No news

No new news is just that...

No news.

Nothing better, nothing worse.

We are grateful for the nothing worse part. My ultrasounds usually alternate between great and horrible, so secretly I think all of us were praying for "not horrible" after our last appointment.

Dana the ultrasound tech, whom I adore, said she thinks there might just be a little more fluid.

My amniotic fluid index is around 3.5, which is still very, very low....but not unsurvivable. Only once born will we know the true lung capacity. 10-20% of babies survive this, so we will just pray and petition the Lord that we are in that percentage.

With my previous pregnancies, the pregnancy part was more of a time waster. I viewed the pregnancy as the previews and birth and life as the show.

I have a different perspective this time around. I don't take movement or time for granted, and feel more in tune with likes and dislikes and how I can get the baby moving the most.

List of Five Things I Know About This Baby:

5. Time of conception. Two embryos were implanted on 1-14-11 at 11:34 and 42 seconds.

4. I receive the most movement if I am laying down.

3. As odd as this sounds, the baby really likes it if I drum my fingers against my belly.

2. Coke seems to motivate a few good kicks.

1. It's a girl. Josh and I have suspected for a while, but weren't 100% sure because of the lack of fluid.

Dana finally got a clear shot tonight.

Please meet our first daughter, Tessa Landrey, and the scripture we chose for her doll:


Origin of the name:

Growing up, all of my cousins were much older than me. Well, not really, but three to four years is huge when you are 12.

Around the age of 16, my cousin Tom met Rochelle. Her and I became fast friends. Some day I will have to recall the story of us paddling down the creek on a large Styrofoam board and screaming to be rescued from the 1 inch waterfall. Our male rescuer must have thought it was a rather large waterfall, because he ran Baywatch style through the weeds and muck and snakes to save us.

Anyway, she has a sister named Tessie and I always loved the name. Imagine my surprise when I looked up the meaning after we decided on it and the name stands for "Harvester".

I pray she produces a good harvest, and gets the chance to do so here.

What's the plan?

Staying inactive for the next few weeks. Dr. B has no idea if or when I could face a placental or bag rupture. To be safe, I am laying low as much as possible.

In two more weeks, I will have one final ultrasound with Dr. B to check measurements, placenta function, amniotic fluid, and chorion-amnion separation. If God decides between now and then to perform a miracle, and I have normal amounts of fluid, I can stay clear of Spectrum.

Otherwise, my bags will be packed, hopefully for the long haul.

Today, we are thankful for no news.

Thankful for another day.

Thankful for our first daughter, and the gift God has blessed us with.

Praying we make it to viability, and ultimately a healthy baby.

Thank you, as always, for celebrating this life with us and praying us through the storms.