Our Baby Girl....

Our Baby girl

(Had an ultrasound today..will share more later. An amazing story of her life so far. We are so excited and abundantly blessed for sure. Look back for a more detailed update within these next few days)

(ok..and yes just humor me..I changed everything to pink for a while. lol)

Update and prayer request....

Sorry for not posting much of an update here. I have been updating over on facebook. I had an appointment with my new OB today, and I absolutely love her!!!
Here is where we stand right now. Baby seems to be doing ok with a heartbeat in the 170s. However, I do still have a subchorionic hematoma/bleed. You can look it up but it is basically a blood clot between the wall of the uterus and the placenta, or something like that. Very specific prayer request is that this will resolve very quickly (like now!!) so that baby can continue to thrive. So far baby is ok. But if that hematoma cause the placenta to separate from the wall of my uterus in a larger amount, it would surely be fatal to baby and possibly even mom, although that is very rare at this point. Most if the time, these do resolve, but there are instances where they do not, and it creates a very long and precarious pregnancy.
God knows, and He is able!! Would you join our family in prayer for this hematoma to resolve as quickly as possible with no further complications!?!? right now, I am laying as low as possible, trying to limit my activity as much as I can. Trying to stay laying down as much as possible. I definitely need to refrain from ANY lifting of things. I would love to have some helpers that were able to come in once in a while. Just for simple things such as cleaning of bathrooms and kitchen, etc. Our boys have been a huge blessing, but they can only do so much. If any of you are able or willing, or even have teens that would be able, it would be a huge blessing to this momma. I am willing to pay. Thank you so very much for those of you who have been praying for our family through this whole period of time. I appreciate it so much!!

A beating heart...and very much alive baby!!!!

