This is it...

Today is the day I head to the hospital to start the induction process. I have to be there at 6pm and was told I would be given Cervidil to ripen my cervix. That medicine will stay in for 12 hours then I will be able to eat a little something and shower before starting the potocin drip. Baby Boy will probably not be here until late Thursday or even sometime on Friday. Who knows though, right...babies do have minds of their own!! So the next post I do will be his official birth announcement. Pretty crazy considering that it literally seems like yesterday that I was announcing I was pregnant!

Just an update

It has been awhile since I've given a baby update...we have had some adventures these last few weeks, including one trip to Labor & Delivery...so lets start there!

September 30th at around 2pm I started having intense back pain which I could not relieve with anything. Eric also noticed that I was extremely flushed in the face, it almost appeared that I had a BAD sunburn and I had jaw pain. Now the flushing and jaw pain I attributed to my Remodulin pump and that I was just experiencing some side effects from that drug. Shortly thereafter the diarrhea started and then the vomiting. I could not keep anything down. I was up all night and finally at 4am when I also started feeling pressure with the back pain I called the OB. Of course you get the one on call and never your own! He stated I should head to L&D just to make sure it wasn't preterm labor. So instead of heading to Milwaukee, Eric and I headed into Neenah to Theda Clark. I was whisked away to L&D and immediately hooked up to a fetal monitor. It was determined within a few minutes that I was dehydrated and indeed was having some contractions. The nurses started me on IV fluids and slowly my uterus started to relax. I was also given Zofran in my IV so I would stop vomiting. Baby was fine the entire time and wasn't experiencing any side effects from being in a dehydrated Mommy. I was told that my uterus was just irritated from being dehydrated. I did get to experience my first internal cervix check (which to my surprise wasn't bad at all) but the 3 swabs I had to check for infection and to see if I was going to go into labor for real were TERRIBLE!!! So after approximately 9 hours in L&D they sent me home to rest and keep up on the fluids. My pulmonary doctor thinks that I might have gotten an bolus of remodulin somehow which sent everything into motion.

My regular OB wasn't too pleased that I missed an appointment with him because of all this but I did see him October 7th instead. Baby is measuring ahead of schedule but nothing that they are worried about and he is approximately 4.5 lbs! And in the 58th percentile! However his head is measuring a full 3 WEEKS ahead of schedule! Good thing I will be induced early so that shouldn't be an issue! A delivery plan was also discussed during this visit and it will be in approximately 4 weeks as long as he cooperates and my body continues to handle things well. I am now scheduled to go to the OB every week until he arrives!

31w5d profile

Chubby cheeks!

Baby Kappell's room

Here are a few pictures of Baby Kappell's room!

Latest baby news

The last visit to the OB was on September 17 and this little guy is doing FANTASTIC! Below are some of his newest ultrasound pictures. On Friday, baby boy was measuring in at 3 lbs 7 oz! That is still a gain of one ounce a day since his last measurement 2 weeks prior. Still in the 69 percentile for his age (28w6d). The OB also stated that the next visit I "should" be able to have a date planned for induction! AHHH!! That means time is running out before this little one is due to arrive! The OB states that everything is perfect now. Because of living 2 hours away from the hospital where I will be delivering I had one of the nurses give me a tour of the labor & delivery area. I just wanted to see what kind of room I would be in. Nothing special but now I know what kind of accommodations we will have!

My mom came with me to this past visit and she stated, "He already has hair, you didn't have any until you were 2!"

Profile 28w6d

Baby Shower

Some pictures from my baby shower on September 12, 2010! It was at my mom's house and everything was perfect!!

28 week 1 day pregnant belly

My cake from Tamara the Cake Guru (the same person who made my wedding cake.) The flavor was cookies and cream and was fabulous!

Thanks to everyone who had a part in making the day so special for me!

The meaning of your name...

We are keeping your name a secret until you arrive, however I would like to share the meaning of your name..."God has been gracious; has shown favor." When I read this it makes me cry, because God really has been gracious in giving us you and protecting me during this process. During this last week of my 2nd trimester, I am reminded that things could start to get difficult for us. 28 weeks seems to be the magic mark for when my heart is having to work it's hardest and literally at any moment you could be here (but I am not ready so you need to stay put for awhile!) Every time you kick, punch, rollover or whatever you are doing in there you make me smile. I love you little one!

Holy cow!

Finally a good profile picture! 26w6d!

