Google

I really should stop googling.  I am sure it will lessen as the days pass, but I did find this which I think is interesting.  With the exact numbers as NTD Labs, this online calculator puts my risk at 1 in 274.  I am not sure why the big difference in the statistical estimate, but it was still kinda reassuring...I guess.  It obviously won't change my "diagnosis" or the extra monitoring that I am going to get, but like I said, it's interesting.

http://www.sbpsoftware.com/trisomy-risk-calculator.html

In The Meantime

While Eric and I were at the doctors, the kids were with my SIL.  Among other things, they got to feed a venus fly trap!  How cool!

Today

Today's appointment went well, the genetic counselor was reassuring of the positives of our case.  The fact that we only have one indication of DS is a positive sign.

I don't really have the energy to go into all the details now, but the nasal bone was present, bhCG was normal, NT was normal, maternal age is good, so the only thing at this point is the PAPP-A protein being low.

No invasive tests means we will wait until 20 weeks for our level2/anatomy scan where they will check the baby in detail, the placenta as well as look for "soft markers" of DS.  Nothing will be conclusive, but we could walk out of their more reassured or less reassured depending on what they see.

I really do want to know for sure one way or another, I just wish there was a non-invasive way to get those results.

I am feeling better about everything today then I was yesterday, so we just stay positive and wait.  Praying for some good growth and no markers.

First Trimester Screening

I almost didn't do this test this time around and now I wish I hadn't done it.

Yesterday wasn't the day I was hoping for.  With Eric, and both kids, we made the trip to the Maternal Fetal Medicine office for our ultrasound to go with the blood test I had taken at home about 2 weeks ago.

The ultrasound was great, both kids loved it, the baby looked great and the tech gave us some pictures to take home.  She looked in the computer and they had received my blood work.  She typed it all up and had to go print it off so that we could go over it.  I should have known something was up when I was coming back from the bathroom and she said she would be back in a minute with the doctor.  I don't remember there being a doctor last time.

My results came back at an increased risk of Down Syndrome.  My blood work, put me at the risk level of a 40yr old.   Free beta hCG was 0.95 MoM, 50th percentile (normal), PAPP-A 0.15 MoM, 1st percentile (extremely low), NT 2.2mm, +.59 Delta (normal range).  Basically this PAPP-A number is what is throwing all of my numbers off.  It was low with Brandon, it was .33 MoM, and my risk with him was 1 in greater than 10,000 for DS.  This time around, my risk is considered 1-73, still only 1% chance of DS but is considered higher risk.

PAPP-A is a hormone that is produced by the placenta, so if it isn't  DS, it could mean the placenta isn't working as well as it should be, which brings a whole other lot of risks.  At higher risk for IUGR, pre-e, placenta abruption, stillbirth, low birth weight, premature delivery.

At this point the placenta issues scare me more than DS.  Eric and I already decided that we are not doing a CVS or an amnio to confirm DS or not.  The risk of miscarriage really isn't worth it, because even if the test were to come back positive for DS, we wouldn't terminate anyway.

So here we are, nervous, googling, scared, hoping, and scheduled to see a genetic counselor today.  After today we will have a better idea of what our other options are, quad screen, more blood tests, level 11 ultrasound, baby asprin to help placenta function....we aren't really sure.  We already know that because of the risk of IUGR, we will have growth ultrasounds at 26weeks, 30weeks and 34weeks (which I also had with Brandon, that came back fine).

I guess we will know more after today.

Summer

It's pretty much what summer is all about.

A picture of them together is almost impossible these days.

12 Weeks

+3lbs so that is a total of 4lbs so far.  Yikes! And then my husband comes home with a bag of Cheetos...
-Still in normal clothes
-Heartburn
-Waking up to pee in the middle of the night, every night
-Tired
-Food aversions are finally starting to ease up

Check up went fine.  The doc misread my file and thought I was only 11weeks, so they did an ultrasound to hear the heartbeat and didn't even try with the doppler.  Its amazing how much they grow in 4 weeks.  We could see the face, arms and legs and it was waving around one of its arms.

I think I have felt the baby move a few times, but I'm still not 100% yet.

Not much else to report.

Finally

I finally remembered to take pictures of Eric and I.  We never seem to remember to snap ones of ourselves only the kids.  Helps out that we were both dress niced for our friends Dan and Christina's wedding.

Great Grandparents

Last visit, we were able to see my Grandparents who recently made the trip back to PA for the summer from FL.  I was able to get some pictures with the kids.

Showing

I didn't really think that I was, but I guess I am.  I am still not wearing any maternity clothes, but it's not going to be too much longer.  Not to bad for being the 3rd one :)

Ethiopia Adoption

Here are some pictures of the first order that we had for the adoption shirts supporting my SIL's adoption from Ethiopia.  I think it was a total of 26 or 27. Thanks to everyone who shower their support.  Modeled by Sierra :)

Anyone interested in a shirt, Africa or any other country please email me at wendyjselander@gmail.com

Giggletime:Sierra's 2nd, Tyler's 4th, and Other May Picture

Pics from my SIL's camera from the month of May.  They are from a class Brandon goes to called Giggletime, celebrating Tyler's 4th birthday riding bikes (Brooke's first time), and flying a toy helicopter.

5, 7, and 9

Side by side for fun

9 Weeks

Brondo-8 Weeks

No, that's not the name its a joke.



7 Weeks

5 Weeks

4/29/11

While the world was watching Prince William and Catherine Middleton get married, I was patiently waiting for Aunt Flo to arrive.  Our timing was late this month, there was no chance, I had already written it off and wasn't expecting anthing out of the ordinary.  No symptoms, no heartburn, no being tired.....NOTHING.  I have had more symptoms plenty of other months.

Just for fun that night at dinner I asked my sister to bring over a dollar store test. (I had been randomly testing the past few months hoping my husband would slip up here or there)  Wasn't going going to be positive anyway, but since she had a dollar store test...what the heck.  Took the test, looked at it for a minute, no line.....figured.....threw it in my bag....picked my beer back up and went downstairs to eat dinner. 

30 minutes later...what the heck, lets take a second look.  Hmmm...suspicious, little, barely there, kinda, maybe, pink or gray line.  Definitely an evap line.  I have had that happen before, that is why they tell you to look at it within 3 minutes then THROW IT AWAY AND DON'T LOOK AGAIN.  Whatever....that is impossible to do anyway....I ALWAYS look again.   Positive it was an evap line, but kept looking at it.  I guess that is what I get for not waiting the whole 3 minutes to see the final results.  Maybe I should put my beer down, or maybe I should finish the last few sips....they might be my last for a while.



So what does that mean?  A text picture to my sister-in-law and she is convinced it is pink, and convinces me to take a trip to target, a mile from my mom's house, to get a digital test.  You can't mess that up right?  So my sis and I walk out of Target with a pregnancy test and a tub of vanilla ice cream.  Yeah, we were laughing just about as hard as you are right now.  Maybe we should by a magazine too, or some chocolate.

Went home, drank WATER.  Finally around 8:30 or so, I truck up to the bathroom, pee on a stick and wait.  Heart racing, this can't be possible this month, not sure why I am even nervous, tick, tick , tick

OMG....WHAT???  COMPLETE AND TOTAL SHOCK!!!!!!  Looks like we are pregnant with #3.