Charlotte - OCt 12, 2011,Nov 11, 2011 & Nov 18, 2011

Aubrey has always loved babies.

When Sam was only a few weeks old, I put him in his swing while I jumped in the shower really fast. When I came back out, Aubrey had somehow managed to move him from the swing onto the big blanket where he did tummy time on the floor. I never even heard him cry. Looking back now, it makes me cringe imagining my tiny 2½-year-old carefully lifting her baby brother out of the swing and placing him on the floor. Thankfully he was perfectly fine… but clearly her love for babies started early.

Fast forward to my 7th pregnancy, and Aubrey — now 4 years old — was MORE than ready for another baby in the house.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Aubrey: “Mom, you need to buy shoes and clothes for the baby.”pause“And she is going to need diapers too.”

Me: “Aubrey, we have to wait to find out if it’s a boy or a girl.”

Aubrey: “Moooommmm, we already KNOW it’s a girl.”

Aubrey and Sam were both hoping for a girl, and we would find out on November 10th.

Friday, November 11, 2011

The baby is a GIRL!!!

Aubrey was confident right up until the end, and she was absolutely correct. Anthony was definitely a little surprised, but very happy.

Halfway there!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Tonight I got a phone call from Kaiser, and it looks like I’ll be getting another ultrasound. They also want me to do an amniocentesis, but honestly… I’m really not feeling good about doing that one. Anthony thinks I should because it’s the only test that can tell us 100% if everything is okay with the baby.

Here’s a little background:

At the beginning of the pregnancy, I agreed to do the standard blood tests that screen for genetic disorders and birth defects. There are two different blood tests involved. Kaiser called me FOUR times reminding me to come in for the second one, and then both the doctor and nurse reminded me again at my appointment last Monday. I thought it was a little strange how persistent they were, but I went ahead and did it.

Now they’re saying this baby has a higher chance of having Down syndrome. Another ultrasound will help them look more closely for markers.

Anthony gave me a blessing tonight. In it, I was told that as long as I listened to the doctors and followed the guidance I was being given, I would have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. There were other things said too — things I needed to be doing and blessings that would come from doing them.

So how do I feel about all of this? Honestly, right now it’s still too early to know anything for sure. I truly believe Heavenly Father never gives us more than we can handle, and until I’m told otherwise, I believe this little girl will be okay.

My grandmother had a baby with Down syndrome — Baby Tammy. She had a hole in her heart and only lived about three months. Since getting this phone call, I keep thinking about her. Would I be strong enough to have a baby that only came to earth long enough to receive a body?

Then I remind myself again: Heavenly Father never gives us more than we can handle.

I also thought about a family I knew when I lived in Utah. They had four children with Down syndrome. Three survived, and one of the boys was actually in my Sunday School class. He was honestly one of the sweetest, most loving little boys I’ve ever known. I truly loved spending time with him.

So no… I’m not afraid of that part either.

We are prepared for whatever Heavenly Father gives us. We know He loves us and knows what is best for our family far better than we ever could ourselves.