The March for Life

On Monday, my husband, daughter and I attended the March for Life in Washington DC. It was so powerful. This was my first time.

We met friends, E and P at Au Bon Pain for lunch and then headed over to the Mall. It was so muddy and wet, but we saw many signs and people there. We couldn't hear or see the rally and then it started to rain really hard so we went into the Smithsonian. (Plus, little E was freaking out). Close to 1:30 PM we went out towards the street and moved towards where the crowd was gathering. There was lots of chanting and praying going on. As we got closer, we realized that we were at the front.

We watched some the marchers go by and then Little E started to freak out and wanted out of the stroller. DH tried to hold her but she was shouting for me. So I picked her up and then a sister in a blue habit stopped by and talked to E. She stopped crying and the sister gave her a blue prayer shawl and asked us to prayer for her and she said she would pray for us. I asked her what her name was and she said Mother Olga of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth. Her shawl warmed E the rest of the march. We got into the march and E wouldn't let DH hold her nor would she ride in the stroller. I held her most of the way except when she wanted to walk a little. She wasn't not going to walk during her first March for Life!

As we were marching, I kept thinking of all the babies that have died through the massacre of abortion and just how incredibly sorrowful this is. I was tearing up most of the March. Here I was carrying my 19 month old and a 7 week old baby in my belly and I would walk the entire March in my hands to keep this baby in my womb, but some mothers "choose" to stop their baby's beating heart. Such a tragedy in our society.

We walked with the other marchers almost to the Supreme Court and then headed back to Union Station to get the Metro home.

We are so thankful to our friends M and A for hosting us before and after the March. We had a wonderful meal together and our babies played together. They are such gracious hosts and have a warm and inviting home.

Ba-bye 2011

Dear 2011,
Ah, you weren't one of my greatest years. It started off okay with a baby that was finally sleep trained and completely on formula. But, in March things started to go downhill-major fallout with the fam, worst vaca ever in April, conception in May, miscarriage in July, and continued hostility with the family. Not really a stellar year.

But, God's Grace abounds. I have grown closer to the Lord and done things I never thought possible out of love for Him. DH and I pray way more together. We got rid of our cable and talk more at night. We go to daily mass often with our daughter and have beautiful family time together. We have formed some close friendships with new friends and gotten closer with old friends. We see His Grace often in our lives.

I am looking forward to 2012 with hope. What else do I have?

Tomorrow I am getting a blood test (HcG and progesterone) because I will be P+17. I'm not sure what I think since the results of my ultrasound series weren't great, but the Lord is in charge.

Happy New Year and here's hoping 2012 is better!

Possibly a Valentine's Baby

Yes, I am expecting our second child. Its amazing. A miracle. After almost 6 years of infertility, we conceived the first month of active trying. Praise God!

But, I don't feel that I am Scott free yet. I am on progesterone injections and nightly prometrium. My first ultrasound was entirely convincing of no problems, there was a heartbeat but the dates weren't quite right. So, tomorrow I should be about 8 weeks. I have another ultrasound Monday morning to check things out again, so please say a little prayer.

That brings me to the possibly Valentine's Baby. By my calculations, I should be due around February 21st, but if I have another big baby, maybe I can go and just have another section a week early. Wishful thinking, huh? Well, it makes for a good title.

It's Been Awhile!

Sorry I haven't posted in quite awhile! I am still here. About 2 weeks to go to my due date. So here is an update in a bulleted format.

1. I had my synthroid increased 4 weeks ago and will get my blood levels rechecked today.


2. I have been feeling some braxton hicks contractions about 5-6 times a day. They just feel like pressure in my back or menstrual cramps.


3. Baby is head down.


4. I am measuring on time.


5. I am very swollen. Not much helps.


6. I was monitored at the hospital last Saturday, drs. thought maybe I was getting pre-ecclamptic. We were there for 5 hours, my BP was fine, had ketones in my urine. Baby's heartrate was fine. The monitor showed I was contracting a little but I didn't feel it. I think I had some sort of reaction to the heat and/or the food we ate out the night before. I have been drinking way more water and eating every 2 hours. Feeling much better.


7. My restless legs get the best of me. Some nights I only sleep 3-4 hours. I have increased my iron and b-vitamins and last night I slept 7 hours!


8. I am feeling hormonal. When I think of this beautiful miracle we have, it is a waterfall of tears!


9. I had 4 showers in one week. Three of them were surprises! It was a little overwhelmed but has helped me really see how excited our friends are and how they were really concerned for us during our infertility.


10. DH has been amazing, doing laundry, going to the grocery store, keeping the house picked up. He is nesting, too!


11. I fluctuate between being anxious about giving birth and being really excited. A huge part of me really can't believe that she is almost here.

6 weeks to go

Sorry I haven't posted in quite awhile!

We are getting ready for baby, nursery is almost ready! We have attended all our classes at the hospital and I am reading a book on breastfeeding. I really can't believe I only have 6 weeks left!

I feel tons of movement, our baby is very active. However, I have been experiencing a lot of edema and yesterday at my appointment I had protein in my urine. So, I got some blood work done and was told to lay off the salt. I am wondering if it was the Mexican food I ate the night before...

Last week I was also screened for preterm labor. I was negative for fetal fibronectin and other infections. However, my T4 was a little low so one of my doctors increased my synthroid.

I am still so overwhelmed by this gift of life we have been given. I fluctuate between being so happy and crying for my friends who haven't been able to experience this yet. Those of you still waiting, please know I am always praying for you!

Joy and Sorrow

This week has been quite busy. Monday I had my progesterone level retested and I am staying in high zone 2 so my doctors are comfortable with me discontinuing drawing levels and staying off the progesterone! Yay!!

