Fetal Echocardiogram results

We did the first fetal echocardiogram today. I laid for an hour and fell asleep while the technician took measurement after measurement. The doctors came in who had been watching in the room across the hall. They told Tariq and I that the baby has typical heart development with a few bright spots that they will monitor. 

We are elated and over overjoyed. The little guy has made it through one of the first major hurdles for a baby with Ds.

We'll go back in 6 weeks for a follow-up.

Thank ALLAH FOR THE BLESSING.

22 Weeks - Over half way there

22 weeks PG

I am sailing into my 23rd week and starting to go from a little pregnant to a lot pregnant. Getting up off the couch is becoming more challenging as well as sleeping. I am moving back into my "life saver positioning" with a pillow behind me, one on each side and one under my knees. I have found, this stops the roll-overs that occurs during the night which leave my sides and arms numb. Pregnancy is so fun! I am growing quite the watermelon and I see the scale creeping up but it's slow and steady, gratefully. 

The Song of my Heart

I love love this song performed by the Stella Sisters on one of favorite shows Nashville. I grew an affinity for country music living in N'v for 9 years. This song speaks to where my heart is and just makes me feel grateful for all I have.

Debunking the termination myth

I remember hearing the statistic that 95% of people terminate a DS pregnancy, from the initial appointment we had with the doctor after the first diagnosis. It's incredible that the so-called reputable doctor told us misinformation, and was helping us to think through when and how we would terminate. She was even negative about us talking to a genetic counseling. But it was that conversation with the genetic counselor (which I coordinated on my own) where we got real information that helped us decide to keep going with the pregnancy.

We are very aware of the possibility of health issues, cognitive issues, and developmental issues going forward but there was no way that I could not give my son a chance at life. He will be his own person, on his own journey...not better or worse off because his diagnosis and a sense of his so called identity has been established before he even arrives.

Children are not a braiding together of its parents thought by the word reproduction but they are a production of someone new and unique. It is that healthy understanding that will allow Tariq and I to go from good to great in our parenting going forward not just for this child but all our children. 

Baby Registry

	A Note from Tiffany L Green: I've created a baby registry to help keep track of items for the new arrival and wanted to share it with you. I am not going to have a traditional shower before the baby arrives (that I know of) but we will invite you to his naming ceremony after he arrives. Thanks XOXOX Tiff Explore Tiffany's Baby Registry Items from Tiffany's Baby Registry Bumbo Floor Seat, Blue by Bumbo Munchkin 5 Pack Multi Bowl by Munchkin Munchkin 6 Pack Soft-Tip Infant Spoon by Munchkin Playtex 2 Pack The First Sipster Spill-Proof Cup, 7 Ounce, Colors Vary            by Playtex > See Tiffany's Baby Registry Please note that product prices and availability are subject to change. Prices and availability were accurate at the time this e-mail was sent; however, they may differ from those you see when you visit Amazon.com. © 2013 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Amazon, Amazon.com, the Amazon.com logo, and 1-Click are registered trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109-5210. Please note that this message was sent to the following e-mail address: tiffanylgreen@gmail.com

19 weeks :-)

I am excited to be making more progress in the pregnancy. We had an anatomy ultrasound on Tuesday and the baby was looking great, his heart and kidneys looked very healthy. Everything was fine but he's a little bit on the small side but he was over the threshold. He had a big abdomen so they said he's likely to catch up.

I don't know if I should be worried about this or not but I'm not really gaining much weight. I'm a little over weight anyway so that's something that I'm going to be checking with my midwife about. He is doing well and beginning to kick and I'm beginning to feel a lot more movement from him. He was quite quite active during the ultrasound and was moving all around and made it a little difficult for the technician to take the images but that's a great sign from my perspective.

