5 Miles

I went to visit the specialist and Genetic Counselor on Friday afternoon. The visit went much faster then I expected. The Dr. did prescribe a drug I’d been reading about and hoping I’d get. This drug breaks down the bile acid in my system and should help the itching go away. I started taking it yesterday but it will take 3-5 days for it to start working. But there is hope! I also spent some time outside today in the sun (we’d had 4 straight days of rain/clouds before yesterday). The same UV light they use for babies with jaundice also helps me, so being outside does help some. Too bad it’s too cool for shorts!

The Dr. did say this drug does not cross over to the baby, which is why they give it to me. There is still the chance that the baby could have issues once we get past 37 weeks. The bile can build up in the umbilical cord and the placenta (and I’m assuming, since the drug can’t cross over, it can’t break that down) and this can cause stillbirth after 37 weeks.  The Doctors will be monitoring the baby a great deal in the next 4 weeks and most likely induce at 37 weeks if the lungs are developed enough. We’re praying Baby Boy’s lungs will develop well, like Alex’s did. 

Monday I go back to my own Doctors, the specailists said she’d be calling them and updating them on her recommendations.  So I’ll give you more of an update then! The specialist did say I’d be feeling better by Monday–so I’m holding on to that!

Because these make me laugh and I want to remember them:

• Goliath
• George (as in Curious George, the monkey)
• Pickel Head
• Cabinet Head
• Pants Head
• anything he’d happen to see at the time of discussion
• Jason (I actually liked this one until I realized he was thinking of Jason the Mason from the Richard Scarey books and then I knew I’d always think of the poor kid as Jason the Mason so it did not make the cut.)

Hello all! Once again I’m apologizing for the lack of updates. Really it’s because we’ve done very little of interest here and I’ve not blogged, worried it will end up a complaining fest, or I’ve just been too tired to write anything…but I do have a few random things about the boys and updates on the pregnancy, so I’ll give you a list. (Plus, I do want to write things down for future memories–the whole point of the blog!!!)

• Baby Boy #3 is growing well and QUITE active, with a strong kick. I, once again, have the itchy skin I had with the last two pregnancies. (If you weren’t reading the blog then, the itchy skin is caused by an odd liver issue & the pregnancy hormones. They block off my liver’s ability to break down bile. So Bile Acid builds up under my skin and makes it quite itchy, plus it can build up in the placenta/umbilical cord and cause problems for the baby. It’s a rare condition called Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP), or Obstetric Cholestasis (OB).)  The itching and fatigue I experience with it have made me not fun to be around. I’m itchy, I get tired SO easily, I’m not sleeping well (itching + acid reflux + hard kicking baby) so I feel I spend lots of time napping to catch up on sleep and just trading off child care duties with James. (He gets in at about 3 am, sleeps until about 11. Around then I’ve used up all my energy so I’ll go nap while he does lunch for the kids and plays with them. Then he goes to work and I get back up. Needless to say there are days we don’t see each other much!)Last week, at my doctor’s appointment, I pushed for blood work to be done because I felt the itching started sooner or was more intense then last time (but it could be memory dimming how bad it was), and was hoping we could try a newer drug that would break down the bile acid and help me feel better. I had in my hand studies from medical journals to back up what I was wanting do to, but the Dr. wanted to draw blood and see if the Serum Bile Acid levels/Liver Enzyme leves were high enough.  (What? They won’t just give me the drugs?!?)  I got a call today that confirmed levels were quite high. Last time, they didn’t do much, just monitored me more closely. This time they are sending me to the Maternal/Fetal Wing of the Woman’s Hospital to meet with a Dr. and Genetic Counselor…they made the appointment for me to get me in as soon as possible.  Sadly, that’s not until Friday, but there is hope!  No idea if this will get me the drugs I’m hoping for, but we shall see–and of course I’m praying for that. Please pray with me they can treat the issue (it is better for the baby, not just me), that I can enjoy the last month or so of the pregnancy instead of endure it, and for the boys as they’re being left to fend on their own more then I like.  I keep thinking of fun things I’d like to do with them before our lives are turned upside down with the new baby, but just don’t have the ability to do right now and that makes me sad, but they seem do be doing fine and I’m reminded that I’ll feel much better when the baby comes.

That’s enough about me, let’s focus on rest of the family!

• Alex is really into numbers and drawing. His preschool teacher was shocked he could count to 50 (kids are supposed to be able to count to 20 by kindergarten).  He and Will love to count in the car together, and love to count the number of “cool things” they’ve seen as we’re driving around. He works really hard to color “in the lines” (something I’ve never pushed, but I guess is good hand/eye coordination) and loves to color with lots of colors. He is drawing objects much earlier then Will did at his age. He enjoys preschool and Cubbies and is doing well there.
• Will also is into numbers. He came to me one night wanting to know what 40+40 was. So I showed him how to line them up and add them. He thought that was so cool he wanted me so make him more problems. I showed him how to carry a number, and he was off.  The next day James printed off some math worksheets for him and he was SO excited.  Now we just need to get him a bit more excited about reading. Once again, I have plans to work with him more on that, but lack the energy right now.  But we have time, we’ll get to it. Last week he noticed my walk had turned to a waddle and asked me why. We went back to the usual answer I’m telling him all the time “It’s the baby”.
• James’ new job is going well. He finished up his day time training and has spent the last 3 weeks working with his team, doing the afternoon/night shift on Tuesday-Friday. He likes having Mondays off. Of course as we’ve gotten used to this, it’s about to change! Next week he goes back to days as he studies for his Series 7 and other tests he needs to take.  He’ll have 3 weeks of classes/studies and then takes his tests the week of Dec. 14. (Which is the week I’ll be 36 weeks pregnant and considered “safe” to deliver…if liver issues keep up, they’re going to want to induce me early…another reason to pray with us about the timing of baby joining the family!)
• After a cold and rainy October (or so it seemed), we had 2 weeks of sun and warmer then normal temps in November. Now we’re getting back into typical Nov. weather–rainy and cool. The kids tried to tell me it was COLD, like WINTER on Monday…um, no, sorry to break it to you guys, it’s only going to get colder! (Monday had temps in the low 50s!)
• This is our last “normal” week. Cubbies and Bible Study end until January after this week, which I’m very thankful for! I knew I’d be about at the point where I’d be ready to be done and I was right!   I’ve actually missed the last moth of the Bible study between field trips, sick kids, sick me and just being too tired. I was using the morning time that both kids were gone to nap and get energy for Cubbies each night. Thankfully, God did provide that rest and energy to get through Wednesday nights, but I’m thankful this is the last night.

So, consider yourself updated! I’ll make sure to update the results of the Doctor visit on Friday.

Tonight James and I are going out on a Date Night. Alex wanted to know why he and Will couldn’t go. James told him when he was married he could go on his own Date Night. Alex said “With Will?”  We told him he probably wouldn’t want to go on a date with his brother when he’s older, and he just couldn’t understand why.

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Alex, “How do you make an English Muffin?”

Will, “You take a muffin and make it speak English!”

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Yesterday the boys were playing with their matchbox race cars. I overheard Alex yell “Will! I just had a big crash! Want to come see the replay?”