Praying for a Result

   Let me preface this by saying that we have only shared this information with our parents and siblings and weren't sure if we wanted to put this private matter on our blog.    After my First Screen test was conducted we have found out that the baby is at slightly increased risk for having Downs Syndrome. Since 13 weeks of this pregnancy we have has quite the emotional roller coaster.However this is the personal "limbo" we have been in the past few weeks and its been rough.  I have managed to hold it together very well considering that I have taught students with Downs and I know how loving, yet super stubborn they can be.  If that is God's plan for us to raise a child with Down's then that's is what we will do.  Jason has had a harder time with all of this and I am trying to get him to look at the positive in all of this. Funny coming from me because I usually am such a pessimist in life, this trial has shown me how much strength I can muster in times like this.

Sometimes I wonder why we are tested by God and everyone. I am not a very religious person but at times I feel I need to turn to God to help me sort out life.  We have waited three weeks for results for Downs Syndrome testing results.   When I went for my First Screen test at 13, my doctor called a few days later and said the babies risk of Down's was 1-42 and I am at increased risk based on the measurement of the nuchal translucency, it wasn't off the charts it was just slightly higher than the norm. There is a brand new test out called Maternit21, which analyzes fetal DNA from a maternal blood sample and detects trisomy 21, 18, and 13.

   We met with a genetic counselor, and we told her all our family history etc, they drew my sample and said it would take 8-10 calender days. Fast forward to last week. I start calling everyday from Monday on to see if they have my results. Of course they don't and I call my dad, who is a doctor to see if he can get anything. I get a call back from my OB, my OB is not at all concerned about the babies risk of downs, we told him our plans if it did indeed have downs, no question, we would raise it in our loving home.  The genetic counselor also called me that day and said the lab wasn't able to read the results and so they were moving on to the the next and last vial of blood. She warned me that there may be a possibility they may have to do this test ALL over again.  She told me that we would hopefully have the results on July 3rd.

   Of course I call today and we indeed need another sample. Jason was wondering if we should even do this test again if the results keep coming back inconclusive.   My mom called my Dad and he said that he believes they won't get an inconclusive result again because the baby is bigger and has more free circulating cell DNA.  So Jason and I are going on Thursday to have another sample taken.

   Please pray that they will be able to read the results this time. We are going back to the Perinatologist for my 20 week ultrasound for the anatomy scan per my OB's request because the Peri does this kinda of ultrasounds all the time.  We go to my ultrasound on the 27th, they day I turn 20 weeks. Seems so far off! I am almost 17 weeks.

Parents of Boys = Never boring!!!

     This past weekend we had a few accomplishments from both our boys!  On Friday night when my brothers were over watching Mario Marathon. (Its awesome!! these guys do this once a year for childsplay charity. Mariomarathon.com Check it out!) We thought Grayson went poop and Jason went to change him, well he hadn't gone. So we decided to put him on the toilet. He ended up going poop! He was so proud of himself! He ran over and gave me the biggest hug and kiss with the biggest grin on his face! We called my sister and he was so excited telling her all about it! My poor sister, Merritt!!  On Saturday he went two times in the potty and then on Sunday he kinda refused but went once at Jason's moms house! The hilarious thing is that he STOOD UP and aimed into the little potty training toilet! I laughed the entire time he was going! He did it this morning too at our house! It is hysterical!  He constantly asks for a candy and we keep having to remind him he has to go potty first!

  On Saturday and Sunday we went swimming at Jason's moms house and Corbin started swimming by himself with no floaties!  We were so excited and he is so excited that he can swim without them.  He swallows a ton of water and we make sure we are right there in case he gets too tired or in trouble but he is doing really well!

  Grayson on the other hand is still terrified of the pool and clings to us for dear life!  He is not so fond of the pool but loves his "noggles (goggles)!" He told Jason on the way home from my mother in laws house, "I sorry I scared swimming, Daddy." We told him it was just fine and he will get used to it and that he is ready when hes ready to swim.

Happy Father's Day- few days late

 

Happy Father's Day to the man that is the best Daddy and husband/best friend we could ever ask for.  

