Here is a pic we took tonight. Canon is kicking all the time. He is still head down, face down, so he is always kicking my insides rather than my stomach. He sure is a mover!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday Update
We made it another week and had another great report at the doctors today. My cervix remained 3.5, which is really great! I even got permission to go to the Cardinals game this weekend for the 4th of July. My brother and his girlfriend are coming into town and it will be great to have their help, and also get to go to a game with them. I'm still taking it easy but don't feel as stressed since two weeks in a row it has remained such a good number. For those of you wondering, it should be above 4cm until about 36 weeks. So that is why 2.8 at 18 weeks was such a big deal, and 3.5 is good, but not run around the house good. Week by week we go...
Here is a pic we took tonight. Canon is kicking all the time. He is still head down, face down, so he is always kicking my insides rather than my stomach. He sure is a mover!
Here is a pic we took tonight. Canon is kicking all the time. He is still head down, face down, so he is always kicking my insides rather than my stomach. He sure is a mover!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
weekly update
Every Monday I am going to the Dr. for a cervical length check, and then every other Monday I also meet with my doctor. Yesterday I was just praying for "unchanged" to be the diagnosis. Well...much to my surprise, it was 3.5cm! That is 7mm longer than the last 3 weeks (2.8cm)! Really great news and such an answer to many prayers. Thank you all for praying! I am still continuing my moderate bedrest and laying down as much as possible. I'm 23 weeks on Thursday. Some babies born at 23 or 24 weeks do survive, but not without much difficulty. Therefore, until I get further along and get a continuous good report from my doctor, my restrictions are still the same. In my last pregnancy with the twins, I went into the hospital at 23 weeks and came out at 32! Already I have seen the freedoms of being able to stay at home. Last night Ashley King took me to the mall and wheeled me around in a wheel chair. Today we are going to a family's house with a pool and while I lay on a lounge chair they have offered to watch the girls. My friend Leah came over yesterday and cooked and cleaned for me. Everyone has been so wonderful and made it easier to be bound to the couch. My next adventure is going to the grocery store and riding around in one of those motorized wheelchairs with the basket. I'm not supposed to be "walking around" but I figure since I got a good report yesterday maybe I'll try this out.
Thank you all again for your help and prayers. Next week I plan to have pictures!
Shelly
Thank you all again for your help and prayers. Next week I plan to have pictures!
Shelly
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Fun in the Sun
Just an update...my cervix was still a 2.8, it stayed the same, so that is good news. Still partial bedrest and appts. and shots each week, but it didn't get shorter, yeah!!
What a blessed week I had in Dallas spending time with family. I was able to lay on the couch pretty much the entire week and even lay outside on the couch in the shade by the pool....how much better can partial bedrest get?! My mom was amazing, taking care of the girls for me. My dad, sister, and brother were all big helps when they were there as well. What a blessing it was for me. Other than getting the girl's hair cut and picking out fabrics for Canon's baby room, we didn't go anywhere. We spent as much time outdoors as possible in my parents wonderful backyard and played with cousin Brenley, now 7 months, and her friends.
Here are some pics from our 10 days in Dallas! Sorry there are two identical slide shows....I'm new to this!
What a blessed week I had in Dallas spending time with family. I was able to lay on the couch pretty much the entire week and even lay outside on the couch in the shade by the pool....how much better can partial bedrest get?! My mom was amazing, taking care of the girls for me. My dad, sister, and brother were all big helps when they were there as well. What a blessing it was for me. Other than getting the girl's hair cut and picking out fabrics for Canon's baby room, we didn't go anywhere. We spent as much time outdoors as possible in my parents wonderful backyard and played with cousin Brenley, now 7 months, and her friends.
Here are some pics from our 10 days in Dallas! Sorry there are two identical slide shows....I'm new to this!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Praise The Lord!
After a week of contemplating every possible situation that could occur today, I finally have my answer! My cervix was UNCHANGED! Praise the Lord! 2.8 is still not a good measurement, but that fact that it didn't get shorter was great news! Susan, the ultrasonographer, knows who I am now and did an ultrasound to show my mom little Canon. He is still nestled down in my pelvis, face down with his little hands up by his chest. Such a snuggler already. He is camera shy and never wants to turn over for a facial shot. Since my mom flew in today she is helping me pack and do laundry to get ready to fly to Dallas tomorrow. Phillip will help us through security and get to our gate, so I should be able to continue my "take it easy, moderate bedrest, lay down as much as possible" orders. I was just so thrilled with the news because after last time I was preparing for the worst. For them to wisk me off to Labor and Delivery and tell me I couldn't go home. Again, Praise the Lord.
