My Journal - Week 72 (07Jan11)

The AMNIO NEWS is IN... and What to do with a little one who's ill?

So as of New Years Day, Hunter was officially sick.  When I posted all the photos about New Years, I wasn't exaggerating about Hunter not being well.  Turns out he may very well have Pneumonia his Flu is so bad.  Since New Years Day Hunter has been coughing, sneezing, mousy.  This in just two short days turned into wheezing, crackling chest, mucous everywhere and fevers.  At first, I wasn't too worried - these things happen and every child/person gets the flu.  But I am afraid to say, I don't think this bad.  I called our Doctor on Thursday when after three days Hunter's fever had not broken of 100.4 F (38 C).  The fever alone was not my only reason for calling... (though it's a great one) Hunter refused to eat solids.

Luckily we do have an appointment for our Doctor on Monday.  It was the first one I could get, and able to take him since having my Amniocentesis on Thursday.  When I called to speak to the doctor yesterday morning (on the phone) to at least get an antibiotic of some sort, Hunter was coughing in the back ground and the doctor actually mentioned that it sounded like a Pneumonia.  Originally I wasn't going to call for medication (I don't believe in rushing antibiotics for every little thing since children/adults often develop tolerances for antibiotics when really needed later in life) but he was getting so bad and with the fever not breaking by the third day I knew it was time for some medical intervention.  I even called for a home doctor visit (which I just learned we have here in Ontario) which is covered by our health care system, but as life would have it, getting a visit is/seems to be as difficult as getting rid of the flu - they are fully booked each day by the crack of dawn and you can't book advance appointments.  So thankfully we can see our doctor on Monday.  I just hope his lungs don't get worse but if they do, our hospital is right down the street.  (I however don't like our ER dept there, one could nearly die waiting to see a doctor in that hospital... last time I went in by Ambulance I waited 12 hours to see the ER doctor.  That's what free health care does in our Country - Another story altogether.)  All the same while I wish Hunter did not get this Flu/Pneumonia and I am not really sure where he did get it from (My mother believes it was when I took Hunter to the doctor on the Friday of New Years Eve for his vaccinations.  I don't recall anyone being sick in the waiting room though...).

Since Hunter became sick, we have all literally caught it.  It was kind of hard to contain when the littlest member of the family has it first.  Of course we don't seem to be as bad off - or perhaps it's just that we are more worried for him then ourselves.  (We can blow our noses and hock up the phlegm unlike Hunter, who has coincidently courtesy of the length of this illness somewhat learned to blow his nose - not perfect of course mind you but it's a great effort!!  Talk about a weird way to be proud of mastering a milestone!  We now have Azithromycin (An antibiotic for Community/Viral Pneumonia) which we have given Hunter two doses of.  Time will tell but at least he seems to be showing some signs of improvement by his willingness to finally try some soft baby foods.  His chest on the other hand still seems and sounds extremely congested and full of fluids.  Hopefully on Monday when we return to the doctor we will find out if X-rays are needed and if he is getting better.

While for Hunter the news of possible Pnuemonia hasn't been the greatest, I did receive my phone call from Genetics regarding my Amniocentesis I had yesterday for this pregnancy.
I learned the following:  This baby has no Trisomy's that they were able to test for (Trisomy 13, 18 and 21 which is Down syndrome) and the sex chromosomes are typical.  So far the genetics side of things looks great.  Then the counsellor asked me if I wanted to know the gender of the baby (since Amniocentesis definitively tells you that information also) and literally if you can believe this, I was definitely more anxious and excited to hear the answer to that long looming question!  As I have mentioned before, when I was pregnant with Hunter, I seemed to "just know" he was going to be a boy.  For my pregnancy with Taylor (our little lost angel) I somehow knew that she was a girl (though I had no proof).  This time around, I just didn't know and couldn't put my finger on it but something told me that judging by the way our technician and nurse acted at our visit to Mount Sinai hospital for Special high risk pregnancies clinic, this baby would be a girl.  This observation of her actions and comments conflicted with my natural feeling (or want) for a boy.  And today while I held my breath through listening to all the news and praying that our counsellor would say "boy", she told me "GIRL!"  Now, don't get me wrong - I am certainly not unhappy about it, just completely surprised based on my own maternal feelings/wants and also the Ancient Chinese Gender predictor - which is in fact obviously NOT accurate. ** Edited later (8Jan11):  Turns out the chart I was using was not correct BUT the real Chinese Gender predictor charts were correct.  I later checked 4 charts and they all said GIRL.  The one I had originally looked at (back in November) I could not locate.  It therefore turns out so far (for all my pregnancies) the charts ARE accurate. 
It does tell me that I am a great observer of people and what they try to hide (since our nurse technician would not confirm the gender at the time she made her comments saying, "What if it is a girl?" when she asked us what we were hoping for.  Which brings me to explain why we were wishing for a boy.  For absolutely no other reason then pure convenience and the obvious reason that I know what to do with a boy, we wanted another boy.  I am often humoured by the saying or reasoning that some people naturally are comfortable (or want) the same sex that they had the first time simply because they had it the first time.  It's all about comfort.  But the flip side to that is, having/wanting one of each gender.

So there you have it, Hunter is getting a little sister!  I guess I should have known instinctively that was what was coming since if you look at my baby name book you will see I chose a mere 6 names under the male category and wrote 3 pages of girls names (some 34 or more).  If anyone has any suggestions for Girl names, please send us your thoughts!  We certainly aren't desperate for names but we are having a tough time choosing.  It's hard to come up with a name that is just as strong as Hunter (and we do want something complimentary) but that also is unique and less common.  Some ideas we have so far are:  Ryleigh, Sierra, Akira, Isis.  (Don't laugh but those names in that order might just end up being her name one less of course.)

An exciting day to say the least!

Comments

  1. Congrats on the little girl!! It will be fun. :)

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  2. Girls are fun to raise. No two kids are alike so gender similarities matter little. Hope Hunter is better soon. Might the shot have made him ill??

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