The blog goes PINK

Brad and I decided to do something we never thought we would. We were fully planning to wait to find out the gender of our little one until he/she was born, as we did with Gavin. Given our new circumstances, we both were feeling a very strong desire to know whether we are carrying a son or a daughter. It seems more important than ever for our ability to plan appropriately. And given we are not able to tell gender from an ultrasound, but are having genetic testing done, we were able to find out.

We're elated to announce that IT'S A GIRL! We're having a daughter. Regardless of the circumstances and outcome of this pregnancy, she is our beautiful little girl. She will always be our daughter...and a member of our family - a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece...an angel.

I'm crying now, so I'm going to keep this blog post short and pull myself back together. A girl, wow! In honor of little GIRL Clark, the blog must go pink. I'll switch it back to a more neutral color soon, but for now, pink is what I'd like to see.

Also, as an important side note, the initial results of genetic testing are normal. We're awaiting the full chromosomal analysis. The amniocentesis didn't provide any results (fluid was too diluted with the saline infusion), so we were back in the specialist's office this past Monday for a different procedure, a chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Instead of taking amniotic fluid for the test, they took cells from my placenta. It has allowed for a better batch of cells for genetic testing.

Normal Everyday Stuff

With all that we have going on, it's easy to get caught in a loop of depression and anxiety. I'm trying not to. I thought it was about time to post some photos showcasing our ability to continue on with normal, everyday stuff. Stuff that brings me great joy in a trying time. So, here's a post honoring the simple things I hope never to take for granted.

Family movie time. Toy story 1 and 2 have been favorites lately. Toy Story 3, while a wonderful story that makes me cry, hasn't quite captured the attention of Gavin. Too boring and serious for a two year old I suppose!

I love this photo that came about by accident. We let Gavin play with our new little pocket camera (still love my big, bulky Cannon Rebel better for picture quality). He took this cool photo of half of his face. I just love this kid's eyes! He's going to knock the girls of their feet some day!

We've taken two work trips to Traverse City since learning all of the news about Baby Clark. We're fortunate that because Brad stays home with Gavin, they are able to travel with me when I need to go north for work. Traverse City has become one of our very favorite places to spend time as a family. I work during the days, then we get to hang out in the evenings. We stayed at the GT Resort and Spa (ohhh-la-la, sounds fancy, huh? Winter rates are a steal!) last month. Awesome pool area! Lots of fun!

My little swimming burrito all wrapped up!

Love this photo-by-accident as well. Again, Gavin playing with the camera (with a little help from Dad). I love it because it reminds me very much of Gavin's cousin Ava at this age. I look at his face in this photo, and I see Ava.

"Mix it, mix it." "Cook it". Gavin helping to make pancakes (aka "cakes").

Superbowl Sunday. Have I mentioned my mom is from the Green Bay area and is a huge Pack fan? Gavin just liked the cheese head hat. And I suppose watching the game too!

And this photo is cute to me because when I look at it, I see my brother Tim. Gavin has always carried a strong resemblance to Tim. This is one of those pictures that is almost an exact match to Tim as a toddler. Oh, and because he is so obsessed with cameras, we "gave" him our old one. Crazy to think that the new digital technology of five years ago has become so dated it now serves as a toddler's toy.

So, normalcy is good right now. Not to say I don't cry every day and have my sad moments. But all of the good is outweighing the sadness.

Thanks again to all of our blog-followers for your thoughts and prayers. I'm learning that we have complete strangers praying for us. Prayer groups I never knew about. People I've never met. It's very touching!

And for those who have reached out to us because you can relate to our story, it is very moving. You all are very strong women. If I'm able to have just a faction of your strength, I know I will get through this. In a way, it is comforting to know that Brad and I are not in this alone. Others have felt what we are feeling. Thank you for sharing your very personal stories with me!

In God's Hands

Primary diagnosis: dysfunctional placenta/partial detachment
Secondary diagnosis: parents with hearts broken so badly they don't know what to do except sob uncontrollably and just wait.

So, not the post I was hoping for. I'm 21 and a half weeks pregnant and I'm carrying a baby who will not live. You can tell I'm pregnant if you look at me, with my little basketball bump (similar resemblance to the one I carried with Gavin at this stage of pregnancy). I can tell I'm pregnant, feeling a little one squiggling inside me and all of the other accompanying body changes. But this pregnancy is very different than what I intended.

Yesterday, Brad and I had our second appointment with Dr. Balaskas, our maternal-fetal specialist. We were scheduled for an amnioinfusion (to replace amniotic fluid that's not there) and amniocentesis (for genetic testing). We walked into the appointment feeling very hopeful, certainly more hopeful than we felt when we first learned that something was wrong about seven weeks ago. We ended up spending three hours with Dr. Balaskas. He performed the procedure. Infusing saline into my amniotic sac allowed him to view things he couldn't see on our ultrasound two weeks ago, given the very low amniotic fluid.

