22 week update: We FINALLY had our "big" ultrasound last week and..... It's another girl! We were very surprised - both Tim and I thought it was a boy. I don't know why we were so sure, maybe because the last baby we lost was a boy. The baby looks perfect. Ultrasounds have gotten a whole lot more detailed in 8 years! We saw just about every part of her, including inside her brain. She's a pretty laid back baby. When we were looking at her, the ultrasound tech had obviously woken her up. She kept yawning and stretching her arms above her head.

My blood pressure is starting to creep ever so slightly. Some of this is "white coat syndrome" - whenever a health professional comes at me with the blood pressure cuff I can feel my heart start to race. Everything was good enough, though, that I once again have a 4 week long leash before my next appointment! Amazing! Even though everything has been going so well this time, I'm always in awe when I go in and everything is fine. My next appointment is July 10th. I'll have another ultrasound to check growth since the clotting disorders I have can cause growth restriction. The OB did say that if my BP stays where it is or goes higher she will start to worry. Keep your fingers crossed for me! I want to stay on my feet as long as I can and get this baby as far as possible!

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Alice update: Alice is having reflux problems again. My poor baby has ulcers down her throat. She's been referred back to the pediatric GI doc. Meanwhile she's got some medicine that is helping at least a little bit and she is on a soft foods / non-acidic diet. Suggestions of what to feed her are welcomed! The higher the calories the better. She only eats a few bites at a time and she just doesn't have a whole lot of wiggle room weight-wise.

Afterschooling, Summer Edition

This year our afterschooling fell by the wayside. Alice was challenged enough at school that she didn't really need anything extra at home. This summer is a different story. We went without a schedule for a week. By the end of it we were both cranky and at ends with each other and with what to do. We aren't able to be out and about too much because when I am on my feet for more than 10 minutes at a time my leg starts to go numb. (Baby is sitting on a nerve. Not dangerous, but annoying and somewhat painful.) Alice thrives on a schedule. This has always been true. So, we're afterschooling this summer to bring some structure to our days. Every day she * cleans her room for 15 minutes * makes her bed * works in her math book (Singapore Math Practice 2A / Grade 3) This is review of what she learned this past school year. When I asked Alice what she wanted to learn this summer she said she wanted to review math. They covered a lot of tricky things this year - regrouping, multiplication, division, fractions. Alice was fine at all of it but didn't completely master any of it. I think a summer review will give her confidence going into next year. * reads for 15 minutes about a science topic of her choosing * reads for 15 minutes about a social studies / history / geography topic of her choosing * reads for 45 minutes to an hour each night before bed any book she wants * does a couple of pages in her note reading workbook * letter writing / "organized" art projects / field trips happen several times a week We also watch an episode of Mythbusters most days... Physics and math in action, right?! I have her pick science and social studies / history / geography topics to stick with for a week. We check out a bunch of books at the library so that she can get as in-depth as she wants. Her reading spins off into other projects (of her choosing. I only require the 15 minutes of reading) - this week she decided she wanted to learn about the White House, presidents and first ladies. She wrote a letter to President Obama and has been designing her own White House. For science she chose the solar system (Neptune, particularly) and has done all sorts of art projects related to that. It's fun to see her applying what she's reading. This schedule allows for plenty of free time. It's also flexible. A few days ago she did her 15 minute room cleaning and then wanted to keep going. Was I really going to say, "No, I don't want you to clean your room anymore. Come do math." ?! NO WAY! She spent a couple of hours cleaning up her room. We ditched the rest of the schedule for the day.

19 weeks

I didn't update after my appointment last week because there wasn't much to say... Everything looks great. My hyperemesis is gone. Now I'm fine as long as I eat every couple of hours. I'm having to eat a substantial snack before bed because otherwise I wake up in the middle of the night needing to eat IMMEDIATELY. I've got snacks stashed everywhere - my purse, the cars, my viola case, my bedside stand - just in case I suddenly need to eat something. It's nice to be able to eat again. My blood pressure is holding steady with a nice low systolic over a moderately high diastolic. I think it was 112 / 82 at my last appointment. To me this is weird, but it's been consistent and they don't seem concerned so I'm not going to worry about it! With pre-eclampsia they look at the overall numbers and also at how your numbers jump from appointment to appointment. Consistency is a good thing. So, things are going quite well. So well, in fact, that my doctor proclaimed she didn't need to see me for a whole four weeks! I would celebrate this except that my BIG ultrasound is at my next appointment. It was supposed to be at 20 weeks, now it is scheduled for 22. We are anxious to find out if this baby is a boy or girl! This baby is teaching us patience.

When Speck of Dust is born, it will get my sewing room. (I don't really mind.) I surveyed the room a few days ago, though, and I've got a lot of stuff in there! I'm trying to use fabric NOW so that I can fit into a smaller space. This dress goes together so fast. I've made three so far and I'm planning to make several more for Alice, Maggie, and various other little girls in my life. Alice has requested that I monkey with the pattern to come up with a version for her American Girl dolls, so that is on my to-do list. Here is my first attempt. As-is, the neckline is a little too low on Alice. It's also a tad too roomy on her. Attempt #2. I raised the neckline by an inch or so and was more generous using my seam allowances. Much better fit. Here is the back: I've finished a 3rd one and if I can convince Alice to model it I'll edit in some pictures. Cute, huh? The pattern is a download from Lil Blue Boo.

14 week appointment

Hooray for the 2nd trimester!!!!! There were many times over the past several years that I never thought I'd get here!

I had my first visit with the new OB today. I loved her. She is really, really great. (Completely the opposite of that horrible nurse.) She is also (more importantly) very on top of things. Here's the recap:

My next appointment is in 4 weeks, when I will be 18 weeks. That will be my last normal appointment. After that I will have appointments and ultrasounds every 1 - 2 weeks (starting at 20 weeks) through the end of the 2nd trimester. 2 weeks if things are going well, less if they feel like I need to be watched more carefully.

Starting in the 3rd trimester (27/28 weeks) I will have twice weekly appointments / ultrasounds until delivery.

We will be able to fill up a photo album before the child is even born.

Why all the appointments? Well, this is a high risk pregnancy. I've already had one preemie due to pre-term labor, I had pre-eclampsia in my last pregnancy, and I have multiple clotting disorders. What this means is that I'm at a higher risk for things like pre-term labor, pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, problems with the placenta, and low amniotic fluid.

Scary, yes. BUT I will be watched like a hawk. I have also developed a loud mouth since Alice was born. I am not afraid to speak up to doctors and to advocate for myself (or my child) when I feel that something is wrong. I have friends who have had similar medical issues who have done very well, so this CAN be done. We're choosing optimism.