tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53415406449957249842024-03-05T18:51:16.725-08:00That's LifeLiving life as a crafty, garden loving, homeschooling, stay-at-home mama with Stiff Person Syndrome.Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-16752799124075929862014-08-21T19:42:00.000-07:002014-08-21T19:42:00.862-07:00ALS ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE - UNCENSORED & SEXY?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Ice Bucket Challenge is everywhere. It has raised millions of dollars for ALS organizations. Please watch this video, and stay for the whole thing. If it doesn't touch you in some way in the end, you aren't human. ALS <b>IS</b> terrifying. While you are at it, take some time to watch this documentary about and narrated by Stephen Hawking. He goes into detail about his diagnosis and life with ALS. Please consider donating, even if you can only afford a few dollars.<br />
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Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-32587268706235224612014-05-13T00:10:00.005-07:002014-05-13T00:10:42.584-07:00Visit my new blog home!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This blog has been defunct for awhile now, and I have been itching to get back to blogging. I'm taking a new spin on things, and you can find me at <a href="http://barefootteaching.com/">http://barefootteaching.com/</a>. Hope to see you there!</div>
Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-45214889186406723432012-11-21T23:01:00.002-08:002012-11-21T23:01:49.812-08:00Kam Snaps Giveaway!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kam Snaps are awesome. If you haven't heard of them, they make plastic snaps and other supplies for making cloth diapers, clothing, toys, and so much more. To celebrate having 5,000 Facebook likes, they are having a HUGE giveaway! Check out the list of prizes! You could win a professional snap press, diapers, a hooded towel, gift certificates, and so much more. Good luck!</span><br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b30f0911/" id="rc-b30f0911" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
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Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-48931189814040548372012-06-03T00:02:00.001-07:002012-06-03T00:02:09.569-07:00Milk Donor Mamas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After Emma was born, I was blessed with an abundant supply of milk. I remember on a couple occasions pumping 16 ounces in one session. I yearned to donate milk to a bank that provided milk to hospitals, but because I occasionally took medication, I was unable to donate. I wish that I would have found the milk sharing community at the time.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I knew that if I had the chance, I would donate milk. When I became pregnant with Avery, I started to research human milk sharing. Don't get me wrong - milk banks do wonderful work. (That is, legitimate milk banks, but I'll have to cover that in another post.) However, milk banks charge upwards of $5 an ounce. Considering that an infant consumes an average of 25 ounces per day during their first year, the vast majority of families could never afford banked milk. Milk banks heat-treat milk in order to sanitize the milk, which denatures the milk and creates a less than optimal end product. Milk sharing allows more babies to be given the often life saving gift of human breast milk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Is milk sharing safe? In my opinion, yes. Breast milk is no longer considered a bodily fluid, and special handling precautions are not required. Many recipient families are willing to pay for blood work to ensure that donors are free from communicable diseases, and milk can be flash-pasteurized by recipient families if desired. While milk banks do not accept milk from donors on any medication, even Tylenol, the fact is that many medications are compatible with breastfeeding. If the donor mom's baby is doing well on her milk, her milk would be fine for most babes. Milk from banks is pooled, while milk sharing allows recipients to seek out milk from mamas on special diets if needed. For example, a baby may need milk from a mama that does not consume dairy or common allergens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My donation story is really just beginning. After pumping while Avery was in the NICU, I was turned off from the breast pump for some time. I had rented a pump, but decided to return the hospital pump because I am no longer working. Around that time, I realized that my old pump (used while breastfeeding Emma) was broken. When we were able, I bought a new pump and began stashing milk away. I had hoped to save a week's worth of milk. At some point, seeing how much I could store became a sort of game for me. Silly, I know. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I asked other moms in my mothering group if they had donated. I was hoping to hear their experiences, and to get a feel for how donation worked. Instead of stashing the milk in my freezer, I decided to find a family in need of milk. Very quickly I had found a recipient family, and had cleared out my freezer. I have been blessed to give the family almost 300 ounces of breast milk, or about 2.3 gallons worth. Donating breast milk feels so awesome and empowering. Not only do my breasts nourish and help my own infant to thrive, but they are nourishing and helping another little one to thrive when they otherwise may not. I hope to continue to donate throughout my breastfeeding journey, and encourage others to give it a try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have created the page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MilkDonorMamas" target="_blank">Milk Donor Mamas</a> on Facebook to provide support for donor mamas. If you have donated milk, or are thinking of donating, please join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MilkDonorMamas" target="_blank">Milk Donor Mamas</a> on Facebook. </span><br />
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<br /></div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-4231509633060523102012-05-28T15:44:00.001-07:002012-05-28T15:44:38.503-07:00Memorial Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One year ago, our lives changed. More precisely, my dreams came to a screeching halt. The tiny little life growing inside of me was gone. I was thrown into the world of moms that had lost a baby. We had prayed so long for another little one to join our family, and that hope was gone. I never will know if that little one was a boy or a girl, but Avalon was gone.</div>
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The last year has brought so many challenges, and so many blessings. Through the loss, I met a wonderful community of women that like me, had suffered the loss of a pregnancy or baby. They accepted my early loss without it being "not far along-enough to matter". They helped me to grieve, to move on, and helped me to deal with the conflicted emotions I felt by getting pregnant so soon after the loss. After having to wait to try for years, and then trying for so long only to suffer a loss, we were blessed with Avery only a few weeks after the loss of Avalon. </div>
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Being pregnant after a loss, especially one so recent, was difficult. I spent much of the time in a state of partial denial. I did not want to be hurt again. I did not want to love only to lose. During the last month, when physically I could not handle the discomfort any longer, I made myself embrace the time left. I told myself that because I did not know if I would be able to carry another pregnancy, I had better enjoy what I had. I did my best. </div>
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This week has been difficult. I knew that the date was coming up. My husband remembered, my mom remembered, but loss is a funny thing. It is uncomfortable. It feels icky. As a society, we have come to avoid loss and everything it entails. I know that I am not alone, but I feel so alone in grief. The shining light this week has been knowing that had this loss not happened, we wouldn't have Avery. I love that little boy with everything I have. It doesn't erase the pain, but it makes it different in a way. <br /><br />We are releasing balloons today for Avalon. Please keep us in your hearts. </div>
<br /></div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-2804878343668621842012-05-20T22:36:00.001-07:002012-05-20T22:43:15.580-07:00School's Out For Summer!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's it! We're done! Emma finished her first year of school, which was also our first year of home schooling. What a journey it has been. We discovered that our little girl has a talent for math and science, and hates phonics. Phonics has been...well, a challenge. She tests at grade level, but she just does not like to do phonics lessons. At all. We'll be working on that while we're on break. But for now, she gets a chance to relax and take a little time off before we work on more school work. To be honest, it is just as much a break for Adam and I as it is for her.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Life has been a little crazy since Avery came earth-side. Big sister is having a bit of a hard time adjusting to her new brother. She loves him so much, but has a hard time sharing attention and time. Avery is like a doll to her, and excited hugs have led to a puking baby more than once. She'll get the hang of it eventually. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Little Avery has been growing like a weed, and is 13 lbs and 24 inches now. He's a happy little guy, full of smiles and squeals. Ceiling fans are pretty much the best thing ever to him, aside his dedicated milk dispensers. ;) The poor little guy is dealing with a little bit of a stomach bug that all of us got aside from Emma. I'm hoping that will pass soon, and we'll be able to enjoy the nice weather. </span></div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-42741838351462340372012-04-04T23:43:00.001-07:002012-04-04T23:56:36.910-07:00Avery Reed's first weekThis has been hard to write, partially because it was a blur, but mainly because it is painful. The morning after Avery was born, I was still unable to see him. I had to wait a least twelve hours after the surgery to get downstairs. I think it was around lunch time when I finally was wheeled downstairs to be with him.<br />
