Short update

Spencer's test results came back yesterday. He has no commonly known genetic ailments. This doesn't mean he doesn't have one, but it could also mean he doesn't have anything. We won't know for sure until he's older.

We have to decide how we'll feed him after he gets home, as a backup for his bottle feedings. He's still having trouble getting the hang of the bottle thing, so we either have to have a temporary tube in his nose, or a more permanent one in his stomach. We're going to talk to the speech pathologist before we make up our mind.

They are going to do his feet outpatient. We're not exactly sure what they are planning, but it seems like Ponseti. I'm sure they will do his first casts before he gets to come home.

Waiting Game

Spencer James was born on the 18th at 3:01 om. I had an elective c-section because chances were that's how I was going to have to have him anyway. It was pretty scary, but all worth it once it was over. I remember panicking thinking he could just stay inside me forever.

Our first night together was perfect. He was having trouble eating, but I figured he would soon get the hang of it. Then the next morning the peds doctor took a look at him and sent him to Children's Hospital. I had to stay at the hospital. Handing him to the nurse was the hardest thing I have ever done. My husband rode over with him in the ambulance.

Spencer has clubbed feet, a cleft palate, some muscular thing with his hands, and a slight but completely normal heart murmur. He is getting some genetic testing done, and the results should be in within another week. As parents we have no idea if he's MR or not, or what he has, which is incredibly frustrating and heart breaking. Leaving him at the hospital every night is really hard. We can't wait to bring him home.

Today they fitted his hands with some braces. He hyper extends his hands, so they are trying to get them to straighten them out a bit. Tomorrow we'll learn what we're going to do about his feet. One foot is clubbed, and something else is going on with the other. We're working with a speech pathologist on his feeding, and he is using a bottle with a special nipple on it. He's starting to get the hang of it. He doesn't open his eyes a whole lot yet, but he's starting to a little more each day.

Baby today?

I can't sleep, which is funny since I haven't really slept in like two days.

Anyhow...

On Monday the baby was non-reactive to both his stress test and biophysical profile. SO I got admitted, which led me to believe that we would eventually get a baby during our hospital stay. I was grossly mistaken.

My doctor, who is now know as 'the Sadist', ordered me to be hooked up to a fetal monitor for 24 hours. Fun thing about our baby...he doesn't stay hooked up to anything for any duration of time because I have tons of fluid for him to play in. I had to lay still a lot, on a really crappy hospital bed (which ironically they were getting ready to upgrade me to a better bed right before I got to leave), which is painful when you're super pregnant.

I also had an IV in my hand, which started to really bother me in the middle of the night. Luckily, they took me off the monitor for a few hours during the night so I could get some sleep. Too bad the bed sucked, my IV machine kept on going off throughout the night, and I had to pee at least once an hour. The nurse offered me something to help me sleep, which I sucked it up and took around one. It kicked in right around when she woke me up to be hooked up again at 5:30.

But it was ok, right? I mean, if my baby, who is amazing at failing tests, failed his biophysical in the morning, that would mean I got to have him. The not sadist doctor came in and even talked about having to do a c-section and such. And he was going to be bad during his tests, right? Our little monster was in full crazy baby mode (he really likes pancakes apparently). No baby for us that day.

I now have the luxury of going to the hospital every day (which may include the weekend) to get tests done. If he fails one, they will evaluate. If he fails one after next Monday, they will cut me on open because he will be 39 weeks. He gets his growth measured on Thursday, which if he falls under ten percent (he was at 14 the last time), they will take him.

On a plus side, I'm now banned from going to work and I'm supposed to take it easy. Which is easy for them to say considering I'll be stuck at home with nothing to do. That's when I go stir crazy and start organizing and such- I can't even take a week vacation without starting a project. At least the living room needs cleaned, and I have less energy than ever, so maybe I'll get it done. Watch, now that I'm off work, they will take him tomorrow.

Kill the daddy

My ultra sound tech said the doc was full of it when I asked about the possibility of his feet looking fine. I think I've decided that my practice is full of crazies.

My husband turned my cell phone off while I took a nap to get some rest. The doctor's office called wanting to see when my next NST is so they can get me in for a consult to go ahead and induce my labor. I didn't get the message until after the office closed, so I guess I'll learn more tomorrow.

My fluid was at all all time high today- 42cm. I think I'm just going to end up exploding.

He is or he isn't

Interesting past couple of weeks. Here we go:

First off- I have been diagnosed with Polyhydramnios, which means I have way too much amniotic fluid. Very interesting because I'm not diabetic and usually the problems the baby is associated with not enough goo. I was told I have four time the amount of fluid I should have which is adding to the stress on my body. I've been ranging from 29-34 cm of fluid. They have been referring to my uterus as a big sea and the baby a little fish. Today they called it an ocean.

Secondly- My blood pressure has been surprisingly low. Like lower than it has been when I'm not knocked up.

I was held hostage at the doctor's office last week. They never got my test results for my three hour glucose screen and since the Poly is associated with diabetes, he kept me there until the lab found my results. Luckily the results weren't of something that could kill me (sarcasm). They tracked them down, and I was freed. Doc still thinks I might have late onset, and I have to go do another glucose test in the morning, even though this brings me to...

They baby is super small. 14th percentile because he has little arms and legs. He was five pounds and four ounces a week ago. Babies who mother's have diabetes are gianormous. But I shall humor the doc just to be safe.

Almost had a baby today and yesterday. Yesterday the baby didn't do his practice breathing which made me fail my biophysical. Typically if you're as far along as I am they make you deliver if you fail. The doc told me to try again today. I wasn't afraid of having a baby before yesterday when I realized that I have to have a baby, and soon.

Today he had a heart rate of 110 at my high risk (yup, officially high risk) appointment, which is low for him. Doc freaks out and tells me to prepare the thought in my head that I might have some spawn today. I go get my bio first. The little shit did nothing until the very bitter end. Talk about scaring his momma. He then almost cooperated for his stress test. She actually got some of a reading, which is more than they normally ever do.

Doc told me that if I didn't have the baby today that they will schedule my induction for within two weeks. They want to take him before 40 weeks.

Lastly, the doc said today that his feet appeared normal in the last growth scan. I have seen my baby's twisted foot on scan with my own eyes. We're not getting our hopes up, but I think I will find humor in the irony if he doesn't have club feet. We're mentally prepared to take care of his feet and for his future appointments and the sleepless nights. We know it could be much, much worse and are thankful that it's not. For him to not have clubbed feet would be amazing, but I don't think there's a chance in hell his feet are normal.