currently, i am 17 weeks & 3 days. this is the time when
the progesterone treatment should begin. my doctor & i have been in
communication with the company that supplies the medication & the relevant
equipment in order to hopefully ensure its prompt delivery. once it all arrives,
i'll be visiting the doctor every week for treatment. since i am at a high-risk
for dangerously pre-term labor because of the malformation of my uterus, the
goal of the therapy is to help prolong little teo's stay inside of me for as
long as possible so that when he does arrive, he's able to function outside the
womb. (don't you know more about my uterus than you ever wanted to?) the goal
is to make it to at least 26 weeks of pregnancy, which is when the fetus's
lungs have developed enough to have a chance of working properly outside of the
uterus. however, should teo arrive that early, there is still no guarantee for
his good health so i'm dreaming big for a full-term pregnancy. so far, we have
raised enough money to cover 10 shots, but i will need at least 20.
as for my hyperemesis: i've learned to manage it as best as
i can but it still remains ever-present. many who have endured this disease
report that it eases up considerably at 20 weeks of pregnancy. that would truly
make me cry of joy. if it doesn't, it will likely remain as it is for the
remainder of the pregnancy. right now, i am concerned about having lost 10 lbs.
and that i continue to lose weight, when ideally i should gain 25 lbs. for a
healthy pregnancy. i can't say this shit doesn't completely suck and make me
want to curl up and die sometimes. however, i've read the stories of many who
have had to terminate their much-wanted pregnancies in order to save their own
lives from the debilitating effects of hyperemesis, and i feel truly blessed that
my experience with the illness has not been severe enough for me to have to
face that decision.
lighter notes: i am sooo happy that i was just able to spend
a few days with esteban. we didn't know i'd be so sick when his flight was
booked many months ago, but it was seriously great to just have him by my side.
that man has seen more vomit than i'm sure he has ever wanted to see in his
life. i love him to pieces and am repeatedly reminded of what an amazing father
he will be. i am seriously lucky to have found someone who is so content with
playing movie trivia in bed all day. also, i already know teo is going to help
fulfill my destiny as a dance-mom with all the kicking and squirming he
constantly does.
thanks again to each of you for everything. i know that of
course not everyone is in a position to donate, and to that i say don't sweat
it--just share it :) (as in, this donate link. share the donate link.)
p.s. i highly recommend dr. gene burkett for anyone with a
high-risk pregnancy diagnosis. seriously, he's gone above and beyond from day
one and i could not be happier with any other doctor.
