Week 20 appointment

Our week 20 baby appoinment was just over a week ago. I am sorry I haven't updated the blog since than. My mom was able to be here for that appointment and Addie and I were busy hanging out and playing with Mimi for several days after the appointment.

The week 20 appointment for us was a very big one. We had our ultrasound, a "screening ultrasound." Screening only in the sense that our insurance will not pay for the ultrasound to just determine the sex of the baby. But essentially, the whole reason for the ultrasound was to find out if we are going to have a baby boy or girl. And for those of you who haven't heard yet - IT'S A BOY!!! To be honest, I was in total shock by the news. I have always assumed we would be the typical fighter pilot family and only have girls. I have thought all along it was a boy, but just assumed that was a pipe dream. So when the word came that it was indeed a boy, I was surprised and it took a while to set in.

OK, OK - I am now 23 weeks along and didn't - obviously - ever finish this blog. Not for lack of trying however. I have been trying to get back on blogger for two weeks to finish this up, but the website has not been letting me connect.

One of the things I didn't mention above was the "abnormality" that was found on the ultrasound. His kidneys were dialated while we were taking the ultrasound. They reassured that this can be totally normal for boys - going as far as saying he may have just had to pee. However to air on the side of caution our mid-wife suggested we have the QUAD scan done as well as going and seeing an neo-natal specialist to have a Level II ultrasound done. Of course, no mother wants to hear anything is ever wrong - even if there is a chance it is nothing. So like anyone in situation, I freaked out!

The quad scan is a blood test that looks for chromosomal (sorry for the terrible spelling) abnormalities like down syndrome, etc. After our appointment, I immediately went and had this blood work done. I didn't have this test done with Addison mainly because I know there is a high rate of false-positive results. I knew that if the results came back positive I would spend the rest of the pregnancy worrying about the baby. We were planning on taking the same route this time and not have this test done. Afterall, it's not like we would do anything about it or love a baby any less if the results weren't good. However, after almost a week of waiting to hear the test results, they came back negative. WHEW! (I was mainly waiting on these test results before I posted anything in a blog.)

The next step of this process to rule out anything else is a Level II ultrasound. And apparently these are the MAC DADDIES of ultrasounds. However, the appointment is in Destin and it took us almost two weeks to get in. (The appointment is on Tuesday of this week.) So the relief that I felt over the quad test results being negative have been fore-shadowed by wondering what - if anything - this ultrasound will turn up on Tuesday. Really hoping it is nothing, like they are suspecting, but still have to take this whole thing serious in case it is something.

And than we have our regular doctor appointment on Thursday morning - including ANOTHER ultrasound. Busy week, baby wise!

Other than this bump in the road, the pregnancy seems to be pretty normal. And again, I am hating being pregnant. Love the end product, but hating getting to that point. In the last few days, I have started really aching in the evening - back and sides of my abdomen mainly. The heartburn has reared it's ugly head again and sleeping remains to be an issue. Also, I noticed my ankles were swelling last night and this was a HUGE problem for me with Addison - my legs looked like tree trunks the last half of my pregnancy with her. Seriously hoping the heat doesn't make that problem that much worse this time around. (AND IT IS HOOOOOOTTTTT here all ready and its still only MAY!) Still very tired, but again having a three year old doesn't help nor does the heat! So wishing I had a pool to spend my summer in.

Also, we do have a name picked out for a our little man. Not sharing it with too many people yet but let me just say that this was a long process. Charlie and I just don't see eye to eye on boy names and exhausted every possible family name in this process. Finally, I found a name in a magazine that I love and threw it out to Charlie thinking he would not like it. But turns out, he loves it! DONE DEAL! And I like to think baby likes the name because he has started moving a lot more since we have started calling him by his name.

I will share our middle name however and the reason we chose it. David. Last summer one of the ushers from our wedding was killed in Afghanistan while piloting a rescue helicopter. We felt like it was really important for us to honor David and this is the best way we could think of to do it.

The reality of having a boy has finally set it with all of us. I was really worried about Addie because she kept saying she wanted a sister. She is on board now and depending on the day you ask her, she is really excited about having a brother. Other days, she will tell you she doesn't want a sibling at all! His closet has started to fill up thanks to my pal Samantha which I think is really helping it become real.

Well, friends, that is all for now. I apologize for not finishing this blog sooner and updating you all with what was going on. I hope to have more information for our followers on Tuesday after the appointment...