Seriously? Roseola AGAIN!

Yes, I know I've posted a similar topic before. But Landen had a 101.5 fever today, but acted fine, so I just gave him a half dose of motrin and it brought it down. Tonight he woke up from sleep, shivering, with 103.
Now, this is probably time number 9 that he has had this. The ped. told me a while back that its rare to get it more than once, but at the same time he never tested to see if its exactly the roseola virus. He said it could be something else that presents itself that way (fever for about 5+ days-in our case, rash for 2). His fevers are worse at night, and there are not really any other signs that he isn't feeling feel, except maybe a little fussy. So, when I bring him to the ped. we have no choice but to check his urine, then send him for bloodwork, and everything comes back fine, and by that time, its gone, and the rash has appeared. So, after maybe 4 times of bugging the dr. with this, I decided that I would just take care of it myself. I, of course, watch for other symptoms, but really none come. The ped. always recommends that I rotate motrin and tylenol every 3 hours. I do at night, but during the day, I just play it by ear, or by temp rather.
They say its contagious only when they have a fever, tho, and I respect that, and other parents, but at the same time, the times he has been around those other kids with this, they never got it.
My first thought this time was, uh! I'm pregnant! I looked it up, and if the mother has never had it, or come into contact with it/developed an immunity, then there is a slight chance (very slight) of miscarriage during the first trimester, and congenital defects later on. B/c Landen has had this so many times, I'm not really concerned that I haven't developed an immunity to it, but I think I will give a call to my Ob tomorrow just for kicks. :)
Right now, at 2 am, Landen requested a popsicle. (I made-half juice half water) It appears the motrin wound him up, and I couldn't get him back asleep. Hopefully the pop will help with the temp. (I also did a luke warm shower).
B/c I have that live feed, I saw that many people have done a google search, and came to my last post of Roseola again, and that was not at all informative, so I hope that I have helped some who are in a similar situation.
Now, lets hope we get some sleep and feel better soon.

Did you have a favorite sling?

With Landen I used a ring sling wrap, which I liked, but didn't love-it often got twisted, and when he got bigger we used an ergo carrier, which is great. I bought a home made mei tei, but it was big and thick, and awkward. I think I'd like a hotsling...

I'd like a new wrap/sling/carrier to carry little one in, and was checking out this site to find one. They are having a contest, so go enter.
"Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)"

And let me know if you have a favorite from your babies newborn days. :)

A feather boa for me.

I can't think of many toys that was hard sought when I was a child, but I was a girls girl, and had to have a pink feather boa. I remember going to the store that had it, and every time we went I would beg for it, try it on and walk around in it. I thought I was the prettiest girl in it, and what little girl doesn't want to be just that. Now looking back at the video of that christmas (I wasn't a JW then) and I open the box (which also contained a wrap around ballet skirt, and some makeup) and shouted, "How'd you know I wanted this?" That was a perfect present.
For Landen, I seem to be obsessed with toys. We want him to have a great toy, the one he loves, and can always use, so the quest never seems to end. :) Right now, we are considering a train table (and set). But what is the perfect toy?
So I am entering another blog contest, although I have never one anything (I try!!) maybe this will be the time. Though apparently Manda (a friend) always wins, so don't tell her about this contest and I might have a chance. I got an email from the Parents Blogger Network about this contest and couldn't resist. They have teamed up with Hasbro for the Hot summer Toy event and are giving away some cool toys. Wish me luck!

Apparently...

I say "ah man" often b/c Landen has started saying that if he falls or something. Good thing I don't swear!!

u/s

We had an u/s on Tuesday the 15th, and it went really great. The fluid appeared normal, the placenta was almost 2 cm from the OS!! (so not covering the cervix) and everything else looked good. The dr. said he would deliver me at least 3 cm away, and I trust it will move a lot more than by 18 weeks from now. :D The number 2 in the picture below is one of the measurements of the distance there, do you see the placenta?
I had a few sips of dr. pepper before, and I never drink soda/caffeine, and boy was he hyper!!!! He was moving a mile a minute, and I am soooo not exaggerating. :D

The colored part is the cord :DHis head is the circle on the left, and if you look closely you can see the lense in his eye! :D

Back from the OB

So, my dr. is wonderful, and just seeing him made me feel better. He did a full check up, vaginal exam, ect. Asked me all the usual questions, and didn't see concerned. So I started asking him questions.

