Still No Baby...

Just a quick post to let you know that Little Miss Victoria is still comfy and cozy in her watery home. My due date - yesterday, January 22nd - has come and gone. (So much for all those people who said that I'd probably be a few days/weeks early since this was my third child!)

At my appointment on Monday, my doctor said that I hadn't progressed since last week - still 80% effaced and around 2 centimeters dilated. I have a non-stress test scheduled for tomorrow (Friday). The doctor will check the baby's activity levels and measure her size and the amount of amniotic fluid. Assuming that all measurements are at acceptable levels, he's prepared to let me go a few more days before we discuss being induced. Again. For the third time. However, if anything looks amiss, we'll discuss performing the induction sooner.

As I said back when I was pregnant with Zach, I hoped that he might decide to join us a bit earlier than 40 weeks, but I knew what I signed on for. I knew that he might decide to stay put for 40 weeks, or longer. The same is true for Vicky. Carey and I only want what's best for Little Miss. So, if a few more days to "bake" are what baby girl wants, than that is what baby girl will get!

Prayers for a safe and speedy labor and delivery (whenever it occurs) are very much appreciated!

Six

Six days.

Seriously???

That's how many days are left until Victoria's due date.

I am big. I am tired. I am a bit uncomfortable. I am ready to have this baby!

I was worried about finding a good picture. Then I realized, at
39 weeks, 1 day pregnant, I probably wasn't going to find
a photo I liked anyway...

And yet, I'm nervous. Yes, I've done this before. Twice. But I've never brought home a baby while taking care of two other kiddos. Carey and I have never been outnumbered by little people before. And frankly, after everything that we went through with Zachary, I am a bit scared.

But, ready or not, Victoria is coming! My doctor said he would be surprised if I made it to my due date - January 22nd. (I, on the other hand, told him I'd see him at our appointment next week...) According to my doctor, my vitals are strong, Victoria is doing well, and my "cervix is so ready." (Sorry if that's TMI!) So, we'll see if the Little Lady decides to make her appearance on her own, or if I'll be back in my doctor's office after my due date for a non-stress test. (I'm two for two so far, so why not go three for three?!)

Prayers for a safe, speedy labor and delivery would definitely be appreciated. I hope that we'll be posting good news on the blog very soon! In the meantime, I have a few posts scheduled for the upcoming week, just in case I'm, you know, busy having a baby or something. ;-)

Why We Opted for Genetic Testing - A Catch-Up Post

{I know this post is very long, but I hope you'll stick with it to the end.

This is truly a piece of my heart.}

Ten weeks ago, at our 20-week ultrasound, we found out that the precious life growing inside me was a precious little girl. (We shared the good news here.) What we didn't share at that time was that we had also received some very scary news.

At our 12-week ultrasound, we had a nuchal translucency screening (just as we'd had for Abby and Zach). With a finger-prick of blood and a few ultrasound measurements of the baby's neck, the test results give you a likelihood of your baby having a chromosomal abnormality or major heart defect. This number, looked at in conjunction with maternal age, history of past pregnancies, etc., helps your doctor decide whether s/he should suggest you have additional testing done. With Little Lady, as with Abby and Zach, our numbers came back well within the normal range, so my doctor saw no need to order additional tests. Carey and I were excited and relieved.

However, just 8 weeks later, at our mid-point ultrasound, the doctor performing my ultrasound (not my OB/GYN, but one of the doctors at the hospital) found some cause for concern. Measurements of the baby's neck were borderline abnormal. She gave us several reasons why this could be. First, it could simply be the angle of the ultrasound or the angle at which Baby Girl was laying in my belly. Second, it could be due to her half-Asian lineage, as Asian babies sometimes tend to have higher neck measurements. Third, it could be that the baby had grown more than expected since our 12-week ultrasound, so her neck was measuring larger due to her entire body being larger. And fourth, and most frightening of all, our precious baby could have a chromosomal abnormality or a major heart defect. I remember sitting in the doctor's office as she reviewed these possibilities. I remember my heart stopping as she said the words "major heart defect" and "chromosomal abnormality." I remember hearing her say that, if we decided that we would like to undergo further testing, she could confidently say that there was a "medical necessity" for it, as most insurance companies will only cover these expensive tests with confirmation from your physician that they were necessary. I remember sitting in a private room so Carey and I could discuss our options, and able to do nothing but cry. Flashbacks of 2010 were in my mind. A healthy baby at one ultrasound, and a complete reversal at the next ultrasound. Given, our baby was not dead, thank God, but we were facing the possibility that she might be born with a condition "incompatible with life," and we were terrified.

