Baby Update From Virginia

Greetings, World!

Well, Matt and I are settled back at home in Virginia, and it feels pretty darn good. We've had two appointments in the past week, both of which had positive results! In fact, I'd venture to say that today was the closest I'll ever get to that long sought after "flawless appointment!"

Last Thursday I went in for my gestational diabetes test. I don't know why I wasn't anticipating this, but I was shocked by how terrible the "fruit punch" I had to drink was. It tasted horrible, but more than that it just made me feel awful! I was sick to my stomach for the next day or so. BUT, to my surprise and delight, my results came back as really good. I have admittedly taken my good health for granted the past twenty three years. The worst thing that's ever happened to me was getting my tonsils out, so this whole blood pressure thing had me pretty shaken up. It felt good to pass a medical test.

They scheduled me for another appointment today so that they could conduct an ultrasound. (Declan is destined to be photogenic.) Everything looks good! Declan is measuring over three pounds at this point, and is in the 85th percentile of largeness. I've watched the "projected due date" creep steadily from July 17th to, at this point, July 4th. That's all fine and well, Baby Boy, as long as you wait until July. Matt has been honored with the privilege of acting as best man in a wedding on June 30th, and will thus be five hours away until July.

My favorite part of the appointment today, ironically enough, was when the nurse took my blood pressure. I could feel my heart rate go up as she called me back and prepared to place that dreaded cuff around my arm. I just kept praying it would be normal, and it was! (well, pretty much normal: 126/82.) Praise God!!

The doctor told me in an ominous tone that they still saw the brightness on the bowel, and asked me why I'd declined the amniocentesis. When someone can explain to me the logic of knowingly putting my baby at risk of miscarriage for a test I couldn't change the result of anyway, then I'll have that test done. I was told the risk of miscarriage due to that test was so low I shouldn't even think about it. The risk of Declan having down syndrome, even with the brightness on the bowel, is lower than the risk of miscarriage due to the amniocentesis. I told her the specialist didn't seem concerned and I wasn't going to be either. She was perfectly nice after that and told me to stay out of the hospital. That is definitely my plan-- until July, when I will be happily accepting drugs and greeting my large and healthy baby boy :)

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers you all have been sending our way; they have truly made a difference!