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The sight of my little boy with so many wires and monitors and <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5652667_bubble-cpap-works.html" target="_blank">bubble cpap</a> was just too much. I couldn't keep the tears from leaking from my eyes. I couldn't get my wheelchair up to the "giraffe" bed that he was in, and I couldn't sit comfortably in a chair. I wasn't able to hold him, and just touching his one uncovered hand was not enough. I cried at the blood on his sheets from repeated blood tests. Seeing the bruises coming through from multiple IV sticks broke my heart. I wasn't able to stay but a few minutes when I was ushered back upstairs.<br />
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After he had been in the NICU for about 24 hours, he pulled off the cpap. Since he was fighting it so much, they decided to see if he would do okay on just a nasal cannula with a little oxygen. Sure enough, he did just fine with oxygen just slightly more saturated than room air. I finally was able to hold him, and tried to nurse him. He latched on, only to get angry and fuss. We didn't know it then, but somehow his throat had gotten sore, likely from suctioning. I was only allowed to try nursing him for five minutes before they wanted him back in the <a href="http://www3.gehealthcare.com/en/Products/Categories/Maternal-Infant_Care/Giraffe_Omni-Bed_Incubator_and_Warmer" target="_blank">giraffe bed</a>.<br />
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Another day later, he had pulled out his IV. Since he was eating now, the doctor decided to see if he could eat enough without the need for the IV. Until this point, we were satisfied with his care. Unfortunately things went downhill from there. The doctor started his feeds at a reasonable 35 milliliters. Newborns only have marble sized tummies, so small and frequent feeds are needed. I was only allowed to nurse for ten to fifteen minutes, and then he was bottle fed formula. (I wasn't able to get anything from a pump at this point.) Avery did okay until the feedings were ramped up over night.<br />
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I came in the next morning to find Avery with a nasal gastric tube. The doctor upped his feeds to 75 mils every three hours, and Avery would vomit after each feeding. It was just too much food for a newborn's tummy. We had hoped to be going home soon, and were told by the nurses that with the way the doctor was acting, we wouldn't be going home anytime soon. My heart sunk. I was due to be discharged the next day, and I was disgusted that the doctor was insisted on force-feeding my baby.<br />
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That night, I had a high fever after getting back from the NICU. My OB diagnosed it as a uterine infection, but cultured my port as well to be sure that I didn't have an infection in the line to the port. I would have to stay for at least another 24 hours for IV antibiotics. During this time, Avery was moved to a standard hospital bassinet, with nothing but the NG tube and standard heart and respiration monitor that all babies have during their stay. He was eating fine at this point, had no trouble breathing, and the little bit of jaundice he had did not need to be treated.<br />
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Just when the nurses were getting ready to discharge me again, I spiked another high fever. This time I needed at least 24 hours of antibiotics, and more labs were drawn. We didn't realize that it was more serious than a uterine infection at this point, which is pretty serious in itself. Whenever the fever would spike, I'd be in horrendous pain, couldn't stand straight, shook so bad I couldn't even hold a tissue, and it would take hours for the shaking and pain to stop. I was stuck in my room a lot during this period, but I was able to pump some milk for Avery by this point.<br />
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We were hoping to have Avery in the room with me the next day, only to find the original crappy doctor was back on duty. This guy was awful. We would sit there for hours waiting for him to finish rounds and talk to us like he was supposed to each day. He never did. If he missed me, he was supposed to go up to my room to talk with me. He never did. We were losing our cool and I felt like punching the doctor by this point. When I did manage to get him to talk to us, he refused to provide any sort of goal, guideline, or idea of when Avery would be released. He also wouldn't give us a reason WHY our son was still in the NICU, when sick babies were being turned away because the NICU was full. I don't think I've ever been that livid at a doctor, or any other person for that matter.<br />
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The next morning, we called the NICU to check on Avery. The nurse told us that Avery woke at 7:30 AM hungry, but due to the rigid feeding schedule prescribed by the doctor, she couldn't feed him until 9:00 AM. Again, I was LIVID. When we went downstairs, one of the nurses I hadn't met asked me if I was okay. I told her about how the doctor was being a flake, wouldn't give us any information on why Avery was still there, etc. She told me she'd go talk with the doctor and would be back. She came back to tell me that the crap doctor would be calling our pediatrician for permission to release the baby to the care of the nurses upstairs. Of course, our pediatrician had no clue why the baby was still in the NICU, and discharged the baby from the NICU. (I found out later that I had complained to the NICU charge nurse. It pays to go to the top, I guess.)<br />
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It was SO nice to have the baby upstairs with us. He nursed and nursed and nursed, and slept on my chest. You could see him just melt when one of use would hold him without the wires and monitors and cords. Things felt right. We were due to go home the next day...until I spiked another fever that night. This time the doctors were really concerned. Uterine infections are hard to treat, and the doctor was concerned that the infection caused <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1581461/" target="_blank">septic pelvic thrombophlebitis</a>. I needed a CT while fasting, more blood work, and medication if the diagnosis was correct. The CT showed pretty clear congestion and swelling around the right side of my uterus and right ovary. I needed another 48 hours of antibiotics, as well as injected blood thinners. I'd be on the antibiotics and blood thinners for another 10 days at home.<br />
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I "fired" a nurse for the first time before going home, as well. That rude nurse from the first night was assigned to me again. My heart stopped when I saw her. I told Adam that I didn't want her as my nurse, and we decided to wait for her to finish her assessment before saying anything. Sure enough, she did the same things again. Touching my breasts before and during nursing without asking, pulling up my gown and checking my pad without asking, leaving me uncovered with the curtain open and lights on in the middle of the night, etc. I felt really icky about being touched like that. It took her a full 45 minutes to walk the baby 20 feet to the nursery, weigh him, and bring him back. Mind you, this was at midnight, and because I didn't trust her, Adam had to go with. After she left, Adam went to the nursing station to let them know I would like someone else. The floor supervisor came to talk to me, and had no problem getting me a new nurse. (To be fair, most of the nurses were great. We went through about all of them since we were there for so long. I only found this one nurse to be horrible.) <br />
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Fortunately, I started to feel better after a couple doses of blood thinners. That Monday, Avery was discharged before me. He was allowed to stay with me if another adult was present to help care for him. Tuesday afternoon, I was discharged. We walked out of the hospital, SO grateful to be able to have our own bed, our own shower, our own food.Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-4567145512087579632012-03-23T00:48:00.000-07:002012-03-23T00:48:09.693-07:00Avery Reed's birth story - or how we learned Murphy's law<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h4 style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">"If anything can go wrong, it will" - Capt. Edward A. Murphy </h4><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">I knew that birthing Avery wouldn't be easy. I planned a vaginal birth after cesarean for months. I did the research. I knew the risks and benefits. I drank gallons and gallons of red raspberry leaf tea, nettle infusions, and took organic, whole food prenatal vitamins. I did my best to keep the stiff person symptoms under control, and walked around as much as my muscles and sore pelvis would allow. I managed to accept that I may need help from the anesthesiologist during labor, and that a cesarean may be needed to keep both of us safe. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">March 5th, 6:30 AM - I am scheduled for induction. Knowing that my body is having a very hard time managing the pregnancy, and that the baby is big, I decided to take the offer of induction. We show up at the hospital after a restless night of sleep, and before the sun is up. The nurses got me into a labor suite, and finished any questions that weren't included in the online registration. The monitor wasn't working well, but showed that I was having contractions on my own every 10 minutes or so. I asked for a birthing ball, figuring that I would like to use it once I could feel contractions. The nurse told me I'm in charge, especially considering my medical condition. I feel pretty safe with her.<br />
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10 AM - I had requested that my port be used, and I was informed that the vascular access team would have to come down to access my port. OB nurses do not have a need to access ports, and I understood that they didn't feel comfortable starting the line. I wouldn't, either. It involves sterile process and jabbing a needle into a small disk near the heart. Several emergency cases postponed my induction by a few hours. By the time my line was started, my OB came by expecting to be able to rupture my membranes. My nurse and OB told me that they wouldn't be doing many internal exams, since they're just painful and I'll know when things pick up. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Around noon - I am feeling contractions every 4-5 minutes. The contractions don't feel like I expected. When you mention being induced, it is a storm of horrible stories of pain, anesthesia, and complications. I felt a little crampy, but I didn't need to breathe through contractions. I go back and forth between sitting on the birthing ball, swaying, and resting on the bed to make the monitor work better. (The hospital's computer system was crashing, and neither the internal or external monitors were working well on me.)<br />
