Our baby

Well for those of you who don't know, on February 24 I went in for my ultrasound. I prefer not to think about the details of that day so, long story short, we found out our baby has spina bifida. It was very devastating. We talked to the perinatologist who explained more about it to us. Many of you might know or know of someone with spina bifida but you really can't compare any two cases, they are never the same. Anyways, with spina bifida, there is a gap in the spine. Basically, it sounds like the higher the gap, the worse the disability. At the very bottom of the spine is the area that controls bowel and bladder control so I guess most people with spina bifida do have problems with that. The perinatologist told us it looked about like an L5, which meant she would likely be in a wheelchair, I guess kinda paralyzed or something from the waist down. He said hydrocephalus often goes along with spina bifida. The fluid leaks out through the hole in the spine and goes up into the brain. At our most recent appt. her head measurement was 12 when it should normally be 10 for a baby at this point in the pregnancy. We don't know how much bigger it will get. This could likely cause brain damage though, we just don't know to what extent and will just have to see how things go. A few days after the first appt. we saw a pediatric neurologist up at Doernbecher's Hospital in Portland who was more optimistic about the outlook, sounding like she may be able to use braces rather than a wheelchair. But then on the next appt. (with our new perinatologist up at the hospital) with a more recent ultrasound, they saw that the gap was actually looking a little higher, like maybe an L4 or L3, so who knows? It sounds now like she may be able to use braces as a child but more likely have to use a wheelchair as an adult. Again, that just sounds like the most likely scenario right now, it could be a little better or worse. I guess maybe I'm more worried about the extent of brain damage and her mental ability. There are also other possible syndromes that could go along with the spina bifida that we may have to deal with. I was looking at some pictures of babies with spina bifida the other night, I guess hoping for a little comfort that she could still look normal. I found that some did, and others did not, I am really worried about her having a big head. They will do some operations right after birth, one of them to put in a shunt ( a tube) that will drain the fluid from her brain to her abdomen. It will be under the skin so it won't be visible. It is also sounding likely that I will have to have a C-section. I guess the placenta or something is low right now. Well, that is how things are going right now. I will try to keep you all updated.

Valentine's Day

Well for most of Valentine's Day, I hung out with Jeni and Lizzie who were visiting for the day. Elizabeth enjoyed investigating Wade's parent's house where we are living-she was pleased to see they had many toys. Then we went to Joann Fabrics. Elizabeth was trying to convince Jeni to buy her a treat. Jeni said, "Are you gonna share it with me?" and Lizzie says, "No," and pointing to the word Reeses, says, "it says 'own'," indicating it was meant to be one's own, and not shared. She is so funny. Then she picked another treat and said that that one said "mom" on it while the other one said "kid". We drove buy a pretty Catholic school and she said, "It's the temple!-a house of God a place of love and beauty!" all in one breath. She is such a funny little cutie. We also went to Old Navy where I got a new maternity dress and sweater with some gift cards I had and then had lunch, well i guess it was dinner, at Olive Garden.

That evening, Wade and I went to the very lame stake dance where I did not win a prize. But at least I got to wear my new pretty dress. For Valentines, I got Wade some new pajama pants and a candle. He got me a candle holder and a 48 pack of Snickers! I am always craving them, so now I have a huge stash! Woo-hoo!

My back has been doing better, but now I think I have a bladder infection or something. Or maybe the baby is just pressing on it a lot. I dont' know. To think-I'm only half way there! ugh! 20 more weeks of this!

This baby is getting on my nerve!

Lately, I have been getting some really bad back pain. It is in my low lower back, almost my butt I guess, on the left side. It is a sudden and severe pain that hurts when I move, I never know which movements will trigger it so I have to go slow. It's kinda funny-it reminds me of when dad would do that yelp thing like he was in awful pain and we'd all look at him and then he would just go on with whatever he was doing like nothing happened-no explanation or anything. It reminds me of that only in that sometimes it will be very quick and I will make some painful noise and then it will be over. Sometimes it is longer though, or I get stuck in a position that I can't seem to move out of. On Thursday night, I couldn't get off the bed. In my n, I kinda slid onto the floor. I had to wait there for a few minutes till I could try getting up. On Friday I called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" Just kidding, anyways, they couldn't move my appointment up but made some recommendations. So on Friday evening, we went to get a brace thing at a pharmacy but we are not sure if we got the right one. Plus, I realized it is too small so I will ask the doctor specifically what brand and also get a bigger size. On Saturday, Wade and went to a really nice spa/gym that his mom is a member of and got us week long passes for. We went in the pool and hot tub. I tried to move around a lot in there and do little exercises and stuff. I also have been icing it and then using a heating pad on it. All these were things the doc said to do. They said from the sound of it, the pain is probably from a nerve, like maybe the baby is pushing on one or something. Well, today i was having a nap and tried to turn over but it was so painful that I couldn't at all! At least not for several minutes. So I am going to call the doctor again tomorrow. I originally had an appointment for this coming Friday, I just really would like to get in before then because this is seriously hindering my job search. Plus it just really hurts. I am afraid I will get stuck or fall when nobody is home. Wade's parents have both been nice enough to offer to take me to the doc tomorrow if I can get an appointment. My problems sound really similar to what Robin (Wade's mom) had during her last pregnancy. I just hope it can feel better. Well, that's what's going on with me!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, today is my birthday, I am now officially 30 years old and honestly I don't mind a bit. Last night Wade and I went to the Portland temple. It was very pretty and reminded me of visiting the DC temple because it was in this wooded area with all these nice homes. It was a good thing we went then because it is now closing till the 23rd.

