Monday, October 31, 2011

23 weeks.....

Happy Halloween!! We had a busy weekend. Saturday was Pumpkin Lane in Deer Park(my hometown) and it was 2 hours of trick or treating fun. We even took the kids on a hay ride, what a blast! My pelvis, however, was NOT happy with me! It's been giving me a lot of grief lately. I don't sleep well because of it, it's hard to get comfortable. Then tonite, my mom and I took the kids out trick or treating in our neighborhood. I drove my moms tahoe, and sat in the heated seat, while my mom walked with the kids. Now THAT is the way to go! Hehe! When we hit a quiet area, everyone hopped in and we went to another street. =) They got a TON of candy!!! We'll be eating it at Christmas!

My Midnight Fairy
&
Strawberry Shortcake

 ♥


Shakyra finally felt Stormy move for the first time yesterday!! ♥ Stormy had kicked her before, but she didn't really "feel" it. The look of joy on her face was priceless!!! =) Shakyra hasn't been feeling well this past week. Poor girl, but it seems to bring out a sweetness to her. The other day, she told me "You are a beautiful, smart, the best mommy ever, and pregnant with my cute baby sister."  Awwwwwwww...  ♥  Melted my heart!

Other than the massive acid monster in my belly, an aching pelvis, Stormy doing lots of different tricks, and no appointments this week... that is my update!

16 weeks left!!

♥ 23 weeks ♥

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Skittle has a NAME!!!!!!!!

It's official!!!  Jonathan actually told Shakyra what Skittle's name was last night, but he didn't tell me.  So I asked him today, and he said, well I guess it's official.  ♥

♥ Stormy ♥

No, she doesn't have a middle name.... haven't made it that far, but she has a first name!!  She'll have a middle name when she is born!  =)  It brings tears to my eyes, knowing she has a name. Silly, I know, but it's getting more and more real. ♥

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Ultrasound....

The ultrasound went great!  Yay!  As far as we can see, it still looks like stomach and intestines are the only organs in the chest.  The tech was checking blood flow(the liver makes the blood flow look like a tree) and that seems to still be in the stomach, but maybe close to the diaphragm.  But being as we don't know where the hole is at, we just hope it STAYS that way!  So 8 weeks, and no change!  Woohoo!  I can accept that!  She was stubborn, of course, so no profile pictures... so no 3D face shot yet.  We could see the muscles on her arms and legs, and her cheeks are starting to fill out.  She is estimated to weigh about 1 lb 4 oz right now.  I think she was estimated to be 11.5-12.5 inches long.  I can't remember.  She is in the 77% for her growth, so I am a HAPPY momma!  ♥

♥ Cute lil fingers ♥

♥ Cute lil legs getting stronger ♥

♥Lil foot, and cute lil toes ♥

 ♥ Love 3D pictures! ♥

♥ Thank goodness! ♥

♥ Love her cute lil feet! ♥

Monday, October 24, 2011

22 weeks.....

My OH my!! Hard to believe I have 17 weeks left! No more(induction at 39 weeks as far as I know) and no less(I AM going to do everything in my power, of course, unless Skittle is in dire need of being born, to keep her in there till then!)!! Skittle has mastered the heartburn dance... however, I have attempted to teach her another routine, yet, she doesn't listen. Guess that is what I get when she has Shakyra DNA in her! ♥ I still wake up nauseated every morning. So I am still take my Zofran, every morning, sometimes evening if I am feeling not so hot! I have felt less stressed the past few days. I know part of that has to do with knowing she has a perfect heart! ♥ I haven't had as many nightmares as I was having. Thank god... because seriously, they were getting REALLY bad, and I was going to ask for sleeping meds to help my brain not function like that when I was sleeping. SCARY! I have an u/s and perinatologist appointment on Thursday, 11 am. The closer it gets, the more nervous I am about it. The cardiologist said he only seen stomach and intestines in the chest... so I am glad, that in 7 weeks, that that hadn't changed... but ugh, I know its all unpredictable... and at any time... things can shift/change. Hoping for the best... and that it is NO change at this appointment. I also learned that CDH babies can have a problem with too much amniotic fluid. A condition known as Polyhydramnios.  Greeeeeeeeat... just what I need.  But, we are going to NOT have that problem!!  =)  Trying to stay positive here... we have enough on our plate!  I imagine that, at the coming appointments, her fluid levels will start being monitored.  I really don't know.  I am learning as I go.  I will also ask when my appointments start becoming more regular, since Skittle is considered viable in 4 weeks.  EEP!!!  Never thought I'd make it this far, but I couldn't be more thankful!!