The doctor explained her suggested course of treatment. Advances had been made in genetic testing. She was suggesting a blood test called MaterniT21. Two vials of my blood would be taken and sent to a laboratory in California. Baby Girl's blood cells would be separated from mine and tested directly. The test would give us a positive or negative result for several of the most common types of chromosomal abnormalities, including Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome. (Edwards and Patau syndromes often lead to severe birth defects and babies who rarely survive beyond their first few months of life...) The doctor also suggested that I have a fetal echocardiogram, a type of ultrasound performed by a specially trained ultrasound sonographer and reviewed by a pediatric cardiologist, to take a very close, very detailed look at the baby's heart.

Carey and I were at a loss. Whatever the results of these tests, we knew that we would not be terminating the pregnancy. I had already felt this sweet girl moving inside of me - how could I even entertain the thought of ending her life? However, after discussing our options, we both agreed that we would prefer to undergo the testing. We had two main reasons for agreeing. First, both tests posed little or no threat to me and the baby. Other tests may increase the likelihood of miscarriage or harm to the baby, but a simple blood test and another ultrasound would not pose a threat to either the baby's life or mine. Second, and most important, we wanted to know. I know so little about Down syndrome and heart conditions - if we were going to be caring for a sweet baby with one or both of these issues, we wanted to be as informed and prepared as we could be prior to the delivery. And if, God forbid, our child did have a health issue that would be incompatible with life, we wanted to know and prepare, rather than be surprised in the delivery room.

Our 20 week ultrasound took place on a Friday, and I was able to see the cardiologist the following Monday. The ultrasound took quite a while (almost 45 minutes), but the doctor was able to give us wonderful news: he saw no evidence of any major heart defects. Praise God! As he went through all of the issues that they check for as part of this test (all four chambers in the correct locations, all arteries and veins in the correct locations, no major holes in any walls of the heart), I was overwhelmed by just how many things could go wrong and overjoyed that all was well with Little Lady's heart. (The only caveat that the doctor gave me was that her heart is still too small for him to view small holes in her heart. After she is born, he suggested that she be monitored by our pediatricians to confirm that there are no heart murmurs. If a murmur is present, he suggested we return to him for care/treatment. But, he said that he saw nothing on the echocardiogram that would indicate that she needed any additional heart tests while in utero.)

While we were, of course, incredibly happy at the news that our baby's heart was healthy and strong, we were still waiting to hear back from the lab regarding our genetic testing. I tried not to worry. I tried not to allow my concern to show in front of Abby and Zach. But my big girl is a smart girl, and she knew that something was not quite right. When Carey and I explained to her that the doctors were worried that baby sister might not be completely healthy, Abby began to pray for her little sister's health, at church, when we said grace before meals, each night before bed. It touched my heart to see my little girl being so loving and so brave, and it helped me cope with the long days of waiting.

Another thing that helped me a great deal in those difficult days was a song. I am a music lover, and I often find songs that speak to me, regardless of the situation I find myself in. Shortly before our 20-week ultrasound, I received my pre-ordered copy of Mandisa's newest album, Overcomer. (You may remember Mandisa from American Idol Season 5.) The title song, Overcomer, has become an unofficial anthem for cancer survivors, as well as anyone who has overcome the odds. I happened to be listening to the CD on my way home from the cardiologist, and I really listened to the lyrics. At one point in the song, Mandisa sings: "Whatever it is you may be going through, I know He's not gonna let it get the best of you." I seriously burst into tears. Not because I knew that God would heal our baby, but because I knew that God had given us the baby we were meant to have. Did we pray that our baby would be healthy? Of course. But, at that moment, I knew in my heart that He would be with us, regardless of what happened with these tests. I am married to an amazing man who is loving and kind and hard-working and goes out of his way to prepare for everything. This baby could have no better father. I am mother to a sweet little girl who has such a loving heart and kindness about her. This baby could have no better big sister. I am mother to a joyful little boy whose smiles light up the room and who hugs can heal. This baby could have no better big brother. I am daughter and sister and granddaughter and niece in a loving family who have cried with us, prayed with us, supported us and shown such love for us. This baby could have no better extended family. As the song said, God would not let this situation get the best of us. He has given us everything that we need to love and care for this child, regardless of what that care will entail.

