Welcome to the World, Thomas Aaron

January 16, 2019 at 4:37am. 9 lbs, 8 oz and 21 inches long. Details to come . . .

9 Months!

9 months! Very thankful all of baby's checkups continue to go well. As of today I gained my 25 pounds and I don't intend to gain any more. ;) Baby has been measuring big, another great sign that he is doing well and not having any problems from the antibody-E. After talking over previous deliveries and covering all the options multiple times with multiple doctors, the consensus plan is to induce at 38 weeks, 6 days on January 24th. We're going to be doing things quite differently this time because of how scary David's shoulder dystocia was for everyone (even though all the doctors are in agreement that the chance of recurrence is very low). Birth plan below.

This birth plan is intended to express the preferences and desires we have for the birth of our baby. It is not intended to be a script. We realize that situations may arise such that our plan cannot and should not be followed. However, barring any extenuating circumstances, we hope you will be able to keep us informed and aware of our options. We appreciate your support.

Our top goals are:
1. A healthy mom and baby
2. Skin to skin contact immediately after birth

• Brief history of our children:
o Annie (unmedicated birth, hemorrhage)
o Jacob (adopted out of foster care)
o Sophie (unmedicated birth, no complications)
o Nora (unmedicated birth, no complications)
o David (unmedicated birth, shoulder dystocia, stillborn with anencephaly)
• Because of David’s shoulder dystocia, I am planning an epidural for this birth.
• However, an epidural comes with all the things I have wanted to avoid in the past: being confined to bed, hooked up to various tubes and machines, and not able to be in control of my labor. I appreciate your help in downplaying the necessary interventions.
• Please start my epidural at the lowest dose possible, and increase it as requested.
• I do not want to have my water broken until late in labor.
• Help me avoid an episiotomy or tear! Guidance during the pushing stage is welcome. Pushing is my least-favorite part of labor and you will probably have to convince me to do it!
• Because of our experience with David, this birth carries much joy, grief, and anxiety. Please be sensitive to our emotional needs.
• Please give our son directly to me after birth. I would like at least one hour with our baby, undisturbed, to bond and breastfeed.
• Please collect baby’s cord blood for donation to the cord blood bank.
• We do not want our baby to leave our room at all. If this becomes necessary, my husband will accompany our son at all times.
• Our baby is to be exclusively breastfed--please do not give artificial nipples of any kind.

8 Months!

All's well on the home front. We are looking forward to the holidays, working through schoolwork, and preparing for baby's arrival in a little over six weeks!

Poptart's Shower

My cousin, aunts, grandmother, sis-in-law, and friend hosted a beautiful shower for our baby boy. The party had a woodland theme and the decorations were adorable and the food delicious! Poptart's nursery is stocked, from sweet baby boy clothes to diapers to blankets and books and toys. We look forward to welcoming this much-loved little baby and are thankful for our friends and family who care for us so well. This was a time to rejoice with those who rejoice!

7 months and 4D ultrasound

Thought I should get this seven month photo posted before I hit eight months next week. ;) Baby and I are doing well, keeping up with our checkups and lots of extra ultrasounds but everything is looking great. I got back to walking this month and that and yoga are keeping me feeling good. I was dealing with some really bad back pain and then realized I was just not prioritizing walking like I had in previous pregnancies. Getting in the habit of walking again helped baby settle in a better spot and the back pain is pretty much gone--yay!

I took the kiddos to a 4D ultrasound just for fun last week. We got some precious pictures of Poptart! He had his hands and feet up close to his face, but he moves around so much that we got some sweet pictures of his face, too.

Thoughts On Three Precious Sons

The Gent and I spent a lot of time in prayer and consideration before we felt the Lord tell us to move forward with growing our family (again). To be honest, we thought we were through after Nora. We had always talked about 4 or 6 kids and felt like four was it (I mean, four kids under four was an absolute joy that I would not trade for anything, but it was also an intense time). Our beloved David, our resurrection baby, was not a blessing we asked for, but a gift who was entrusted to us. It is no coincidence he was due right around Easter. His life and death have thinned the veil that separates us from heaven forever.

