Surprise!

We surprised Olivia with a new bike today.  She has really been struggling with learning how to pedal and her tricycle was not working very well.  We got this adorable John Deere bicycle and I just think it’s the cutest bike I’ve ever seen.  Olivia is not into Barbies or princesses and those are the main two kinds of girls’ bikes. 

We headed outside to work on pedaling and she just can’t seem to master it yet.  What seems “natural” for most kids doesn’t come quite so easy for Olivia.  But, once she gets it, it will be like she’s been doing it forever. 

Afterwards, we came inside to practice some bicycling with our legs.  We WILL get it, even if we have to practice multiple times every day!!

I’m doing well after my cerclage and it was nice to get out of the house finally today.  Overall, it was not as bad as I envisioned and I’m feeling completely normal. 

Cerclage Day

This morning, I had my cerclage put in.  I thought I would post my experiences in case 1) I ever have to do this again or 2) a fellow preemie mom must have one done.  It’s nice to know what to expect (without going into too much detail.  LOL.) It’s best to have it done between 12 – 14 weeks and I was 13 weeks, 2 days.

Cervical cerclage

The surgery itself went great.  I had low blood sugar when I arrived because of not eating for 12+ hours, so they had to give me some dextrose.  I did get a general anesthetic so I don’t remember anything.  They had to check my blood sugar multiple times while I was out to monitor it and for some reason they poked the inside of the same finger.  Sheesh. . don’t they know that you poke the side of the finger and you alternate?  Now, my finger is sore when I type! LOL!  I woke up coughing with a really sore throat and an awful headache!!  Not sure if the headache is from blood sugar fluctuations or something in the anesthesia.  The first thing I said when I woke up was, “My head really hurts!!” And, it’s been my main problem all day!  I’ve had minimal spotting and no bad cramping, thank goodness.  That’s been my main concern. . .how do you tell what is normal spotting/cramping and what is not?  Hopefully, it just improves as the days go on.  My main restriction with a cerclage is no heavy lifting.  It’s amazing how much lifting you do as a stay at home mom. . .whether it’s carrying in the groceries, lifting Olivia into a swing or up to wash her hands when we are out somewhere, carrying the vacuum downstairs, buying litter and cat food at the pet store, carrying my huge bag to t ball games, etc.  So, it’s really hard to not do any of that.  But, I have no choice and may need all the help I can get.

Thanks to Grandma Sailing, Grandma Glunt and Aunt Shelley who will be taking care of Olivia for the remainder of the week.  And, thanks to my husband for taking care of me today.  (Although I’ve been a pretty good patient and have just slept all day.)  Thanks also to my friend, Amanda Updegrove, who provided us with a delicious homemade dinner!!  I’m trying to enjoy these few days of rest and relaxation as it will probably be years before I get to enjoy this again.  And, you know me and my love of sleep!  My cat, Autumn, lives for the days that I nap with her.  She’s in for the best week of her life and hasn’t left my side all day. 

So glad the cerclage is done as I’ve been worrying about it for years knowing that it would be done with a future pregnancy.  So far, it hasn’t been that bad.  But, I’ll be sure to update you often because there isn’t much else to do while in bed for the next few days.  I will most likely start weekly progesterone shots at 17 weeks as another precaution.  We aren’t taking any chances with this pregnancy and I’m looking forward to a healthy, full term pregnancy!  And. . .a healthy, full term baby who cries at birth and gets placed immediately in my arms.  Just thinking of the first picture of Olivia and her new baby sibling brings tears to my eyes.  That will be heaven on earth!

13 Weeks

Current size of baby: 3 inches long and weighs about an ounce.

How far along? 13 weeks

Total weight gain: 5 lbs

Inches Gained: 2 inches

Maternity clothes? Yep, but I haven’t started wearing maternity jeans yet. . .just had to move up a size. Good thing I held onto my old jeans!

Sleep: Good

How I'm feeling: Ravenously hungry and incredibly tired.

Best moment this week: Hearing the baby’s heartbeat on my home Doppler. Then, I heard it again and I think I was picking up my own heartbeat as it was only 80-90 bpm. It kind of freaked me out and I’ve been afraid to use it again.

Movement: No

Food cravings: Cherries and ice water from Sonic. For some reason, their water (and ice) is just better than mine at home.

Food aversions: Becoming less and less as my nausea improves. 

Gender: unknown, but I think we have our boy and girl names decided. 

Labor Signs: NO

Belly Button in or out? in

What I miss: My husband.  He’s been working CRAZY long hours lately and I’ve barely seen him all week.  He worked noon to 4 am on Saturday and even had to work today, on Father’s Day.

What I am looking forward to: Having my cerclage OVER with.

Milestones: Making it through the cerclage. It’s on Tuesday.  It’s worrisome to think that a cerclage is used to prevent preterm birth, but it can also cause a preterm birth.  So, I’m going to be an anxious mess for the next week or so.