I truly believe that in the last month our relationship has been the best its ever been. (I am sure it has a ton to do with cutting up my credit card and honestly just living more simply, well one of the reasons anyways. Or maybe its the fact that I am not longer exhausted after a long stressed out day at work and I can just enjoy our children and spending time with my family.) Even when I called him crying today saying I got a deep scratch in our less than two day old brand new van's hubcap, he told me things like this are going to happen and you aren't used to driving this big of a vehicle etc, I felt horrible and I thought he was going to be furious.

 We have been tested by God this past week and he has been my rock.  He has faithfully gone to two of my doctors appointments this past week, I just needed him there after some news we received about the baby, we are still awaiting results. He has been understanding when I just need to cuddle and forget about the world for a little bit. 

I truly love at the end of the day, seeing our children's faces light up when they see that amazing man walk through the door. 

We love you Daddy!

13 weeks

How far along? 13 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: + 3 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Not yet. Thank goodness for the belly band! I can wear my jeans/shorts unbuttoned and it keeps my pants up!

Sleep: Not so great! I wake up 2/3 times a night and have to go to the bathroom and then get a drink of water because I cannot get enough water.

Best moment this week: First week of summer with my babies! We went to the Cedar Park library for the first time yesterday and had a great time checking out books together! :) Last week it was so incredibly hard to say goodbye to my co-workers last week, I have worked with these people for the past 5 and a half years. Broke my heart!

Movement: not yet

Food cravings: Anything healthy, salads, fruit, especially organic green grapes and watermelon, Grandma's brand hummus and pretzels chips, oh geez I cannot get enough of that snack!!! Last night though I was craving french fries while watching a movie with Jason and he went and got me some! LOVE THE MAN!

Gender: Still feel its another boy... (this is why I have a ton more boy names than the two girls names I have picked out one of them I have loved since before we knew Corbin's gender, Corbin woke up this morning and told he had a dream it was a girl and he has cried the past two days because he wants a sister. If I even tell him that its not up for me to decide, not ready to have the birds and the bees talk with my 4 year old, and that its up for God to decide, he starts crying. If I tell him that I would be happy with another boy he gets upset! Oh geez, we may never have a little sister in this family! ;(So needless to say we are foregoing the gender talk because Corbin is dead set on having a sister!  He really loved playing with the girls in his classroom at school.  I like that because I think they kept him more calm!

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? same

What I miss: Coffee! I broke down and made myself a cup this morning after being so good this whole pregnancy!

What I am looking forward to: Seeing our baby tomorrow for my first screen ultrasound.

Milestones: made it to 13 weeks and I haven't gained much weight (by 20 weeks with Grayson I had gained 20 lbs ugh! I ended up only gaining about 11 or so more lbs once he finally arrived) but have a little "tummy" I forgot how incredibly stressed I get when I am pregnant. I guess this time around too since I am staying home and felt I had everything "riding on this pregnancy" and that's the reason I am staying home, I as afraid Jason would make me go back to work if things didn't end well. Jason reassured me that if we lost the baby I could still stay home and love on Corby and Gracy!  I had a scare at 9 weeks when the placenta took over and it sent me into a terrible panic that things were not alright.  I was reassured when my OB's nurse did an ultrasound on me at 10 weeks 5 days just because she had had a crappy day and "didn't get to do anything fun," hey a free ultrasound, I will take it! :)

Our boys have something to tell you...

My

                                                                      

                                                                            

Brother

 

and I

have something exciting to tell you! Can you tell how excited I am! (Bad Iphone picture  from Corbin's birthday.)

We are expecting

a new brother or sister

 

at the beginning of December! (Stinking 4 year old is so busy trying not look at the camera and is always soo busy!) (I had to tickle Grayson because he didn't want to sit for a picture and wanted to play! The boys were so over taking the 5 pictures that we took!)


Mommy is really excited because she gets to stay home with the three of us next year!  We cannot be more happy too!! We get to get a new van! Yes, I said VAN! After looking at all our options this is the best option with the most room for our family!

