Sheweeeeeee...

Today was another busy day for us Hendrikson's! I was fortunate to have the day off work, Peter however didn't have that luxury and had to work until 10am however I digress!

We started off today with a visit to the NICU we got there at around 11:15 checked in with the front desk and were met by a charge nurse named Morgan. She is a very sweet gal! She explained to us the detailed hand washing process that'll need to be done to keep our girl and the other sweet babies healthy! She then went on to tell us about checking in at the front desk and the visitor policy. Which right now is pretty strict because of flu season and the concerns for RSV. I understand their policy and don't want to put any babies in jeopardy however I'm not a fan of it. Currently it'll be Peter and I who will have 24/7 access then only 4 other people will be allowed to visit Emma while in the NICU. I am praying that the flu season ends before Emma gets here because we have a lot of friends and family that will want to see our sweet baby girl. It was explained to us how it'll work while she's there with the doctors and nurses. She will have a group of assigned nurses that'll follow her care until the time she is discharged. They've thought of EVERYTHING... for heaven's sake they even have a laundry room with all the items needed!!! We are truly fortunate to live in such a city where GREAT medical care is so close to home. How blessed we are to live in Cincinnati!

We then met with the neurosurgeon. He was a nice man, I was initially intimidated because I had just assumed he'd be stand-offish and straight to the point, however this wasn't the case. He was nice, and was there to inform us about her surgery day and what that'll entail and to answer our questions. One of the questions that has been pressing on my heart was answered to my liking today. I have been so wrapped up with worry about not being able to hold Emma for an extended period of time after her back closure. I understand that it would be for her sole benefit if I wasn't able to but it has been weighing heavy on my heart. Well I asked him about how long after her back closure would we be able to hold her and he said that as long as the NICU doc's were ok with it and she wasn't on the ventilator or anything like that, that I could hold her the same day as her surgery! WHAT A RELIEF!!!! Another prayer answered! We also got to see what a shunt looked like. Its pretty much just a long tube, that if she needs one would be placed in her brain and would go down to her abdomen where it will dump the cerebral fluid. This is what it looks like...

After a quick lunch in the hospital cafeteria (which actually isn't so bad) we then got a tour of the Spina Bifida clinic where we will go for follow up care once she is here, this is where all her doctors will be. It'll be on an assigned day typically Monday afternoons and we'll just go there and the doctors will come to us (how nice is that). We were told that the first visit will be with the Urology doctor and the Development team.

Today was also our normal testing day, so off we went to Good Sam. We had the NST where of course Emma chose not to cooperate and was buzzed, but they eventually got what they were looking for! Then onto the ultrasound... my FAVORITE part of testing day. The fluid level was good at 19.4. Then the ultrasound tech was showing us her profile and said that she was able to tell that Emma had hair! She said it's pretty unusual to see hair at this point in the pregnancy, forever Peter and I had decided that Emma would be as bald as an onion when she was born because we both were, but I can't wait to put her first bow on her!!  While we were admiring her beautiful locks, the tech saw her stick her tongue out at us. I can just see it now... she's already blowing raspberries and she isn't even here yet!!

I think that sums up today! Thank you for your faithful thoughts and prayers, we appreciate every single one of you! And of course I leave you with pictures!!

And at the end of the day she is what matters!!!

Glucose test results are in...

Well this has yet been another uneventful week which I am soooo thankful for.

Thursday started early, had to be at the hospital at 7:15 to begin my 3 hours of being used as a pin cushion. So the way it works they make you not eat anytime after midnight, but I was going to ensure I had the best chances possible so I didn't eat past 9 pm. Very hard to do when your growing a human! LOL!! They took my blood to make sure it was below 120 and it was it started out at 90! YAY! Then I had to drink what tasted like over sugared flat sprite... GAG ME!!! The way it works is I sit for an hour and they drew my blood, sit for another hour draw it again, sit for another hour draw it again, THEN I GOT TO EAT!!!!!! You see where my priorities are right? I was told I would know the results at my appointment later that day.

