Last NST!

Today was our last NST ad OB check until Thursday, our delivery date! Of course it figures that it was my first time being late... Then I forgot my phone... 




Then Anabelle decides to no agree, and she didn't really accelerate... so they wanted to do a bio ultrasound. She looked ok except for the amniotic fluid. It was low low low, basically none. And the doc said that over the past few ultrasounds it's been getting lower and lower. So he called UCD and said that we needed to go over there and they will watch me for 6-8 hours, and deliver either tonight or tomorrow morning. So we call everyone, some rush down to help with the girls, and we are all holding our breath. Then they re-do the NST and ultrasound, and say everything looks fine and we can go home. We can call with any concerns or questions. Blah blah blah. REALLY?! After having us freak out like this, thinking we're going to deliver within the next 24 hours, you turn around and say adios!? Ugh..... And we were only there for 3 hours.. Of course we left after 5, so I am going to call my doctor in the morning and figure out what the heck is going on. And just go back to the hospital and have them monitor me again tomorrow because now I'm freaked out that something is actually wrong, but they are brushing me off. 


Here I was thinking I could get 3 days off of work before having a baby :) Yeah right, there has to always be some kind of drama going on. That's just us.


Thanks everyone for the positive thoughts, support, prayers, love, everything! 


With love,
The Polks

...and the countdown begins!

Thursday we has another appointment. It consisted of a NST, OB check and ultrasound. The NST went well, as always. Little Anabelle is strong! It was actually a fun NST! Kyle was with me, and made me laugh. There is one monitor that tracks the pressure on my uterus and tracks contractions. Laughing made it look like I was having serious contractions. But I couldn't help but laugh. It was the most fun I've had at any of these appointments :) Thanks honey! 

Then we went to the ultrasound. The doctor came in and said that the amniotic fluid looked a little low. And started talking about how we might have to deliver earlier. My heart sank. Kyle tried to tell him no, we have a scheduled C-section for March 1st. I knew going in that we had a chance of delivering earlier, but when he started saying how we might actually do it, I panicked. Then he took his time, and found that it looked fine, and just to be sure I do my fetal movement counts and that she moves around. YAY! She gets to grow for one more week! 

Now I am officially done working! The girls are very very happy!! We are down to only 5 more days. I think we are ready. Of course I'm not sure because I don't know what to expect, but am ready to dive in feet first! I think the waiting has been the worse part, and we are just ready to figure out what is next to come. I can wait these next 5 days, but am anxious. I know that in 5 days our lives will change forever, and I can't change anything about it, and I can't prepare for what happens. It's a scary thought, but I am ready. And we have so much love and support around us, it's unbelievable. 

With love, 

The Polks

Misc update/UCD info

Only because there is so much information about this hospital...


If you plan on visiting anytime after Anabelle is born, be prepared. There is NO free parking on the entire campus. They do not validate either. Prices depend on where you park. The most expensive parking lot is the one right in front. That one is $1 for every half hour, max 2 and a half hours. If you plan on staying for more then two hours, I recommend parking in 'Parking Structure #1'. There is no time limit, and parking is $2/hr., max. $12 a day. The entrance is off Stockton Blvd. before you hit X St. 


Before and during the delivery visitors can wait in the Family Waiting Room located in Labor and Delivery. I will be moved to a recovery room where I can have only two visitors at a time, and the visiting hours are from 9 am - 9 pm. Labor and Delivery is on the third floor, and you should use the elevators to the left if you use the main entrance. It's also called the 'Birthing Suites'.




As of right now we are scheduled for our C-section on March 1st at 11:00am. That might change though. During our ultrasound last Thursday the doctor said the flow in the umbilical cord is looking a little high again.. Not sure what that means, but they are going to do another ultrasound on Friday. She said that if it's not where they'd like it, then we will delivery earlier. We had a NST at UCD today. I am sure I will get lost at that hospital at least once. The NST went fine. But the doctor I had made me a little nervous. I think she was a resident. She came in to discuss the NST and if we needed to do anything else. I explained the situation and why I was there and what Anabelle has been (kind of) diagnosed with. When I said 'arthrogryposis', she looked at me and asked me to spell it........really? Wonderful. I even had to explain what it was. Then she went and got the attending, who didn't look more then 5 years older then her. Just makes me a little apprehensive. I hope they read our chart before we deliver! 


If we make it to the 1st, only 11 more days!!! 


With love, 
The Polks

Just an update

This past Monday I had a NST and OB appointment. Everything went off without a hitch.
It was funny to that my doctor asked if I have any questions. Hm.... YES! I told him I
have about a million, but none you’re able to answer for me. He laughed. It just reminds me that I’m going to be in a position of absolutely no control, and it comes at a time when it is dealing with my daughter. I’m not prepared in any sense, I don’t know what to prepare for, and I don’t know how to start getting prepared. It’s just frustrating.