So we are off to Dallas. We will have tons of cute and fun pics of our trip when we return.
Please don't stop praying for us, I am only 20 weeks today and my cervix needs to hold out for 16 more weeks!!! wow.
Thank you all,
Shelly
So we are off to Dallas. We will have tons of cute and fun pics of our trip when we return.
Please don't stop praying for us, I am only 20 weeks today and my cervix needs to hold out for 16 more weeks!!! wow.
Thank you all,
Shelly
Sunday, June 1, 2008
so much to cry about
Sometimes when we cry it is an overflow of the joy and love in our hearts, and other times it is the sorrow or disappointment in out hearts. I had a mixture of both of these this past week.
Let me start with what was the sweetest wedding ever, Lauren and Matt (Phillip's brother) got married on Friday evening. It was BEAUTIFUL. Their purity for each other was unlike any I have seen. They both had all their college friends there, 10 bridesmaids and groomsmen, family and lots of friends. The sweetest part was when Lauren walked down the isle and Matt was crying, then EVERYONE started crying. The instrumental was David Crowder and it was perfect timing how it all built up to that moment.
Atley and Avery were 2 of 5 flower girls. The other girls were Lauren's cousin's twins and other daughter that were 4 and 2 and they were great. My girls were so cute, but still a little young for flower girl duties. They probably never smiled once in a picture and only wanted to eat their cheerios, but hey, they were cute. They didn't walk down the isle, which we hadn't planned on them doing, and we had friends take them home after the ceremony. In all the hussle of getting myself dressed (by the way my dress was perfect! One more week and it wouldn't have fit at all...) and getting the girls dressed and hair bows in tact, I never took ANY pictures!!! The photographers took a lot of them, so hopefully I'll get that link in a couple weeks to show you more from this amazing day.
All day yesterday whenever I thought about the wedding and Lauren walking down that isle, I just started crying. I later realized that my hormones are totally going crazy because of the new adventure I began last Thursday.
Last week at my drs. appt. we had the ultrasound where they really look at the baby and all his parts and take LOTS of measurements to make sure he is growing correctly. Canon Phillip is his name, and he is perfect. Everything about him looked great and he was already head down (which changes all the time) and very low. Then they measured my cervix and it was 2.8 cm. This is lower than it was at this point in my pregnancy last time. They want you over 3cm until at least 30 weeks, I'm 19. Also, it shortened 7mm in 2 weeks which is a lot. This is also called effacing, which is the first part of labor. My doctor said it was not low enough to do a cerclage (stitching up the cervix) because at 19 weeks they would only perform it in an emergency because of the risks it includes. And mine wasn't an emergency. She said the only other option was starting Progesterone Shots weekly for 18 weeks, or until I deliver. I will deliver early most likely and am on partial bedrest at this point. I go in each week for cervical length checks and we'll just take it week by week. The good news is it's only partial bedrest and I get to stay at home (and go to Dallas next week!!!) as of right now.
Having been on hospital bedrest last time, I have a tainted view of what I should be doing. I feel like any moving, or getting up or activity is wrong and I should be laying in a bed all the time. Because last time I was so restricted. The difference is this time I have twin 17 month olds running around, needing diaper changes, eating and falling down and needing help. I have so many offers from friends and family to come and help me, which I will take, but there is also a part of me that just wants to be mommy. I don't want to hand my role over to others and I don't want to miss a thing. Not a single new word they say or new thing they do. My heart has been grieving over this more than anything. Even as I lay on the couch and watch them play, I'm not really getting to get on the ground and play with them....
My mom gave me some ideas of how to lay on the ground with them, or have them up on the couch with me, and I'm trying to stay as involved as possible.
It is also just for a time, and the girls won't actually even remember this. But the mommy heart in me is getting used to this adjustment.
Having been on bedrest for 10 weeks before, I know that it ends. It is not forever, even if it feels like it at the moment. So I feel like I can see past this time and see what will be, even though I don't know what that is right now.
I thought I would just update whoever reads this, and ask for prayers over this time for our family.