Later on Thursday, Peter and I went to our appointment, and had the NST. Emma of course was buzzed, but only once, then we went for the fluid check and it was good, at 18.6. We headed to the doctors office, we were kind of under a time crunch because we were interviewing a pediatric office at 5. So as all things go the good doctor was running behind, so we sat, and sat some more. I've realized that time really goes much slower when you watch the clock. Note to self... quit looking. The nurse came in took my vitals (which were good) and it was killing me I had to know... So I asked her if I passed... she says... Yes you passed all 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS THRILLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for your prayers!!!!!! The meeting with the doctor was good he said that all looked well, and we were on our way!

Today we had another NST/AFI, mom went with me and we had the NST first. Per her standard Emma was buzzed... lol... this little girl I tell ya... One of these days she wont be buzzed I just know it. She cooperated like she does and we were on our way. Our AFI went well too. Levels were at 18 which is GREAT! The kind ultrasound tech showed us our sweet girls profile, which I love, then she asked if we had to be anywhere to which we responded NOPE. She said oh good, your my last patient's and I want to flip to 3D. I've always wanted to get a 3D ultrasound but weren't sure we wanted to put out the money so I was ELATED. The pictures are AMAZING! They are so clear, we got to see her sweet face, and its confirmed she has Peters nose but my cheeks! Oh our sweet girl! I just love her so much!

Thank you so much for your faithfulness, thoughts and prayers. Peter, Emma and I truly appreciate it, as do our families!

Here are some 3D pics! Because at the end of the day she is what matters!

She looks like she is thinking... hmm... "How much longer am I stuck in here"

5 down...

NST/AFI's that is...

Thursday was another round of NST/AFI. We've gotten used to it, we know what to expect, however the past 2 times we've gone we have had different nurses. Which is okay however we had gotten used to Bonnie, lol! It went well, she got buzzed, she was pushed, and wiggled. Poor little girl! However she did what was expected of her, like us Hendrickson's usually do. The fluid test was great as well, another opportunity to see our gal! They measured the fluid level at 17.6 which was good seeing as 24 is considered high. We met with the doctor and they were pleased with everything.

However... Wednesday I was told that I failed my gestational diabetes test by 14 dang points. Which they considered barely... MEH, not cool. So I had to schedule a three hour test for this Thursday. I think there were some extenuating circumstances that went into me failing the 1 hour but I wont bore you with those details! So please say a prayer that I pass my 3 hour test.

That brings us to today, Monday, we had another NST/AFI, Miss Emma had to be messed with 1 time but that sure got her going. She was hanging around the low 140's and then after she was buzzed it got up to 167, the nurse was pleased! The AFI went well too, the fluid level was 21.6, which is considered good. And the kind ultrasound tech showed us our sweet girls face and another shot of her foot. I think she likes to show off her foot because it's so perfect!! Here are a few pictures that we got today which always makes this momma's heart happy!

Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers it means so much more to Peter and I, then I could ever put into words!

As I say at the end of the day this is what matters...

Another day another update...

Hello world,

So here is another update. We had a NST and Growth Scan on Thursday January 10th. Her NST went well although she still had to be buzzed a few times to get her moving, but after a while she did cooperate and they got what they were looking for. Her growth scan was good. We got to see her fantastic face! It looks so cute and I can't wait to kiss her!! Peter and I have decided that she has his nose and my cheeks. She weighs 3 pounds which is in the 60th percentile. Peter and I are delighted with this news. We need her as chunky as she can be for her surgery. The fluid on Thursday was at 23.5. We were told that it shouldn't exceed 24. When we talked with the doctor after everything they said that they start to monitor it more closely if it exceeds 24 because it could cause contractions however this amount fluctuates day to day even ultrasound tech to ultrasound tech. They drew my blood for the glucose test (praying that comes back good), and we are waiting for those results!

Here's her chunky cheeks

Today, Monday January 14th we went in for another NST and AFI. Again Ms. Emma decided to play hard ball and got buzzed, I think she is becoming immune to this and hears it and continues about with her growing and just hanging out. However we did learn that this test was really intended for babies of a gestational age of 32 weeks. They said that once we hit that mark these test will be easier and she shouldn't have to get buzzed as frequently. Then we went for her AFI, which was quick and painless, I got to see her cute little foot, and we found out that the fluid was at 20! Praise God! It went down!!!