1st concern is complete placenta previa. The midwife implied that my placenta is completely covering my cervix, which it is, but they had said the center of the placenta was covering the cervix, basically that it was central, and it was a lot to expect it to move from that. The dr. said the information from the tech's report, wasn't consistent but that it seeemed that it was just the edge of the placenta covering the cervix. (he said they wrote appears one place, and complete in another, either it is or it isn't!) So he didn't really trust the report based on that.

2nd concern was the venous lakes, pools of maternal blood in the placenta which can cause (according to my m/w) hemmoraging, and fetal growth restriction. He was not concerned AT ALL about this, saying that if I had gone to an experienced tech, or a specialty fetal imaging place, they wouldn't have even noted this as it is so common! (this lady told me she'd been doing it for 25 years!)

3rd concern was my low amniotic fluid levels. He said also, that its to early to measure accurately the amniotic fluid index at 17 weeks (when my u/s was done) and that its really a concern at this point, and that he doesn't know why she mentioned it...

So he is doing an u/s himself for me tomarrow night at 6:30, he has 3d/4d so he will let me take a look at the little guy (which I am hoping is still a boy, b/c if she messes up that much, can she do miss that too?). I actually want a boy, so hope that's consistent.

I was worried about whether or not they would let me fly on Wednesday, he said yes, and wrote me a note.

I was worried he would make me quit nursing Landen, yes he thinks I should stop b/c it causes contractions, and that can be dangerous, but he also said that I didn't need to do it cold turkey, that I could take my time (reasonably speaking, a month or so). PHEW. I was so worried about this.

So over all, everything went pretty well! I am so relieved. He said no exercise, and take it easy, no sex ect but no bedrest yet. We have a ways for that, but it seems as though that won't happen. (just what I picked up on).

So I am relieved, and feeling better. *sigh* Thanks for your thoughts, and concerns. I am now much more hopeful for a vaginal delivery, although, I cannot go back and have my homebirth, I can accept that this time, if everything else goes smooth.

Some answers tomorrow.

I finally go to the dr. tomarrow, I finally get some answers. I think I might hug th ob/gyn in relief. It's been like 2 weeks that they've given me all these bad news and we've just been sitting on them, trying to think the best and not the worst.

I am planning on making a list of all the questions I have, b/c there are so many. He has a 3d/4d u/s in his office, so hopefully he will check it himself. I know with the low fluid levels they like to have another u/s within 4 weeks, and I had my last at 17 w 2 days. I am hoping he will check and see that my placenta isn't low, and I have no venous lakes. Hahaha, I know that is unlikely, but it would be nice right?

Tomorrow at 2:30 is my appt. I will be nervous and excited. I just have to pray that I won't cry as he says the scary parts. :)

I'm also supposed to go to Cape Cod On wednesday, and I am hoping he will let me fly. But whatever is best for me and Logan.

More pictures

My belly 2 weeks ago.

Landen and Lola (the little girl I take care of).

Bubbles!

Look at those big brown eyes.

Boys will be boys...

We babysat for our friend the other day, he is a month younger than Landen, and boy did they have fun. Here are some pictures of them playing and wrestling on Landen's bed.

He's got Landen in a head lock in this one!!

My monkey jumping on the bed!

What I'm feling now.

