It's Shrinking

I was really hoping for a (relatively) normal week.  I am super busy this week, what with the girls’ last trip to see their dad, dentist appointments, meet your teacher, and the first day of school, but I was anticipating no additional drama.  Boy was I wrong!  Nothing too disturbing, and it was a Monday after all, but it did throw me into a panic for a couple of hours.

I am determined to document as much as I can about this pregnancy.  For two main reasons. First – I have a terrible memory, and this way I can look back and say “Oh yeah!  I was 16 weeks when such and such happened” or “It was around the 3^rd month when I started feeling this way.” And second, maybe someday baby Shocker will want to read about this time in his/her life.  I have a journal I kept when I was pregnant with the girls, and this blog encompasses Jake’s pregnancy as well.  So, I have 2 events to record today one minor, and another a little more major.  Plus I had a couple of people ask about baby updates over the weekend, so here we go.

We had a crazy busy weekend.  Saturday, I spent 5 hours in the heat at my sorority house helping volunteer at Bid Day.  I have 81 new sisters, but I also had sore feet, a tired back, and a growing baby to contend with.  Then, as a family, we went to a birthday (pool) party Saturday night.  Then, I tried to rest on Sunday, but I served at church, then we went out to lunch (I took a 3 hour nap), then to my grandmother’s for her birthday.  WHEW!  Tired.  All of this to say that also sometime over the weekend, my baby and my belly “popped out.”  I went to get dressed Monday morning, and I was putting on non-maternity  jeans I had worn mid-week last week and was able to still button, and they were TIGHT and I could not even pull the zipper up more than a half inch!  I donned my belly band and my T-shirt anyway, but it is time to find some maternity pants.  UGH.  My boss mentioned it when I got to work and my mom even noticed when she saw me last night.

But the real drama came on Monday afternoon.  For 2 hours midday, I volunteered at OSU to work a registration table at Welcome Week.  Basically, without going into gory details,  I had some minor baby issues earlier Monday morning, then after my volunteer shift, they got bad enough I believed they warranted a phone call to the nurse.  I called in about 2pm, and then tried to distract myself with work while waiting for a call back.  I finally got a call about 4, saying to come in NOW for an ultrasound.  Britt and I only had one car on campus, and I had not alerted him to my situation.  So, I called him saying, don’t ask questions, I am on my way to pick you up, we are going to the doctor’s office, and I will explain on the way.  Once I got to my car, I called my mom to have her pick up Jake from day care.  Once at the doctor’s office, we got to see Baby Shocker on that wonderful little grey and black screen!  Baby looks great, heart rate is good, fluid levels normal, growing well.  And lo and behold, “The Spot” (that has been causing us some worry and lots of watching) is SHRINKING!  Bold Prayer is WORKING!   The sonogram tech was almost giddy with this discovery.  And of course, so were Britt and I!  We went to our doctor’s office for a few minutes to discuss, but this all seems so good!  I was told to take it easy (again) – and no more weekends like last weekend!  I am to monitor what’s going on, and if it changes or gets worse to call the doctor.  I will see the specialist in OKC a week from today, and I see my doctor here the week after that, so I feel well monitored for the next 2 weeks.

Did you see that?  It’s SHRINKING!  While I am still a medical anomaly, I am so excited to see this problem resolving itself.  God is good – ALL THE TIME!

“Everything Looks Good”

MAN!  Today started off EARLY!  Last night, we took Jake to my parent’s house to spend the night (which was thrilling for everyone involved) since we knew we would have to be up and out the door early bird this morning.  (The girls are away at their other dad’s for the next week.)  I didn’t sleep very well – I never do when I know I have to get up before my normal alarm goes off.  I wake up a million times to look at the clock and see if I over slept!  We both set alarms (on our phones) for the same time, but you never know whose will go off first!  Today, it was Britt’s! We were up and on the road by a few minutes after six.  We had to stop for gas and drinks for the road before we would head out to the highway.  Armed with printed directions, the GPS, and a basic knowledge of where we were going, we were off.  It was nice since the traffic was so light and we were watching the sun rise as we drove.

Finding the hospital was pretty easy.  Figuring out which building exactly was a bit more challenging.  (The paperwork packet they sent to me with this all mapped out arrived TODAY – after my appointment!)    But, we had plenty of time.  So we scoped it out, found where we needed to be, and it was still early, so we drove back out to find some breakfast – Momma was HUNGRY!  We weren’t sure what time the office actually opened, so we headed up about 7:20.  They open at 7:30, and we were the first ones there!  After several pages of paperwork, we were called back to the sonogram room.