When we first found out baby Poptart was on the way, we honestly hoped baby would be a girl. We just thought it would be easier all around. But the Lord knows just what our family needs and He has once again blessed us with a precious son. I still have the same concerns that initially made me think a girl would be easier.

It is very painful for people to celebrate that Jacob is finally getting a brother. I want to tell them all that Jacob already has a brother. I remind myself often that many people don't know our story and they have their own sadnesses that they carry and that it is natural and kind for people to be excited about babies. I worry that Poptart will feel pressured to fill David's place in our family and I don't want that pressure to be put on any child ever. Our children are all about two years apart. Nora and Poptart will have four years between them, because that is David's place in the middle. I worry that someone will say something hurtful in front of Jacob along the lines of "you're finally getting a boy." I have a firstborn son. He was not birthed from my body but he is fully and completely my first son. And why are people so obsessed with the Gent "finally getting his boy?" See the complaints above.

Forgive my sensitive mama heart and celebrate with us. We already have two much-loved sons. We are abundantly blessed that the Lord has given us this third son. Feeling Poptart kick and squirm and seeing the incredible, beautiful love his siblings already have for him is a gift. We didn't think we would get to do this again. We are blessed indeed.

Poptart's Doctor Report

Just wanted to let you know our appointment went well today. Baby's blood flow numbers were down a tiny bit. The doctor is pleased and says things are moving in the right direction and we are not to worry. We go back in a week. My titer level (amount of antibody-E circulating in my blood--we rely on this test along with the ultrasound) is very, very low, under 1.

The doctor said he doesn't see a need to induce until 39 weeks. He also mentioned that if I just wanted to wait for labor to begin on its own that would be fine with him up until 41 weeks. So it sounds like we have more options about labor than we were originally told.

IF baby's numbers start climbing and we get close to the anemia numbers (which stress baby's heart) we would treat with intrauterine blood transfusions until 34 weeks. After that point we would deliver early. That's the just-in-case plan and our doctor said several times he does not see that happening. I'm 27 weeks 3 days today and baby is measuring in the 90th percentile; the ultrasound measurements guessed 2 lbs, 12 oz.

We are thankful for reassuring news today. Thanks for continuing to pray with us.

Baby Update

We had another check-up for baby this week. The high-risk ob has been monitoring the blood flow through baby's brain by ultrasound--if it starts getting faster that's the first sign of a potential problem with this antibody-E. Well, after several weeks of good reports, today's scan showed that baby's blood flow has gotten faster. We go back Monday at 8:30 for another scan. Please pray that the blood flow will slow down a bit (today's number was 50, around 30 is better) or stay the same. The doctor says that baby is perfectly healthy and growing well and there are not currently any problems. There is potential for a problem to develop and we need to be proactive. Thanks for praying with us.

Poptart: 6 months

Well, here we are! I didn't think it was possible but the kids are getting more excited about their baby brother every day! Poptart is the recipient of daily hugs, kisses, and stories. Life is moving right along and so are preparations for baby. My sweet cousin and aunts are planning a baby shower and Honey is sewing bedding for the nursery. We are doing some home renovations (hoping they are wrapped up in the next two weeks) and then we'll get the nursery put together. I have a goal of having the house sorted out by Thanksgiving but my list keeps growing. We shall see...

22 Weeks!

Baby Poptart had his 22 week anatomy scan with the high-risk doctor today. Baby is looking great! He's growing well and the Gent and I had so much fun watching him dance around on the ultrasound screen. He will be our most photographed child before he's ever even born. We are oh so thankful that the antibody-E has not been causing any problems. Since the doctors are telling us we need to deliver early, we anticipate meeting our little boy in just 16 short weeks. EEK!!! I have so much I want to get done before then. Of course, I know all I really need are diapers and a car seat. :) Jacob felt his brother kick for the first time today and HE IS SO EXCITED. Can't wait to see these sweet boys together.

20 Week Baby Picture

Here's baby boy's sweet profile at 20 weeks. He's growing well and showing no signs of anemia. Our anatomy scan is next week so we'll have lots more pictures then. His kicks are getting stronger and the Gent was able to feel one a couple of nights ago. Jacob touches my belly constantly--he (along with the rest of us) is so excited about his baby brother!

