Monday, August 29, 2011

Since Saturday night, I'd noticed the my feet were very swollen. I'd worked at the hospital and had been on my feet all day. Then, David and I went to dinner and the movies (and I had popcorn and sprite). On Sunday, I took it easy at home and even iced my ankles. By this morning, the swelling seemed the same.


My next appointment with Dr. Nishiguchi wasn't scheduled for another three days, so I went ahead and called his office. He expressed concern about my blood pressure and wanted me to come in. I'd only been at work for an hour, called my boss and another supervisor, and was on my way.


Dr. Nishiguchi took a look and told me the swelling will likely only continue to get worse. He said he'd be more concerned if the swelling was only in one leg or if it was higher than my ankles. He checked my blood pressure- which was good. Out baby's heartbeat was also good, and we could hear her kicking.


My labs came back for my second trimester screening, and my iron is low. So I'm now taking feosil. Dr. Nishinguchi wants me to cut back, watch my salt intake, and keep my feet elevated. He also wants mento get up every hour. Since my last visit, I'd only gained 2 lbs, and he seemed pleased.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Since I can't exercise and can only take my dogs on little walks, Lilly (our mixed greyhound) has been acting up. Sometime last night (when we were asleep) she pulled my purse off the dresser, mutilated my wallet, and ripped apart the straps. Can we say angry dog?! I'm worried it will only get worse once our baby comes.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

We had our perinatologist appointment today with Dr. Ray Sumadi. Between weeks 16 and 18 is when you see this specialist. They have a much higher resolution u/s and check the baby's anatomy- looked at her brain, heart, etc. I'd also been having some pelvic pain, so he did a brief internal to check my cervix. He saw a clot, but all should be okay. It's more that my pelvic bone feels sore (like I'd been having a lot of intercourse). But we're not, so the pain worried me, I told the dr, and he did the vaginal u/s.


My friend Liz told me the following, "Is the pelvic pain down the front of your pelvis? I had that with Fin and now with this pregnancy already....dysfunctional pelvis, apparently - the relaxing hormone softens ligaments in our body during pregnancy and, for some, those in the pelvis start to try and separate a little too early....so it bloody hurts."


http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/pubicpain.htm
Pelvic Pain (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction)Introduction
One problem that many pregnant women complain about is pubic pain.  Yet doctors and midwives often dismiss this pain as either 'inconsequential', 'unfixable', or 'just one of those pregnancy discomforts that have to be endured'.  Occasionally, some uninformed doctors have even erroneously told women that such pubic pain means that they would need an elective cesarean section in order not to permanently damage that area during birth, or as a result of prior damage to the area.
Yet none of this is true.  Pubic pain in pregnancy is certainly not 'inconsequential';  Kmom knows from experience that it can be very difficult to deal with.  Although many doctors and midwives do not know what causes it or how to fix it, many women are able to get improvement or relief with chiropractic treatment or osteopathic manipulation.  It is not something that you 'just have to live with'.  And although extra care should be taken during labor and birth in order to prevent trauma, it absolutely does NOT mean that you 'have' to have a cesarean!
This purpose of this FAQ is to discuss what causes pelvic/pubic pain, what some of the symptoms are, possible causes, hints for coping with pubic pain, how to prevent further trauma during birth, what kinds of treatments are available, and women's experiences with these treatments.  
Anatomy and Structure
Your pelvis is a kind of a circular bone that goes all around and almost meets in the middle in front.  The two sides do not quite touch; there is a small gap between them connected by fibrocartilaginous tissue reinforced by several ligaments.  This area is called the Pubic Symphysis.  This is important for helping your pubic bone to move freely, stabilizing the pelvis while allowing a good range of motion.  [An illustration of the pelvis can be found at http://omie.med.jhmi.edu/weblec/templatev1/lec11.html.] 
The Pubic Symphysis and the Sacro-Iliac joints (in the back of the pelvis) are especially important during pregnancy, as their flexibility allows the bones to move freely and to expand to help a baby fit through more easily during birth.  In fact, the pregnancy hormones relaxin and progesterone help the ligaments of your body to loosen and be even MORE flexible than before, so that there is plenty of 'give' and lots of room for the baby to slip right through.  
Because of these hormones, it is normal for there to be some extra looseness and pelvic pressure in pregnancy.  This is good---it means your body is getting ready for birth! It's loosening up to give you maximum space and flexibility, and to help make things easy for you and your baby.
However, in some women, either because of excessive levels of hormones, extra sensitivity to hormones, or a pelvis that is out of alignment, this area is extra lax or there is extra pressure on the joint.  In 1870, Snelling described this condition:  "The affection appears to consist of a relaxation of the pelvic articulations, becoming apparent suddenly after parturition, or gradually during pregnancy; and permitting of a degree of mobility of the pelvic bones which effectually hinders locomotion, and gives rise to the most peculiar, distressing and alarming sensations."
Simply put, significant pubic pain is caused by the pelvic girdle area not working they way it should, probably because of hormones, misalignment of the pelvis, or an interaction of the two.  
Although not every provider has a name for this condition, it is most commonly called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (or SPD), especially in Britain.  Other names for it include:

