Awareness

Hyperemesis.

To summarize numerous internet definitions: Hyperemesis is a severe form of "morning sickness" that affects 1-2% of pregnant women (as opposed to the 50-90 percent that experience normal morning sickness to some degree). It involves weight loss of 5-10% of body mass or more, incapacitating nausea, uncontrollable vomiting, dehydration or malnutrition. It doesn't go away at the beginning of the second trimester, usually lasting til 20ish weeks or the whole pregnancy. And it does require lots of attention from your doctor.

I don't mention all of this to make anyone feel sorry. These are just the facts. I just feel like nobody knows about it. I've not met a person yet who knew what hyperemesis was before I explained it. Most everyone knows someone who got really sick during their pregnancy, which may or may not have been hyperemesis. Only a doctor can diagnose. All I know is it is very real.

This time with hyperemesis has been worse than my previous two. Long story short, I started going in for IV's in the second month and ended up returning regularly for fluids. I just don't eat and can't keep anything down. My doctor set me up for home care where I've learned to administer my own fluids, medicine, and vitamins through my own IV on a daily basis. Many hyperemesis sufferers get a central line, or a PICC line. For whatever reason, my doc won't do one, so hopefully the IV's will keep up.

I've created a detailed blog of the experience here, for those who love the medical details like I do. Reading other peoples' experiences has brought a lot of comfort, and I wish I could do the same for someone else.

200

A post of numbers. 

I'm so excited for Spring! Winter has been long. I've got an app counting down to Easter. We have 58 more days or eight more Sundays. Ok, it's far out and I should wait to count down a little closer to...

I swear my boys have watched fifty million episodes of Daniel Tiger this winter. I don't care how good a show is, mommies get tired of anything after this long.

We're excited for one special wedding coming up! Garrison's older brother, Jeremy, is getting married!! I'm really looking forward to long-waited nieces and nephews!! But for now we wish Jeremy luck juggling his long-distance relationship from across the country!

This morning I walked passed the fridge and douple took when I glanced at the grocery list. A list eight items long usually means I need to get shopping! But then I looked closer to see my sister had taken over...

My friend Hannah came over a couple weeks ago and we decided we should do a fun project. The result was these four canvas pictures I painted for the boys' room. Hers turned out SO much cooler though!

What's 200? Oh, that's right. Two hundred is just the days left til my due date. That would be September, friends. 

Phew! Starting off the new blog with a bang!

Private Blog

Here's the link to old, private posts.

Coming soon... Our no longer private blog.