Yep, I'm pregnant. Although I am not such an avid blogger anymore, I figured I'd have to "announce" it at some point on here, and I've waited until now - I'm nearly 16 weeks.
I am not sure I like the title of this blog, which makes it sound like this pregnancy will be like the last one. Which, obviously, I don't want. We didn't enter into this lightly. In fact, for a couple years after Willow was born, we were pretty sure we were not having any more kids. Then, we looked into adoption a little bit and soon realized we could never afford that (on a side note, I think this is really sad, with all the kids out there that need homes). After awhile, though, as the memories of those NICU months started to fade, I guess we started to reconsider getting pregnant again. Maybe we're nuts. I will admit that a small part of it was selfish, with myself really, really wanting to experience a normal pregnancy and "get it right" this time...I think that might be something only other preemie moms can understand.
Shortly after Willow was born, I had seen a perinatologist at MGHS who ran some tests to try to figure out why I got preeclampsia and HELLP. He couldn't find anything, and his opinion seemed to be that it was a fluke and I was just unlucky. Before we got pregnant this time, I went and saw another perinatologist in Wausau. We wanted numbers. Statistics. He was able to give that to us, and stated that there's a 10-15% chance of my getting preeclampsia again. And even if I do get it again, it's more likely that it'll be later and less severe. I also saw my regular OB in advance, and she ran some more tests, which were all normal as well. All the doctors I consulted with seemed to think there's no reason why we shouldn't try again. Sooooo...we decided to take the gamble.
And so far, so good. The pregnancy is going fine. I am past the exhausted stage, thankfully. This time, I did have a little queasiness, which I didn't with Willow, but that's passed as well. I have to go see the doctor in Wausau once a month; I saw him September 13 (when that ultrasound shot was taken), and I see him again next week. I'll be getting ultrasounds each time, so there'll be lots of photos. The reason I have to get so many ultrasounds is that the doctor is checking the blood flow in my uterine artery, and the placenta and the umbilical cord. I guess that can help predict whether things are A-OK or if things are going bad and I'm likely to get preeclampsia again. As a bonus, I get to see the baby every month. They have those 4-D ultrasounds there, which are pretty wicked, hey? We'd like to be surprised about the baby's sex, but I'm not sure if that will be possible with monthly 4-D ultrasounds - you can see so much detail.
I am also seeing my regular OB once a month for now, alternating with the guy in Wausau. That adds up to a doctor's appointment every 2 weeks. And once I get to 22 weeks or so, my regular OB wants to see me twice a week. Good thing her office is just a few blocks from the hospital where I work.
So there you have it. Wish us luck, we need it! :)
Here are a few other shots from the past few weeks.
Willow and Maisa playing with play-doh. Maisa's mom Anna and I and the girls are heading for Duluth next weekend for a little getaway. We're staying at the water park hotel and I'm excited to visit Sharon!
I had to post this drawing that Willow did because I think it's hilarious. The big guy on the left is pooping, and the thing under him is a potty. Do you see it?
Last weekend, our NICU friends Nate and Lauren were in the Copper Country from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for their anniversary. We had Linda watch Willow and met up with them on Saturday. We had a great time. The weather was beautiful and the leaves were peaking. The guys went biking in Copper Harbor, and Lauren and I hiked up Mount Bohemia. Later we came down to Houghton and went out to dinner. Here are some pictures from our Bohemia hike. My little point-and-shoot can't really do justice to how amazing it was. Lauren had a fancy camera, and the shots she took were much better.
Here's Willow and Grandma with their purses. Willow put on her purse and insisted we take a picture.
