1wk 3days (I am only counting whole days)

Everything is still going pretty smooth. When I had my ultrasound on the 6th when I first got here baby was around 2lbs 12oz. I had another US last Thursday...two weeks later and he is around 3lbs 9oz. 12oz in two weeks. I hope he will gain that much or more over the next two weeks...that would put him around 4 1/2lbs. Hooray! It is hard to tell exactly what he weighs when we really CAN'T weigh him! :)
I am still ready to go home. I've been trying to do a lot of walking. From one end of the hospital to the other is a 1/4 mile. I know when it's time to sit when all my lower abd muscles start yelling at me. :) I have still not had a moment of boredom. Which IS good. If I were strapped to my bed that would be a different story. The food is getting boring however. I am learning that if there is something I want just to write it on my menu and if they have it they'll bring it. I have been fortunate to have some home cooked meals lately. Even some good take out is better then low carb, low fat, less protein hospital food. I guess it's really not thaaaaatttt bad just boring. The cookies are good. :)
Hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful turkey day!

Have fun shopping on Friday!!!

2wks 6days...the count down has started. For me anyway. I am ready to go home, a week has been enough :)

Delivery is scheduled for December 5th at 8am. Not sure yet if I am going to have a spinal or if I am goin totally out. The risk of bleeding with the spinal isn't safe, but they arn't so sure putting me under would be the safest either. Everyone is getting to know the patient in 206 :) It's defiantly bringing awareness of Ehlers Danlos. There was a nurse that was off for a few days and came back and said she was researching me...well EDS. It's nice to know that they have an interest in my "case".
Josh and Andrew came down on Wednesday and home today. It's only a few days in between but it's still hard not being around them. I cried today when they left and I was holding Andrew, he said "mommy why you crying?" I said "cause I am going to miss you." Josh told me it would be okay and it would only be a few days, then Andrew put his hands on my face and said "it's okay mommy." It was cute very sweet. I am just glad he wasn't upset about having to leave cause THAT would have made it a lot harder.
Keep Josh in your prayers. His back has been hurting pretty bad lately. Not sure EXACTLY whats wrong but he'll being seeing a chiropractor on Monday. Hopefully they will do an x-ray and he won't HAVE to go to a "doctor".
Will keep you posted. Stay in touch!

Day 5 already! It's feels like I've been here for a month already. Mr. Joshuah is very wiggly. Everyday when the nurse puts the monitor on to check heart rate and check contractions he is hard to find, then we get him on and then he goes away. He thinks he's smart now. Just wait a few more weeks...he won't have much room to move, don't know how he does now but hey.

I've been feeling okay. Tired, some small contractions. Nothing to worry about. Met with the Cardiologist again today. She and my other doc agreed that another MRI of my aorta would be good. So I just got back from doing that. We were almost done and then I started feelin bad...head ache, bad lower back pain, cramping, and it was HOT in there. Plus baby was jumping around a lot and then just stopped which made me nervous. So we stopped for today and if there is not enough info for the doc then we'll do more tomorrow. The nurse just came in and said there was enough done and so I don't have to go back in tomorrow. (Good news)

We should know better tomorrow when exactly we're going to deliver. Dr. Katz said he'd get it scheduled tomorrow and let us know. We're probably looking at the 4th of December providing everything goes smooth until then.

Josh and Andrew went home on Saturday. It's been lonely with out them. But it sounds like Andrew is happy to be there. Back in his own bed....lucky boy :) It was cute, Josh called me yesterday on their way to church and I was talking to Andrew he said "I woked up, comb my hair, got toofbrush and told daddy no" I guess he didn't want to do things the way daddy wanted to. He is to use to mommy taking up time in the bathroom and not being done as fast as daddy. Guess he wanted to take his time. :) I love that boy! They will be back to visit on Wednesday and then home again on Friday. Pray for a safe trip and clear roads for the boys.