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4 PM - I have to concentrate now to get through the contractions. The contractions still are not what I would consider painful, but I stop what I am doing until they fade away. I'm dilated to around 3-4 centimeters. My OB came by to break my water. I notice a small amount of meconium and tell my nurse.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">9 PM or so - I'm at about 4-5 centimeters. The internal contraction monitor must have slipped out when I went to the bathroom, and the nurse wants to place another. The external monitor isn't working at all at this point. They can feel the contractions, but the monitor won't show them. My nurse and her replacement for the night came in to place the monitor. Because there is no external monitor, one nurse has her hand on my belly while the other works. Right when the nurse placing the monitor went inside, I started having a contraction. It felt like I was being split in half. I started screaming, asking for it to stop. They were done with the monitor, and it still wasn't working right. I started having contractions back to back. I'm getting no relief. I ask for something in my IV, and get a dose of Fentanyl. It takes the edge off, but something feels very wrong. I had a bad feeling in my gut and was praying that I wasn't right about something going wrong. My doctor came by to check on me again at some point.<br />
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9:30 PM or so - I can't handle the pain. I'm crying and screaming through contractions, and they're coming back to back. I can't find a position that is comfortable. I feel like I might be in transition, but it doesn't feel right. I ask for an epidural and a pelvic exam. I've made no progress with dilation, and baby hasn't descended. Emotionally, I am a little crushed. I have a feeling that I won't be able to birth Avery vaginally. My nurse asked if I was sure about the epidural. She wanted to make sure that I wanted the medication, because I had told her that I would like to avoid an epidural if possible. I told her to get the anesthesiologist. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">10 PM - The anesthesiologist places the epidural. They tell me that I'm a champ because I am able to help move myself and can feel my toes and lower legs after the medicine kicked in. Not long after, I start feeling horrible. I want to vomit. I feel like I'm going to pass out. My door slammed open and my OB, anesthesiologist, and a few nurses come running in. My blood pressure is at 54/48. I am gagging and retching and Adam had left the room to go get food. My mom raced out of the room. I found out later that she was trying to find him. I was stabilized with epinephrine. The staff started to filter out one by one, only to have my blood pressure crash again. I was feeling jumpy and sick from the epinephrine. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">10:30 PM - My OB comes back in to let me know she's comfortable waiting several more hours before checking me again, and that a c-section was available if I wanted it. She left the room so that Adam and I could talk. I couldn't do it. My body couldn't handle the relentless contractions. The back to back pain without a break was too much. I felt like I was crawling out of my skin from the low blood pressure. My body was shaking from the SPS, the pain, and the stress. I held Adam's hand, and then my sister's, and asked for my doctor. Avery would be there soon. I bawled as I told my doctor that we'd take the c-section. I was told that things would go quickly, and before I was done talking to my doctor, Adam was being given scrubs. Things were packed up quickly, and I was rushed into the operating room. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">11 PM - I am laying in the cold, sterile operating room. I can't stop the tears, and I can't do anything about the full body shaking. I try with all I have to calm the shaking, but it just won't stop. I feel so wrong about the c-section. I wanted a "normal" birth. The anesthesiologist has to give me more medicine to numb me for the surgery. My blood pressure starts to crash again. I can't move, I can't feel my belly, and I can't stop shaking enough to get my mouth over an emesis bag. The doctor stabilized me only to have me crash over and over. The anesthesiologist keeps telling me "Calm down. Stop shaking. It is bad for your condition." My OB tells him repeatedly that he's horrible at psychology and should give it up. <br />
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11:15 PM - Someone tells me that Adam is coming in. He doesn't feel that close to me because of the nurses and anesthesiologist bustling around to keep me stable. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">11:16 PM - Avery is here! He comes out screaming (which will be the cause of later issues), grabs onto my doctor's gown, and then manages to pee all over the doctor and my belly twice. It feels like forever, but finally a nurse brings him over to me. I can't move, and I'm too shaky to touch him, but I give him a nuzzle and tell him that I love him. Avery is taken off to the nursery and Adam follows with him. I over-hear that I've lost two liters of blood. They're able to stop the bleeding, but my blood pressure still is unstable. The anesthesiologist has my port maxed out and is trying to start another line in my arm, but can't find a vein. I'm taken into recovery.<br />
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March 6th, 12 AM - Three nurses and both anesthesiologists are around my bed, trying to figure out why my blood pressure won't stabilize. I ask for my family, but I'm told that they need me to stabilize first. A nurse manages to find a vein after being poked about 25 times, and it is in a horrible spot. My port is maxed out, and they're running fluids in both lines. Blood is drawn to see if I need a transfusion. I am vomiting and squirming and unable to find any comfortable position. I still feel like I'm crawling out of my skin. When my blood pressure crashes, I feel like I'm not even in my body. I'm there, but I'm not. I have a fever above 102 degrees.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">At some point Adam and a nurse come back with the baby, and then leave until I'm stable. I asked for them again as soon as I stopped shaking and vomiting violently. I'm able to nurse for a little bit. I recognize Avery's nurse and through the haze, realize she's the sister of a girl I went to school with. She said that he's breathing quickly and she'll be back to reassess his breathing. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">3 AM or so - We're wheeled out of recovery and upstairs to the postpartum area. I drew the short straw, and got a nurse that I do not like for some reason. I can't figure out why. His nurse comes back in, and says that he's still breathing to quickly. She'll be back again, and if he is still not doing well, he has to go for observation. Avery still isn't doing well when she returns. Adam follows Avery and the nurse to the newborn nursery for observation.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">4 AM - Avery's nurse comes in, followed by Adam, and two nurses with a transport incubator. I break down crying. They tell me to not worry or be scared, but I'm terrified. I ask that they have someone update me as soon as possible since I am alone in the room. Just like that, they are gone and I'm alone with my nurse. I realized then why I didn't like her. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">She would walk in, and start pulling up my gown to check my belly, pulling down my blanket to check the bleeding, and would leave me exposed when she left, all without saying a word. She didn't let me know, or ask, she just did it. I couldn't bend to cover myself back up. I couldn't turn off the lights that she left on. I couldn't shut the curtain. I was in horrible pain from the pressure cuffs on my legs. She refused to take them off to make sure they fit right. I was told to deal with it. I was crying from the fear for my son's health, and because I was in so much pain. I couldn't think of who to call, and I couldn't reach Adam down in the NICU to find out what was going on. At some point, the nurse slapped a post it note with the number to the NICU on it instead of just calling for me. It turns out that she gave me the wrong number, and I couldn't call even if I could calm down enough to place the call. <br />
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I felt so exposed and icky from that nurse treating me like I was a nursing school mannequin. I was exhausted because she left me cold, exposed, and in pain. I didn't manage any sleep. By the time the sun started to come up, I knew that I would have a new nurse if I could just manage to wait another hour. I still hadn't heard if Avery was okay or not. <br />
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7:30 AM - I finally get a new nurse. I asked her to take off the pressure cuffs for a little bit, and she does. When I looked down, I realized that the backs of my legs were bruised from my heels to the middle of my calves. My arms were bruised from armpit to fingers from the multiple failed IV sticks. I still was crying, and unsure of who to call. I didn't want to wake up my mom or sister, or anyone else for that matter. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...to be continued.</span></div></div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-17431464583384428622012-03-21T22:04:00.000-07:002012-03-21T22:04:19.365-07:00an open heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Every few weeks, we pack up a bag of snacks, books, magazines, etc. and head to midtown for my infusion. I am usually there for about five hours, for three days in a row. While my condition is neurological, I spend those days surrounded by cancer patients in the oncology department. I could think of better places to spend three days so soon after having a baby, but all in all, it isn't so bad.<br />
