It's hard to believe 2 years ago I was pregnant with my precious little boy. Dustin gave me my first Mother's day present. A baby book for Sawyer, and a book to record my whole pregnancy. I knew ever since I was little I wanted to be a mommy and I never knew I would fight so hard to become one.
In January 2005, 4 months before Dustin and I were to be married I had to have an exploratory surgery in Iowa City. For a whole month I had been having severe right lower side pain. Finally after a month of not knowing what was causing my pain a doctor in Iowa City discovered that my shunt tube was poking in my lower abdomen. What is a shunt you ask? When I was 6 months old I was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus. It is extra fluid on the brain that does not drain normally like it should. A shunt is tubing that is placed in the brain and extends down into my neck and ends in my stomach. It drains the extra fluid into my stomach where it is absorbed into my body. After the shunt placement I was fine. I saw a doctor in Iowa City for several years and then a local doctor in Waterloo who said I no longer needed to be followed. Well in 2005 before my surgery I was briefly seen by a Neurosurgeon who said I should follow up again.
So a few months later we headed back to Iowa City and I was able to see the surgeon who had put my shunt in 22 years before, Dr. Menses. They did xrays and a cat scan just to make sure things were still working ok. The doctor came in and asked me some questions and then asked if I had any. Of course the question of being a mother was on my mind. So we asked if pregnancy was ok. I was shocked when he said no. He said the pregnancy would put me at risk for seizures and extra pressure on my brain because as the baby grows it puts extra pressure on your spine which increases pressure to the brain. I was devastated. It was not what I was hoping for. We wrapped up our visit and he said to follow up in a year.
The next year went on. Dustin and I were married and happy, but the urge to start a family was still there. We debated adoption but it wasn't something Dustin wanted. We went back for my follow up and everything looked fine. I brought up pregnancy again just to see what would be said. I wasn't ready to give up. Again the doctor said no. He said that if we absolutely wanted a baby I would need to have a new shunt placed. That meant a surgery, time to recover, and the risk of infection and shunt malfunction. I have been very lucky to have the same shunt all this time. Normally people have to have revisions because of malfunction, breakage, and the need for more tubing because of growth. Again I was devastated.
A few months later I went in for my yearly physical and told my OB what the neurologist had told us. She told me that she had a patient with a shunt and that they had just observed her closely and did a c-section when it was time so that pushing wouldn't increase pressure to the brain. I had been given back my hope of being a mom! I was excited! She said she was going to send me to Iowa City again but to see a high risk OB. I had hope again.
We went to Iowa City again and met with the specialist. She told us they don't usually go against the neurologist recommendations but pregnancy was possible. She said that they could share my care with my OB and themselves but I would need to deliver in Iowa City. She also said she wouldn't do a c-section but would give me a heavy epidural and let the baby basically come out on its own. We were ecstatic!
When we finally decided we were ready to start trying for a baby we decided to get a second neurologist opinion from a local neurologist just to be safe. He did his own xrays and an MRI. What he told me blew my mind. He walked in the room and put the scans up to show us. He told us that my shunt is broken in several places and that he isn't even sure it works. I was stunned! He saw no reason I couldn't have a baby and a healthy pregnancy. He felt a c-section was best and wanted me to deliver at Covenant just to be safe. Woo Hoo answers finally!!
So that summer I switched OB's and went and saw Dr. Weno at Covenant who I loved. Dustin and I had already decided to wait till Sept. 2007 to start trying. Dr. Weno said to start prenatal vitamins now and also folic acid. She had me taking extra folic acid too. September came and bye bye birth control. We were ready to be parents. A few months went by and nothing but we weren't worried.
December 2007 came and our furnace went out. Oh what a fun Christmas present a furnace. They came Christmas eve to install the new one and a water heater. Also that morning I realized I was "Late". So I took a pregnancy test and it turned positive immediately! I was over the moon! We couldn't ask for a better Christmas present! We told everyone! Then on New Years Eve I started bleeding. I called my OB and they got me right in for an ultrasound. They estimated me between 4-6 weeks but the baby was gone. I was beyond devastated. It took a few days to settle in and then I just let loose. I have never cried so much in my life.
We were told to wait till my hcg levels were below 2 and we could start trying again. Months went by and nothing. Finally in June 2008 the doctor checked my progesterone (the hormone that makes you ovulate), and mine was way below normal. I was prescribed clomid, a fertility drug to help you ovulate. After four dose changes my levels shot up! January 23rd, 2009 is a day I will never forget. I woke up early and took a pregnancy test and it turned positive immediately. I woke Dustin up and told him. We were excited but scared. Later that day I called my OB office to schedule my first appointment and ultrasound. I couldn't wait to see my lil baby.
A few days later while at work again I started spotting. I freaked out! I called my OB and they got me in for an ultrasound the next day. I was sooo scared. All I could think was we would be told that the baby was gone again. I held my breath as the ultrasound tech found the sac. There it was our little baby and it had a heartbeat. I had tears of joy! She said everything looked great and gave us a picture. Sawyer Glenn was born September 15th, 2009. He is the happiest, and sweetest little boy. He is our miracle!
I know I complain sometimes about the lack of sleep, the mess my house has become, and how being a parent is tough but I never take it for granted. I love my little boy more than anything in this world and I feel blessed everyday to be his mommy!
