Dallas World Aquarium

Yesterday was $1 day at the Dallas Zoo.  I asked Collin if he could take the day off so we could take Caden and go for a day trip to Dallas.  I hate driving in Dallas alone and since I'm not supposed to carry Caden, I didn't want to chance him getting hot and tired at the zoo wanting me to pick him up.  Thankfully Collin was able to get off and we went.  When we arrived at the zoo it was packed with people.  All the parking lots were full and people had signs up in their yards to pay to park there.  We decided it was not worth fighting the crowd.  Collin suggested we go to the Dallas World Aquarium instead.

 

We parked downtown and ate at a good Mexican food restaurant then headed to the aquarium.  At first, Caden did not want to go.  We told him let's get in line to pay and if it didn't look like something he wanted to do we'd leave.  Once we got up there and he could see inside he became excited and wanted to go in.  I'm thinking he didn't really know what an aquarium was.  I thought the prices were pretty expensive but once you go inside you can tell it's an expensive place to operate and worth going to.  It took us about 2 hours to go through.  We started with the rain forest and ended in the aquarium with many tanks of large fish and sharks.

 

We enjoyed our time at the aquarium.  I think Caden liked the turtles and sharks the most.  He even got a surprise when we came home that day.  There was a turtle in our yard.  He picked it up a few times but I didn't have my camera with me to get him holding the turtle.

Scuba Diver in the Rain Forest

Baby Update - 13 weeks

I had my second doctor's appointment this morning and had my 3rd ultrasound.  They even did a 3D and 4D ultrasound.  It was awesome seeing our baby move and praise God everything is looking perfect.  Someone had told me to get a 3D and 4D ultrasound done I'd have to go somewhere special and pay extra money.  I was so glad to find out that my doctor's office does it, which of course is included in my visit. Since I'm high risk I was already told I would have ultrasounds until at least 20 weeks.  However, today, since they saw I have a fibroid, they want to do ultrasounds every visit throughout pregnancy.  That means I get to see more precious pictures of my baby.  It was a pleasant surprise to find out my doctor's office could do 3D and 4D ultrasounds.  In Germany I had ultrasounds done every visit and 3D and 4D done and am glad to continue in the States.  My doctor said not to worry about the fibroid they just have to watch them closely during pregnancy.  I love my new doctor.  She is awesome and just very caring.  I feel like I'm going to see a friend everytime I have an appointment.  She has known my family for almost 20 years.  Her husband died around the time my mother passed away.

Based on the last visit I thought I would be about 12.5 weeks.  Today I measured 13 weeks, which is what I thought I would be originally.  When I asked Caden if he wanted to see pictures of his baby brother or sister he said yes!  Then he in a few minutes.  I asked what in a few minutes.  He said, "In a few minutes you will have my baby brother or sister."  I told him I have about 6 more months to go.  He is so excited to be a big brother.

Measuring 12 weeks, 6 days

VBS, 4th of July, tennis, and Music Camp

We have had a busy and fun summer so far.  It's hard for me to stop and take time to blog about some of our adventures.  A few weeks ago Caden went to our church's VBS camp.  Last year I helped out and taught everyday.  This year since I was still in my 1st trimester I did not help.  It was hard not volunteering and being there but I enjoyed the time off.  The timing was perfect, it was Monday-Thursday 10am-3pm.  It allowed Caden and I to have a relaxing morning.  He usually wakes up at 7am, sometimes earlier.  Then he was able have a fun day with his friends and come home for a few hours before dinner.  He had a great time.  The program was cute on Wednesday night.  Caden even spoke in front of everyone and we could hear him sing during one of the songs he loves.  Of course he also covered his ears during part of it because it was too loud.  See the second picture.  He does this during church sometimes too.

Singing at the VBS program

Covering his ears because it was so loud

We had a wonderful 4th of July.  My parents invited us to their neighborhood party and parade.  We went last year.  This year Caden rode his bike in the parade.  There were a lot of people and it was fun.  There was a petting zoo and crafts to do at the end of the parade.  The local firemen were there and Caden got to see inside a Texas fire truck.  It was smaller than the German fire trucks but was fun.  That afternoon my siblings and their spouses and girlfriend came over to my parents and we cooked out and have a fun time.

Caden is starting to learn how to play tennis.  My brother is a tennis pro at one of the country clubs in town and he one of his coaches.  I grew up playing competitive tennis and was on Team Texas a child.  It's a fun sport and so far Caden is having fun.  He had to miss this last week since he had music camp.

Walking to tennis, my Dad came with us

Practicing ball balance

He hit a few balls over the net

His uncle teaching him how to hit a backhand

This past week Caden went to music camp.  It was Monday-Friday from 9am-1pm.  He didn't know anyone but made some sweet friends while there.  He wanted me to stay and watch him.  I stayed about an hour into it a few days.  Other days I got some shopping done and cleaned my house.  Friday they had a program at noon.  Collin was able to come.  Caden did good.  It's always a surprise when little kids are in a program.  All the kids had to come up and introduce themselves before they started.  He was hesitant to go on stage at first.  Finally he did, after everyone else went.  Then they sang some songs and played some instruments.  Caden even sang a solo, he was so cute!  He's not big on being forced to be on stage.  At church or anywhere else he loves getting on stage, he's given gotten a hold of a microphone in the chapel after church and has sung a song on stage.  But when someone forces him to perform, he doesn't like it.  I was proud of him that he stuck it out for the most part and it was fun to watch.  The kids learned about the music families, got to play different instruments and had a good time.  Here are a few pictures from music camp.

