Good News!!!

Went for the follow up cervical scan yesterday and saw the Prof of the unit who actually performed the scan and then chatted with me afterwards. He said my cervix looks completely normal! This could be because I am on the pessaries or more likely because the previous measurements were more pessemistic. He recommended staying on the pessaries and light duties for the next 5 weeks. He doesn't need to see me for 2 weeks. This time I actually asked the measurements and at rest I was 4.5cm and bearing down I measured 4.15cm.

Feel like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am always cautious about being overly confident with this pregnancy, but for the moment things are good :-)

Now I am enjoying the nesting phase of preparing for our precious bundle. Have the baby's room all organised with the tiny clothes we have put away (note to self more shopping required). And Kev put up the cot from Mum & Dad's place. Thanks to Mandy for an adorable Pooh Bear quilt and the loan of a lovely basinette. Next big purchase a pram (still can't decide which one) and a change table!


Hugs,
Lisa xx

Yesterday I had a 25 week ultrasound where the placenta, cord flow and cervical length were checked. As soon as they called in the radiologist I realised something was amiss. It turns out that my cervix has an odd appearance and is slightly shortened. Not exactly the news I want to hear. So after a review by the OBGYN I have been started on nightly pessaries and advised to have limited driving and no heavy housework or lifting. I am due to go back in one week for a reassessment.

At this stage we have organised for the boys to be dropped off to child care in the morning by Kev and then picked up in the evening - 3-4 days a week. I have cancelled any long drives to friends and am planning on taking it very easy until the next appointment. BUT I feel so guilty to load this onto the boys and Kevin. And I am a neat freak - so wonder how I will cope without cleaning up!!!

Here is our latest picture of our baby boy - every time the sonographer tried to take a photo he put his hands over his face...

24 weeks and 2 days and counting...

Life sure has a funny way of catching you unawares. Well it does for me anyway. Apart from a few hiccups I have been coping well with the pregnancy and haven't dwelled overly on the frightening start the boys had to life. BUT this weeks has been a time for tears and worry. Mitch and Harry were born at 24 weeks and 6 days and all of a sudden I have been keenly aware of reaching that milestone with this baby. Added to this Kev has been working lots of odd shifts - coming home at 2.30 am some days and working weekends and so I suppose I have had more time alone with my thoughts, which isn't always a good thing.

But in amongst all of this there has been a bright side. I have been motivated to make visual schedules for the boys to assist them (and us) in streamlining their routines. Visual schedules are typically used for children with learning difficulties, speech disorders or behavioural issues. They may be used to specify acceptable behaviours, specific daily routines or even break down a single activity into small steps (ie going to the toilet). In Mitch & Harry's case it was first suggested at kindy that they may find a visual schedule useful as they were unable to recall the activities required each morning at kindy. After 3 terms of telling them each morning what they had to do, it became apparent that they were really struggling with the planning required to get ready for kindy. One of the teachers made a simple schedule and Harry in particular flourished. He now rushes to his visual schedule and tells me what he has to do - it has been a wonderful way for him to become more independent. So I finally buckled down this weeks and revised the boys' daily schedules and made a weekly one too. We are now just trailling it to see how it goes and whether it helps (or hinders)...but so far so good.

This is the weekly schedule which tells the boys what activities the family has planned throughout the week - like swimming, meeting friends, kindy, child care and quiet time...




This is the daily schedule which reminds the boys about their "jobs" - clearing the table, getting dressed, toiletting etc...





Next thing on the agenda is moving some of our furniture to Dad's place - that way we can start to set up the nursery and get the boys' bunk bed organised. I will of course be in my element - cleaning, tidying and organising :-)

Love to all,
Lisa xx

23 weeks and counting...

I am now 23 weeks (the boys were born at 24.6 weeks) and today I had my first appointment with the high risk OBGYN and the midwife clinic at the major tertiary hospital close to us. The doctor was very matter of fact and told me that the baby will be delivered by c-section. She won't risk inducing me and she doesn't want to attempt a trial of labour. I must confess I wasn't particularly surprised. She pointed out that with my hypertension and gestational diabetes I am already considered a high risk pregnancy and add to that the extreme premature delivery of the boys she will be seeing me every two weeks from now on. In addition she told me that because I was diagnosed with diabetes so early on in the pregnancy she considers me to have type 2 diabetes, rather than gestational diabetets - this means that after the delivery of the baby the condition will remain - that was a bit of a shock, but I can't do anything about it except stick to a relatively strict diet (at this stage). Baby Reid appears to be growing well and there was a strong heart beat. So now it is just biding time and hoping this little one will stay put for as long as possible.

Hugs,
Lisa xx

Now I am 22 weeks...

Everything has settled down since my last post. My BP is well managed with the three tablets a day and my BSLs are stable to, so no insulin at this stage. The best part of this stage is enjoying those strong kicks every night when I settle down to watch TV :-)

Mitch & Harry are fascinated by what is happening and today I tried to explain how the baby was fed. Mitch needed to check out my belly button and then looked at his own and wanted to know where the "hose" (umbilical cord) had gone. Mitch felt the baby kick for the first time tonight and was so excited. He put his mouth down on my tummy and said "My name is Mitchell and I am your brother. I will look after you". It was just so beautiful. Harrison is pleased he will be sitting next to the baby in the car (we had new booster seats put in) and he tells me he will "play with the baby and give him milk".

