The Specialist Appointment

I didn't sleep much last night.  I woke up between 4:30 and 5:00, went to the bathroom, and laid back down in bed.  Only to wallow in bed for about another hour before finally giving in and getting up.  I had so much on my mind, and honestly, some of it wasn't the most positive thoughts.  I knew how much I needed to get done today, and didn't know how long the doctor's appointment would take or what the outcome would be.  And I was hungry.  So, I fixed a bowl of cereal and started wrapping presents.  Rocky woke up around 7:00 and we hung out around the house, getting things done and getting ready.

The specialist appointment was at 11:00 and we stopped for some breakfast on the way.  I was so nervous I couldn't even eat.  I thought I was going to get sick.  I've been waiting for this for so long, but at the same time, the appointment I was waiting and preparing for was yesterday, and I didn't have enough time to prepare myself for today's appointment. 

The took my blood pressure when we first got there and it was very high... I think 148/90.  Yesterday it was 124/86, which was still high for me.  The u/s tech came in and started the scan.  She was very nice, and very good.  After she finished, she told us the doctor would come in and do her own scan also.  The doctor that we got to see was Dr. Decker, the one that Tanya was hoping we would get in with. 

When the specialist walked in, she said, "Well, I'm not too concerned.  What do you think about that?"  I said, "Well I guess that's a good thing!"  She gave us a very good report.  She said that Tristan looks very good overall.  She asked what we had been told from my other doctor.  She explained that, yes, his long bones are measuring short, but he's not showing other signs of achondroplasia or other skeletal dysplasias right now.  I do know from my research and from Tanya that some signs don't show up until around 30-32 weeks.  She said he definitely isn't showing any signs of a lethal skeletal dysplasia.  Praise God!  I almost started crying when she told me that!  She said that it could be hypochrondoplasia, which is a less extreme form of achondroplasia.  She said she still needs to do her research and she and one of the geneticists are going to look at all of the numbers from all of my scans, look into other achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia cases and those typical measurements at these gestational ages.  She said she will call me in about a week with an update from what they research, and I have a follow up appointment with her in 3 weeks.  I also have a follow up with Tanya in 2 weeks.

This is all very good news!  She said all of his other anatomy looks perfect, and that he could just be on the small/ short side.  Rocky is absolutely elated.  I'm hoping that this is our Christmas miracle, but I'm still scared to get my hopes up too much just yet.  I have seen his measurements and percentages, and I know some of the statistics for achon at the gestational ages of his scans.  So, I'm still staying realistic, but for now, I'm very happy and I'm letting some of the stress go.  Hopefully, by the next appointment with Tanya and with Dr. Decker, if he does have anything going on, it will be far enough along that we will have more answers.  Dr. Decker apologized that she still didn't have a lot of news, but she's leaning much more towards the positive side of things.  She said that right now, she doesn't see a need for a c-section, and she thinks I can continue with my water birth plans.  I'm still going to wait until my next two appointments before I book my doula and birth tub, just because I can't get those deposits back after we pay them.

So, still no definite answers, but I'm counting it as an answer to my prayers and my Christmas present!  I would like to thank everyone that has prayed and thought about us on our journey so far.  Please don't stop praying, as we are not 100% in the clear yet, but know that prayer works!  I appreciate all of the comments and support that I have received and Rocky and I truly thank each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts.  Merry Christmas!!!