Why a blog?
Everyone is so great to ask, "How is it going?" and we know you all want to know and are concerned about us and baby, but.... it is hard to tell the same story over and over so we decided to create this blog. Rosie will update it from time to time whenever anything noteworthy happens.
You can click on the dates lower on the right to read her ramblings that journal this journey from the start and can leave comments if you want. Careful! They can be read by anyone that visits this site! ;) Besides, it is always hard to catch us on the phone and this way everyone can know what is going on.
Why "grempuppy"?
Well, when Darren was in 6th grade he had a friend named Jeff Graham. Darren called him "graham cracker" (in the true Gremmert nickname fashion) and that friend started calling Darren "gremdog". We have called our other kids "grempups" and so it seemed to fit now that all our other pups are so big! (they are all taller than both of us except for poor Seth...he needs about a half inch to pass his Dad)
Thanks for your care and prayers and for sharing our journey with us.
Darren and Rosie
13.5 weeks and baby is still doing well.
I can feel little flutters sometimes very late in the evening or early in the morning when I am still. I am still only doing a few hours of limited activity each day; that is all the doctor recommends until the hematomas are resolved (but it is sooo much better than strict bedrest!)
Thanks to everyone who has shared an occasional meal, books and phone conversations.... they have been appreciated. It is tiresome to have to have others move things for me and to ask for help all the time, but everyone has been wonderful. The next appointment (as long as things continue without any complications) is July 12th.
6.27.2007
6/21/07
It's been a week of good days so I again have clearance to go to work for half days. "No prolonged standing or any lifting" was written on the doctor's orders this time. It is just in time to sign finals for 4 of my classes and see most of the students one last time since there are only 3 days left of school (and the last one is a really short day where they just come and see their final grades so it really doesn't count). Eli came to school with me on the last day since his school was already out and packed up what the TAs hadn't been able to get to. THANK YOU ELI!!!! My back, hips, arms and shoulders are SOOOO sore. Whoever thinks bedrest is easy should try it!
I am now 12.5 weeks and the chances of miscarriage have dropped dramatically. There is now only a 5% chance of losing this baby, even with my past history. The sac that the baby is in is now 3x larger than the hematoma, so that increases the chances of a full-term pregnancy too. It is time to start tapering off the progesterone and hope that all continues as it should. It's as good a time as any to let everyone in on the secret!
I am now 12.5 weeks and the chances of miscarriage have dropped dramatically. There is now only a 5% chance of losing this baby, even with my past history. The sac that the baby is in is now 3x larger than the hematoma, so that increases the chances of a full-term pregnancy too. It is time to start tapering off the progesterone and hope that all continues as it should. It's as good a time as any to let everyone in on the secret!
6/15/07
Good news!!
off to another level II ultrasound.... the baby is doing great still. Whew! The hematomas are about the same, unfortunately. The area involved now measures 3 cm x 2 cm x 2 cm which is only 1 cm smaller. This ultrasound is also to screen for Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18. The tech measures a space between the spinal cord and the skin at the back of the baby's neck. Babies who show a pooling of fluid at that location at this point in the pregnancy are more likely to be born with one of the above chromosome defects. Our baby's measurements averaged 1 cm and up to 3 cm is in the range of normal. Statistically, the chance of this baby having Down syndrome dropped from 1/77 to 1/800. The chances of either of the other defects dropped to 1/1300.
I got a call from the secretary at work and so many of my co-workers donated leave to me that my days are covered until the end of the year. ....must be pregnant since I cried when she told me.... Darren and I were so surprised. It was was truly an answer to prayers. I have no idea how we could ever pay them back; we don't even know who it was since it is all donated anonymously. There is still more good in this world than bad....
off to another level II ultrasound.... the baby is doing great still. Whew! The hematomas are about the same, unfortunately. The area involved now measures 3 cm x 2 cm x 2 cm which is only 1 cm smaller. This ultrasound is also to screen for Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18. The tech measures a space between the spinal cord and the skin at the back of the baby's neck. Babies who show a pooling of fluid at that location at this point in the pregnancy are more likely to be born with one of the above chromosome defects. Our baby's measurements averaged 1 cm and up to 3 cm is in the range of normal. Statistically, the chance of this baby having Down syndrome dropped from 1/77 to 1/800. The chances of either of the other defects dropped to 1/1300.
I got a call from the secretary at work and so many of my co-workers donated leave to me that my days are covered until the end of the year. ....must be pregnant since I cried when she told me.... Darren and I were so surprised. It was was truly an answer to prayers. I have no idea how we could ever pay them back; we don't even know who it was since it is all donated anonymously. There is still more good in this world than bad....
