Just when I thought things were looking up....

Oh my. Trying to figure out how to even explain this is hard. But I will try.

When I was pregnant with Sydni I found out that I had Hepatitis B. The general consensus is that I contracted from my birth mother, and since it's so common in Asian countries, this all makes sense. If the disease is contracted from mother to child and there are no interventions (immune globulin [given to babies born from mothers who have HepB] or vaccinations) then that likelihood that a newborn with an immune system of....well a newborn, can fight it off is unlikely. So, as of present day I still have it and that's why.

Now it sounds selfish....why would I choose to get pregnant again if I know that my new baby can contract the disease? Well after speaking with my OB and my Hepatologist it was made clear that if I wanted to have another baby, the younger I am and the less active my disease is, the better. Well it happens to be that my disease was at a low level of activity (I'll explain later) and that the time seemed like the best. When a baby is born to a mom of HepB, the baby receives a special shot called Immune Globulin. This shot reduces the likelihood of the baby contracting HepB (along with the first shot of HepB vaccincation at birth) to 1-5%. The sooner they get the shot (literally from 30 minutes to 5 minutes, makes a huge difference. However, the higher the viral load (or count) of the HepB in the mother, the more it matters about how quickly the shot is given. And, with that said it also matters because the higher the viral load, the higher the percentage that the baby will contract the disease even if they get those shots.

So....my predicament? Well since I found out I have it, and started getting my viral load checked, as well as my liver enzymes (which kind of gives a quick glimpse of whether or not the disease is damaging your liver) and other antigen and antibody tests, my overall results have been between an inactive carrier and an active carrier. The difference between the two is that an inactive carrier shows positive for the disease, but has a low viral load, regular liver enzyme counts, and the bad antigens are negative or nonreactive. I've had a liver biopsy to check my liver quality (in 2009) and it was healthy.

Well, I now get checked every 6 months. I got checked in June of this year and my viral load went down from 12000 to 6000. At first I thought those numbers were high, but I was told by my doctor that high numbers are in the millions and that my numbers were nothing to really worry about especially since my liver enzymes were in normal range and that all of my antigens weren't positive. Well, I just got bloodwork done last week and got my results last night and I was crushed. My viral load was 2,941,107....yes that's right, that number is in the millions....My liver enzymes were 128 and 130......whereas my last count was 16 and 18. High is considered above 30. My antigen that has been negative for a few years is positive.

Not only am I concerned about my life, but also my babies. I feel guilty. I just pray that he will respond to the shots even though my count is against him. Now, let me also say that my hepatologist warned me that my hepatitis could react in many different ways to being pregnant. It could stay the same, lessen or rise. So Maybe it just started rising because of the pregnancy? On top of all of this, there are other factors that can play a role now, too. Something called ICP, which occurs in 1% of pregnancies, but the 1% mostly consists of people with liver diseases, and Acute Fatty Liver which occurs in pregnancy, mostly to women with liver disorders.

So now I just wait. I am waiting to hear from my OB about what I should do.....induce or c-section because of possibility of ICP or Acute fatty liver, or c-section because it's less transmittable, or c-section because of placental contraction of the disease.....

And waiting to hear from my hepatologist.....did the levels go up because of pregnancy? Should I start an antiviral treatment for the next 4 weeks to decrease my viral load so that it's less likely for him to contract it from me? Should I come see him sooner than my scheduled appt? How can I make it known how incredibly urgent it is that he get the immune globulin shot ASAP when he's born to the pediatrician on staff at the hospital? Should I be worried about myself? Will I need to go on treatment after he's born, or get another liver biopsy (worse than labor, I swear)?

And the icing on the cake.....I won't be able to find out whether he is hep b free until he is a year old.

34 weeks!

