Friday, November 7, 2008

The Big News...in case you haven't heard...

Many of you have heard the word already, but for those of you who haven't, Sluiter Nation is expecting an addition. That's right, I'm pregnant!

I have been asked for details, so Cortney and I decided this was the best venue for the WHOLE story (don't worry, we will leave out the nitty gritty ones!)

It all started in March of 2006 when I found out I was pregnant the first time. That pregnancy was unexpected, but just as we were getting used to the idea, it was over. That miscarriage was actually something called a "blighted ovum." A blighted ovum just means that after the cell division starts, it VERY quickly ends. The problem is, my placenta never got the memo and kept preparing itself for an occupant. Eventually my body realized the error and got rid of it all in a miscarriage.

This was important because it brought the vague idea of becoming parents right into our face. And after it was all over, we realized it was something we really wanted. So we decided that after Christmas, we would try again.

Fast-forward to February 2007. I find out I am pregnant again. This time on purpose. Because of our previous experience, the doctor agrees to do an early ultrasound to assure us that there is an embryo in there this time. Around 8 weeks, we went in. The embryo measured way too small and there was no detectable heartbeat. The doctor tried to be positive, assuring us that perhaps we calculated the due date wrong, so we came in 10 days later. Same size, still no heartbeat. A couple weeks later, it ended in miscarriage again.

That miscarriage we chose to keep quiet mostly because we knew we were going to try one more time and we didn't want added pressure on us with everyone wondering if we "were" or "weren't." Cortney and I had a long discussion about how many disappointments we could handle. Cortney said he would totally understand if I didn't want to put my body through it all again, but i said I thought I had one more try in me. Together we made the decision that if our next try didn't work out, we were done, and would turn to alternative options, such as adoption. With our decision and faith firmly in place, we decided to try pregnancy one more time.

After four months, I was driving home from the homecoming football game reflecting on the long week and I realize, like a slap in the face, that I am pregnant. It was still four days before my missed period, but I just knew it.

So I went home and took a home test before Cortney even got home. If I didn't know what I was looking for, I would not have seen the VERY faint red line on the stick. But it was there! Cortney was less convinced when he came home and insisted I retest on Sunday. I did. The line was QUITE bold. We were ecstatic!

I immediately called the doctor and they hauled me in for a bunch of blood tests. The tests showed that my progesterone levels ( the hormone that make my uterus beefy and comfy for the embryo to attach itself) were a little low, so the doc put me on 200 mg of prometrium (a supplement for progesterone) per day.

This past Tuesday we went in for an early ultrasound to see what there was to see, and sure enough, we had a little embryo this time (quite cuddled up to the uterine lining...it must be camera-shy)! We even saw the little heartbeat (cardio-tissue activity, as the doctor calls it)...140 beats/minute!

For all of you stat-watchers...I am 7 weeks and 2 days and am due June 23, 2009. The doctor ordered some more blood tests to check my progesterone. Much to my dismay, it was still low. He increased my dosage from 200 mgs/day to 400 mgs. This has caused a LOT of dizziness and just overall yucky feelings. Cortney has been super great about pitching in so that I can take lots of rests so that I don't overdo it.

Leaving the hospital after seeing that little heartbeat was overwhelming and at that point we couldn't contain ourselves! Last night we drove around and told our parents they were getting a grandbaby and very shortly after, many of you probably heard the news.

We are just so excited to be preparing for this new addition! I am sick ALL the time, but thanking God and all my lucky stars because the more symptoms I have, the better the pregnancy is doing! So if you are going to say prayers, please pray that everything stays healthy. Although, I could do without the vomiting in the mornings! Ugh!

We are sorry we couldn't tell everyone individually, but news travels even quicker than we thought (hence why we just came out with it on facebook too)! We want to thank everyone who has been praying faithfully for us even without knowing this whole story. We are very lucky to have friends and family who are so wonderful and supportive! We, and our little embryo, are very blessed!

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow. that is quite a story. your little embroyo will someday know the blessing he/she truly is. I am so sorry you had to go through so much pain before. and so glad you tried one more time. it really is meant to be!! yea! and I will pray for a healthly pregnancy for you both! congrats! let us know if you ever need anything!
scully

Post a Comment

"I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying." ~Michael Jordan