  • pubic shear  (osteopathic term)
  • symphyseal separation
  • pubic symphysis separation
  • separated symphysis
  • pelvic girdle relaxation of pregnancy
  • pelvic joint syndrome.  
Diastasis Symphysis Pubis (DSP) is the name for the problem in its most severe form (where the pubic symphysis actually separates severely or tears).   For ease of use, in this FAQ the 'milder' form will be referred to as SPD.

Symptoms
The symptoms of SPD vary from person to person, but almost all women who have it experience substantial pubic pain.  Tenderness and pain down low in the front is common, but often this pain feels as if it's inside.  The pubic area is generally very tender to the touch; many moms find it painful when the doctor or midwife pushes down on the pubic bone while measuring the uterus (fundal height).  
Any activity that involves lifting one leg at a time or parting the legs tends to be particularly painful. Lifting the leg to put on clothes, getting out of a car, bending over, sitting down or getting up, walking up stairs, standing on one leg, lifting heavy objects, and walking in general tend to be difficult at times. Many women report that moving or turning over in bed is  especially excruciating.  One woman wrote, "There were days that I didn't think I was going to be able to get out of bed and actually had to roll out of bed and onto the floor to be able to do so!" [See her story below.]
Many movements become difficult when the pubic symphysis area is affected.  Although the greatest pain is associated with movements of lifting one leg or parting the legs, some women experience a 'freezing', where they get up out of bed and find it hard to get their bodies moving right away--the hip bone seems stuck in place and won't move at first.  Or they describe having to wait for it to 'pop into place' before being able to walk.  The range of hip movement is usually affected, and abduction of the hips especially painful.  
Many women also report sciatica (pain that shoots down the buttocks and leg) when pubic pain is present.  SPD can also also be associated with bladder dysfunction, especially when going from lying down (or squatting) to a standing position.  Some women also feel a 'clicking' when they walk or shift just 'so', or lots of pressure down low near the pubic area.   
Many women with SPD also report very strong round ligament pain (pulling or tearing feelings in the abdomen when rolling over, moving suddenly, sneezing, coughing, getting up, etc.).  Some chiropractors feel that round ligament pain can be an early symptom of SPD problems, and indicate the need for adjustments.  Other providers consider round ligament pain normal, part of the body adjusting to the growing uterus.  If experienced with pubic and/or low back pain, it probably is associated with the SPD.
Onset of Pain and Duration
Pubic pain often comes on early in pregnancy, even as early as 12 weeks. One mother reports that she had it at 17 weeks.  She says: 
When I woke up [from my nap] I could hardly move.  It took me forever to walk into the next room.  Felt like my hips/pelvis were glued together or something.  Already this baby feels sooo heavy inside me, like lots of pressure.  I've gained 4 lbs. so far, what's the deal?  At night when I wake up to go to the bathroom, sometimes I can't move my legs/hips at all, and sometimes things have to 'pop' back into place.  I think, what if there is a fire and I died 'cuz I'm too slow!...I thought this problem in my 1st pregnancy was from gaining so much/swelling and it got worse and worse and stayed till over 3 months postpartum."
Indeed, although pubic pain often does go away after pregnancy, many women find that it sticks around afterward, usually diminished but still present.  If treatment to resolve any underlying causes is not done, long-term pain usually sticks around.  Anecdotally, this often seems to be associated with long-term low back pain or reduced flexibility in the hips.  Even worse, if the mother is mishandled during the birth, the pubic symphysis can separate even more or be permanently damaged.  This is called Diastasis Symphysis Pubis (diastasis means gap or separation).  
Summary
To summarize, SPD is the mild form of this problem.  Its symptoms often include one or more of the following:
  • pubic pain
  • pubic tenderness to the touch; having the fundal height measured may be uncomfortable
  • lower back pain, especially in the sacro-iliac area
  • difficulty/pain rolling over in bed
  • difficulty/pain with stairs, getting in and out of cars, sitting down or getting up, putting on clothes, bending, lifting, standing on one foot, lifting heavy objects, etc.
  • sciatica (pain in buttocks and down the leg)
  • "clicking" in the pelvis when walking
  • waddling gait
  • difficulty getting started walking, especially after sleep
  • feeling like hip is out of place or has to pop into place before walking
  • bladder dysfunction (temporary incontinence at change in position)
  • knee pain or pain in other areas can sometimes also be a side-effect of pelvis problems
  • some chiropractors feel that round ligament pain (sharp tearing or pulling sensations in the abdomen) can be related to SPD