Grim diagnosis. He suspected that my placenta may not be functioning appropriately when we first met with him. His suspicion was confirmed yesterday and then some. Typically in pregnancy, the placenta is fully "adhered" to the uterus. And the amniotic sac is also closely adhered to the uterus, creating a little pressure-filled environment in which baby thrives and theplacenta provides the necessary nutrients (and fluid) for development. What he found is that a portion of my placenta is detached, likely it never fully adhered in the early days/weeks of pregnancy when it was developing. This has caused the amniotic sac to not securely attach to the uterus.

Given this, when I was infused with saline, some of it temporarily stayed in the amniotic sac, suspending baby. But quickly, it diffused through the amniotic sac into my uterus (and ultimately out of me), allowing him to see for the first time on ultrasound the full story. Originally, two weeks ago, he suspected just placental dysfunction. He thought that continuous amnioinfusions may be an option to "full up the tank".

Now it is confirmed that I have placental dysfunction along with a partial detachment and an amniotic sac that is not working to keep fluid in. You can fill it up, but it will quickly empty back to it's original state. Needless to say, ongoing amnioinfusions are not an option. As I blogged previously, creating this fake environment of amniotic fluid was going to help Baby Clark's lungs develop more properly, in addition to helping prevent growth restriction.

We were told yesterday that our baby will not survive. Baby Clark's lungs will not be able to develop to a state that is compatible with life. I'm likely to go into preterm labor at some unknown point. It could be today, it could be three months from now. Alternatively, it is possible I will go in for a routine OB appointment and there will just be no heartbeat any longer. I will have a stillborn baby.

As you can imagine, Brad and I have hit an all time low. In one of my first blog posts on our pregnancy complications, I talked about the emotional roller-coaster. Well, the roller-coaster has parked itself at the very lowest point of the ride...and it's not moving. Over the past couple of weeks, I would have said optimistically that the roller-coaster was headed back up the hill. It's not.

Dr. Balskas assured us (again) yesterday that I did not do anything to cause this. This is a rare occurrence that spontaneously occurs in a very, very small number of pregnancies. Many women with this condition miscarry in their first trimester, maybe never knowing the cause. And it's not likely to reoccur, though we are awaiting the amniocentesis results which could reveal some sort of risk. Dr. Balaskas doesn't think the genetic profile will show anything abnormal, but it hasn't been ruled out yet.

Out of professional responsibility, Dr. Balaskas asked us (much more softly and kindly than what I type here) if we would want to end this pregnancy. Have an abortion. I very much understand he has an obligation to discuss this with his patients in our situation. But this is the point in the appointment that I began to sob the hardest. I tried to keep it together and just quickly said "no". He quickly moved on. The destiny of this child is not my choice. This is God's choice. I am an avid right-to-life supporter and being put in this situation first hand does not change my beliefs. As difficult as it will be, I will live every day with the unknown, not knowing whether God will take my baby that day. But I will not decide this for Him. He will decide.

I'm at a loss - so many questions. I'm over the "why me?" and the "this isn't what we had planned". I know those things are out of my control and only God knows the answer. I'm comforted knowing that this baby is in His hands. But I still have more practical questions, some of which just don't have definitive answers - How long will I continue to carry this baby? Do I have to live the next months feeling guarded, worried, apprehensive that at any moment my body will kick into preterm labor. I feel like a ticking time bomb. How do I go about normal things? I want to feel normal. Normalcy is so comforting. I want to do the things that I like - being a wife, being a mom, being a friend, going to work, enjoying the nice weather that is just around the corner...but I have this front of mind obstruction. Maybe this will get easier with time. I pray that it does. And what about our baby? Is he/she suffering inside this crappy environment my body has created? That is what I worry about the most. I'm so sorry it has to be this way Baby C!! We would have provided a wonderful life for you, one that every child deserves. And Gavin, oh Gavin, you would have loved him. He would have been such a good big brother.

How do I respond to questions from unknowing, good-intended individuals "Oh, you're pregnant. How exciting. When are you due? How are you feeling?". How do I answer that without coming off like a crazy, emotional basketcase. I've always thought of myself as being pulled together and professional...I don't feel those things at this very moment. I don't want to scare every person who asks me this with a reactive nasty response "oh, yes, I'm pregnant. I was very excited at first, but now I'm just scared and anxious, awaiting the death of my baby any day now. I'm due on July 20, but I probably won't carry to term, because as I mentioned, I'm just awaiting the death of my baby. How am I feeling? HOW AM I FEELING? Really, you're asking me this?" I don't want to be this person. Everyone is asking because they are genuinely interested and pregnancies and babies are generally such a wonderful experience. I know this first hand - I loved being pregnant with Gavin, every day of it. And really I have loved this pregnancy as just as much. I'm just, obviously, very saddened by the impending outcome.

So, that's my story. Sorry it doesn't have a fairytale ending.

Thank you to all of our blog followers - friends, family, strangers - for your outpouring of support. We could use your thoughts and prayers more than ever that "God grants us the serenity to accept the things we can not change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference". I need help with all of these things right now.

2 Year Photo Favs

A few of my favorites from Gavin's two year photo session...