Baby Names and more...

Never before would I have wanted to announce what our thoughts were towards names. Now, I guess I am at that point in life as to what difference does it make? If someone feels the need to "steal" our name...who cares! Right? lol It's not like many of our blog family live close by nor do we see or hang out with them on a regular basis...so again, who cares.

With that said I posted our thoughts...or should I say MY thoughts on names on the side bar. I thought it'd be neat to see what the "world" likes in regards to names. We have run a few past our family already...so I have heard the diarrhea jokes regarding Ria...and Vinnie thinks that Jia would get Jya...but our poor Mya gets Mia? Why, I don't know. We would just correct someone, continuously if we have to. Please feel free to "vote" on your favorite, boy and/or girl name. I'd love to get your opinions.

As for the question will we be finding out the baby's gender...NOPE! I want a surprise! I wanted to wait w/ Eva but when the "surprise" came in the form of a T18 diagnosis , my fear was of a miscarriage and didn't want to not know what the baby was ahead of time. So I knew Eva was a girl the same day I knew of the diagnosis, 13 weeks. This time, I want to wait...that's if Mya and Vinnie will allow it!

Friday's screening went very well. Comparing it to last year, what a difference. Eva was stubborn from the get-go. She would not allow herself to be measured and gave the tech (and me) a run for our money. I was made to move from side to side, emptied my bladder, the tech and doctor poked and prodded before summing it up to a measurement of 3.2 mm (the nuchal fold). As I was told last year (boy some things you never forget) was that 2.5mm and under was considered normal and 3.5mm and above was considered abnormal. The 1mm in between was considered a gray window in which they are unsure and wait for the blood work results to come back.

My blood work last year showed the hcg and pappa levels being too low. This meant that something was wrong w/ the baby's heart or something was wrong w/ the placenta. In our case...it was indeed her heart. Cause of death was congestive heart failure. Crazy to me that blood from me at 12 weeks of pregnancy could detect something that big.

So, this baby...last weeks ultrasound and blood work...was all GOOD! Nuchal fold measurement was 1.6mm (mind you, well under the 2.5mm and 1/2 of what Eva's was) and the blood work was normal levels. After the test last year I was told that my risk factor for a down's baby was 1/140 (they thought T18 was ruled out, boy were they wrong).....this year, after the screening test and results my risk factor for a down's baby (again, T18 ruled out) is 1/5000. I'm content w/ that.

I will not be proceeding w/ any invasive testing. No CVS nor amnio. I wasn't going to do that anyways but I am now feeling a lot better w/ making that decision. I will have the quad screening blood test on 9/18 and a Level II ultrasound on 10/17 and take it from there. Both in which last year showed the T18 characteristics very clearly.

Stay tuned. Pics to come, I promise!

(Someone had voted for Ara when I first put the poll up. Then I realized I needed to add one more name and had to delete the first poll. I hope that person, whoever you are, will re-vote w/ a new selection or w/ Ara again. Sorry for the confusion!)

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow is a big and busy day for us. Up at 6, out the door by 7, dr's appt at 8 and no later than 10 we'll be on the road for a two+ hour drive to meet up w/ friends and enjoy some fun in the sun! So looking forward to it!

As for the appt, you prayers are needed, please. We are heading back to AGH for our 1st trimester screening...which means a few things to us. This will be all 4 of ours first time back to AGH since March when we left w/out our baby girl, Eva....this is also the same place and test where our journey w/ Eva all began. Lots of mixed emotions here. Please pray for us.

As for an update, not much going on. I started a new job on August 4th. More details on that later, nothing bad thus far. As for my current status, I am nauseous...everyday. PRAISE GOD for NAUSEA! I have a few ultrasound pics to post after our crazy weekend, as well as I still plan to post about our trip to the beach, Atlanta and camping. Boy have I been slacking!!!

So, on that note...all is well. We're all still here. Baby and all. Blood work and appts this far have gone great. Heart rate is 167-171. So awesome to hear that coming from within. We are so blessed and very thankful!

Please check back soon for back dated posts and major, major pics! Gotta have pics!