Cause
No one knows why SPD occurs for sure, or why it happens in some women and not in others.  Some ethnic groups report a high incidence, especially Scandinavian women and perhaps Black women.   Other risk factors may include having lots of kids, having had large babies, pre-existing problems with this joint, past pelvic or back pain, or past trauma (car accident, obstetric trauma, etc.) that may have damaged the pelvic girdle area.   It also seems logical that women who have broken or injured their pelvis in the past would probably be prone to this problem.  
Some sources view SPD simply as a result of pregnancy hormones.  As noted, the pregnancy hormones relaxin and progesterone tend to loosen the ligaments of the body in preparation for birth.  One theory is that some women have high levels of hormones before pregnancy, and then additional pregnancy hormones cause excessive relaxation of ligaments, especially in the pelvis.  
Another theory is that some women manufacture excessive levels of relaxin during pregnancy, causing pelvic laxity.  However, although still popular, this theory seems to have been disproven by recent research. Another theory is that women whose joints are especially flexible before pregnancy may be more susceptible to the effect of hormones, or that some women's bodies are just more affected by hormones than others.  Traditional medical sources tend to view the problem of pelvic/pubic pain (when they acknowledge it at all) as simply a hormone problem.
A different theory holds that the problem is structural instead, and usually results from a misalignment of the pelvis.  In this view, if the pelvis gets out of alignment, the bones don't line up correctly in front, and this puts a lot of extra pressure on that pubic symphysis cartilage.  If the two sides are not aligned, it restricts full range of motion, pulling on the connecting pubic symphysis, and making it quite painful.  The more out of alignment it is, the more painful this area becomes.  It also tends to affect the back, especially in the sacroiliac area, since the pelvis and back are interconnected and work as a unit.  And since many areas are affected by back problems, pain can also extend to other areas too.
Kmom's personal opinion is that this condition is probably primarily a problem of misalignment, although hormone levels and sensitivity to hormones may also play a role.  In her opinion, the first line of SPD treatment should probably address the possibility of misalignment.  Others may not agree.  But whatever the cause, SPD is certainly annoying and painful to deal with, and Kmom knows this from personal experience!

