Doctor, doctor...

For many years I had terrible headaches, especially during college.  After many medical tests, I was finally diagnosed with hydrocephalus (a valve had shut in my brain so the fluid was not draining) so I went in for brain surgery and a shunt was placed from my head down to my stomach.  As a result of this shunt and now being pregnant, I had to go see my neurosurgeon again.  At first we were expecting that we would be told to have a C-section, but the neurosurgeon said to try to avoid a C-section at all costs because the scar tissue could cause more problems for my shunt in the future.  In addition to the neurosurgeon, we also have to see a specialist.  On Tuesday we met with the Maternal and Fetal Specialist for the first time.  It was pretty much just a consult, but they did do a sonogram so we were able to hear our baby’s heartbeat for the first time!  It was really cool.  I was really happy that Brian was there again to share that exciting moment with me as well.  We also got to have another picture of our little one.   He or she better get used to pictures! 

Everything with the specialist went well, and there should not be any complications.  We will continue to see the specialists for at least the next 3 months.  Right before we left, the specialist casually mentioned that there is a possibility that I will not be able to have an epidural!  WHAT??? I have never been one of those women who ever considered having a natural childbirth!  I have always said bring on the meds!  Brian responded to this news with oh that will be fine trying to be supportive.  I was thinking easy for him to say when he’s not the one having the baby!  We will know around week 36 if we are able to have an epidural or not.  Pray that the baby positions itself in a way that does not interfere with my shunt or the epidural! 

Our Baby Story...

Brian and I knew that we definitely wanted to have a family someday.  We went back and forth on when we should start to try for this.  We have enjoyed being married, and it has really been easy for us.  We have so much fun together.  There is so much we still want to do together and everyone always says to do everything before you have kids because you won’t have time once you have a family.  On the other hand though, Brian and I knew that we were getting older and didn’t want to wait too long.  We wanted our children to be close in age with their cousins as well.  I am a person that likes to have a plan and schedule things ~ I know this is not always possible when planning a family or having kids.  Brian and I discussed having kids, and as a teacher I wanted my baby to arrive in February so I could take my full 12 weeks of maternity leave and then it lead right into summer break.  After calculating this, we realized May or June would be the perfect month to conceive.  I have heard story after story about how people had a hard time getting pregnant, so Brian and I discussed trying first in April. I really didn’t think we would get pregnant right away.  God has a sense of humor though and let me know that not everything can be scheduled perfectly according to my timeline.

Late in April, I knew I was pregnant because I kept falling asleep on the couch around 7:30 each night.  I just casually mentioned it to Brian, but didn’t make a big deal out of it.  Brian was going to golf that afternoon, so I had in my head that I would head to the store for a pregnancy test (Dollar Tree ~ both my sisters used their pregnancy tests and they were accurate so I figured why not). I rushed to get home,  went right upstairs to the bathroom, read the directions on the test and instantly I saw a positive reading!

I sent a text to Brian “Positive!” while he was golfing.  I didn’t want to give any more detail in the text in case anyone else saw it.  However, it didn't click with him that I was pregnant.  He thought I was telling him to be positive and enjoy his golf game! (He actually ended up hitting some good shots and made a par on that hole!)

After the guys were done golfing, the wives met up with the husbands for dinner.  I even pretended to take a sip of a drink so there wouldn’t be any talk of me being pregnant (some were already questioning and predicting).  I insisted on driving home because I wanted to tell Brian right when we were in the car and didn’t want him to crash or anything being distracted by the excitement.  I had taken a picture of the positive pregnancy test and had it saved in an email. It took Brian a few seconds of looking at the picture of the pregnancy test and he was like ummm what exactly am I looking at? I laughed and told him about the positive text message I had sent earlier was not referring to him being positive and enjoying golf.  I will always remember his expression and reaction of joy.  We are very excited for our little one to arrive at Christmastime 2012.

Let's go bloggin'...

Upon finding out we were expecting, I have heard over and over that life goes so fast especially with a baby.  I am starting this blog to try to capture as many memories as possible.  I have also been warned about pregnancy brain and forgetting many things, so I want to try to document as much as I can to remember everything. I have enjoyed scrapbooking ever since I had to do a senior scrapbook in high school, and I want to use this like an online scrapbook, and I hear you can print out your blog each year as a book. 

Proud Mother-to-be

Excited Parents-to-be

Proud Father-to-be