Expected Birthdate 4-27-12

Well after a long 3 appointments today, we finally have our for sure date set. Friday morning at 7am, we will be starting pit and getting this baby girl out:) Dr. T decided to skip a second amnio after the NST, fluid check and appointment today. Brylee nearly failed the NST. In 30 minutes we had only one small acceleration and no movement. She did move later after I left but we are keeping a close eye on that. My heartrate was as high as hers the entire NST so Dr. T decided between baby and I that we would be going forward with induction regardless. I will be 35 weeks and 2 days so that is excellent and much further than we thought I would make it! My 34 and 35 weekers did great so I hope everything will go just as well this time. Praying for no NICU time and a big healthy baby girl. I will update next week and let you know how it goes!

We're Still Pregnant

We had the amnio last week on Monday April 16th, hoping for mature lungs and induction Wednesday the 18th. The bummer was her PG level was only 25, forgot to ask about her L/S ratio so I'm not sure what that was. We were looking for a PG level of at least 40. Average is a 2 point a day increase in PG levels so we can safely assume it will be high enough about Monday the 23rd. We are supposed to do another fluid check and NST Monday as we are barely having enough fluid left at this point. As for induction, we plan to do another amnio Wednesday the 25th and as long as her PG levels are over 40, we will be induced Friday the 27th. I am glad to have made it to nearly 35 weeks and happy that I will be over 35 weeks at delivery, but I won't lie, its been really rough. I am at the point of really wanting an end to this. I don't know what I will do if her lungs are still immature, but I am sure a good cry will be in order. I want her to be ready. I am already overly ready. Please send all your thoughts and prayers for us that we will have our baby in our arms Friday the 27th.....6 short days away!

More Baby News

Yesterday's prenatal appointment went well. We ended up getting an NST and an ultrasound to check fluid levels which were both unexpected, but the great news is that baby looked amazing, as did her fluid levels:) Now for the nerve wracking/exciting part, we go back Monday for a repeat of yesterday's tests and then we head to the hospital for the amnio. Pending mature lungs, my induction is scheduled for Wednesday April 18th at 7am!!!! EEEEEEP that is coming so soon. I pray her lungs are extremely developed and that she will do very well. I'm nervous, but excited to get childbearing and birthing behind me and get home with my precious and final newborn of our clan! Now, if her lungs are not mature enough, we will go for an induction the 25th. Soooooo, looks like we will have a baby in possibly 8 days:)

Sorry to Leave You Hanging

We have been going nonstop. We went to our appointment Monday April 2nd and received the first round of steroids for BryleeAnne's lungs. 24 hours later, we went back for round 2 so that is now done and taken care of. Much more happened Monday though.....the perinatologist, cardiologist and my Ob had a phone conference as to what the best option was at this point in the pregnancy. They decided to get steroids on board since I am dilated already and then start tapping(amnio) me at 34 weeks and if lungs are ready, induce. If not, we will tap again at 35 weeks. They fully anticipate lungs to be ready at 34 weeks though and I am pretty sure they will be also since I have had steroids and my other early babies had very mature lungs. All this came as a surprise as we were planning a 36 week induction originally. I am very nervous. Nate was also placed on family medical leave until delivery due the severity of heart issues this time. I am unable to be alone with all the little ones because of the collapsing and passing out. So that's everything in a nutshell. 2-3 weeks left until delivery. We have kicked nesting into extreme high gear around here. Painting, organizing, prepping, finally doing all the baby laundry these last few days and just getting everything done and ready. Our final baby will be here soon. Nate goes in May for the big V and we couldnt be happier or more at peace with that decision as we have been advised by many Dr.s for me to never have more children at this point to which I fully agree. My body is DONE!