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I am amazed by the men and women that filter in and out during my treatments. They don't fuss. They don't complain. I had to hold back tears today. The woman next to me spiked a high fever and had to be transferred to the ER. While she was being helped to her wheelchair, she was apologizing to me. Why? Because I had to put down the footrest of my recliner to let them in with the chair. <br />
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I found out from a nurse that the other patients have been asking about me. They were concerned that I was going through chemo so soon after giving birth. She assured them that I was okay, and that it wasn't chemo. Most wanted to ask about the baby. To ooh and ahh. To smile. <br />
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Through it all, I try to remember that others have it worse. That life actually hasn't dealt such a rough hand. Many of these folks DO have it worse, and it makes you think. </div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-70896281515918198492012-01-31T19:10:00.000-08:002012-01-31T19:10:53.846-08:00First Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This morning marked the first infusion through my implanted port. I was a little nervous getting ready this morning. I had heard that it only hurts a little, but isn't that what doctors always say? The traffic caused by the foggy weather did not help the anxiety any. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I waddled to the elevator after getting to Mercy Midtown, and took my favorite seat at the infusion center. The charge nurse asked which me which arm I would like warmed up. Normally, it takes hot blankets, 6-7 needle sticks, and me almost passing out to find a vein. I smiled and pointed at my chest, and she remembered that I had scheduled the port install after my last infusion. That brought a big smile to her face, and talked for a couple minutes about how the surgery went.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bardaccess.com/assets/images/products/sis/supporting/safestep-huber_hand.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.bardaccess.com/assets/images/products/sis/supporting/safestep-huber_hand.png" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Huber needle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The area around and over the port was swabbed with Chlorhexidine (an antiseptic), and allowed to dry. I was told to take a deep breath, and in went the Huber needle. It stung a little bit, but was less painful than a successful IV stick. I've read that once scar tissue has a chance to build up around the port, the sticks are barely felt. I hoped that not having to deal with multiple needle sticks might eliminate the nausea that I have felt with treatment since I got pregnant. I tried to fight off the feeling, but gave in and asked for Zofran about twenty minutes into the infusion. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The bolus dose of Zofran made me fall asleep, and I kept waking myself up by snoring (and snorting). I had headphones in so I couldn't hear how loud I actually was, but I hope it wasn't too bad. Luckily, I was the only patient for most of the day. Somehow, I managed to sleep off and on for about two hours. That was another first - I've actually never slept in the infusion room, either. At least I'm not the first to saw logs. Usually the male patients use their treatment time to nap, and laying back in the recliner seems to make all of them snore. I have to say that it was SO nice to have pain-free, IV-free hands. I was too tired to knit or do much else, but it made eating lunch and using the restroom easier.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://survivingsarcoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/mediport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://survivingsarcoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/mediport.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What an accessed port looks like.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Removing the Huber needle and flushing the port was just as easy as the needle stick. I normally can taste the saline flush, but with the port, it tasted as if the nurse squirted the solution straight into my mouth. The Heparin was even worse - it tasted like I had licked an aspirin. I took a deep breath after the flush, and the needle was out. It sounds odd, but I am actually looking forward to my second day of treatment tomorrow instead of dreading it like normal.</div><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would like to think that this year will be better. That we'll receive more blessings than not. Not dealing with around 18-21 sticks, multiple bruises, and the pain that comes with it is a blessing. Feeling my son wiggle around inside of me is definitely a blessing. Before I know it, he'll be in my arms. I can't think of a better blessing than that.</span></div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-54186748340096590492012-01-21T22:16:00.000-08:002012-01-21T22:16:05.927-08:00Tick Tock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We spent the day moving around furniture to make room for baby. Actually, Adam did most of the work. Having your pelvis move apart too soon means that your mobility is limited. I mostly organized drawers, oiled some furniture, and supervised. After finishing, though, I realized that this week would likely have brought the arrival of Avalon had things gone differently. I have made peace with the loss, but milestones like the due date are still a little difficult. Every kick and stretch that in my belly is reassures me that this time will be different. Even though it seems surreal, we will have a baby here in about seven weeks.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I also spent a good portion of the week going to and from Mercy San Juan. The incision on my neck (over the Jugular) opened up over the weekend, and was gaping by Monday. Unfortunately, the interventional radiologist was out of the office one day, and running late the next. Despite that, I ended up lucking out with no infection despite the wound coming open. I also found out that I have a new allergy to Neosporin after applying a little to the dressing over the opened wound. My neck started burning when I put the bandage on. When I removed the bandage, I found blistered, angry skin in the shape of the gauze. One more thing to add to the list of things I'm allergic to. (That includes most adhesive tape/bandages, sulfa drugs, tetanus vaccines, and now Neosporin.)</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am looking forward to the coming weeks. We are hoping and praying for a calm, natural birth and recovery, and a healthy baby. Wish us luck. :)</span></div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-5342270275221455252012-01-04T17:41:00.000-08:002012-01-04T21:42:06.502-08:00In the Jugular!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDqNdLiRiudN6qSXk1fvQc2R2obmxPseb-rIfRSY_xTi-EX67HgrPgHBOaDMShuLf6LXnGA1SUyQ5oAEt81m_7hj_9gUmpOlrO9RQH4yMUToYHyXhYopqNqI8BJJLGpcQhC-TJGuxIwh7/s1600/IMG_0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDqNdLiRiudN6qSXk1fvQc2R2obmxPseb-rIfRSY_xTi-EX67HgrPgHBOaDMShuLf6LXnGA1SUyQ5oAEt81m_7hj_9gUmpOlrO9RQH4yMUToYHyXhYopqNqI8BJJLGpcQhC-TJGuxIwh7/s320/IMG_0068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It has been a long time since I've been active here. I really should work on that. Today I had a procedure to install a port that will make blood draws and IVIG much easier. (And much less painful!) During my November infusion, the infusion nurses told me that it was time to consider a port as soon as possible. My veins were getting more difficult to access, and the damage to the veins made IV placement more painful. By the end of my three day set of infusions, I would be bruised, very sore, and without any good IV sites left. Having a nurse look at my feet and shoulders for an IV site was <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">all the convincing that I needed. </span></span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I thought that getting a port might be an issue because of the pregnancy. When I told my neurologist's assistant that a port had been recommended by the nurses, the assistant said "okay, let's get you scheduled." Considering that it wasn't really urgent, it was the holiday season, and that neurology doesn't normally order ports, things moved pretty quickly. I had a surgery date scheduled, and we went from there. Well-meaning friends and family have asked if it was a good idea, if it was safe, or if it could wait. Every medical professional I have spoken to about the port said that it couldn't wait. They need good access to my veins, especially with me being pregnant. The risks of the procedure are outweighed by the benefits of having easy access to my veins for treatment and in case of emergencies.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The thought of having a surgical site near my face made me a little nervous. I am claustrophobic, and the idea of drapes over my face freaked me out. Luckily, I would be given conscious sedation to help with the nerves. Since I don't need chemo or radiation (the most common reason for a port), the radiologist chose a Vaxcel port with valve by Navilyst. I was draped, scrubbed, and had a local anesthetic injected into my chest and around the Jugular vein. The interventional radiologist made an incision above the Jugular, and in my chest wall. The catheter was run through the Internal Jugular, and down towards my heart. Through the incision in my chest, they made a pocket and sewed the port in place. The port was connected to the catheter, the catheter was flushed to test function, and the incisions were closed up. Unfortunately, my muscle tissue is very tough from having Stiff Person Syndrome, so I kept feeling pinching as the radiologist worked. They did their best to numb me and finish up as quickly as possible.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeaZ-WdZwpd9TdgTGhDtQFvmykXPmRIuerZEBLD-ml_X5pEQ8lh0h5iHZn3MO21XPgc8unedRPEtt51AOu4sTSIdpXVx2CLqUDWJF6W4FG4rM7sEJA3DTwM3CtrPfYzOtxhOA-Fj4GBHw/s1600/vaxcel+port+position.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeaZ-WdZwpd9TdgTGhDtQFvmykXPmRIuerZEBLD-ml_X5pEQ8lh0h5iHZn3MO21XPgc8unedRPEtt51AOu4sTSIdpXVx2CLqUDWJF6W4FG4rM7sEJA3DTwM3CtrPfYzOtxhOA-Fj4GBHw/s320/vaxcel+port+position.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vaxcel Port Positioning</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