I absolutely loved the sonogram technician we had this morning!  I answered several questions about my history and condition and what brought me to them today, and then the scan started.  She spent AT LEAST 30 minutes measuring and looking at SHOCKER to see what she could see, take measurements, etc.  The baby was SUPER active, and she spent a good deal of time chasing to see if she could do a gender determination – no such luck!  After she finished, we were left to wait (for a LONG time) for the doctor to come in.  We were originally scheduled to see Dr. Stanley, but I assume due to the appointment switch, we actually saw Dr. Mirabile.  He came in talking 1,000 miles a minute about pre-natal testing and amniocentesis and 25 other things I was not really able to catch, but finally he asked if we were interested in doing any invasive testing, and Britt and I both said NO.  So, that ended that conversation.  He then took his place in the sonographer’s chair and did some poking around of his own.  While he is not 100% sure WHAT “the spot” is he did take a good look at that area and some measurements as well.  He thinks it is a small chamber within the uterus that has been created by a “band” or “adhesion” of scar tissue from my previous C-sections.  It looks to be filled with amniotic fluid, but he does not think it is bothersome, just something to watch.  He also wanted to confirm what was going on with the fluid leak, so he did a pelvic exam, and found no evidence of any amniotic fluid, so we have closed that chapter.  He wants me to continue to take it easy, and continue pelvic rest, but I can go back to work, and he wants to see me back in 4 weeks.  As we were wrapping things up and saying our goodbyes, he said “Everything looks good.”  BEST. NEWS. EVER!

This was my tweet as we left the doctor’s office (and headed to Target – CANNOT be that close and not stop in):

So relieved.  Still going to have extra scans, extra appointments, and extra care, but I think that’s not so bad, anyway.  I want to thank you ALL for the prayers.  It is so cool to see how many people are praying for our baby and our family.  Your response has been OVERWHELMING and such a blessing.  We love you all, and we thank God for each person that is lifting us up.  Our God is GREATER, and He proved that to us today.  Here’s why...

Profile:

Feet:

Isaiah 40:31 NIV  but those who hope in the lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Shocker Update

We’re not out of the woods yet… Went in for our follow up with the OB this afternoon.  First stop: Ultrasound.  We got to see Shocker wave at us, hear a nice strong heart rate of 160, and see that my amniotic fluid levels were the same as they were on Tuesday, and still at a good level.  All those fall under the “Praise” category.  Unfortunately, not all of the new was quite this good.  On Tuesday, the technician had pointed out a spot to us on my placenta.  She said it was small and dark, and she was not sure what it was.  She took several pictures of it, but didn’t really say much about it.  That was when she told us my placenta was covering my cervix, as well.  So, today, she was looking at the curious spot again, (perhaps a “placental lake?”  I don’t know what that is…) and she said it looked bigger.  She took some measurements and pictures of it, and then we were done with the scan.

When we got back to see the doctor, he said that he had gone over everything the technician had seen, and he decided I needed to be referred to a specialist.  He told me this doctor he was referring me to was in the top 1% of sonographers in Oklahoma, and they will know better what we are looking at and what needs to be done (if anything).  He said this is nothing to give up hope over, but we need to be diligent and continue to take the extra steps to ensure the heath of this baby and me.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in the outcome.  For obvious reasons – I want a healthy baby and an easy pregnancy – and for selfish ones, too.  I don’t want to be on bed rest or limited activity or whatever label you want to give to it.  I thought we would walk in there, all would be fine and resolved, and he would say, "Rest a couple of more days, but by Monday you'll be good to go."  I don’t want people to have to make us dinner.  I don’t want Britt to have to wait on me hand and foot.  If you know me at all, you know I am a bit feisty, and don’t like to be treated like I am fragile.  Heck – have you seen me?  I am the size of a decent high school linebacker!   I am self-sufficient and don’t need kid gloves.  Until now, I guess….

So, my prayer warriors, keep on praying.  For my baby, my uterus, my family, and my attitude.  For the doctors, nurses and technicians.  For safe travels as we go back and forth to the City.  For each other – those of you that are lifting us up are so precious to us, you deserve to be lifted up, too.  I pray for all of you daily, as well.  We can make the Sun Stand Still on this one.  Christmas IS coming, and it will bring with it a Sixth Dream Weaver.  I am confident of that.  We just need to get through the next 6 months!  God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea… Psalm 46:1-2.

PS - I am down another  2 pounds, for a total of 8 pounds lost since my first OB visit!  YAY!

One Baby!

Just got back from my first ultrasound!  All went well, and there is just one baby!  YAY!  S/he is perfect - all in the right place, 2 arms, 2 legs, and a steady heartbeat of 173 BPM.  That was the best part, BTW!  That was a very fast appointment.  I think we were in and out in less than 15 minutes!  The tech was quick, and not chatty, so I guess that's why!

She took a few measurements of the baby, the yolk sac, and my ovaries, found the heartbeat and let us listen to it for like 2 seconds, printed us 2 picture to take with us, then shooed us out the door!  My favorite part was when she pushed down with the wand once, the baby kind-of startled, and I could feel it and see it in the screen!  That was fun!

According to my calculations, I am 11 weeks and 3 days pregnant today.  She measured SHOCKER at 10 weeks 5 days.  That's almost a week off, so I'm not too sure about that.  I am not ready to change my due date yet based on what she did today!  We'll see how the measurements go at the BIG scan in a couple of months.  I get to actually SEE MY DOCTOR one week from today!  :)