Anatomically Correct

Hello Baby,

Coming upon this day, after not seeing you for a few weeks, I've been crazy excited to see you and write to you tonight. Altho it was so awesome to see you at today's level 2 ultrasound where we got to see you and each of your body parts up close so they could better determine any abnormalities, the visit has left me feeling a wee-bit neurotic, thanks to my hypochondriassm (I hope this skips a generation!). Physically, you looked great - a beautiful face, what appears to be an extremely smart mind, two arms, two legs, cute teeny baby hands and feet, blood flowing throughout your little body and a strong heartbeat. Altho strong, it's your lil heart that ruffles my feathers. Nothing for me to lose sleep over (as if!), just something to be cautious about.

Ms. bad bedside manner Dr gave me quite a scare when she rushed in the room after the tech left us all happy and cheery and told me I had to lay back down so she could look at your heart. Then she proceeded to shush me when I started asking questions... the nerve. She didn't want me to speak because it interferes with the reading. First I've heard of this. Thank goodness, Daddy was there and was able to speak with her during the exam, which wound up going very well with her even apologizing for alarming us. She explained that an antibody in my blood-work alerted her of a condition that has a small risk of you developing heart problems. I guess we should be glad that she detected this but our initial reaction of her storming into the room was just so frightening. Ugh, some doctors really have no couth. Tomorrow, I need to call our Dr to speak with him and make sure her concern is justified. If he agrees, then for the next 8 weeks or so, we have to go in for a weekly ultrasound to monitor your heartbeat to make sure it stays just as strong as it was today.

Just this weekend, after sharing the wonderful news of you with more dear friends, I decided that I was going to stop worrying so much and stay positive. And I'm going to keep that promise because now is when you need me to be the strongest I've ever been in my life. I believe that my strength will pass itself into your little heart and keep it beating as fast as it should.

Oh, my sweet sweet potato, I love you so very much and I just know that someday when you read this, we will hug each other knowing this was merely a bump in the road. Our love will conquer all. How could it not when you are just the cutest!!!!

October 20 Level 2 Ultrasound

XOXO
Mommy

4 Fetal Months Old on 10/10/10

Hello Baby,

Daddy and I were so excited to see you today but when we got to the doctor's office, we were disappointed to learn... no ultrasound today :-( We have to wait until next Wed for our level 2 state screening to see you. We got to hear your heartbeat tho! It wasn't too clear because they didn't tell me that I couldn't wear any lotions/oils and I had on my 'stretch marks stay away' oil (so far seems to be working despite what the doctor says ha ha). The oil creates a lot of static on the doppler. Plus, you were moving around so much... so active you cute lil thing you, that we only got to hear your heart-beating clearly for a short while. Good thing is, it sounded very strong!

The doctor also did a lil trick that was very interesting. He measured my belly from the pelvic bone up to the firm part of my tummy and this distance in centimeters is supposed to be the number of weeks you are. You measured 17 centimeters, which is 17 weeks. You are ahead of schedule! (Or... I was just very bloated!) Everything else seems to be looking good so far and hopefully if your test next week comes back a-ok, then we only have 1 more ultrasound until we're nearing the end and no more tests, which is a good thing, sad but good. You can bet that I'll miss seeing you, my sweet turnip.

But we'll always have our Sunday photos. Yesterday morning, of course we took photos of the belly... here we are Mommy and Baby turnip! Trying a diff angle but not sure Momma is digging it.

Us 4 months together, 10/10/10

And here we are just last week in Tahoe on Malcolm's Deck at Heavenly looking at "The best view the whole world affords" (Mark Twain).

View of South Lake Tahoe, 10/1/10

This week you are listening up but we're not going to start talking to you or playing music to you yet because one of Dr. Medina's brain rules to raising a smart and happy child is to just let you be for now. You are just this teeny lil thing concentrating on growing and learning all you need to know for when you come into the world that we don't need to complicate things for you just yet. We will let you get used to Big Sister Stella's barking tho. You need to or else she'll constantly wake you up from your naps. And you're going to be a 2 nap a day baby or so I hope!!

And now I think it's time for me to nap for the evening. I'm starting to feel much better, fewer headaches, much less nausea and gagging, but still so tired. Till next time, lil Baby o'Mine...

XOXO
Mommy