Afterwards, we went out to a Japanese restaurant for my b-day with Wade's parents. It was very yummy. Today Wade is making me a tasty birthday dinner and a cake.

Wade was offered a sales job which he has decided to take. I have an interview on Tuesday with Kay Jewelers and Motherhood Maternity said they will call me this week. They are both only hiring part time so maybe I could do both. That would be nice. I think I could make more money at the jeweler but the maternity store sure would be fun at this point in my life. Both stores are at a mall in downtown Portland so I would probably end up taking the Max train to work. Portland is a really cool town. There are so many neat shops and the color and decor of everything is so pretty. I wish it was more sunny though.

Whoever reads this, particularly family, please feel free to leave comments. It lets me know someone actually reads this. Plus I just like it. Later!

Our stopover in Prosser

Well we arrived safely in Hillsboro, Oregon late last night. We were able to stop at Jeni's overnight on Wednesday and Elizabeth was as cute and funny as ever. Me and Wade were trying to tell her she is too big for a pacifier. She thought about it and explained to us that no, it still fit in in her mouth just fine, and that it was a pacifier for a big girl. She sat next to me and we looked in the "Grilchin Graphic" (National Geographic) and she told me all about her interpretations of all the pictures, which was very comical. She saw a picture of a cow fetus and was a little freaked out by it. She got this scared and disgusted look on her face and said, "I don't want to look at that one." Once I explained what it was, she was a little more intrigued. It was also really funny when we showed the video of our ultrasound. She couldn't see how it looked like a baby, but then she said it looked like an animal baby. She said she could see its' horns, and something about sharks swimming in my tummy. She is very imaginative and tells great stories that make no sense whatsoever. Wade and I walked to the store and had lunch at the Blue Goose, taking her with us. She saw two ladies there who she thought were very silly because one of them was "talking like a man". I really hope the lady didn't hear her say that. It was really funny though because she clearly thought the lady was trying to be silly. Elizabeth liked to sit in my lap and stare at me and stroke my face and tell me she trusts me, which in her mind apparently means the same as I love you. She is such a cutie. She slept with me in the bottom bunk on Wednesday night and when we heard her little voice say, "Will you scratch my back?" , Wade started laughing from the top bunk saying he guessed this must be a family trait.

For those of you who thought Matty's picture this year looked like he was being abused, he told me that he was about to smile and that they just took the picture too early. When we left on Thursday, he was fighting some imaginary foe in the yard.

Lindsay and Brandon were fun too, I just got to spend the most time with Lizzie because the others were at school but I am excited to see them more often now. Later!

It's a Girl!!!!

Well we had our ultrasound appt. today. I have been wanting a girl and it just felt like that's what I would have. Well, I was right! They showed us the cute little footsies and the alien face and the little kickin' leggies and the little girlie parts! It was very cute and since we wouldn't be here for the next appt. when they usually give the DVD, they gave it to us today.

We are trying to get ready to leave for Portland tomorrow but Wade's electronics are taking up all the space in the car. Hmph! We'll see if we ever get out of here!

16 weeks pregnant

Well, for those of you who don't know, I'm pregnant. Wade and I went to an appointment last Tuesday and they said I was 15 weeks, just as we had figured. The doctor said we could come in in one week to find out the sex. We had heard we wouldn't be able to find out till the 20th week, so we were pretty excited. I got a call from the doctor's office on Friday evening at like 5:45 pm saying to call them back and that they would be open again on Tuesday. Well, that is when my appointment is, so.....I just hope it's not anything bad.

Wade and I moved back from Hawaii at the end of December. The job didn't work out. Going to Hawaii set us back financially quite a bit, but we had some fun experiences. My parents came to visit the week before we moved back and we went on a fun snorkeling trip on a boat. We saw whales and I was very excited about that. We flew out from Maui on December 16 into Portland to spend a few days with Wade's family. We were supposed to fly to Salt Lake on the 22nd, but we got snowed in till the 27th. Then we came back to SLC and we intended to stay with my parents for awhile, but last week we decided that Portland would be better for us. So as soon as we can get packed up, we're off to Portland to live with Wade's parents! I am sad to leave my family again but I will be happy to be closer to Jeni. I will only be about 3 1/2 hours away from her. Later!