Thank you all for being faithful readers and prayers, Peter, myself and our families appreciate your thoughts and your prayers for us and our baby girl! We are so in love with her. We often remark about how much love we have for the little person growing inside of me and how she isn't even here yet and we are head over heels for her!

At the end of the day this is what matters...

First NST/AFI

So talk about acronyms, oh the things you learn.

 NST= Non stress test, this is where they had me lay down for about 20 minutes and hooked me up to a monitor to watch Emma's heartbeat. And cause stress to the parents I'm sure. We got to the hospital at 3:30 pm and got all hooked up to the monitors. The kind nurse explained that they are looking for a baseline and then for a fluctuation that coincides with Emma's movements.

It was so nice to be able to sit there are hear her heart just thump away, but as we've learned by now our little girl isn't one to cooperate easily. The nurse informed us that Emma wasn't behaving like she was supposed to so they would have to "buzz" her. What is that you ask? Well it reminded Peter and I of one of those hand buzzers that pranksters have in their hand and then when you shake their hand it startles you. We could hear a buzz, and then I felt a little vibration as I am sure Emma could hear and feel as well, so she did that not once, not twice but three times. On the third try it made Emma REALLY mad. Her heart rate jumped up to 167. The nurse was pleased. LOL!

AFI= Amniotic fluid index. For this they want to make sure that Miss Emma has enough fluid. It was a VERY QUICK ultrasound. Although we got a sneak peek at her little piggies, they are SOOOO cute, although I may be biased!  They measured four quadrants and said that it was at 19.5. We were informed that it shouldn't exceed 24.

These visits will happen twice weekly until she's here! Right now we are on a Monday/Thursday schedule which I think will work nicely! Also on the first Thursday of each month we will have an ultrasound to check her growth! I look forward to this for obvious reasons but I just LOVE looking at our little girl!

As always we appreciate your thoughts and prayers, please pray for us on Thursday I have the dreaded glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. Praying this comes back negative!! Thanks guys

And as always...

At the end of the day this is what matters

Well Helloooooooooooooooooo

Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays. Sorry there has been such a long delay from our last post! Life on the home front has been "normal". I put quotations around that word because everyone's normal has a different definition. But Peter and I have been thankful for our normal! The last time I updated the blog was a follow up from our team meeting with the wonderful doctors at Children's Hospital.

We had a nice break from all the hub bub as they say and have been able to enjoy the pregnancy and our little growing girl! On December 16 I was chilling on the couch and Emma was practicing her dance moves, well I motioned to Peter to come over, because we've learned that if I tell him to come and feel her then she gets shy or stubborn (hmm... where does that come from) and stops doing whatever she was doing, so anyways, I was able to catch his attention and he got to feel her kick 3 times right in a row. It was the neatest thing that he was finally able to feel what I've been feeling for quite some time!

On January 3rd we went to the normal OB/GYN, fully expecting an ultrasound but much to our surprise we didn't get one. But the good doctor listened to her heartbeat, and said that sounded perfect and said that everything was looking good. We knew it was eminent but we confirmed that we will have to begin twice weekly non stress test, and an amniotic fluid level check. This is "routine" for children with special needs ,just to make sure all is going well. At the beginning of my pregnancy I had told a few people that I think God should install a window in a woman's belly so she can keep an eye on her baby. Well I think he took me more literally then I had imagined. Be careful what you ask for... LOL! We are ok with these twice weekly checks though as long as it means we get to see our little lady bug and know that she is ok then we are ok with it too. Those will start on Monday January 7th and will continue until our sweet girl arrives.

So I think that catches us up for now. I will probably be posting a bit more frequently since we'll be able to see her more often, so check back next week for an update from this upcoming weeks appointments. As always we appreciate you reading this and keeping us and our little Emma in your thoughts and prayers.

As I say at the end of the day this is what matters

I thought I'd throw in this bonus picture of her kicking me. SO COOL!!