Where have I been and some big NEWS!

Where has the time gone? March 22 was the last time I've posted. WOW.

Well, I have a great excuse :)

As of yesterday, we are 9 weeks pregnant. This is our 6th pregnancy, so I'm hesitant to post this. In the past, I've posted before, only to have a bad appointment the next day. While we are nervous, we are also very excited and always want to share the news with people, regardless of our outcome.

We have a fantastic doctor who is "cautiously optimistic" right along with us. We've seen every specialist (and 2 of some of them). We've had every test taken. On paper, "everything's perfect!" Except... It hasn't been. So, I'm on every medicine known to man and then some!  We are treating all the typical causes of miscarriage in the hopes that I have something that isn't testable.

Each day, I take my regular prenatal, an extra folic acid, a baby aspirin, a prescription strength ibuprofen (I was taking 3), 2 blood thinner shots, and progesterone. Luckily, I'll get to stop taking the progesterone and the ibuprofen when we hit 12 weeks. The rest are there for the long haul. But, if stabbing myself in the stomach twice a day gets a baby here safe and sound, then I'll hold my breath twice a day and get over my fear of needles. (The first shot took me 45 minutes to do) I think what once we hit a certain point, I'll also add steroids to the mix. We lost our son, Lane, at 37 weeks, so one specialist recommended a steroid to ensure lung development happens quickly in case we have to deliver early.We were told that if ANYTHING is not perfect, he wouldn't hesitate to deliver as long as lungs are ready to go.

I'm starting to feel a little better.. which, to be honest, makes me nervous... but I'm finally up and off the couch. We have weekly doctor appointments with ultrasounds, so it is reassuring each week to see a heartbeat and how much change happens in 7 days. Right now, baby is 1.7 centimeters but has a head, body, arms, and legs...and, a little fluttering heart. Heartbeats have taken on such a powerful and stressful meaning to us in the last 3 years. We've had early ultrasounds before, but never "good" ones, so this is a new experience for us seeing the weekly growth like this.

So, cross everything you can cross, hold your breath, and say an extra prayer for us. Meanwhile, Dustin has once again, had to take over 100% of everything. I can't hardly even go downstairs. There is some cleaner (I think it is my homemade laundry soap) that makes me sick every time I smell it. I can't stand when the dishwasher is running either. The entire downstairs smells to me. It's just cleaner, but there's something in that I can't stand when I'm pregnant... at least in the beginning. I've been pregnant a total of 18 months, I think it is now.. and 12 of those months have been first trimester months where I'm helpless, sick, and glued to the couch and/or kneeling in front of some porcelain. So, Dustin has definitely taken on more than his fair share around here! (Lucky for me, we still have a toilet on the porch, so I can even head outside when the moment stirkes :))

It sounds like I'm making it up though.. "honey, that cleaner is going to make me sick... can you the laundry... and the dishes... and cook supper... and... ??" Hey... if it works ;)

*Just kidding, Dustin... it really makes me want to yak.