Will keep ya updated through out the week. Take care and keep prayin.

Day one,

My appt went well this morning. Had an ultrasound, Joshuah is getting big, more fat on his bones. Weighing about 2lb 12oz measuring at 28wks 5days instead of 28wks. So that made my day! After the appt we went to the mall for lunch one last time and then arrived back to the hospital for admission. Now at 6:00 all of the paperwork and monitoring and question have all been complete. Monitored baby's heart for awhile and realized just how active he really is! Silly boy

Dr. Katz said we'd do another ultrasound in a wk or two same with an echo. The high risk baby dr will be in tomorrow and we can then also tour NICU. No bed rest yet, but I also won't be leaving the facilities. That also means no going anywhere for Thanksgiving. "it defeats the purpose" true but disappointing. Better safe then sorry I know.

I am amazed how fast time has gone as I've said before. I thank you all for the thoughts, prayers and support. Hope your all doing well. Stay in touch. Email me for all the hospital info. I defiantly up for visitors. :)

As I sit here eating my bagel and enjoying a cup of DECAF coffee I wonder where the last 6mos have disappeared to. We've got five weeks to go and compared to the 27 we've already completed...WOW is all I can say. God has been working my life as he always is, showing my that he IS big enough to handle this. That my worries are just emotions and God has a plan for my life no matter when the end of it will be.

I have been feeling pretty good for the most part. Tired. Full, but enjoying the last few months. I had my iron recheck last week and it was still low so added another iron pill to my routine. Did my 1hr glucose test. It came back high and I got nervous. Did the 3hr test and it all came back normal. Thank you Jesus! While waiting for the results it did give me a little insight though on how much carbs and sugar I intake. Forget the salt just bring on the sugar. That's slowed down a bit. :) I worked two half days last week and yesterday afternoon, giving flu shots up at the clinic. It was nice to get out and do something different. I love my job!

Andrew still isn't sure what to think about baby Joshuah. He says "no mommy, not baby Joshuah, daddy Joshua..." it's cute. I am sure he will get the picture when he has a "person" face to put with baby Joshuah. In the almost 3yrs of his life hes experienced with baby powder (all over his bedroom) yogurt (all over him, the couch and his blanket) and now yesterday he found the whiteout that was set on the stairs (my fault) waiting to be taken down to to the office...

"Andrew what are you doing?" "I don't know" few minutes go by... and again "Andrew what are you doing?" and again "I don't know, my tummy hurts." uh oh.. So I thought he had gotten into my tums, because that is what I tell him when I take em' and tell him it's not candy and he can't have any. Not sure how he would have gotten them cause they are up in the cupboard but anyway I walk down the stairs, see him sitting at the top of the stairs to go down to the office, "Andrew!!! what are you doing!!?!?!?" This was cute. "painting, mom" ha ha. Have you ever tried to get whiteout out of carpet, a cute plush dragon costume, or even off skin?? Doesn't work to well. I should have taken pictures but didn't cause I was to worried about getting it off the costume. Didn't care about his white hands, arms, feet but the costume! I don't think he'll play with it again. He was confused while sitting in the tub with his foot under the runny water wondering why it wouldn't come off. He laughed and laughed when Josh was scrubbing his feet.

Anyway...just another day in paradise. The plan still remains. Leaving for Eugene today and then into the hospital next Thursday. Then deliver around the 4th of December. It's happening quick. Thanks to everyone for all of the thoughts and prayers. Means more to me then you think!

God is GOOD, God is TRUTH, God is LOVE

Eleven days until the long awaited journey begins. Don't get me wrong it's been a journey all the way through. As of right now the plan is to head to Eugene on the 30th of this month. I'll be admitted on the 6th of Nov. I am VERY anxious, nervous, scared, excited...every emotion I can think of. The Bible says; be anxious for nothing... I am workin on it!

