Update, 33 weeks and Obstetric Cholestasis

So this past week has been an adventure for us. I haven't been feeling all together since last week (lots of bowel issues), the day of hunger did not turn out well and my appetite has been hit or miss ever since. Dairy is definitely off limits now! I am making a run to the natural food store today to get some alternative milk and cheese, because my life without these all together is just too hard!

Tuesday night I woke up in the middle of the night with intense itching all over my body, but no rash. I called in the morning and they assured me it can happen and was normal and to take some Benedril. It seemed to get better as the day went on, but on Thursday morning it was pretty intense again, so I took some Benedril with dire consequenses...I totally forgot it makes you drowsy! I was so tired I could not keep my eyes open! I really felt drunk, it was awful and I really should have called someone for help! Luckily Truitt went down for an early nap and when we woke up I felt much better.

That afternoon (Thursday still) the clinic called me to check in, again confirming that all was normal, and to only take the Benedril at night (a friendly reminder of this BEFOREHAND would have been nice!) So after dinner on Thursday, the itching was pretty intense again, so I thought "if this is so common there has got to be other itchy moms out there!" I was on the search for blogs or websites for itchy moms! Well, what I found was there are not alot of itchy moms out there late in pregnancy that do not have a rash. I did find these websites for Obstretric Cholestasis, interestingly most based from the UK:

• The Obstetric Cholestasis Support Website: http://www.ocsupport.org.uk/
• Baby Centre UK: http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/complications/obstetriccholestasis/
• Itchy Moms: http://www.itchymoms.com/
• Pregnancy Info.net: http://www.pregnancy-info.net/obstetric_cholestasis.html

After reading all this info. I was very alarmed. I have a lot of these symptoms. I realized that I had actually been itching for the past two weeks, it had just been isolated to my hands and feet and I wrote it off as puffy, stretching, dry, winter skin. I had actually itched my foot until it bled two weeks ago, which freaked me out, so then I made a conscious effort not to scratch so much, but like I said it didn't seem like that big of a deal. But when combining this with all the other problems too, it just seemed too much at once. I knew that something could be wrong and that I needed to see my midwife right away! I could barely sleep Thursday night from worry (and itching!).

Friday morning I called and got an appointment for that afternoon. As soon as my midwife saw me she knew exactly why I was there and what I wanted, without me even having to say! I am wondering if the nurses didn't completely fill her in that I had been calling everyday, or if she knew I must have researched this on my own and would know what I would want done. From now on I know to just ask for her or just get an appointment, well actually from here on out I am suppose to call the birthing center with any major problems or concerns after hours or just go in!

So they ran the tests. The first liver function test came back slightly elevated, I guess this is common in pregnancy, but this test is not the major indicator of a problem. The bile test won't be back until Wednesday, but we are pretty sure there is a problem. Even if the test comes back negative, as long as the itching persists I will have to keep testing and keep checking in on this issue. Then that evening they had me go in to the birthing center for a non-stress test and to get a base line of activity for the baby. Everything came out great. So we are glad the baby doesn't seem to be affected at this point. The nurses there were very nice, and gave us a tour afterward and made sure we knew to call or come in if we have any concerns. She also confirmed my suspicion that this all over itching is not common, and something to definitely be keeping a careful eye on. I am so glad that I stuck to my guns this week and listened to my body!

I will be sure to post more as we know more! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we get through these last few weeks of pregnancy!

Must EAT...NOW!!!!

Oh my lordy be! I woke up starving and haven't stopped eating pretty much all day! I'm still a little nervous to eat dairy, and fish (things that seemed to send me over the edge). I can't stop thinking of this new burger place in Beaverton (http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/24/776807/restaurant/Portland/Five-Guys-Beaverton). If I had a car today I would drive to Carl's Jr. as soon as Truitt woke up and get the biggest hamburger (sans cheese) I could! Maybe I'll have to ask hubby to make a stop on the way home....

31 weeks!

Wow, oh Wow! I just saw my own ticker "8 weeks 2 days to go" (or less!) and I just can't believe it! My "Braxton Hicks" (although they are painful!) contractions have been getting stronger and I have been having one every two hours or so now for a week or so, sometimes more in the evening. But I just go lie down and drink some water or tea and they lighten up if that happens. I have also been feeling so nauseated, and tired (probably mostly from lack of food!). The only thing I can keep down is crackers, chicken soup, Gatorade, ginger ale, basically the BRAT (banana, rice, applesauce, toast) diet. This evening the only thing I wanted for dinner was French Fries, so after my doctor's appointment we went to happy hour at McMenamin's so I could have fries and hot orange tea! Great dinner, I know! But it stayed down and hit the spot! All I want to do is sit on my birthing ball, let my body purge itself, and be in my own little cocoon, classic end of the line feelings! But isn't it too early for these feelings? My mid-wife says she is not concerned about a pre-mature delivery, and if the baby comes at 36 0r 37 weeks (Truitt came at 37 weeks 6 days) that it will be okay, and that there is really nothing we can do about it anyway. So I am trying to just relax with that thought, that whatever happens is going to happen, and I just need to keep listening to my body.

I also have decided not to read anymore pregnancy magazines, because at every turn I seem to find stories on pre-mature birth. This is the last thing I need to keep reading right now!