Implications for Malpositions and Cesareans
One of the most interesting side-effects of a misalignment of the pelvic bones is that anecdotally, it often seems associated with malpositions of the baby, including: 
  • breech (feet or butt-first)
  • occiput posterior (head-down but facing the mother's stomach instead of her back)
  • asynclitic (head tilted to one side so that the parietal bones presents first instead of the crown) 
  • compound (hand or arm by face)
All of these malpositions tend to cause more difficult labors, with greater pain and often great difficulty in dilation or descent of the baby.  There is a high rate of operative intervention when malpositions are present, including lots of forceps in vaginal births, and many cesareans as well.  In fact, research shows that only a small percentage of babies with persistent malpositions actually are born spontaneously and without interventions.  (See the FAQ on Malpositions on this website for further information and references.)  
As noted on the website of the Australian Osteopathic Association:
The descent of the baby through the pelvis is determined by factors such as ligament laxity, hormonal control, uterine contraction, gravity and position of the baby.  If the mother's pelvis is mechanically unstable or is lacking mobility, it may interfere with the baby's passage through the birth canal.  
Unfortunately, very few doctors in recent years have paid much attention to malpositions (except to do cesareans for breech).  Only in the midwifery, osteopathic, and chiropractic communities have these positions received much attention, and then only recently.  Interest is now just beginning to re-surface in the obstetric community, but is very limited in mainstream obstetric journals as of now.
There is little scientific data to show that pelvic misalignment is associated with malpositions because traditional medicine does not recognize misalignment as a problem or research it, nor do they take the idea of "pelvic misalignment" seriously.  Really, they barely take the idea of non-breech malpositions seriously! Therefore, it cannot be stated from an evidence-based point of view that pelvic alignment is associated with fetal malpositions or difficult labors, or that re-aligning the pelvis would prevent malpositions, prevent cesareans, or lessen the incidence of difficult labors.  
Obviously, research into this issue is very important, but quite unlikely to occur anytime soon. The funding and interest is simply not there in the traditional medical community.  This lack of data does not prove or disprove the misalignment theory; it simply has not been researched in the traditional scientific manner.  Chiropractors, on the other hand, have seen in their own practices for years that women with misaligned backs and pelvises tended to have more malpositioned babies.  There are some limited case series studies on this available in chiropractic research journals, but even this is not very well-documented.
The first really significant work was done by Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.  He found that simply by realigning the pelvis and releasing the soft tissues, most breech babies turned head-down within a few treatments.  It is important to emphasize that he did NOT manually turn the baby in any way, but simply realigned the mother's pelvis and 'released' the ligaments supporting the uterus.  The baby then was not "constrained" anymore from assuming the best possible position, and so usually quickly turned vertex.   
Dr. Webster taught this "Webster In-Utero Constraint Technique" to many other chiropractors.  Success rates depend on the skill of the practitioner, but usually are documented at about 80% or more in turning the breech baby.  This is much higher than the success rates for manually turning the baby with the often-rough procedure known as a "External Cephalic Version".  ECV success rates generally run anywhere from 40-65% or so, whereas the Webster Technique successfully turns 80% or so, at least in the data available so far.
Thus, it seems likely that many cases of breech babies are quite probably associated with pelvic misalignment, and that treatment to re-align the pelvis may help many breech babies turn head-down.  However, proof of this is limited to anecdotal evidence, lectures and articles from Dr. Webster, a few small case series, and surveys about chiropractors' experience with the Webster Technique. Not overwhelming evidence by any means, but all we have at this point.  Yet it may be women's best bet in preventing malpositions and relieving pelvic pain.
The Webster Technique also has a variant that can be used with babies that are head-down but facing the wrong way (posterior).  Although little formal data exists on this, anecdotally many women and midwives have reported this to be helpful for non-breech malpositions as well.  Thus, it is quite likely that in many cases, pelvic misalignment is often accompanied by baby malposition of varying types, not just breech presentations, and treatment may help resolve such malpositions.
Anecdotal evidence also suggests that many women who have had past cesareans for non-progressive labor or "Cephalo-Pelvic Disproportion" (supposedly, baby too big or pelvis too small) actually may have had malpositioned babies.  It's not that the baby was too big or the mom's pelvis too small, it's that the baby's position did not permit it to go through easily, causing it to get "stuck."  These women (one of whom is Kmom!) often report that if they get regular chiropractic care in subsequent pregnancies, they frequently go on to have a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean because the baby malposition is prevented or is more easily resolved.  They also regularly report that their pubic symphysis pain decreases significantly with treatment.
So although little concrete scientific data exists from mainstream studies (largely because it has not been studied), and although anecdotal evidence has to be treated with caution, women with misaligned pelvises often seem to experience pelvic pain/SPD, and possibly a higher rate of malpositioned babies.   It seems logical (though unproven) that treatment to help re-align the pelvis may help lessen pelvic pain, and may also prevent or correct a fetal malposition.  
Although not every women with SPD experiences a malpositioned baby, it does seem to be very common in this group. Since baby malpositions commonly lead to lots of interventions like epidurals and forceps that tend to worsen pubic pain and may even damage the pubic symphysis permanently, checking for misalignments and working carefully to avoid/treat baby malpositions may be important to avoiding long-term pain or permanent pubic symphysis damage.  This is a fascinating area that is just beginning to be researched but has potentially far-reaching implications.