I am just very thankful that I have a good portion of my family up there who will be close. Having a hard time leaving my Josh and Andrew. Part of me thinks they can't go on without me and they'll just suffer the whole time. BUT that's just the controling fleshy part of me. I KNOW they will be just fine and I'll get to see thm every week. It's just the feelings that get to me.

I get to work two days this week and one day next. All half days. :) Get to give flu shots up at the clinic. So I won't be getting myself all worked up, easy cheesey! I have been feeling pretty good. Total weight gain is right around 20lbs. HOORAY! Yes I like gaining weight! It is frustrating though to put something on my body that fit last week but not this week. But that isn't news to those of you that have experienced this before. Found out that my iron was low so now I take a supplement. It's amazing how much that makes a difference in how tired I am from day to day. I have a doctors appt tomorrow to recheck my iron level and to do my diabetes testing this week. Can't wait for that! ha ha.

Jennifer and Tabby came down this week and painted Joshuah's bedroom. Turned out really cute! We got the crib and rocker all put together, got the dresser set up and clothes put away. A lot was accomplished. I just wish we didn't have to wait so long to let the lil guy to enjoy it. However I am sure it will come soon enough and I'll be wondering where the time went like I am now.

I've started a list of things I want with me at the hospital...my own blankets, pillow, clothes :) Things that I want to "do" some scrap booking, puzzle books, cross stitching and readying. If you have any favorite fictional books let me know Iam in serch of the good ones. Not a BIG reader here!

God is definatly in control. He has been with us all the way through and will continue. My faith is strong my emotions are weak. Your prayers are still greatly appreciated and doing wonders! Hope this finds everyone doing well. Hugs to all!

Well, I saw Dr. Balderson in Eugene on Monday. I now remember why I liked him. He is the same doctor we saw in Portland when I was first diagnosed. A very calm and understanding guy with a smile on his face. It is a relief talking with people that know about EDS and not trying to explain everything hoping you don't miss something. The nurse did a US shortly after we were there. I will admit it was nice looking at a monitor up on the wall in front of me instead of trying to turn my head to see the one next to me. :) Anyway everything looks good. Joshua is growing good, around 3/4 of a pound at that point. Yet I've gained 13lbs. HOORAY! (I am excited about it! ) The 3D pics are very cool. No fat on his bones yet, but soon. They measured EVERYTHING on him and it ALL looks perfect. So I was told. :) Dr. Balderson came in looked at the US and agreed that everything looks well. We talked with him about my fast heart rate and the shortness of breath. He wants to keep a close eye on things for now and wanted to see what the echo showed later that day. I spoke with his clinic yesterday and the echo came back normal so unless something changes or started going wrong within the next 6 1/2 weeks he wants to admit me at 28wks (first of Nov.) and deliver at 32wks. (first of Dec.) I am thankful that it isn't 6wks in the hospital, but it will still be difficult being in there for a month.

I've been off work for a week and a half and it's make me go CRAZY! I know it's for the best BUT I would much rather be at the clinic doing what I enjoy. When we came home from Eugene on Wednesday Andrew stayed and is enjoying time with papa, nana, and Auntie Jen. Therefore....this week I have gone through all of Andrew's 0-3mo baby clothes for Joshua. Washed, hung up and put them all away. I with cousin Elya and have been cleaning out closets! Today we went through all of Andrew's clothes and boxed up summer clothes and clothes that no longer fit the big guy. And then pulled out clothes for the next 6 months so dad doesn't have to worry about finding winter clothes and I can feel confident that my child is wearing clothes that fit him properly while I am not in control...ha ha ha (don't worry I am not doing too much or lifting things I shouldn't. Elya won't let me ) I am VERY thankful to those of you that have provided us with clothes for Andrew! We have been truly blessed and haven't HAD to buy him clothes over the last 2 1/2 years! And won't have to for awhile. So THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

I am feeling pretty well. I get tried easily and winded with just a short walk up the stairs, but I am doing better then I thought I would be. Your prayers are so greatly appreciated. Keep praying that we stay in good health, that our pre-delivery stay at the hospital won't extend 4wks and that Andrew will be able to bond with daddy while this change is happening and be able to cope when our lives come back as one again.

