Monday, March 26, 2007

Technical Difficulties

Well, Geoff tried posting some very cute pictures of Anna this weekend, but ran into some technical difficulties. So...look for those soon. In other news, we have our big ultrasound this Saturday morning at 8:30 am (yes, it's true...very early for us on a weekend). Then on Monday, we have our monthly OB-GYN appointment (the last one we get with our MD Cynthia Vaneck before she has her own baby and is gone for a month!). So, despite the lack of news as of late, it is coming. Send good vibes that it is good news. I think I am emotionally prepared for whatever we hear on Saturday, but I guess we'll just see. I still don't look pregnant if you ask me, just fat, but maybe I'll post a sideways view of me so you can decide for yourselves. Congrats to my cousin Catherine Wehage...she and a friend made a date rape informational video and will be on Good Morning America tomorrow (March 27), plus featured in Seventeen and People magazines. She is in high school and you can check out the effort at www.justyellfire.com. Way to go Girl :)

--Wendy

Thursday, March 15, 2007

(More) Dumb Doctors

So, yesterday, we received good news! The test that screens for neural tube defects (Spina Bifida, Downs Syndrome) came back normal. This means that most likely, the baby does not show signs of these types of defects. This is a load off my mind because of the higher risks associated with diabetic women...blah, blah, blah.

Then today, I was called by our OB/GYN's nurse, who said that there was actually an error in our test because the technician did not take into account that I am insulin dependent. So, I guess that means the test was inconclusive. Her advice was "not to sweat it" and just wait until the ultrasound on March 31 where we will be able to hear (with more certainty?) to what extent our child may have one of these horrendous birth defects.

Honestly, I am starting to doubt the sanity of allowing myself to continue this care. Am I overly emotional? Yes. But, it should be said that doctors are dumb sometimes. I guess only time will tell if they are as dumb as I think they are today or slightly less. *sigh*

---Wendy

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Daycare Anyone?

Well, the best thing about life is that it tends to work out....I got this job working with the most knowledgeable people in Day Care and Early Childhood Development and then find out I am preggers! Well, one thing they say is that we have to get on lists for the only acceptable day care centers in the city. I have three I must get on lists for (their emphasis, not mine). But then I started thinking that this information they are giving me is very very useful for the parents I already know, so here you go:

To get inspection reports on any licensed day care center, just go here: http://jfs.ohio.gov/families/child_care/index.stm.

Click on either of the “search” tabs on the left. Once you get a listing, select a center and it will give you their general information. You can then click on recent reports to review them. How fun is that?

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Doctors

Hi everyone, its the future mama here with an update about doctors.

Well, we just had our 20 week visit and Dr. Vaneck, our great OBGYN (who reminds me of my cousin Leslie, which may be why I adore her) told us the baby is weighing in at the 51st percentile. We listened to his/her heartbeat and got my blood drawn for the Quad Screening that tests for Spina Bifida and Downs Syndrome. We should have those results in a few more days. We will go back to Dr. Vaneck in 4 weeks for another check-up (April 2nd).

Then, on March 31st, we are scheduled for another ultrasound to see the baby. At the last one on February 27th, we got a good look at most parts of the baby except his/her heart. Dr. King (our Maternal-Fetal specialist) wants to make sure there are no defects in any of the baby's four heart chambers, so we'll look again.

And, on April 5th, we are scheduled for a fetal echocardiogram. Apparently, this is a routine thing for diabetic women having a baby. It in no way means there is something wrong with the baby; it is meant to rule out any cardiac defects that are more common in pregnancies complicated by diabetes.

As I wade through my workday, I can't help but wonder if "knowing" is better or worse. People never used to know if there were problems, but then again, more babies died. The mama in me knows that our baby will be fine and the doctors are being cautious. No one is twisting my arm to keep these appointments being made for me or forcing me to surrender blood samples. So, it is an interesting place to be.

If I am going to be honest on this thing, all of the prenatal care and scare (as I have come to refer to it in my own private conversations with the baby) causes this cloud of sadness to come over the true joy and elation I have when I think of being a mama. And so, welcome to our blog. All of our news, be it good or sad will be shared here as long as I can bear it. It is not meant to replace the personal emails we enjoy with one another, but rather to share information with more of our friends and family. Plus, having a blog is way hip when you have a kid as our friends Sara & Brandon Lynaugh showed us (I still check theirs every few days and their daughter Taryn is a year old!).

- Wendy

Saturday, March 3, 2007

testing

testing . . . testing . . . 1 2 3

Hello all! Welcome to the newly started Grove Family Blog. This is where you can stay updated on all that is going on in our little world. It will probably be pretty boring until Baby Grove arrives in July, so until then we will post pictures of our current baby Ianna.

While waiting for our baby we have been keeping ourselves busy dressing her up in various outfits. Here is her rain coat, which Wendy thinks is adorable, Anna is not so sure.