Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Announcement!

To announce this bit of news, if you haven't seen it on facebook already, a picture.

There you go. I am pregnant. No, I mean, I am pregnant! We've been sitting on this news for awhile now, what with my history of miscarriage, but it looks like this pregnancy is going to work. After all, I am out of the 1st trimester danger zone. In fact, I'm already in my 23rd week. More than halfway there!
We weren't planning on waiting this long to make the announcement. Remember how I had the gallbladder issue? Well, it turns out that gall problems are more common in women. And they are even more common in women who have had babies. And they are most common in women who have had babies and who are pregnant. The crux is that often the treatment for gall bladder problems is to remove it, but that causes miscarriages to those who are pregnant very often. Anyway, when I went to the doctor for that, they also sent me to see an OB. I'd seen a midwife in Utah when I was still 6 weeks, and had seen a little problem in the ultrasound. They called it a bleed, but basically avoided giving me any real information on it. In Idaho, I was ten weeks when all this went down, and after another ultra-sound they still saw the bleed, but told me what it was. Subchorionic Hemotoma. Or, Subchorionic Hemorrhage. It's a hemorrhage or blood clot that gets between the uterine wall and the placenta. They often resolve themselves by the 20th week, but if they don't they can cause further complications, such as miscarriage, pre-term labor, or still birth.
My plan was going to be to make the announcement when I had safely reached the second trimester. But then we were out of insurance due to Aaron's temporary unemployment. So I couldn't get to the doctor to determine if the baby had made it safely to the second trimester. I happen to know that a dead fetus sometimes just hangs out in the womb for several weeks.
However, there were some pretty clear indications that the baby was living. Like, my growing abdomen and the kicks and movement that I started feeling.
Insurance didn't kick in until May 1st. Saturday. I had an appointment to see a doctor the first possible day. Yesterday. And since I am so far along now they were able to send me to get the big ultra sound, which is one of the most exciting things during a pregnancy, in my opinion.
I was ever so eager to find out the sex. The ultrasound tech tried on several occasions to see, but little baby had it's legs crossed tightly. The tech would then go check out the other parts of the baby, then go back to see if all the baby movement meant that the legs were uncrossed. Nope. I did learn though, that I don't feel half of the movement and wiggling of the baby. There is a very active little one in me.
But don't worry, we got a good shot before I left. Morgan called it. We're having a girl. Yay!! I have lots of shopping to do now. I have bags and bags of boy clothes and shoes and blankets, but lack in the pink department.
Also, there was no more evidence of the hemorrhage. Phew!
I took Morgan with me to the appointments and he somehow got the impression that we were going to the "out doctor" as Morgan called it. The doctor that will take the baby out. I think the pictures that we saw of his baby sister were also underwhelming for him. He's been very interested in the baby thing. He tells me that I have a big tummy all the time. He asks if the baby cries, or talks. There will be a four year gap between the two, which isn't how I would have planned it, but, what can you do? I think Morgan will make a good big brother.
This post has dragged on. I guess I'm excited or something. I tend to write more then.

14 comments:

jwilson said...

Congratulations! We're happy for you. Jocile

Martha said...

Congrats Melanie and Aaron!

Smullin Family said...

Congratulations...that's such exciting news!

I wondered, with some of the things you have been saying, but I also think it's nice not to ask...so I didn't. :)

So when is your due date?

Yay PINK!!!!!

SouthfieldFam said...

You are amazing! I can't keep a secret to save my life so you managing to keep it until 23 weeks is amazing to me! I am SO excited for you guys!

Bobbi said...

Congrats again! I will say, the twins and Maggie are 3.5 years apart and even though you didn't plan it that way, I think that was awesome spacing. They are old enough to not be so needy and they are truly interested in the baby and in helping them and you. I loved that gap. I hope the rest of your pregnancy continues without incident. I am very excited for you! :)

Chrissy said...

Congrats Melanie! I'm so happy for you! I can't believe you were able to keep that a secret for 23 weeks...I don't think I would have lasted 1 week... You look adorable. I'm so excited for you to have a girl! Girls are lots of fun! :) Good luck with the remainder of your pregnancy!

Nancy said...

Yay for a girl!!!!!!!! Even though I have a ton of pink stuff for my girl... she pukes so much that she ends up wearing Jaron's old bibs. So she's got something on that says "princess" and at the same time a bib on that says "Daddy's boy." Nice.

Rachel said...

Congratulations- that is so exciting!

Arianne said...

Congratulations, I'm so happy for you guys!!

Lora Dawn said...

Hurray for precious baby!

Deborah Austin said...

I am so excited for you. You can ramble all you'd like you deserve it this is an exciting time.

Your cruise looks awesome too!! We are going this summer to mexico on a cruise and I am so excited too! Give us good updates on how it goes!

Tiffany Hales said...

I am so happy for you! This is the best news ever, and you will LOVE being a mom to a little girl. Can't wait to meet her!

Shelly Merryweather said...

YAY!
I am so happy for you Mel! And its a girl, that is awesome. You are such a great mom already, this will be fun!

Erin said...

4 years is great spacing that is how I did the last 2!! They are so helpful and loving and you don't have to buy 2 sets of diapers and all that stuff! I am so happy for you. Keep the pics comin