Tips for Coping with Pubic Symphysis Pain
Although the best idea may be to resolve chronic SPD pain through realigning the pelvis girdle and soft tissues,  most women have at least some residual pubic and low back pain stick around for pregnancy and the early postpartum weeks because of hormones.  Therefore, tips for coping with pubic pain tend to be a focus of many SPD websites.  Many of the suggestions include:
  • Use a pillow between your legs when sleeping; body pillows are a great investment!
  • Use a pillow under your 'bump' (pregnancy tummy) when sleeping
  • Keep your legs and hips as parallel/symmetrical as possible when moving or turning in bed
  • Some women also find it helpful to have their partners stabilize their hips and hold them 'together' when rolling over in bed or otherwise adjusting position
  • Some women report a waterbed mattress to be helpful
  • Silk/satin sheets and nighties may make it easier to turn over in bed
  • Swimming may help relieve pressure on the joint (many sites recommend avoiding breaststroke but Kmom did not find it to be a problem at all for her; see what works for you)
  • Deep water aerobics or deep water running may be helpful as well (there are flotation devices to help you stay afloat easily during this; you do not need to know how to swim in order to do this)
  • Keep your legs close together and move symmetrically (other sources recommend a very small gap between the legs with symmetrical movement)
  • When standing, stand symmetrically, with your weight evenly distributed through both legs
  • Sit down to get dressed, especially when putting on underwear or pants
  • Avoid 'straddle' movements
  • Swing your legs together as a unit when getting in and out of cars; use plastics or something smooth and slippery (like a garbage bag) on the car seat to help you enter car backwards and then turn your legs as a unit
  • An ice pack may feel soothing and help reduce inflammation in the pubic area; painkillers may also help
  • Move slowly and without sudden movements
  • If sex is uncomfortable for you, use lots of pillows under your knees, or try other positions
  • If bending over to pick up objects is difficult, there are devices available that can help with this
  • Really severe cases may need crutches, although these should probably only be used as a last resort
  • Sciatica may be helped by stretching the hamstring muscles with a stirrup around your foot (long piece of rope, two neck ties tied together, etc.)  See the Elizabeth Noble book for directions (resources)
  • Back pain can often be helped by resting backwards over a large gymnastic or 'birth' ball (see resources)
  • Some women report that pelvic binders/maternity support belts are helpful for pelvic pain; brands in the U.S. include Prenatal Cradle or BabyHugger or the Reenie Belt.  However, if the pelvic bones are really misaligned, some women report more pain with these.  Listen to your body on whether to use these
Many sites also recommend a lot of bed rest, but Kmom has to disagree with this for most women.  In Kmom's experience, her pain levels were much worse when she was inactive.  Inactivity may lead to atrophy, and regular exercise is helpful in the prevention of many common pregnancy problems. Although the first 5-10 minutes of activity were uncomfortable for Kmom, she always felt much better after that, and usually returned from her walks feeling much less fatigued and in less pain overall than if she had not walked at all or had stopped partway through.  It's possible that in very severe cases, bedrest may be the best option, but Kmom would encourage most women to stay reasonably active as long as they use caution and listen to their bodies.  
Other tips that don't usually appear on SPD websites but which have helped Kmom cope include pelvic rocks, a  lumbar pillow against the back when sitting, and very strong massage/counterpressure against the lower back.   Pelvic rocks (getting on all fours and then slowly tilting the angle of the pelvis back and forth) are  general recommended exercises for all pregnant women, plus they help promote good birth positions for baby.  They can also help ease tight low back muscles.  It is usually recommended to do 2-3 sets of 40 of these throughout the day.  You can also do them sitting or standing against a wall, but on all fours is often most comfortable and has the added effect of helping the baby's position, which may be important with SPD.
Lumbar pillows are very helpful to many pregnant women.  They are available at many car stores, but if you cannot find one, try a small neck pillow (elongated like a tube), rolled up towel, or tube sock filled with rice or flax seeds.  Put it behind your back when sitting, wherever it feels best; for some women this is down low in the small of the back, for some it is even lower against the sacrum, and for others it feels best up high in the middle of the back.  Socks or pillows filled with rice or flax have the advantage of being able to be warmed in the microwave before using, which can feel really nice!
Massage of the lower back or strong counterpressure in that area feels really great to some women.  Some women like it just to the sides of their spine (helps loosen the muscles there), and some like it really low and farther out (there are trigger points there).  Others like it all up and down on either side of the spine.  See what feels best to you and go from there.  If your partner's hands get tired (this is a tough place to massage!), try a rolling pin, tennis ball, or other hard object there.  For women who like extra hard pressure on this spot, try getting on your hands and knees and arch your back a bit, then have your partner put his elbow against the area that feels best, lean his weight on it, and rub around in small circles.  For others who like more gentle pressure, hand or finger pressure may be more than enough.  
Although it's possible to 'deal with the pain' or use these tips to help you cope with pelvic pain, these ideas only address the SYMPTOMS of the problem, not the root cause of it.  If the source of your pain is purely hormonal, then addressing the symptoms is about all you can do until the baby is born and your hormones start to change.  However, if the problem is in the misalignment of the bones creating stress on the joints, only fixing this misalignment can really help resolve the problem, and simply having the baby won't change much.   It may make sense to at least get an evaluation of your pelvic area and back to see if there's a problem.  Then you can choose whether to try any treatment or not.
 
