Heartbreak and Worry

Today Sam's pediatrican came to visit him.  She noticed a heart murmur that no one else had heard before.  She told me we would have to be referred to a cardiologist to take another look at it.  She said it could be nothing, but they just want to be on the safe side.  In the meantime, she ordered more blood pressure tests to be run on him.  Evidently one of the four had a different reading she didn't like, so she wanted a cardiologist to see us immediately.  Will just happened to be getting his 3 year check up done at her office during this time, so Nick was able to talk to her about it and knew he needed to come and get Sam and I by noon.  Of course, I start thinking the worst and luckily had internet access to start looking up heart murmurs.  The hearing woman cam and also told me he failed his hearing test again.  She said he could just still have amniotic fluid in his ears, but he has to retake the test in another month.

We were discharged from the hospital.  Sam had to get the bilirubin test done because his jaundice levels were on the brink of being too high.  He passed though, and on to the pediatric cardiologist's office.  I snapped this picture of him in the waiting room -- so sweet and innocent -- it was at St. John's.

A tech did a complete ultrasound of Sam's heart.  The normal holes in the hearts that babies have when they are born were closed up, but he has a hole between his left ventricle and right ventricle.  It's evidently not that big, and the cardiologist said that 99.9% of the time these holes close up on their own.  It is also in a location where it would never cause him any harm throughout his life if it did not close up.  Everything else about his heart looks good though.  This gave us relief.  We have to take him back at 10 months to have it checked again.

So now I just have to wait until his hearing re-check and hopefully that goes well.

Here he is!  Just another beautiful boy to add to the Ottiger clan.  The delivery was fairly easy, once he decided to come out, he came.  He almost didn't wait for the doctor!!

SAMUEL MATHIAS OTTIGER

6.27.07   7:03 p.m.

6 lbs. 11 oz.  19.5 inches

We are so fortunate to have two handsome, healthy boys!  Stay tuned for more updates as our life with Sam unfolds!

13th Doctor Visit -

I weighed in at 184 pounds and measured 37 cm.  Sam's heart rate was around 140 again...he wasn't as energetic as last time.

This time I was 50% effaced, between 1-2 cm dialated, and -2 station.  Labor could begin anytime since Sam is moving his way on down!  Better get the rest of the bassinette/car seat ready and my bags packed!

More info on effacement/dialation/stations - http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/plabor/0,,midwife_8nbb,00.html 

We've got Will's kid party this Saturday at the Museum of Transportation, so hopefully all does not break loose then!

My next visit is June 28th at 2:00 p.m.

12th Doctor Visit

I weighed in at 181 again and measured 36 cm.  Sam's heartrate was at 165 bpm.  I had just eaten breakfast, so evidently he was pretty energetic!

The doctor checked me and my cervix is still closed...no effacement.  She said the baby appears to be down, but not too far down.  She said she'd see me again next week.

My next visit is June 21 at 2:00 p.m.

We have gotten the bassinette and carseat down from storage, but we haven't cleaned them up yet, they're still sitting in the basement!  We'll hopefull get around to it this weekend.

Will started swim lessons tonight.  He was a pistol.  He remembered going to the pool last summer and sliding down the slide after class, but he didn't want to wait until after class.  There were about 10 kids in his class...the "tadpole" level - first level.  There were two instructors and Will kept pulling them away from the rest of the class to go chase him because he was trying to go up the slide.  He was not listening and so we didn't stay to swim out in the big pool outside.  We left with him kicking and screaming...it was not good on his poor pregnant mom's back!  Daddy was working, so he couldn't help.

I talked with him on the way home and told him he better be a good boy and listen to his teachers or we wouldn't come back on Wednesday.  I also told him he could go out to the big pool if he was a good boy.  This seemed to work.  On Wednesday he sat with his class and listened to the teachers.  Daddy came with us and took him into the big pool.  I lost track of how many times Will went down the slide...at least 20!  Each time he'd come out the chute, he had a huge grin on his face.  I need to take my camera the next time.  It was a great night and even the main instructor asked me if we threatened his life because of the dramatic difference of him not trying to run off from the class!

I'm hopeful swim lessons will be smooth sailing the rest of the summer.  He sure really enjoys them it seems.

11th Doctor Visit

It's exactly one month from our hopeful delivery date... 07/07/07! 

I weighed in at 181 pounds, measured 35 cm and Sam's heart rate was around 140 bpm again.  He's pretty consistent in his heart rate!  According to my pregnancy book, for 35 weeks, it says I should be measuring 35 cm...so I feel confident Sam's size is back on track.  He sure is getting stronger...he's poking me with a knee or an elbow or something and it hurts!

I now start going to the doctor every week.  This is when the pregnancy really speeds up...we still need to get the car seat and bassinette down from storage!  I guess I should start packing my bag, too!  I think I already had everything ready to go by this point last time.  I didn't have another little one at home either and I was more anxious.  Sam will come when he's ready...I just don't know if we'll be ready or not!

Next visit 06/14/2007

Sibling Class -

We attended the sibling class offered by Missouri Baptist.  Will had a great time with the other big brothers and sisters-to-be.  When the teacher asked who gets to open the babies gifts, he piped up right away and said, "me."

We toured the hospital and got to visit the nursery and see a newborn baby.  Will waved by to the baby.  He competed with the other boys to be at the "front of the line" while we were on the tour.  He held a pretend baby and did very well.  I think he's benefited from his practice with cousin Gavin.

He received a back pack and some coloring books for his trip...he really likes the back pack and kept looking behind him to make sure it was still there!

10th Doctor Visit -

Again, another quick and uneventful visit.  I told my doc I hadn't had any pains since Saturday.  She still said it could have been any number of things but was glad I was doing okay now.

I weighed in at 178 pounds, measured 32 cm and Sam's heart rate was around 140 bpm again.

I go back in two weeks...June 07, 2007.  Then I'm not sure if I'll start going weekly or have one more two week visit.  It will really start speeding up once I go weekly.  We've just about got everything ready for Sam's arrival...just need to clean up the bassinette and car seat from storage.