20 weeks and an Adalyn update!

Ok, well really, I'm 20w5d now. I don't have a computer right now and posting from my phone/iPad is a bit of a bummer. I wish there was a better format for it, but I do what I can.

We had our anatomy scan on Thursday and we are very thrilled that our baby is so darn healthy looking. Since our miscarriage last November I have been extremely paranoid this pregnancy. I can feel kicks all the time now, as can Spencer, but I was still very anxious prior to the scan. The doctor who reviewed it all after the tech was done kept looking at all of the baby's anatomy because you could see it all so clearly- he thought it was cool! We saw hands, feet, mouth, nose, ears, and a heart that made him said "Wow, your baby has a very healthy heart."

It was a great appointment.

Did I mention we are expecting a baby boy? We are so thrilled, and Adalyn is excited about her little brother! 

Speaking of Adalyn, her two year old ways are firmly in place. Her favorite words are "No!" and "I want!" Fortunately, she has also added "I love you too" and "Kissy!" to the words we regularly hear. She had her (very late) two year well check and she is 3' 2" tall and weighs about 32 lbs! She's no small toddler! We are reading endless books, enjoying watching her dance and learn to throw a ball and her love of cars and trains. 

The most interesting (for me) is hearing her language skills develop. She asks for what she wants very clearly sometimes. She will say "I want milk, please!" instead of just saying "Baba?" like she used to. If she is tired or upset she will tell me she wants to go home, and she also says if she wants to read, play outside, or to "bye bye!" She will also say where she wants to go. Last night she said "I want to go to Papa's (my dad) house!" She's requested the library and to get ice cream before as well! She will (usually) tell me what she wants to eat or pick from the options I give her. 

Two is a pretty cool and amazingly frustrating age, but I think we will make it through unscathed! 

It's a weird, weird, world.

In my first pregnancy I lost 45 pounds. I had few days throughout my pregnancy where I could leave my house independently, and those usually ended with me sitting in my car feeling faint, sweating, and short of breath. I never had energy, or a social life. Friends would try to get ahold of me and I wouldn't make plans because I was tired of throwing up in front of people. It was 8 months of hell.

I will be 18 weeks pregnant tomorrow. For the last three weeks I have been on a minimal dose of medication, and have gone from taking a maximum dose of medication 24/7 to taking medication as needed. I have gained 5 lbs back of the 20 I lost. In the last two weeks I have taken my daughter to the park, on a hike, on a few play dates, and began rearranging out apartment. I have been able to handle family emergencies in stride instead of laying in bed waiting for someone to tell me what's going on.

It's a different pregnancy. I don't have anything else to attribute this to. People suggest maybe I am having a boy, but we won't know that until mid-May. I had much more aggressive, early treatment with a team (OBGYN, RN, MA, and MFM). At this point, I am grateful for every single day I feel good. I am making detailed lists of everything we need to do for the baby just in case I become too ill to do it myself. With Hyperemesis you never know what the disease is doing to do. I could be healthy for the rest of my pregnancy, or I could wake up tomorrow sick. You just don't know.

Adalyn is 2 years old now. I missed posting around her 2nd birthday because I missed her birthday. I was in the ER that day and spent the next 3 days in the hospital.

She's huge and wears 3T or 4T clothes., size 7T shoes. Adalyn is outgoing and friendly. She says "Hi!" to everyone and makes playmates easily. She learns from the kids around her and shows empathy when they are upset. She knows her ABCs, counts to 10, knows some shapes and colors, and says 5-7 word sentences. She has memorized parts of books and several songs. She loves to sing, dance, play outside, animals, and playing iPad games. She is starting to become interested in the baby and say "Hi baby!" and kisses my belly last night.

Things are good and we are happy! Now, here's a big photo dump for making it through this. :)

Week 16

Well, today I am 16w4d pregnant, and I had a check up with my (wonderful) OB.

There were a couple milestones today that I've never had before. First, this was the first time between this pregnancy and my pregnancy with Adalyn that I have been on a traditional pregnancy schedule. I made it four weeks between appointments! Second, this is the first time between both pregnancies that I have ever gained weight.

(Before you envy my weight loss, remember it was caused by weeks and weeks (and with Adalyn, months and months) of constant nausea and vomiting. It was caused by extreme dehydration that landed me in the ER twice, and in the hospital for three days this pregnancy. There's nothing envious about HG weight loss. I would rather gain 80 lbs than have HG.)

The baby's heart rate was great, and I am measuring right on track! We will find out mid-May what the sex is. We have names picked out either way but we won't announce until we know!

