As most of you know we found out earlier this week that Kinley has a heart murmur. Her pediatrician scheduled her for an echocardiogram (ultrasound of Kinley's heart) earlier this morning. I was a bit shocked to find out when we got there that infants usually take 2-3 hours for the procedure and must remain still for the entire time, and if they can't remain still they then get sedated- I about threw up thinking of that. Turns out our tech said if she could get 1 hour of stillness she could get everything she needed. Miss Kinley made it for 1 hour and 5 minutes before waking up (thanks to her amazing Dad who gently stroked her face and got her back to sleep several times), just in time for our tech to get finished up- thank God! I'm 100% sure I would have been a mess had they needed to sedate her.
Anyway- we just got a call from our doctor with some preliminary results. It turns out that Kinley has a muscle ventricular septic defect in her heart. Which basically means that:
A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a hole between the right and left pumping chambers of the heart.
The heart has four chambers: a right and left upper chamber called an atrium and a right and left lower chamber called a ventricle.
In the normal heart, the right and left chambers are completely separated from each other by a wall of muscle called a septum. The right atrium is separated from the left atrium by the atrial septum and the right ventricle is separated from the left ventricle by the ventricular septum.
Normally there is no hole between the two ventricles, but some infants are born with these holes called ventricular septal defects.
Kinley has a "small" hole between the two ventricles of her heart. We will see the pediatric cardiologist the first week of January to see what the next steps are. Our pediatrician believes that there will not be a need for treatment, but Kinley will likely have to have several echocardiograms to monitor the size of the hole over the next few years. 80% of all VSD's close by age 4 on their own, which is obviously what we are hoping for. Because it is a smaller hole, this shouldn't cause issues with growth, her health, etc. We are thanking God that for now, things should continue to be "normal" for Kinley. Here is a website if you want more info: http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/heart-encyclopedia/anomalies/vsd.htm
Other than this little bump in the road things are going great! I can't imagine my life wihtout this little girl, she is absoultey amazing and has completely stolen our hearts!
December 16, 2010
December 14, 2010
One week ago... and a sneak peek at Kinley's newborn pictures
Exactly one week ago tonight this is what I looked like:
I had asked Matt to take one last belly picture, I was actually having contractions during this picture... man, it seems like a long time ago!
And this is what we have to enjoy a week later... a precious, beautiful, amazing little girl. Enjoy a sneak peek at her newborn pictures. I'm hoping to get the rest edited and a few more posted in the next few days, but someone (hint hint- aunt Keri) was demanding picture, so here ya go.
It is absolutely amazing to think how much our lives have changed in a week. I don't think I could be more in love with this little girl if I tried. She is amazing. She makes us smile every minute of the day, even at 3am, which is saying a lot for me. =)
I have lots of blogs running through my head about how amazing our baby girl is, and also a whole post on her delivery, but those will have to wait until I have more time to think. =)
On a side note, we could use a few prayers tonight. We had two appointments today for Kinley and both doctors heard a murmur in Kinley's heart. So tomorrow she will have an ultrasound of her heart done to see what we are dealing with. On a good note- Kinley is back to her birth weight today! It usually takes about two weeks, so that is great that she's back to wait in a week! The doctor said that is a really good as far as the murmur goes, because it's not affecting her too much. Anyway, I'll try to keep this updated tomorrow if we learn more.
I had asked Matt to take one last belly picture, I was actually having contractions during this picture... man, it seems like a long time ago!
And this is what we have to enjoy a week later... a precious, beautiful, amazing little girl. Enjoy a sneak peek at her newborn pictures. I'm hoping to get the rest edited and a few more posted in the next few days, but someone (hint hint- aunt Keri) was demanding picture, so here ya go.
It is absolutely amazing to think how much our lives have changed in a week. I don't think I could be more in love with this little girl if I tried. She is amazing. She makes us smile every minute of the day, even at 3am, which is saying a lot for me. =)
I have lots of blogs running through my head about how amazing our baby girl is, and also a whole post on her delivery, but those will have to wait until I have more time to think. =)
On a side note, we could use a few prayers tonight. We had two appointments today for Kinley and both doctors heard a murmur in Kinley's heart. So tomorrow she will have an ultrasound of her heart done to see what we are dealing with. On a good note- Kinley is back to her birth weight today! It usually takes about two weeks, so that is great that she's back to wait in a week! The doctor said that is a really good as far as the murmur goes, because it's not affecting her too much. Anyway, I'll try to keep this updated tomorrow if we learn more.
December 9, 2010
yeah for good news!
Kinley's bilirubin levels dropped this morning to 10.6, just below the level of concern!! We are still waiting to get all of our discharge papers signed then we are out of here!
Can't wait to get home and cuddle up with our little babe!
Can't wait to get home and cuddle up with our little babe!
on our way home!
Kinley is doing awesome and I feel great, so we are excited to be heading home this morning! Kinley had some bloodwork this morning to check her bilirubin levels for jaundice. It was a bit high last night so we are praying its down this morning and no further action is needed. If its not down (and it usually doesn't go down on the 3rd day when being breastfed) then we may have to use a bili-light at home, guess we'll deal if that's the case but of course we'd loive it if her levels were lower.
Other than that we are loving this little girl to death!!! I've never been more in love with Matt either, so life is great right now!
We got some awesome pictures of Kinley wide awake yesterday, I'll get them up soon.
Thanks for all of the well wishes!
M&B
Other than that we are loving this little girl to death!!! I've never been more in love with Matt either, so life is great right now!
