How was Everyone's Thanksgiving?

I spent mine in Boston, eating all the foods and enjoyed every minute of it!
Ended up Black Friday shopping, no not at 5AM more like 11 so it wasn't as bad but I was surprised there weren't better sales.

Fast forward to today. I have my NT scan. Last I saw baby (last week) I was measuring 4 days ahead. When I should've been 9 weeks 6 days I was measuring 10 weeks 3 days...so let's see if that's what the trend will be today.

This scan measures the fluid behind the next to make sure baby doesn't appear to have Down Syndrome or any other abnormalities. I'm excited to see baby and how much change there is in a week.

Due to my history I've been thinking A LOT about my cervix and clerclages. I finally have my MFM appointment December 19th so we will definitley be going over that. If we move on it and not go with the "wait and see approach" I want to bring up having a TAC (trans abdominal cerclage) done rather than a TVC (transvaginal cerclage).

From what I've read when you have a TAC you shouldn't have any limitations or be put on bed rest and in my situation would be the best for me. I should be a few days into my 12th week at that appointment so baby should still be small enough to have that done.

My ultimate goal is to avoid another preemie at all costs, I would love nothing more than a healthy term baby.

A Scare

I had a pretty heavy bleed episode on Sunday about 7:45am. It was on and off for about 8 hours and after passing a huge clot when I went to the bathroom, while out bowling with the kiddo I decided to get checked out at the pregnant lady ER. They did a pelvic exam and at the point (I went there at like 6pm)she said the bleeding is slowing and that my cervix was still closed. An ultrasound was offered and then taken back since I had an ultrasound this past Friday but I made a point to bring up my last pregnancy (which the midwife read through my history) and she I know you requested to have one and said how is that little miracle? 

Little things like reading my history before coming into the room and assuming is great bedside manner. I appreciate her not being in such a rush with me and taking the time to listen to my wants and needs.

I started this pregnancy outside of the hospital I plan on delivering in (which is the one I went to for the ER) to get everything started and then transfer back to them. She even brought up seeing if I would be a candidate for a cerclage (which duh, or I will throw a fit) when I am transferred over and seeing if I need to be seen at Maternal Fetal Medicine so she has really done her homework. 

I followed up with the outside doctor and was able to get an ultrasound today to check on the little, and all looked normal, thank god! 7 weeks and 4 days today. 

7 weeks 1 day

Today was my "actual" repeat ultrasound at my doctor's office this morning. The tech said everything looked great and the baby measured an extra day than I thought I was at so that is a plus. It's crazy how much change there is in one week. Heart rate was at 140bmp so I was happy to see things looked good. Now I wait to hear from the doctor which I'm assuming won't be until Monday to see where we go from here and when I can move on to a MFM doctor where I would be more comfortable with. 

6 Weeks November 2nd

On Friday I made the drive to get that free ultrasound and I am so glad I did. Not only was baby slightly visible on the abdominal ultrasound but could be fully seen using the vaginal ultrasound as well as a heart rate reading of 123 bpm. Baby measured at 6 weeks on the dot, so by the time my OB's dating ultrasound comes, November 9th I will be 7 weeks along.

I just can't believe after all this time, now is when the universe decided to bring this little life, into my life.

What's This?

I'll be posting more now that a surprise has just made an appearance in my life. 
Can you guess what it is? October 24th, just TWO days before my birthday I found out I'm pregnant. The "pregnant line" was darker than the "test line"...talk about nerve wracking. October 29th I had an ultrasound dating me at 6 weeks on the dot based off the size of the gestational sac and yolk sac because no fetal pole could be seen yet. (Too early? Maybe)

The earliest ultrasound I have of the twins was at 6 weeks 5 days so I'll hold out some hope. My next ultrasound isn't scheduled until November 9th and because I'm going crazy wondering what if, I made an appointment for a free ultrasound elsewhere tomorrow morning. That will put me at 6 weeks 4 days and I am hoping baby and a great heart rate will be seen!

If you know my story or have read through previous posts you know my journey to get pregnant was NEVER easy. Countless infertility treatments and heartache. So 7 years later here I am trying to be optimistic but because of my history, cautiously optimistic. 

My little 1 lb 4oz 23/3 day micro preemie will be 7 in August. I cannot take it.
She will be going into the 2nd grade this year and time is flying by like nothing.
I turned 30 this past year, Yikes! So many changes in the past few years.
She is still getting services through her school, such as occupational therapy,
physical therapy and speech. She has made TONS of progress and I am so proud.

In the beginning you really have no idea what to expect. I honestly didn't. I didn't know
if I would ever be able to have a conversation with my child, would she understand?
Would she even be able to feed her self, walk, go to school or make friends?

The answer to that is you never will know those answers but with time things change.

I know I always mention I want to keep this blog up every time I post, but I do!
I still want to be there for those going through what I did and those who may have
questions. So PLEASE feel free to reach out, be active on my posts, I will answer!

I'm back!

It's kind of funny...almost a year to the day I last posted.
Madison will be 6 in August! Can any of you believe it!?
She will be starting first grade in a fall and made it through kindergarten no problem!

This time of year always brings joy and sadness. I always think about what life would be like with Dexter, but on a more positive note my surviving twin 23 week and 3 day-er is doing great!
I just joined a Micro Preemies group on facebook and I can only say that I am so blessed with Madison. There has been mention of PTSD after having a micro preemie and even 6 years later I honestly can't watch videos of other micro preemies in the NICU without it bringing me back to that time and giving me anxiety.