Introducing himself

Singing a solo to "5 Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree"

He did such a great job! We were very proud of him!

Playing the drums

Decided to sit down and play with the egg shakers
He started out singing and shaking them but this was kind of funny

 

Picture I took at church a few weeks ago.
Caden, Nick, and Jacob got a hold of the microphones and were singing in the chapel.

Exciting News!!

I have wanted to share this with my friends and family the day I found out.  However, I decided to wait a little while and make sure everything was going well since not every pregnancy I have ends in a happy one.  I'm pregnant!!  Caden was the first to know.  He came up to me when we were eating dinner with my parents on May 15th and asked if I had a baby in my belly.  I told him I didn't think so and he said, "well, I think you do!"  The next day I took him to the park with some friends then went and picked up a pregnancy test.  It was positive.  I cried, not because I wasn't excited but because I was so scared.  Everyone I know who has had a miscarriage or complications during a pregnancy knows the fears of pregnancy.  A loss of a child, any child, changes your perspective on life and children.  Four of my babies never saw the sunlight.  So when I found out I was pregnant with my 6th pregnancy, my first response was fear.  Like I said, I cried.  Collin was not home, he was working.  I've never taken a pregnancy test without him around, because like I said, I didn't think I really was.  But I was also excited.  Excited that maybe this child will come into this world and God will give us another gift.  I also know I'm very lucky that I can get pregnant, there are many women who are unable to.  I'm enjoying everyday of this pregnancy.  While I'm giving myself shots to when I'm throwing up.  I know this child is a gift from God.

 

My due date is: January 23rd.

In case you are new to my blog, my pregnancies are considered high risk.  If you've had 3 or more miscarriages you are considered high risk.  I have had 4.  You can also be high risk if you have certain genetic conditions.  I have a balanced translocation, about 1% of the population has it.  This only affects having children.  I also have a few blood clotting disorders, Hashimoto's Disease (it's not affecting me, thankfully yet, but I know I have it), and my body doesn't properly absorb folic acid.  This doesn't mean I can't have healthy babies, I had my son with no problems, but I am more likely to have miscarriages than the average person.  

 

I changed doctors and really love my new doctor.  She has actually had a patient who had a balance translocation.  She said this patient had around 7 or 8 miscarriages but did have 4 healthy babies.  She's the only doctor I know who has had a patient with a balanced translocation in my area.

 

I'm giving myself lovenox injections everyday.  The shots burn and feel like I'm putting fire into my stomach but at some point you'll do anything.  This is to help prevent blood clotting and was recommended by my OBYGN and hemotologist.

 

I'm also taking progesterone.  Even though, my progesterone was and has been good this pregnancy.  I didn't want to chance it dropping.  At 4 weeks, 1 day, my progesterone was 38!  The last two pregnancies in the States it was 7 and 8.  Doctors like to see it over 10.  In Germany I have no idea what my levels ever were.

 

I take a prenatal and folgard.  Since I have the MTHFR gene mutation I need the additional folic acid.  I alternate between prenatal and folgard or folate and a newer prenatal vitamin that is made specifically for women who have the MTHFR gene mutation.  My new doctor gave me lots of samples and said I might enjoy just taking one supplement.

 

I have had two sonograms.  The first I was 7.5 weeks, measuring 7.1 weeks, healthy heartbeat.  The second I was 8.5 weeks and measured 8.5 weeks, healthy heartbeat.  My blood work has been good.  I go back to the doctor in two weeks, when I'm 12.5 weeks.  They told me my chances of miscarriage have dropped significantly after my last appointment.  I'm now 10.5 weeks.

I have felt very tired, nauseous, and thrown up a few times.  But in all of it I feel blessed!  Each day I'm closer to meeting this precious child.

 

Caden has told people that he has an older brother and a younger brother and a younger sister.  When people ask how or where, he says they are all in his mommy's tummy. =)

Overall I've been very calm during this pregnancy, I'm trying not to stress about things but leave everything in God's hands.  I fully believe it's God who gives babies, not doctors.  Doctors and medical staff can help the process but ultimately children are a gift from Him.  The perinatologist told me over a year ago after I had my 3rd miscarriage, that with my balanced translocation I could go on and have 7 more children or have 7 more miscarriages.  There's really no way to predict unless I did IVF which is out of the question. 

 

I also want to thank all my friends and family who have encouraged me.  I especially want to thank a close friend of mine who has encouraged me not to give up.  Her mom had 7 miscarriages and 3 live children.  She was the last to be born.  She said if her mom had stopped trying, she would not be here.  She is very dear to me and I am so thankful to God for her.  I've also been blessed with sweet encouragement from friends and family.  I am sometime scared to announce my news because of people's rude comments in the past.  Which I've been thinking about that and in the future plan on writing something regarding women and pregnancy that's been on my heart.  Until then, here are a few pictures of my sweet, precious child. 

 

8.5 weeks

 

7.5 weeks