I forgot to mention some good news about the ultrasound last week! They said that they could see her liver in her abdomen, which is very very good news. The chances of survival for babies with the liver on the outside drop significantly, and Anabelle already has enough to deal with. But I know she is a strong little one. The doctors are confused when it comes to the RH factor… My blood carries an anti-body to little c, and we know for a fact that she has at least one little c, if not two, but my anti-bodies are not reacting AT ALL to it. On Monday the doc said that this is the most confusing thing to him, and I giggled. I just couldn't imagine that that is the most confusing thing to him when you look at Anabelle’s whole picture. It just reminds me that miracles happen, and she is going to prove all of them wrong and show them!

Oh, and he said that the amniotic fluid level issue should be focused on to much. (Like they said time before last) This is because the bowels take up space, and they can’t measure that area, so they can’t get an accurate number. We have another ultrasound tomorrow. I am pretty sure they will measure her again. Then we have another one on the 24th. I also learned that when she is born and after surgery, they will be able to do further genetic testing on Anabelle. But my doctors said it will be up to the neonatologist for what they do and when.

Only 15 more days until we get to meet our baby girl! I have such mixed feelings, and I’m not sure which are right, or if I should be feelings more then others… I’m nervous, anxious, excited, apprehensive, scared, excited… the list goes on and on. I just don’t know. I get butterflies when I think about going to the hospital and having her. It’s still slightly surreal that this is our story, this is happening to us, and we have to be ready for it, because no matter what we do, Anabelle is
coming!! SOON! Amelia and Allison are so excited to be big sisters! I think that’s what I need to do, just be excited. Other things will fall into their place. For now, that is what I am going to try for.

Thank you again everyone! Your support really helps us : )

With love,
The Polks

NST & Ultrasound

Only 21 more days until we get to meet our little Anabelle Grace :)

The NST went ok today. She was sleeping most of the time, so they had me lay on my side, then they buzzed her a few times to try to wake her up. What that means is they took this thing that vibrates and put it on my belly.. And she finally woke up. It took a tad longer then it usually does though. But it looked good overall. 

Then we were off to ultrasound. They didn't measure her today. They did some dopplers and amniotic fluid measurements. The doppler is where they measure the flow of blood in the umbilical cord. The doctor, Dr. Lanouette, said that was looking better. However, the amniotic fluid was looking a bit low. Not low enough to deliver earlier then the first, but they are going to do ultrasounds along with NST's and my regular OB checks once a week until she is born. They doctor said that the fluid was at about 6, and she'd like it to be about 9. 

Besides doctor appointments and worrying, things have been ok. The other day Anabelle had the hiccups, and I told Amelia and Allison (our 3 and 2 year old girls) that she had hiccups. Alli just laughed and didn't really understand. But I asked them if they wanted to feel, and Amelia came over and finally got to feel Anabelle :) I could tell by the look on her face that she really did feel Anabelle because she lit up! She was so excited!! Now she touches my belly a lot. The other night I was sitting and she came and sat next to me. She put her hand on my belly and said that she couldn't feel her. I explained that sometimes she is sleeping, so maybe try to wake her up and talk to her. So she did! :) "Anabelle, wake up! I want to feel you!" 

It's little moments like this that help us get through everything. It's moments like this that make us forget all of the madness going on and remember that we are having another precious baby girl. And no matter what we go through, it will be worth it. It reminds me that I need to not stress what is to come. I don't know what lies ahead, and there is nothing I can do to change it. I need to enjoy being pregnant, enjoy my kids, enjoy my husband, and be excited that our family is growing :) 

With love,

The Polks

NST & OB appointment

The NST went well today. Anabelle's heart rate was good, and so were her movements. 

I also had an OB check. It was... interesting and informative. My appointment was with Dr. Haesslein. He is a character. He talks fast and it seems like he has other things going on in his head. But, he did share some information with me that I haven't heard before. 

Dr. Haesslein said that Anabelle might not have Arthrogryposis, but they are thinking it might be. However, until she is born they cannot say for sure. I found this very interesting as no other doctors have said anything about this before. Also, he said that I am his first patient to have a baby that has Gastroschisis and a problem like Anabelle has with her legs. Which I feel says a lot since he has been practicing for over 40 years. Wonderful!! He also said that Gastroschisis is common in young women, and about 95% of the time its the first pregnancy that is affected. Figures! I told him it's our third, and he said, 'I know, that's why were confused.' Lovely. For know all I can do is hope that whatever Anabelle is born with can be operated on, and she is born as healthy as she can be, and will be ok. Because now it's so back and forth, I don't know what to expect anymore. I felt like we were able to prepare at least a bit for what to expect and what lies ahead, and now I feel a tad defeated.. 

On a good note! We had the Spaghetti Feed for Anabelle on Saturday! It went amazingly well!!!! So many people came out that I didn't know were there and gave so much support and love. I can't express how thankful we are. And so thankful to Sheree, Josh, Janelle, Haley, Ellie and the First Christian Church for all of their dedication to our family, their support, their love and their prayers. It is really amazing how people can give so much of themselves for you when you really need it. I can't tell how much we appreciate everyone. It's so nice to have the reminder that there really is good out there when you are going through a difficult time. Thank you to everyone who came out and joined us! And for everyone who is on our side and praying for us and Anabelle! 

With love, 

The Polks