My first of the every two week appointments was today and HOLY COW this boy gained almost 1 full pound in 2 weeks! Last visit at 24w6d he was at 1 lb 14 oz today at 26w6d he is at 2 lbs 11oz! That is 1 ounce a day!!!! So much for thinking that I will be having a small baby when induced at 35-36 weeks. At this rate he will be around 7 lbs by that point! Baby Boy is doing excellent and the ultrasound tech could see him "breathing" today, which she indicated was a very good sign!!!! My OB also talked about tentitive induction being the first week of November. TIME IS FLYING! Before I know it I will be holding him in my arms!

Look at those long legs!

"Yes, Mom this is what is always kicking you!"

Baby Kappell giving the thumbs up to the camara and to tell us Mommy passed her gestational diabetes test!

Frontal view of baby Kappell's face with his mouth open. We were trying to get him to move during the ultrasound to give us a profile picture. His mouth was actually moving and he was telling us to quit poking him!

Everything is going great! This last visit to the doctor was cut short because he had to deliver someone else's baby via c-section right away, but no concerns and Baby Kappell is measuring right on target and on Friday, August 20th he was at an estimated weight of 1 lb 14 oz! And is at the 59th percentile for 24w6d!

I also saw Dr. Soto the pulmonologist last week and he is happy with how things are going and in his words, "We are ahead in the game!" All the additional precautions medicine wise are working and I am not showing any indicators that my PH is acting up! GOOD NEWS!

It's been awhile...

Since my last post...no new decent pictures to post...Baby BOY Kappell was NOT cooperating at the my appointment on Friday and the ultrasound tech did not get any good pictures. He had his backside to us the whole time and after many different attempts to make him move he decided to stay put. Good thing the last visit they got the pictures they needed. The one photo that he was NOT shy about was his "goods." And it is still a boy...I had to make sure! Everything else is going great. I am feeling better and only have a vomiting episode about once a week now instead of multiple times a day! My belly is finally looking like a pregnant belly! And I can feel him kick from the outside now and he sure lets me know he is in there. Eric still hasn't been able to feel the kicking but he is usually at work when he is most active. And last Friday his estimated weight was 1 pound! I am hoping to get the nursery together in the next couple weeks. I have some touch up painting to do, the carpets need to be cleaned and then the furniture can be delivered. I ordered furniture from The Lullabye Shop in Appleton and was told that it would be 8-10weeks before it came in and I got a call this last Saturday 2.5 weeks after I placed the order and it is already here! I went and paid the balance today and am supposed to call them when I am ready for delivery! I am getting excited about putting his room together!

It's a...

BOY! All my thinking pink and it's really been BLUE the whole time! So now the fun can begin...I have had the nursery all planned in my head for either sex and since it's already painted a robin egg blue color at least I don't have to worry about that!

No mistaking it below that we have a little boy!!

The OB is pleased with my progress thus far. Baby Boy is growing ahead of schedule this last visit, almost a whole week! No talk though of pushing the due date sooner though. Everything looked GREAT on the ultrasound and the doctor said that, "The glass is full!" In which me meant that both Mom and baby are doing great. My morning sickness is not completely gone, but I am only taking the Zofran in the morning now instead of 3x a day. He also stated that I am half way there...when I think about that it's really kinda scary that to think in less than 20 weeks I will have a little baby. When I asked the doctor if 36 weeks is still the goal, he said yes and actually anywhere from 34-36 weeks is prime. It will all depend on me and what my pulmonary hypertension decides to do. The critical point starts at 28 weeks, this is when the circulatory system is at it's peak and my heart will be working it's hardest. If things are going to get difficult it will start then. He also stated when Dr. Soto my pulmonologist says it's time to go, it's time. I am hoping though that it will be closer to 36 weeks rather than 34 so the chances of the baby having to spend time in the NICU will be less. So if I can make it to 36 weeks, that means that today is my official half way point since I am 18 weeks today! I am starting to feel the activity in my belly more now and Eric is extremely anxious to feel him kick! He unfortunately has a few more weeks before that can happen, until then only Mom gets to feel his presence!

An itchy mess...

So why is it that people never tell you about the constant itching during pregnancy?? OMG! It is terrible. The itching really started last Thursday June 24. The worst is that the palms of my hands and the bottoms of my feet itch but I really do itch EVERYWHERE! I have went through so much lotion in the last few days! I even called the OB office on Saturday and spoke to the on call doctor who freaked me out and said I needed to go to the ER to make sure everything was ok. He stated that the itching could be related to the pregnancy or just something else...So now this makes trip #2 to the ER. And guess what, the same ER doctor that took care of me the first time was my same doctor this time. They looked me over and took blood for labwork and everything appeared normal. He stated that some people just itch and it can be common if you are carrying a BOY! Research shows that up to 70% of cases of severe itching during pregnancy occurs when you are carrying a BOY, something to deal with the male fetal DNA reacting with the mother's skin...So I get to take benadyrl for the itching and the only cure is delivery so I have another 20+ weeks of itchiness! So this coming Friday July 2nd is the big gender determination ultrasound!!! We will see if the itching theory is proven again...