6/12/07
I've gotten so I only call the doctor if the bleeding/cramping gets so I'm not sure that everything is alright. I am amazed by how much my boys and Darren do to keep our house going through all this...it has been almost 6 weeks since I was first put on bedrest. Another visit to the doctor to be sure that things are OK, going to Aaron's UW graduation was too much walking. I should have had Darren pick me up and drop me off :)
The baby is amazingly still growing a doing great. I know other people have bleeding a still deliver a full-term baby, but I just can't believe this. It feels like a miracle. "He" now measures 5.7 cm which is actually the same as a fetus that is 5 days older as far as averages go. There was lots of kicking and jumping around...maybe this baby is a gymnist?
Work is killing me. There are days where I put in 12-14 hours and there are still problems with miscommunication and subs not getting information to students/parents. I finally contacted an administrator after a 2-day headache and told her what was going on and that it was just too much to expect me to do since I wasn't supposed to be having stress. She is now handling all student and parent concerns. What a difference! One teacher ferries paperwork back and forth every day and the office secretary is an answer to prayers. My subs and I are in contact several times a day. I don't know what I would do without such wonderful people at work. We filed a "leave sharing request". It allows any other teachers who have extra leave hours to donate some of their leave time to me. We have no idea who may even have extra leave to share, but we figure that even if only a few hours come our way, it will help with the medical bills.
The baby is amazingly still growing a doing great. I know other people have bleeding a still deliver a full-term baby, but I just can't believe this. It feels like a miracle. "He" now measures 5.7 cm which is actually the same as a fetus that is 5 days older as far as averages go. There was lots of kicking and jumping around...maybe this baby is a gymnist?
Work is killing me. There are days where I put in 12-14 hours and there are still problems with miscommunication and subs not getting information to students/parents. I finally contacted an administrator after a 2-day headache and told her what was going on and that it was just too much to expect me to do since I wasn't supposed to be having stress. She is now handling all student and parent concerns. What a difference! One teacher ferries paperwork back and forth every day and the office secretary is an answer to prayers. My subs and I are in contact several times a day. I don't know what I would do without such wonderful people at work. We filed a "leave sharing request". It allows any other teachers who have extra leave hours to donate some of their leave time to me. We have no idea who may even have extra leave to share, but we figure that even if only a few hours come our way, it will help with the medical bills.
6/6/07
well, the half days at work were productive while they lasted. More bleeding last night and we're back on strict bedrest. After a quick check in the OB's office, it is off to another level II ultrasound to get a better look. Aunt Eva drove me to the ultrasound appointment and Darren met us there after work so we had a party in the ultrasound room. I figured that if it was bad news, that I needed all the support that I could get.
The baby is growing great and the hematoma now is two pieces. The mass has gotten a little less dense, but is still involving the same amount of area. The doctor asks, "do you want to know the gender?" We held our breath and he (who didn't know that this wasn't our first child) said, "it's a boy!" It is still too early to be sure, but we laughed and told him that we thought it would be a boy. We got to see the brain, a well developed heart, and arms and legs waving at us. It was very reassuring.
The baby is growing great and the hematoma now is two pieces. The mass has gotten a little less dense, but is still involving the same amount of area. The doctor asks, "do you want to know the gender?" We held our breath and he (who didn't know that this wasn't our first child) said, "it's a boy!" It is still too early to be sure, but we laughed and told him that we thought it would be a boy. We got to see the brain, a well developed heart, and arms and legs waving at us. It was very reassuring.
5/29/07
It has been 8 days without any bleeding! What a relief after being on bedrest since 5/8, bleeding every few days even though all I was doing was managing my subs and sub plans (and students' emails and parents' emails), grading and entering grades (propped on one elbow or the other) using my laptop. Of course, many days that was more hours than if I had just been able to go to work! And much more stress, too. The sick leave ran out on 5/9, so the big question of this appointment is "can I go back to work?" The doctor and I agree for me to try half days and see how it goes. The baby is now 2.81 cm and the hematoma looks just the same.
5/18/07
will the bleeding never end? Another check after a bad night, found a heartbeat again and now we are off to a level II ultrasound to get more accurate measurements on the hematoma. The baby looks great and is growing well, in fact measures 1 day larger than expected. Yea! The hematoma is 4cm x 2cm x 2cm, just a little bigger than the sac that the baby is in. The baby is only 1.2 cm.
