Growing James

When we found out Dean and I were going to make our lil' family into three, we were ecstatic! Not only is there a lot of responsibility with caring and raising a child, but growing one is a lot of work.

There are a lot of warning signs doctors and nurses tell you after each appointment. "If you see any of the warning signs, call in and come in and see us." When I went in for my doctor's appointment to check on his pyelectasis, my blood pressure at the time was high. Even after I was told that his kidneys were fine, my blood pressure still read high. Before I was worried about the ultrasound and the pylectasis, now I am worried for being too worried because of my high blood pressure!

From the routine check up, the doctor wanted to check me into the Labor & Delivery unit to be monitored for the high blood pressure. Once I was all hooked up on a hospital bed, my blood pressure looked normal. But now I am considered a high risk pregnancy from the gestational hypertension and on preclampsia precautions. Because of this, I am now on light duty at work, which is fine with me :)

With the baby shower round the corner, I have been busy with my DIY stuff. Invitations, banners and favors galore. Here are the invitations:

Also we were busy one Sunday doing maternity photos at Manhattan beach with an old high school buddy as the photographer, Lorelie Friedheim. I was hesitant to pose with a midriff top, but being at a beach where everyone is already half naked, it felt fine. Of course, those pictures are already in a scrapbook :) and everything turned out lovely!

(Sorry, the pictures are taken with my cell phone at night.)

My next blog post will probably be of the baby shower and all of its pictures. At 30 weeks now, James is kicking farewell and till the next blog!

Pyelectasis

My little brother (who isn't so little, he's 18!) is a Downs kid and because that runs in my family, we decided to see a genetic counselor. I wanted to do the prenatal screening program, which includes blood work and a nuchal translucency ultrasound at around 13 weeks. From the screening, the results looked really good: 1/31,000 chance of Down syndrome. Negative for anencephaly, open spina bifida and abdominal wall defects. Waiting for these results were a tad scary because I see babies/kids at work with these defects everyday. 

At 19 weeks, I had the big ultrasound where they look at the entire anatomy of the baby. But I had a crappy technologist who didn't talk to me as she scanned. "Let me get all the information and pictures I need for the doctor first. Then I will show you pictures of the baby." I laid there for half an hour as she scanned me in silence, with the screen facing away from me. 

It was not until I met with the genetic counselor 3 weeks after did I get to see a better look at what images the US tech took. Everything looked normal EXCEPT for baby James' right kidney. The dilation of the renal pelvis measured higher than normal which is considered pyelectasis. What is pyelectasis? "In 2-3% of all pregnancies, urine, made by the kidneys, does not drain into the bladder as it normally does. Pyelectasis occurs more frequently in boys than girls." Pyelectasis may also be associated with an increased risk for Down Syndrome, which is why the genetic counselor called me in to for a talk. She reassured me that based on my results from the screening and my age, I shouldn't worry about Down Syndrome. That the pyelectasis  is a very small marker. Even the nurse practitioner I met for the monthly checkups didn't appear worried about his kidney. 

What happens next? In most cases, the measurement of the fluid level in the kidney goes down. "He will grow into it." But I have to get a follow up ultrasound at 28 weeks to check the size of James' renal pelvis. 

What if the pyelectasis does not resolve at the next ultrasound? "In 10-27% of cases the fluid level in the kidney increased to 1 cm or greater, indicates hydronephrosis. Which means there is a dilation of the kidney because the urine is not draining properly. 

Pray for us, that James' kidney is normal! My 28 week ultrasound is the 2nd week of January, which seems so far away!

After all of this medical jargon, here is the latest picture of James growing!:

25 weeks!

Next post: My DIY projects. Decorating the baby room! Possibly new scrapbook pages.

It's a Boy!