I was able to go through the rest of my week in peace. Of course, we continued to pray for this little one, but we also prayed for His peace and His comfort for our family. So it was with a calm heart that I answered the phone on Friday afternoon and was given the most beautiful news I could have hoped for: the genetic testing came back negative for all of the abnormalities that were tested. Our little girl is healthy. I just kept saying that over and over again in my mind. I cried tears of joy as I told Abby and Zach. It led to singing and dancing and a very happy phone call to Carey, who was still at work. It led to happy phone calls to family and joyous emails to prayer chains who had been keeping this little one lifted up in prayer. And it led to praise of the Lord, who not only placed a healthy, growing little girl in my womb, but gave our family another gift: the gift of peace, understanding, and knowledge that we are strong together.

{In case you haven't heard Mandisa's song, Overcomer, or seen the video, you can view it here. The video includes guest appearances by Robin Roberts, Scott Hamilton, and Gabby Giffords, three shining examples of what it means to overcome.}

http://youtu.be/b8VoUYtx0kw

30 Weeks Pregnant - Little Lady Update!

And here we are - three-quarters of the way through this pregnancy. I cannot believe that we have 10 weeks (more or less) to go before our Little Lady will be joining our family. There are times that Carey and I will look at each other and go, "Can you believe that we're having another baby?!" 30 weeks along, and there are days when it still hasn't quite sunk in!

Things are going well with our baby girl, and with me, thankfully. Each time I see my doctor (every two weeks now!), he tells me that things are looking great. My weight gain for this pregnancy has been much less than with Abby and Zach - to date, I've gained about 17 pounds. (Whereas with the other two, around 30 weeks I was up to around 30 pounds...) Mainly, I'm just eating better. (No sneaking in trips to the vending machine or Ben & Jerry's like I did when I was still working!) But also, I'm chasing after two kids all day, and I still have the go ahead from my doctor to go to the gym, so long as I don't push myself too hard. In addition to my weight, my blood pressure, protein levels, etc. have all been within normal limits. My doctor keeps telling me that this is my healthiest pregnancy so far - I'm starting to believe him! (And I'm hoping that a healthy pregnancy will mean a quick delivery and a speedy, smooth recovery!)

Baby Girl is also doing well. Carey and I had another ultrasound last week, and everything looked good. She's weighing in at about 3 pounds, which is right where she should be. We could see her little lungs practicing breathing in and out, and although we didn't get any great ultrasound photos this time, she did give us a peek of an adorable button nose and a set of getting-chubbier cheeks. I get the feeling that we have another mini-Carey growing in there, and I can't wait to kiss that precious face. In ten weeks, of course! The only issue that we have, which I hope won't be an issue, is that Little Lady is breech. (Instead of presenting head down, her little tush is down and her head is up by my rib cage.) At this stage, babies still have plenty of room to move around, so it's not unheard of for a baby to be breech one day and head down the next. (In fact, less than one week before our recent ultrasound, my doctor was fairly sure Baby Girl was head down, so in those six days, she turned.) I see my doctor again right before Thanksgiving, and we have another ultrasound scheduled in December to confirm her position. Hopefully she'll decide that head down is the way to be!

