It's been so very crazy since the last time I posted, and I wish I had good news to update you all on. However, things recently have been very chaotic and devastating. 3 weeks ago, we learned that our Itty Bitty, had stopped developing at 5 weeks old. Two days before I had some spotting and I had a notion that something was not right. I visited my doctor, and she did an ultrasound and it looked like the baby was just fine. She couldn't see/hear a heartbeat just yet, because the baby hadn't hit 6 weeks yet. We were unsure of my due date since things were so very early on in pregnancy.
The doctor called and told me two days later, that my hormone levels had dropped extremely low, and she was pretty sure that I was miscarrying. It was one of the hardest and roughest days of my life. I was scared, depressed, mad, confused, just to name a few.
My body took care of everything on August 10th, but it was an experience that too many women and parents have gone through. I never knew how common miscarriages are. It was one of the most painful experiences, mentally and physically that I have ever been through.
A week after the miscarriage I had a visit with my doctor. She said everything looked great and that my body looked like I had never even been pregnant.
That day after my appointment, I went straight to St. Luke's Hospital in Houston to go visit my future father-in-law. He had been admitted for severe pneumonia. He looked grim, pale, and in pain. He was extremely emotional and scared. I had a feeling that our lives were about to change, drastically.
On August 21, Brian and I had learned that his father has stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma, otherwise known as, kidney cancer. It had taken over the entire left kidney, spread to the left and right lungs, spread to his adrenal glands and lymph nodes. They were afraid that it had spread to his brain and bones, and they knew it was terminal.
It was a day that hit us like a freight truck. We were pushed into reality that Brian's father may not survive much longer. As the days went on following the news, things started looking up. The cancer had not spread to the bones or brain, and the lung would be receptive to radiation to help his breathing to heal better.
Today, he is better. He has had 5 days of radiation to clear his left lung so that his immune system can get back to normal, so he can get over the pneumonia. They thought that taking out his kidney would be a good solution to get rid of the cancer. However, he is so weak, and surgery is so invasive, that it would be more harm to him to do so now. In the future, once his immune system builds back up, it will become an option.
Today is home and comfortable. He will continue radiation, and options will continue to come up throughout this entire process. Hopefully he will be around for years to come, and the doctors seem to be taking this one step at a time, and have assured us that no human has an expiration date.
Today things turned a little brighter. My brother was released from the treatment center he has been in for the past 7 months. It was a joyous day. It was such a blessing to be part of that experience with him. He was excited to get out and start a new chapter of his life, and to better his future.
I leave you tonight with a hopeful heart. I trust in God, and will 'be still' (Psalms 46:10). I know our Lord has great plans for us. I know that my child is now safe and out of harms way, and is loved. I know that Brian's father is being protected by someone who cares so deeply about him. I know that my brother has someone rooting for him on every step he takes.
God is good, ALWAYS.
BIG NEWS!! WE'RE EXPECTING!
Last Thursday, July 21, we found out that I am pregnant!
It has been a whirlwind of emotions, and quite overwhelming since last week. Things are going smoothly now, and chaos seems to be settling. All of our family and friends are aware and are so EXCITED!
Brian and I couldn't be more thrilled to have such a great surprise in our life! This baby is such a blessing, and we're so speechless and excited!
We have less than 3 months until our wedding {we couldn't wait to start a family apparently lol}, so things are still hectic for the next 3 months, and then we'll be switching to welcoming baby mode!
It's so crazy how things work out, and we are so very grateful for what God has given us. This is all part of His plan.
To answer a few questions...No, we were not trying to get pregnant. It just happened, and we're so very blessed.I'm between 4 and 7 weeks currently. My doctor is waiting until my next ultrasound in August to confirm my due date. If you have any pregnancy TIPS, feel free to share them. This being my first pregnancy and all, tips would be wonderful to hear. I'd love to know what products you loved during pregnancy or products that you and/or your babies use often now.
I thought I should share the wonderful news to you all. I can't wait until things settle down and I can get back to blogging! Love to you all!
It was hard to see the actual embryo/fetus during the ultrasound, due to the positioning of my uterus. Itty Bitty Lee is a tiny spec at the top inside area of the dark oval. Right now the embryo is between an apple seed and a blueberry. Again, we'll find out more in August.
