Questions and Worries and Nerves, Oh My!

Pregnancy (and I'm sure parenthood in general) brings with it lots of worry, anxiety and thoughts of "what if?".  It begins with conception (Am I pregnant?  Did my baby implant ok?  Can I drink this glass of wine?) and continues throughout the pregnancy (Am I eating right?  Is the baby growing?  Will the pug snoring make my baby think it's a dog?).  Adam and I opted to do the nuchal translucency screening test for Down's Syndrome and Trisomy 18 since we both have first cousins that are affected and wanted to be well-informed about our baby.  I went in for the ultrasound yesterday and was happy to hear that we have less than 1% chance.  While it's not a diagnosis, it's just one more thing for us to breathe easier about.

It took the ultrasound tech a while to get the measurements, so I got to spend some time looking at our little one waving its arms around (probably doing the robot).  I can't believe how much it's grown in just a little over a week!  Here's the lovely souvenir I got:

12 weeks 3 days

While we're happy about the results of the screening, I was told that I have low levels of a certain protein that could be an indicator of future complications.  Of course, I was told not to worry, but when words like "poor fetal development," "preeclampsia" and "still birth" are thrown in there, it was hard not to freak out.  Thankfully, I have a good doctor and will be monitored very closely (as we have been).  We are continuing to pray that God protects this little life and that we will have a smooth pregnancy and safe delivery.  If anything, pregnancy has taught us that we have so little control over our lives, and that we really do have to trust God and His plans for our family.  We are staying prayerful, faithful and hopeful that He will bring to fruition the good plans He has for us.  As of now, everything is looking good and we can only stay positive knowing every day that this pregnancy progresses is a true blessing from God.