I first want to start off by saying thank you to all our friends and family that have been praying for us over last couple weeks. It has definitely been a roller coaster of emotions. For those of you wondering what has been going on I will do my best to give you an explanation. I am sure I will miss some details.
On the 10th of September we found out we are expecting another little blessing. We found out very early in my cycle around the 21. The first week was pretty uneventful. On 17 September I experienced a tiny bit of spotting twice. On Monday the 19th I decided to call my OB and get all my appointment scheduled. They asked if I had any complications so far and I said no other than a tiny bit of spotting on Saturday. That is when all the chaos began. They wanted me to come in for a quantitative HCG. on Monday the 19th it was 757. They wanted me to come back on Wednesday and have a redraw just to make sure my levels were increasing as they are supposed to. On Wednesday they would've liked to see them around 1500. They said they were a little above 1100. Because they didn't double as they said they would have expected they wanted me to go to the ER to rule out a tubal pregnancy. Keep in mind I had absolutely no symptoms at all of a tubal pregnancy. No more spotting, no pain, nothing. We decided to go to St. Anthony's in Gig Harbor. The doctor there was very good. He redrew my quantitative and came back very baffled. It was over 1700 not 1100. 1700 was excellent with it being 757 two days prior. It looked as if somebody at the doctors office lab messed up my numbers. They did an ultrasound at the hospital. The ultrasound showed that there was a pregnancy in the uterus. It was not a tubal pregnancy. What they saw on the ultrasound was just a gestational sac. At less than five weeks is just too early to see anything more than that. I left the hospital very encouraged.
The encouragement was very short lasted. The OB office called the next day and said that although it was not a tubal pregnancy they were not convinced that everything was okay. Again I was very confused. Yes, all they saw was a gestational sac at the hospital but what more would you expect to see at less than five weeks pregnant. The nurse told me they were thinking that it was a blighted ovum which is where the baby does not keep growing. Really??? At less than five weeks you are going to try and diagnose a blighted ovum?!?! Everything I have read said you can't properly diagnosed them until at least eight weeks. On Friday I had to take Adam to my primary care doctor. I explained to him what was going on and he redrew my quantitative. My levels were 3600. He said that everything looks great and he was certain that this was a viable pregnancy. On Monday the OB office called me again and insists that I come in for another blood draw. My levels that day ended up being 6747. They said I need another ultrasound on Wednesday. The ultrasound once again showed just the empty gestational sac. That tech thought she saw something more inside there but could not be sure. The sac was measuring five weeks and 4 days. She told me that being so early it's often too soon to see anything more than just an empty sack. It was amazing that we saw anything at all on the first ultrasound. It is not uncommon to be six weeks along before they see much of anything in the uterus. I left there feeling okay.
Little did I know that any encouragement I had left would soon be gone. The OB office called me back the next morning and said things really did not look good. They wanted me to do another quantitative blood draw to see where my levels were at. I went in and did the blood draw. They called me back a couple hours later and gave me their "bad news." Get this, my levels were over 15,000. When she told me that I said oh good. But she quickly said no Kristi, it's not good. " You have an nonviable pregnancy." What?!? Really?!?! How can you see that for sure? I am not even six weeks and you're telling me right now that you are sure this pregnancy is not viable? The nurse proceeded to tell me that because my levels were so high and that they saw nothing in the gestational sac that it was a miscarriage. I told her that it didn't make sense. I understand my levels being high and I understand not seeing anything in the sac. But what I didn't understand was the fact that I was so early that I didnt believe there was a real way to diagnose for sure that this was a non viable pregnancy. I asked the nurse if he was sure that this was an non-viable pregnancy. She told me yes. She did say that they would do a repeat ultrasound next week. But that ultrasound was only for my peace of mind. I must asked several times during the conversation if they were sure that this was an nonviable pregnancy. She told me yes. It was labeled in my chart a miscarriage. You certain that this pregnancy is not viable? She replied with a yes. I even asked her if the doc thought there was a chance that more would show up in my uterus later. She told me no. She told me that the doctor would be around all weekend and I can talk to him anytime about my options. Really?!?! There are only 3 options which are D&C, medication to induce miscarriage, or waiting. She also told me that the doctor would be around all weekend. So if I started to bleed heavily I needed to call him this weekend. That right there sounds to me like they're mind is already made up 100%. I was devastated. According to them my baby was dead. They were basing their decision on the fact that my levels were high and there was only a gestational sac in my uterus. But what they weren't taking into account was the fact that I was less than six weeks pregnant. I could even understand if they said this is what they were thinking was going on. But for them to say it was certain was absolutely absurd. I had no peace and just couldn't accept what they were saying because it made no sense.
After talking with a couple people my husband and I made the decision to get a second opinion that night. We went to a different hospital. We had the most amazing doctor. He was excellent. Very caring, very kind, very explanatory, and he gave us the facts. The entire experience there was as good is it could be. The staff was amazing. Every person that came into my room was great. They did lab work, complete exam, etc etc. And of course another US. Dr said levels were great...well over 16,000. In his words "very hefty and strong numbers for being almost 6 weeks". We then went for the ultrasound. Thankfully they let my hubby go with me so he got to see everything. The ultrasound gal was great. She turned on a big screen so we could watch everything. It was amazing. And right away we could see...get this......A BABY WITH A HEARTBEAT!!!!! YES, THAT IS RIGHT. A VERY MUCH ALIVE BABY. I knew it!! I knew my OB was wrong. He was supposedly certain that there was no viability, that this baby was not alive. But praise God he was so very wrong!! There was a reason that I didn't have peace.
We are ever so grateful, overwhelmed with joy, and just praising God for this miracle!! My OB was willing to discuss my options. That is a scary thought. If I would have decided to have a D&C or take medication to induce a miscarriage because the pg was according to them not viable, I would have unknowingly KILLED OUR BABY. The thought just sickens me. And then it makes me wonder how many women across the country go through the same thing. How many babies are unintentionally aborted/killed because Dr's are quick to deem a pregnancy as a blighted ovum or non viable?!?! The emotions that go along with that are horrible, but they are real. And many women just decide that emotionally they can't wait to miscarry naturally and just have a D&C. Think about it!!! I could have been one of those women. If I would have opted for a D&C, a very much alive baby would have unintentionally been killed.
We praise God for the wisdom that he gave us!! We didn't have peace, and that was for a reason. If I said I wasn't frustrated with the OB office, I would be lying. Already at less than 5 weeks, they were "not convinced everything was ok." and then at less than 6 weeks they were "certain that this was a miscarriage." I know that you can't surely diagnose a blighted ovum or unviable pregnancy at less than 6 weeks. Especially when labs and everything were so very normal. I would like answers from the OB office, but I am not certain we will get them. I called today and they wouldn't let me talk to him on the phone, nor would they have him call me back. I don't feel that this is something that can just slide though. I want nothing more than to talk to the OB so that next time he is facing a similar situation, he will be more cautious to come to a conclusion and be less willing to take such dramatic measures. And hopefully spare some mom who is less knowledgeable all the heartache that comes along with such a diagnosis. Our baby at least has a chance at life now, and it scares me to think what would have happened if we would have just listened and trusted the OB who was supposedly so certain. If you ever have checks and doubts, please listen. Maybe God is trying to tell you something. I pray that the Lord will allow us to use our experience to share, and maybe, just maybe, one baby will be saved. I have no doubt that many babies across our country are being killed by doctors who diagnose a blighted ovum/miscarriage/non viable pregnancy.