♥ 22 weeks ♥
All *3* of my girls.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Skittle's Pediatric Surgeon Appointment...

Today I met with Dr. Fisher.  An amazing Dr!!  If only we could take him to where ever it is that I deliver.  *sigh*  Hopefully her surgeon is just as amazing!!  He gave me lots of info, some I knew, some I did not.  He told me that Skittle should have the "open" procedure done.  Meaning, don't let them do a scope to fix her herniated diaphragm.  An open procedure has better outcomes, and less chance of it reherniating.  He said the surgery is relatively easy, and that she should do fine with the surgery itself, it's of course, the after effects... of how the lungs will do, etc.  He said that as long as she is stable, she should be able to have the surgery within 3-5 days after birth.  He said that if she makes it to term, she has about a 70-75% chance of surviving.  *sigh*  He said that he agrees with me on wanting a referral to Portland.  He referred me to see Dr. Ilg, the neonatologist, so that I could talk to him, and get the best recommendation and referral to Portland.  I will see and speak with him on 11/11.

Can't she just stay in my tummy till she is bigger and stronger to live on the outside???  ♥

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Skittle's Pediatric Cardiologist Appointment....

First things first.... Skittle has a P.E.R.F.E.C.T heart!!!  ♥  Wooohooo!!!  Of course, getting up to that point was pretty nerve wracking to say the least!  I was so scared and nervous.  The gel on the probe was very cold.  Not like the nice, warm gel at the peri's office.  We seen her cute lil face on the screen first.  =)  Then he got to her heart.  While he was looking around, he was very informative.  I liked that.  He told me what he was looking at, and what everything was.  The monitor was connected to a big screen t.v. hanging on the wall, omg, that thing was so annoying!  Driving me crazy, kept losing it's signal... yet no one was touching anything!  Lol  Talk about getting a kink in your neck trying to look at the other monitor!  Skittle wasn't always being cooperative, is she ever?  Hehe!  Being she is a moving target, he had to get on a certain part of the heart, then zoom in, and get the image he is looking for, just at that moment, she would move.  Lol!  Sure made me giggle!  It took about an hour to get all the images he needed.  Of course, we took a peak at the rest of her too, while we were there.  Although, he mentioned, "it will be a quick scan, I don't get paid to look at anything but the heart."  LOL!  He said, yup, definitely a girl.  Thank goodness!  I've told everyone, if she comes out anything but a SHE, all these techs I've been seeing are gonna need to get retrained at what they are looking at!  Hehe.  After the tech was done, I seen Dr. Jensen.  He said, that her heart made the journey to the right(wrong) side of her chest with no complications.  Said that she shouldn't ever have any heart problems.  After her surgery, he said that her heart would shift back towards the left, but most likely, never be in the correct spot that it was meant to be.  Said that it would probably reside in the middle of her chest, but it was in the correct position, and all the valves, chambers, structure, arteries, etc look awesome!  YAY!

I was so elated to leave that appointment.  I didn't sleep last night, of course.  I had nightmares leading up to this appointment... now I can at least rest easy, knowing that my lil Skittle has a perfect heart!  ♥

After the appointment, my mom treated me to China Dragon.  YUMMY!  Couldn't go wrong there!  And my fortune, very fitting...

*Your emotional nature is strong and sensitive.*

Monday, October 17, 2011

21 weeks....

