Just for the record I cannot believe that I have 2 three year olds!! At times I can't believe they are already three and other times I really don't remember life without them!! They celebrated with the babysitter during the day - had a special pizza lunch and cupcakes with candles and of course the Happy Birthday song!! The celebration continued when we got home with a special requested dinner of green eggs and ham. (Yes I'm serious - that was totally their request without any input from Stephen and I. I thought for sure it was only because we had just recently read Green Eggs and Ham the book but I asked several different times over several different days and their answer never changed!!) They also requested a cookie cake - another funny request since I honestly don't know that they have ever even seen a cookie cake before. So, after enjoying some yummy green scrambled eggs, grilled ham, grits and biscuits, Grandma and Grandpa Diehl, Ben, Anna and Grace and Uncle Tony came over for more Happy Birthday song, candles and cookie cake!! The boys got to open presents from mommy and daddy - and were thrilled with their two new games. We spent what felt like several hours on Tuesday night playing Ants in the Pants and Let's Go Fishin'. It was a good night!!
The rest of the week was spent sitting, reading, resting, sitting, reading and working tirelessly on birthday party details!! I'm pretty excited about how all the details are coming together but I'm keeping all those details under wraps until after party on Sunday so all of that fun stuff will have to wait until next week to be shared!!
We welcomed mom, dad and grandma. (To the boys that would be Grandma and Papa 'Dogan and Grammy). My parents and grandma are staying through Monday morning but Heather (who is also here) is going to hang out until Thursday!! I'm looking forward to some fun projects with her next week!! The adventures started today as Heather got to be my chauffeur to my weekly adventure out of the house!! Only one doctors appointment today -
Up to the 18th floor again...Another ultrasound, more explaining exactly what measurements need to be taken and more good reports! Small world moment today!! The girl that did my ultrasound is actually a friend of a friend (who I have met several times) She said she saw my name on the chart that she grabbed and realized who I was - told me she knew all about my story and said that her mom's group had been praying for me (That will always make you feel good!!) The doctor that we saw today is probably one of my favorites - he is very attentive and does a really good job at never making things feel rushed. He even stopped to explain a few things to Heather today - as she has never been to an ultrasound before - which was so nice of him!!
Here are the highlights:
*Fluid level of 19 (again let me just remind you that the number only has to be a 10 to be considered normal - my over achiever strikes again!!)
*Ventricle size - essentially the same as last week - right at about 10 (or 1 depending on where you put the decimal point) which I was told was right on the border of normal. The way the doctor described it was that any baby who didn't have any brain concerns would have a number at or below 10 - so we are at the cusp but still within normal for now
*8/8 on the biophysical exam again :) That's my over achieving boy!! - I figured out they look at
1 - fluid
2 - breathing practice (today we caught him with hiccups which counts as practice
3 - gross movement (ie - arm/leg movement)
4 - fine movement (fingers etc)
*Saved the best for last!! The cerebellum is normal - we talked about this a little last week but this doctor mentioned it again and said there is no banana or lemon sign noted at all. After telling him I was a pediatric physical therapist he said and I quote "Well then lets use proper medical words - I see NO EVIDENCE OF ARNOLD CHIARI MALFORMATION." WOOOO HOOOO!! God is GOOD!!
It was a good appointment!! They also mentioned at some point meeting with the neurosurgeons here in town that will be evaluating little man upon his arrival. Hopefully we will not ever actually need their services officially but we will likely at least consult with them for years to come so we might as well get to know them!! Not sure when that will happen but the plan would be for it to occur before this guy joins us!
After the doctors appointment it was a quick stop at Chick-f-la for some yummy breakfast and then home I came (like a good girl) to spend the rest of the day on more secret monster birthday party projects for Sunday!!
Now I'm off to enjoy some quality time with the family for the weekend!! Thank you thank you again for the prayers, company, phone calls, texts and delicious food!! We are so blessed - and who knew that you all were not only great friends and good cooks but amazing bakers as well!! If anyone needs a sugar rush come on over - we have enough sweets to feed the greater Jacksonville area!!
Love and Hugs!!