Poptart: 5 Months

Over half-way with this sweet baby boy! I am feeling good and baby's check-ups have been going well. We've been cleared to go from weekly appointments with the specialist to every two weeks. Not sure how long that will keep up but it is nice for now. I've been making a little baby registry and collecting fabric samples for the nursery. We're also getting ready to tackle some minor home renovations so I'll be nesting (and living in drywall dust) for the next four months. Never a dull moment around here!

Poptart: 4 months

Baby is growing perfectly and Nora tells me my belly is getting big! We had appointments with the specialist last week and again this week. Baby is showing no signs of anemia and the antibody-E levels in my blood are so low they can't measure them. Good news all around! We pray this precious baby boy continues to grow strong and healthy and that my pregnancy progresses with no complications.

I am past the nausea (!!!) and starting to get some energy back. Time to get out the maternity clothes. Thankful.

Poptart is a . . .

BOY!

Poptart: 1, 2, 3 Months

The first three months, documented. I wear loose summer dresses most days because I've been too lazy/tired/busy to get the box of maternity clothes down from the top of the closet. I am glad to be moving on to the second trimester and hope to leave the all-day sickness behind soon, too. I did a rough calculation and think I've spent about 70 months of my life in this constantly nauseous state. It's all worth it, though, I remember! Each pregnancy has been different. This time around I've started eating a poptart as soon as I wake up. I was just so tired of saltine crackers. At nine weeks along we were at the beach and the kids were eating poptarts (a vacation-only food in our house), and I thought to myself, "I think I could eat that!" So for the past month I've had one for breakfast almost every day. Around 9:30am I eat a Kind bar. Then I can usually eat lunch. Dinner is questionable. But it is starting to ease and I have hopes of the sickie feeling being gone in the next few weeks. Also, this baby's in-utero nickname is now Poptart. The kids find this incredibly amusing. They talk to and pat Poptart throughout the day. Baby Poptart, you keep growing strong and healthy and we look forward to meeting you the end of January! I promise your name won't really be Poptart!

Baby Update: 13 weeks

We met with the high-risk OB this morning and baby looks great. We will go back in three weeks and then will have weekly monitoring for at least a while. That's the short version. If you're interested in the details, read on.

I carry antibody-E in my blood, from a previous pregnancy (likely Nora's). If this baby has my blood type, the antibody will not cause any issues. If the baby has Daddy's blood type, there is a possibility it can cause problems later on. So there's a 50-50 chance that it will not cause any problems, but there is not a safe way to determine baby's blood type. 

If the baby has Daddy's blood type, there is a chance that my blood and the baby's blood could mix. There is a barrier between our blood, but it is thin and it could break at some point during the pregnancy. If this happens, my blood cells will attack baby's blood cells. This would lead to anemia in the baby, which can cause heart failure if left untreated. 

We will have weekly ultrasounds that monitor baby's blood flow with the high-risk OB beginning at 16 weeks and continuing for 4-6 weeks. If during that time baby does not show any signs of anemia, most likely the antibody-E will not cause any problems. We would continue to monitor but would space them out a bit more.

If the baby does show signs of anemia, treatment depends on how far along we are in the pregnancy. If it is too early to deliver, we would treat baby with intrauterine blood transfusions. If baby is far enough along, we would deliver early and give baby a blood transfusion then. 

After birth, we will monitor baby closely for jaundice. 

Whew, okay, that's what we learned today. So this can be serious but it isn't likely, and we need to keep a close eye on baby as the pregnancy progresses.

Thanks for continuing to pray with us--we'll keep you posted!

Prayers and Doctor Appointments

A quick baby update: everything is looking great with baby. We've had several ultrasounds and love seeing those sweet baby pictures! We will be seeing a specialist this Friday because of an antibody I carry in my blood. Not exactly sure what this means yet but we should get some answers this week. Appreciate your prayers over this sweet little life!

Announcing

The newest member of our family! Arrival expected the end of January.