WE HAVE SEEN THE STOMACH!

Well everything is better than expected! We went to meet with the “Team O Surgeons” yesterday fully prepared for them to tell us Cooper would be having surgery right after birth.  We did the ultrasound with the tech and waited…… and waited……. and waited. Then the Dr came in and told us he was holding off on the “team” coming in for right now and wanted to take a look himself.

WELL HE SAW COOPERS STOMACH! And he saw it many times.  It was not too big, not too small, it was just right.  We were over the moon excited…… This means that he probably doesn’t have a problem at all in his esophagus and we do not, at this point, need to worry about surgery when he is first born!

As of right now Cooper is a perfectly healthy little boy with an extra 21^st chromosome.  He is weighing in at 4 pounds 6 ounces and is in the 32^nd percentile. Everything that we were worried about from the beginning has worked itself out. 

So what is the plan now… Well I am having LOTS of contractions but they are not really leading to labor at this point in time.  I am expecting to have these contractions on and off for the next 4 weeks and then schedule to have a repeat C-section 8/17/2011.  Unless I suddenly go into labor, which is fine at this point because Cooper is considered a full term baby, that is the planJ

Nice Weekend and Officially nine months pregnant

We had a very nice weekend and have a big week of doctor visits coming up.

The boys (Jon and Cole) set out on Saturday for a fun day.  They went to the wine store to pick Nanny T out a bottle of wine for her birthday, then to Pet Smart to check out all the cool animals, and then to Publix for a little grocery shopping.  Cole absolutely LOVES animals, his favorite are the fish.  Then on Sunday we went over to Bru and T’s to celebrate her birthday, or so we thought.  We actually arrived early this Sunday and to our surprise they had a “Sprinkle” for our new bundle of joy Cooper!  It was absolutely wonderful to celebrate Cooper’s arrival and with people I know are just as excited as me.  When I walked in and saw everything set up and his named spelled out in cupcakes it was hard to keep from losing it right there.  I don’t know why I would care if I had a little break down and started crying but for some reason I just wanted to smile instead of crying about Cooper’s arrival.  I know it is crazy because they would have been happy tears but my mind works in mysterious ways.  Cooper got ALL kind of great clothes for his arrival and beyond so we are set.  Cooper’s cousin Emri made a great diaper cake to start us off with some newborn diapers again.  My Grandmothers have gotten Cooper his crib set and a dresser for all his little clothes so everything is ALMOST ready to go for when he comes.  We are very lucky to have such caring and loving people in our lives!!!  Thanks Michelle and T for making it so wonderful! And Happy Birthday T!! Now I just need Cooper to arrive and be able to come HOME quickly. 

I am officially NINE months pregnant and very uncomfortable.  I have to go to the regular doctor on Tuesday to make sure my belly is measuring well and to see if I am getting close to labor.  Although I have been having a TON of contractions that hurt the last time they checked I am not dilating or thinning at all.  So lucky me I am having painful Braxton Hicks contraction and I am large and uncomfortable. Oh well, enough complaining it will all be worth itJ

Then on Wednesday we go to see our “team” at the specialist.  I don’t know who will all be in our “team” but am very glad we have one.  They will be doing an ultra sound and discussing all the possibilities to prepare us for his birth.  I guess that what they think is going on is the Esophageal Atresia.  I am really nervous about this meeting but we will see how it goes…….

I will update once we are through with all the appointments and let you know where we are at….

1st Posting

Hi!

I have decided to create this blog to keep family and friends updated on the crazy adventure we are on.  I am by no means an elegant writer and in fact I don't think I am particularly good at it so please be understanding. 

Well right now I am 33 weeks pregnant with our second child.  At about 18 weeks we had an amniocentesis and discovered that this baby will have down syndrome.  Although it was a big shock we have gotten used to it and have decided that this is just the way this baby will be.  We are 100% excited about him and can’t wait to meet him! By the way his name will be Cooper!

There were several markers that lead to us getting the test and most of them have worked themselves out.  He had a bright spot on his heart (which is now gone), he has a little extra fluid on his brain (but it is staying steady and barely over normal so the doctors are not worried), and his long bones measure short (which is nothing to worry about; he will just have short legs and arms like his mommy!).

About 50% of babies with down syndrome have some kind of heart defect.  We had an echocardiogram and right now it looks like he is in the 50% that does NOT have a heart defect!  There are things that can show up but for right now it looks really good.

The one area that is still concerning is his stomach.  I have had three level 2 ultrasounds and they have not been able to see his stomach.  This means that he has some kind of blockage and is unable to swallow.  The term they used is esophageal atresia.  Right now he is fine but this will probably require surgery when he is first born.  I am very concerned about my newborn having surgery in the first couple days of life; in fact, it makes me a little sick to my stomach.  The doctors have assured me that this condition is completely “fixable” and everything should be fine.  That doesn’t make me feel much better and I hope that I am able to be strong for Cooper during all of that.  There is also the possibility that they just haven’t seen the stomach and he will be born just fine.

If all of that isn’t crazy enough, we also have a 20 month old named Cole!  He is ALL boy and loves to climb and get into everything.  We have tried to tell him that he will have a little brother soon and that he is in mommy’s belly right now, but I don’t think he understands.  When I ask him where Cooper is, sometimes he lifts his shirt and shows us his belly…so I think he just thinks that his belly is called Cooper. 

Jon and I also have a 5 year old 100 pound American Bulldog. He likes to get in trouble every now and then but for the most part is a great dog.  Cole and him are best friends!

So that is where we are to date.  I will keep everyone as updated as possible, especially when Cooper decides to make his entrance into this world!

I added some pictures from the 4th of July below!