The Summerfords: 1/1/09

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

30 Week Appointment

We started our 2 week appointments today. I can't believe we're already down to appointments every two weeks. Owen is going to be here before we know it! I only gained 1 lb (thank goodness...after my last weigh in) for a total of 27 lbs. Owen's heart rate was approximately 130-135 bpm and my belly measured around 29 weeks. So we are right on track with our due date of April 3rd.

I had my three hour glucose tolerance test last Tuesday. Josh and I arrived at 7am and did not get out until noon....so the 3 hour test actually took 5 hours. The test itself wasn't that bad, it was just really long and I was starving. But thanks to my loving husband, I didn't have to go through it alone. After four blood draws they determined that I do not have gestational diabetes. Yea! I actually had low and critically low levels for the last two blood draws. So according to the doctor, I need to add more protein to my diet and have snacks between meal to keep my blood glucose levels normal. If you ask me, my levels would have been just fine if they hadn't made me fast for the test. The good news is...Owen and I are healthy and I don't have to regulate my sugar intake...so I can still have my Dr. Pepper and chocolate!!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Update!!

The past ten weeks have been a roller coaster of feelings since the day we were informed at our 20 week ultrasound that our "perfect" baby boy was not quite as perfect as we had hoped. The ultrasound tech informed us that our little boy had cysts on the choroid plexus in his brain, which can be a marker for a terminal genetic defect (trisomy 18). We were assured that everything would be ok; however, news like this is never easy to accept. The following week we had a follow-up ultrasound with the geneticist in Little Rock and were informed that not only were there choroid plexus cysts, but there was another marker for trisomy 18, a calcium deposit on his heart. Since we opted not to do the amniocentesis, the doctor recommended a follow- up ultrasound in 8-10 weeks. The news was devastating, but we were cautiously optimistic while we waited for the next ultrasound which would be done at thirty weeks...

After a long wait we had the follow-up ultrasound today. Owen has been a very active boy for a while now which has helped us make it through the wait with much optimism. The ultrasound was at 1:30 and our whole clan was allowed into the ultrasound room. The clan being my mom and dad, Josh's mom and sister and of course Josh and I. As the ultrasound progressed every update was better than the last. First off the amniotic fluid level was right on (high amniotic fluid levels are common with trisomy 18 babies). His choroid plexus cysts had resolved, as well as the calcium deposit on his heart. They were just gone, they said there was a good chance they would resolve, but to see it live in person was nothing short of a miracle for us!!! And finally all of the measurements were done and he came in at 3 lbs. 1oz. and measured within one day of his due date, which we were informed never happens. The measurement was the most important thing to us. The geneticist in Little Rock had told us that babies with trisomy 18 usually have delayed growth later in the pregnancy. So when we found out that his growth was not delayed, we felt as if a weight had been lifted off our chest. We left the ultrasound feeling as giddy as we did on the day we found out we were pregnant!!! Hopefully now we can get some good rest over the next several weeks before he arrives and once again deprives us of sleep!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers throughout all of this! We know today that the good report was an answered prayer. We appreciate your continued prayers for the health of Owen throughout the remainder of the pregnancy!!! We love and appreciate you all!

We also made a lot of progress on Owen's room this weekend. My mom and dad were in town for the ultrasound, and Josh's family came over on Sunday, so we all worked together and made a lot of progress. We picked up several things for his room and even created some artwork of our own to add a little extra love! We'll post pictures when the nursery is complete!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

28 Week Appointment

We had our 28 week appointment last week. I've gained another 10 lbs for a total of 26 lbs and my belly measured right at 28 weeks. I guess Owen and I ate really well over the holidays! Ha! Owen's heart rate was in the 130-140 range...we love getting to hear our little guys heartbeat at each appointment. I also had my glucose screening test for gestational diabetes test during this appointment. This consisted of not eating before the appointment, drinking a sugary drink, and then having my blood taken 1 hour later. My blood had to be sent off, so I didn't get the results for a few days. According to the nurse, I'm not anemic but my blood glucose levels were elevated. This doesn't mean that I have gestational diabetes...a lot of people fail their 1st glucose screening test. It does mean that I have to take the 3 hour test, which will consist of me not eating after midnight the night before, drinking the sugary drink once an hour for three hours, and having my blood taken an hour after each drink. If my blood glucose level is high for 2 out of the 3 blood samples then that would mean that I have gestational diabetes and I would have to change my diet. But we are going to be optimistic and hope that I pass. They have scheduled this test for Tuesday, January 13 from 7am to 11. They also scheduled our follow-up ultrasound for Monday, January 19.

Birthday Celebration

One of my best friend's little girl, Emma Gayle, had her 3rd birthday on January 3rd. Her "princess" birthday party was at Delta Gymnastics in West Memphis. There were about 25 little kids running around and playing on all the gym equipment. She had a blast!! Emma Gayle was one of the flower girls in our wedding when she was 1.5 years old. I can't believe how much she has grown up!

Happy New Years!!

We spent New Years in Nashville, TN with Ashley and her fiance. Ashley moved to Nashville about a year ago but we haven't had a chance to visit until now because it's about 8 hours away from Fayetteville. We rang in the New Year at the "Paradise Park" bar in downtown Nashville. Then we spent New Years day seeing the sights of Nashville. We went to the Opry Mills Mall, the Opryland Hotel, the Parthenon, the Vanderbilt campus, and ate at several of the local favorites.

Dinner at Rose Pepper

Ashley and Brandon

Ashley and I downtown

Group shot

Us at the Opryland Hotel

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Trans Siberian Orchestra

For the past three years, we have be going to the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert in Little Rock with the Summerfords. This tradition started when Josh took his Dad to the concert four years ago. They both enjoyed it so much that they decided that the whole family should go. Now we're all hooked...it's the most entertaining concert I've ever seen. This year we were on the 4th row! My dad, Uncle Carrold, and Yulonda also joined us this year. It was their first time...dad was speechless. Here are few pictures from the concert....

At dinner before the concert

Joe, Josh, Bart, and Carrold
Yulonda, Me, Lisa, and Amanda

Christmas

I know this is a little late, but we thought we would finally update everyone on our holiday festivities. We spent Christmas with both sides of the family, which means we spent a lot of time in the car. We started the holiday off in Mineral Springs at Josh's grandfather's (Daddy Feck) house, where we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning. Christmas in Mineral Springs was wild with 50+ people celebrating in one house. Josh's family surprised us with the chair and ottoman for Owen's room. We were so excited!! After lunch, Josh and I loaded up and headed to West Memphis for Christmas dinner with my family. Christmas in West Memphis was spent with my immediate family and close friends. My family surprised us with the crib and changing table for Owen's nursery. We're really excited that his room is coming together... thanks to his grandparents. Now mom and dad are going to have to kick it into gear. Owen also received quite a few presents from his "Aunt" Lauren including a lot of onesies/sleepers, a bouncer, and bath products. I think he is definitely going to be a little spoiled. Overall, we had a great Christmas relaxing and spending time with family and friends.

Christmas with Josh's family