Everything as far as doctor appointments has continued to go well. So much so that I have stopped doing weekly doctor visit updates on the blog because I was bored!! He continues to show off on the ultrasounds, is growing well, ventricles are slightly increased from "normal" but have been stable for months and my fluid has continued to be good. All is well and we are sort of just in a holding pattern for now.
I am....well, pregnant and feeling every bit of it!! I'm pretty miserable and definitely done!! I'm uncomfortable, my feet have started swelling (officially took off the wedding rings earlier this week....), have killer heartburn, am peeing like every 30 seconds and am not sleeping well but other than that I am your typical glowing pregnant woman at the end of her pregnancy :) Though I'm miserable I want this guy to stay put for his last two weeks. It's actually kind of weird to think that this is the last two weeks I will be pregnant EVER....kind of excited about that fact and sad about it at the same time....kind of amazing this whole growing a tiny human thing!!
I have also been amazed at how the little last minute preparations that are underway to get ready for this little guy are making this new addition very real!! The nursery if functional....really almost done. I want one or two more things to hang on the wall in there but haven't quite decided what I want it to be....back to the pinterest drawing board :) Stephen put the baby's car seat in the car this week. I'll say this - we need a bigger car (for the record we have a Honda Pilot with 3 row seating - it isn't small by any means!!) The big boys moved to the way back - which they think is AWESOME but bless their hearts they literally have no leg room and I have officially lost all my storage space in the back - not sure where groceries are going any more :( All the clothes have been washed, the baby accessories have been put together and some newborn diapers have been purchased (they are SO tiny!!).
Of course I haven't packed a hospital bag yet and have no idea what this guy is wearing home from the hospital. I still have not made the boys their big brother shirts (it is on the list for today and tomorrow) and there are moments when it is really just nice to pretend that this is not really happening!! AHHH!! I can't believe I'm going to be a mom of three....and three BOYS at that....what were we thinking!!
We had a meeting with the pediatric neurosergeon yesterday....to say I was annoyed it probably an understatement. I agreed to the meeting mainly because I figured it would be nice to have a face with a name being that we are likely going to become good friends with that office after this little guy is born. They are the doctors that will watch him for hydrocephalus (what would be happening if his ventricles stop cooperating) and would be the ones that would put a shunt in if every he needs one. They would also be the doctors that would have closed up his defect right after birth if we hadn't gone to Vanderbilt to have it done.
Well, back to the appointment. I show up and have to fill out 4000 pages of paperwork all about me (since I was the "patient" yesterday - guess they can't really bill for a baby that hasn't been born) but let me say that since my brain and overall neurological system is normal most of the paperwork did not really apply which was annoying to start with....The doctor was 25 minutes behind schedule which means that Stephen got to be present for all of 5 minutes of the appointment before he had to leave....also annoying. When I mentioned to her that he was going to have to leave shortly the doctor walked in she said well lets take a look at the images first then so dad can see what we are talking about......she proceeded to get out the MRI images from early January - I said well, those images wont really be pertinent any more and she kind of looked at me strange....I said well, I had surgical correction of the defect in late January at Vanderbilt. Literally she said "Oh, I didn't realize that was you...."
SERIOUSLY?? I wrote it down in the paperwork you had me fill out!! I then spent the rest of the 15 minute appointment schooling her on the surgery and what they have been seeing post delivery. The other main reason that I wanted to go ahead with the appointment was because I was hopeful she would be able to shed some light on what is going to happen after this little guy is delivered....is he being whisked off immediately to the NICU for evaluation? Will he go to the regular nursery and be evaluated there? Will there be any reason as far as we can tell now that he will have to stay longer than me? Who is expected to see/evaluate him before we are discharged and what kind of tests can I expect to be ordered.....
Well, wanna know the answer....."WE DON'T REALLY KNOW" GRRR!!! Seriously?? Here is my $45 co-pay, thanks for nothing!
