Macleod Momentum

Little Miss Nola Michele Macleod was born at 5:56 am on January 31, 2010. 6 lbs 7 oz. 19.25 inches long. Although today is her birthday, her party was this past Sunday.  She is the most amazing thing I have ever known.

Now that it’s Friday night, I've had 2 full days of thinking and talking.   The information has settled and the medication has begun to invade my body. Yesterday I went to see my General Physician to update him with everything and hopefully get a listen to LG's heart. We talked about the recent developments and I laid down while he got the Doppler. He and his Intern worked together to find all three heart rates. Not too difficult now that they are very different. You see, they could always hear the atrial heart rate easily--usually a strong 140/150. But the ventricular being around 55 was nearly the same as mine so they didn’t know what they were hearing. Well yesterday they found 150 (atrial), 90 (my new resting heart beat) and a consistent 60. Now I'm not going to freak out like OMG we're fine...and my doctor was only using the standard Doppler, not a super ultrasound machine. BUT by the time I got back out to my car I sat for a second and it came over me. A fresh

With my Spicy Virgin Caesar beside me, and a bowl of Skittles I will try to settle my trembling hands to type this installment of the Calgary Visit update. It wasn't a good day in the world of Jeanette.  A bad news day.  To make matters a little worse, my husband wasn't physically with me for this appointment.  We had agreed if work came up to take it because things had been oh-so steady with LG (little girl) I'd be fine to go it alone...Murphy's Law. Special shout out to Grandma and Grandpa for taking Miss. Nola overnight so I wouldn't have to transport a toddler at 5:30 am.  My appointment in Calgary this morning was for 7:45 am.  *yawn* Last week the Perinatologist decided it would be best to have a full Fetal Echo Cardiogram done today, whereas the other ultrasounds in previous weeks have been a standard Fetal Assessment.  A Fetal Echo is much longer and measures more in-depth things like ventricles and valves and functions, not just growth and heart rate.

I’m going crazy.   I have to be.   It can’t just be chalked up to baby brain after all.   This is too weird, too creepy — or frustrating … I’m thinking my mommy friends should be able to relate to this.   I’ve noticed how anal I’ve become in the toy department.   I HATE losing pieces to toys.   I want Nola to be able to enjoy her toys in the entirety, meaning nothing broken and all parts in place.   When something goes missing, we halt all play and search for it until Mommy feels better.   Ok, maybe not to THAT extreme, but it certainly URKS me. Last year, at Christmas or her birthday (I can’t remember which) Nola was given the Little People Barn with Animals.   It came with the Farmer, pig, sheep, goat, cow & horse.   I have watched carefully over these pieces and it has paid off — until recently. This Christmas she merrily played with it here and there and then shortly after Christmas they were GONE.   “They can’t possibly be gone,” I reasoned.   They had to be somewhere and

Hard to believe I'm already at 28 weeks and 2 days.  I'm actually beginning to feel a little sad that it's passing SO fast.  Upon learning of baby girl's heart problem, there was the little panic to "make it" to 32 weeks, but now I'm sad that the "count" has resulted in a speedier pregnancy :(  I enjoyed being pregnant with Nola so much and the time seemed to pass just right.  I realize there are other reasons for it passing faster this time...like dealing with a toddler--that's a bit busy, not to mention the plethora of doctors appointments and play dates that keep life forever busier. Kevin and I got to Calgary just in time to make it to his favourite East Indian restaurant for lunch.  Moti Mahal is on 17th street I think, and today we made the time to indulge in some fine cuisine.  Baby girl seemed to enjoy the butter chicken and mango lassi! Afterward we went to the Foothills for our appointment.  First I see a Perinatology Nurse who

I think it's going to be a hold-your-breath kind of week. Baby girls heart beat was at about 53 today.  55 is the danger zone cut off.  It kind of stumped Kevin and I.  The ultrasound tech was super nice and, of course, they don't really know what sort of news they're giving us when they tell us the heart rate.  They don't know why we're there, but we went a little quiet when she said.  I wasn't really expecting that. Today Kevin and I decided to get a disc of pictures of our sweetheart.  She was having a party today while they were trying to take pictures, wiggling and bouncing. She's about 2 1/4 pounds. Her feet measure about 5.4 cm. So with the lower rate, the pediatric cardiologist (the amazing Dr. Fruitman) came into the room immediately to have a look for herself and we had the consult right away.  She asked me how things had been and I told her about this past week.  I took a hard fall on the ice with Nola in my arms and suffered a terrib

26 weeks/6 months-ish Another week down.  Another dose of good news. It really did seem to take forever today, but it's always worth the wait when I get to see my baby girl and hear that she's holding fast. My appointment was for 10 and we weren't out of the office until 1.  UGH!  But the good news is she is growing wonderfully; they predict she is just over 2 pounds.  Her femur and head and tummy all measure perfectly, her heart muscle is STRONG and consistent; the rate was 56-58 today and she is moving like crazy.  She's actually pretty feisty I think, because every time they put the ultrasound probe to my stomach she kicks it and punches it constantly !  Ha! The Perinatologist also pointed out that, although anything can still happen, the fact that she has been SO consistent the last 6 weeks is promising for the next 6 weeks.  It increases the likelihood that the outcome will be positive.  Duh!  This is going MY way ;) We were also informed today that Kevi