Thursday, April 7, 2011

Big Surprise!

I have something I've wanted to share with you all for about 5 weeks now. As I have mentioned before, we decided to stop trying to conceive (TTC) back in December. We decided to just be happy with the two living children we have, and focus on the here and now.

Well...five weeks ago, we got quite a surprise.

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Two weeks ago, we saw this little one peeking at us from the doctor's ultrasound.

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Today, I had another ultrasound where we got to see our little one again.

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It's been quite a whirlwind and so surprising...after talking to fertility doctors who said that we would definitely need help to get pregnant, here we are. Needless to say, we are so grateful and happy.

I am almost 9 weeks pregnant.

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Our newest member of the family is due November 11, 2011...or 11/11/11! How is that for lucky?

Things are looking pretty good. Before today, I would have told you that all was perfect. But today's ultrasound gave us good news and bad news.

The good news is that the baby is growing perfectly, and has a very good, strong heartbeat.

The bad news is that I have a Subchorionic Hemmorage (SCH). Basically, it is a blood clot surrounding the baby, which can cause a lot of problems...miscarriage, stillbirth, placental abruption, and pre-term labor. Here is more information about it, in case you are interested.

My SCH is fairly large and is in a not-so-great place to be. So, I am taking it as easy as I can, and avoiding exercise, etc.

I have another ultrasound in three weeks, and hopefully at that point the SCH will either have reabsorbed, or the baby will be bigger and better able to handle the pressure being put on it by the SCH.

If you are a praying person, or even a "positive thoughts" person, we would welcome your love at this time. We have become quite attached to this baby and we really don't want to say goodbye...

Paprika has named the baby "Pavenzia" - which is a story for another day. So, if you want to visualize the baby, Paprika says she's a baby girl with brown hair and brown eyes. We won't be able to tell the sex for another two months! But, I guess she has a 50% chance of being right.

So, that's my news. Surprise! :-)

35 comments:

Amee said...

Congratulations! So exciting!!

Praying for you and this sweet little one...

Jenjens said...

Erika, that is such fantastic news! I am absolutely over the moon for you and wish you and your family all the very best, and I wish for good health to you during your pregnancy.
Congratulations!!
Jennifer

heartness1 said...

WOW all can say is congratz

Amber E. Berkoski said...

Unbelievably happy for your happy news! I will be thinking of you and sending out positive thoughts about the troubling prognosis. I hope it resolves itself :)

becca said...

What a blessing! I was so excited I laughed out loud in my office! Praise the LORD!

I will be praying for you and for this situation. Devon and I have a friend who had one of those, and she just delivered her beautiful baby boy last week, completely healthy, and the outlook was "grim" for a while. God's got this all under control and I'm over the moon excited for you!

God bless!

Sheila said...

Ooooh Erika, I'm jumping up and down with joy for all of you!
I wish I lived closer to help out.
You did get help, heavenly help and I can't think of anyone more deserving of the love.
Let Paprika know I have the name and visual in my mind now and I'll put in a good word for her in my prayers.
I understand your reservations but in all honesty, go ahead and rejoice. You must be tiptoeing on clouds!!!
Sending my love and hugs to you.
You've made my day in a really big way :)
That really would be a cool birth date to have.

m&msmommy said...

I am SO happy for your and your family! I don't know you, but I've been drawn to your blog for months now (I have a special place in my heart for those who have suffered loss of multiples since my sister lost triplets). I love reading your stories and seeing pictures of your adorable girls! :)

I am a "praying person" :) and will DEFINITELY be praying for you and the baby. My best friend was told that her and her husband wouldn't be able to have children when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Between his diagosis and starting chemo treatment (2 weeks!) she got pregnant. She also had a SCH and by the grace of God everything went well and their daughter Seraphina is 5 months old! :)

Love and prayers being sent your way! :)

OurQuestForFinancialPeace said...

Yay!!! I have been waiting for this post! CONGRATS!!!!

I am not a babyloss mom but I follow your blog because I love your writing and because you are a wonderful mom and I admire you. I will definately be praying for all to be well with your new baby. I'm sure you already follow her blog, but if not, Once A Mother had the same thing with her twins so I'm sure she would be a great resource for you.

Good luck! So excited for you.

Chasity

Carrie Reiberg said...

Oh congrats! Praying praying praying. Love you!

paula said...

congratulations!!! i hope everything works itself out.

My life said...

YAY! Congrats. I somehow knew it might be when you posted your last 5 years blog ;) I had a 5cm and growing SCH with Ethan and it was under the placenta. I was very nervous about it but by twenty weeks it resolved. I will pray that yours reabsorbs and quickly. Praying for a healthy and uneventful pregnancy!!!

Erin said...

Erika!!!! I'm thrilled for you!!! This is the best news! Totally made my day! I'm so so happy for you. Yes, take it REALLY easy. You will be in my prayers for the next nine months! Congrats cutie. You so deserve this new gift.

I'm so excited for you!!! :)

Kim said...

