Ultrasounds...

So at the beginning of my pregnancy I asked the doctor to not do an u/s (ultrasound) because I only wanted the one at 20 weeks.  Well, since then I have had to have a few more then planed.  About a month ago we had our first u/s!  and NO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE HAVING!  I talked Ryan into not finding out the last minute.  Thought the doc gave us a sealed envelope with a certain picture on it...and yes, I have it hidden and Ryan doesn't know where it is :)!  Well, the u/s tech was taking forever and said that he couldn't get a couple of veiws because the baby wasn't cooperating.  I didn't think anything of it (which I should have known better) so he went to get the perinatologist.  I ate some jelly beans and the baby started moving and she started looking at the heart...again.  So then I started to worry, I had the tech check everything that I was worried about like the baby has a brain, there were two kidneys, arms and legs, a beating heart...the usual.  So then I was informed that it "looked like the baby has a hole in the heart, and I'm not seeing the vessels cross...so how bout another u/s tomorrow with a pediatric cardiologist?" "Sure, why not"...I mean what could I say?

So, Ryan canceled a trip for work and the next day we had another hour long u/s and this is what out little baby has:

Tetralogy of Fallot (here's a general pic)

So this is generally what it is but this first u/s showed that we only had on of the pulmonary arteries (the blue branching "T" shaped thing)to the right lung and not to the left(so instead of a "T" an upsidedown "L").  Also the pul. valve and arteries are half the size they are supposed to be, and the hole(ventricular septal defect) is supposedly "fairly large".  So we were obviously thrilled :~( and I vow never to go to the doctor in Oct. again because it seems to be cursed for us!  But after some prayers and fasting we felt okay about it.  

SO...

We went back this past friday for the next installment of our little one's heart.  And GOOD NEWS!  well, I think it is!  Yes, the baby still has tetralogy but they think they saw the other pulmonary artery (so a "T" instead of "L").  Also, even though the arteries are still half the size they are supposed to be...they are still half the size--which means that they grew with the heart and there is still bloodflow through them with is KEY--as long as the blood flows then that should stimulate them to keep growing with the heart!! 

SO...

What this all means is that this baby is doing fine while he/she is in me.  When the baby is born is when they need the blood flow to the lungs (the pulmonary arteries are how the blood gets from the heart to the lungs, getting oxygen for the rest of the body...so kind of important) so that the baby can breath and receive the o2 that they will need.  So it all depends on how the baby does at birth.  The baby will need open heart surgery but when and how many will all depend on the baby, when they are born and how the surgery(ies) go.  

SO...

I guess we'll keep hoping it gets better and that I can cook this baby as long as I can!  

Hope everyone has a HAPPY THANKSGIVING THIS WEEK!!!!