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Today we were able to go take some maternity photos…it was fun to go to a park and take some pictures with my hubby and then some pictures of my crazy body!  I tell you what…one thing I’ve learned is no matter what size, shape or color of a women - there is NO way that a woman can deny the fact that our bodies were created as a miraculous form of art and an amazing tool for life!  Taking a look through all of my belly shots today has really put it into perspective that being pregnant is one of the most unique things God ever created.

Here are some of my favorite photos from our day of picture taking at the park.

I know one of the last things my husband wanted to do on a Saturday morning was take pictures together.  He’d rather be behind the camera than in front of it.  I feel so blessed that he made this sacrifice for me and now we have a wonderful memory of the end of our pregnancy…we are SO CLOSE to meeting our little girl but I’m glad we’ve captured this moment in time before she is presented to us.

I love you Sean, you are going to be such a wonderful dad to our little girl!  You can always make me feel like a princess and I know this is something that you will be able to do for her as well.

Well, I had my very first neurologist appointment today?  With every doctor I meet, I’m starting to feel more and more like an alien and some weirdo that no one knows quite what to do with.  haha, I guess all you can do is laugh about it because there isn’t much else that can be done.  I am now officially a medical mystery.

When we got to the appointment, you could tell that the doctor was pretty uncomfortable.  He didn’t really know much about familial cavernous angiomas.  He has had people come in with cavernous angiomas in the past but not the familial kind.  He did tell me what we already knew, in that if they’re not bleeding there is not much to worry about.  The major thing to watch for are seizures.  He did confirm that blood thinners are a “no no” because familial cavernous angiomas have a tendency to bleed on their own and when you take a blood thinner the likelihood of them bleeding goes up, which causes them to grow, which is obviously not a good thing.

The neurologist did pull up my MRI and showed Sean and I my brain and he pointed out the four cavernous angiomas that he saw.  Two are in my left frontal lobe, one is pretty deep inside the lobe and the other is further out.  Then the other two are in the back portion of my brain, one being directly above the brain stem - which is VERY scary to me, since I know that the cavernous angioma my dad had that caused him so many issues was the one near his brain stem.  The other one is on the right back side a little further away from the brain stem but still close.  So, we weren’t really able to ask him too much about their location and what they mean because you could tell he was just really uncomfortable because he didn’t know much about them.

His three major recommendations were as follows:

1. C-section is definitely the way to go

2. No blood thinners

3. Go see someone at the Cleveland Clinic who is more familiar with the familial type of cavernous angiomas

The thing that scared me the most about this appointment was he was shocked how young we were, he was even more concerned that I had never been tested for either the cavernous angiomas OR the Factor V Leiden and then he kept wishing us the best for a healthy baby, he must have said this at least 5 or 10 times.  Which was nice of him, but the fact that he kept saying it over and over again made me feel uncomfortable that he wasn’t too confident that she would be healthy.

::sigh:: so, I then paged my pregnancy doctor and he called me right away (he is currently at home recovering from gallbladdar surgery).  We discussed what the neurologist said and basically it was no new news but I think it gave him the confidence that scheduling a C-section was the right thing to do.  We also have decided that we are going to let her go on her own so, if I would happen to go into labor prior to my C-section date I would just need to walk into the hospital and tell them that I’m the “cavernous angioma/Factor V Leiden girl” and I will need a C-section.  From that point forward, the doctors will know what to do with me and will take me to the C-section room to prep for delivery.

So…that’s that, enough about my health - let’s get on to more important things like my baby appointment that I had this afternoon.  : 0 )

Met another one of the doctor’s at Paragon today.  He was reviewing my chart with me and introducing himself when he realized that I was the “cavernous angioma/Factor V girl.”  A lovely new term for me, isn’t it?

Overall, a good appointment, her head is down and her little butt is up under my ribs so, she’s definitely where she should be.  We’ll see if she decides to stay there over the next three weeks.  She’s still moving like crazy.  Her heartbeat is strong and the growth of my uterus is right on, so she still has plenty of room in there - according to the doctor, sure doesn’t feel that way.

So - now that we have, kind of a verdict.  It’s time to accept the answers we have and MOVE ON!  Tonight I’m washing my first load of baby laundry!  Sean cleaned out both cars today, he said he would be the last time they would really be clean.  haha.  This weekend, we’ll need to install the car seats and pack our hospital bag - just in case ; 0 )  You will notice to the right of this post, that Sean has added a countdown to our baby girl arriving!!  It’s SO SURREAL to think that in less than a month she will be here!  Our family of two, will become a family of three!!!!  HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, we got all the way up to the doctor’s office to find out that I was supposed to bring my MRI films with me.  I thought that my pregnancy doctor had sent them there a head of time.  So, we weren’t able to meet with the doctor.  So, we rescheduled for Tuesday morning.  Guess we have to wait until then now.

So, if you will just extend your prayers until then, I’d appreciate it!

Well, my first neurologist appointment is on Thursday.  Should be interesting, hopefully we find out some answers.  My baby doctor at Akron wanted me to meet with a neurologist through Akron General so if, God forbid, something would happen during my pregnancy, he would have someone he could call who would know my case and be familiar with who I am.  So, at the appointment we still have lots of unanswered questions:

1. What is the severity of the cavernousangiomas I have?  What are the potential downfalls to where the cavernousangiomas that I have are located in my brain?  What are their potential? What type of lifestyle changes do I need to make to ensure that there is nothing that happens?  What symptoms do I need to watch out for?

2. What is the best route of delivery?  Is it still possible for me to deliver vaginally or is a C-section going to be the best method?

3. Are there any dangers in me carrying the baby to full term?  Currently my C-section is scheduled for 39 weeks but today my doctor mentioned that I could deliver as early as 37 weeks safely, so if there would be any risks for me carrying for the full term then they will move up my C-section date.

So, along with many other questions, these are the big ones.  Pray that we understand everything the doctor says and that he has a clear way of explaining things so we can get a proper diagnoses and figure out what is ultimately best for me and the baby.

My 35 week baby appointment, went well.  I’m measuring fine and the baby has a healthy, strong heartbeat!  HOORAY!

So, I began my 34 week journey last Thursday and what a journey it has been.  I started my 34th week by reading that my little girl can be as tall as 20 inches and weighs about 5 pounds…she feels more like 20 pounds!  I think she has explored just about every uncomfortable spot as possible.  Driving is probably one of the most uncomfortable things right now.  Considering that I spend 2 hours in the car a day just so I can get to and from work everyday - this is making working very uncomfortable.

When she starts rocking around in my belly, I’m starting to be able to make out limbs, especially whatever limb it is that she continually wedges up under my left rib or completely around my left side.  This acrobatic move is the most painful!

I told Sean for the first time yesterday, “Ok, I’m done, I want her out!” I feel guilty that I said that, but I meant it.  It’s just starting to get really horrible…when she behaves in there it’s no so bad but the movements are starting to get unbearable.

We did do fun baby prep stuff though this week!  Check out the pictures below.  We finished painting her room.  We put the crib up, assembled our stroller/carseat thing, assembled the playpen, her dresser/changing table and her cube that we will use for all her toys and books and stuff.  I can’t wait until she can crawl up to it and get her little bin full of her baby dolls or find her tea set because she is going to have tea with her daddy!

I’m getting very anxious to meet her!  I can’t wait!  Tomorrow starts the beginning of my weekly doctors visits - tomorrow is my 35 week appointment and afterward, I am pediatrician shopping.