Nothing much to report this week.  No appointments, yay!  Skittle is moving around a lot now!  However, whenever I WANT to feel her move, she doesn't.  So stubborn already!  =)  In the last week my pelvis has started to give me grief.  The wonderful start of PSD ( Pubic Symphasis Diastasis) or what I refer to as a separated pelvis.  OUCH!  I can only hope that it just doesn't get too bad yet.  =/

18 weeks left....

♥ 21 weeks ♥

Monday, October 10, 2011

20 weeks.....

Been a long road to this point, and there is an even longer road ahead.  Insurance called, the appeal was, yet again, denied.  We have decided to stop pursuing UCSF and now we are going to pursue Portland, OR instead.  They have an amazing team for CDH babies.  The neonatologist here agrees that we should do what we can to try and deliver there.  However, until further notice, I have an appointment with the team in Seattle, in December, to meet with the Dr's @ 29 weeks 3 days.  Honestly, I just wish it wasn't like this. Insurance is ALL about the PROFIT.  They suck ass!

Other than the obvious, I think things are going well. I feel her kicking me more and more these days.  She kicked Jonathan's hand last night... pretty sure that was a get your hand of my momma!  LOL  I am still very nauseated... today I was still very ill even after taking meds.  Thankfully I took meds, and didn't eat anything till 5 pm.  Amazing how I am rarely ever hungry... however, I know I still need to eat, cuz if not, I have NO energy!  Just a terrible catch 22!

It's hard for me to believe I have a 9 y/o, a 4 y/o and a baby that is coming in 19 weeks!!! EEEP!

Hopefully Skittle has an official name soon, or I may keep calling her Skittle out of habit!  Haha!

♥ 20 weeks ♥

Friday, October 7, 2011

Shelby's birthday and m/w appointment...

Today started off pretty good.  Shelby requested that I wake her up at 10:07 am, since it was 10-7-11 after all, and her 9th birthday.  ♥  She woke up with the biggest smile on her face.  We then ran around to get ready to head to my m/w appointment.

We got their a couple minutes early... I set the girls up in the waiting room with the iTouches.  =)  Gotta keep em occupied and quiet!  I had my vitals, weight, etc done.  The medical assistant mentioned that it's amazing how perfect my blood pressure is, even when I am stressed.  Guess that is a good thing.  =)  My m/w was awesome!  She gave me a million hugs.  We talked about Skittle, what was going on, our plans with delivery, etc.  She said it sounded as though we have good things in order so far.  She said that she wants all future appointments with her, since I am not delivering with the midwives anyways.  No need for me to cycle through them, and have to go over my case to all of them... just easier to be with the one I love and adore!  ♥  It's also easier when I can just report to her since she will then be the only one following my case.  Supposedly my perinatologist wanted me to switch to a high risk OB.  My m/w, of course, said that was not necessary, but she talked with the high risk OB to get her opinion.  The high risk OB had the same opinion!  She said, there is nothing, with my pregnancy, that the midwife, or high risk OB could/would do anything differently.  All of my high risk stuff is done through the peri, and where ever I will be delivering, so they agreed that I needed to stay with my midwife, who already knows what is going on, and has cared for me the first 19 weeks!  Yay... take that peri!  Kick gravel and travel!  =)  So glad my m/w knows what is good for me!!  ♥  So after a million more hugs from my m/w, I had my blood drawn for my liver panel and bile salts.  Just need a baseline in case I start getting itchier and we suspect that Cholestasis is coming on.  The MA got me in ONE poke!  She was so happy!  Last time she had to draw my blood, not so good, I passed out on the table.  LOL  Then we were on our way.  My next appointment will be scheduled after I get through my specialty appointments that are coming up in a couple of weeks.

