last week with vomiting and a really weird rash.

Mom was at my OB/GYN appointment with me when he was at the doctor and I told her it sounded to me like West Nile. I had watched something on TV about it the night before and remembered the rash. Anyway, Jared told the doctor to be sure to test him for that. They called today saying he was positive.

He has a follow up appointment tomorrow, but there isn't any known treatment. Symptoms are similar to mono. They just treat the symptoms as they arise. Jared is going to be just fine, but it may take him a while to recover, I have heard as long as 2 years. Anyway, if you could please keep him in your thoughts for a speedy recovery, we would appreciate it. I told him, with all the unfortunate things we have been through the past 8 months, maybe we could fall into some lottery luck.

9/7/07 Perinatologist 34 Week Appointment

The good news keeps on coming! This week has been such a good week for us. Today we found out that Natalie is doing just fine! Here are some details:

On 8/13/07 Natalie weighed 3.5lbs, today she weighed 5.5lbs - excellent growth! She is in the 68% percentile.
Her amniotic fluid measured at 16.7 and it has to be between 5 and 25. She is right in the middle, so that is good.
Her kidney is still larger than it should be, but not in the "alarming large" category. They will still be checking it after birth as was stated before.

We don't have to see the perinatologist again for 4 weeks, which she then followed up with, and maybe not even then since you will be 38 weeks and Natalie could decide to come early! Our next appointment is scheduled for Thursday, October 4 at 8:45.

Next week we don't have any appointments, yea!!

9-6-07 OB/GYN - 34 Week Appointment

Yea!! Today's appointment was uneventful!
My weight was up 6lbs, yikes 3lbs a week!
My blood pressure was good at 110/60.
I measured at 32 weeks.
Natalie's heart rate was strong at 146-148 and showed good acceleration and deceleration.

Next appointment with the OB/GYN is Tuesday, September 18th.
Tomorrow is our appointment with the perinatologist who will do a sonogram to make sure Natalie is growing and that her amniotic fluid is good. I will update as soon as I can!

Natalie's Addiction

My girlfriend told me that because of our good news, we should put something fun on the blog, so here is my something fun.

OK, maybe it is not Natalie's addiction, but it is mine and grandmas! I mean, is there anything cuter than baby shoes? Granted, one probably doesn't need as many pair as Natalie has, but we just can't seem to stop! I bet Natalie is the only unborn baby you know with a shoe rack....





And what is a shoe rack always in need of? MORE SHOES!! These are the ones we picked up last week when I was on vacation...

Anyway, something else we do besides go to doctor appointments!! Buy shoes!!

Answered Prayers

The doctor called me on my way home from work tonight to inform me that Natalie's final results from the amnio/chromosome test were in - early, can you believe it? He was happy to say her chromosomes were normal and she is a chromosome perfect little girl.

Jeff and I are overwhelmed with joy, as this was great news. Thank you for all your prayers and support as we have gone down this road together.

Now, we can focus on her kidney and make sure we get her the best treatment/doctors possible.

Pediatrician Update

Today we met with a potential pediatrician. Jeff and I both liked him. Here is what he said concerning Natalie's kidney diagnosis. After she is born they will do an initial sonogram. That sonogram will not show much, as she will not be hydrated and the full function of her right kidney may not be seen. It will show the cyst on her bladder and could answer the question as to what it is. She would be put on an antibiotic to prevent an infection from causing any damage to her right kidney.

The doctor said that they would look for her to urinate on her own within 48 hours of birth. We have chosen to breastfeed, but because it can take up to 72 hours for breast milk to come in, they will be supplementing her after she is born to get her hydrated more quickly to be able to check her ability urinate.

If she does urinate, she will be followed up with at a later date (1-2 weeks) with the doctor for another sonogram and possible additional testing to make sure everything is working as it should be. She would be able to go home with Jeff and I and would not have to stay at the hospital.

If she does not urinate, she would possibly have to be transferred to Children's Mercy Hospital in KC where they have a pediatric urologist team. They would do further testing and determine what was needed.

The doctor also said that he would be the one to treat any chromosone defects, should the amnio show any. We will just have to wait and see on that, hopefully we hear the full results by the end of this week.

Concerning her lifestyle as she grows, the doctor did say that he would not let her play any kind of contact sports, in fear of damaging her right kidney. Hopefully Natalie will have her Grandma's gift of music...

Update on Jeff

Jeff's Dr. called him and said that he didn't think any follow up was necessary with his horseshoe kidney. What a relief! Jeff has his yearly appointment with him later this month and the Dr. said they could talk more about it then, but he really wasn't worried. Finally, some good news for us!!