Evan, Aidan, Bella & Sophia » January 2006 Journal Entries » AboutMyBaby - online baby scrapbooks, photo albums, videos, birth and pregnancy announcements

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Tue, Jan 31, 2006 10:00 AM
8w4d Level 2 Ultrasound and Dr. Brady appt:
We had our 2nd Level 2 Ultrasound today, as well as our 1st Perinatology appt. for this pregnancy with Dr. Brady. Our baby looks absolutely beautiful, we are in love!!! He/she was waving to us and bobbling all around. Donna, our favorite sonographer, showed us where I have the main uterine artery which was pumping so hard it was causing my uterus to bounce, so the baby was bouncing. It was quite comical. Along with my heartbeat, my uterus would go: “bounce, bounce, bounce�? and so did the baby. He/she responded by waving his/her arms and moving his/her head. Donna said this was fine (nothing to be concerned with all that bouncing). Donna also said she had never seen this before. We got a smile out of it.

STATS:
Heartrate: 180 BPM
CRL Measurement: 2.0 CM

Everything is right on track (measuring where we should be) and our little one looks just like a little angel with his/her little flipper arms moving around. Slawek does a real cute angel baby impersonation, too, by flutterying his arms around. :o)

Now to the Perinatology stuff…

Dr. Brady said that I am very high risk for another pre-term delivery. He mentioned several studies that have been conducted on mothers who delivered twins preterm and went onto conceive a singleton. The risk of a pre-term singleton delivery is very high once a twin pre-term delivery occurs. (The misconception is that the twin pregnancy caused the pre-term delivery, and they are finding now that is not the case at all). So, we have some preventative measures we will take to protect this baby from a pre-term delivery:

1. I will have a Cervical Cerclage (aka Stitching of the Cervix) on March 10, 2006. It will be an Outpatient procedure performed at Good Samaritan Hospital. Cervical cerclage prevents miscarriage or premature delivery caused by cervical incompetence. The procedure is successful in 85% to 90% of cases. The stitch will remain in place until I am 37 weeks pregnant, at which time it will be removed for delivery.

2. I will have weekly 17alpha Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate Intra-Muscular injections starting week 17 through the end of my pregnancy. This injection received much recent attention as researchers indicate it may show promise in reducing the incidence of preterm birth in high risk pregnancies. Dr. Brady said he has seen positive things with this hormone injection to prevent premature delivery.

3. From week 16 through week 28 (just like in my previous pregnancy) I will have weekly cervical ultrasounds to check on the cerclage and my cervix.

As far as Level 2 Ultrasounds, I will get another one at week 20 and a final one at week 28. I will have weekly ultrasounds to take a peek at our baby from week 16 – week 28, so that keep me busy for sure.

I have gained 4 lbs. so far, which I find hard to believe – that scale must be wrong! I have been so sick!!! Dr. Brady wants me to take the following vitamins/minerals daily:

• Prenatal Vitamin (Natacare Gloss)
• Expecta (contains Omega-3 Fatty acids)
• Calcium & Magnesium – 2 grams
• Vitamin C – 1000 mg
• Vitamin E – 400 IU
• Ferrous Sequel (Iron) – 1 pill per day

My blood pressure was 92/60, and he said that some of these vitamins/minerals will help keep my blood pressure in the excellent range that it is already in.

Dr. Brady also did a pap smear today, which has caused some major cramping ever since. I was also catheterized for my first urine baseline sample - which I moaned and groaned about for 10 minutes. It wasn't as painful as the last one I had, so I was ok - even though I was a big baby about it all.

That’s all for now. My next appt. with Dr. Brady is on 2/23/06 – right before my Cerclage.

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Mon, Jan 30, 2006 9:25 AM
Happy 14 Months old, Evan and Aidan! We love you very much!

Mommy & Daddy

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Fri, Jan 27, 2006 4:35 AM
8 WEEKS
Your baby's crown to rump measurement is about 0.56 to 0.8 inches (14 to 20mm).

Your baby's face has a recognizable shape with eyelids and the tip of a nose with formed nostrils, though his head is still very large compared to the rest of his body.

All major organs are now formed and in place, though they still need to mature.

A tongue has already formed. The ears are forming both internally and externally.

The arms and legs extend forward and shoulders, elbows, hips and knees are detectable. Knees and elbows have begun to form on the limbs. Tiny fingers and toes are starting to appear at the tips of your baby's developing limbs and the arms may be slightly flexed at the elbows and wrists. All major organs are in place.

Your baby is moving around a lot, moving his legs and flexing his spine, but you are unable to feel it at this point.

Your baby's genitals have begun development, though they are still difficult to identify.