NT Scan- 12w4d check in.

We had our NT ultrasound scan today to check for chromosomal abnormalities. Everything look great on the scan, the things they check for all indicate a reduced risk. We are still waiting on the blood work, but that was nice to hear!

It was great to see Noodle bouncing around, and crazy to see it move when I can't feel it! Spencer, my mom, and Adalyn came to my scan. As soon as the baby popped up on the monitor Adalyn yelled out "Baby!" It was just too cute that she recognized that was the baby (we've shown her our other ultrasound pictures before). I'm pretty sure she has no idea what is in store for our family, but it was still a nice moment.

I'm still feeling much better than I was, although there are some rough days here and there. I am really hoping that the arrival of 2nd trimester next week will bring me some energy, I have been barely making it through the day even with a nap and a good night's sleep.

And now, here's our little alien looking Noodle!

It's kind of amazing.

Things have gotten a lot better around here since I was introduced to my good friend, the Zofran Pump. I don't really enjoy stabbing myself in the stomach every other day, or carrying around an ugly bag full of equipment all the time, but I really enjoy eating and not passing out. Oh, and not going to the ER. It's either poke myself or be stabbed at the hospital with IVs. I prefer this.

For anyone with HG who has stumbled their way here, there are many home health infusion companies (Alere and Coram to name two I am familiar with) who provide equipment for Zofran pumps. I am on a lower dose of Zofran than I was taking orally and it is working more effectively. I am not completely nausea free and I've thrown up a few times in the last week, but it is nothing compared to what it was before. I would say I am experiencing a more normal level of morning sickness, or a "fluffy" HG pregnancy. Of course, this is all thank to the pump and 2 other medications I take a day. I'm in no way cured.

In other news, we've had 2 ultrasounds of our little Noodle so far. One was done at 6 weeks and 4 days, and the other at 10 weeks and 3 days pregnant. My mom dubbed the baby "Noodle" just as she gave Adalyn the nickname of "Bean" (or teeny weenie beanie baby, depending on the day) because of the first ultrasound.

First ultrasound picture, 6w3d. See? He/She looks like a piece of macaroni. 

I had a check up for HG on Thursday and they tried to find the heartbeat with the doppler, but were unsuccessful (10 weeks is sort of an iffy point to be looking for it, my uterus is just starting to peek out from behind my pelvic bone at this point). So, the doctor gave me an impromptu ultrasound just to make sure everything is OK! 

Measuring on track down to the day!

If you have no idea what you are looking at, on the first picture The top is where the head is, and the bright spot is the heart beating. The heart rate at that ultrasound was 130. The bottom picture has the head on the left, with an arm next to that, and a leg at the right. It's like looking at the baby as a profile, I think. It's really hard to tell at this point. The heart rate at that ultrasound was 160! Woohoo!

I know not everyone is into ultrasound pictures, but I think it is amazing how much has changed in 4 weeks. It's nice to see the baby is doing well and that what all this illness is really for! Our next ultrasound is March 22nd, and that's our first trimester screen where they check for genetic disorders. I'm not worried about it now, but hoping everything comes back clear!

Well, hey there.

I found out I was pregnant back in January, and life was immediately thrown into chaos. I spent the first week terrified I would have another miscarriage. That only ended when hyperemesis began, exactly at five weeks. I will admit, I had sick sense of relief the first time I threw up. It signaled a normal pregnancy for me.

The next four weeks were madness. I had two ER visit, a 2 night hospital stay, and 7 IV hydration outpatient treatments. Adalyn spent more time with my parents than with me and Spencer missed more work than he ever has (he never calls in!).

I have been so lucky to have an amazing doctor and team working on my case. I went in at almost 7 weeks pregnant and saw my little noodle's heartbeat. When hyperemesis became unbearable (about the time I started throwing up my own saliva) they went I to overdrive to find a treatment plan that would work. They were successful! I am currently taking 2 medications and have a Zofran pump that continually feeds medicine into me underneath my skin (sub-q).

My arms are giant bruises, I've lost 20 pounds, and I am still pretty weak and tire easily. I cannot eat normally, but today marks one week since I have been sick. I can take care of my own child, and I have hope for the rest of my pregnancy. Now, if I can just keep my worrying down until March 22nd when I get to see my little noodle again. (The first ultrasound looked like a piece of macaroni. Adalyn was a bean, this baby is a noodle!)

I wish I had something positive to say

This pregnancy is hell on Earth for me so far. There is a potential light at the end of the tunnel as I wait for home health to be approved.

I will be back when things get better.