Janet +Trenton=Emma & Ben & Lyla: October 2011

Peaceful Baby

I am 17 weeks pregnant with our third baby! As I'm sure you can imagine, the thought of being pregnant again is pretty terrifying after two consecutive miscarriages. And this pregnancy hasn't been without complications. I actually found out I was pregnant because my cardiologist insisted I run a routine pregnancy test before he could perform my scheduled angiogram. We were in the midst of figuring out what was wrong with my heart. The echo cardiogram, which was performed about a month prior to finding out I was pregnant, revealed a possibly clogged coronary artery, and a definite atrial septal defect (a hole in my heart). Google both of those in relation to pregnancy and it does not look good. Most sources Trenton and I looked at suggested abortion because the risk was so high for the mother. Any additional testing on my heart had to be put off until after pregnancy, so all we were left with was the hope and faith that with the help of Heavenly Father, my body would be able to withstand the physical demands of another pregnancy without me having a heart attack. I had to stay in bed the entirety of my first trimester, mostly because I had experienced the miscarriages, and bled some, and to give my heart a chance to adjust to the 50% increase in blood. But my morning sickness was so bad I wouldn't have wanted to get out of bed anyway. Once I started to feel a little better I was so excited to get out of the house and be among the land of the living. I enjoyed about 3 weeks of the outside world until I began bleeding heavily. I thought for sure I was experiencing another miscarriage, but it turns out I have placenta previa. The concern with previa is that the mother could begin bleeding and hemorrhage before life-saving measures are available, resulting in both mom and baby dying. So back on bed rest I went, and that's where I'll stay indefinitely. Thankfully I'm not on the type of bed rest that requires me to stay at a 45 degree angle at all times and only shower twice a week. I am able to get up and tinker around the house as long as I'm spending most of my time resting. Bleeding is especially a concern for me because, for what ever reason, my platelets drop when I'm pregnant-so my blood doesn't clot properly. If I were to start bleeding substantially, it could be catastrophic. Unfortunately, low platelets also mean I'm facing the possibility of delivering without an epidural. Pray that my platelets rise, or at least maintain. If they drop much more I'll be having a c-section under general anesthesia. All of this does make for a long pregnancy, but I can't even begin to explain how much I would endure if it meant a healthy baby in the end.

Now to the good stuff...This baby has been giving me reassuring signals from the womb since the beginning. The doctors were able to detect its heart from a very early gestation, I began feeling it move at 11 weeks, and at my most recent ultrasound the little person flashed me the "peace" sign! If that isn't a pleasant foreshadowing of the type of human being this will be, I don't know what is. This has been one of the hardest, most physically trying, loneliest times of my life. But this ultrasound picture always reminds me of when the savior was speaking to his disciples at the last supper. He said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

Until Next Time,
Janet, Trenton, Emma, Ben, and Baby

Rock Ledge Farm

The past couple years our family has gone down to the Happy Apple Farm to pick our pumpkins, but this year we decided to try a new place, Rock Ledge Farm, which is a living history farm. From the moment you cross the little bridge at the entrance, you're surrounded by people in period clothing, old fashioned cooking, and buildings and houses that were built during the early 1900's and preserved as if it were still the early 1900's. They had all kinds of fun activities for the kids- a pumpkin patch, barn dance, hayrides, and various games and demonstrations. But out of everything, I think the kids enjoyed the freedom of being able to run around and climb trees the most.

I don't know if you can make it out, but in one of the old houses there was a bear skin rug. The kids were totally struck by this. Emma couldn't get over the fact that she was face to face with a real bear!

Pooped...

Happy Autumn!
Janet, Trenton, Emma, and Ben

Ben's 2nd Birthday

My pregnancy with Ben was full of all kinds of scary bumps and possibilities. I dealt with morning sickness until the beginning of the 7th month, my platelets dropped significantly, I failed both glucose tests, leading to the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. I was told I had Group B Strep again, so that meant an inevitably longer stay in the hospital and I went in to pre-term labor pretty early on, requiring medicine with nasty side effects and bed rest. Every day those last few months were filled with the fear that I wouldn't be able to keep this little baby in me- safe...and growing. But that time was filled with hope too, and the knowledge that whoever this little guy is, he's precious and worth every second of worry and discomfort. I went in for an appointment at 35 weeks and was dilated 4-5 cm. My doctor insisted that if I could keep him baking just 1 more week, they wouldn't stop my labor medicinally. I remember that drive home, putting my hand on my stomach and pleading with Ben, "Please, just sit tight until you're 36 weeks." At exactly 36 weeks, to the day, Ben was born. And he was completely healthy. Ben has spent the last two years making up for everything he put me through. He is such a sweet little man. I can't even imagine there being a time when he wasn't in my world. And I know Emma feels the same way. Obviously siblings have a special tie to each other, but these two really are best friends. Happy Second Birthday baby boy!

We celebrated his birthday with family at Fox Run again. Ben had so much fun making messes, playing with his gifts, and eating cake. Actually, we all had fun doing that.

The turtle pinata would NOT break! Every child had a chance to hit it, a couple times, and Wyatt even bent the original stick trying to get at it. I was pretty impressed.

All the adults were playing volleyball, which I am horrible at by the way. I went to hit the ball and my wedding ring flew in the grass. Which then sent us all into an organized search that took about an hour out of our afternoon. Just as I was getting into the car to go buy a metal detector, Tad found it. If I didn't believe in miracles before, I surely do now.