Take A Look...

Look over to the left column and scroll down.

I've added a Watch Me Grow section.

Just posted my 18 week pic for you all to see the belly that is growing right in front of me!

Here's a peek:



18 weeks and growing

A Block Of Cream Cheese

A block of cream cheese...8 oz. - - that's what our Little Speck weighs. Pretty amazing!

We had our regular OB/GYN appointment yesterday and I lucked out with another ultrasound, only this one was recorded on a DVD, so we got to keep the memory of watching our son moving around, and boy was he ever!

Honestly, after watching that and knowing what I know about who is responsible for the creation of life, it baffles me that there are people out there who deny the exist of our God?!

I am measuring exactly on target and so far, I've gained 13 lbs. total. Doctor didn't seem too upset and believe it or not, I'm not either which is so different than how I was when I was pregnant with R.J.

With my first pregnancy, I was so obsessed about gaining weight (and I did...60 lbs - - EEK!). With this pregancy, I decided to throw that obsession out the window. After all, this is the miracle baby we have been waiting for and me being healthy and him being healthy is all that matters. I'll deal with the weight gain or should I say, weight loss, later...after he's here and safely in my arms.

My next appointment is in 4 weeks when I get to do the lovely glucose screening. YUK!

With R.J. I failed it the first time (well gheesh, nobody told me not to eat that morning!!!) and so I had to come back and do the 3 hour test where they take blood from you every hour (not fun).

Anyway, I passed the second time around thankyouverymuch.

We also scheduled our 4-D ultrasound for the end of March. This technology wasn't available seven years ago when I was pregnant the first time, so I absolutely cannot wait to get the first glimpse of our son without him looking like a skeleton face.

So folks, it looks as if we are cruising right along now. In two more weeks, I'll be half way through the traditional 40 week time frame.

Honestly, I cannot believe that! But oh, how happy I am!

In the meantime, grow little man, grow!

Hallelujah!

Well, we’re back…it was a long day!

Okay, truth be told…we dragged it out longer so we could eat at our favorite place in Birmingham, AL where we got the ultrasound done.

Onto the good news...

The Level II ultrasound went terrific with a capital "T"!!

No abnormalities seen at all!

HALLELUJAH!


We went from a 1 in 230 chance of Downs to a 1 in 460 chance of Downs, and since my age only related risk (according to those pesky little medical charts) is 1 in 40…we are taking our 1 in 460 and celebrating to high heaven!


Praise God!


We also found out that our testing for Trisomy 18 and Neural Tube defects came back negative as well…


Can I get a Praise God again?!!


Oh, and guess what else???

IT’S

A

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*

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*

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*

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BOY!

There’s no doubt about it…RJ is going to have a baby brother.

Just Look and See (really, there's no mistaking it...LOL!)

Oh, and Here’s His Sweet and Precious Face

So, after we got the good news, Michael and I decided we wanted to surprise RJ when we picked him up from school today, so we stopped and got some blue balloons and one that says, “It’s A Boy!”

Of course, I had to get some pics...(I am a scrapbooker after all…LOL!)

RJ Seeing The Balloons For The First Time

Happy Big Brother!!!!

Holding Onto Those Balloons!


Happy Dad!


Happy Mom!

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your kind words, thoughts and prayers.

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can now finally start to really enjoy this pregnancy.

I hope you all continue to follow me on this journey.

17 weeks down and 23 more weeks to go!

When The Word POSITIVE Does Not Necessarily Equal Good Pregnancy News

I got another call today from Birmingham, AL...you know, that's where the Maternal Fetal Center is located where I did the NT Scan a few weeks ago. I posted about it here and here.

Well, this time, I did not get the same cheerful, "You are Screen Negative" phone call.

Nope, today I got this..."Tracey, we have the results back from your quad blood screen, and combined with your NT Scan results, and your age, you have tested SCREEN POSITIVE."

Gulp, okay Miss Genetic Counselor what exactly does that mean? Oh, and pardon me while I put my cell phone on hold and go throw up.

Trying to hold back my tears, I listened to the rest of what she had to say.

"Tracey, we have assessed you as having a 1 in 230 risk of your baby having Down Syndrome. However, this does put you at a less than 1% chance that the baby will in fact have Down Syndrome, but we recommend you coming in for a Level II ultrasound for further risk assessment."

I will do whatever is in this baby's best interest Miss Genetic Counselor. By the way, what was the cut off for me to have been considered Screen Negative?

"Well, Tracey, you would have had to have been assessed at having a 1 in 250 risk ratio. So you are really not that far off."

Close, but no cigar then huh, Miss Genetic Counselor?

I hung up and called my husband and then the tears started to flow. He reassured me that this news was not all doom and gloom, and for me to try and look at it this way...

If he filled a glass jar with 230 pennies and painted one of them with a red dot on it, then blindfolded me and asked me to reach in a pull out just one penny, what are the chances that I would in fact pull out the penny with the red dot on it?

Bless my husband's heart...I guess that did help a little.

Our Level II Ultrasound is scheduled for next Wednesday at 7:40 a.m. (CST).

Dear Heavenly Father, I am once again asking you to continue to keep me and this precious babe cradled in your arms as you have been doing all along. I cannot walk this journey with out you dear Saviour. Please help me to be strong and faithful and without fear. Amen.

A New Parfum?

I want to share a little private something with you all.

I mean c’mon, I’ve been sharing most everything else already so why would I stop now?!

Anyway, I pride myself on being a clean, well-groomed person, especially when it comes to matters of my va jay jay, so I can tell you that I was just a bit surprised at my latest discovery… a new before shower fragrance called, “Eau de Pee-Pee”.

No, not from France, but rather straight out of (or rather into) my toilet!

What the heck is the deal with the strong smelling urine??

Especially in the early morning?

Everyone always talks about the glow you have when you’re pregnant, but Lordy, nobody ever tells you that your body may also start dispelling odors reminiscent of a bus station bathroom!

For me, a girl who takes flushable handi-wipes with her into the ob/gyn’s office to use prior to (and after) a check-up, this has been a bit of a startling experience.

They say that every pregnancy is different, and by golly they ain't kidding! I certainly do not remember this fragrance campaign when I was pregnant with R.J., but then again that was 7 years ago, and maybe this is just a new scent...LOL!

Either way, I think I'm going to have to do some research on this phenomenon and hopefully I will uncover that I am not alone in discovering this unique pregnancy symptom.

In the meantime, I guess I will be carrying around toilet paper laced with Febreeze spray!

Mark Your Calendars!

Went to the doctor today and all is well.

They took a few vials of blood and one will be shipped back up to Birmingham, AL for the second part of my integrated screening for chromosomal and neural tube abnormalities.

The baby's heart rate was 155 BPM and evidently he/she is laying really low.

While the doctor was using the doppler on my tummy to check for the heartbeat, we "heard" the baby kick.

The doctor asked me if I felt that and I told him that I wish I had, but unfortunately I've got some extra padding (a.k.a. belly fat) this time around...LOL! He told me that it shouldn't be long before I start feeling Little Speck moving around in there.

Another exciting thing to look forward to is our next appointment which will also be our gender scan!!!

So my blog friends, mark January 25th on your calendars in pencil for now and then you can go back and mark them in pink or blue once we know!

I am so excited!