More Details to Come April 2nd

.....but for now, I went to my cardiologist yesterday who is very worried as I have had a lot of SVT this pregnancy. He is opting for a 35 week delivery and saying we need to end this asap. I will know the exact plan with Dr. T as of April 2nd at my next apt. That day I will be getting my steroids for the baby's lungs and my induction date. I am not sure he will be comfortable with the cardiology recommendation and I am not sure I am either, but in the next sense, I am not comfortable going into SVT and passing out either. My Cardiologist has also revoked my driving privelidges until delivery which has been the biggest blow. We are trying to decide what to do about that as my kids are in activities and school and me not driving is hardly an option. Wishing the next 4-5 weeks go quick.

Hey Everyone!

I haven't fallen off the map or lost my sanity or anything crazy haha, just been really busy. The nesting this pregnancy has been the most intense of any of my pregnancies. That translates into one busy husband who is trying to meet all my requests for paint, wallpaper, rearranging rooms, putting in a new lawn, getting my garden ready to plant....yea I know you are tired for him reading this. So much upgrading has been going on to the house. We are buying our house, currently in escrow.....very exciting! Everything is coming together and we are just about ready for our sweet and final baby 8! Nate had his consult and goes soon to end our childbearing years:0) I have never felt so at peace with such a huge decision. The pregnancy has been hard to say the least. We had the cyst scare, I had horrific morning sickness, I am now battling major heart issues, currently under direct and constant care of cardiology. Praying I make it out this one last time alive and then I will be getting an ablation after BryleeAnne arrives. I will let you all know the date of my induction after my next appointment. I go in April 2nd for lung steroids and Dr. T has stated that we will be inducing right at 36 weeks irregardless of lung development status because of my heart. So that would make for induction right about May 1st or 2nd. My last 3 babies were preemie and all very healthy, 2 being born at 35W5D and one being born at 34W3D 2 with steroids and one without. I don't feel nervous due to that fact. So it looks like this mama is done being a baby maker for good as of exactly 6 weeks from now.......Halle-freaking-llujah!!

Update

I am the happiest Mama alive right now.....crying tears of pure joy. I just found out the results of our ultrasound from yesterday. BryleeAnne showed absolutely NO signs of ever having had a cyst. There were no other fetal anomolies of any sort. She is measuring exactly to the day on size. My placenta and cervix were perfect! Life is so good. I can finally breathe. The elephant is off my chest and I am ready to SHOP til I drop for ribbons and bows:0) She's my last sweet baby so yes I gotta spoil her! Thank you for all your love and support over the past 37 days of waiting and worrying xoxoxo

Not Much of an Update

Sonographer turned the screen completely so I could not see her doing any measurements, nor could I see if the cysts were still there or how large they were. I spoke to my Dr.s nurse this afternoon and apparently my Dr is out until tomorrow morning, which of course means I will know nothing until then. :( Hell, after waiting 35 days, I guess what's one more day right.....ugh. On a good note though, we saw her little face for the first time really. She actually faced the camera and I got to look at her for the last 5 minutes and she is beautiful. She looks so much like Mae Mae, big ol smooshy kissy lips. Can't wait to hold her and give her a big kiss:) xoxoxo

Follow Up Ultrasound Tuesday

Sorry for my lack of updates. I just really haven't had anything to report. I have had to try and carry on for the past 31 days since our last ultrasound, waiting. Its not been easy. I am not the patient kind. I stopped all work on her blanket, refused to let myself buy anything, etc. Something came over me about a week ago though.....this peace and I started shopping. I also picked her blanket back up and am continuing work on it. I think its going to be okay. My belly is round and full and very pregnant now. I feel her moving and squirming well now from the inside and outside. Nate feels her. We are in love with her. Its just something as parents, you can't help even if you try. I tried to stay disconnected to protect myself, but I couldn't. I have a full, hopefully healthy, active lil girl inside me and I truly hope these cysts are gone when we go in Tuesday. All thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. I will let you know as soon as we know something. :) A lil over 12 weeks til we meet our sweet BryleeAnne.

16 Weeks Left and a Rough Start to 2012

 Still a girl!

