Little Sis is here!

Mini-Meek 2 has arrived!

Emeline Joy joined us early Tuesday at 3:54am, February 28, 2012. A tiny liitle thing at 6lbs 5oz, but pretty tall at 19.5 in. Verdict is still out, but she looks mighty Fitzpatrick like :)

Proud big sister has been wonderful. Pics coming soon!

Serious countdown to a forever 4-some!

The days are flying by!  We have been busy in SO many ways!  Busy in baby ways, toddler ways, house-hunting/renting ways, business start up,  Superbowl party, baby "sprinkle", visiting with family, a GAMA get together...even some crazy police activity at what should have been a routine trip to good ol' Walmart (no, it wasn't me prompting the police activity, I was just a bystander ;)  Overall, NEVER a dull moment here -- although...I'd like one!

Pregnancy is at 37 weeks (any looooong time blog followers, Annie was born at 38 weeks!) - so amidst all of the excitement from every other direction our lives are being pulled, we're trying to remember we're weeks or maybe even days from having a whole new person arriving and sharing all of this craziness with us (and likely contributing a whole new level of crazy themselves :)  I can't wait!  I can't wait to finally have all of these distractions trumped for awhile over someone wonderful - that we will soon not be able to imagine life without.

In the meantime -- Annie has been prepping for her new role as big sister.  Talking about the baby, attempting to do more and more on her own (and in the process doing a bit of regression at times).  In leui of potty training, pacifier (nukie) giving up, or transitioning to a toddler bed (failed at all, or haven't even tried) before the baby comes...we have upgraded her crib bedding from unisex baby bedding to some nice, girly toddler decor.  She assumes this makes her crib "a big girl bed", just based on bedding alone.  Fine with me for now.   It is going to be so incredible to watch her and her new sibbling meet for that first time - I'm sure this all seems so surreal to her (heck, it does to me!)

Stay tunned -- undoubtably, one of these posts in the very near future will be introducing Mini-Meek 2, and we can finally find out who he or she is!

New "big girl bed" (aka. big girl BEDDING, maybe not so much big girl bed yet ;)

3 expecting mom friends at a recent "baby sprinkle" (we're all expecting #2!)  (Momma Meek in blue)

Annabelle enjoying a Superbowl party with friends.

Recent GAMA get together (13 kids in this photo, 10 are galactosemic, 3 are not...can you tell me which?  Didn't think so ;)

Annie in heaven with her ring around the rosey pals.  (she could do this ALL day)

Grant & Annie

Annie dying to "hold the baby" when visiting with baby Van this week.

....and going in for a big sisterly kiss.  Won't be long she can love all over her own little bundle :)

Meek 2, Level 2 Ultrasound Update

Ahhh...
A nice, normal ultrasound today. The fancy level II ultrasound showed no major concerns, baby was measuring between 34-36 weeks on all measurements (My official due date puts me at 36 weeks, 1 day - my personal due date would have me hitting just 35 weeks today...so even if some measurements are a week or two behind, they'd be right on with momma's calculations ;) We did have Dr. McCulloch today at Maternal Fetal Medicine, which was a nice surprise. He did our amnio and fancy ultrasounds when we were pregnant with Annabelle, so it was nice to catch up with him - and we definitely felt like we were in good hands. He reiterated that they see the EIF so often, it's practically a non-issue. And any head circumference problems were nearly non-existant, if anything the head was measuring a bit elongated, which is common in breech babies (which we don't have :p). Baby was estimated at 5lbs, 6oz today, up already from 4lbs 12oz last week. There was some evidence that the placenta is begining to wear down, but thats common at the end of pregnancy, something to monitor, but all in all, he saw no issues....and wished us on our merry way with what he hopes will be a "boring final few pregnancy weeks and delivery." AMEN!

All about Mini-Meek 2 Today....

Mini-Meek 2's latest close up - that's a head, two eyes, nose and mouth :)
February 2, 2012



Did I say this baby felt bigger?  That's funny because we have actually just been told the opposite may be true.  I always "carry small" -- and even with Annie had strangers and friends alike telling me "you're no where near your delivery date, you're going to have to grow way more than that!"  (two days before my 7lb, 1oz, perfectly normal sized baby was born).

However, this time we seem to have a problem?  We went in at 33 weeks for a follow up ultrasound (to keep an eye on the EIF (refresh your EIF saga knowledge at our previous post here: www.mini-meek.blogspot.com/2011/10/mini-meek-sequel.html) that just won't go away, and to "check growth" -- which I guess never really crossed my mind as an issue, I just assumed that was standard follow up when an EIF was involved?

At the 33 week ultrasound Mini-Meek 2 was a little behind.  Only measuring in the 50th percentile (more in line with a 30-31 weeker), but still within normal range, estimated at about 4lbs...small, but nothing alarming.  (And of course, I'm used to being told I have some micro-baby stashed in my overly roomy torso, nothing I love more than gaining 20lbs and stashing a human in my belly and being told "you don't even look pregnant" - thanks, so this is how I always look, like I swallowed a person?)  Anyway....

Wednesday this week, at our 35 week ultrasound, Mini-Meek has fallen to the 30th percentile over all and UNDER the 10th percentile for head circumference (ie. small baby, even smaller head)...and had only grown to a little over 4lbs.  Growth has slowed, fallen further on the charts, AND we have asymmetrical growth (body 30th percentile, head less than 10th percentile).  Had our baby stayed small, but consistent (50th percentile) there wouldn't be much cause for concern (so I'm told) - but because baby seems to be regressing, not growing and not even just small but small over all and even smaller in other places...we're off to Maternal Fetal Medicine again next week to look further into what's going on.

And of course the EIF (white spot on the heart) was a big nerve wrecker a few months ago, until we went to Maternal Fetal Medicine and were told there were no other markers to cause concern - so to write that off as an isolated finding.  This new poor growth and asymmetrical growth issue now adds to the EIF and it's no longer an "isolated finding".

We won't have any more information until the next ultrasound on Thursday.  For now I'm just trying to calm down (ha) and read what I can (like a shot in the dark without a real diagnosis)...this could be another Down's Syndrome marker, this could point to some other metabolic disorder (puh-lease be galactosemia, we're all over that), or chromosomal disorder, this could mean that there is an issue with my placenta not working properly to nourish the baby, there could be an issue with the umbilical cord function....or this could just be a "small baby"....OR heck, it could even be that modern science is just a little ahead of itself and none of these ultrasound measurements are perfect - and there's absolutely nothing wrong in there.

How's that for a pregnant momma head-full?  I'd love to assume the best...but I'm nothing if not a planner - I'd like to be prepared for whatever we have ahead.  If this little brother or sister is going to need anything more than what we know-- I want to start educating myself now so we can just enjoy the arrival -- rather than desperately trying to learn in those precious first few days and weeks again. 

So for now we wait...and fold little socks, wash tiny sheets, pack and repack the hospital bag, and plan for the day we go out that door pregnant for the last time, only to return with baby brother or sister in our arms.