After they got a chest x-ray to verify placement (with my belly shielded well), I was brought back into the nurse's office to meet up with Adam. The radiology nurse gave me some grape juice to get my blood sugar up, and talked with us about caring for the incisions and port. I'll have to have the port flushed when I go in for my infusions every five weeks, or once every four weeks if it isn't being used. I'm covered up with gauze and Tegaderm, so I haven't seen what things look like yet. I'm interested to see how much of the port is visible under the skin. I was told to expect some pretty colorful bruising for awhile. Oh, and I can't shower for at least two days. After that, I'm supposed to cover the Tegaderm with plastic wrap until the incision heals. If anyone can figure that out logistically, please let me know. I have no clue how I could manage to pull that off. Sounds like sponge baths and a trip to the hairdresser for a wash or two.<br />
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Once we got out of the imaging center, it was time for food. Fasting for that long stinks normally, but it is rough being pregnant. We ended up at Fuddruckers to feast on what had to have been the best burger ever. I'm currently propped up in bed, watching crummy daytime television. So far the lower dose of Vicodin is making the pain manageable. I'm crossing my fingers and praying that it is tolerable tomorrow, when the bruising should show up. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All in all, I'm happy. Dealing with literal pain in the neck for a few days is better than dealing with stick after stick in my hands. (And soon, who knows where else.) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-58578503261631938132011-10-06T00:25:00.000-07:002011-10-06T00:25:56.925-07:00Mommy Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This morning I woke up to what felt like two hot rocks pushing on me. When Adam came in the room, I realized those hot rocks were two not-so-little-anymore feet. Emma woke up during the storm last night, came in the room, and said "I need mommy time." She curled up next to me, and was out. Adam moved her out of the room at some point, and she came back in about a half hour later for more "mommy time." It was all fine until she tried to push me out of the bed during her sleep. <br />
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The night before, she woke up hungry. Then she thought her pillow was a skeleton, and came out of her room scared as can be. It took awhile to for her to understand that the reason her tummy hurt was that she was hungry. Then it took forever to figure out what she wanted to eat. After that, she still had to calm down from the fear of her pillow shape-shifting and coming to get her. She keeps asking to go back to the Halloween store, but I think we might just have to hold off on that for awhile. <br />
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The little one is proving to be just as active as his big sister was while she was baking. Emma thinks it is awesome to talk to my belly. It is cute as heck, but it wakes up the baby at the precise time that I'd like to be getting to bed. He moves, and dances, and wiggles around for what seems like forever. It is cute and reassuring, but I definitely can't sleep through it. I can't wait until she can feel him kick. She'll enjoy that. :)<br />
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</div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-12716735896355745362011-10-01T20:11:00.000-07:002011-10-01T20:12:49.295-07:00Sweet, sweet relief!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvE87EpWC75XS07Jh9f5UrgpZk4JOSjERG1ig6wa_Y-fMIH4Yh3saoCwRpDqtpvB27gsOYuyai2ogtJXkMs67WSUiUizKmjklEdYl87-RwRBoUHsr_dxLzJrYHrJTD9ViRXDPf9mi8Gcl8/s1600/nerve+block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvE87EpWC75XS07Jh9f5UrgpZk4JOSjERG1ig6wa_Y-fMIH4Yh3saoCwRpDqtpvB27gsOYuyai2ogtJXkMs67WSUiUizKmjklEdYl87-RwRBoUHsr_dxLzJrYHrJTD9ViRXDPf9mi8Gcl8/s1600/nerve+block.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Yesterday I went to see the nurse practitioner over at Mercy. She is the sweetest thing ever, and she's also the only nurse they have in the Sacramento area that can do an occipital nerve block. Before getting started, she came in, gave me a big hug, and asked how my family was doing. She spent a few minutes talking about my pregnancy and how that was going. THEN we went into the headaches. Now, how often do you get that kind of bedside manner? I know that I'm a bit of a "special" case with such a rare condition, but I am SO happy to have caregivers that CARE.<br />
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The injections go into my scalp, near the occipital nerves. Spasms and rigidity irritate the nerves, causing me to get raging migraines. Right now we're trying to take the safest route, and injected steroids pose MUCH less risk than narcotic painkillers. Only about 1/1000th of a dose (or less) crosses the placenta with steroids. They've also been around for ages, so the safety in pregnancy is pretty certain. Anyways...<br />
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The nurse injects a mix of Solumedrol (the steroid) and Lidocaine (an anesthetic) into the muscle that covers the occiput (the back of your noggin). I get a muscle knot near that area, and it has been huge lately. We chose to inject 2/3rds on that side, and the other 1/3rd on the other side. It actually hurts a lot less than you'd imagine. It isn't any worse than a flu shot...if you have a good nurse. She warned me that I might bruise a little more this time because of the extra blood pumping through my system.<br />
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I went home and iced my head, and looked forward to the sweet relief. After having a migraine every single day for a month, anything was better than nothing. I just realized that while my head is sore and bruised today, I haven't gotten a migraine. Not even a hint of one! As much as I hate having to take medication to feel better, I have to love that. </div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-86765899228468929242011-09-29T19:11:00.000-07:002011-09-29T19:16:16.755-07:00The colors of the rainbow...so pretty...in the sky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="335" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sDgXF1MbD2A" width="450"></iframe> </center><br />
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This week has had the usual challenges. The stiffness. The rigidity. The walking in wet cement feeling. The headaches. All in all, this week actually hasn't been so bad. We saw our little boy dancing around in my womb, and fell madly in love. The little flutters I felt have turned in to little kicks. Some of the fear of losing another little one is starting to melt away. It isn't gone, but the pain isn't so fresh.<br />
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Despite her shock at discovering that she was having a brother, she has also fallen madly in love with him. She has been talking to my belly, and giving me two kisses at night instead of one. One kiss is plopped on my belly, and rubbed in with her hand. That kiss, she tells me, is for the baby. Once this week, she fell asleep with her head against my belly. She told me that she wanted to cuddle with her brother. My heart can't help but melt at how precious it all is.<br />
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Our sick little silkie is getting better, but slowly. She has wry neck, a condition that causes their neck to flop over. In many ways, it is similar to the issues I deal with in regards to my muscles. If she is startled, she'll lock up and her neck flops to the side. The episodes are getting shorted and less frequent, though. She's still getting her vitamins twice a day, and gets to sun herself in front of the window during the day. I pray that this little one continues to improve. She's (or possibly he) is such a sweet little thing. (It is difficult to sex silkies before they are about ready to crow or pop out eggs, unfortunately.)<br />
<br />
I check in with the nurse practitioner at the neurology office tomorrow. I'll probably get my Solumedrol injections. They were approved by the perinatologist, and they do help with these migraines. Speaking of migraines...they have been constant the past month. They are getting better, but very slowly. I can't wait for the injections. You heard me - I can't wait to have needles in my scalp! We'll schedule my infusion at that time, as well. I'll hopefully get the infusion around the second week of October. <br />
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Before the infusion, I get to shoot some maternity pictures for my cousin. It is an honor and a pleasure to take those pictures for her. We're trying to decide on a park, and work around the rain next week. I love the post-processing part of things, and can't wait. :)<br />
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By the way, we saw the most beautiful rainbow in the sky above our backyard this past week. When I can, we take walks to see the sun setting over the fields. Emma and I talk about what colors God used to paint the sky that night. It doesn't get much better than that.</div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-59710062849579875152011-09-27T15:51:00.000-07:002011-09-27T15:51:17.251-07:00A boy!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Holy cow! I'm the mother of a little boy now! I never imagined us having a boy. With Emma, I was SO sure from the beginning that we were having a girl. Sure enough, she was. This time, I didn't have that feeling. I thought maybe it was a girl, but just didn't have that 100% sure feeling. With this pregnancy, we realized that I would be far enough along by our wedding anniversary to find out the sex. It would be our little gift to each other.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To be honest, I have a little disconnected from this pregnancy. After getting pregnant right after a miscarriage, I have been a little afraid that something would go wrong. I finally started is feeling like this is a little more real when I felt little rolls, stretches, and kicks. I knew that the scan would be a good thing for me emotionally.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Adam scheduled the appointment, and surprised me by asking for a 3d scan. With Emma, I had an anterior placenta. That means that the placenta is sitting in the front of the uterus, and it often interferes with a 3d ultrasound. We were hoping that we might get the 3d scan this time. