Saturday, June 29, 2013

Fundraiser Yard Sale

My wonderful mom decided to do a yard sale that would go towards Elizabeth and her additional expenses we have.  My family gathered all their unused items and donated them to the yard sale and then my mom had asked her neighborhood if they had any items to donate that she could also place in the yard sale. We had lots of people donate their used items.  I am so grateful for my mom and my sister (who was up on vacation) for organizing and setting up such a great yard sale.  We did great and their were lots of extra donations made.  Words don't express our gratitude for all our friends and family who selflessly gave to Elizabeth.  I will have to say that it was the most organized yard sale you have ever been to everything was set up nicely and you could see everything.  My mom and sister spent lots of time organizing it.  I forgot to take pictures.  The kids had a blast just playing with their cousins and were very well behaved while all the adults were busy running the sale. It was Michael's birthday and when we got in the car to head home he said it had been a great day thus far because he got to play with his cousins.  I love that little man.  If we as adults could just remember to enjoy the simple pleasures in life versus thinking we need this big extravagant event to have it be a good day.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Scare

Today we had a little scare with Elizabeth.  I had a busy morning running around and then this afternoon I had a friend of my son's come over and play.  They were playing great when all of a sudden I got a pain in my lower abdomen.  I tried to lay down and take it easy but it wasn't going away and was getting worse. When I was laying down I couldn't move because it would make the pain worse.  I started to get worried so I called my husband.  In the meantime my mom had called also, she asked if she needed to come up and watch the kids.  I told her I was fine and it would just have my husband to come home.  I then called my husband back and told him to come home from work.  He got home and saw me and said he was calling the doctor. My son's friends mom showed up to take him home and I think we scared her too.  (The kids were great the whole time this was going on). We loaded the kids and headed off to the doctors to get checked out.  We couldn't get a hold of my mother in law who lives close so my dad happened to be at a job site that wasn't too far away so he headed up to meet us at the doctors. (It is so great to have amazing family). We went into the doctor and it was great no waiting no nothing.  They got me back and the doctor did an ultrasound and Elizabeth was kicking and had changed positions from last week to be head down now.  The doctor then did an cervix check and I wasn't dilating.  So that was all good minus this pain.  The doctor thought it was probably a uterine cramp that can be painful, he recommended taking some Tylenol and a heating pad and rest. We left the doctors and my dad was there and said that he would take the kids home and my mom would watch them overnight. (love them).  So I went home and rested and the kids got to go have fun at their grandparents. Before my husband got home I had kept it together but the minute he got home I lost it.  I was so scared and all I could think of was that I wasn't ready for her yet because I wanted her to get bigger still.  It was a little scare that the whole family was on alert.  I love that everything is ok and we still have  a little more time. It just means I need to start getting prepared so when it does happen we have things packed and ready.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Maternities

I was able to get some maternity pictures taken by an awesome photographer named Heidi.  She is a volunteer for an amazing program Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.  The kids did pretty well and I loved how the photos turned out. I was 30 weeks pregnant at the time so it will be a great remembrance of Elizabeth.












Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Doctors Appointment

It has been such a nice four weeks because we haven't had to go to the doctors. Today we went and as I wrote previously I was a bit nervous.  It was my glucose test today also so the nurse got us and took all the fun measurements weight 123 (12lbs gained) blood pressure 98/62 and then she took my blood for the glucose test. The doctor came in to listen to Elizabeth's heartbeat and measure my tummy.  I am measuring right on target at 29 weeks (although I feel much bigger it must just be in my head).  He then listened for the heartbeat.  I have to say it is so nerve racking when they do these test with her.  He started on one side and couldn't get it, I think my husband and my hearts stopped for those 3 seconds but he went to the other side and was able to find it.  He stated that she was very active and could hear her moving all over the place. We asked a few questions about amnio levels and her growth so he said he wanted to do a quick ultra sound. First the nurse came in again to give me two more shots.  I am a RH negative so I had to get my Rhogam shot today.  They asked if I wanted the vaccine for whooping cough that they recommend during pregnancy so I said yes.  So I got poked in three different places it was great.  We then headed to a different room for the ultrasound.  He pulled Elizabeth's beautiful profile up and it just made me so happy to see her and to know that she was doing well.  He measured my fluid level which was a 29 (normal range is 7-26 my doctor said) so I am high but he was not worried about the levels yet and said that maybe at 35 weeks he would consider draining the levels.  He did not notice any extra fluid in her tummy which was good.  He then measured her head and abdomen and they are measuring at 28 weeks and 3days so just a few days behind but he said that was great.  It was a great visit minus the three pokes. We have another one in two weeks.  As we were leaving the office my husband said it perfectly how we were both feeling. He said that to see her and to know that she is growing and doing well gets you excited but then you realize that she still has this diagnosis hanging over her that means she most likely won't live and it breaks your heart all over again.  I think we both want to keep that excitement but it is hard because we don't get to set up a nursery and we don't get to buy new clothes, so it makes it hard to keep it.  We are grateful for the time we are getting with her.  She is getting bigger so my husband has been able to feel her more and to see her curled up on one side of my belly.  This is our time and we are enjoying every minute we get.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Fear of Doctors Appointment

We have a doctors appointment in a couple days and as it gets close my anxiety gets higher.  Elizabeth is moving and kicking but I am scared of what they may find.  I just want to keep being with her and don't want  to stop feeling her but there are moments that I go in panic mode because I haven't felt her so I have to stop and wait.  I think with all the news we have received at the doctors I am just afraid it will always be bad news.  I feel like we are in this waiting game for the other shoe to drop and we just don't know when it will be.  It is the hardest thing.  I am grateful for the time we have to prepare but at the same time it is hard knowing that she doesn't have a very good chance of living and just waiting for it to happen.  I try to focus on the here and now.  My other two adorable kids are great and including her in what we are doing already.  They ask all the time if Elizabeth likes this or if she is watching them do whatever they are doing.  They make sure when I eat to ask if she likes it.  My daughter loves to come up to my belly and say Coochy coochy coo and she then says that Elizabeth is laughing.  She also will yell surprise at my belly and say she scared her.  My son just gives her tons of hugs and kisses each day.  He is so tender-hearted to Elizabeth and loves her so much.