October 23

Thursday marks the end to week 16. So far everything is going well, and we're enjoying my growing belly. However, the thought looms in both of our heads of the approaching week 20. It is one of the those things that sits in the back of your mind, that you try not to let take over all the good thoughts, but it is very hard. Every ache, pain, twinge, etc. sends me into a panic. I had a scare last week... I had cramping that ended-up being nothing but indigestion. I was in tears, and ready to go to the hospital... It is a rough place to be - caught between joy and terror.

Anyway, we had a doctor's appointment today. All is going well and according to plan. We got to see the babies; they look great. My cervix was still measuring long, and seems to have healed nicely from the cerclage.

Since we had a second confirmation of the sexes of the babies, we want to formally introduce them to you:

Our little boy will be named John Thomas Kokoska (Jack) after David's grandpa and my dad. Our little girl will be named Eleanor Ruth Kokoska (Ella) after my great grandma and David's aunt. I know, I know... they are very "old" names, but we like the more traditional route.

Our next appointment is November 6. On this date we will get a full ultrasound complete with a look at all the organs, measurements, and many many pictures.

Week 14 (almost)

We are three days away from putting week 14 in the books. I am feeling really well except for being breathless and very tired. I find myself counting down the days until our next ultrasound. I just can't get enough of the babies. Sometimes I get paranoid and seeing them makes me feel better.

David has been going above and beyond the call of duty. He cooks, cleans, takes care of the cats, takes care of me, basically... everything. I'm a lucky girl!!

This past weekend we were happy to see both sides of the family. Friday, Scott, Carrie and the kids came down around 5pm, and we got to hang out with them Friday evening. It is hard to believe how big Ethan and Kate have become, and that Annie has been with us for over 8 weeks. They were planning on spending the night, but Ethan, being a little boy, wanted to see the helicopter landing in their yard the next day (the fire department was putting on an exhibition).

Bret and Kerri came down Saturday morning and spent Saturday night with us. Somehow David got Bret to mow for him... poor Bret! Kerri helped me with some yard work then helped me decorate the nursery bathroom. It is cute! David and Bret battled and conquered Halo 3 in record time. Of course now they are ready for the next big thing. Sunday morning, after a big breakfast, I was exhausted, so we stayed in and made it a football day.

Tuesday, October 23 is our next appointment. I can't wait!!

It's a Boy and a Girl

Kristy had another ultrasound today and with much prodding from Debbie to determine the sexes, it looks like we're having one of each... Below is a partial video from the ultrasound today with the findings. Apologize for the late posting, but this new Adobe program is a bit daunting to learn. If anyone knows Premiere Elements well, give me a shout.

Update - I forgot to mention the other good news... Kristy's cervix measured 4.7 cm after the cerclage. Much thanks to our doctor team for sewing her up tightly...

A dream come true

Make up your own tagline...

Cerclage Update 2

Well as David said, everything went well on Thursday with the surgery.

We arrived at the hospital at 7am and were immediately escorted to a triage room. Our nurse asked us the traditional zillion questions and did the typical blood pressure/heart rate tests. Next she started my IV. I think the IV was the worst part of the whole ordeal. By the time this was completed, an hour had gone by.

Dr. Abernathy wanted the nurse to check the babies heart beats before and after the surgery, so in walked the nurse with a little Doppler machine. After searching for about 10 minutes, she couldn't find the heart beats. I was about ready to burst into tears, but she said because they are still so small it is hard to find them with the Doppler. They brought in the ultrasound machine and Dr. Abernathy's tech came over from the office, and we got to see the babies. To say the least, I was relieved. They were squirming all over the place; it's no wonder she couldn't find them.

I asked her what she thought they were... she said it was still early, but her guess was that it was two boys. I about fell off the table. I told David that there was only a 1% chance that we would have two boys since both Scott and Evan (David's brothers) have two girls.

After the ultrasound it was 8:45am, and the anesthesiologist came in to give us the run down. She explained what she was giving me and all the feelings I would be experiencing. I got a spinal which is a numbing med delivered directly to the spinal fluid. It numbed my whole lower half (from my waist down).

I walked to the OR at 9am (right on time - which was considerably different from Dr. Gentry). I laid down on the table in the OR, and the anaesthesiologist started my spinal... bizarre. I am not one to give-up control lightly, so being numb from my waist down was a whole mind game.

The surgery itself went really well. I could only feel pressure and no pain which was nice, but I could still see all the sponges of blood on the floor. The nurses kept me entertained, and we talked for the entire hour that the operation took.

I was wheeled back to my room at 10am where David was waiting anxiously. They gave me some pain pills and told me I was stuck there until the numbness wore off, and I could do all the normal bodily functions that I did before.

Around 11am the numbness was wearing off in all the wrong places, and the pain/cramping became unbearable. The nurse gave me some narcotics, and by 11:30am I was happily in dreamland. As I slept, David got himself some lunch.

I woke-up around 12:30pm, and David got me some food (I hadn't eaten since 8pm the night before). The pain had subsided some, so I was feeling better. However, I still didn't have total mobility and the fact that I couldn't move my toes was frustrating.

Next they brought back the ultrasound machine, and we got to see the babies again. This time she said she still thought we had a boy, but wasn't sure about the second. It was funny, during the ultrasound we had five student nurses file in to watch.

Finally at 3:30pm, I was able to "walk" to the restroom and do those necessary things required to leave. We were released and made it home around 4:15pm.

The rest of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I was restricted to the couch. On Sunday, we went to church and Target. It was great to get out and around!

So that's the story of the cerclage. The surgery went well, and David and I are moving on the next phase of the pregnancy. Please keep us in your prayers because it is the next phase that will be the most difficult.