Was that what I think it was????

So sitting here on the computer I felt was I think would be the baby moving!! I felt some "fluttering" or "butterflies" at 15w4d! So exciting and it was definitely like nothing I have ever felt so it had to be the baby!! My last doctor visit was on June 10th (14w5d) and everything looks GREAT! Baby is growing right on target to the exact day even. My next visit is July 2nd. On the other end of doctors, I went and saw my Pulmonologist last week also and there hasn't been any change with my Pulmonary Hypertension since the last visit 6 weeks ago! He did however want me to restart my Remodulin therapy. So as of Sunday morning, I am now hooked up to my small pump that delivers remodulin 24/7. Dr. Soto is trying to be proactive now rather than later having to be reactive if my pulmonary hypertension flares up. I am on the smallest dose now and will increase once a week until further notice. So far, so good with this medication. However since it is such a small dose I really didn't expect to feel anything. The medication is the same as before when I was on it but the machine and the delivery method are a little different but nothing I can't handle. It will be interesting though as my belly gets bigger because this medicine is delivered via a small catheter under the belly skin.

One down, two to go!!

Trimesters that is!! Today I officially entered my second trimester!!! The zofran I have been taking for my vomiting issue is my new best friend and really is a MIRACLE drug. I still faithfully take it 3x a day because I have tried skipping a dose to see what happens and my stomach gets upset yet...hopefully in the next couple weeks I will be able to ween off of it. I have two doctor appointments this week. One with my pulmonologist Dr. Soto and the other with my OB (can't wait to see my little one again, being high risk does have ONE advantage...I get an ultrasound every time I see my OB!!) It is so amazing seeing the transformation that happens in just a few short weeks. And maybe this week the baby will be showing it's boy or girl parts...I know it's early but one can wish!!

First trip to ER

Yes, that's right the emergency room...Sunday after lunch I starting vomiting and couldn't stop. Everything that went in came out. YUCK! So Monday morning after 20 hours of constant vomiting, I called my OB and they said go to the ER to get some IV fluids. Eric and I headed to Theda Clark on Monday at 8am. I was given 2 liters of fluid and some IV zofran. It felt great getting that fluid in me. I was sent home by 10:30am and laid on the couch the rest of the day. Yesterday it started all over again...lunch time I ate 3 bites of my sandwich and instantly it came up and I continued to not be able to keep anything down until 8am this morning. I called my OB again and got a prescription for Zofran and so far so good, no episodes today. I was getting worried though when not even water would stay down and then stepping on the scale this morning and being down 9lbs since Sunday! Hopefully this Zofran helps with this! On a good note, we got our Downs Syndrome and Trisomy 18 results in and they were NEGATIVE!! Our chances of having a downs child are 1 in 8900 and Trisomy 18 are 1 in 10000!! GOOD NEWS!!

Thinking PINK...

I am extremely happy to report that my dear friend Megan had a baby GIRL last night!!! So of course today I head out shopping for baby Cecilia and boy I am in trouble if I have a girl...everything made for little girls is so adorable and way too much stuff ended up in my cart! Cecilia is going to be one very spoiled little girl! I am however going to continue to think PINK for me but will be happy either way! I did however have my first "baby" dream last night and it was a dream of the delivery. In my dream I had a baby girl on 10/30/10 at 2:04pm weighing in at 5lbs 15oz and it she came with ONE push! Yes, I know it was a dream but that would be PERFECT!!

I jinxed myself!

I totally jinxed myself when I stated that my morning sickness was gone...after almost a week of keeping food down my dinner made a reappearance last night. Totally unexpected and unappreciated! On a good note I just read on Megan Willhites blog that she thinks she might have started labor last night!! Here's to hoping that Baby Willhite makes an appearance today!! Love you Megan!! Can't wait to see if you get PINK or BLUE!

Another one down, how many to go??

