Smooth Sailing

Our two appointments at CHOP this month have gone very well. Vivienne is doing great. She's growing at a normal rate, she's really active, her fluid levels and heart rate are normal and she's practicing breathing. Allison's sonogram yesterday took all of 15 minutes, which is approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes less than it took us to drive to and from the hospital. We'll take it, however, since a short exam means there aren't any major problems.

We also met with the social worker and the psychologist during our visit. It sounds like we probably won't be able to move into the Ronald McDonald House on Sunday since the rooms are occupied right now. Because the pregnancy is going so well, however, they gave us permission to stay an hour and 15 minutes outside of Philadelphia with Allison's sister. We'll work there remotely on Monday and then stay in a hotel in the city Monday night before an early appointment at CHOP on Tuesday morning.

We got home around the same time that we normally get back from work and then headed out to have dinner with a couple we met at birth class. They also had a high NT scan early on in the pregnancy but all of their subsequent tests came back normal. Still, it was nice talking to another couple who have experienced some of the same uncertainties and tensions that we've had to deal with.

Allison and I are doing pretty good, all things considered. We're checking the last items off of our to-do lists at home and at work. We really appreciate all of the support we've received from our family and friends over the past few months. One of us will post again after our next appointment, at which point we'll be relocated to somewhere in the greater Philadelphia area.

Getting Ready for Viv

Well, here I am: 32 weeks pregnant, well into my final trimester and four weeks away from relocating to Philadelphia. Dave and I have been extremely busy lately. Our to-do list is long, and we've been feverishly trying to cross off items before our relocation. Most of our activities have pertained to preparing for Viv's arrival here at the house. I've been apprehensive about doing "too much" due to fear of coming home to a completely baby-ready house without a baby. I'm a planner; however, and the thought of being totally unprepared to bring a baby home was also unappealing. Therefore, Dave and I decided to get the "big stuff" in place. We spent a lot of time working on the nursery and now have the essentials set-up. I ended up working on quite a few of the details too, mainly because I find decorating fun and kind of therapeutic. Also, it's hard not to get excited about a baby, even when the reality of the situation is less than ideal. The "little stuff" like washing clothes and bedding, putting items away, organizing, etc. will be taken care of by my mom and sister once we feel confident Viv is coming home.

A view of the nursery accent wall that fits our rain drop theme. My friend Stephanie and I stenciled and painted the drops onto the wall. (Sorry for the poor lighting...the ceiling light hasn't been installed yet!)

A view of the crib and the painted bookcase. 

Friends and family have been extremely generous in helping us prepare for Viv's arrival. We've had three (!) baby showers - one thrown by a local friend, one at work, and one in my hometown. They were all lovely, and we received so many great gifts. We are so grateful for everyone's support and generosity; it truly means so much to us.

Finally, we had another appointment at CHOP last week. Viv is looking great. She weighs 3 pounds and 14 ounces, is practicing breathing, continues to have a strong heartbeat, and has hit every milestone she is supposed to. Even better is that her "insides" look good (except for everything being completely in the wrong place, of course). Her stomach is not twisted and her bowels don't appear to be kinked, so she's not suffering from any growth restrictions and can process the proper amount of amniotic fluid. This means we don't have to be monitored every week until we hit 34 weeks. This was very welcome news because we were expecting to travel to Philly weekly starting at 32 weeks. So as it currently stands we will return for appointments on February 16 and 23, with relocation still set for March 1.

Smile for the camera! Viv seems very content and deep in thought here. She continues to fight showing her entire face, but mom and dad appreciate her willingness to semi-cooperate!

Readers should expect our updates to come more frequently once our appointments start to pick up later this month. Hopefully they are short and boring. We'll have enough excitement once she makes her grand entrance and are more than fine with boring for now.