No definite plans yet, but we are thinking that Andrew is going to stay with Josh during the week in Klamath and then they will drive up on the weekends....Andrew may stay a week here and a week there in Eugene but we will have to see how he is doing. Lots of prayers!

So today wasn't that great. Spent most of the day in the ER. It started about 2-3mos ago where I've been having these episodes of shortness of breath and where it feels like my heart is jumping out of my chest. Well at my last doctors apt with doctor Sohl I talked with him about it and he just wanted us to keep an eye on it and check my heart rate when it happens. It's happened a couple times over the last week and then again last night. I was just laying in bed, rolled over and my heart started racing. It went away pretty quick, which it usually does. WELL.....I had a regular OB check up this AM with my K. Falls doctor and gosh darn it it happened again. All I was doing was having a conversation with the nurse about my regular concerns and I started to get the shortness of breath and my heart was jumping....my BP was good but my heart rate was 144. My doctor came in and didn't like the way I looked....she called our cardiologist in town and she isn't familiar with EDS and suggested I go to the hospital. So that's where we went. Blood work, EKG, ultrasound of all my organs and baby, and a MRI of my aorta. Everything came out normal. Which IS good, but then why is this happening??? Right now the reasoning for my tight chest with shortness of breath is as usual...my uterus gets bigger puts more pressure on my lungs which in turn causes my symptoms. As for my heart, well I have and echo next Monday when I meet with Dr. Balderson and Kaatz in Eugene. We'll see what they have to say about all of this.
This week was suppose to be my last week of work, but after today my doctor said that I am done. That bummed me out I am not mentally ready to be done. BUT it's okay cause physically it's time! Lots of prayers are needed and are appreciated! I know that anything can happen to anyone of us, but I also know that GOD is good and he can do anything.

Oh yeah, it's a BOY!!!!! and Josh has been grinning all day!!!

Baby looks good!

Above - Feet, Below-hand

I had another doctors apt today. Started off pretty good, after about 10mins into the ultrasound I got sick...lightheaded, nausea, thought I was going to pass out. NOT a very good feeling when you've got "tissue" problems! BP and heart rate was good, I sat up for awhile and it passed. Assuming it happen because I was laying on my back and there was too much pressure on my Vena Cava. Thank God it passed! :) I talked with the doctor about the "episodes" I've been having...my heart feels like it's jumping out of my chest, my chest gets tight, I get nauseated blah blah blah. He told be to keep a close eye on it and to check my heart rate. We'll see.
I am 17wks 6days along and baby is measuring at 18wks 3days. From my understaning they are not going to change where I am in pregnancy and keep the January 29th due date. I meet with the doctor in Eugene on September 15th. At that time we will make a plan for delivery and Dr. Sohl in Medford wants me to get an echo at that time. He said something today I wasn't very excited about...he is thinking that Dr. Balderson in Eugene will probably suggest putting me in the hospital around 24wks instead of 28-29wks. I am okay with that for safety reasons but good golly I'll go CRAZY!!!!! :) I know it's best if that is what he wants me to. Everything else is going smooth and as planned. Still fighting nasty heartburn after I eat anything. But hey that's the least of my worries.
The house is officially for sale (by owner) and we are in deep prayer that it sells SOON! But we know that everything happens in God's time. Andrew is doing good for the most part. I think I can say he IS potty trained!!! Hooray!!!! Well okay sort of. :) He still wears a diaper at night but hates it! The other night I put him to bed in his underwear and we were changing sheets at 2am. Won't try that again for awhile.
I will post again after my apt on the 15th. Please keeps us in your prayers. We are truly blessed with all who are praying. It's amazing how when you share your need for prayer how that spreads across the nation! So again thank you VERY much for everything!!!!

