Weirdest day of our lives...

Last Thursday, Stuart and I geared up for our big 20 week "anatomy" ultrasound. We had been talking about how excited we were to see little Norah Grace again, how big she may be, and who she is going to look like...all that good stuff.  For the past four weeks, we had been talking to Grace, planning for Grace, picturing Grace, dreaming about Grace... until BAM! Grace became a boy...

The ultrasound tech meticulously looked at every part of the baby, heart, hands and arms, legs and feet, head, and..finally..between the ole' legs. 

"They told you it was a girl?" she said.

"Yeah...?" we said.

"This is a baby boy!"

We made her show us three different views until we finally believed her.  As soon as I get the pictures uploaded, I will share...but there is definitely a little somethin-somethin between the baby's legs...and the tech was sure it wasn't just the umbilical cord.

I can't really describe what it felt like to know that this baby we had gotten to know over the past month suddenly changed genders on us. Shock, disbelief, and even a little bit of sadness.  Now, I'll stop right there.  Baby Jack (the new name is Jack, jury's still out on the full name though), I know you'll be reading this some day.  And I want you to understand that I was in NO WAY disappointed that you are a boy! 

It was just...well, weird...more than anything.  All of a sudden, Norah Grace didn't exist anymore.  It's almost like I was mourning the loss of this little baby girl I had been getting to know and planning for.  Does that make sense to ANYONE?

We are THRILLED that we are having a baby boy! I am just going through a little re-routing/transition period right now... and have to get used to the idea that we will have a son, not a daughter. If this has happened to anyone else, maybe you understand the feeling I'm trying to describe.  I'm probably not doing the best job.

The reason for that is most likely due to the events that followed.

The ultrasound tech said she was going to get the doctor to review the ultrasound pictures with us, then we would be free to go.

We waited a few minutes, and then the doctor came in with a student/resident (honestly, don't remember) who she said she was teaching.  The first words out of her mouth were "Have you had any genetic testing?"

My heart sunk into my stomach, and probably smacked little Jack right upside the head.

"No." was all I could muster out, but I knew that there was some reason behind the question other than curiosity.

She then proceeded to go through each picture, "oohing" and "ahhing" about how "beautiful" the baby's heart was. Then, we got to the picture of the top of the baby's head, and she pointed out two bilateral white spots, what she called "choroid plexus cysts". 

I couldn't even look Stuart in the eyes, mine were frozen on the screen, and in a squinting position, as I forgot my d*mn glasses, again.  She went on to explain that these cysts have been associated with an increased risk of chromosomal problems, specifically trisomy 18 and trisomy 21 (aka Downs Syndrome) and that she would like to do some bloodwork and for me to consider an amniocentesis, if Stuart and I wanted one.

She then told us that we would do one more ultrasound that day, specifically looking to see if the baby's hand opened and closed, which would be a good sign. 

Well, holy cow.  As the ultrasound tech squirted more jelly on my belly, and Stuart clenched my hand, I couldn't stop praying that we'd see the little hand open and close.

A few minutes later, and a good shot of a the fingers fanning out, the doctor told us that was a "reassuring sign" and sent us to the genetic counselor down the hallway.

They drew a "quad screen" which is essentially just a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool. 

Stuart and I were both hysterical, but when I called the next day to ask some questions, the genetic counselor told me that the odds of the baby having a chromosomal problem are 1 in 450, just based on the CPC and my age.  Because the CPC was an "isolated" finding, meaning everything else looked normal, the odds are still very low.  The test results should be back tomorrow, and Stuart and I have discussed the possibility of an amniocentesis if the test comes back postive.

So...in one day, [it felt like] we lost Norah Grace, gained a beautiful baby boy, and found out that there may be something wrong with him.  Whatever happens, Stuart and I are looking forward to showing this baby all of the love, support, and protection we can offer.  It's pretty scary, honestly...the most scared either of us have been.  HOWEVER, this precious baby boy is in wonderful hands (God's) and a good belly (mine :) )...and has an amazing daddy. :)

Housework calls, but I will update when we find out more. Thanks for all the love and support!

PS- Baby Jack weighs 12 oz...the average at this age is 10.5! I think we gotta whopper on our hands... :)