17 weeks

My sweet baby boy. I am so lucky to be your mama!!   There is so much we are preparing for you!

This week we had contractors in to do the entire upstairs of our house in hardwood floors.  We moved your big brother into his new room in order to prepare your room! Everything looks great so far- just have to order your furniture and we will be ready for your arrival!  You have been moving around a lot more lately and I feel you especially at night.  I have some sciatic pain coming back  as we move forward, but the numbness has not returned- yet.  I keep waiting for that to come back, but maybe with my regular chiropractic care we can ward some of it off.

I have switched doctors yet again.  After signing up doula Nikki again for the birth, I have decided to go back to my original OBGYN that handled my miscarriages back in 2010/2011 because their practice and hospital has the lowest c section rate in the tri state area.  Since I'm trying for a VBAC, they apparently will stop at nothing  to get you one if that's what you desire. Sold!

I am wondering how Luke will handle the new baby.  When I am around his little cousins who are 6 months younger than he is, he gets very protective and wants to cuddle in my lap. It's very interesting to see him act that way because usually he is very independent.   I am sure it will work out but I just hope he knows that I have room enough in my heart for everyone and he will always be my first baby!

And my second baby- we may have decided on a name for you.  I think we are almost positive you will be Shaun Patrick.  It was weird just writing that. I've only been saying it so far.  Not sure if we like Sean Patrick or Shaun Patrick.  Regardless, being born around St. Patrick's day was pretty much a given that you were going to have a very , very Irish name.  Daddy is so proud!  Because Luke is so light, I can pretty much guarantee that irish Shaun Patrick will be the darkest italian looking kid you've ever seen ;)

17 weeks 1 day with Luke

15 weeks

Now that I'm into my second trimester (which really flew this time, btw), I am able to focus more on enjoying this pregnancy.  Because let's face it, this is probably it for me.   These were my child bearing years- the last 3, almost 4, years.  I'm turning 34 in about a month and I really don't want to have another baby past 35.   Unless it's with my frozen embryo made from a 31 year old's eggs ;)  My 31 year old eggs.  Yeah, more on that later- maybe I'm not done.

I have been feeling really good so far.  First trimester was uneventful outside of the CVS debacle.  I have been feeling good (though tired) and crazy cravings are waning.  I'm back on salads and non- pizza foods.  I have been trying to eat healthy- veggies, salads, back to cooking vegetarian dinners at least twice a week.  I have indulged in a few sodas and definitely candy and goodies.  Surprisingly by the picture, I'm only up about 8 lbs from my starting weight so far.  I think this time in my last pregnancy I was up 10+ lbs from the start.

A week or so ago, after I got my final results, I told work my news.  It was so nice that everyone was happy for me, even though I know my supervisor is probably thinking how annoying it is to have another girl out on maternity leave.  Is it wrong that I am counting down the days already.  I am going to ask for another 4 months off and I hope I get it.  I am so not in a motivated place right now.

14 weeks

I finally feel like I can breathe.  During our 12th, almost 13th week, we got all of our final test results back of the CVS.  I am so happy to report after many sleepless nights that there is absolutely, positively nothing wrong with this baby chromosomally.  He is perfect in every way, as we knew he would be.  Not only is he perfect, but he does not even carry my inversion on chromosome set 7.  Luke is the same.  It blows my mind that this could happen.  All of the statistics I was given, I just can't believe it.  How did we get so lucky not once but TWICE?  Granted, Luke was many painful rounds of IVF and hormones, but he happened for us.  Now, this? Could we get any more blessed?  I am so humbled by the universe and the ability of the body to produce something so perfect in the face of such obstacles and seemingly impossible odds.

Wake me up

Hi Buddy-  This song makes me think of you and our journey to get here.   

Feeling my way through the darkness
Guided by a beating heart
I can't tell where the journey will end
But I know where to start

They tell me I'm too young to understand
They say I'm caught up in a dream
Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes
Well that's fine by me

So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself, and I
didn't know I was lost

I tried carrying the weight of the world
But I only have two hands
Hope I get the chance to travel the world
But I don't have any plans

Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life's a game made for everyone
And love is the prize

Prelim FSH results

We got what will hopefully be our first round of good news today!   Our FSH results came back today, and all was normal for Trisomy 21, 18 and 13.  In addition, gender confirmation is in- definitely another BOY!!  I was made to have boys, it is in the cards and is my fate!  We make normal boys- our girls were not meant to survive.   We proved it through IVF and now even leaving it up to chance the outcome is the same. I am so happy today- one more hurdle crossed!  Microarray should be in later this week.