Well, I am feeling somewhat better about things, and trying to be more positive about it all, but at the same time, I'm a reader and researcher, and I learn all the things that could happen. That's scary. I don't know if its unbalanced of me to cry, and to feel so torn up. In a way, I feel like I am alone in this. Of course Matt is sad, but its not the same as me.
My first step was the self prescription to drink boat loads of water to help my low amniotic fluid levels. I had suspected they were low b/c when I lie down I could feel him, his head, his body, and I know what was what. Normally there would be a lot more cushion, not allowing me feel him so much. It feels better already. Another concern was his movement, he's not moved as much as Landen, but over the past 2 day (since I've had more water? allowed him room to move) he's given me some good kicks and rolls. Matt even felt him from the outside.
They say its rare for complete placenta previa to completely unblock the cervix, and that I will most likely have a c-section around 37 weeks. My fantasy of a homebirth, it seems is way out of my reach, and I am heart broken about that. But what is important it my baby is healthy. I wonder how that will work if he is born so early, before he is ready, but its either that or I bleed when my cervix dilates. I worry about a NICU baby, I worry about being away from Landen in the hospital, and of course he will be ok, but no one knows what he needs like I do! We haven't been away from eachother more than an hour. And he was just with his daddy. I have friends who have had NICU baby, and I wonder how they are so strong, and I thank God that's not me, b/c I know I am not strong enough for that. I couldn't do it.
But before all that is complete bed rest which is what they are threating me with now. Someone else will take care of my baby. The job that I love most of all, and makes me smile, will be put on hold, and I won't spend my days playing with him, teaching him, and watching him grow. It's not like I won't see him, but I really treasure every moment.
You see? It's hard for me not to think about every possible outcome, most of which are negative, and worry.
I guess the next step at this point is to eagerly await a phone call on Monday to get a specialty infant imaging scan, and get more info on everything. Then get my appt set up, then go, and then wait for the call about the report. That is one thing about the midwife, is they are sooo darn slow about everything. Why couldn't they have called on Thursday to make the appt, instead of waiting until friday and realizing its a holiday. I am looking forward to the care of my ob/gyn who I know will be efficient, and timely.
Landen needs me....thanks for reading if you made it this far.

Ultrasound report

At the u/s they had mentioned that I had placenta previa, u/s report is that its completely covering the os, and they don't think it will go up on its own. She will be refering me to an obgyn and she said no one will deliver me vaginally as I am to high risk. There goes my homebirth. She also said I have something called venous lakes, which is pools of blood in the placenta, and she read me something about it but all I heard was fetal growth restriction. Nice. I looked it up, and it was very vague.
She had said to me, it can be normal with one, which you have, but more than one can be dangerous. Then she said, oh wait, y ou have more than one, the other girl (another patient) has one.
Now, giving me all these news, she didn't have any info about my activity restriction, or anything definite until the head midwife comes in in the afternoon. It seemed a little unprofessional that she called me with all these bad news, but didn't have any answers, couldn't tell me exactly what they would do, what EXACTLY anything means, even about going to an ob/gyn.
So, now I have all these bad news, most of which is that these things can lead to a preemie, a baby with growth restricitions, or bleeding to death possibly, and a c/s. I don't mean to be negative.
I will GLADLY give up my homebirth, for a healthy baby. And trying to be positive, at the last u/s they said he was looking really healthy, he had legs, and arms and heart had 4 chambers, ect. So, I am thinking, hopefully the growth restriction won't be to much of a problem.

She said probably I will go back in 3 weeks for another u/s to check everything again, but of course, this too she couldn't confirm b/c the other midwife wasn't there yet.

So, I found at at playgroup with some friends, and proceeded to cry in the middle of it. So, lets hope things go well from her on...and I will give you an update when the m/w calls.


o yeah, and my amniotic fluid is quite low

Mr. pukey

Landen got really sick on Tuesday night and was up all night puking his brains out, all over himself and me. I ended up bringing him in the shower, and he was shivering even in the warmth. Poor boy! He puked a few more times and finally fell asleep in my arms shivering. It was so sad watching him throw up, when I knowhow it feels, and the look on his face, when he wanted to gasp for breath, but couldn't breath. He felt better in the morning, and I called Lola's mom and told her how sick he was, not to cancel, but to let her know just in case, and she brought her somewhere else, so I was able to rest.
He is good now.
I don't know where is came from but lastnight he started sticking his finger down his throat and making himself gag, and laughing, I try to ignore it, but then he actually made himself throw up. Does he learn his lesson? No he thinks its funny, and does it some more! (I think its b/c Matt was holding him and started gagging when he threw up on himself-fresh from the shower). HAHAHA. :D

I think he wants to play...

Landen was saying hi to Logan (assuming thats his name, just trying it out) saying Hi baby, and giving my belly kisses. Then he started blowing raspberries on my tummy. I think Logan really liked hearing him and wants to play b/c he just started bouncing everywhere, and is making me have to pee!!!!