17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone

So I started my 17P shots today, and truthfully it wasn't as bad as I had thought it was gonna be. The actual needle part I barely felt, but I could feel the hormone going in, it was a weird sensation. Afterwards I had a brief moment of light headiness, but after it passed I was fine. If you don't know already the progesterone shots are to help keep me pregnant longer. With my history of preterm labor this drug was recommended because it has a great success rate in helping prolong pregnancy in women that have a history of early births. Justin was 4 weeks early and Nickster as most of you know came 6 weeks early and spent his days in the NICU at Vanderbilt. I was told on my first exam with this baby if I opted not to do the shots this little one would come before 34 weeks, and I DO NOT want that. So Joe now gets to give me 19 more injections (1 per week till my 36 week) in my booty.

Also today we had our quad screen. The quad screen test is a maternal blood screening test that looks for four specific substances: AFP, hCG, Estriol, and Inhibin-A.

AFP: alpha-fetoprotein is a protein that is produced by the fetus
hCG: human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced within the placenta
Estriol: estriol is an estrogen produced by both the fetus and the placenta
Inhibin-A: inhibin-A is a protein produced by the placenta and ovaries

By checking the levels if they are off, either high or low can indicate certain neural tube defects or downs syndrome. We should have the results either Monday or Tuesday. Please pray all the test come back normal. I swear if this test comes back fine and our ultrasound in 2 WEEKS :) comes back great I will be able to breath and finally enjoy this pregnancy. For some reason since day one I have been worried and not able to just sit back and not stress.

Speaking of 2 WEEKS I can not wait to see our baby. Everyone keeps asking are you excited to find out the sex of the baby. A big YES to that one, but more than that I just want them to say baby is measuring on time and is perfectly healthy. For some reason though I have this gut feeling baby is gonna be shy. If not and we get the "toilet shot" Joe and I haven't decided if we will be spilling the beans right away. Since our ultrasound is exactly 1 week to the day from Christmas we are tempted to wait and make it a Christmas surprise, but that's only if I can contain myself..lol

14 Weeks

Wow I can't believe I am in my second trimester already. Sitting here now I can't believe I am at 14 weeks already. I had my 14 week OB visit today. Baby was doing good and apparently wide awake with a heart rate in the 160's. The boys must have always been lazy b/c their heat rates were always in the 140's. She said I was measuring good, lost another 3lbs, but she said shes not worried b/c my hydration levels were good.

We also got news today the progesterone shots I will take to help bake this baby longer than the boys should arrive the week after Thanksgiving. Then we get to go in and they get to show Joe how to give them to me. I'm still nervous about the whole Joe giving me a shot in my butt every week for 20 weeks.. But I know he can do it. Also when we go back the first week of December they will do our triple screen blood test to test for downs syndrome and neural tube defects. Please pray little baby bean is nice and healthy and that I don't worry myself to death waiting on the results.

Some exciting news we got our big ultrasound date, and its before Christmas. Not sure if I'm gonna be mean and make everyone wait till Christmas before we tell them the sex of the baby.. ;) But the date is set for December 18th around 1 in the afternoon. I am so excited and pray that this baby is both healthy and cooperative and shows us the goods! SO:


MySpace Countdown




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I just want to add I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We will be traveling to Ohio to see Joes mom and family. We are sooo excited to see everyone and can't wait. Please pray we have a safe trip.. HUGS

Turkey Day at SCS

Today was Nicks school Thanksgiving play and lunch. He was so cute up there singing "Mr. Turkey, Mr. Turkey" and "If your Happy and you know it say gobble gobble".. Joe and I made sure to get video, but it was so dark in the chapel I couldn't get any good pictures, but here are a couple I did get! So that we were fair Joe and I both surprised Justin on Tuesday and went and ate a Turkey lunch with him at school!

Just a singing

Mommy and Nick

Daddy and Nick

My Little Turkey

Will it ever end?

I love the fall season with the beautiful trees and colorful leaves, but come fall also comes coughing and snotting and fevers. Seems like for the past two and a half weeks all we have done is pass around this croupy respiratory funk and I guess today was Justin's turn when I got that call from school saying "we need a parent to come get Justin Lannom" So off to the doctor for the fifth time in 2 weeks to see what wonderful medicine Justin will get.

Well I guess that's enough bitching and moaning, truth is everyone is fighting this crap and I hope everyone recovers super fast! On a lighter note I am officially 13 weeks pregnant and entering into me second trimester. Sadly though the mourning sickness didn't get the memo and doesn't want to leave, but hey its getting better slowly but surely.

If you haven't notices already I have kinda put a mini baby poll together. The link is on the right side of this page and I hope everyone participates. Its something fun to kill the time and also a prize is involved, oooooo...

Well I hope everyone is good and feeling good. Hugs and kisses!

Happy Halloween

Well we had a great Halloween this year. My little Ninja and Spiderman were too cute for words! Daddy even hooked up the trailer for a much easier ride around the neighborhood to gather candy. We also had a friend from Justins baseball team and his younger brother join us on the candy mission! I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween this year!

Here are some pictures from our Halloween!!!

Pumpkin Carving Time

My Little Men

The Crew Leaving Out

Baby Update

Well I had my prenatal visit today. My OB ended up changing my due date from May 10, 2009 to May 18, 2009. She did this based on the ultrasound report from our last ultrasound. I'm fine with that, as long as baby bakes happily!

Speaking of baking my doctor also told me she wanted me to go on progesterone shots starting at 16 weeks to try and prevent a preterm birth with this baby. She feels if we do not do the shots this baby will come earlier than Nicholas did. I do not want another NICU baby and so I will do the shots. Joe gets to have fun, he gets to give them to me every week.lol She said the fact my water broke out of the blue so early with Justin's pregnancy concerned her more than the fact I actually went into labor with Nicks. If I go into labor before 36 weeks shes hoping she can stop it, but these shots have shown to really help not letting my body go into labor. And we all know how my body hates to be pregnant!

Well that's about it. They drew some blood and gave us the information on the testing and shots. I go back in 4 weeks right before Thanksgiving to talk and learn how to give myself (or Joe give me) the shots, fun!

Happy Birthday Nicholas

Well my little man officially turned 4 on October 8th, but due to mommy being in and out of the hospital we were not able to have his party till this past Sunday. He was soooo excited, he wanted a Chuck-E-Cheese party and was counting down the minutes till it was time. Thank you to everyone who came out on such short notice. We are so blessed to have the friends and family support we have. So here are a few pictures of him. He was so excited it was hard to get him to look at the camera..lol