Here Comes the Sun

Or, rather, Son, as it were...

I had my doctor's appointment yesterday. It was the day of the big ultrasound. Hubby and I were both nervous going in; one, we of course wanted to hear that all was well with the baby and two, we wanted to find out what we are having. As most of you know, I was really hoping for a girl. Hubby was happy either way; he wanted a girl for my sake but would be pleased as punch with a boy.

We are fairly certain the little naked somersaulter in my belly is a boy. When you do the splits in your skivies, certain bits will show! And unless my baby has three legs we are certainly having a boy.

So there you have it.

In other news, the baby so far looks good. He is measuring BIG. And I don't mean a few days or even a week big, I mean he is measuring anywhere from 18 weeks 5 days to 20 weeks 2 days! (in case you didn't do the math, that is almost 3 weeks bigger than he should be) YIKES! At this rate, I most likely will have a 9+ pound-er, and very likely closer to 10 lb baby! The doctor said, "you do realize the second babies are usually bigger than the first." To which I replied, "you do realize that this one is going to come early, right?" I was way more serious than he knows.

I do like this doctor, but I have definitely decided he is not going to be my OB for much longer. Hubby and I discovered he is very hard of hearing, and I am already having nightmares of being in labor and trying to tell him something and he doesn't hear what I say. No, no, no, no, NO!! That is not happening.

So when Medicaid gets their act together and my "plan" kicks in next month I am going back to my old OB. Therein lies a whole other slew of issues, but we'll get into them at another time.

Another development was the results of my ANA Lysine panel (blood work up) they did last visit. It turns out my Sjogren's (pronounced "SHOW-grins") SS-A Antibodies are off the charts, and the doctor is saying it is possible I have Sjogren's Syndrome. Again, this is where I don't think he is quite understanding things - because elevated SS-A Antibodies are also related to Lupus and we pretty much know I have that. But, sometimes Sjogren's Syndrome can accompany Lupus and other autoimmune disorders. Their symptoms are similar and one can be misdiagnosed for the other and vice-versa. Either way, he wants me to see a Rheumatologist; yadda, yadda, yadda.

Who I really need to see is a high risk OB that specializes in autoimmune disorders. Send me that direction and I am set. What I really need is someone who can hear my questions, and who won't treat me like an idiot when I ask them. *sigh* Again, a post for another day. What I really need is more specialized, more frequent care.

But I realize these things may or may not be an option, and so I have to give my worry and my fear to God and pray that He will watch over me and the baby and take care of things. I pray that my doctor(s) will point me in the right direction and that I will have the strength to speak up for myself and do the bast I can with what I have.

I don't know what the options are for people on Medicaid. I need to do more research. I do know that with my history, current issues and my 1st pregnancy issues that this baby needs to be monitored very closely. His kidneys need to be checked thoroughly, his heart rate monitored and his size watched. I need to be watched closely for signs of preeclampsia starting now. I presented at 20 weeks with the first symptoms last time, and no one caught on until I was already in labor and my blood pressure was dangerously high. I really don't want to go through that again.

All of the issues I had were directly related to the Lupus and the fact of the matter is, this doctor doesn't yet realize that I have Lupus, much less does he seem to be willing to treat it any differently than a normal pregnancy. As much as I would love for it to be normal, it simply isn't, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to this baby because I blindly went with what one doctor says.

So I am eagerly waiting for November; for many reasons - but that is a post for another time. ;)

Until,
D :)