We are slowly getting plans in place for the room swap - the boys will be sharing a room with lowline bunks courtesy of their Great Uncle John. And the baby will have Mitch's old room. So in the next few weeks I need to find homes for two single beds and a lounge - no rest for the wicked...

Not much else to report - just happy that everything is stable :-)

Hugs,
Lisa xx

Appointments, appointments, appointments...

Lots of appointments this week - saw diabetic educator, obstetrician, had 2 ultrasounds and then today I saw a physician who specialises in pregnancy. He will be monitoring my blood sugar levels and blood pressure throughout the pregnancy. He confirmed that our baby will need to be born in a hospital with a NICU - and will probably require some time there. He has also referred me to a high risk obstetrician to take over the care of my pregnancy. It is all still a bit overwhelming and I feel sad that in all probability we will be in NICU again, but I keep reminding myself that whatever ensures the health of our precious baby is important. I am now doing finger pricks 4-5 times a day for sugar levels - which is not fun, but not too bad really. I just wish I could get some energy, but am told this is the combination of my age, the diabetes, hypertension, the medications and being the mum of two very active 4 year olds. Keeping my fingers crossed that the pregnancy continues on for another 18 weeks.

Thank you to everyone for your lovely messages,
Hugs,
Lisa xx

Our 20 week scan...

This is our beautiful baby boy (confirmed today). He is growing well and the ultrasound went without a hitch.

I heard from the diabetic educator today and see her on Wednesday to collect my BSL machine and start taking regular blood sugar levels.

My BP is still high, but not dangerously so - so the doctors are monitoring it.

Now just have to get an appointment to see the Pregnancy physician and organise to see a high risk obstetrician.

Thank you to everyone for their messages of support,
Love Lisa xx

A hospital stay...

Well the past few weeks I have felt increasinly tired and have had headaches. The OBGYN has noted my blood pressure is high, but was waiting to speak with a physician. Then I started having palpitations. At first I tried to convince myself it was just anxiety, but it persisted and after 4 days I went to the GP who diagnosed ectopic beats and commented that my blood pressure was too high. Long story short... he spoke with the physician and I was admitted to hospital yesterday morning. I am now on 3 tablets a day for my BP which seems to be helping and at this stage there doesn't appear to be an evidence of pre-eclampsia (probably too early) and so I have what is termed essential hypertension. In addition my blood tests revealed gestational diabetes - so I am on a restricted diet and BSL monitoring until the baby is born.

I was coping well with all of this information until the doctor mentioned I would probably need to go to a large tertiary hospital for the birth of the baby so he can be admitted to NICU. Just those words were enough - so last night was not a restful one. All I can hope at this early stage is that my BP remains well controlled and that I am able to stabilise my BSLs.

I keep reminding myself this is a different pregnancy and that last time there were different complications. I suppose I had just hoped for a complication free pregnancy. So lots of appointments this week! BUT the best appointment will be on Monday when Kev and I get to see our baby on ultrasound again... I can't wait.

Lisa xx

My latest layout...

This is my layout for the S4L Sketch challenge. I love these photos of Mitch and his Grandpa.

17 weeks and 1 day...

Well another week has passed and another week closer to seeing our precious baby. It seems all the more real now that I can feel the baby kicking so often. So the bets are on for either an AFL player (who will be disowned if he plays for Port) or a tap dancer (who wouldn't want a son like Hugh Jackman... one second thoughts my dreams about Hugh are hardly maternal, so maybe not). The good news is that my blood pressure is down a little and while the doctor says it needs watching, it isn't an immediate concern. So it is just a matter of enjoying this pregnancy :-)

The boys are both doing well, although poor Mitch had a very rough weekend with high temps and some kind of viral illness. There isn't much of him to begin with, so when he doesn't eat for almost 2 days he looks like a little waif. They are both enjoying kindy and they also go to child care 2-3 afternoons a week - which gives me time to rest. I consider myself very fortunate that we can afford to do this and that we have easy access to child care in our area.

I must be feeling better (than I was in the first trimester) because I am back to my organising self and have tidied my craft room and almost catalogued all of our photo CDs. Kev laughs when Harry tries to organise me and I get frustrated - 'karma" is the term he uses!

The other good news is that we seem to have found a solution to Harry's distress in noisy venues. He tends to become quite distraught with any loud noise, particularly in a crowd setting, but I found some kid's hearing protection and when he wears them he has no difficulty at all. This meant he really enjoyed the last concert we went to and spent time dancing around and singing. As he gets older his Sensory Issues may improve, but it is also hoped that he will learn to manage them. So finding this simple technique has been a big step forward for our beautiful boy :-)

Well, not much else to tell... life is good. The boys are happy and all is well in our little corner of the world.

Hugs,
Lisa xx