So, this post really isn't in chronological order.  It's in the random order as it pops out of my head.  In the past 2 ultrasounds we have been told the baby is a boy.  My family is super ecstatic about that.  With the happiness, also come with pick out a boy's name.  The issue with a boy's name is that it has to be carefully chosen.  Michelle and I have agreed to some way have one of our names in the child's name.  And the name we chose is.....  James Dean Chen.  There's a few reasons behind the name other then the reason I mentioned.  Those of you that know me knows that I'm a gear head through and through and I love motorsports.  What better name to choose that also incorporates my name then that of a motorsports legend.  Yeah, James Dean was in a few movies that I care not to remember, but also besides the point, it's a freaking B-A (James, when you get older, you'll understand what B-A means) name because he has a B-A dad!

Laying Foundations

A lot has happened within the few week in regards to our living situation.  Both Michelle and I understood that our 1 bedroom apartment just didn't offer the size that we needed for our growing family.  So, the hunt began for a new domicile that has the space for our incoming +1.  We found a beautiful newly constructed 2 bed/2.5 bath condo that was in our price range and we snatched it up.

I figured it would be easier to do a multi-day move-in.  While it would be more tiring on me, I figured it would be easier on Michelle and James.  Day 1 consisted mostly of small and loose items.  Things that Michelle could help move, and organize immediately.  Day 2 was heavy lifting day.  I had enlisted the assistance of my friends (thanks Alex, Jose, Graeme, and Eric!) and we had all of the furniture moved.  Now we're pretty much settled in and I've begun some work on the nursery.

I had my old 32" TV just sitting around, so I figured I might as well wall mount it in the nursery as I figured much of our time will be spent in there after James is born.  We still need to get a dresser, and we're getting a Pack and Play from a friend of ours.  Also much of my family are donating "used" baby items to us.  When I say used, I mean we didn't buy it new, but much of it was never used.  So, we have a bunch of baby clothes, a like-new infant car seat, and some other little knickknacks.  We also got advise from family members as for items that we shouldn't waste our money on as well.  So, as far as laying down a good living foundation, I think I'm on the right track, however I didn't expect this track to come with this much lower back pain.

Growing!

The jeans no longer button. Most of my tops are like midriffs. My hospital scrubs are snuggier and everyone at work are now noticing! The downside isn't the new wardrobe, but the fact I can no longer sleep on back. I constantly switch from side to side and I feel like I never really get a good night's sleep. Also, le bebe and the growing uterus it lives in, sometimes hits the sciatic nerve. Pain strikes my lower back that radiates down my upper thigh. Le bebe is kicking my butt and messing up my sleep pattern already!

The differences between 14weeks and 19weeks!:

Scrapbook

The last month have been rough on me. Anything that I do when I am awake makes me nauseated. Driving, being a passenger in a car, walking down stairs, riding elevators, strong odors, everything! I have tried everything to remedy it - gingersnaps, ginger tea, crackers and the sea-band. Because of the "morning sickness," I get so exhausted from trying not to vomit. I sleep at 9pm, take a nap during my lunch break and after work. I really do hope that the books are correct, that this will all subside by the 2nd trimester, but that's a month away!

At my beloved Michael's, I was shopping around for paper to make a wedding gift card. At the store there was large section of scrapbooks for only $5! That means, I can start scrapbooking my pregnancy.

Here's the first (and only one so far) page:

Next doctor appointment with the 12 week ultrasound is September 14th!
12 week fetus = size of a lime. 0_0

Our Little Peanut

Today, marks the first ultrasound! The embryo is measuring 1.06cm and I am 7 weeks pregnant. My estimated due date is April 3rd, 2012!

It was amazing to see a little heartbeat already and to actually see it exist! "At 7 weeks the baby is now about the size of a blueberry. Most of that growth is concentrated in the head as new brain cells are generated at the rate of 100 per minute. Your baby's mouth and tongue are forming as arm and leg buds sprout." When I sent this picture to Dean in a text message, he replies back with "I have such a big smile right now."

Want to see what a 7 week embryo looks like?
Crazy!



Hi little peanut! :)