Aawww, congratulations!!! How exciting for you! I'm so happy things are working out. I had a SCH with my twin girls and bled at 10 weeks which scared me like crazy. They ended up carrying until you know so try not to stress too much-easier said than done, I know!! Congratulations again!!

Cristy said...

How AMAAAZING!! Congrats! Isn't is awesome how that happens when you finally decide NOT to try and conceive anymore?

Please keep us updated with your health!

Jara said...

Sending MANY thoughts and Prayers!!

Congratulations!!

Emily said...

Congratulations, Erika! You came to mind the other day and I prayed specifically that the Lord would bless you and your family with a baby, if it was His will. It is so wonderful to see that prayer answered!! I will keep praying that the rest of the pregnancy goes will with no problems.

Love, Emily

The Wallace Family said...

Your girls are adorable and Congrats on the exciting news!! I will be sending positive thoughts your way and you will be in my prayers as well!! Look forward to reading about your journey! One of my really close friends is also do on 11/11/11!! What a fun date!

Unknown said...

Erica, I am so happy for you! I had an SCH with my 1st and it was so scary! I started bleeding heavily at 12 weeks and was put on bed rest until about 18 weeks. I was so scared during those 6 weeks because I would bleed on and off but eventually it just reabsorbed and I was off then off of bed rest. I did have some pre-term labor around 32 weeks and delivered at 36 but Mackenzie was a great size and is now a healthy 4 1/2 year old! So, take it easy and I will pray that it reabsorbs and you will have an "easy" pregnancy from here on out. Congrats again!

Tracy said...

I found your blog a long time ago, maybe from FF, I forget, but it was years ago. Anyway, I wanted to officially introduce myself, offer a huge congratulations (!!!) and send prayers as I sit here nursing my November baby...who was conceived on a TTC break. ;) I was told at the age of 15 I wouldn't be able to conceive, and I have two boys now!

Lauren said...

AHHHHHH!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

So happy for you. I will keep you in my prayers that the SCH isn't a problem. Wow, 11/11/11! So exciting! Giving up on TTC really helps, doesn't it?!? Congrats again. You will remain in my prayers.

Brookeanne said...

SO excited for you!!! Another precious blessing! Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way!

Bre Carson said...

I am definately a praying person and I will definately keep your whole family in my prayers!!! I love to read your blog and see the pictures of your beautiful girls!! How exciting that in November there will be another beautiful face to see!!! Congrats and keep the faith. Diane Carson, Iowa.

Julie said...

Congratulations! I love your due date and will keep you all in my thoughts in prayers to keep your little bean safe.

Alisha said...

Congratulations Erika! This is such exciting news! Sending you lots of good vibes and prayers for a healthy and happy pregnancy!

siri said...

What a beautiful surprise! I'll be hoping and praying for this little one. HUGS!!!!

Brenna said...

We're all coming out of the woodwork to send our love and congratulations your way! Oh E, what exciting news. I'm thrilled for you all!!! I had a really large SCH when pregnant with T, and it was scary...but it did eventually go away (after I passed a clot the size of a baseball at my best friend's rehearsal dinner! Good times...). I hope yours is nowhere near that traumatic and the rest of your pregnancy is smooth sailing. I'll be sending all kinds of good thoughts & prayers in your direction.

xxoo
B

kewd said...

Congratulations :) When I was pregnant with my twins, I had a bad SCH at 12 weeks and I bled heavily with it. It seemed like I had my menstrual cycle for the next 8 weeks. I was terrified. But it all ended well, at my 20 week ultrasound it was completely gone. I wish you the very best success with yours disappearing and causing no issues as well.

I am very happy for you.

Wendy (gottagiggle&twins)

Home Is Where They Send Us said...

YAY! SO happy for you!! Lots of thoughts and prayers for you!! <3

Elizabeth said...

OMG ERIKA!!!!!!! I AM SO over the moon for you. When you mentioned a Dr appt in BH previously I had my fingers crossed 100 times. :)

Best news!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 Love you!

Faith Jones said...

Wow Erika, that is so exciting! I am very happy for you, and will be praying for no complications. :)

Jamie said...

What a blessing...my God shine down on this pregnancy like the rays of sunshine He created!

Will be praying for a safe, happy and full term pregnancy.

So, Happy for you, the mister, and the girls!

~S said...

Congratulations!!

Sandra said...

Sending so many positive thoughts for you and your new little one!!! Congrats! I am hoping for a nice long, uneventful pregnancy for you.

christine said...

Just now getting caught up on all my blog reading as we've been away but I wanted to say first CONGRATS to you! I hope you have a boring uneventful LONG pregnancy and everything goes well for you during the next 6/7 months. I am a praying and positive person. So I will pray for you and send many positive vibes your way. Good luck with everything.

Lost in Space said...

So happy for you, Erika! What an amazing surprise. I'm an 11/07 baby and think scorpios are a pretty good bunch. (-;

Wishing you all the best and hoping the SCH is soon gone and everything continues to progress well.