"It Was God Who Chose Me for You!"

Proverbs 16:9 "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps."

I did not realize how true this was when I decided to reference it on my cap when I graduated from Western Oregon University.

My College Career

I started my college career in the Fall of 2007 thinking I would become a nurse. In 2008 I "re-met" my now husband, Garret (Complete story here: http://ascherls.blogspot.com/). Then in 2009 I followed him to Oregon and started at George Fox University. After this I decided I wanted to get a degree in American Sign Language (ASL). I married Garret and moved to Corvallis, OR. I took a year off school and then went to Western Oregon University (WOU). 1 year before graduating WOU changed the degree requirements for graduating with a BA in ASL. The change would make me have 2 more years of school. This was not an option because of the chance of my husband possibly getting a job in another state after he graduated the next year. There for I changed my degree to a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Special Education (main focus), Humanities, and Social Science. I graduated in June 2014 not knowing how important this change would be.

A realization!

In September the importance of this change started to come into focus. Bradyn was born. We were told he had Down Syndrome on September 21st, the day he turned 2 weeks old.
When Bradyn was almost 2 months old we went to a Play Group through Northwest Down Syndrome Association. It was there that I realized that my degree will be helpful. I realized that I had been educated in Special Education and many things that my be helpful for Bradyn.
I have been educated in Early Intervention (special education for children under 3). I have been educated in Early Childhood Development. I have been educated in ASL, which is helpful for children who have Down Syndrome to learn to communicate.

I am BLESSED to be Bradyn's Mom!

Over the last few weeks I have realized that it was not chance that I am Bradyn's Mom. God chose me! He designed my education to help Bradyn throughout his life. God gave me resources to be able to advocate for my little guy.

Why is this blog called "extra hanDSome"?

During Pregnancy

When I was pregnant with Bradyn everything felt good. I love being pregnant and having that little one move inside of me. We decided not to find out the gender of our baby and decided it would be a great surprise for in the delivery room.

Ultrasound(s)

The first ultrasound

The first ultrasound was great. When I was 11 weeks and 5 days along I had a Transvaginal Ultrasound. Both my son Corbin and my Husband got to be there. I was a normal ultrasound and the baby was healthy.

The second ultrasound

The second ultrasound was at 21 weeks and 3 days. The ultrasound tech was very quiet and Garret was falling asleep, he says the rooms are too quiet and warm lol. At the time I thought that the ultrasound tech was just a quiet person but looking back on it I dont think that was it. Later that day one of the OBGYN's from the OBYN/Midwife group called me. She said on the ultrasound saw the baby had 2 Echogenic Intracardiac Focus (EIF) (calcium spot on the heart), a Nuchal Fold (NF) (extra skin on the back of neck), and extra fluid around the heart; they are all possible markers of Down Syndrome. She also said that we needed to see a Maternal Fetal Medicine and Genetic Councilor.

Maternal Fetal Medicine and Genetic Councilor

On June 12, I went to the Maternal Fetal Medicine and Genetic Councilor. We had seen them twice during my pregnancy with Corbin. The Councilor said, even with the three markers, because of our age and no history of Down Syndrome in our family there was only a 4% (or was it 6%?) chance of our baby having Down Syndrome. We decided to turn down doing an amniocentesis or a Cell-free Fetal DNA Analysis (They take blood from mom where they can find baby's DNA! Really cool!).
They did an ultrasound and found that there was no fluid around the heart. But there was 2 EIFs and the NF was present. They decided that we would do an ultrasound every 5 weeks for monitoring. Bonus! Get to see the baby extra!

Because of denying the tests there was no changes in information until after Bradyn was born.

Birth and Characteristics

After Bradyn's quick entrance, which can be read here: http://extra-handsome.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-early-bird-bradyns-birth-story.html, the pediatrician thought that he had "Down Syndrome characteristics." I did not think so until they pointed out the fold between his eyes and his nose, the extra skin on his neck, and the fold across his palm. We all agreed to have a chromosomal test sent out to determine if he does have Down Syndrome.

The Results!

