13 Weeks 5 Days

Well, I finally got my results back from the blood work part of the nuchal/genetics screen:

Chance of Down's Syndrome: 1 in 16,000

Chance of Trisomy 13: 1 in 35,000

Chance of Trisomy 18: 1 in 35,000

The screening can't completely rule out chromosomal disorders, but instead gives you your odds of the baby having them based on the nuchal fold measurement (a measurement at the back of the fetal neck) and different hormones/proteins/chemicals in my blood that the baby releases into my blood stream. So, there is still a chance of something being wrong, but the numbers are definitely in our favor.

My next visit with Dr. Le is next Thursday and they should be drawing additional blood to check for neural tube defects, like spina bifida. Dr. Gei (the doctor who I saw for the NT screen) suggested that Dr. Le also check to make sure my clotting factor is lupus-related and not an antiphospholipid syndrome issue. APS would pretty much guarantee that I'll be put on heparin instead of just a baby aspirin. I'll also get scheduled for my anatomical scan in roughly four weeks, so that we can just solidify the fact that this is indeed a boy! Dr. Le refers all his patients to Dr. Gei, so I'm looking forward to a nice, clear ultrasound ...and possibly a 3D picture (I asked the sonographer last time if they had the good high-resolution machines to do them and she said they sure do!).

Anyhow, I will keep y'all posted! It is killing me to have to wait to go buy our blue baby things! I also discovered today that the crib we have for Maddie has been recalled (four babies have died from getting trapped in the drop-side and dozens more injured), so our plans to just put the new baby in it is down the tubes. So I guess I get to go furniture shopping as well. Oh, how I miss my paychecks, but I wouldn't trade staying home with my babies for anything. Having to get a new crib (and changer and dresser ~ the room has to match, after all) just was really an unexpected expense. However, I do love to shop, so I think I can get over my initial shock :) And getting a good deal is my middle name, baby!

BIG FAT HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GRAMMA K.!!! I wish we were there to celebrate with you. We love you!