Today was our first Non Stress Test (NST).
The first part of the test consists of doing a brief ultrasound to measure the amniotic fluid (AF) levels. Last week the AF was slightly higher than normal. This week it was normal! First test passed!
As the nurse was checking the fluid we caught a glimpse of Riley practicing swallowing. It was the coolest thing! It looked as if someone was squeezing her ribs in and out. The nurse told us that it was good that she was doing this because if she didn't pass the NST then there were several additional things they would measure. One of which is to monitor her to see if she's swallowing for 30 seconds. So, although this wasn't a required part of the NST today she passed!
Next they good hooked up the blue and pink belts around Shelly's belly. One for monitoring Riley's heart (pink) and one for monitoring contractions (blue). Riley's heart beat did just as they wanted it to do. They establish a baseline and then monitor that her heart rate fluctuates at least 15 beats higher than the baseline at least 2-3 times in twenty minutes. At least that's how we understood it. We could be completely off. We'll learn more each week. Anyway, she passed this test as well!
Finally, the last piece, is to monitor contractions. At this point she is having little to no contractions. Final test passed! So, we've got an A+ student on our hands beside being a great hurdle jumper!
Park City was fun but we came home a day early. We decided would rather be home getting Riley's room ready. We're totally nesting! So, we came back into the valley, shopped for the rest of our bare necessities, and worked on Riley's room. We have a few things to finish up and then we can get the furniture moved in and get everything set up and put away.
Now, both of us are SICK!!! Again!!! We're both miserable! At least I can take cold medicine. Poor Shelly has to just suffer through it. I hope we feel much, much better tomorrow.
Thursday we have an OB appointment. More updates then.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
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Our Conception Story
After eight years together we were pretty sure we'd spend our life with our four legged kids, doing lots of camping, and traveling the world. On August 12, 2004 that all changed with the birth of our God Daughter Tate. We immediately fell completely in love with her and soon began to re-think our decision of not having kids.
In October 2005 we began the process of trying to conceive. As soon as we started trying Shelly began having very erratic cycles which made the process that more complicated. After four tries over six months we decided to schedule a consultation with the a Reproductive Specialist. We were desperate to conceive and on a limited time frame since Shelly had just turned 41. Dee was 35 at the time but not able to conceive due to a medical procedure.
Our first appointment with the Repro Man was May 2006. He suggested we try IVF using Dee's eggs and Shelly as the gestational mother. He felt this scenario would give us the highest chance for success of a healthy pregnancy. We spent a short amount of time weighing our options and decided this was the best choice. We began our first IVF cycle in August. They did the Egg Retrieval and Fertilization on 8/31. Three days later, 9/3, they transferred three embryos into Shelly. Then the wait began.
Shelly promised not to begin the home pregnancy test too soon. Dee had to travel out of state for business a week after the transfer and asked Shelly to please wait to test. BUT, the wait was too much for her and she started testing after a week. At first there was no line. But after a couple of days testing a faint line started to appear. When Dee came home from her trip Shelly told her, "I know I'm pregnant." Dee didn't believe her and insisted the line wasn't dark enough so she tested herself to compare. There was absolutely no line. She began to believe Shelly was pregnant but still had doubt. Dee went to the store and bought another brand of testing strips. After five home tests, we were convinced we we're pregnant due to all positive results. A blood test at two weeks confirmed it; we were going to have a baby!
In October 2005 we began the process of trying to conceive. As soon as we started trying Shelly began having very erratic cycles which made the process that more complicated. After four tries over six months we decided to schedule a consultation with the a Reproductive Specialist. We were desperate to conceive and on a limited time frame since Shelly had just turned 41. Dee was 35 at the time but not able to conceive due to a medical procedure.
Our first appointment with the Repro Man was May 2006. He suggested we try IVF using Dee's eggs and Shelly as the gestational mother. He felt this scenario would give us the highest chance for success of a healthy pregnancy. We spent a short amount of time weighing our options and decided this was the best choice. We began our first IVF cycle in August. They did the Egg Retrieval and Fertilization on 8/31. Three days later, 9/3, they transferred three embryos into Shelly. Then the wait began.
Shelly promised not to begin the home pregnancy test too soon. Dee had to travel out of state for business a week after the transfer and asked Shelly to please wait to test. BUT, the wait was too much for her and she started testing after a week. At first there was no line. But after a couple of days testing a faint line started to appear. When Dee came home from her trip Shelly told her, "I know I'm pregnant." Dee didn't believe her and insisted the line wasn't dark enough so she tested herself to compare. There was absolutely no line. She began to believe Shelly was pregnant but still had doubt. Dee went to the store and bought another brand of testing strips. After five home tests, we were convinced we we're pregnant due to all positive results. A blood test at two weeks confirmed it; we were going to have a baby!
9 comments:
congrats on passing the test! sounds like you understood it right. i had to wear a monitor like that while in the hospital because i was induced. good times. how's the room and stuff coming along? it's fun to shop for babies. :) sorry you're both sick--hope you get better soon!
Sorry to hear you guys are feeling badly. Take care of each other. How are you decorating the room? Maybe I missed a post about it.
Glad you had fun in park city.
Just so you know, the rest of your life will be like this weekend. AHH lets just go home and do something fun with Riley :) All you need is a little you time and then it's all about the us time.
Glad to hear the stress test went well.
Are you going to post some ultrasound pictures soon ?
We are sick too.....DAMN IT I'm sick of being sick !!!!
To answer your question on my blog:
Kiddie's is the easiest place with kids....we did JC Penny's and you have to have an appointment. With kids that's hard, because you never know if they need a few minutes to eat, pee, gather their thoughts :) I have not tried Target or Walmart.
I have used an independent lady and will use her for the boys 1 year pictures. We want to get family ones at the same time. It will be on location at the park. Her website is
wwww.kaptured-moments.com Check out her work. She's not that expensive. You end up spending 150.00 either way. There are a couple of pictures of Syd on her website. She did my announcement pictures of the boys and the one with Syd all in white. I think she's great. Those were all done at our house.
Hurray on passing the tests!! Hope you both feel better soon.
YAY!!! CONGRATS!!! You are getting so close. I can't wait to see her pictures.
So happy to see that Riley is passing all of the tests being thrown at her!
I got all jealous when you said Park City.
Yea for Riley! She is so strong! Way to go on passing the tests. I loved getting our nursery together, it was so fun and exciting. I can't wait to see pictures. I hope you guys get better soon. It must be the dang weather.
Welcome back. Sorry yall are feeling icky. Great news about the tests!
Riley IS a star - how could she not be? Just another way of her saying "See Moms? I am FINE! Now stop worrying and start shopping - I am going to be the sweetest little princess ever and I want the clothes to accent that fact." :)
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