July 6 Dr. Update

Well yesterday was another dr visit up in Chicago. My mom went with me this time and it was such a great day to spend with her. Gotta love bonding time with the momma!!

We had our ultrasound first before meeting with the doctor. I requested to have Katie do my u/s again and I was pleased that she got to be our techinican again!! She's the best!!!!

When our "little monkey" appeared on the screen, I was shocked to see ARMS & LEGS!! And they were moving!!! It was so neat!!

Look at what we saw, it was so neat!

Then we got to see the heartbeat again. It was stronger than last time and this time it was at 182 beats per minute!!!! Thats up from 136 just two weeks ago.

So then Katie was like, "If you think this view is cool, check out this... and then the picutres came up in 4D!! Just look at the detail in this!!!

So then after the ultrasound we met with Dr. Stephenson and she seemed really pleased with the progress we're making!! I think she was proud that I have actually followed everything she has told me to do and that Im taking it easy.

We're still not out of the woods yet. 10 weeks is a MAJOR milestone for us, and that happens to fall this coming Saturday. Then we'll be over one hump. We'll be "fragile" most of the pregnancy, and considered high risk, but teh first 10 to 12 weeks are the most crutial.

I will get to stop taking my Prometrium once my supply runs out; which will be next Monday. Dr. Stephenson says you only need to take it until 10 weeks but Im taking mine until its gone.... better safe than sorry!!!

I am going back to Chicago on Monday, July 20 for a follow up appointment, ultrasound and for first trimester genetic screening. This screening will do some testing on the baby (with no risk to the baby mind you) and test for any abnormalities. After this appointment, my Dr. said she will probably release me to my dr. here in town!! OMG huuuuuuuge step!!! She was going to call my dr. here in town to make sure she was comfortable with him taking care of me. He's a great doctor and specializes in high risk so I think once she actually talks to him, she'll be at ease more to turn me over!

I am part of a study at the University of Chicago that requires me to give blood once a month, extra ultrasounds and more hands on dr. care. This study is to see how people with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome react to pregnancy and what happens to their systems during pregnancy. I was tested for the AAS twice prior to becoming pregnant, once I tested positive for the syndrome and once I tested negative. I did the blood draws yesterday and they will send those off to New York for testing. If I test positive this time, I will get to be part of the study and continue with monthly blood tests and such. If I test negative, I wont get to be part of the study. Either way, I'm antsy to see what the test comes back at.

As we were getting ready to leave the hospital yesterday, we stopped in the gift shop go get a snack, and my mom found this stuffed monkey and she said she had to get it because it was a good luck charm for us!! So we now have our "Lucky Monkey"... isn't he so cute!

All in all it was a great visit to the doctor. I am anxious to go back on the 20th and then to be released to my dr. here in town!! That will be a nice change so I dont have to take days off from work for appointments and will be nice that the dr's office is just down the street!!! Hurray!!!

Thank you all for keeing us in your prayers and your NEVER ENDING SUPPORT!!!! We soooo appreciate it... more than you'll ever know!!!!

Until next time......

Katie & Craig