Pregnancy

I am being blessed with good health at this point. Nothing new with doctor appts. I was in Eugene this last weekend and tried to get in with the doctor up there but couldn't because of their booked schedule. But that's okay no worries. I have an appt. with him on Sep. 15th.

I am definitely feeling all the perks of pregnancy. The nausea has calmed down a little bit. Lots of heart burn, cramping, muscles pulling and stretching, head aches, hungry but no matter what I eat it makes my stomach upset. Yea all the fun stuff. As of my last appt. which was last week I've gain 10lbs since day one. To me that was exciting beings gaining weight hasn't always been easy for me :) My doctors don't have any worries concerning my head aches but we'll definitely keep a close eye on them.

God is good and is showing through everyday. I got the pleasure of attending the Beth Moore telecast last weekend. It was GREAT! She had a LOT of good things to say, but something that really stuck out... she said that "we need to be warriors and not worriers" I think that is something to always keep in the back of our mind. Worrying just causes anxiety and stress which in the end is just proof that we are human and want to have control over things that we should let God be in control of.

The Begining

Hello Everyone,
As most of you already know it's been a long hard couple of months for Josh and I. The beginning of June was when we first found out that I am pregnant. Talk about an emotional roller coaster. With Ehlers-Danlos we've always been told not to get pregnant and if we did the risk for me would be very high. So lots of time in prayer and a million conversations later we have a plan of having this baby in December.
The Plan: I am being cared for by my OB here in town and by a perinatologist (high risk OB) in Medford (Dr. Sohl). The doctor in Medford doesn't not feel comfortable leaving me in the hands of any of his colleges, and since he is not available but 50% of the time we are going to deliver in Eugene. If I can't get in sooner, at about 20wks we will meet with the perinatologist in Eugene, who is the doctor that we met with at OHSU five years ago when I was diagnosed with EDS. Set up the "definite" plan and get an echo done of my aorta to make sure everything is still going okay. I stop working at the clinic at the same time. At 20wks. They have yet to tell me that I'll need to be on bed rest but I don't think I'll be doing much. I've already been encouraged not to be picking up Andrew as much as I would like. Not working is going to drive me CRAZY, BUT it will be nice to have some down time. I'm already getting grouchy with the kids at work. Dr. Sohl said that he wants me to the hospital 2 weeks before delivery for observation. Baby will be delivered (c-section) around 30-32wks. The earlier the better for me but the later the better for baby. The they'll keep me in ICU for 2-3days afterward while my blood volume goes down. The risk of arterial rupture in great during pregnancy because of the increase of blood volume buts it's also great after delivery. Then another few days for observation. Dr. Sohl said baby will probably be in the hospital for 6-8weeks. I though that was an awful long time. But hey it will all depend on how baby is doing.
I am hoping to be headed to Eugene around the beginning to middle of November so I don't have to go strait to the hospital. Our "plan" right now is to get the house sold, and get set up in our new place. For now we are just going to rent. We would like to stay here but it's becoming to much for me to clean and we would like to cut our house payment/rent down to pay off some bills! Josh is going to stay in K. Falls and work on his counseling. He'll come up to Eugene the week before and the week after delivery, and then on weekends. I know that's all going to change but I like to have and idea of what is going to be happening.

I truly believe in the power of prayer, so yours are greatly appreciated.
Prayers
1. For my health, that my arteries and the lining of my uterus and other organs will be strong and able to hold the increasing blood volume.
2. The house will sell in a timely manner
3. That baby won't have EDS. It's a 50/50 chance.

Please do not hesitate! Put us on your prayer chains!!!

I serve an awesome God who is able to do anything! My life is in his hands and he is the one to decide when a life starts and when it ends.

My favorite Bible verse is 1 Thess. 5:18
"Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's plan for you who believe in him"

Even though we are in a hard situation and it's VERY scary my God is with me!