Other than that, things are well. I am finding myself more tired towards the end of the day than I used to, and my heartburn comes back if I don't eat regularly. Sitting on the floor has become a thing of the past, and every once in a while, Carey will have to help me out of a chair. But, as I said before, I am feeling really well overall, so I have no complaints. Baby Girl is a mover and a shaker, and sometimes her movements are slightly uncomfortable, but they're not painful, and Abby loves feeling the baby move. She was sitting on my lap the other day when the baby started to move. She quickly put her hands on my belly and with a huge smile on her face, looked at me and said, "What is going on in there, mommy?!" She cannot wait for her baby sister to arrive so she can hug and kiss her and help me take care of her. Zachy is slightly less interested in the baby. He still insists that we should call her "Daddy." ;-)

And now, because I love to look back, here are some photos of my belly with each respective little Ng!

Baby Girl at 30 weeks
November 2013

Zachary at 31 weeks
June 2011

Abigail at 29 weeks
May 2008

So, here we sit - 30 weeks along with another precious baby. We can't wait to meet the newest member of our family, and we pray that she'll continue to grow and thrive over the next ten weeks. We love you, sweet baby girl!

Baby Ng #3 - Gender Reveal!

On Friday, we had our mid-point ultrasound. This ultrasound gives the doctor a chance to view the little babe to ensure that all the important organs/systems/parts are present and growing properly. There is also the added bonus of being able to tell if your baby is a boy or girl. While many people like to be surprised at the birth, I am a party-pooper and like to know beforehand. (Baby #3 is also our first "winter" baby, so we have some shopping to do. I wanted to know if we should be shopping for pink or blue!)

I'm now just shy of 21 weeks pregnant. I'm feeling good - dealing with the occasional sleep issues and pretty miserable seasonal allergies, but otherwise, I can't complain. The baby has begun moving around more, so I'm feeling little pokes and kicks throughout the day, which I love! (In fact, Carey felt the baby for the first time on Friday night!) I'm still feeling well enough to go to the gym a few times a week, so I try to do that whenever I can. I do notice my energy levels are depleted by the end of the day, but I think that's more due to Abby and Zach than to this baby!

20 weeks, 3 days pregnant.

Back to our ultrasound: it began well. Baby Ng was moving around, but the ultrasound technician was able to gather all the required measurements. He then told us that Baby Ng is a...

The chalk board in our kitchen, sharing our great news!

That's right - we are going to have another lovely lady in our family! Carey and I were thrilled, and Abby was over the moon! She had been hoping for a baby sister, so there was lots of dancing and cheering when we shared the good news with her. (Zachy was dancing and cheering, too, but I don't think he really knew why...)

Adorable profile of our adorable girl!

We did have some worrisome news, so we're scheduled for a few more tests. While the doctors suggested these tests as a precaution, not because something is definitively wrong, Carey and I are freaking out a little bit... Prayers for the health and well-being of our little girl would be greatly appreciated! (Obviously, we hope to have good news to share once the tests are completed and the results are received, but we are trying to prepare ourselves for best and worst care scenarios...)

I had a bit of fun with Abby's sidewalk chalk...

So here she is again - our sweet little girl!

Profile, arms, legs - perfect in every way!

We praise God for the gift of this little lady, and we trust in Him to watch over her and give our family the strength and courage to face whatever the future holds for us!

Hello 18 Weeks!

As I was looking back on the blog, I realized that this poor baby is getting the shaft - aside from our big announcement (click here), not a single photo or update. Let's fix that, shall we?

Here I sit - 18 weeks pregnant. (Technically, 18 weeks and 1 day, but who's counting?) I had an appointment with my doctor on Monday, and the word "perfect" was used several times. Blood pressure, proteins, measurement of my uterus - all perfect. Yay! Add to that the sweet sound of a strong baby heartbeat, and Monday afternoon was pretty awesome. The one area that my doctor is keeping an eye on is my weight. I'm not gaining weight as quickly as I was with my other pregnancies. (Frankly, I chalk that up to the fact that I'm chasing around two very active kiddos all day, and I've just been eating better. While I wouldn't think twice about a vending machine run or an ice cream pit stop while I was working and pregnant, I'm much more careful about what I eat now because I know I'll have two little nibblers right next to me wanting a bite, too! So, when we all want a snack, I tend to reach for things like fruit, crackers and cheese, or granola bars, rather than junky stuff.) The doctor also gave me the okay to continue going to the gym. I've obviously adjusted my workouts - I was told to keep my target heart rate below 140 - and I don't go quite as often as I used to, but I feel better after a visit to the gym and I'm glad I can keep it up, at least for now.

