The Results

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers the last couple of days. We couldn't thank you enough for the kind and encouraging words as we embarked on yet another worrisome doctor's appointment.

Brian & I met at the hospital for our Level Two ultrasound with very calm hearts. The nurse first took us to the room to complete the ultrasound. She told us that they the Echogenic Foci are VERY common and usually it turns out that the baby is just fine. This type of ultrasound was really quite amazing. We could really see right into McKenna's cramped environment. (yes, it's still a girl!) She was moving around a lot, kicking her legs and moving her arms all about. The nurse took measurements of everything - the length of her legs and feet, the size of her kidneys, the thickness of her neck, the size of her head and body - everything. We looked right into her heart and saw her four chambers just pumping away. We could even see the calcium deposits sitting right in her valve. It was just amazing. She was beautiful.

Among all of the measurements, the nurse also looked for her nasal bone. The absence (or shortened) nasal bone often indicates Down Syndrome. McKenna's nasal bone shown brightly on the screen, they took a measurement of it too. All in all the nurse said that nothing she saw indicated any abnormalities, but that the doctor would be in to talk to us too.

It turns out that many years ago, doctors were trying to decrease the number of patients needing further screening for abnormalities found in their ultrasounds. They decided to research "markers" that would indicate whether or not the fetus had Down Syndrome or any other irregularity, so that only the women found with these markers would be referred on for further testing. So, they researched children with Down Syndrome and found that they all had common traits found in their ultrasounds, one of them being the Echogenic Foci. What they didn't realize is that many typical fetuses have the Echogenic Foci as well. Rather than decreasing the number of patients, referrred it has actually increased, he said that he sees this every day. More and more women go through this freak out for no reason at all.

McKenna is practically perfect in every way. All of the measurements came back normal. Everything was working the way it is supposed to. The Foci will dissipate with time. They are not hurting her heart in any way. It is pumping along just fine. Thank God!

The bonus of this appointment was getting to see our little girl once again and this time we really got to SEE her. Check out the pictures and see for yourself!

just look at that face!

that's her umbilical cord up by her tummy

the best profile shot we've gotten!

Week 21

Echogenic Foci of the Fetal Heart....

I started my week hearing those words...

Echogenic Foci of the Fetal Heart....

I had my monthly OB appointment on Monday the 7th after school at 4:50pm. I went by myself. All they typically do for your monthly appointment is listen to the baby's heartbeat, measure your stomach, test your urine, and answer any questions you may have. Because these appointments are so quick and the doctor's office is near my school, Brian & I figured that I could go it alone rather than have him try to rush there after work.

On Monday, that's just how my appointment started. I heard McKenna's heartbeat, which was 144 bpm. I even taped it to my phone and then texted it to my family - which the nurse said I was first person to ever do! (If you want me to send it to you, text me!)

After the heartbeat, we continued as usual, my urine came back fine - no protein and whatever else they test for - then she measured my stomach. She measured from the top of my rounded belly (where my uterus begins) to my pelvic bone. I measured 21 inches - which is perfect! She said that you should measure as many inches as you are weeks along in your pregnancy.

When we were done with all of the basic things, the nurse stepped out and said that Dr. Kagan would be in shortly.

Dr. Kagan then came into the room. He told me that he had the results of our ultrasound.

Results? what do you mean results? We were already told that it's a girl. What other results could there be?

He then began to tell me that they found something in the baby's heart when they reviewed the ultrasound pictures. It's called Echogenic Foci of the Fetal Heart. Dr. Kagan tells me not to freak out....and I begin to wonder why I'm at this appointment by myself. I'm trying to keep my cool...all I know is I just heard that something is wrong with her heart....

Echogenic Foci of the Fetal Heart are calcium deposits within the heart muscle. McKenna's is in her ventricular valve. They don't cause any problems with form or function of the heart. Her heart is healthy. They won't be there all of her life, they could dissipate as early as the 3rd trimester.

Echogenic Foci of the Fetal Heart is a marker for Down Syndrome. There are several other items that can be found during an ultrasound exam that some researchers have felt that may have a significant association with Down Syndrome. These findings may be seen in normal fetuses, but some obstetricians believe that their presence increases the risk of the fetus having Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormality. Some of these "markers" include foreshortened thigh and upper arm bones, echogenic bowel, nuchal (or neck) thickening, kidney abnormalities, choroid plexus cysts and structural fetal abnormalities, such as a heart defect.