Quiet Saturday

Today I started the day in housework mode. I used to be able to clean the entire house in about 3 hours. After I finished down stairs I was beat. I got Muhammad down for a nap and I learned when he was a baby....take a nap too. I did for 2 hours. When we woke, it was raining. Usually this does not bother me but today it made me sad. Plus Tariq was out studying and would not be back until the evening. I felt even sadder and lonely. Earlier, I had decided to pull out of an event my meetup group was coordinating for the Islamophobia conference. It is a completely uncharacteristic decision, usually I can pull events out but given these issues with the pregnancy and being the busiest ever at work, I just don't have the physical or mental capacity. It's hard to disappoint people but in my experience it's better to be honest and realistic than to have an event fail. This I know as a project manager.

Today I am fighting back the sadness and blues. I keep thinking about this little guy inside and whether he is alright. I try to imagine who he will be...it's foggy. I pray he will be like his brother. Muhammad will have a lot of responsibility for his little brother. I worry about him and the pressure that will place on him as they both get older as well as Tariq and I. You usually plan for your children to marry and live on their own. Inshallah he will be able to do those things too. We will have to plan our old age differently and make sure our son is taken care of.

Later

Tiffany

Early practice listening to his little brother.

Muhammad getting early practice listening to his little brother.

Tariq's Welcome.

Welcome To Our Family Blog.

What is Down Syndrome? The Facts and Myths Explained

Welcome to our blog

Thank you for visiting our blog. My husband, Tariq, and I decided to start a blog in order to document this new journey since our son expected in February 2014 was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. We were inspired also by good friends, Jeff and Julie Tuley who started a blog in 2008 after their son was diagnosed with a rare disorder. We also have a selfish motivation, which is to ask that people who read the blog pray that our son is born healthy and high functioning and that we are able to provide him with the best family, therapy and life. We will use this blog to share our journey, educate people about Down Syndrome as we learn more and have a place for people to comment and send well wishes and positivity. We are excited about the journey as articulated in an email I sent out at work to some of my key contacts since I was in and out of the office and eventually took a week off after the final confirmation of DS in order to plan, relax and get prepared for the biggest journey of our lives. This is the message I sent out:

As some of you may know, I have been out for a couple of days on a family emergency. I want to thank you all for your prayers, concern and support. I appreciate the way you all have respected my privacy during this time.

 I thought it best to give you all some information as I return to the office on Wednesday. I would ask you all to use discretion in discussing this with others. On Wednesday, August 28th we received word from our perinatologist that our baby has Down Syndrome. We decided to confirm the results with an amniocentesis and on Monday, September 9th, we learned that we are having another son and the Down syndrome was confirmed.

We have gone through and continue to go through the natural sequence of denial, anger, and acceptance that any parent would experience.  We are STILL thankful that God has chosen to bless us with a child. He is not the child we envisioned, but he is still our gift from God – packaged a little differently than we were expecting.  We believe God creates and loves ALL children equally. We also believe that God’s plan is for all children to be loved and nurtured by loving parents. He has blessed us with this child, and we will do our very best to love and care for our son. 

In my selfish quest for your continued support, I would offer the following information that I think will help you and me. Please do not feel sorry for us, but please do share in our joy that only a child can bring. Please continue to inquire about my pregnancy. Although I continue to be in a "higher risk" category from pre-existing issues, my health, labor or delivery are largely not affected by the Down syndrome. I have had a seemingly routine pregnancy. Please DO come and see him when he is born. I am 17 weeks pregnant so we still have quite a while to go until February 2014. But it is a blessing to have time to get prepared, educated and help others to prepare including our family, friends and 3 children (Amira-6, Zacharia-5, and Muhammad-2). 

Please do not be afraid to talk to me. If I’m not in the mood to discuss it, I will tell you. We have found a website and a couple of videos that might be helpful to you in your understanding if you are so inclined. 

What is down syndome?

  

 Again, I appreciate your support, respect, care and concern. I look forward to seeing all of you on Wednesday.

I think that sums up how we are presently doing. In another post I will talk about the initial emotions and how we came to decision to move forward with the pregnancy in spite of the diagnosis. 

Thank you for visiting and please come back. 

Truly Grateful!

Tiffany