Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Tummy Tuesday- 10 weeks

IT'S BAAAAACCCCKKKKK

Better late than never right? And in full disclosure I will probably not be posting every week because life. So, lets start calling it a "BumpDate".

Here is your bump-date thus far....

On a Friday morning, back in Mid-June I loaded up the girls and we headed to the much anticipated gymnastics camp. In the car ride on the way there I sneezed, and got an all too familiar pain in my hip I know to be round ligament pain. I have only ever had this pain when I was pregnant. I immediately started doing math in my head. There is no way, right? Well, I mean I guess there was a way, but it was just unlikely. I decided I would stop on my way back home to get a pregnancy test just in case. We get to gymnastics only to find out camp ended on Thursday and there was no camp today. Talk about some VERY disappointed little girls. So here I was with 3 crying kids checking out at Walgreens with a pregnancy test. You should have seen the look on the girls face who checked me out. It seriously could have been a commercial. I get home, take the test, and you guessed it- immediately positive. Chase was out of town, so I decided to keep my little secret until he got back in town on Sunday which just happened to be Father's Day. How appropriate! So I went and found him the perfect Father's Day card.



Chase opened his card Sunday morning and was just about as shocked as I was. 


FIRST DOCTORS APPOINTMENT (6weeks)
The morning of my first appointment I thought I was miscarrying. It's happened before, I know what it's like and I just KNEW that it was happening again. But the ultrasound showed a healthy fetus that already had a heart beat at 6 weeks (which is apparently early). I had what the called a subchorionic bleed. Which in layman's terms means the placenta is pulling away from the uterus, and had caused a 5cm clot to form (which looks HUGE next to a 1/2cm baby). I was told not to google my condition it would only scare me, but that I had a 50/50 chance of miscarrying this baby. And honestly I was relieved. I walked in thinking there was a 100% chance I was, so being told it was only a 50% chance I actually was optimistic. She wanted to see me back the next week for another ultrasound to re-evaluate, and to be on modified bed rest until then.

SECOND DOCTORS APPOINTMENT (7weeks)
The ultrasound showed a thriving baby! It had grown and developed appropriately which means it was getting all the nutrients it needed even though the placenta still was not completely attached. Doc said it could take another 8-10 weeks to completely resolve and until then I would come in every 2 weeks for an ultrasound to monitor the condition. She seems very optimistic. It appears that my body is doing exactly what it is supposed to do to heal the bleed, but I am not out of the woods yet. I got an official due date of February 20th at this appointment.

TELLING THE WORLD
After that great news we decided to tell the world about baby #4 on the 4th of July



Let me just pause right here and tell you why we decided to tell everyone "so early" and not wait until we were "safe in the second trimester." I have traditionally told everyone about all my pregnancies very early. One, because I can't keep a secret, and two because this is my baby. Whether I carry this baby to term, and deliver a healthy baby or this baby takes it's first breath in the arms of Jesus this is my baby that I love with all my heart and soul. From the time that tiny heart started beating this baby is a precious gift from God that I want to celebrate. Why is miscarrying such a "hush-hush" thing? It happens, like a lot. When I miscarried the first time I can't tell you how many other women reached out to tell me their stories and support me. Yes, it sucks... but I think it sucks less when you have a village to walk through it with you especially when many in that village have been where you are and have come out on the other side. And honestly are our babies ever safe? At first, we wait until the second trimester, but tragedies happen even after that. And then they reach the outside world where all beats are off. I have a feeling will continue to worry about my babies until, well until forever. But now I have an army of friends and family covering this baby in prayers. What can be more powerful than that?

Ok back on track...

THIRD APPOINTMENT (8.3 weeks)
Another good ultrasound, no change really just holding steady (which is what the doc expects at this point). I do LOVE getting to see that little nugget every 2 weeks. It's crazy the amount of development you can see in just a short amount of time. First a blob, then a snowman looking blob, and now a snowman blob with arm and leg buds.I can't wait to see my little blob at my next appointment this Friday (10.3 weeks).




As for me, I am TIRED, and sick. So much more than with 1, 2, and 3. I was able to tolerate the morning sickness with the girls without medication, but after spending the greater part of one day on the bathroom floor I gave in. So far meds have made the morning sickness tolerable, but I sure hope it is over soon. I felt better with the girls by 16 weeks so I am counting down the days. Chase also says I am mean as a snake, although I think I'm a peach. :)  With the other 3 I was chill when I was pregnant. Mainly because I didn't have the energy to get worked up over stuff, but this one... EVERY little thing sets me off. I have a short fuse (so I'm told). For these 2 reasons Chase thinks it's a boy. I think it is a girl because I don't think we know how to make boys.... We shall see! We are excited to add another member to this family, regardless of the gender. 

9weeks and 4 days- and already a definite baby bump