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Emma has been feeling left out because the OB's office does not allow kids over 6 weeks old. We decided that we'd do the scan at a private ultrasound office rather than the OB's office for this reason. Mom met had a break in between teaching classes, so she met us for the ultrasound. We chose the same business that we went to find out the sex with Emma's pregnancy, and got the same tech. He has been at it for over 25 years, and he can tell the sex right away.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The tech tried to get a 3d view, but our little baby has been head-down since very early on. Our 6 and 8 week scans also showed a head-down position. Unfortunately, because the baby was head-down, there wasn't much amniotic fluid between the baby's face and the uterine wall. (The uterus is still pear-shaped at this point.) The 3d view looked something like this, but with slightly scary and cavernous eyes:</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1df02b3127ccefc7abb72bd9d00000030O00AaOGbJq2ZMmYPbz4C/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1df02b3127ccefc7abb72bd9d00000030O00AaOGbJq2ZMmYPbz4C/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There's a chance we might be able to see the baby's face in 3d when we get our anatomy scan in four weeks, but it is never a sure thing. Instead, we went ahead with the 2d ultrasound. Our little baby enjoyed the orange juice I had before the scan, and was bouncing around like crazy. When the tech said "it is a boy," we were a little shocked. For the adults, it was a happy sort of shocked. Emma was a little confused, disappointed, but also excited all at once. The tech showed us a few different angles and explained the difference between how boy and girl parts look on ultrasound. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Before we left, he measured the baby's head to estimate the age. Our little boy was measuring 8 days big, or 17w2d instead of 16w1d. Our family grows big babies without any help from diabetes, so this wasn't much of a surprise. Only about 24 weeks left until we meet our little guy! Enjoy the video. :)</div><br />
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</div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-43966502455729183452011-09-13T00:18:00.000-07:002011-09-13T00:18:18.739-07:00Ding!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgN6SnszVKqQMBmBo8YSQnGD6z12t1HN-FBl-0n1yxTde503zdt9lmGOWiKHgE9nkEshKHRh8d2-Qn49AcElfb_BsswXLVfsNYyEmAhOvyGxHy4Xu0DKZy3hlKjqTk8idD3ix_WtuIb61/s1600/getty_rm_photo_of_blood_on_syringe_needle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgN6SnszVKqQMBmBo8YSQnGD6z12t1HN-FBl-0n1yxTde503zdt9lmGOWiKHgE9nkEshKHRh8d2-Qn49AcElfb_BsswXLVfsNYyEmAhOvyGxHy4Xu0DKZy3hlKjqTk8idD3ix_WtuIb61/s320/getty_rm_photo_of_blood_on_syringe_needle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
After a couple weeks of sugar hitting the fan, today was a welcome break from craziness. That is, what I'd consider a break...things are always a little crazy around here. <br />
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Saturday left me feeling sore and pretty tired. I started to get a headache, and it just got worse, and worse, and worse. I woke Adam up at 5 am on Sunday because I just couldn't sleep. The headache was pretty horrible at that point. He offered to take me down to the hospital, but I was being stubborn. By 7 AM, I gave in and got myself dressed with my eyes shut. It was just too painful to keep my eyes open. I've also (unfortunately) figured out the best time frame to go to the emergency room at Mercy San Juan if I absolutely have to. <br />
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We lucked out and only had one person ahead of us for triage. They were afraid I was having an allergic reaction, and had me in a bed within a few minutes. I don't like the fact that I have to take some prescription medicines to get by with the muscle stiffness, but I was willing to take whatever they could safely give me for the pain. That they did. I was pumped full of a few different antihistamines, anti-nausea medicine, and morphine. (Hard to believe that one is approved in obstetrics, but it is.) That failed, and later on they gave me a different painkiller. After watching me for several hours, I was told that my labs were fine, and my neurologist said that I could continue my treatment. I was glad to get out of there and climb into my own bed. The headache is still there after three days, but I'm managing. There is a chance that I have a mild case of aseptic meningitis, and the only real treatment is to treat the symptoms. <br />
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I did say that there was a happy ending to this - and there is. My infusion today went pretty well. Aside from the headache and expected muscle aches, I haven't had any reactions. The nurses took blood today to check my liver enzymes after the treatments Thursday and Friday. Adam got a call during my appointment today to let him know that my labs came back, and my liver enzymes were looking great. When we were walking in the front door, they called back to let me know that they'd be calling in two weeks to schedule my next round of infusions. Since the infusions have started, I have needed less medication to get by, and I haven't had any spasms that locked me in bed. After two straight weeks of serious spasms, this is a very welcome break. <br />
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I am so thankful for finally finding a medical team that is understanding and really cares about helping me feel better. I'm thankful that they're doing all they can to make sure I'm comfortable and that our baby is able to grow healthy and strong. I am thankful for each and every of the thousands of donors that give their time and the plasma that is used to make gamma globulin infusions. I thank God for helping my body to get through this treatment without any serious reactions. </div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-1783016101388794562011-09-09T21:01:00.000-07:002011-09-09T21:01:02.162-07:00back for another round<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today was the second day of three days worth of IVIG infusions. Yesterday left me with a migraine that fortunately went away with a little sleep. Little sleep is what I ended up with, though. I woke at 2:45 and wasn't able to get back to sleep. I managed to get a bath with the saline lock in place, and headed off to Mercy Midtown. <br />
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Unfortunately, keeping the saline lock in did no good. As soon as the nurse started flushing the line with saline, my arm began to burn like crazy. I asked if it was infiltrating, and the nurse said it likely was, and definitely was not returning blood like it should. She wrapped up my arms in toasty blankets, and let me sit for a few minutes. The second line went in my right hand...not the ideal placement, but often it is the only place where a vein can be felt. I had a little brush with wooziness, which is a lovely leftover from being traumatized by so many phlebotomists that just don't listen about where they need to stick me to get blood. (If I ask you to go for my hand, please don't insist on digging around blinding in my arm with a needle. It hurts. A lot.)<br />
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Adam and Emma were off to Sutter's Fort for her first kindergarten field trip, so I kicked back with some Jimmy Buffett and Bob Marley on my iPod. I really wanted a nap, but the center is too bright, and folks are always coming and going. Somehow most of the other patients nap...and snore. One man had napkins on his chest to catch the copious amounts of drool leaking from the corner of this mouth. (He wasn't the patient, either.) <br />
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I knit another little hat, and that seemed to interfere with the infusion pump. The pump was finicky and kept beeping to alert the nurses of an occlusion. Actually, it beeped anytime I got up to go to the bathroom, worked on knitting, or sat there doing nothing. I think it just didn't like me. I have to wonder what the other patients think when I'm wheeling around my iv pole with two pumps on it. Do they wonder what the heck brings a pregnant woman to the chemo center? I know that I definitely look further along than I am, because I keep being asked if I know the sex yet. (We're still at least two weeks away from that.)<br />
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As far as side effects, I am definitely doing better than last time. No blinding migraines, no vomiting, no severe pain, etc. I feel exhausted, weak, and flu-like...but it is manageable if I rest and drink plenty of water. I had to skip my cousin's shower...and I really didn't want to do that. It probably was a smart idea to just stay in bed and rest, especially since I'm dealing with growing another life this time around. I have the weekend to rest, and then I get the last infusion for the month. I am praying that my liver tests come back within the reference range, or at least close to the range. I'm also praying that this infusion will allow me to cut back on other meds that are more risky to baby and myself. If you're the praying type, please send up a little prayer for us. <br />
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</div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-29747045051143512982011-09-08T16:56:00.000-07:002011-09-08T17:45:39.769-07:00Day One - Done!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxLBXco_m8Cj5FvHlxTDDUOrAv9a7kV74DaGDBuz0lM0BkIGJZkQWfb_mmyzKrCC079pYI7J4XfVAIRQaYHP_cBqFHTmqex99FepIiymg3JKan7qwLmtkjAKJ7Vj7epXnTHDT93LSm83L/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxLBXco_m8Cj5FvHlxTDDUOrAv9a7kV74DaGDBuz0lM0BkIGJZkQWfb_mmyzKrCC079pYI7J4XfVAIRQaYHP_cBqFHTmqex99FepIiymg3JKan7qwLmtkjAKJ7Vj7epXnTHDT93LSm83L/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Today was the first of three days of infusions. We chose to use the infusion center in midtown instead of the infusion center that is only ten minutes. (For some reason, the closer infusion center insists that I have to pay 90%, but we ended up not having to pay anything last time.) The nurses at the center are all very sweet, and it is as comfy as it could be. I kick back in a recliner with a blanket for a few hours, eat my lunch, listen to music, or read a book.<br />
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This time around, we decided to switch to a different IVIG formulation. Instead of Gammagard, I got Gammunex-C. Gammagard is known to have more side effects, and many that switch to Gammunex find relief from the often horrible side effects. Last time, I was almost rushed to the hospital for fear of aseptic meningitis. I also got very sick on the second night and couldn't keep anything down. My liver did not respond well, either.<br />