We are pretty much ready for this little one to come out and join us. There are a few minor projects that I would like to get done, only one project that must get done, and just a few odds and ends to replace/ stock up on, and we'll be ready. I have been feeling the need/ urge to get the hospital bag packed, along with a bag of goodies and necessities for Truitt.

It is so funny because this baby already has a definite schedule and a definite way of how it wants things. Up at 6:15 almost to the minute, lots of kicking until I eat something. Then very quiet until about 11 am, time to eat mom! the baby seems to say, the baby starts kicking and my stomach starts to feel hungry (pavlovian response at this point!?!) Quiet again until it's time to put Truitt down for his nap, likes to kick/ move towards Truitt as we cuddle! Then at around 3pm, baby and Truitt are up together, everyone wants to be on my lap and my body feels like a jungle gym inside and out! The baby remains active until after dinner, when at about 8pm it gets very still. We settle down for the evening. The boys go to bed, I stay up and putz around getting odds and ends done, then finally decide to go to bed, at around 10 pm, at which point the baby gets SUPER active for about thirty minutes, but is then quiet, with no kicking until 6:15 in the morning! Not too bad of a schedule! Maybe just maybe the baby will stick with it even after birth? For some reason I am guessing I shouldn't count my chickens (or chicks) before they hatch!

A Birthday Poem

Today my wonderful hubby turned 42. I think he looks great for his age, if I do say so myself. We celebrated by having a mid-west favorite, Tator Tot hot dish (they don't say "casserole" back there, but use "hot dish" instead. Also his wonderful "hot dish" is 20 WW points per 1 cup serving (and you cannot eat just one cup!!!), so needless to say I make it only once a year! I have not stopped chugging the water since dinner, and I still feel parched!), and Apple Upside Down Cake. He recieved a great Packers golf shirt from his Dad and his wife, and I got him a bird book he has been wanting for months (we get quite a large variety of birds here, so it should be fun to have around). He also received this fabulous poem from his brother Kris. I had no idea you were so poetic Kris!!!

Happy Birthday Honey! And thanks for doing the dishes on your birthday so I could post on the blog and check my email!

Forty two. Whooo!
By Kris Bjorlin

What do you do at forty two?
Logistics/Sales at a berry farm that's what you do.
Shovel snow until your face turns blue.
No more bike rides like when you were thirty two.

Forty two will make you a father for two.
More diapers with poo.
Disposable income goes kaploo.
Muscle definition in your body is few.

What you will miss later on looking back at forty two.
Your kids laughed at a sound ending in moo.
The economy blew.
Your town should own a snow plow or two.

Advice for forty three.
Be careful of increased frequency to pee.
Watch out for soccer leagues who increase their fee.
Your wife will most likely be expecting number three.

Happy Birthday!
Your much younger brother

Happiness for 2009

I love the start of the new year, and usually love the fun of making "resolutions". However, this year seems different. Being pregnant means it's not the year to resolve to lose those lingering 20 lbs. We have already been working on a financial budget for the last two years that has kept us secure and stable, and is now finally a way of life for us, so check mark on that one too. As a mom, I finally have a daily schedule down for me and the little guy, which I am hoping the new baby will just slip into without too much disruption. Life is good overall: stable and steady. It feels like a good year just to resolve to continue to be happy with what we have, and look forward to the little things that bring great pleasure.

I am currently just finishing up Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I started it early in 2008, but got stuck in the middle section of the book. Last week I decided to just skip the middle section and finish reading the last part of the book. It has been wonderful! I have really been looking forward to getting into bed every night and reading (it also helps that dish network and our local ABC channel are having a dispute, so I am not able to watch all my favorite shows). I am so tired though that I can't read much at a time. Anyway, a few days ago I read this passage on happiness. It definitely sums up how I have always felt on the subject, and how I have tried to live my life. Every night since, I have had a dream about telling this passage to someone different, and people I haven't seen in quite a while. It has been great to not dream about having a preemie, but I also think my brain is telling me to share this already. So, I hope you enjoy as much as I did, and here's to a very happy 2009:

"...people tend to universally think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you achieve happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. If you don't, you will leak away your innate contentment. It's easy enough to pray when your in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainments."

Christmas Present Videos

Christmas present videos can be found in the You Tube link in the right hand column. Thank you to all our family for sending such wonderful presents for Truitt for Christmas. He is very blessed!

Joyeux Noel Already!

UUUUGGGGG!!!!
It has been 3 days now and Blogger will not let me post our Christmas Morning video! It is so sweet I wish I could show all of you, and alas all we took were videos of gift opening, no stills! Here are some of the highlights of our Idylic Christmas 2008...

...Staying up after the little one went to bed to set up the presents for Christmas morning, another milestone in the parent club for sure!
...The pitter patter of his little feet coming down the stairs on Christmas morning
...seeing him discover the cat is dressed like an elf
...listening literally to the directions we gave him and tripping over his surprises under the tree
...staying in PJ's the entire day, eating too many sweets, and taking a big family nap in the afternoon!

Joyeux Noel a vous et la votre! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Hope is was filled with wonderful memories you will hold dear forever!