The girls and I then came home and hung out for a bit.  Shelby did a private at gymnastics, so it turned into a busy evening, gymnastics from 3-9 for Shelby, Shakyra had gym from 4-5:15, then my mom and I went to the mall to get something a present, since we took her to dinner after gymnastics.  Then we went to Costco, oh how I love that place right now.  They always get some neat Christmas things in!  After gym we went to The Onion for Shelby's birthday dinner.  We had appetizers, and then a Messy Face for dessert, Shelby's choice! Who can go wrong with a 1/2 pound brownie, with 3 scoops of ice cream and chocolate syrup on top???  Yummy!!!  We couldn't even finish it!  Shelby loved her gifts, pj's, a pink gymnast outfit, a journal, a gymnast bag, and a baby giraffe(that Shakyra picked out for her).  Then we were off for home.

Got home, and we just vegged, we were so stuffed.  The girls and I had a sleepover in the living room.  Before bed we listened to Skittle.  She was playing all around in my belly.  Must have known it was a good day!  ♥  Then I thought, what better gift, than if Shelby could feel her sister move/kick.  Well, we were having NO luck.  Skittle is a stubborn one you know!  She was face down, and I could feel her kicking down into my back.  Well, then I sneezed(anyone that knows me, I REALLY sneeze!)   Lol  And that is all it took.  She flipped right over, and started kicking Shelby like crazy.  Shelby's face lit up brighter than the sun!!  Big eyes, big smile, just complete joy on her face.  She was so excited!  She couldn't believe it.  She was like, that was soooooooo awesome mom!!!  Then Shakyra tried, and Skittle kicked her too.  Shakyra was more like, "what in the world was that?"  LOL  She knew what it was, but I think it was just odd for her.  So that was the icing on our day, and I know that Shelby will always remember the first time that Skittle kicked her.  ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy 9th Birthday Princess Shelby.  You were the best thing that ever happened to me, 9 short years ago!  I love you so much, you are an absolute gem of a daughter, and an amazing big sister.  I know you are so excited to meet your new baby sister.  I am willing to bet she will be the most spoiled, rotten sister yet!!  ♥

♥ The Birthday Girl!! ♥
Complete with a new haircut!

And another of my favorite pics.  I still can't believe the smile I captured on Shakyra's face... can we say... RARE?!?!  ♥

Monday, October 3, 2011

19 weeks....

I was very thankful to make it to this point, in one piece.  Since I lost Steven at 18 weeks, it is a very nervous time for me... but I am sure that Steven is looking down on Skittle, and doing his best at keeping her safe.  ♥

I fall more and more in love with Skittle every time she kicks me!  ♥  I am still feeling like garbage unless I take my meds.  On a good day, I am consuming about 700-800 calories.  Maybe a little bit more if I get in a cup of hot cocoa before bed.  =)  I am now down about 23 pounds from where I started this pregnancy.  However, Skittle is growing well(was still 3-4 days ahead at the last ultrasound), so it is ok!  Even though my ultrasound was less than stellar, I am doing my best at fighting for her.  I still don't know about the appeal on my insurance, but I should know an answer, either way, by Tuesday, Oct 11th.  I am enjoying the kicks that I get to feel on a daily basis.  When I listened to her heartbeat yesterday(My friend Bre got to hear her for the first time), she wanted nothing to do with the doppler.  It was hilarious!  I think I heard more kicking and punching then I did her heartbeat.  Ha! Ha!  You can really tell the difference between her heart beating and her cord.  The heart beating sounds like an opening and closing of a flap, and the cord sounds like a really smooth beating heart.  Skittle and I typically play every morning when I wake up, and every night when I go to bed.  It is just such an amazing thing, feeling her move.  I ♥ it!!  Forgot a belly pic last week, doh!  I will try and round one up this week!  =)

My next m/w appointment is this Friday, Oct. 7th.

Oh my goodness!  Where has the time gone!!  Shelby is turning 9 on Friday!!  NINE!!!!  We are taking her to dinner on Friday after gymnastics, and then we are having her birthday party next weekend at the roller skating rink, with a sleepover with a couple of her friends.  She is pretty excited! ♥

♥ 19 weeks ♥
Love the sneaky one behind me?  hehe