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I premedicated this time with Tylenol, Benadryl, and a little Prednisone. When I showed up to for my treatment, my blood pressure was 150/99 and my pulse 130. Holy cow! I was nervous as soon as I woke up, since I had no clue how I would react. The nurse left me for ten minutes to see if it helped, and my blood pressure and pulse started to go down. Once the Benadryl kicked in, I was calm and my blood pressure and pulse were back within a healthy range. Because there is a small chance of serious side effects such as anaphylaxis, I get the roomy area right next to the nurses station. <br />
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For whatever reason, the infusion took twice as long as the neurologist's office had told me. I don't really mind, because a slower infusion usually means less side effects. Adam and Emma were a little antsy, though. They walked around the building, played video games, and poked in every hour or so to see how I was doing. I managed to knit a nice, thick baby hat while I was relaxing. I tried to read, but I kept reading the same words over and over. Next time I need to get some "fluff" books that don't require any thinking. I also flipped through the stash of magazines. I would have liked to catch a nap, and a few patients were sawing logs. Too bad I can't sleep unless it is quiet and dark. :o/<br />
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Tomorrow I'm set for another five or so hours of infusion, and Emma and Adam will be off to Sutter's Fort for her field trip. Wish me luck!</div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-82739905240433464112011-09-04T22:43:00.000-07:002011-09-04T22:45:46.872-07:00Herbs and Pregnancy Nutrition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WvBeiAGXTMdU0kvu95WtffwCiERsw3BzkHhBN0qHWdO6AcieOHNOv0j9WU8cSZzo7BUjpVJxOwecptnPa9mBWT4JXN1bb_PatdJKrJtpRWpfyVnzWONDnTM8_8PiBEFIcsf9lrUW9pRI/s1600/fitness-herbal-infusion-vita-fit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WvBeiAGXTMdU0kvu95WtffwCiERsw3BzkHhBN0qHWdO6AcieOHNOv0j9WU8cSZzo7BUjpVJxOwecptnPa9mBWT4JXN1bb_PatdJKrJtpRWpfyVnzWONDnTM8_8PiBEFIcsf9lrUW9pRI/s200/fitness-herbal-infusion-vita-fit.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
When I was pregnant with Emma, I didn't have much of a chance to enjoy herbal teas and infusions. I was just plain sick and exhausted. With Avalon's pregnancy, I got back to enjoying herbal teas. Unfortunately that pregnancy didn't last, but infusions of lemon balm from our garden helped my nerves as well as Adam's. It was the calming effect that I needed during the first two weeks when life felt so surreal.<br />
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After the miscarriage, I started taking red raspberry leaf again. I also added vitex and red clover, in addition to my whole-food prenatal and cod liver oil. The only synthetic vitamin I took was B6, which I needed to lower my homocysteine levels and prevent morning sickness. Wouldn't you know it - I was pregnant three weeks after the miscarriage. I was shocked. It took over 9 months to get pregnant with Emma, and 13 months with Avalon. My Ob had mentioned that I'd likely get pregnant in the three months following the miscarriage, but I honestly didn't believe it because of the fertility issues. Was it the herbs? I have a feeling that at least part of it was. I had a strong uterine lining and healthy corpus luteum cyst only three weeks after miscarrying - something that was an issue while pregnant with Avalon.<br />
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After I got through the first trimester nausea this time, I ordered fresh herbs for infusions. In a quart jar, I add about 1/4 cup of this mix and cover with lightly boiled water. The lid is put on, and the jar sits for 5-10 hours to steep. Infusing over several hours allows more minerals and vitamins to be released from the herbs.<br />
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Here is my pregnancy tea recipe:<br />
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2 parts nettle leaf (high in vitamins and minerals, supports kidneys and vascular system)<br />
2 parts red raspberry leaf (tones uterus, high in vitamins and minerals)<br />
2 parts dandelion leaf (high in vitamins and minerals, supports liver and GI system)<br />
2 parts lemon verbena (calming, anti-spasmodic, supports digestion)<br />
2 parts oat straw (high in calcium and magnesium, calming)<br />
1 part rose hips (high in vitamin C, anti-inflammatory)<br />
1 part ginger (supports digestion, anti-inflammatory)<br />
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I am preparing for another round of IVIG this week, and have altered my recipe a little for this week. Here it is:<br />
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1 tsp rose hips (for the vitamin C & anti-inflammatory effects)<br />
1 tsp ginger (for taste and anti-inflammatory effects)<br />
2 tbs oat-straw (for nutrition, anti-inflammatory effects, and calming effects)<br />
2 tbs dandelion leaf (for nutrition, liver support, and GI support)<br />
2 tbs lemon verbena (for calming effects, possible migraine prevention, and taste)<br />
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</div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-73053946602824005302011-09-03T21:05:00.000-07:002011-09-03T21:05:44.218-07:00Light as a feather, stiff as a board?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The past couple weeks have included daily spasms that are...well...fascinating and painful at the same time. My body isn't quite sure how to handle the changing hormones, the belly that makes me look five months pregnant, or the decrease in medication. I've been a lump on the couch, but to be honest, that's okay. One side effect of the flare-up and the increased metabolism from pregnancy? I haven't gained any weight. (No clue how, because my stomach is huge.)<br />
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By the way...Halloween is rolling around the corner. I think I might have found the grossest pregnancy costume online. I bet Adam would beg to differ. Zombies freak me out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHne7xlAfma20WMtnv-nfzUvrQhOT2L2w2K9fjrREDrA38ZwJqUsyPg8FrdzF1nFE8NL5KZ81Kwr6JPwRFpAmnS4rhoCOAWte9O87UWzcIMGRzqCUsduCROIKgNPx27KgRmT3EOxpLGdN/s1600/pregnant_zombie_costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHne7xlAfma20WMtnv-nfzUvrQhOT2L2w2K9fjrREDrA38ZwJqUsyPg8FrdzF1nFE8NL5KZ81Kwr6JPwRFpAmnS4rhoCOAWte9O87UWzcIMGRzqCUsduCROIKgNPx27KgRmT3EOxpLGdN/s320/pregnant_zombie_costume.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><br />
</div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-49256126220270052582011-09-02T23:15:00.000-07:002011-09-02T23:15:56.367-07:0013 down, 27 to go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This weekend marks our little gummy bear's 13th week...or 11th if you go off of gestational age. The little bear feels more like a gold fish that only seems to flutter around if I'm trying to sleep. I didn't notice flutters with Emma. She went straight to hard kicks at 14 weeks. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While we were waiting for Emma's books and materials to arrive, we decided to work on what we could. She's completed two art lessons, and sailed through an entire math unit in two hours. I have a feeling that the math is going to be like that, and we may have to move on to something a little more challenging. When Emma's books finally arrived today, she was squealing like crazy. The UPS driver let out a chuckle at the sight of her bouncing up and down on the front porch, squealing and yipping and letting out a big "Woohoo!" </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The school sent a LOT of stuff. Seventy-five pounds or so of books, manipulatives, DVDs, Cd's, art supplies, science supplies, etc. So far, we're are very pleased with the curriculum. The program is a little intense when you look at the schedule, but at this rate, it won't be so bad. Emma gets language arts, phonics, handwriting, and mathematics daily. Science, history, art, and music are twice a week. She also is expected to have 120 minutes of physical education a week. We're allowed to work at our own pace, provided that we finish the coursework each trimester. Emma is loving the combination of computer and hands-on learning.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next week...well, it is going to be interesting. Neurology ordered Gammunex for my infusion, but because of the holiday, it won't be in until Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week. Oncology called to say that they may call for a same day appointment when the medication comes in, and to be prepared. That leaves me drinking water like a whale. The more hydrated you are, the less side effects you have. This time I also requested a bag of fluids to be infused at the same time as the Gammunex, as extra protection. I'm going to premedicate with Tylenol and Benadryl as other patients have suggested. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This infusion is a completely different formulation, so I have no clue how I will be feeling. Last time I had a horrendous migraine the first day, and serious stomach upset the second day. I also had liver enzymes at twice the reference range. I've read that Gammunex often has fewer side effects, but it depends on the patient. I do know that I am likely going to miss the orientation for Emma's school, her first field trip, and possibly a family get-together for one of my favorite people. I got the side-eye for not resting enough after the last infusion, and I have a feeling I'm going to get the riot act if I don't rest since I'm pregnant this time. I don't want to miss those moments...but I don't have control over this crummy condition. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's to the best week possible, and may I get a good infusion nurse. (And my favorite chair in the corner!)</div><br />
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</div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-82631481286330709132011-08-30T23:02:00.000-07:002011-08-30T23:03:42.162-07:00Ah, push it!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The past couple weeks have been a little crazy, but when it comes down to it, things are going pretty well.<br />
