11.14.2008

Ultrasound Testing - Round 1

We had our first trimester screening ultrasound this morning. All good news - yea, God!

Basically, because of my age at the time of delivery (35!), I'm in a higher risk bracket for chromosomal disorders (Down's Syndrome or Trisomy 18/13), so they did some blood work last week and the ultrasound today. The doc compared the two and told me that, instead of having the risk-factor age of a 35 year-old, I have the risk-factor age of a 20 year-old, so woo-hoo!! One less thing to worry about :)

It was kinda funny today, watching the tech trying to get the needed pics of our babe. She got all but the last one, and was trying to cojole our kiddo into flexing backward from his/her curled position, so Peanut's neck would be exposed well for the measurement. She jiggled my belly (which, btw, is already growing), she made me take a deep breath and cough, then had me lay on my side. Nothing was buggin' that babe. Peanut was completely content to sit right where he/she was, and nothing we were doing would persuade him/her otherwise (could be that Crossley stubborn streak coming out...which I do not have, for the record...ahem). Anyway, Jorde's alarm went off, reminding him he had to leave to open the store, so he and I chatted for a minute and said goodbye, and not 10 seconds after he walked out the door, Peanut started squirming! Maybe when the room was quiet and we were all quiet, just enjoying seeing him/her on the screen, Peanut figured it was quiet time, but once he/she heard daddy and mommy talking, it was party time! So, in the end, the tech got the pic :)

And...here's Peanut's first picture:


(Just in case a little guidance is needed: Peanut's head is on the right (you can see his/her nose pokin' up), the white spot floating above the middle is a hand (Peanut's waving...what can I say, he/she's social), then his/her little body curves around the bottom to the left, with legs and feet barely visible high on the left.

So, there ya go. So far, so good. Thank you all so so so much for praying for our little one. This will be one blessed little kid, and everyone can say they were co-participants in this miracle :)

Until next time...

11.05.2008

Patience is a Virtue

My, my, my ... we are an impatient lot, aren't we?

I can't believe how many of you are requesting (some, pleading!) for us to find out the sex of our baby. I'm dumbfounded!! :)

Just so you understand: no amount of "pleases" will change our minds. Ya see, we don't mind the wait. To us, it would be like opening a gift before Christmas ... it's just not the same as opening the gift on Christmas morning.

(Now, that's not to say that I don't try to wheedle out of Jorde exactly what he's getting me...but it's all in fun...and eventually, it bugs him, which, ya know, is kinda fun, too!)

However, waiting to see "what" we're gettin' in May? Not so hard, and the anticipation is part of the excitement. There are so few surprises left in this life, we want to fully enjoy this one.

Plus, I want the chance to say "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!" and it actually be news!

So, dear friends, know that I love you, but you're outta luck on this one :) Let this be a lesson in patience ... and let the guessing begin!

11.04.2008

It's a ... Peanut!

Come on ... y'all know we're not gonna find out the sex of our baby! Besides, it's way too early to tell.

I was trying to wait to unveil our little Webb-let's nickname until we had an ultrasound picture to go with it, but I've actually had a few queries as to whether or not we've settled on one, and I know so many of you are keeping our little one in prayer and that having a name is probably better than saying "the Webb's baby" or (as one friend calls him/her) "Sam's Sibling". So, until May arrives and with it our bundle of happiness, we have a Peanut.

We were scheduled for an ultrasound today but had to reschedule because the tech said, for the tests they were doing (just preventative/diagnostic stuff, no worries), that our "peanut" was still too young. She called our babe "peanut" a few times. I had been toying with that as a nickname for a week or so now, and hearing her call him/her "peanut" made it a "yep, that's the name" kinda moment. We did get to see that the heartbeat is good and strong (162 beats per minute) and that Peanut is actually jumping around in there, even if I can't feel it yet!

Oh, and just as a totally goofy, random thing: the Chinese calendar says we're having a boy :)

So, there you have it. Thank you, again and again and again, for all of your prayers and good thoughts for our Peanut. We'll continue to keep everyone updated as we have news to share.

Love and hugs all around,