On Saturday my great Aunt Eileen died at the age of 89. She is my maternal grandma's older sister. My grandma is one of 6 siblings (actually 7, but the first died in infancy). My grandma is the last one living.

I headed home for the funeral viewing and mass. This was the first funeral I have been to that I haven't really felt sad. Aunt Eileen wrote her own obituary, planned her funeral mass and even had planned what she would wear in the casket. She really lead a life of joy and was always a pleasure to be around. A family friend who is a deacon delivered the homily and it was so personal. The whole 2 days were really a celebration of her life and it was all so hopeful. The deacon had some powerful words about life after death and what it really means to do the Lord's will and love the catholic faith. It was so uplifting.

During the mass, I couldn't keep my hands off my growing belly. Aunt Eileen had told her daughter-in-law about my shower next weekend and that she was excited to come. I will truly miss her laughter and smile. The baby was so active during the mass, I think that she really loves being in church!

Another good part of the funeral was seeing tons of extended family. My mom has 32 first cousins, so I probably got to see about 20 or so of them and that isn't including spouses and children. I really love being a part of a big Irish Catholic family. Most importantly, I am beyond joyful bringing in a new life to our family!

Pregnancy Related Update

A little hodge podge...

I had a repeat ultrasound last week and the placenta has moved from the previa (covering my cervix) to just a low lying placenta. Good news! Not so good news...still on pelvic rest. Looks like DH's high testosterone levels will have to wait another 4 weeks. Oh, the sacrifices of Lent!

Progesterone is up in the 50's. So, I am off all progesterone for 2 weeks until I retest again.

I have been sleeping mostly through the night. Thank God! It is amazing what sleep does to my mood. I know that once we have our little one, sleep will be far away, but I want to enjoy it while it lasts.


We bought a crib and a bedding set! Actually my mom bought us the crib and mattress and my MIL bought us the crib set. I am so excited! It was so fun shopping for the crib. We went to a mennonite owned furniture store and go this great crib for $150 when it was originally $600!! We used the book, Baby Bargins, to research the crib companies and also read about mattresses. We got a foam mattress so it will be easier for me to change the crib sheet in the middle of the night.


Next weekend we have our hospital childbirth prep class. I think it will be really good for us to spend time mentally preparing for baby. I have also been reading some books on breastfeeding and labor. I am still looking forward to learning more.


Yesterday I was 25 weeks. I am feeling better about this pregnancy in terms of the baby surviving. I have a hard time knowing how worried I can be in the moment and I was really worried early on. I also felt like I was being tested in the beginning and have survived the test (so far!). Please continue to pray for me and the baby and I always pray for my sisters in infertility land.

Here is a picture of what our crib and bedding look like...

Cardiologist and Friends

Yesterday DH and I went to see the cardiologist for these heart palpitations I have been having. My EKG was normal and he didn't hear any murmurs. So, I got a lovely holter monitor to wear for 24 hours. I just took it back. Of course, I didn't have any palpitations while I had the monitor one. Oh, well! The cardiologist thinks that I have sinus tachycardia which means that at times my heart beats fast. He said there isn't anything that I can take to help that would be safe for the baby. My next idea is to talk with Dr. S about it possibly being my thyroid. If that isn't the answer, then I am just weird.

I think the reason the reason I had no palpitations was because I got to spend the last 20 hours with LifeHopes, Sew, and This Cross I Embrace. I got to hold LifeHopes' baby and just relax with my friends. It was a glorious time!

Today when I went to return the monitor I stopped to see my MIL. We chatted about the ultrasound and told her about the placenta previa. She had exactly the same thing when she was pregnant with my DH. She had some bleeding at about 24 weeks and was on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. I just wonder if infection plays a role here...

Welcome!

Thanks for joining me on my new private blog. I decided to go private so I can be a little more honest and feel free to post some pictures. Also, I work as a FertilityCare Practitioner at a NaPro practice and wouldn't want anything I say online to compromise my job and relationships there.

This week is quite busy. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a cardiologist to discuss the heart palpitations I have been feeling. I think that they might be the cause of my insomnia. It is very frustrating not being able to sleep!

Three of my online friends are visiting tomorrow and I am so excited to see them! LifeHopes, Sew Infertile and This Cross I Embrace and coming to my home. I cannot wait to meet LifeHopes new baby. The  blogosphere has supported me more that I ever imagined. I have found many kindred souls here and hope to meet some more.

My cinnamon crumb cake is ready, it smells so good. Hope it lasts for my guests!

Here is a pic of my doggie Spirit. Once I find a pic of my other dog, Knight, I will post that, too.

20 Week Ultrasound

Our baby is a girl! I can't believe it! I am total shock. All along, I thought that we would always have boys. God always surprises me!

Overall, the baby is healthy. We did see that I have a placenta previa, which means that the placenta is cover my cervix by about 1 CM. I am on pelvic rest until our next ultrasound in 4 weeks. Also, I have been having some episodes of an irregular heartbeat so I saw one of our docs today and now have to see a cardiologist. My thyroid levels were normal as where my iron levels. Good news is that my progesterone is up to 47! I am going to stay on the prometrium and if it stays up, I can hopefully lower my dose.

DH and I are going to be stepping up our prayer life. We really need it. For starters we are going to pray together every morning, go to daily mass on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Also, we are going to look into attending a retreat before the baby comes. Any suggestions are welcome!

Some pictures for your viewing pleasure. Baby D had her hands up by her face (praying?) and her legs crossed (modest). Can't wait to meet her!