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Tue, Jan 24, 2006 6:10 AM
HOLY FATIGUE!
I was bragging for the last few weeks that although I am tired, it is nothing like my IVF cycle when I was on Progesterone Oil injections. I thought those were the reason I was so exhausted and wiped out every evening by 6:30 pm and even bragged that this natural pregnancy has been much better as far as fatigue goes. Not anymore (I spoke too soon). My gosh, last night, I fell asleep in the floor at 7 pm. You could NOT move me nor wake me up. Slawek said the boys were playing with instruments on my head and that Aidan kept coming over and resting his chubby little cheek on my cheek (and how sweet it looked). I missed it all. I was comatose. I did wake up around 8:30 pm, in time to put the boys to bed, and then passed out on the couch again until 11 pm. I am GONE. I am so exhausted, it's beyond belief. It's funny that it just now is hitting me, though. I'm sure it will get better in another month or so.

Evan had us up ALL night last night. Just as I was bragging that he has been sleeping thru the night. I think it's his teeth (#7 and #8). #8 is almost completely thru, but he is still struggling with it. I thought maybe he had caught a cold or a virus or something (his nose had to be suctioned, as it was goopy), but he doesn't sound sick this morning and just keeps putting his hand in his mouth. I think this is all teething related. Aidan did ok, except for when Evan's glass-breaking screams woke him up.

1 week until our 8w4d Level 2 Ultrasound!

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Thu, Jan 19, 2006 10:00 AM
Aidan's 1st year molars have broken the skin (more like SHREDDED the skin). He's struggling with them. These are teeth # 11 and #12.

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Tue, Jan 17, 2006 3:00 PM
We have 1 beautiful, healthy baby growing! We got to see him/her today at our 1st Ultrasound (6w4d). His/her heart is beating at 124 (BPM) Beats Per Minute and he/she measures 8.2 mm long. Everything looks good and the pregnancy is progessing exactly as it should.

How can something smaller than 1 cm. cause me to have such horrid morning sickness? I am really struggling with it big time this pregnancy.

Slawek and I are really breathing a sigh of relief. I am having some pain and discomfort on my left side. The pain is coming from a cyst on my ovary. It should shrink as the pregnancy continues.

We had such a nice trip to Good Sam Hospital. Our sonographer remembered us both, so we had a nice, long chat with her. (She was my favorite sonographer and I remember praying to get her when I would go for my twice weekly ultrasounds while admitted on bedrest when Evan and Aidan). She was so happy for us. We showed her pictures of the boys, and she seemed to enjoy seeing how they turned out after all that monitoring.

After the Ultrasound, we stopped by to see a friend of mine who is admitted on bedrest in the same unit where I was. As soon as we turned down the SCOB (Special Care OB unit) Hallway, 2 nurses immediately walked up and said, "I remember you two, why is that?" Slawek explained that we were here back in October-Novemer 2004 and they both remembered us. Kristina, my FAVORITE SCOB Nurse came over and gave me the BIGGEST Hug. I had written a nice card to her boss giving her lots of kudos for the great job she did when I was there. It was just so nice to be remembered, and memorable for us to see everyone again.

We have our next big ultrasound in 2 weeks (I will be 8w4d then).

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Tue, Jan 17, 2006 7:00 AM
Our 1st Ultrasound is today at 3 pm. I am 6w4d pregnant. We should be able to see a heartbeat measuring around 133 BPM, a fetal pole, a gestational sac, and a disintegrating yolk sac. Please say a prayer that our little baby is doing well and that his/her heart is beating away.

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Mon, Jan 16, 2006 12:28 PM
We have received our first gifts for our new baby-to-be! Grandma and Grandpa Campbell gave me a nice Precious Moments (an expecting girl reading a "Baby Name" book). Uncle Bill, Aunt Theresa and Gretchen brought over a bag full of pink and blue goodies for the Baby. Blue bibs and stuff for a boy; and pink hair bands and a purse for a girl.

Thank you so very much! We are so thankful to have such thoughtful family and friends.

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Mon, Jan 16, 2006 12:38 AM
6w3d
Today marks the exact day in my last pregnancy when we found out we were pregnant with Twins. I will never forget that day - we saw both Evan and Aidan and their strong, beating hearts. I hope this one is doing just as well and that he/she is growing, growing, growing.

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Fri, Jan 13, 2006 8:16 AM
I'm 6 Weeks:
Your baby is 0.16 to 0.2 inches long (4-5mm) when measured from crown to rump. It is now identifiable as a human baby.

The limb buds are growing rapidly, developing into little fins with nodules at the ends which will eventually become fingers and toes. The arms have already differentiated into hand and shoulder segments.

The cerebral hemispheres of the brain are growing, and the eyes and nostrils are appearing. Your baby's heart bulges from its body and the heart chambers are divided and formed. Blood vessels now circulate blood throughout the whole body. The head looks large and is bent on the chest.

Your baby's face is forming, but its eyes are on the sides of its head and are still sealed. The discs that will become your baby's eyes will move over to the front of the face over the course of the next few months.

Bone cells are beginning to develop and the outline of the baby's nervous system is complete. The pigment in your baby's eyes can be seen under the skin overlaying them. By this point there is also a pancreas and an appendix. The tail is still visible, but it will soon fade. The umbilical cord is growing and the placenta is maturing as well.

