30 Week Fetal Heart Ultrasound

This morning was our 30 week fetal heart ultrasound at St. Thomas' Hospital. The ultrasound showed that baby girl's heart has continued to grow and develop normally! Way to go baby girl! The ultrasound can't show us if there are small holes in between the chambers of the heart but this is considered to be minor. They also can't predict that her valves will start opening and closing correctly after birth but there is no reason to think otherwise. She will probably have an ultrasound after she is born to check things out. No new news on the amniotic fluid as the they only checked the heart today.

International Packing and Shipping Day!

The last week we've been preparing for our packing and shipping day. We've attempted to sort through the toys, clothes and paperwork that we will need for the next 6+ weeks.

The morning of the move and yes, it's raining.

Can I attempt to call this organized chaos?

Part of our 'keep' pile

Packers arrived by 9am.

Boxes are beginning to stack up

Luckily the weather cleared and the rain stopped. Avery charmed the moving guys and even had one playing with her. The strangest thing found today was a cell phone that wasn't ours. I only had one 'uh oh' moment when I realized I forgot to tell the packers that Josh had separated his work shirts and pants to keep in the closet. Luckily we only had to open 3 boxes to find them.

More boxes. Avery did shed a few tears while watching all of her toys getting packed up.

Suddenly trapped by boxes

No more space for boxes

Our 20' container

Inside of the container, building a bulkhead

By 2:12pm the truck with container pulled away from the house.
At 2:35pm it started raining and rained for over 2 hours.

The aftermath

27+ Week Appointment

Yesterday we had our monthly sonogram to chart baby girl's growth. I'm happy to report that she is growing normally and is right around the 50th percentile for almost all measurements. She now weighs 2lb 9ozs and the fluid on the back of her neck and back is reduced and is hardly seen on sonogram. She was positioned spine up again so we couldn't get a profile shot. I've paid for sonogram pictures at every visit and have walked away disappointed every time because she won't let us take a peak at her. The sonographer treated me to two quick 4D shots and this is what we got!

A large amount of amniotic fluid has developed around baby and I have been diagnosed with moderate polyhydramnios. I have an appointment next week with an OB to check this out. Many different things may cause this, we will see if next weeks appointment answers any questions.

Aunt Tonya has updated her blog and has more of Avery's 2 Year portraits. Check them out!

We've got the golden ticket!

Three tickets to be exact. That's right, we have airline tickets and as Josh just said 'we are going home'. We are moving back to Austin! The decision has been a difficult one but we feel this is the best possible option for baby girl and family. The decision has been in the works for just a couple of weeks now. I've been working on making sure we don't have any gaps in our healthcare coverage. Pepper flies out tomorrow to spend a few weeks with Bubbe and PopPop. She has got to be the most expensive Town Lake rescue dog ever! International movers will be here mid August to pack us up and pack our 20ft container. And....August 27 will be the big day!

Along with all the things that need to be wrapped up here in London there are lots of things we are trying to plan for in Austin. Like, where are we going to live?!? What cars do we get? I must admit that I have taken some enjoyment in doing some online looking (it's only looking when I haven't bought anything!) for new bedding for both girl's rooms. The thought of unpacking all of our stuff in storage actually makes me slightly giddy!

Really all the excitement comes down to knowing that we will deliver in a state of the art hospital with trusted doctors and a NICU if baby girl happens to need it. Then to have the continued support from pediatricians, our early intervention team for baby and of course all the love and support from family and friends.

Austin, here we come!!!

Kew Gardens

We went to Kew Gardens on Saturday. I was worried that it might be really busy because it's tourist season here but there is so much space I have no idea if it was busy or not. We had a really nice day. The grounds were huge and Avery ran everywhere. She loved picking up pine cones, sticks, stones and leaves. There was even a large play area for kids of all ages, that was the only area that was busy.

Outside the Temperate House

Checking out the flowers with Daddy

In front of the Pagoda

At the Japanese gateway

Look at those pretty flowers Daddy

Cleaning time for Mamma swan and her cygnets

Butterfly Enclosure

My Aunt Tonya Rocks!

My Aunt Tonya squeezed in some time to photograph me for my 2 year portraits during our visit to Michigan. I think she hides treats in her camera lens just to make me smile! I bet she'll be blogging about me soon.

It's Party Time, I'm 2!

I'm 2!

Today we had a birthday party for Avery. We had several of her playgroup friends over. Thankfully the weather was beautiful and we were able to be outside.

All ready for my party!

Some of the girls playing with the kitchen.

Hello Kitty! Homemade by Mommy.

Blowing out the candle.

Yummy Cake

Rocking out on my new piano, thanks Aunt Pauline, Uncle Harold and David!