PregnancyStats:

How Far Along: 33 weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss: As of Wednesday (my most recent appt) it said I gained 4 lbs....which would make me a giant 38lbs heavier....BUT I had on jeans, uggs....etc, so I say maybe only 2 lbs gained for a total of 36 :-)
Maternity Clothes: Well Missouri weather is being itself so I've been between sundresses and jeans and my columbia!! I can't wait to feel comfortable in some of my old clothes!
Best Moment this week: When I was told by my OB that my son is going to be a giant! NOT! That sounds even worse than my first labor! BUT! I was excited to hear that if I'm progessing around 38 weeks, that he'll induce me at 39 if he thinks Liam will be too big!!
Gender: Allllll boy....it's been verified 3 times!
Movement: He still chooses to kick me on the right side of my rib cage. And the pain is almost unbearable. It's like an indian burn (when someone twists your arm with their hands going opposite directions) that's constantly burning along with sharp jabs to a bruised rib cage and bruised liver!!
Food Craving: I can still eat nachos at anytime of the day. This week I really wanted a hamburger.....like a lot. So I had one :-)
What I miss: SLEEP! I'm in the beginnings of Insomnia. I don't like it.
Sleep: What sleep??
What I am looking forward to: Him actually being here and getting to hold him and seeing Sydni's reaction to meeting her baby brother! The countdown is on!!
Symptoms: Besides the rib pain, not much. Just getting quite uncomfortable. My feet, particularly my left foot, has gotten a little bit swollen by the end of the day, but it's very minimal.
Exercise: My exercise is rolling over in bed and walking to the kitchen...whew....I get tired easily! I'm not used to all of this extra weight!!

I can't wait until he's here!!! Only.......39 more days if he stays in for 40 weeks!! Otherwise more like 25-30 if he comes when I think he will!!!!

Things I'm loving right now....

First and foremost...HELLO FALL!

1. Okay, so I love fall.....not too cold, not too hot. Perfect! Thank you Missouri for giving me Fall 47 times a year :-)


2. Fall reminds me of Pumpkin Spice Lattes which I love!!! I also enjoy an occasional Mocha Frappuccino. Thank you Fall!!


3. Normally I love sweaters and Jeans and warm boots, but I will currently settle for maternity jeans, long sleeve shirts and of course, my UGGS!!!!!!! My feet couldn't be happier!! P.S These are my favorite kind, and I have them in gray and brown!!! A new pair will shortly be mine!!


4. Scarves! Enough said!!! You can wear them 36 ways and there are so many different styles to choose from!!!


5. The idea that all of the holidays are approaching! I love Halloween! I like seeing all the kiddos dressed up and excited to be out on such a fun night! P.S Sydni is going to be a poodle girl! It's the cutest costume (minus the little girl in the picture....of course Sydni is cuter than that!) And we bought our own glasses, and they're black, and we had a pink scarf at home!!! I love Thanksgiving, besides the delicious turkey and pumpkin pie, I can always be reminded of how thankful I am for all that I have. And Christmas! Nothing is better than watching your child (soon to be children) on Christmas morning!


5. How I Met Your Mother. It's one of my top 5. 1st- Friends. 2nd- How I Met Your Mother. 3rd- Everybody Loves Raymond. 4th- Two and a Half Men. 5th- King of Queens.
I LOVE Jason Segel :-)


6. And of course I'm loving the idea that Mr. Liam will be here before I know it! 6 weeks if I go 40 weeks, 3 weeks if I go at 37 weeks!!! AHH!!!! I can't wait!!!!!!

Baby bump pictures

So here are some pictures from a while ago, up to now, too. Man, I look like a giant. OH WELL! It's worth it!
22 Weeks

23 Weeks

26 Weeks

28 Weeks

32 Weeks

33 Weeks

33 weeks Pregnant!!

So I thought I'd copy my friend Jillian and do this at least once....for fun and out of bordom.