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Thu, Jan 12, 2006 12:39 PM
Just a few more weeks until our 1st Ultrasound! So far, I am feeling all the normal *Pregnancy* symptoms: extreme fatigue and nausea/morning sickness. These are actually good signs, as bad as it may feel.

I am constantly nauseated and am battling morning sickness on a daily basis now (first thing in the morning and late at night). It's almost like the acid level in my stomach is way too high. I am living on Tums (again), too, as the heartburn is horrible already. Ah yes, the heartburn - the most annoying part of my last pregnancy. I have already purchased 3 bottles of Tums: 1 for home, 1 in my purse and 1 on my desk at work. This is insane! At least I'm getting my daily calcium (Tums are fortified with calcium).

For now, I am just hanging in there - adjusting to this new little one growing inside me... and counting down the days until our ultrasound.

Slawek and my mom are both helping a lot. I am so tired in the evenings, I barely get anything done. Thanks to both of them!

The boys are doing great. They are walking all over the place. It's so exciting to see them roam around the house, discovering everything through their new-found independence. I love watching them grow.

That's all for now!

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Thu, Jan 12, 2006 5:37 AM
Aidan has a new tooth! He's getting teeth #s 9 and 10 (on the top - the eye teeth). His left tooth (#9) broke the skin already and #10 on the right looks like it will any day now.

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Mon, Jan 9, 2006 5:36 AM
Evan has popped a new tooth. He's getting teeth # 7 and #8 (on the bottom, next to the 2 center teeth). The one on his left emerged first and the one on the right should break skin ANY day now.

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Fri, Jan 6, 2006 5:17 AM
5 Weeks
Your baby is now about the size of an apple seed. That's about 0.08 to 0.16 inches (2 to 4mm) from crown to rump. It has formed a distinct head with the first stages of eyes and ears. The spinal column and cord are formed. Buds that will grow limbs have also formed. The heart is starting to beat and at this stage its beating may even be detected by sensitive ultrasound equipment, though, it's still very early. The kidneys, liver and nerve cells have also begun to develop. Ten dental buds are growing in the jaws. Blood circulation has begun and primitive red blood cells circulate. The neural tube has closed over along your baby's spine. The optic vesicles, which resemble tiny discs of pigment set in cups along the sides of your baby's head will develop into your baby's eyes. A distinct tail is still present. The body is shaped like the letter "C".

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Thu, Jan 5, 2006 7:13 AM
Our baby today:
Neural Folds Begin to Fuse, Heart Tube fuses
1.5 - 3.0 mm

Stage 10 reflects rapid growth and change as the embryo becomes longer and the yolk sac expands.

On each side of the neural tube, between four and twelve pairs of somites can exist by the end of Stage 10. The cells which become the eyes appear as thickened circles just off of the neural folds. The cells of the ears are also present.

Neural folds are rising and fusing at several points along the length of the neural tube concomitant with the budding somites which appear to "zipper" the neural tube closed. Neural crest cells will eventually contribute to the skull and face of the embryo.

The two endocardial tubes formed in Stage 9 fuse in Stage 10 to form one single tube derived from the roof of the nueral tube, which becomes S-shaped and makes the primitive heart asymmetric. As the S-shape forms, cardiac muscle contraction begins.

(I read in my Pregnancy Journal last night that my baby's primitive heart begins to contract today or tomorrow)....

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Wed, Jan 4, 2006 8:17 AM
Just received the news from my 3rd hCG beta (18 DPO). It is 1806. It's VERY, VERY high (even on the multiple pregnancy chart). I am thinking this is a VERY healthy sticky embryo that is just growing fast or something. EEK, we don't want to think about another set of Twins at this point. That would be 4 babies <2 years old!!!

Today's news is VERY good news.

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Tue, Jan 3, 2006 8:27 AM
I'M PREGNANT! What a shock! Est. Due Date 9/8/06

I received my 2nd blood test results today (from my blood draw on 12/30/05) and my hCG beta is 288! It should have been at least 200 (which would have been double my initial blood hCG beta of 101 (blood draw on 12/28/05).

Things are looking good... now I have 28 days to go until our Level 2 Ultrasound and Drs. appt!

Stay with us little one....

Thank God for miracles. How is it that there are so many people out there in need of miracles, and yet we have received our 3rd? I have so many friends I wish I could wave the magic wand and *make* pregnant, and yet here we are with a SURPRISE pregnancy. I have 4 very special friends that I say prayers for each and every night. I hope that miracle finds you VERY soon. I know it will, it's just a matter of time.

God is truly good. I just can't believe that he blessed us with this miracle pregnancy. Especially after we were told we would never conceive on our own. Thank you God for miracles.

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Mon, Jan 2, 2006 11:38 AM
Happy Birthday Grandpa Campbell! We Love You!

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Sun, Jan 1, 2006 11:37 AM
Happy New Year!

Today is Aidan's 1 Year NICU Graduation anniversary. What a memorable day, the 1st day we brought our Aidan home with us.

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