Road Trip

It's been a few days since we learned of our surprise pregnancy. I still can't say for sure how I feel. I called my OB this morning to set up my first appoint. I actually was transferred to her by the receptionist to speak to my OB directly. It made me feel good that after a little bit of a chuckle as she came on the line, her very next words were checking on me to see how I was feeling about the pregnancy. I love that my doctor cares about her patients physically, but also emotionally and mentally as well. My words to her were that I was shocked, but that I was okay, and know that everything will be alright.

Now, that was a condensed version, partly leaving out some things. That is ultimately how I feel. But I'm still navigating this territory. I do feel a little lost. My mind and heart had settled in and put in stakes in the land of Ava being my last baby. I've been enjoying so much of her because I've wanted to hold onto every last drop of this age. But now, now I have to uproot my heart and mind and take the long, 9 (but we all know it's really 10) month road trip back to new baby land. It's a good thing it takes that long to get there, to give ourselves enough time to get acclimated.

I know that this new chapter will be full of unknowns, some of those scary. But ultimately, my hope rests in the Lord. Even if it does take my heart and mind a little bit to get to where I will set up camp for the next while.


Psalm 62:5-8
"Rest in God alone, my soul,
for my hope comes from Him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock.
My refuge is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts before Him.
God is our refuge. Selah"

Road Trip

It's been a few days since we learned of our surprise pregnancy. I still can't say for sure how I feel. I called my OB this morning to set up my first appoint. I actually was transferred to her by the receptionist to speak to my OB directly. It made me feel good that after a little bit of a chuckle as she came on the line, her very next words were checking on me to see how I was feeling about the pregnancy. I love that my doctor cares about her patients in a physically, but also emotionally and mentally as well. My words to her were that I was shocked, but that I was okay, and know that everything will be alright.

Now, that was a condensed version, partly leaving out some things. That is ultimately how I feel. But I'm still navigating this territory. I do feel a little lost. My mind and heart had settled in and put in stakes in the land of Ava being my last baby. I've been enjoying so much of her because I've wanted to hold onto every last drop of this age. But now, now I have to uproot my heart and mind and take the long, 9 (but we all know it's really 10) month road trip back to new baby land. It's a good thing it takes that long to get there, to give ourselves enough time to get acclimated.

I know that this new chapter will be full of unknowns, some of those scary. But ultimately, my hope rests in the Lord. Even if it does take my heart and mind a little bit to get to where I will set up camp for the next while.


Psalm 62:5-8
"Rest in God alone, my soul,
for my hope comes from Him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock.
My refuge is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts before Him.
God is our refuge. Selah"

Surprise!

Well... Here I am again, writing on this blog that has brought us through so much. And I have more to add to the story.

Let me start with explaining, many people did not know that my pregnancy with Ava was scary for us. I don't know why I didn't share with the world, but I didn't. Somehow between Arwen's birth and getting pregnant with Ava, by blood became Rh sensitized. What this means isthat my blood now has antibodies that attack any baby I get pregnant with that has Rh positive blood. I had to go to many high risk appointments and my mind was swirling with when I was supposed to be where, as my appointments were at multiple locations, with multiple doctors.

Thankfully, God protected our little Ava all the way through the pregnancy, and she was born happy and healthy!

During that pregnancy my OB has suggested that we consider not having anymore children. She told us she does not normally tell people that, but in our case, she felt it was important to recommend to us. As things would get more and more dangerous with each pregnancy after. So, Ryan took medical measures to prevent any future pregnancies. We followed the post-procedure protocol. Ryan had his post-procedure check up. And we were given the "All Clear" from the urologist. We could now breathe easy. No more pregnancies to worry about.

Fast forward about a month. And well.... surprise! We're pregnant! Wait, WHAT??!!!!

I track everything on a calendar and started looking back at it. Sure enough, we have gotten pregnant after the "all clear" was given.

So now we need to ask for prayer. Lots of prayer. This pregnancy will be more dangerous for the baby than it was for Ava. As my pregnancy with Ava started out with a small amount of antibodies, that only went up a little bit throughout the pregnancy. And this pregnancy, the antibodies will be starting off with the amount Ava left off with. So there will be more there to start, and they will gain number throughout the pregnancy. These antibodies see the baby's blood as a virus. A threat. And therefore, will begin attacking the baby as if it were a disease needing to be gotten rid of. Our main concern is anemia. If the baby becomes too anemic during the pregnancy, they will have to give blood transfusions through my stomach -- which scares the living daylights out of me. Anyone who knows me, knows my relationship with needles. I had a similar procedure when I was in labor with Serenity, where they stuck a similar needle into my stomach to test the amniotic fluid. They said they had been told it felt like getting your funny bone hit. Let me tell you.... they lied.

I have also had Preeclampsia in one of my pregnancies, making me more likely to get it again. So please pray.

It's very likely that I will be keeping up with the blog once again as we go through this pregnancy.  I don't know why God saw fit for us to go through another scary time with another child, but He obviously did. I have no doubt He has a plan for this child. And I have no doubt that He has a plan for us with all of this.


James 1:2-4
"Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."

Psalm 139:16
"Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in Your book and planned
before a single one of them began."