There is a song by Hillsong that Ashley King sang at L & M's wedding and it is called "None but Jesus" and during this time it is perfect for me. Here are the lyrics below and you can listen to it here.
In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that you are God
In the secret of your presence
I know there I am restored
When you call I won't refuse
Each new day, again I'll choose
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
In the chaos, in confusion
I know you're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do your will
When you call I won't delay
This my song through all my days
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
I am yours and you are mine...
All my delight is in you Lord
All of my hope
All of my strength
All my delight is in you Lord
Forevermore
Let me start with what was the sweetest wedding ever, Lauren and Matt (Phillip's brother) got married on Friday evening. It was BEAUTIFUL. Their purity for each other was unlike any I have seen. They both had all their college friends there, 10 bridesmaids and groomsmen, family and lots of friends. The sweetest part was when Lauren walked down the isle and Matt was crying, then EVERYONE started crying. The instrumental was David Crowder and it was perfect timing how it all built up to that moment.
Atley and Avery were 2 of 5 flower girls. The other girls were Lauren's cousin's twins and other daughter that were 4 and 2 and they were great. My girls were so cute, but still a little young for flower girl duties. They probably never smiled once in a picture and only wanted to eat their cheerios, but hey, they were cute. They didn't walk down the isle, which we hadn't planned on them doing, and we had friends take them home after the ceremony. In all the hussle of getting myself dressed (by the way my dress was perfect! One more week and it wouldn't have fit at all...) and getting the girls dressed and hair bows in tact, I never took ANY pictures!!! The photographers took a lot of them, so hopefully I'll get that link in a couple weeks to show you more from this amazing day.
All day yesterday whenever I thought about the wedding and Lauren walking down that isle, I just started crying. I later realized that my hormones are totally going crazy because of the new adventure I began last Thursday.
Last week at my drs. appt. we had the ultrasound where they really look at the baby and all his parts and take LOTS of measurements to make sure he is growing correctly. Canon Phillip is his name, and he is perfect. Everything about him looked great and he was already head down (which changes all the time) and very low. Then they measured my cervix and it was 2.8 cm. This is lower than it was at this point in my pregnancy last time. They want you over 3cm until at least 30 weeks, I'm 19. Also, it shortened 7mm in 2 weeks which is a lot. This is also called effacing, which is the first part of labor. My doctor said it was not low enough to do a cerclage (stitching up the cervix) because at 19 weeks they would only perform it in an emergency because of the risks it includes. And mine wasn't an emergency. She said the only other option was starting Progesterone Shots weekly for 18 weeks, or until I deliver. I will deliver early most likely and am on partial bedrest at this point. I go in each week for cervical length checks and we'll just take it week by week. The good news is it's only partial bedrest and I get to stay at home (and go to Dallas next week!!!) as of right now.
Having been on hospital bedrest last time, I have a tainted view of what I should be doing. I feel like any moving, or getting up or activity is wrong and I should be laying in a bed all the time. Because last time I was so restricted. The difference is this time I have twin 17 month olds running around, needing diaper changes, eating and falling down and needing help. I have so many offers from friends and family to come and help me, which I will take, but there is also a part of me that just wants to be mommy. I don't want to hand my role over to others and I don't want to miss a thing. Not a single new word they say or new thing they do. My heart has been grieving over this more than anything. Even as I lay on the couch and watch them play, I'm not really getting to get on the ground and play with them....
My mom gave me some ideas of how to lay on the ground with them, or have them up on the couch with me, and I'm trying to stay as involved as possible.
It is also just for a time, and the girls won't actually even remember this. But the mommy heart in me is getting used to this adjustment.
Having been on bedrest for 10 weeks before, I know that it ends. It is not forever, even if it feels like it at the moment. So I feel like I can see past this time and see what will be, even though I don't know what that is right now.
I thought I would just update whoever reads this, and ask for prayers over this time for our family.
There is a song by Hillsong that Ashley King sang at L & M's wedding and it is called "None but Jesus" and during this time it is perfect for me. Here are the lyrics below and you can listen to it here.
In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that you are God
In the secret of your presence
I know there I am restored
When you call I won't refuse
Each new day, again I'll choose
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
In the chaos, in confusion
I know you're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do your will
When you call I won't delay
This my song through all my days
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
I am yours and you are mine...
All my delight is in you Lord
All of my hope
All of my strength
All my delight is in you Lord
Forevermore
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