My sweet baby girl

I have started this several times and retyped it trying to get it out correctly. Brylee hasn't really moved at all that I can feel and this is very abnormal for me so I have had some concerns the last 5 weeks. Well, Nate and I went January 2nd for a routine ultrasound at the perinatologists office only to find out our sweet baby girl has 2 choroid plexus cysts on her brain. One is small and one rather large. The peri told us this raised our chances significantly for downs syndrome and Trisomy 18. It was horrible news. I felt like someone kicked all the air from my lungs. I ran out of his office crying after he urged me to do an amnio. I still haven't decided whether to take the risk of miscarrying her all to know if she is healthy or not. We already have one child with a genetic disorder.....I thought you could only win the lotto once. Don't get me wrong, Wyatt is the most amazing kid. We love him so so much, but the things he has to live through are so hard for him and us. I cannot imagine something with even greater challenges. It breaks my heart into a million pieces for my baby girl. I go to my regular OBGYN Dr tomorrow and we have another ultrasound scheduled for one week to check even further for any other soft markers as well as to see if the cysts have gone down at all. If you have a story to share regarding these cysts, good or bad, please do so. Thanks so much in advance for any thoughts and prayers. xoxo

15 Weeks With Brylee

And........we have some definate bumpage baby!!

Pregnancy Pick Me Up

So, I may only be hitting my second trimester, but I was feeling frumpy. My mom came over and fixed that for me. I feel "oh so pretty," now! A fresh, springy new haircute was definately in order:) Oh and don't mind the bunny ears, that's just proof my kids love me! haha



Introducing Bryleann Renahe

Her nub!(hand arrow is pointing to it) Completely flat. Her potty shot, revealed a hamburger as well. I feel VERY confident in the correctness of the u/s especially since I felt deep down she was a girl right from the start. I told many people this and my mother's instinct was correct.

SHE is super healthy, the NTS showed a negligible risk of anything like Down's Syndrome or any Trisomies. She had her little leggies crossed and we had to wiggle her ladylikeness to get to see the goods! She looks beautiful. She is measuring a half week ahead! I feel so blessed. How lucky am I, 4 and 4, an even score?!!!!

3 Month Bump with Sweetpea 8

 for comparison sake.....2 months

and now, through puking and all, I have still managed to gain some real bumpage in the past month!

Yesterday's Prenatal Apt

I was expecting the most boring, routine visit yesterday along with an apt for my Nuchal Translucency scan within the next week or two. Instead, I got a mad Dr who couldn't understand why I didn't call him 2 weeks ago, the day I passed out home alone with my 3 smallest kiddos. I told him, I had no one to drive me down, no one to watch the babies and I figured I was just dehydrated severely from puking so much. I didn't want all the drama merely for an IV. He was not buying into it and was freaked out that it was possibly an arrthmia from my heart. So not 10 minutes after I arrive, I am being sent up to cardiology for another 24 hour holter monitor. Of course I have nearly 1000 PVC's everyday, but I have grown somewhat used to them and thus far I believe that is all this holter has captured.

 I also found out that the nurse dropped the ball and never submitted paperwork to insurance for my nuchal trans scan and they are now waiting for emergency approval because low and behold I WAS further along as I thought I was. I thought my due date was May 31st based on when I thought I ovulated and my Dr somehow confused someone else's due date last time and marked that I was due sometime in June, thus the mix up in the nuchal trans scan as well. So come to find out the u/s put my due date at May 30th so that is my actual due date that he is keeping(looks like I was dead right on when I ovulated!) That makes me 12 weeks tomorrow YAY! I go back Monday for a follow up with cardiology after they look at this holter. We also now wait for insurance to approve the nuchal trans scan, but thankfully by the time I get in there for it, I should be plenty far along to be able to leave there with confidence as to the sex of the baby. They usually tell me around 12 weeks and have never been wrong so 13-14 weeks I am pretty sure will be VERY accurate. Update: My insurance already approved it and my apt is Tuesday, November 22 at 9:15am so we shall know the sex of the baby in 1 week. I will be 12 w6d so being that close to 13 weeks, I feel I can be pretty confident in what they tell me.

