26 Weeks and Counting

Time is flying by and before I know it, summer will be over and I will be anxiously awaiting our newest addition.

Our gender reveal picture,,,the balloon popped almost immediately so glad I was able to capture this moment!

What has it been like to be pregnant with baby #2 and having lupus?  TIRED but I do not think this is a unique feature of having lupus.  I attribute it to having a toddler and a full time job.  So far I can't complain about much other than being tired and still not being able to sleep.  Typical pregnancy problems such as peeing every hour is annoying and probably the culprit of the lack of sleep.  During my first pregnancy, at 26 weeks you barely could tell I was pregnant.  Now, you can tell and so can I! My walk is slower and my bending is not as graceful. Again, not unexpected and not related to Lupus.

Two trips to the ice cream shop in one day at the beach!  Little sprout is really making out on these pregnancy whims.

This summer we have made it to the beach twice so far.  Staying out of the sun and slathered in sunblock helped keep any flare activity at bay.  I am grateful to be able to enjoy the beach while staying safe and healthy thanks to my wonderful family.  I can say walking across the hot sinking sand is not fun, especially when you weigh like 20lbs more than your used to weighing.

Trying not to buy too much but I could not resist this baby jogger city mini double when I found it used!

So far I have bought three outfits for baby.  I am really trying not to get sucked into buying tons of clothes knowing she will out grow things so fast.  I went through Sprout's old clothes and was able to reuse a bunch of newborn and infant items which is awesome and puts off the bittersweet idea of donating his little outfits.  Considering this is our last baby (fingers crossed) and this one is a girl, my husband and I decided to throw a party!  We are hosting a sprinkle for baby girl so our closest friends and family can celebrate and share in our excitement.  I have heard lots of feedback regarding this sprinkle, and I never thought it would be so controversial, but apparently people do not like the idea of a celebrating a second baby.  I don't see why we shouldn't have a party to celebrate the new addition. All parents are excited for their new babies and should be able to celebrate it anyway they choose.  Haters not welcome! I will update with our co-ed sprinkle details once the date gets closer

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26 weeks and healthy!

So, so far so good.  Monthly OB and high risk appointments continue.  Lupus check ups at Johns Hopkins every 6 weeks continue to return positive testing and show no signs of lupus activity. Thanks to lupus, I did have to see a pediatric cardiologist to make sure baby girl's heart is not affected by my disease, which it's not.  We took our hospital tour and we are super happy with the hospital, staff and accommodations.  Let the final trimester countdown begin!

Never Moving Again

Hopefully I can take a small break from Lupus talk.  The cardiologist said my heart is good to go.  The only thing I am left waiting on is the results from my pulmonary function tests from last Monday. 

Today was very stressful as we are preparing to respond to the sellers about fixes needed on the house before we go to settlement.  I am sure they will not fix everything but they need to fix the big things.  For example, the skylights need to be replaced, electrical work, chimney work.. more importantly, roof work and landscaping because water gathers near the house.  It is stressful because the house is at the top of our budget.  The decision to be made is if they do not fix these things do we back out of the contract and find something else?  We move on 15 Feb and will need to move somewhere.  I will be so glad when all of this is over.

Jackson is 9 months old.  I feel like a horrible mom because I totally missed his 8 month pictures.  I was a little busy around Christmas with all of the hospital visits.  Today we tried to take his 9 month photos and it was crazy!  He is moving around so much they almost all came out blurry.  His sticker would not stay on his shirt.  I gave up and this is what we got:

 

 

Today's Blessing:  Being one day closer to being back in Maryland with our families

A Healthy Heart and Liver

Last Friday I went in for my cardiac cath.  I was nervous like I always am when I have to go in for a procedure and it was without reason.   The whole procedure took less than an hour.  It took longer to prep.  I was the first appointment but an ICU case had to kick me back by 20 minutes.  My doctor went in through the artery in my groin (awesome because part of the prep is shaving... yes, its embarrassing but I  was prepared for that).  They gave me some meds to calm me and it must have worked because the whole thing was over before I noticed.  I watched the screens and talked with the techs.  There were about 8 people in the room not including myself and the doctor so needlesstosay I have to add about 11 people to the list of who has seen me naked! 