I am super happy with this decision!  The day I found out I was pregnant I was six weeks. (I have had zero nausea or morning sickness and have had two ultrasounds and at the 10 week one the baby was kicking all around and their thumb was by its face!) I had been home 3 days with some really weird virus and had a fever and a cough, which I still have,  the boys were at Jason's dad house so I could rest. That didn't happen because I had to go the doctor because my dad thought I may have a UTI.  I spent most of the day out and about waiting for the doctors office to call me to come in.  I had mentioned to my Dad I was late and to the nurse. She told me I had to take a pregnancy test to rule that out first. I was so totally shocked! I just kept saying "WHAT!?!" Then  I sent the pregnancy test to Jason via email because he was his 5 year celebration luncheon with work. I begged him not to open the email until after his luncheon. He told me later that's was like saying Do not press the big red button!

He  texted me and said "Your staying home next year!" Everyone has commented in my family how much happier I am with this decision.  Yes, things will be tight but we cancelled my credit card and I cannot be happier with that decision too. Jason and I are both super happy and not fighting over petty purchases that I have made.  I am so happy because I could care a less about not having a paycheck!
Spending this time with my kids is something I can never get back.

Looking forward to loving on Baby Ziaja #3, which I am almost convinced is another boy! This baby is due the day before Grayson was due!

"sharing" Germs

I will start by saying our boys have been sharing their toys/food/etc lately very well. Well they have also been sharing germs apparently!!! Jason was thinking it was his fault the boys got sick but I told him my sisters and I got sick at the same time all the time when we were little!! He didn't remember if he and his sister got sick at the same time when he was little.

 On Monday afternoon, while enjoying a delicious chocolate cake, a student in my class gave me, with my co-workers, I got a call from our daycare. This only means one thing, my kid is sick. Corbin had a fever and I could not go drive and get him because school was getting out so my co-worker drove me in her car, she has a car seat for her grandson, to go get my babies.  Poor Corbin he was burning up! I kept asking him what hurt and he just said his head.  Well once we got home I asked him if he wanted tylenol or anything and he said no. Well a little while later Jason and I are in the kitchen and we hear Corbin say "Mommy, Daddy, I threw up." The funny part was he was soooo calm about it he just said it matter of factly. I am not a great 'sick' person and if I threw up I am crying and a MESS!  Jason wasn't quick enough to clean up the mess and Grayson walked in it and Jason got really upset. I told him that Grayson has never had the stomach flu and thrown up!

Well yesterday he finally go the stomach flu! I got a call during an ARD meeting from the daycare, so I KNEW Grayson was sick. I had to leave and they told me he had woken up and thrown up at nap.  Then on the way home my poor baby got sick too! He is so much like me and he was freaking out.  I was on the high way and had to pull over! Poor guy! This momma hasn't slept well the past two nights because when my babies are sick I get up a ton to check to see if they have any fevers or have gotten sick!

This morning I took Corbin to school by himself and we were driving to school and he saw a car in my schools lot and he said "Mommy, thats Mrs. Resta's car! I rode in her car!" (It wasn't her car but it was silver just like her Accord!) That kid and his visual memory! Love him!!!

All I can say is that I love my husband! Poor guy is trying to release something at work this week and he has been under stress and he has had to watch our sick babies for the past two days! Thank you Jason for taking care of our babies when they needed you the most!

Kids say the darndest things!

On Monday we had a really bad thunderstorm. The wind blew so hard that one of our trees fell over, which according to Jason's step-dad is because the root ball is too small for the tree?! We had no idea these trees were here when we bought the house.  Luckily the tree wasn't damaged or anything and so Jason and his Dad were able to put it back up and secure it with stakes. 

The storm was right when the boys were about to go to bed so we let them stay with us in our room until it was over.  Grayson all of the sudden screams and put his hand out like a stop signal and shouts, "STOP RAIN STOP!"  Gray was in bed with us when he said it and every time it thundered Grayson would shake his little legs. When Grayson said that in all seriousness Jason and I just busted out laughing.