Sent from my iPad

Please pray...

Some "issues" have already come up, and this is appearing to be a precarious first trimester already. Nothing new for me, and first trimesters ALWAYS seem to have issues for me. I would love to know that my friends and family are praying for me. Of course my desire is to have this little one grow and develop, but if that isn't the Lords will, that I would have a sense of peace through it all. Some things occurred today, and some errors seem to have been made on part of some medical staff. I am so confused right now.The last 24 hours have been an extreme roller coaster, and I wish I knew what was at the end, but I don't. For now, I just have to trust that the Lord knows.

Look like me!?!?!?!

Had one of those character drawings done at the Puyallup fair.

Does it look anything like me?!?!

At the shooting range...

A while back, my hubby and I were able to take off for the day. We spent the day in Seattle at the market and then cruising the shops along the water as well. What a blessing it was to spend the whole day just the two of us. On our way home, we stopped at an indoor shooting range and I finally was able to try out my new gun. It is easy to shoot overall, but man that little thing has some fierce kickback! Check out the last pic of my hubby shooting...isnt it cool!?!?!?!

Getting ready

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Ready, aim, fire

First target was only halfway out

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First target

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Shooting at Barney way far out

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This was shooting as far out as the target could go

(ignore the couple at the bottom of the target. haha)

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Isnt this one cool!?!?!?

This was really cool...check it out...

Last weekend, we took a drive, and pulled off the freeway to get food and gas. We saw this huge banner that said something about sand sculpting and decided to go check it out. It ended up being the last day of the show, and we really enjoyed it. I guess it is one of the largest scale sand sculpting competitions around the US. One of the guys from it said the next one this scale was going to be in Florida. It is amazing what people can do simply with sand. I don't necessarily like every one of the sculptures per say, but the detail, etc is still amazing. There were a couple I thought were just weird, but the detail was still awesome. Here are about half of the ones we saw. Ignore the shadow lighting. The sun was coming from behind. If you click on the pics, you can see better details. Check it out..pretty amazing....

Chicken pox....

Chicken pox recently made a stop at our house. Here is Isaac full of spots. He did awesome!! These pics are not on his worst covered day. The next day was the worst as far as amount of spots, but I didnt get pics that day. Jacob also got them but only had like 9 spots. His were very light. We are fully expecting our other children to get them here within the next week and a half (from exposure from Isaac). But for now, enjoy Isaac and his speckles.

Adam...

Next Wednesday Aug 10, Adam will be having surgery. Not a huge major surgery but it does have to be done under general anesthesia. Shouldnt take more than 1.5 hours. We are hoping to have him home the same night. Would you please pray for him.

A trip to the bug museum....

Today we took our boys to a local bug museum. We have heard about it several times and have driven by it many times. So we decided to get up this morning and take them to check it out. It is a neat little place. Our boys enjoyed themselves. There are many things that you can buy and many things that you can look at, do, etc. It really is a neat place to take kids......and it is all free!! I would highyl recommend taking your kids for a learning experience. We do plan on taking our kids back again. It is not a huge place, but definitely fascinating. Here are a few pics to share:

(I posted these in fb too, but I know that not everyone has FB..thus the same pics)