The worst part of the whole thing is laying flat on your back for so long.  The funniest part was taking my walk around the recovery room with the nurse and seeing about 5 rooms with old men watching me.  I guess I was the only one to keep my curtain pulled... they acted like it was a social gathering.  So, yet again, I am the youngest person at my appointment. 

The doctor also ordered my Echo and it turns out I do have a small whole in my heart.  Apparently a small portion of the population has a whole that doesn't close up after birth.  She also said the pressure between my heart and lungs is 20 (normal is 15-25) so I am good.  Wish the first Echo didn't say it was 50!  So, I should be good to wait for the pulmonary specialist in a few weeks.  Still doesn't explain the pressure in my chest.

My liver doctor called yesterday too.  She says I have a fatty liver and all I can do is loose weight.  I will have to start eating better and working out I guess but maybe my liver hasn't caught up in the fact I just lost a ton of weight!  She said she was concerned about a possible autoimmune hep but that I do not have that.  Still doesn't explain why my stomach always feels full.

Today's Blessing:  My coworker who is watching my pup and our dear friend who is watching my cat while we go find a house!  Very blessed with great friends!

Crawling and a Liver Biopsy

Jackson started crawling.  Last night we saw him for the first time moving forward.  It is so cute.  I guess now we really need to be more careful about where he is playing.  I have left him on the floor in his room while I was getting his bath ready but no more!  He could crawl into the hall and fall down the steps.  It is awesome to see how proud he is.

I was finally able to get a hold of the GI doctor's office today.  Their office phone has been messed up for two days.  It is annoying when they call and leave a message to call back.  I have determined this is not a good thing.  If the results were negative they would either A, not call, or B, say the results were good.  When they don't say anything I have learned its because they want to review some bad results with you. 

My ultrasound shows a fatty liver but apparently that's not too big of a deal and it is very common for the San Antonio area.  Guess we eat too much Mexican food.  The concerning results are with the blood work (duh).  I have a positive ASMA and positive autoimmune globulin...whatever those mean.  What it means for me is a liver biopsy on Tuesday, 18 December.  No anti-inflammatory meds between now and then.  I have to be there at 0700 and my appointment is at 1000.  They say it takes about 20 minutes and I will be awake while they stick a needle into my liver.  The really crappy part is the recovery which takes 4-5 hours before I can go home.

SO next week I have a follow up with the cardiologist, liver biopsy, eye screening for the plaquenil (lupus med) and Jackson's (hopefully) last helmet appointment.  And too think I was going to call the dermatologist for an appointment for my hair/scalp and the dentist since a tooth is bothering me... when do I have time?

Johns Hopkins Lupus Center also contacted me yesterday to get a new patient packet completed, which I did.  They also said they still needed my files from the Rheumatologist.  So I spent a good portion of my day tracking the files down, which were sent to JH Lupus Center on 28 November.  They haven't responded so I am hoping they found them.  I have to get copies of all of my records from each doctor to send as well.  That's going to take some time, which is getting tighter and tighter...

Oh, and I have to plan our move back to Baltimore and find a house to live in, a daycare for Jackson, and tons of new doctors...

How can this week be so awesome (Jackson) and so horrible (everything else)?

Today's Blessing:  Video cameras.  Being able to catch all of the awesome on film to watch over and over is wonderful.

So Hungry!

So today I am writing early because I am trying to not eat or drink anything before my ultrasounds.  I normally wake up between 5 and 530 and drink a glass of milk so I can take my meds.  Not today.  Not even a sip of water when I brushed my teeth.  My appointments are back to back at 9, I know I can make it.  I just hope it doesn't mess up any of my meds.  Today's ultrasounds are of my liver and my arteries in my neck.  Maybe I get to keep my shirt on today... that would be a blessing.

Today's Blessing:  Sleeping in a little longer and having more time with Jackson to cuddle.