Told the parents

They were shocked to say the least, but excited! They could not understand how it took so long and we went through so much with the other two and this one just happened.

I am waiting to tell friends until after the first sonogram-just in case.

But I am really getting excited! Life is going to be so crazy for the first year or so I am sure, but we will get through it. All I can think about is how much fun we are going to have.

I secretly wanted this to happen, never in a million years did I think that it would but I really wanted an "oops" third child.

I am beat today- so tired and sooooo thirsty. I have probably had a gallon of water today.

Davis' phe was low today for the second week in a row. It was 0.9, so we have changed the recipe-- less of the PKU formula so maybe it will be a little easier on his tummy.

Well- good night- it is 9pm and I am tired so I am going to bed...

I am scared to tell my Mom

I feel like I am 15 and unmarried and knocked up, I am really nervous to tell my Mom.
I mean it is silly to feel this way. I am happily married, can take care of 3 children financially, have a house (although we probably need to move to a 4brm house)--but still I can't help it- I feel nervous.

I am sure they are going to wonder why in the world we would let this happen having just had a child with PKU. But here is the way I look at it... first there is a one in four chance this child will have PKU and a 3 in 4 chance it WILL NOT. So odds are in our favor there- but if he/she does have PKU then that will give Davis someone to commiserate with. I have read lots of stories that adults with PKU wished they had a sibling with it as well to go through it with.

I will feel bad for this child if it has PKU, but I will feel bad for Davis if it doesn't. He will be the only one with the different diet. I guess there is no sense of worrying about it now- at this point it either has it or it doesn't.

Still in SHOCK! I feel hungover today. I am going to make myself go for a walk when Davis wakes up. Literally I could sit on the couch all day. I didn't sleep well last night though. I went to bed at 10pm, woke up-wide awake at 11:30. Got up and watched The Lakehouse until about 1:30am. Fell asleep around 2am. Davis woke up at 3am, went in and re-swaddled him and stuck his paci in his mouth. Then I couldn't fall back asleep. I think I finally went back to sleep around 4:30am, then up at 7am-Whew-
Guess I better get used to getting up in the night again. Davis started sleeping through the night about 8-9 weeks, so hopefully this little one will do the same...

February 19- Deja Vu

So last year on February 19, our 8th wedding anniversary, we tested positive with Davis.

Today on February 19, our 9th wedding anniversary, we TESTED POSITIVE WITH OUR THIRD CHILD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy Shit is all I can say.

Eighteen months to get pregnant with Garrett.
Two years plus IVF to get pregnant with Davis.
One month to get pregnant with the third.

Were we trying? Not really- but not preventing- who would have thought after all we had been through to have our two boys that we would get pregnant so easily.

Davis and the baby will be ONE year apart. I am due October 28. I was due on Oct 31 with Davis. I am living a deja vu!!!

Four Months Old

Well Davis turned four months yesterday (will post picture as soon as I download of camera). What a crazy four months it has been...

Things he can do:
Roll from stomach to back
Giggle
Suck on hands
Grab and hold on to things
Sleeps through the night
Can bring the house down with his screams
Track you with his eyes all the way across the house

I swear I think he is getting teeth. Everyone thinks I am crazy, but when he is in one of his full on screaming fits you can see two little slits on the bottom gum. I bet within a month he is cutting teeth... Maybe that explains the grouchiness-- LOL

We went to the Ped today. He weighed 14lbs 10oz (50%) and was 25 3/4 inches (75%)and he has a big noggin-(89%). We will not be starting food yet. That will probably be next month. The PKU doctor is in charge of his food and food schedule and we go to clinic next month so I am assuming that is when they will give us the go ahead.

I am participating in an event called Texas Tough that benefits Children's Hospital and specifically the PKU dept. It is a run, bike and swim event held on different days throughout the year. The run (5K) is coming up in March. I have already raised $2500 for the PKU dept. Team PKU's goal is $50,000. I feel so lucky to be part of such a great group!
It is nice to know that someone cares about your child! I met a girl, Sarah, down at the lab when he was first diagnosed. Her daughter is a couple of months older and also has PKU. She and her husband have hit the ground running with the diagnosis. They organized Team PKU for the 2008 Texas Tough bike event and raised $17,000. They have also formed the PKU Foundation. I feel very lucky to have met them. I think we will be close friends over the years to come

Whew-what a difference a week makes

Phe level this week.... 4.9, so within range-- yippee!
It made me so excited to hear this after having two weeks of high level! And to top it off it was a beautiful day here (upper 60's) and sunny. What a great day It is funny how that little number can affect my whole outlook-this week it is good.

Tonight I am going out with some friends that I have met through Garrett's school. Margaritas are always fun :) and talking with new friends is too.

My friend, Suzanna, is doing her transfer today- so thoughts are with her! I am as anxious for her to get pregnant as I was myself. It is funny because my transfer was Feb. 13 last year so her due date will be very near Davis' birthday since he was born 2.5 weeks early. Oh- I so hope this is it for her!!!

I feel lucky

I feel so lucky to have PKU in this day and age. I just read an article that said they started testing people in mental institutions in the 1960's when they came up with the test for PKU and over half of all people in institutions had PKU.
Can you imagine???

How lucky are we that we live in a day that my son's PKU was diagnosed 9 days after birth? Of course it isn't the greatest diagnosis-- but still it was diagnosed.
Without the PKU test we would be facing a life with a very mentally disabled child.
It is so manageable by diet that he will grow up to be fine.

I have my bad days for sure--- but mostly I am so thankful that we know what we are up against and all it takes is a dietary change.

Thanks be to God for the newborn screening!!!

I have stumbled upon this blog from another that I read.
My heart is breaking for this family. Here I am worried about what my child will eat and this family is dealing with childhood cancer and most likely the death of their daughter.. My thoughts and prayers are with them. Please say a prayer for them and their sweet daughter

How long is "a while"?

Davis' phe level was high again this week-13.6, so we are adjusting the formula recipe to bring it down.

But my question is this.... how long is a "while"? That is the answer I get when I ask about brain damage. His level has to be high for a while for that to happen. But noone can seem to tell me how long that is. I feel certain it is longer than two weeks (which is how long it has been too high) but how much longer is it.

I know they can't tell me an exact timeframe and I am sure it differs from person to person but I just wish I had something more definite. Something to make me feel like I am not causing my child brain damage...sigh...