PregnancyStats:

How Far Along: 33 weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss: as of last week, 34lbs!! But I'm told that's juuuust fine, especially since I lost more than my weight gain last time!!
Maternity Clothes: Well, last time the only maternity anything I bought was a nursing bra. This time, it's a different story. I actually just bought some maternity jeans which I LOVE. Typical Missouri weather is taking place and for some reason there have been some cold days. I also got some short sleeve t-shirts. Ahhhh...it's so nice to feel comfortable in clothes! I can't wait for the cooler parts of fall (after the baby is born) to wear new fall clothes!
Best Moment this week: When I realized I only have 6 1/2 more weeks, and that's if he stays in there until 40 weeks!!!! :-)
Gender: Allllll boy....it's been verified 3 times!
Movement: Oh my.....they say that the farther along you are, and the bigger baby gets, the less drastic the movements are....LIES! His favorite spot to kick is right into the right side of my rib cage. YIKES! They feel so bruised!!
Food Craving: I can still eat nachos at anytime of the day.
What I miss:Being tiny :-( And being able to sit/stand/walk without holding my ribs! And sleeping without waking up 6+ times a night to switch positions.
Sleep: The same as above.....not sleeping with a giant boppy (which I do love), and actually getting to sleep without waking up 49 times.
What I am looking forward to: Him actually being here and getting to hold him and seeing Sydni's reaction to meeting her baby brother!
Symptoms: Besides the rib pain, not much. Just getting quite uncomfortable. My feet, particularly my left foot, has gotten a little bit swollen by the end of the day, but it's very minimal.
Exercise: My exercise is rolling over in bed and walking to the kitchen...whew....I get tired easily! I'm not used to all of this extra weight!!

Well it's been a while...but that's okay, I don't think anyone's paying attention :-)

Well, it's almost 33 weeks!! My fetal fibronectin test was positive a week and a half ago and as of this Wednesday and it was negative! That means that I have at least two more weeks before he comes! So glad he has more time to cook in there!

So first things first.....Sydni has a field trip in a few weeks, followed by a parent teacher conference, followed by Halloween, and then......LIAM SHOULD BE HERE! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel like I'm in the home stretch!

Okay okay....so I'm not really in the home stretch, but I like to pretend I am! The nurse today at my doctor's appointment said, "Oh, you're 29 weeks! When you get to the 30's that's when you can start counting down!" Is it a problem that I already started counting down?? My doctor said, "Well, you're doing great and everything looks great, you're 31 weeks!" Ummm....wait...29? 31? Huh? Maybe he was going by size? Because by his size, he is 31 weeks big.....but I'm really only 29. Does that mean I can start the countdown?? Well, too bad, I'm going to anyways....and I think I will take the middle week of 30.

So yay! The countdown begins! 10 weeks to go! I keep wondering whether or not he'll be early. Part of me wants him to be a little early so that I can see him because I'm so anxious! I told Sydni today that I only had one more appointment with my Maternal Fetal Medicine Doctor and she said "WOW!" And then I said that it will only be about 6 weeks after that and we'll see Liam!! She was soooo excited....which made me more excited!!

It's finally hitting Jimmy that it really isn't that far away. When you say "2 months" it does sound kind of long...but with our busy month, 10 weeks will go by fast. Sydni has her 6th Birthday Party this weekend, followed by her sleepover on her birthday next week...then I have 2 doctor appointments the week after, and then before I know it, it will be October, and I will have 6 weeks left! When I broke it down like that, I think he realized....wow, it is really soon, and if he comes a week or two early, it's really really soon!!

I keep watching A Baby Story and that makes me even more anxious (in a good way). I get butterflies, like I'm nervous, which I'm not....and I had to remind myself, that that will be me very soon! I hope that everything goes smoothly this time. My doctor told me today that he predicts Liam will be over 8 lbs. YIKES! I had a hard time delivering Sydni at 7lbs 14oz so over 8 could be tough! And hopefully this time my epidural works! That would definitely make it worse...

AND.....I got an ultrasound yesterday by my other doctor, and he looks great! 3 weeks ago I got one, and he had these weird lines above his lips, so I was thinking cleft lip......but when the doctor went to look again, he had put his hands in front of his face and we couldn't really see anything. He didn't seem worried and thought it was probably just a weird position he was in, and a weird facial expression he was making. So when he checked yesterday, there was nothing on his face! Good to know!!

Okay. so the countdown begins. 10 weeks!
:-)