Lucy resting on my bump.





17w3d- Appointment with perinatologist today. Baby Rome is definitely a girl, weighing 6 oz, and HR was 149.

Monday, August 8, 2011

What Not To Say To Someone Struggling with Infertility and a High-Risk Pregnancy

These are all from my personal experience and sadly came from close family members or friends.

"Maybe you and David are meant to be a couple without children." I was told this several times by a close family member- after failed IUIs and after our first failed IVF.

"How far along are you?"  I was not pregnant but had gained considerable weight due to hormonal medications and decreasing my exercise.

When asked if they were exctied about a new family member on the way (our baby), a close family member responded, "If Jessica makes it that long."

After being diagnosed with a subchorionic hemmorhage, "And by the way, the spotting is of your own doing."


Referring to my baby as "a thing".



My good friend Heather shared this picture with me :-)
Some Amazing Responses to Our News:

Congratulations doesn't seem enough! How wonderful that your heart's desire is now a reality - I am so happy for you and your husband - Thank you for sharing your joy with all of us!! Hugs

Wow Jessica, I know it's been a long journey, that is amazing! I hope you have a healthy pregnancy and a beautiful, healthy baby! Congrats! :-)

Jessica, I could not be more excited for you! What wonderful, wonderful news!! Truly a blessing... xoxoxo

cant get over your birth dates, and the due date of the baby, so meant to be here for you both, xxxxx

B'sha'ah tovah, Jessica!

Jessica!!! I am so VERY happy for you and David!! thank you for sharing your joy with us. How wonderful!! All your patience and hard work has paid off BIG! Congratulations to you both. Enjoy. Much Love.

so so so happy for you and David!! am blessed to have you in my life and can't wait to follow Peanut's travels xxx

OMG OMG, MAZEL TOV!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!!!!!! So excited for you!! I have been on that fertility rollercoaster for sure! I will pray for a healthy pregnancy and delivery!!

Congrats cous thats amazing news!!!

I am ecstatic. Blessings to this baby.

So so happy for you both! We tried for many years before Abigail came so I know what you have gone through & what you are going through now. Congratulations!

Mazel tov!!! I am so incredibly happy for you! Hope you are feeling well!!

So beautiful, big congrats! our babies will be a month apart, we are blessed xxx

So touching!!!! Finally. Blessings to you both.

So happy for this announcement! What is your due date? I think a baby for your birthday is the best gift ever! ;)

woo hoo congrats to u both. May the months fly by till the safe delivery of your little bundle.

WOW! Congrats to my long time friend :)xoxo

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!! since I've known you you have wanted to be a mommy!!! You will be an awesome mom!

So exciting Christine and I would love to attend your shower.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Sharing the news via Facebook

Dreams do come true. After two double IUIs, a third IUI, and two cycles of IVF, David and I are happy to announce that we will be welcoming our baby blessing this coming January. ♥

Thursday, August 4, 2011



It was such a good feeling to finally be able to park here!

Monday, August 1, 2011

We will be going into parenthood already in mountains of debt.. We had very little insurance coverage, borrowed from my 401 k retirement plan, have almost $10,000 in credit cards from the infertility train. To top it off, my insurance initially told me I had enough coverage in January to cover some of the IVF meds. Apparently not all claims were processed at that time, and they're now telling me i owe them $3,000. I want to scream! I really wanted to be able to quit my second job by the time the baby comes. I think I'll always have to work 6 days a week, and it breaks me.