Millie's New Shirt

Isn't she the cutest?  She was pretty excited to hold this special piece of paper, and luckily we snapped a picture just before she crumpled it.  Fear not, we will get plenty more.

So there is our big news.  We are thrilled for Millie to have a playmate, and are crossing our fingers for another girl (Millie has enough clothes for twin girls actually!) for practical reasons but would not be disappointed with a little boy.

I'm only a wimpy 7 1/2 weeks along (due date of September 2nd) but feel it so much already.  I have to say 7 1/2 instead of just 7 because I literally feel the pain of pregnancy (nausea) all day every day so I have to give myself credit for surviving half the week.

By surviving I mean laying on the couch while Millie watches Dora, Sesame Street, Arthur, Angelina Ballerina, Curious George, and anything else she wants.  I did figure out that if I put something on for me to watch then she forgets the TV and plays with her toys.  That's been my big accomplishment so far.  We occasionally do puzzles or color, too.  She eats a steady stream of whatever I can grab in the kitchen that doesn't make me gag and I can get while holding my breath.  Believe me, that really limits our choices.  Thankfully Buck handles dinner so she isn't completely deprived of decent food.

It's already so easy to feel like a bad Mom, but I find it especially easy these days.  I'm not too hard on myself since Buck has done a good job of picking up much of my slack, and I am thrilled Buck's Mom is coming to visit for her birthday to help my poor Millie.  It helps me get through those really hard things I have to do like cook her eggs.  I just think "I can cook her an egg this once, even though it might make me throw up.  Angie will do it when she gets here."  Kind of a light at the end of the tunnel I guess.  She's only here for a few days but I'm pretending it is a month.  I feel even more wimpy recruiting help, but I just feel so bad for Millie it helps me get over my pride.

Ok enough complaining.  I'm sure you're dying to know about my doctor.  I've been seeing a specialist in Stamford that has an entire wall (floor to ceiling) in his office covered with awards, plaques, certificates and diplomas all from Yale.  Now I know that doesn't automatically make him the greatest, but it sure eases my mind a bit.  I've already been to the doctor 3 times (and had two ultrasounds with another one scheduled for next week) and had ton of blood work done.  They started testing me a few months ago for diseases (in the hopes of finding an explanation for Millie's prematurity) but I've got a squeaky clean bill of health.  Hooray and boo all at once I guess.

I had a big sit down with my doctor (there is only one at this practice) and went over these results in detail as well as my medical history.  I loved it.  Anything I said he took as a valid concern and didn't dismiss anything.  I forgot to mention a couple of things but plan on it next week, especially since he is so open to my ideas and concerns.  He basically doesn't think I have an incompetent cervix (which is also what my Utah doctors said) but there are so many reasons a cervix can be incompetent that it is still possible...though we've ruled out 90% of those reasons.  He would still like for me to consider getting a cerclage (not a McDonald, but I can't remember the name of the one).  He would also like for me to take weekly progesterone shots.  On top of everything I just said, he would like for me to come in weekly (probably starting at 20ish weeks) so they can monitor me for signs of preterm labor.  So basically I'm pretty sure I'll have a full term baby though we don't know the reason still for Millie's premature birth.  I've got a little while to research it all and determine what we should do.

There's the nitty-gritty.  Buck's job ends in June so at the very least we'll be switching insurances, but at most we'll be moving somewhere else.  Also since I'll be visiting my doctor every week (not to mention it might be risky) we won't be leaving for a summer vacation.  There, that's everything.  We are really excited even though September is so far away.  Oh I've decided I won't be sick past 12 weeks.  It's decided so it will happen.  Power of positive thinking, right?  I was sick until 20 or 21 weeks with Millie, but not this time.