OK, now, let me put on my big girl panties and explain a little more. This little guy is the first baby to be delivered in the entire northeast florida/southeast georgia region ever post surgical spina bifida correction prenatally. There are some kiddos floating around here that have had the surgery but they all delivered at the facility that did the surgery (specifically CHOP in Philly - who makes you stay on site after surgery until delivery). So we are literally the first ever that any of these doctors have had at birth. Talk about a learning curve. From what the doctor indicated yesterday there is not reason based on the just the spina bifida that he would need to go to the NICU - so sounds like a trip there would be determined solely on him at time of delivery - since he is officially being delivered "early" (at 37 weeks). The neurosurgeon indicated that they could assess him in the NICU or the regular nursery, wherever he was. As far as testing goes, she mentioned a head ultrasound (to check ventricles), possibly an MRI for baseline brain measures (if not done before discharge, it will be needed soon after) :( he also might be seen my urology before discharge to check bladder function (also if not done before will be needed soon after) and have an assessment by orthopedics. She also indicated that he would be coming into the office every few weeks after delivery for follow up head ultrasounds to keep a close eye on ventricle size and head circumference (watching for hydrocephalus)
Yep, made it all to real - which is probably the real reason that I was so annoyed. I have been amazed at how easy it has been to sort of forget that I'm having a baby with spina bifida in these last few weeks. I honestly forget all the time that I had surgery - and he is moving around so much and I'm experiencing all the normal pregnancy symptoms....sometimes it's really easy to just relax back into I'm having another baby, period instead of I'm having another baby, and he has been diagnosed with spina bifida. But here we are....and one way or another, putting one foot in front of the other, we will press on into this adventure - and whatever God has in store for us and this little guy as we write his story as a part of our family.
I continue to try to stay busy - getting as many projects done as possible. It's really helping me stay positive about this whole bed rest debacle!! The fact is this....bed rest stinks!! BUT, there is NEVER going to be another time in my life where I will be off of work for 12 weeks, without a newborn, forced to stay in my house with my butt in a chair or in the bed....So, I'm doing my best to make this time as productive as possible.....So far I've
-read about 10 books
-made a t-shirt blanket for me (had the t-shirts in a box at the top of my closet for at least 3 years)
-finished a recipe book (another project that has been on my craft to do list for at least 3 years)
-cleaned out the play room
-worked on a crocheted blanket (it wont actually probably be finished until I'm 80 but whatever...I've made a lot of progress)
-cleaned out and organized my linen closet
-washed all the pillows in the house (thank you pinterest)
-put the nursery together
-reorganized my ribbon (I have a ton so this is a bigger project than you might think!!)
-figured out how to use the super cool machine my sister bought me (a silhouette - like a cricket but better for those of you that scrapbook) and successfully cut out a vinyl quote for the babies room
-made chip board letters of baby boys name for the nursery
-planned a 3 year old birthday party
-planned a baby shower
-made a baby blanket and several burp cloths for said baby shower
-sorted, washed and hung up all the baby clothes (newborn and 0-3 months)
-spent several iTunes gift cards :) updating my music library
-written 4000 thank you notes
-put a major dent in the baby books for the boys (they will be finished before I go back to work if it kills me)
-watched the entire Downton Abbey series (if you haven't watched it put it on your to do list - it's good)
-watched the whole first season of Chicago Fire (also good)
-and am currently working on the Scandal series (about 1/2 way through season 2) - really good so far
DANG - that looks kind of impressive when I write it all down!! Of course I still have a ton of projects that I had "planned" that are not done yet - it's crunch time ladies and gentlemen.....I've got exactly 2 weeks to get them done or I feel like they will again get put up on a shelf somewhere never to be looked at until the boys are in college because will be too busy with work, dinner, diapers, laundry, house work, paying bills, soccer games and all that come with being a working mom of 3.....Actually glad I still have a little time!!
Again I end by saying thank you - to all of you that have lifted us in prayer especially. I ask that you continue to do so because like I said earlier....the closer this gets the more real it is. I am a master at putting things off to deal with them later and there is some truth to that even in this current situation - I'm about to be thrown in, ready or not....prayers appreciated!! Also prayers for simply the adjustment. Stephen and I have managed the two kiddos pretty well I would say but we have never done multiple kids of different ages.....I'm super nervous about how to do life with 3 year olds and a newborn under the same roof successfully without someone killing someone else!! Also continued thanks for all the phone calls, lunch dates, babysitting, help with night time routine, dinners, text messages etc. They are so much appreciated and always lift my spirits!!
We are in the home stretch now people!! Can't wait to introduce you to this guy - and finally share his name (keeping it a secret has been harder this time!!) God Bless!!
Love and Hugs