We got some awesome pictures of Kinley wide awake yesterday, I'll get them up soon.
Thanks for all of the well wishes!
M&B
December 7, 2010
Kinley's First Pictures
Here are just a few pictures from Kinley's first 12 hours of life. I'll try to get her birth story and some other info up soon, but for now, enjoy the pictures.
2:07am 6lbs 14oz
Our first few minutes together, so in love!
First familiy picture!
Our baby girl!
2:07am 6lbs 14oz
Our first few minutes together, so in love!
First familiy picture!
Our baby girl!
Kinley Maxine is here!
So excited to announce the arrival of Kinley Maxine King! Born at 2:07am, 6lbs 140z,19 inches long.
It was a quick and intense delivery, but we are loving life right now! More details and pictures to come later.
It was a quick and intense delivery, but we are loving life right now! More details and pictures to come later.
December 6, 2010
38 Week Survey
How far along? 38 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: +0 this week
Sleep: I've slept pretty well this week.
Food cravings: EVERYTHING! I finally had the normal pregnancy binge session where I couldn't get enough to eat for about 24 hours, thank goodness it's back under control now.
Best moment this week: Finding out that I'm 5cm dilated and 90% effaced as of our appointment today!
Movement: Starting to slow down just a tiny bit.
Gender: All girl
Labor Signs: Having some more noticeable contractions, still nothing "labor worthy"
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Nothing.
What I am looking forward to: Going into full blown labor!!!
Weekly Wisdom: Do something as a couple that you won't be able to do for awhile.
Milestones:I'm officially dilated to 5cm and I haven't had any pain to speak of to get that far, yeah for being halfway to 10cm!!!
Total weight gain/loss: +0 this week
Sleep: I've slept pretty well this week.
Food cravings: EVERYTHING! I finally had the normal pregnancy binge session where I couldn't get enough to eat for about 24 hours, thank goodness it's back under control now.
Best moment this week: Finding out that I'm 5cm dilated and 90% effaced as of our appointment today!
Movement: Starting to slow down just a tiny bit.
Gender: All girl
Labor Signs: Having some more noticeable contractions, still nothing "labor worthy"
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Nothing.
What I am looking forward to: Going into full blown labor!!!
Weekly Wisdom: Do something as a couple that you won't be able to do for awhile.
Milestones:I'm officially dilated to 5cm and I haven't had any pain to speak of to get that far, yeah for being halfway to 10cm!!!
December 5, 2010
38 Weeks
Your baby could be gaining as much as one full ounce of weight per day now. While she continues to urinate and practice breathing, your baby is also storing meconium (your baby's first bowel movement) in her intestines. Her lungs are continuing to mature and her grasp has become even firmer than before. Your baby is approximately 20 inches long and weighs about 6 1/2 to 7 pounds. Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.
Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)
Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)
December 1, 2010
Coming to the end...
I feel the days of this pregnancy drawing near an end. I am thrilled beyond words to know that we will be meeting this little girl so soon, but, I have an ache in my heart knowing that it will soon all be over.
I have loved nearly every moment of this pregnancy. I have loved feeling every kick and roll that this baby girl has made. It may sound a little selfish, but I love the fact that I am the only one who has been able to truly connect with her, and care for her up to this point. I will miss her morning kicks and flops telling me that it is time to get up. I will miss watching Matt’s eyes light up as he watches my belly shake from across the room as she goes crazy and does another gymnastics routine.
I am also going to miss all of the stares and glances that strangers give my belly as they pass by and can notice the unmistakable child growing inside my stomach. I love that she is with me 24 hours a day, every day, and that I don’t have to pass her off to anyone or share any of the special moments that only her and I have had together so far.
I think another thought not far from the front of my mind is the worry that this may be my last few days of ever having the awesome experience of carrying a child. I worry that another year or two older, and the possibility of not having any infertility insurance or enough money to pay for treatments on our own, may hamper our ability to be able to conceive again. I realize that we were incredibly blessed to get pregnant this time, and I truly shouldn’t worry about the “next time”, but I do worry. I worry that I will never get to have this inexpressible experience again. I know I may sound nuts, but I truly can’t wait to do this all over again.
So, for the last few days of this pregnancy, I will try my hardest to sit back and enjoy every second of this baby girl that I can, knowing that the end is coming all too soon.
I have loved nearly every moment of this pregnancy. I have loved feeling every kick and roll that this baby girl has made. It may sound a little selfish, but I love the fact that I am the only one who has been able to truly connect with her, and care for her up to this point. I will miss her morning kicks and flops telling me that it is time to get up. I will miss watching Matt’s eyes light up as he watches my belly shake from across the room as she goes crazy and does another gymnastics routine.
I am also going to miss all of the stares and glances that strangers give my belly as they pass by and can notice the unmistakable child growing inside my stomach. I love that she is with me 24 hours a day, every day, and that I don’t have to pass her off to anyone or share any of the special moments that only her and I have had together so far.
I think another thought not far from the front of my mind is the worry that this may be my last few days of ever having the awesome experience of carrying a child. I worry that another year or two older, and the possibility of not having any infertility insurance or enough money to pay for treatments on our own, may hamper our ability to be able to conceive again. I realize that we were incredibly blessed to get pregnant this time, and I truly shouldn’t worry about the “next time”, but I do worry. I worry that I will never get to have this inexpressible experience again. I know I may sound nuts, but I truly can’t wait to do this all over again.
So, for the last few days of this pregnancy, I will try my hardest to sit back and enjoy every second of this baby girl that I can, knowing that the end is coming all too soon.
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