27 Weeks

27 Weeks!!!  We are so thankful for another week.  I have been working on a big project for work, so this week has flown by. On to my next goal of 28 weeks.  Bring on the bed rest...

How far   along:27 weeks!

Size of baby:  A little over 2 lbs and about 15 inches long.

Movement:  He is most active in the morning and at night, especially at 10 am and 10 pm.  I am still feeling most of the movement in the lower part of my belly due to the placenta previa.  

Sleep:  I sleep pretty good.  This week I have had the craziest dreams!

Cravings:  Anything cold, Vernors, frozen chocolate yogurt, red apples, everything bagels, and I still love my decaf vanilla lattes!

What I miss:  Other than being on bed rest, I feel very healthy and happy.  I miss spending time with the boys, but know they are having a great summer visiting everyone!

Best moment this week:  Feeling stronger baby movements.  Spending quality time at night with the boys and reading their new books.

What I am looking forward to: Another sneak peak at Baby D when I am 29 weeks.  Getting the babies clothes cleaned and put away (Matt "to do" :)

Here are some pictures of the boys waiting for their Nana and Papa to pick them up to see a movie and spend the night.  Do you think they were excited???  I wish I could freeze moments like this...

 “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

I Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Separate, but Always Together

Since I have been on bed rest, I have had time to reflect on all of the updates that could be done to our house.  Yes, I may be going slightly crazy, but that is what happens when you are confined to a 12x14 room!  These feelings of loss of control have lead to many "to do" lists for Matt.  I feel bad because I am quite sure, subconsciously, I am trying to regain some control by writing lists for others.  Yikes!!  But...Matt has been such a good sport and has done a great job juggling the kids, taking care of me, cooking, cleaning and completing home improvements.

Just before I went on bed rest, we decided to offer the boys a chance to have their own rooms.  To our surprise they both wanted their own rooms!!  So, after 5 years of never being more than 8 feet from each other, they would move into separate rooms.

Nursery-

Toddler Room-

The first time the boys were home together in their pack n play-

So sweet-

We ordered new bedroom sets and decided on new colors and bedding.  Unfortunately, I went on bed rest and could not help redo the rooms.  Over the next week, Matt turned our office into a bedroom, painted, washed bedding, hung paintings and organized closets.  

I absolutely love the boys' new rooms.  They are perfect and definitely reflect their personalities.  Joseph loves blue and wanted a space theme.  Dominic loves green and wanted a dog theme.  Here are some pictures of their new rooms.

  

I just cannot believe my babies have grown up so quickly and are now in their own "big boy" rooms. They both love their rooms and have only slept together once, when my mom stayed with us. I am so proud of them. They are definitely becoming more independent.

26 Weeks!!

I am 26 weeks today!!!  Another week down.  I really do not like wishing away time, but in my situation I just want to get through August!  26 weeks was my first short term goal; my next is 28 weeks.  My long term goal is 32 weeks, which is August 27th.

The boys are having another "Michigan Vacation" at my parent's house.  I miss them terribly, but it is a little relief knowing if God forbid anything happen, Matt and I could leave right away.

Joseph must be tired of seeing me in bed in my comfortable clothing.  He opened my jewelry drawer and took out my bracelet and watch and told me he thinks I should wear them tomorrow!

Here are some pregnancy highlights from this week:

How far along: 26 weeks!
Size of baby:  He measured 1 lb 15 oz on Wednesday
Movement:  He is most active in the morning and at night.  I am carrying him very low, so I feel most of the movement in the lower part of my belly.  He had the hiccups for the first time today!!
Sleep:  I sleep pretty good.  I have to take my medication at 5 am, so I have a hard time getting back to sleep.
Cravings:  Anything cold, Vernors, virgin Bloody Mary's with green olives and dill pickles (I know, VERY strange), red apples, and I still love my decaf vanilla lattes.

What I miss:  My boys being home, but I know they are having a great time at their Nan and Grandpa's house!
Best moment this week:  Seeing Baby D on the ultrasound and hearing my abruption looked better.  Joseph and Dominic praying for the baby and me.
What I am looking forward to: Another sneak peak at Baby D when I am 29 weeks.
Nursery update:  Matt painted the baby's nursery a celery green color.  I think it looks great!

