33 Weeks and an Update on Tyler

That's right, 33 weeks and 4 days! This pregnancy has been relatively easy in the symptoms department. I only felt a little bit of morning sickness the week of Christmas and then after that not too much. I have had heart burn like nobody's business though. I have gone through 1 complete bottle of antacids and am halfway through the next one. It is wonderful :) haha

On the other hand, this pregnancy has been very stressful and nothing like what we had planned or hoped for. While we were living in Vegas, we went to an ultrasound clinic where they told us that we were having a girl. (boy were they wrong haha) While we were there, they told us that they saw an "abnormality" and that we needed to see the doctors soon. They couldn't tell us what they thought was wrong because they weren't a doctors office. All they could say was that there was something wrong and to talk to the doctors. Because we were only going to be there for a little while, the doctors in Rexburg said that we didn't need to see someone down in Vegas. We would only miss 2 appointments and because it was so early in the pregnancy, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. 

Anyway, after the appointment, I called the clinic in Rexburg and explained what was going on. I was given a video of the ultrasound and they said that I could email it to them and they could help us. I did this and then we waited for 3 days before the doctors finally had time to look at the video. While we were waiting, we were out at dinner and Jake asked if I had ever heard of the insides developing outside of the baby's body. I hadn't but I looked it up on my phone and found that it does happen sometimes. It's called Gastroschisis and in a nut shell, it means that a hole formed in the baby's abdomen and some intestines poked through and were developing outside the body. Talk about a tender mercy from the Lord. It turns out that is what the doctors said it most likely was as well and because we had come up with it before and I had had time to research it and come to terms I guess with it, I took the information much better than expected. 

When we got back to Rexburg, we did the full 20 week ultrasound and they diagnosed it officially as Gastroschisis and referred us to a perinatologist in Idaho Falls.  We have been going to see her since we got back as well as the doctors in Rexburg. Our sweet little Tyler will need surgery to put the intestines back in, we will have to go to Boise because there is not a pediatric surgeon in Idaho Falls. We went to an appointment in Boise two weeks ago and found out that they like to deliver babies with Gastroschisis by 35 weeks because the damage done to the intestines is limited and they are typically able to put it all back in one surgery as opposed to in multiple. We met with the perinatologist, the surgeon, and the neonatologist while we were there and they determined that because of the damage already done to the intestines, we would need to come back in two weeks and they would look to see if the intestines were worse. If it isn't too much worse, they will do an Amnio test to test his lungs and if they are ready, they will induce me. As long as Tyler cooperates, I can deliver normally as opposed to have a c-section which is completely fine with me. I am not all that thrilled with the thought of being cut open but I will do it if it is what Tyler needs. So our appointment is on Thursday and hopefully I will be induced on Friday. 

When he is born, we will be able to hold him for a few minutes and then they will take him into surgery within 30 minutes to put the intestines back inside. He will be in the NICU for probably 2-3 weeks but we really have no idea. They want to make sure that he is eating and passing for a certain amount of time, usually 48 hours and then he can come home. They said that reflux is a common thing for babies with this so it is something they will be watching closely. I am not excited to have my baby taken from me so soon and not be able to hold him until the say I can but I am ready for this to be done and over with. Typically, babies don't have any lasting effects of this aside from a scar so here's hoping.

For a week and a half Tyler had been head down and in the prime position to deliver normally but today at our appointment, he had turned back to breech. Just in time for us to deliver. It seems like everything about this pregnancy has had to change and we have had to adjust quickly to a new situation. I want to know who we made mad :P Oh well, I guess that's how life goes. My mom says if you want to make God laugh, try to plan your own life. Seems like he was rolling on the floor. Anyways that is what is going on with our little Tyler. 

We are naming him Tyler Michael Smith. Tyler was Jake's mom's maiden name and Michael is my dad's name. We have had this picked out since we found out we were pregnant and I can't wait to finally see the cute little face that we know is our Tyler :) I can't wait to put him in the clothes that we have picked out, we got some premie ones and they are so tiny, I can't wait to hold my sweet little baby boy. 

I will post pictures as soon as we get them so stay tuned! It will be soon!! :D

Until next time!