The latest picture of Baby Kappell

That is Doctor visits!!! I had my 4th doctor visit today and everything looks beautiful. Baby Kappell is measuring right on schedule at 11w6d. I also had my first trimester screening for Downs syndrome today. The measurement they look at on the ultrasound is the thickness of the skin on the back of the neck and the technician said it looked great. I also had to have some blood work done and they will put those two results together which give you the probability that the baby could have Downs Syndrome. Eric has a downs syndrome Aunt so it was recommended to have this extra testing done. The Mabee side of the family also has a chromosomal issue in which I had to have my DNA analyzed and I am happy to report that I am NOT a carrier of the problem!!! So happy about that!!! My morning/all day sickness is becoming less and less so hopefully it continues in that way! And I am really starting to "feel" pregnant. My belly is just starting to pop and I am wearing maternity jeans already!

When will it end...

Yesterday was my worst day of morning sickness to date...it seemed like anything that I put in my mouth soon also came out! Not a fun day! I have been blessed with morning sickness (more like all day sickness) from the moment I hit 6 weeks. Now with me being 11 weeks on Saturday you can say I am soooooo tired of having my head in the toilet! Hopefully I am not one of the lucky women who are sick their entire pregnancy. I am praying that it will end in a few weeks once I have officially started my second trimester. I just keep telling myself that a sick Mommy means a happy healthy baby!!

Also I am down to ONE pair of jeans that fit me comfortably...it won't be long before I will be wearing maternity clothes!

Another change I notice is that the skin of my belly is getting tighter. The lovenox shots I give myself every morning are starting to become harder to give. As my skin gets tighter it is like I am trying to push the needle through leather...I bought some Palmers Cocoa Butter lotion today in hopes that will help.

It's a swimmer...

Eric and I went to Milwaukee today for another OB appointment and lucky us we got another ultrasound!! We got to see the little one moving all around and the heartbeat is wonderful at 171!!!!!!!! Baby is measuring 2 days ahead of schedule too...Eric was excited to get to come to this appointment and to meet the doctor (and he LIKES him!) No conflicting personalities!!! Dr. Broekhuizen also told me today that he is going to treat me like any other "normal" pregnant patient unless he is given reason not too...This was AMAZING to hear! It's not very common for me to get to hear the word "normal" in relation to anything dealing with my health. He is very optimistic that I will have an uneventful pregnancy because I have been so stable for so long. You could just see the relief in Eric when he heard those words. Two weeks from now I head back down to Milwaukee for another appointment, but now I head to bed (5am came way to early for me this morning...early morning appointments make for a very tired mommy!)

All I want to do is SLEEP!

It's 7:54pm and all I can think about is that the minute is gets dark I am going to bed! Being an incubator is hard work...

I had the pleasure of starting Lovenox yesterday. Lovenox is a injectible blood thinner that is safe for the fetus. It is injected under the skin in the belly. My first injection went beautiful, no pain, no bruising so I figured that this was going to be a breeze...WRONG!!! This mornings injection was lets just say a bit painful! I felt the needle and the burn of the medicine going in...and a very small bruise at the injection site. So I guess I will not be the lucky one with no pain of self injectible drugs. But I am proud of myself that I did it all by myself! Here's to at least 32 more weeks of giving myself a shot everyday!!

We have a heartbeat!

Today was my first appointment with the OB/GYN and everything looks great! A strong heartbeat was detected immediately at 153bpm! And I am measuring exactly where I should be at 7w5d! Due date remains December 4, 2010! I also really, really like my doctor. He is has a kind gentle aura about him. I have to head down to Milwaukee again next week Thursday for patient education and then again the following Thursday for my official first full visit.

The Journey Begins...

I started this blog to document my journey with pregnancy. That's right as of today I am 5 weeks 5 days preggers (that is if my counting is correct!!!)

Now the real journey with trying to conceive started back in October after numerous doctor visits and adjustments to medications because of my pulmonary hypertension. After 5 long months and 1 miscarriage later I can say that this is it!! Baby Kappell should be due early December!! I am awaiting my first OB appointment on April 22 with Dr. Broekhuizen at Froedtert in Milwaukee.

I am praying that this journey is an uneventful one. Having pulmonary hypertension complicates pregnancy and I will have to be monitored extremely closely and be seen by a maternal fetal specialist instead of a regular OB/GYN. Because of my early miscarriage in my 4th cycle, Eric and I have decided not to tell anyone until after that first appointment and we hear the heartbeat!

Tomorrow I head out to Ames, Iowa to visit Grace and her family!!! We are sponsering a benefit for my Uncle Mark an Aunt Lee. She was involved in a car accident earlier this winter and because of it she had to be in ICU for 3 weeks and also underwent brain surgery. There will be a battle of the bands, silient auction and raffle to benefit them! I can't wait to see Grace and the rest of the crew! Oh, and Becci's newest baby Charlotte!!! I will post pics when I get back.