I know, I know...

It's been way too long since I posted any updates. I can't believe I am coming up on 20 weeks already. It feels great and scary at the same time. Still no bedrest, just "take it easy as often as you can," though he knows I have a 2-year-old at home. I'll be taking the anti-contraction meds I took last time since I have had increasing tightening/contractions. I'm really happy with how well things are going so far, and happy to have a somewhat normal summer. Normally I would be taking Dorothy out a lot more and going out to do things, but even still we have done a few things. David is on vacation next week, and this weekend we are headed to the beach with my parents. Dorothy loved the sand when we went for the day (and hated being taken away from the waves). Hopefully the weather will cooperate for us. We went from heat wave to rain, so who knows what we'll get. It's Oregon, after all.

By the way, baby number 2 is a girl!

Family Camp

We have been doing well the past few weeks. I have cooked and frozen just over 20 meals for when I am down, and for the most part I am feeling good. We were able to attend family camp over the weekend at the camp we met at, and Dorothy loved being in the outdoors with the dirt and the lake and the geese (kees). We brought a tent since it was a busy year and we figured cabins would be full, and to my surprise, Dorothy slept just as well in the tent as she does at home. I was glad to not be on bedrest yet, and both sets of grandparents came to help with Dorothy so I could relax when I needed to. I will have another appointment on Tuesday, at which point the progesterone shots will start. For some reason this pregnancy doesn't seem as real to me. I think it might be because I am so busy still coupled with the fact that I am not on bedrest yet. We'll see where I am at next month at this time... I have a feeling I'll be down by then.

Cerclage is in!

I didn't intend to keep everyone waiting for an update. As it happened, our laptop is on its way out and I was away from home on bedrest for a week after the surgery. Then when I got home it has been pretty busy. I really meant to write sooner.

Surgery went alright and he was able to find the scar tissue from last time and put this stitch above it, giving me more length underneath... always a positive. And since I was earlier this time, my cervix was still long and closed. Two weeks really makes a difference. I have to say that the recovery has been harder than last time, and it was no picnic before. I did stay overnight since I had such a rough day after the last time around what with nausea and pain. I was still feeling really bad when I went home, but by that point it was either feel bad there or feel bad at my mom's house, so I decided to leave. I have had quite a few contractions, mostly when I get up and do things, and every single time I pee. He told me I could get up after a week and then I may have a month or two before full bedrest starts and just to be careful not to do too much lifting of Dorothy (yeah right, when I am home alone with a toddler). Vacuuming the other day made me contract the whole next day, so I've decided to pass that chore off until the baby comes, or at least until I am off bedrest and trying to bring on labor:) Nothing feels quite right down there yet, so I'm looking forward to feeling more normal again.

That sums it up for now. Baby's doing well and we're really hoping to go full term again this time!

Lockdown!

Baby number 2 goes into lockdown tomorrow around noon! We got some sweet ultrasound pics this morning, which I'll have to have David post sometime later this week. Our laptop is pretty much dead, so I won't be on much until we figure out a new laptop situation. I will be overnight in the hospital and hopefully going home on Wednesday morning/afternoon. Things are going good and Dorothy is sweet as can be, as always.

Quick check-in

I'll write more when I'm feeling up to it, but I wanted to let you all know that we're all still fine. I saw my Perinatologist last week, and my cerclage is scheduled for next Tuesday at 11w2d. I don't know if the bedrest will start at that point, but I have a feeling that it will. We moved to our own apartment (only a mile and a hlaf from where we lived with my brother) since I am no longer watching my nieces. Still dealing with morning sickness and now nursing a cold that seems to want to settle in my chest... hoping I can kick that by my surgery date. I really don't know if they'll do the surgery if I'm sick, and my doctor is leaving town after that date, and won't be back until I am well over 13 weeks, which puts it too late to put the stitch in. My water was leaking by 15w with Kaily. So hard to believe we lost her 3 years ago now...

More good news!

I had another ultrasound yesterday, followed by a midwife appointment in the afternoon. The baby measured 7w2d and heartbeat was strong at 144 bpm. I'm still having digestive issues, and the midwife thought it might be due to the progesterone I'm taking. I should be getting off of that around 10 weeks, so hopefully that will bring some relief. Until then, I'll have to take the occasional suppository, eat my fiber one cereal, and drink more. Drinking anything is hard right now, but I find that the fruity herbal teas are mild enough on my stomach if I sip them. Broth is also something that has been settling alright, as well as popcicles. I'll be glad to be out of the first trimester... my body is not treating me well, but a baby at the end makes all of it worthwhile.

Didn't want to leave you hanging...

We have a heartbeat of 115 bpm. Itty baby measured 5w6d, which is within a few days of when I thought I ovulated. By my calculations I was 6w 1-2d. I'll go in for a more accurate look on the hospital ultrasound next Monday, and have my first OB appointment next Tuesday. Hopefully bean decides to stick good this time.

Thanks for checking on me, KMW!