Hemoglobin

Well, I have had this entry waiting to be posted for over a week. I could not decided if I wanted to share the info or not. Bu,t I finally thought since I am so nervous and terrified of this possibility it would be good write about it and share my fear. I am asking for prayers for a calm heart and that God's will be done over my anxiety.

I had another trip to the hospital for fluids last Thursday, March 12th mid afternoon and we found out again that my hemoglobin is very low. Apparently in pregnancy your blood creates extra blood to accommodate two people along with preparing for birth since you typically lose 2 units of blood during delivery. I should have a level reading in the 11 or mid 12 and mine is in the low 9. This means if I can not raise this level through protein and iron supplements I would have to receive a blood transfusion after Colton's birth. I am doing everything the doctor has encouraged which includes taking a liquid vitamin and iron tablets YUCK! These make me sick to my stomach and unfortunately cause constipation which simple means I have to take more Colace. Isn't pregnancy fun! Anyways all of that to say that I also have to prepare for the real possibility of a blood transfusion so we are having family and friends donate blood under my name through United Blood Services, fun times. I am O+ so I have a lot of options. I have been very blessed by the number of family members and friends who are all willing to get stuck to donate to me. Thank you in advance to all of you who are donating blood I wish I knew how much they really needed, but they just collect a set amount for each person. Once again I am reminded just how wonderful my family is along with the close friends who are also giving.

Pregnancy Update

Hello all I am in the final weeks of my crazy pregnancy and as any other DR visit I have new info. I am on weekly visits and NST at the Dr office. An NST is a non stress test, basically they hook my up to a fetal monitor to check the baby's status. I always have to go to Banner Gateway (our hospital) ever Thursday for a NST and a Bio Ultra sound, it is an ultrasound that checks for fluid and growth. I also found out that I am over 1cm and about 60% effaced, completely normal for my hypertension and second pregnancy. Other than that I am to be resting with my feet up or laying down as my DR says 95% of the day. He has been very reasonable about bed rest knowing that I have Kaylee and get bored very easily. I have been very tired but that has a lot to do with the hypertension. Well that is the story I will try and add some pictures in the next couple of days.

Since September 1st……actually the end of August

Well, let’s start with the big announcement…….I’M PREGNANT!!!!!!!! This is an enormous blessing for our family as we have been trying to conceive for over two years (the natural way). It is VERY true that it is God who opens and closes the womb according to His divine timing. It is also true that God knows what is best for all of us because if this had been during any other time in the last two years we would have had very different circumstances, trying to deal with my Hypere*mesis Gravidarum. Thank you Jeanette for you kind words of wisdom.

Now for the not so fun stuff. About a week before I even realized I was pregnant I started feeling ill. I even went to the doctor thinking I had some kind of an infection. For those of you who do not know me very well I can easily get sick. A couple of days later we found out I was pregnant, which explained why I did not feel well. Unfortunately, by August 29th a mild case of morning sickness turned into a full blown case of Hypere*mesis Gravidarum. Hyperemesis is morning sickness 24 hrs a day to the extreme, think morning sickness on roids vomiting 10-15 times day, dehydration, unable to eat anything, etc. By August 30th Andy was very concerned that I was dehydrated so off the ER we went. Ban*ner Gate*way’s ER is fantastic, spent several hours getting rehydrated and was sent home to contact my doctor. I started taking Zo*fran hoping for the best. By September 2nd I was already very dehydrated again so off we went again to the ER. When 12 hours after the ER I was becoming dehydrated again my OB decided to admit me to Des*ert Ban*ner for 4 days. I was given a zo*fran pump that was supposed to help control my nausea it did just the opposite. After two full days we removed the pump, I know it has done wonderful things for some it just did not work out for me. I still have two marks on my legs from the injection sites. I then faced several days of heading down hill. Andy and I met with my OB on a Thursday and his advice was to go home, rest, stay hydrated and eat crackers. I wanted to scream I was so disappointed in his medical advice. I spent the next 4-5 days struggling to keep anything down even sips of water. This brings us to September 16th (Andy’s 34 birthday unfortunately).

By Tuesday the 16th my heart constantly felt like it was racing, Dr Ross (primary care physician) with Tiff’s help prescribed blood pressure meds, hoping that might aid in my throwing up. Andy came home around 12pm at this point I was getting worse by the hour, my chest burned, I was throwing up regularly things were really bad. Tuesday evening I was slipping fast and then faster down a hole I could not get myself out of after 2 hours of vomiting 15 times Andy called 9*11 for help. I was taken to Ban*ner Gate*way around 1:30 am then later admitted under a new doctor for Hypere*mesis. Dr. Holmes my new OB has been great. He as taken a very active interest in helping me get better or at least managing my hypermesis. I was diagnosed with Hypere*mesis (already new that), high blood pressure (already knew that also) and pregnancy related acid reflux. I spent the next 5 days recovering. By Sunday I was sent home with new medication and a new outlook on this pregnancy. I prayed for God’s healing not only for me but my whole family, especially Andy and Kaylee. I had not taken care of Kaylee since the 28th of August. I did great for a week felt better not great but better. Then I got some type of infection most likely a U*T*I and quickly went down hill again. Was readmitted to Gate*way on Thursday the 2nd of October, given IV meds and fluids and then went home on Tuesday afternoon.

Today, I am doing sooooooo much better. I am eating regularly keeping everything down, most of the time. I even had Mex*ican food today(Sunday). You always know I am feeling better when I am getting bored easily and craving Mex*ican food. We see our new doctor Tuesday the 21st of October and as of Saturday the 11th I am 12 weeks. I pray that everyday past 12 weeks things get better and better. When I was pregnant with Kaylee I started to feel more like myself by 15 weeks.

I am looking forward to getting better, taking care of Kaylee (getting to be mommy again), getting bigger as the child inside grows. I lost 28 pounds in the first trimester of the pregnancy I am looking forward to gaining in back in a healthy manner. Most of all I am looking forward to being Andy’s wife and taken over the many responsibilities he has graciously taken so that I can get better.

Thank you to all who have prayed for us, I beg you to continue to pray as I am not completely health but will be soon.

Just in case you are wondering we are due April 25th this should make for an interesting tax season.