With that being said, we have a level two ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, December 11th at 11:00am. They want to take a closer look at McKenna to see if there are any more indicators - the more markers they find the higher the likelihood of McKenna having Down Syndrome. If that is the only marker she has, then the chance is very very unlikely.

Does it matter what the outcome? No.

Do we care if our daughter has Down Syndrome? No.

Do I still have worries? Yes.

I'm a Special Education Teacher. My most favorite student at school has Down Syndrome. I would be SO blessed to have a child just like him. I couldn't love a child more. But, I would be lying if I didn't express my nervousness for tomorrow and I don't know why.

I have the best husband in the world. He didn't flinch at the news one bit. He didn't care. It doesn't matter one way or another to him. He just gave me a big hug when I got home. McKenna has the best Dad. She'll probably be a Daddy's Girl.

My family responded exactly as I thought they would. They are so so supportive. They love her so much - the outcome doesn't matter.

We'll know more tomorrow after our 11:00am ultrasound.

Trip & I headed to my parent's house on Wednesday for our week 21 dinner. It was just Mom, Kris, & I.

same 'ol same 'ol 39 in.

Week 21 info:
Baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long - the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well. (she's not happy I just told you that!)

Snow Dog!

The first snow came this week here in Illinois...it was Trip's first experience with snow and she couldn't be any more excited. She loves to jump in it, run in it, eat it, and dig her nose in it. She just can't get enough, she ALWAYS wants to be outside playing in it! She can't wait until her sister is here to play with her!

while we were outside I took a picture of the SOLD sign on our townhouse

Meet Delilah and Leah!

Today I went over to my friend, Laura's house for a small get together. Laura just gave birth to her daughter, Delilah, on November 5th. She just came home from the hospital last week, so a few of us got together to welcome little Lilah home. I also got to finally meet our friend's, Russ & Kristen Pozen's, four month old daughter, Leah. It was a fun afternoon of catching up with the girls and holding little baby girls!

me & little Lilah

the girls from left to right:

Kristen, Carolyn, Laura, Megan & Beth

LEAH!!!

look at that expression! she really wanted to be on the blog!

Mommy & Baby

me & a snoozing Leah

Lilah & her big sister, Ella

precious Lilah

I can't wait for Lilah and Leah to meet McKenna!

Pictures of our Baby Girl

Here are the ultrasound pictures that I promised I would post today...

here is one of the bottom of her foot

legs crossed

the ultrasound tech had a hard time getting her to cooperate with a good profile shot, these are the best he could get - I think she was tired of him pushing her around!

I love you McKenna!!!

The tech didn't give us the "It's a girl" picture (otherwise it'd be up here for you all to see!) - he said that he gives the pictures to the doctor and that he'll review them for my appointment on Monday. I'm hoping he gives it to us then, but we'll see.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice (Week 20)

This afternoon, around 4:40pm, our name was finally called at the doctor's office and around 5:00pm we were already heading out texting like crazy. We couldn't be any more excited to share our news!!!

I can't tell you how very excited I am - not that it would have been any different if it was a boy - there's just something about knowing that our little baby GIRL is the one nudging and kicking me. It just feels so special.

Baby Girl's heartbeat was 152 bpm. She weighs 11oz. and is around 8in. in length. We have a bunch of ultrasound pictures, but my scanner isn't working right now, so I'll hopefully get them up on here tomorrow - sorry!

After our appointment we went over to my parents house for a celebratory dinner. Mom made a delicious steak dinner and even had pink cupcakes for dessert! Yum!

a celebratory drink!

time for dinner!

pink cupcakes!


Mackie came over too!


Baby GIRL!!




Trippy is so excited to be the big sister!

39 inches

haha...my mom's reason for why she knew I was having a girl!
isn't she sooo funny...ha...ha...

excited sisters!
Lizzie had class, so we missed her again this week! :(

Yes, we already have a name - we actually already had both a boys and a girls name picked out...hey, we've had 2 1/2 years to think about this!

Our baby girl's name is McKenna Jo Witkowski.

How'd we get McKenna Jo???
My mom had a little girl named McKenna in her class one year, and the second I met this beautiful little girl, I knew that one day my daughter would be named McKenna. Jo is my mom's middle name.

My next appointment is actually on Monday, Dec. 7th at 4:00pm. It is just my monthly OB check-up appointment.

The Big Day

What will Baby Witko be???

or

I can hardly wait to find out!

Our appointment is at 4:00pm today.
It's probably not helping that I keep looking at the clock ...
Time is DRAGGING!!!