Bring on 2013!

As promised Ryan and I went up to UW for an ultrasound and then a consult with the specialists to ring in the new year.  Again we were blessed with all good news.  Everything has remained stable with the omphalocele, and the baby is growing just great.  He put on a show for us during the ultrasound, again acting very much like a Christiansen boy!  He was seen doing his practice breathing, which is great news.  He is right on schedule.  The doctors also said his chest cavity remains at a the correct size, which is another indication that his lungs look great.  Along with seeing him doing his practice breathing we also saw his mouth moving.  So cool!  We met with another doctor because Dr. Jolley was on ultrasound duty today, although she did stop by to say hi.  The doctor we met with is just as hopeful as Dr. Jolley.  She said that she has never seen a baby with an omphalocele that made it to term and appeared to have no other defects not make it.  Music to our ears.  He just needs to stay put in there until March 7th!

We are also starting the process of getting set up for his arrival in January.  I start non stress testing on a weekly basis on January 14th in Puyallup, we go back to UW for a routine check up on the 21st, THEN on February 4th we have another all day ordeal up at UW!  On the 4th will have another ultrasound that will set the stage for what we will be dealing with at delivery, the beginning of the non-stress testing that will be done once a week in Seattle, AND we will meet with all of the necessary people to prepare me for the C-Section.  OH, and we will tour the birth center.  Phew.  All of that with only a half an hour for lunch!  I guess it works out as Ryan and I have a hard time saying no to our favorite teriyaki joint in the U District everytime we are up there, so a salad in the cafeteria is probably better for us!  Basically life is going to start getting really hectic for me on January 14th, as I will be having weekly and twice weekly appointments from then until he is born, and I will be going up to Seattle at least weekly.  Not to mention I start school up again on the 7th and I am trying to work as much as possible to relieve the financial strain.  It is going to be a wild couple of months.  Have I mentioned I am also pregnant and exhausted already?!  Just trying to take it a day at a time.  The good news is that tomorrow is a holiday and I have nothing on the agenda but the ever depressing removal of the Christmas decorations.  So, I am going to enjoy the down time while I have it!

Along with getting ready for his arrival on the medical side, we are also FINALLY getting the nursery going!  I have not gone into a lot of detail on this blog about our visit in Tacoma when we first got this diagnosis back in October, but it wasn't great.  We had a doctor literally ONLY talk about termination.  So, I have been a little gun shy on getting the nursery going because I just thought he wasn't going to make it for about three weeks.  In my mind I can't imagine a doctor bringing up termination over and over again unless the baby was a total gonner.  It has taken me some time to transition into the realization that we are going to have a baby coming home with us sometime in the first half of 2013!  Ryan is installing the closet organization system as I type, and the baby shower invites have been sent.  :) 

As we get closer to the date we will have more information on visting and such for those who are asking.  As of right now I will likely take visitors while I recover, and the baby will take visistors after Ryan and I get a couple of days with him.  It is going to be a little hectic while they get him stable and run tests on him, so we want some time to process it together and get a grasp on exactly what is going on.  Plus I won't be able to see him for two days, so I want some unshared time as a family!  While he is in the NICU there can only be one other person in the room besides Ryan and I, but he can take visitors.  Again, I will have more details for those who are asking as we get closer.  Also, we are looking for a solution for our dog situation!  I am hoping to find somebody who is willing to stay at our house and give Ryder his insulin at 8am and 8pm when we are at the hospital, or somebody with a fenced yard that is willing to commit to let the dogs stay with them and give Ryder his insulin every 12 hours.  I know that is a ton to ask for, but we don't have any other solution.  If anybody has any ideas please let us know.  I think I am more stressed out over the logistics of the dogs than anything right now!  I don't want to be up at the NICU only to find out that a furry member of the family didn't make it.  Ugh. 

Ryan and I have learned so much in the past two months, and while this is stressful, and I am so thankful for the appreciation we have for life.  We are looking forward getting this little guy out so that the doctors can get him on the path to coming home.  I don't think that we will every take parenting for granted after this whole experience. 

I hope that all of our friends and family have a great 2013!  I also hope that Ryan and I agree on a name soon...

Carly, Ryan and our nameless Baby C