Hey there, 18 weeks! My goodness, are you as tired as you look?!

And just for the sake of comparison:

Here's me at 19 weeks pregnant with Zachy:

And here's me at 19 weeks pregnant with Abby:

I've found this pregnancy has been much, MUCH different than my other pregnancies. The first trimester was very difficult - I was tired ALL THE TIME and felt ill 22 hours out of the day. My boobs were so tender that it would hurt when the water touched them in the shower, and I was constantly dealing with headaches and body aches. While a switch didn't just turn all of that off at 13 weeks, I noticed a big improvement and have felt better by the day since then. I'm still exhausted most days, but I think that's due to the pregnancy and two active kids. (Thankfully, if I need to lay down for a bit while Zachy naps, Abby is really good about entertaining herself quietly, either with puzzles, her dolls, or "making art" with items from her crafty drawer.) I've also noticed that I crave salty things, rather than sweets. I could literally eat an entire jar of olives or pickles, and I'm constantly nibbling on things likes crackers, pretzels or (occasionally) potato chips.

So, that's Baby Ng #3 in a nutshell. We're looking forward to September 6th. We have our mid-point ultrasound and will hopefully be able to find out if we're having a boy or a girl (as long as the baby cooperates!). I'm pretty sure we're having another lovely lady, and Abby agrees with me, but Carey is leaning toward boy, so we shall see. Either way, we feel so blessed by this little one - we just hope he or she is healthy and growing strong!

Moving from Man-To-Man to Zone...

Who doesn't love a good basketball metaphor when sharing good news?

Shortly after Mother's Day, Carey and I found out that our lives were going to change forever. Again. Well, for the third time, to be exact. I had a positive pregnancy test - Baby Ng #3 was in the oven! We were excited and overwhelmed at the same time. You see, we were not trying to get pregnant. In fact, we were kinda actively trying to not get pregnant. We thought that our little family was complete with our beautiful daughter and our handsome son.

But then, on May 15th, God showed us His plan. His perfect plan. We went from thinking that we were done having children to wondering how we could have ever pictured our family without this surprise addition.

SURPRISE!

We saw our daughter's face light up at the knowledge that there was another baby growing in mommy's belly. We heard our son reply "bay-bee" whenever he was asked what is inside mommy's belly. We could feel my body changing and my belly slowly swelling as the new life inside me grew.

Abby and Zach's new big sibling t-shirts!

And we were worried. Oh my heavens, we were worried! You see, at our first doctor's appointment, our baby was measuring small. My doctor figured that I was 8 weeks along, but our precious babe was only measuring 6 weeks. Flashbacks of 2010 were in our minds and weighing on our hearts. We were back at the doctor's office a week later, and our surprise had grown!

Baby Ng (in between the two little "x" marks) at 7 weeks! Our newest lima bean!

Two weeks later, we were back at the doctor's office again. And again, our precious baby had grown! Our doctor adjusted our due date and said our initial dates must have been off by just a bit.

Look at that growing baby! We even saw the beginnings of arms and legs!

Three weeks later, we were at the hospital for our end-of-first-trimester ultrasound. Amazingly, Baby Ng had grown, now measuring a full week ahead of where s/he was supposed to be based on our revised due date! From too small to bigger than expected, Baby Ng has been keeping us on our toes.

Hello, precious!

So, here s/he is: our sweet baby. Our surprise baby. One more miracle from the Lord for whom we are so grateful and so thankful.

A sweet profile...

And now, we wait. We pray and we care for ourselves and we try to prepare to be a family of five. But mostly, we wait. Because this miracle is taking place inside of me, with God's guiding hand. Baby Ng #3 - a wonderful, welcome surprise, due to join our family on January 22, 2014!

Baby Ng began to wave in the middle of our ultrasound. The technician said the baby
must be waving to her/his older siblings, so she gave the big kids a shout out! :-)