Before-

Making progress:

Matt and I are so blessed to be given another week to grow Baby D. I am trying not to worry as much and to focus on one day at a time. Thank you to everyone who has made this bed rest easier!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9

Dr. Appointment Update

My doctor appointment today went well. My ultrasound showed the area where the placenta tore away from the uterus wall has sealed back down. It does not mean it is completely healed because once it tears away it is never functional in that area. It does mean there is no more active bleeding or new tearing!! This is wonderful news!!! My doctor says he rarely sees these results and attributes it to my complete bed rest and prayers!

The only concerning finding on the ultrasound is the baby has only gained about 3 oz in 3 weeks. On the growth curve he went from the 97% and now he is 57%. His umbilical blood flow from the placenta was also on the high side of normal at 2.7 (normal is anything below 3). My doctor is not too concerned at this point. He said the growth could be related to ultrasound tech taking the measurements or from the baby not getting as much nourishment from the placenta. He said the baby is doing great right at this point, and he would only be immediately concerned if the baby would have dropped to the 10% on the growth curve.

My doctor started me back on my Innohep, a blood thinner, in hopes to increase the blood flow and nutrition to the baby. We will check the baby's growth again in 3 weeks. In the meantime, I will remain on bed rest with the new addition that I can walk downstairs once a day!

Below is a picture of the baby. The baby was all balled up, hence the sensation of pressure I have been feeling! That little stinker would not stop moving for a picture!

Thank you everyone who has supported and prayed for my family and I while I have been on bed rest.  I could not have done such a good job on bed rest without every one's help!

Love you,

Our New Baby Journey

I thought I would start at the beginning -

Back in January I came down with a bad virus. I just could not shake the illness and actually ended up in urgent care for lightheadedness and low blood pressure. The doctor ordered some IV fluid and stabilized my heart rate and blood pressure. The next day I followed up with my primary care physician who drew more blood work. One of the questions he asked me is could I be pregnant? Well, I thought...who knows...maybe???? After the doctors appointment I went home and had Matt rush out to buy a pregnancy test. Well.....

POSITIVE!!!

I ran downstairs and told Matt. And we were in complete shock! I made him go out and buy three different brands of tests! And they all came back positive!!!

Right away my doctor started me on Lovenox (a blood thinner) for a condition they found a few years ago called MTHFR. Basically, I have a slight clotting disorder that sometimes causes early miscarriages. He also put me on 3 months of steroids so my body did not reject the baby.

Matt and I were so excited and felt so blessed, but were so nervous. I barely remember the first few weeks. We really could not comprehend that this miracle had happened!

Because I have had so many problems in the past and was now on Lovenox and Prednisone, I started to see a high risk OB. Knowing that I would be followed more closely made us feel much more comfortable especially after our losses in the past.

At about 6 weeks I had a bleed and was diagnosed with a subchorionic bleed. My doctor put me on 4 weeks of bed rest. Thankfully, the bleed resolved and I was able to go back to work around 10 weeks.

Me on bed rest-

Dominic on bed rest!

Joseph on bed rest!

At our 12 week OB appointment, everything looked perfect. The baby was measuring almost 2 weeks ahead! I told the nurse "Maybe I do not need to see a high risk doctor anymore". She said, "Oh no, he likes to see regular EASY cases, too". Little did I know what my future would be hold.

Right around 12 weeks I started to show a little baby bump. Matt and I started to feel more comfortable and even started talking about names. I loved the names Cora and William. Matt said he had a name for both a boy or a girl, "Sam".

Baby D waving-

I have felt great throughout my entire pregnancy. I have never been nauseous or tired. Except for my expanding belly, I barely know I am pregnant!


At my 19 week ultrasound we found out were are blessed with another boy! Matt and I told the ultrasound tech we did not want to find out the gender. About 1 minute into the scan, our baby decided to show us he was a boy! We were all laughing at how he must have wanted us to know!

I also found out I have a condition called placenta previa. It is where instead of the placenta attaching to the side wall of the uterus it attaches at the bottom. This put me back at high risk due to potential bleeding. My doctor placed me on a restricted work schedule.