The only good news I got from the apt was listening to baby's heartbeat, which is always precious.......and I passed my 3 hour glucose tolerance test with flying colors. My 3 hour glucose numbers were fasting 88, 1 hour 97, 2 hours 93, 3 hours 81. What gives? My 1 hour had 50 mg less of the sugar and I was 155 afterwards. In any case the numbers on my 3 hour were excellent and I couldn't be happier about that. Overall, I have to be thankful for a Dr. who truly cares about me. I really love him and that is why he will soon be delivering his 3rd baby from our family. I have stuck with him since I was lucky enough to find him and I just know I couldn't have another baby without him!

Late, But Still Posted

Belly picture from the day I turned 8 weeks. I am probably thinner this week simply because 9 weeks has been the most puking I have ever done during any pregnancy. I am SICK, I mean, really sick this week. I passed out alone with my 3 little ones 3 days ago, when I woke up on the floor, I realized they were playing with a jar of pickled jalapenos and a knife. It was very scary. I suppose I was severely dehydrated and that's why it happened. I did call my dr and he was supposed to call in zofran for me yesterday which never happened so now I get to harass them on Monday and beg for the meds. I also got the call that I failed my 1 hour glucose tolerance test....like miserably failed it soooooo it looks like I go for the 3 hour as soon as I feel I can do it without puking. Ah the joys of pregnancy. To be very honest, being an unplanned pregnancy, this one has been really tough on me emotionally. I feel like a spoiled brat to even say it, but I am not coming to terms to well with this. Being so sick is just adding to the misery 10 fold. If I could, I would cryogenically freeze this baby for 5 years until I felt more ready for it. This is just tough. From my Dr's best guess, it looks as if I had gotten pregnant while still on my period so for those who chart to avoid, good luck! I thought I knew my body pretty well and we avoided during the "fertile" time like normal, but this time my fertile time came a whole week earlier than it was supposed to. :( I know I will love this sweet little baby when it gets here, I just truly hate pregnancy and believe this will be my last. Nate and I are considering options right now to either do an IUD or have him get a vasectomy. If any of you have used an IUD, please give me your thoughts and opinions about it. I also would like to know which one you had, Paraguard or Mirena and your likes/dislikes. Thanks so much!

My Current Work in Progress

During morning sickness, I have found I must keep my mind busy at all times or I will puke almost nonstop as I notice every little smell, speck of dirt and so on. This is the project I chose to get started on. It will be a striped baby blanket when its all finished. I picked unisex colors and plan to crochet edging based on the actual sex of the baby to make it more geared for boy or girl. If its a boy, I will edge it out with the green, but for a girl, I am thinking the purples in there would like nice against the green. We shall see. I will update when its complete. I just got a bunch of charms and fat quarters as well so this mama can get to some more quilting soon too!

A Scandalous Whine

I am feeling awful, so very awful. I am so sick, so very sick. I am terribly dehydrated today and had my first breakdown and cry this morning over the morning sickness. I have literally had it. I want to feel better. I am desperate and if you know a secret that will stave this feeling off, PLEASE share! I am living off soups. I am thin and I am pale. My house is begging to be scrubbed. My kids are walking all over me because they can.  :( C'mon week 13!!! Gosh that feels so very far away; that's Thanksgiving:(

We Have 1 BABY! Yayyy

Okay, ultrasound was awesome, baby looks a little further along, one perfect wittle bean with arms and legs already. Yolk sac already appeared to be gone, and a perfect heartbeat! We find out the due date Monday. The tech refused to give me a picture....some lovely new protocol if you are before your second trimester??? Ridiculous. It was a great day though, I'm feeling much more happy and connected to the pregnancy than I was feeling previously. :-)

Waiting For

Tuesday.......that will be our first ultrasound for this pregnancy. I have a strange hunch its twins. like. seriously. I have been extremely sick and I had major cramping for 3 days at ovulation time instead of 1 day. I have cramping on both sides like there is a corpous luteum cyst on each side. My uterus already feels heavy and huge(could be because this is my 12th pregnancy haha). Tuesday we will know for sure whats going on with the pregnancy, viability and how many. I wish the next 40 hours would vanish quick. I will be back soon with an update either way.