When Bradyn was a week and a half old I unfortunately was admitted back into the hospital. I had a temperature of 103.6! It turned out that I had Endometritis and I was in the hospital for 4 days (Friday-Monday). The worst part was not being able to have my brand new baby with me, Hospital policy.
Sunday morning Garret, Corbin, and Bradyn came for a visit. Right before they were going to leave one of the pediatricians came into my room. They had the results of Bradyn's chromosomal test!

"So we have the results of the chromosomal test. It looks like Bradyn has an extra copy of chromosome 21. Bradyn has Down Syndrome."

I remember everything just slowing down, almost like slow motion. Corbin was playing quietly with a toy a nurse brought in earlier. Garret was asking about the variations (Trisomy 21, Mosaicism, Translocation). The doctor said "It is the most common type of Down Syndrome, Trisomy 21." 

There were no tears. Just acceptance. Our baby has Down Syndrome. God is holding us in his hands he has a plan.

I just looked at my family.This is the new us!

His extra chromosome makes him "extra hanDSome."

The Early Bird (Bradyn's Birth Story)

Due date: October 9

Born: September 7 (4.5 weeks early) 

The build up

On the night of September 6 I started to have contractions. They were about 10 minutes apart but I took acetaminophen and went to sleep. The next morning my husband, Garret, left for hunting Geese at 4:30 am in Eugene, OR. I woke up around 5:30 because of being uncomfortable. I tried to stay in bed for another hour and then got up. After my son, Corbin, woke up I decided to call the midwife. She said to drink 3 cups of water and take a bath. After doing what the midwife asked the contractions kept getting closer. So I called the midwife back and told her that he bath and drinking water did not slow down my contractions. She decided that I should come in to get checked. I got Corbin dressed, grabbed my purse, Corbin and his backpack and headed to the hospital, it was 8:25 am. On the way there I remember thinking "I really should have gotten someone to drive me, too late now."

At the Hospital

Corbin and I got to the hospital. I remember thinking that I was going to get checked and monitored and be sent home because of false labor. The nurses were very sweet and brought Corbin in crayons and a coloring book as I changed into the hospital gown. Around 9 am the Midwife (Katie Robins) came in to check me. She was the Midwife that had delivered Corbin. She checked me and I was at 10 cm!!!!! I was completely shocked! The pain was not as much as when I had Corbin. I thought that I was maybe at 5 cm if anything at all (I had not gotten far enough in the pregnancy to be checked). I immediately called Garret but he did not answer. So left him a message saying that I would probably be having our baby without him. He called me about a minute later saying he was on his way but would TAKE HIM AN HOUR! I decided to try to wait for him.

Waiting

While waiting for Garret, I called my friend, Nichole, to come get Corbin. Her family had just gotten home from Hawaii the night before and all had colds. Other arrangements had to be made at the last second. Nichole ended up coming to the hospital getting Corbin and bringing him over to another friend's, Michelle, house.I also called my Mom, who lives 5 hours away. At first she did not answer when I called her cell phone. I called her house phone and she left the house within minutes.

During this time I also was being talked to by the Hospital pediatrician. She was saying because of our baby being so early it was likely that the baby would probably have to go into NICU.

I then called Garret asking where he was and said "If you do not get here in the next 5 minutes I am going to have this baby without you." Luckily he was only 1 stop light away from the hospital.

Garret arrived

Finally Garret got walked into the room around 9:54. I remember getting a kiss from him and he sat down in a chair beside me. I had 1 more contraction and then asked the Midwife "Can I start pushing now?" She said "If you are ready yes!" My water had not broken so it was decided that I would try to to pop my water by pushing. After 3 pushes it did not break and we decided to her rupture it. After only 10 minutes of pushing our baby was born!!! (The pushing would have taken less time if Bradyn had not been (sunny side up" which also made it hurt more). The Midwife asked Garret "What is it Dad?" (we did not find out the gender of our baby. "Its a BOY!" he said.

Bradyn Michael Ascherl

born at 10:04

Total labor from 5:30 - 10:04 (4 hrs 34 mins (it would have been about 3.5 hrs if I didn't wait for Garret))