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-We traded our last two Hamburg pullets for a Light Sussex pullet and a Barnevelder pullet. (Interestingly, we sold Light Bulb to the same man a couple months ago, and recognized him when we got there.) They were a little younger than I expected at around 10 weeks, and they were pecked pretty badly. They looked healthy aside from the pecking, so I decided to go ahead with it. We explained to the breeder that the chicks likely needed more protein and something to keep them busy if they're going to be caged. Hopefully it will help, but who knows.<br />
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Obviously his chickens aren't pets, they're livestock. I get that, but it really has to be uncomfortable and itchy to get plucked and try to regrow feathers. We took the chicks home, gave them some probiotics and electrolytes in their water, and coated their naked backs with Rooster Booster Pick No More Lotion. They perked up and have been singing contentedly ever since. We've had them for a week, and they are growing back their feathers. Hopefully they can go outside around the same time as our silkies, which should be in the next couple of weeks.<br />
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-I got my neurology appointment taken care of. I've been putting off the appointment for awhile because I needed my perinatology report. I saw the doctor's assistant this time, since I can get in next day compared to a two month wait. She gave me a big hug and congratulated me on the pregnancy. We went over the report, discussed our options, and she's going to schedule IVIG for this week or next. We're going to try a different formulation and additional fluids to see if that helps with the side effects. I am praying that my liver enzymes do not spike like they did last time. IVIG is the safest option right now for baby and I, even though it isn't the most convenient or comfortable. I'm also praying that the side effects are not as bad as last time, since the infusion nurses will be less inclined to treat the side effects aggressively. <br />
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-My doctors are all on board with a VBAC this time 'round. If I'm feeling good, there is no reason that I can't try, and I am a good candidate for a VBAC. Obviously, if I'm spasming and walking like Quasimodo, I realize that I won't be effective at pushing. Nobody is concerned about macrosomia, either. (Macrosomia is defined as a baby bigger than 8.8 or 9 lbs, depending on the source. Emma was 9.9lbs at 39 weeks.) I'm tall, I'm not a little thing, and there is no worry that my pelvis is too small. Fat smushes, anyways.<br />
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- Emma's curriculum and supplies have shipped! We should be getting over 70 lbs of goods this Friday, and then we can jump head first into Kindergarten! Emma is very excited, and can't wait. The first field trip is on the 9th at Sutter's Fort, and we're planning on going. It's been a couple years since she's been, and she'll get more out of it this time.<br />
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We also set up a nice little learning area in the garage. Adam found an old school desk on Craigslist, and we set up bookshelves with Mom's giant book stash. She's got a rolling container for supplies, and we just need to find space for books and manipulatives. We probably won't work in there all of the time, but it is nice to have a dedicated area for supplies and quiet time.<br />
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-We're going to set up an ultrasound for the end of next month. Emma has been bummed to not be able to come to the OB appointments with me. I've already had to ultrasounds, but at the end of September the baby will be developed enough to tell the sex. We are thinking the baby is a girl, but it'll be nice to know. I volunteered to not find out this time, but Adam and Emma really want to know. :)<br />
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</div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-9904574145264947612011-08-25T15:58:00.000-07:002011-08-25T15:59:20.876-07:00wishing I was knee deep in the water somewhere...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Things have been changing since I last posted. Some for the better, some not. Getting pregnant within three weeks of the loss of Avalon has been, to say the least, difficult. It is hard to get excited like I was when I was pregnant with Emma. Somehow through the pain and exhaustion from dealing with hyperemesis gravidarium, I still felt so close to her. I was excited and could not wait to hold her. I love this baby - I do. I just think that the happy kittens and rainbow minutes will be here when the baby is finally in my arms.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been trying get by without medication or with very little, and that is physically and emotionally very difficult. It is hard to go back to the constant stiffness, the posture of Quasi Modo, and the pain. It reminds me that I am stuck with this. That I don't know where I'll be 10 or 20 years for now. That I pray every night for some kind of breakthrough or cure. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So far my OB has been great. She sent me to a perinatologist to discuss my medication and treatment, and he gave me several options. He was very concerned about me having a fall, since SPS can cause you to fall like "a tin soldier." The perinatologist said that IVIG is fine as well, as long as my liver can take it. He also was very supporting of me having a VBAC. He saw no issues about me planning for a VBAC, but leaving the option of a c-section open if I have a flare-up.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've started back on steriods because they are of the lowest risk to the baby at this point. I don't like steroids. Steroids make me feel like crap. Normally I get insomnia and ache all over. Being pregnant, I am incredibly exhausted, achy, and get up to go pee every hour on the the hour when I try to sleep. I wake up dehydrated and spend the day trying to get rehydrated again. Then we start another day.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I see my OB tomorrow, and hopefully I can get a copy of the perinatology report to bring to my neurologist's office. I'm hoping for another ultrasound tomorrow. The doctor mentioned that she'd probably do a quick scan at 12 weeks. I'd like to see where the placenta is positioned this time. Last time it was anterior, and that caused Emma to sit posterior, or "sunny side up." Posterior positioning makes trip through the birth canal much more difficult, though it can be done. <br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We've had a few little family emergencies in the past couple weeks...and I need a serious vacation. Sing me away, Zac and Jimmy, sing me away.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</center></div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341540644995724984.post-70030838253831898492011-06-27T20:37:00.000-07:002011-06-27T20:37:46.325-07:00Poke. Squish.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz50NHILiffrB9BPFZuWBVLCeCZzmSMcdXJhFg4av3JlCUytHCwqgOVfNmwOsanIY8ipOmoACo6c0bK56Sl-hyld12Cvhw2pINKoM50vrQjsxzxuePtVgiHD56nx7eZcb4Zmo0lTCJRTJX/s1600/rolse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz50NHILiffrB9BPFZuWBVLCeCZzmSMcdXJhFg4av3JlCUytHCwqgOVfNmwOsanIY8ipOmoACo6c0bK56Sl-hyld12Cvhw2pINKoM50vrQjsxzxuePtVgiHD56nx7eZcb4Zmo0lTCJRTJX/s320/rolse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After a disappointing check up with my neurologist this past week, I gave Neurontin a go. I tried. I really did. Every time I'd take a pill, even at the very low dose I had been prescribed, I turned into a zombie. I would get up, eat and maybe shower, go back to bed, and sleep until dinner. Then I'd eat and go back to bed again. After several days of this, I decided that I couldn't do it. I also remembered why I stopped taking Neurontin last time - it made me so sleepy. In combination with the benzos, muscle relaxers, pain medicine, it is just too much. Sure, I can live, but that isn't exactly a life. <br />
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Adam and I decided that I'd go in for another round of occipital nerve injections, and at the same time, talk to the nurse practitioner about resuming IVIG. When she came in, she gave me a big hug and told me she was so sorry for all that we had been through. She had been one of the first people to find out and congratulate us when we found out that we were pregnant back in May.<br />
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The neurology department almost never allows sales people, but by chance, a sales person came by a couple weeks ago with information about a newer formulation of gammaglobulin. She handed me the drug pamphlet to look at, and it was for sub-q gammaglobulin. I would actually prefer sub-q treatment as it splits the monthly dose into four weekly doses that are easier on the body. <br />
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The NP is going to look into formulations, talk to a few people, and see if we can't try the sub-q or at least a different dosing method of IVIG. While we don't have much clinical research to go off of, there is anecdotal evidence that splitting up the dose makes it much easier on the liver and kidneys. We'll test right before the dose, and then a couple days after the dose to see if my liver enzymes spike again. If my liver freaks out again, then we don't have many options left to pursue. I don't smoke or drink, and only do prescription drugs...so killing my liver isn't exactly something I want to do at 28 years old. I did feel better after IVIG, so it would be a major setback if that is the case. <br />
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I got my occipital injections taken care of, at least. The NP injects Lidocaine and a steroid near the occipital nerve at the base of my skull. It sounds a lot worse that it actually is. This time I was super tight and could hear it. Eww. I feel a little like a bobble head afterwards because of the Lidocaine. <br />
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We would really appreciate any prayers. Please pray that I am able to resume IVIG, that it is effective and the side effects are few, and that my liver handles the job without causing my liver enzymes to spike. Please pray that we'll find a solution that helps me to get back to living a more normal life. Thank you to all who read and follow this blog, to those that help us out with babysitting while I'm at appointments, and everyone that prays or sends positive thoughts. </div>Four Jordanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13563090187161059781noreply@blogger.com2