Baby D at 19 weeks-

I was feeling great up until I was 22 weeks. I worked in the morning and by afternoon, I was just not feeling right. Matt was at training for work, so I bought a few movies from On Demand and the boys and I spent the afternoon in bed. By evening, I thought I would be okay to sit and watch the boys' T-ball game. I drove with Matt, but as soon as I got there I felt a lot of pressure and decided to go home and lay down. I felt much better lying down and chalked it up growing pains.

About an hour later I had a bleed and called Matt to come home. We rushed to the hospital and I was seen in triage right away. The doctor believed it was my placenta previa and sent me home 2 hours later. I was VERY hesitant about leaving, but was thankful I had an appointment scheduled with my doctor at 9 AM the next morning.

I was awake the whole night with pain and cramping. Matt and I were sickly worried. We just prayed everything would be okay until the morning.

When we arrived at the doctor's office, it was already packed with patients. Every time we have an appointment we usually wait 1-1/2 hours to see the doctor. If you know me, you know I speak my mind. I went to the desk and politely asked the receptionist how long it may be before I was seen. She said, "Mrs. M and Mrs S. are before you, the doctor is not even here yet, I cannot tell you how long". I gently leaned over the counter and told her my situation and that if I was not seen in 1 hour I was done with the doctor and was writing a letter to the the president of the hospital. The nurses overheard me come "a little undone" and told me to come right back.

They had me over to an ultrasound room within 5 minutes. The baby looked perfect and was still measuring a 1 1/2 weeks ahead. At the end of the scan the doctor came in to look and told me I had had a partial placental abruption

The doctor was wonderful and very calming. I was still not feeling well and I thought I maybe having mild having contractions. The doctor decided to admit me to the hospital to monitor the baby and start me on a medication called Procardia to help with the contractions.

Monitoring baby-

I was in the hospital for 3 days. I actually felt more comfortable in the hospital knowing there was medical support in case something were to happen. Plus we live about 40 minutes from the hospital, so the distance made me worried.

I was discharged and readmitted for a night when I was 24 weeks.

So that brings me to the present! Phew...what a long post!

Matt and I feel so blessed for everyday God gives me to grow our sweet baby.

We are looking forward to our ultrasound and doctor appointment tomorrow.

I will post an update and pictures tomorrow.

A "Michigan Vacation"

The boys are at my mom and dad's house this weekend. They refer to the trip as a "Michigan vacation". I guess kids need a vacation away from their parents, too!

It is so wonderful that my parents are able to watch the boys. They absolutely love going over there and I swear they come back in inch taller from all the food they eat!! Yesterday they were waiting on the porch with their bags packed!!!



My mom said Joseph told my dad, "Grandpa, I really miss you when I don't come over". So sweet.

25 Weeks!!!

Another week down! We feel so blessed the baby and I are doing so well. I have really grown over the past 2 weeks!! Here are some belly shots to show the growth.

12 Weeks

14 weeks

21 weeks

25 Weeks


This weekend, I am looking forward to watching a few movies and getting started reading a new book!

Bed Rest

I decided to start blogging again since I have all the time in the world now that I am on bed rest!

I have officially been on bed rest for 2 weeks. Everyone asks me if time is passing slow, but it really is not! I cannot believe I even typed 2 weeks! I told Matt "bring on the time"! The more time I am resting the more time Baby D has to grow.



I was just released from the hospital for a little scare. The boys absolutely loved coming to visit me. They had their own routine. They would stop at Starbuck for a cookie and of course...a venti, decaf, 3 pump, no foam latte for me! Then I would turn on a cartoon for them and they would sit like old men and eat their afternoon snack.



They also loved trying out all of the medical equipment in the room!



I am so thankful for all my family and friends who have been so supportive. I do not know what I would do without you all! I am especially thankful for Matt and how much he loves and supports me. He is my rock and absolute best friend.

Here is a picture of Baby D. The doctor said my non-stress test results are that of a 32 week baby and not 24 weeks! He is so happy he is moving around so much. At 23 weeks the baby weighed 1 lb 12 oz and was measuring a little over a week ahead. Grow...baby...grow!!!!!