5/08/07
Had cramping and bleeding in the wee hours of the morning and thought we had miscarried, again. That would be the 5th one. Dr. Otto told us to come in and let her look around. She found a heartbeat right away...tears over one still there and one lost. Now we have this hematoma (or blood clot) to deal with.
I am put on bedrest until there is at least 1 week without bleeding. We started progesterone supplements to help sustain the pregnancy since the embryo is developing normally and blood tests showed a drop in my own progesterone. (which normally tells a woman's body to start a cycle) The supplements will have to continue through week 12 when the placenta is developed enough to have taken over all progesterone production.
I am put on bedrest until there is at least 1 week without bleeding. We started progesterone supplements to help sustain the pregnancy since the embryo is developing normally and blood tests showed a drop in my own progesterone. (which normally tells a woman's body to start a cycle) The supplements will have to continue through week 12 when the placenta is developed enough to have taken over all progesterone production.
4/30/07
Our official pregnancy test, bloodwork and ultrasound to see if all is well. We could see two sacs in the pictures, but at 5 weeks, it is way to early to see anything in each one but a little clump (fetal poles).
"Come back in 9 days and we should see heartbeats. How do you feel about twins?" the doctor says.
"Come back in 9 days and we should see heartbeats. How do you feel about twins?" the doctor says.
FAQ
Q: Was this an accident?!?
A: No, we have been wanting more children for years :)
Q: Does this really happen to women your age?
A: yes. watch out.
Q: Do you KNOW you'll be ready to retire when this child graduates from high school?
A: That's the plan
Q: Is this a secret?
A: No, we want to give everyone something to talk about :)
Q: Do Rosie's students know?
A: yup!
Q: Do you want a girl?
A: We want a healthy baby
Q: Do you want ANOTHER boy?
A: We want another child in our family; boy or girl
Q: How old are you?!?
A: Rosie is 40, Darren is 46
Q: How old is your youngest?
A: He will be 14 when this baby is born.
Q: How many children DO you have?!?
A: 4 boys. They will be 20, 19, 17 and 14 when this baby is born.
Q: When is the baby due?
A: December 28, 2007 but all the others have been started 2 weeks early, so we'll see...
Q: What the heck is a hematoma?
A: Well, I'm no expert, but here's what I've gathered: When it is in your skin, it is basically called a bruise but when it is internal, it can commonly be called a clot or a hemorrhage. It depends on the medical professional, whether it is actively bleeding or not and the size of the hematoma.
Q: Where is your hematoma?
A: It is intrauterine (in the uterus) and has been below the embryo/fetus. It is currently not affecting the placenta or it's attachment and is not affecting the cervix, which are good things.
Q: What are the chances of problems during delivery from the hematoma?
A: There isn't alot of information out there, but they seem to contribute to preterm labor. It is unclear if the position of the hematoma and whether or not the placenta is affected is a factor. There do not appear to be any other problems during delivery and most hematomas have resolved themselves by then. (you can see the links in "more than you would ever want to know about hematomas" on the right if you want to know more)
Q: How do "the boys" feel about this?
A: They are glad to not hear about fertility and mom's cycle anymore... and they tell us they are looking forward to it. (on the condition that they get to sleep in the garage room and the baby is on the other end of the house)
A: No, we have been wanting more children for years :)
Q: Does this really happen to women your age?
A: yes. watch out.
Q: Do you KNOW you'll be ready to retire when this child graduates from high school?
A: That's the plan
Q: Is this a secret?
A: No, we want to give everyone something to talk about :)
Q: Do Rosie's students know?
A: yup!
Q: Do you want a girl?
A: We want a healthy baby
Q: Do you want ANOTHER boy?
A: We want another child in our family; boy or girl
Q: How old are you?!?
A: Rosie is 40, Darren is 46
Q: How old is your youngest?
A: He will be 14 when this baby is born.
Q: How many children DO you have?!?
A: 4 boys. They will be 20, 19, 17 and 14 when this baby is born.
Q: When is the baby due?
A: December 28, 2007 but all the others have been started 2 weeks early, so we'll see...
Q: What the heck is a hematoma?
A: Well, I'm no expert, but here's what I've gathered: When it is in your skin, it is basically called a bruise but when it is internal, it can commonly be called a clot or a hemorrhage. It depends on the medical professional, whether it is actively bleeding or not and the size of the hematoma.
Q: Where is your hematoma?
A: It is intrauterine (in the uterus) and has been below the embryo/fetus. It is currently not affecting the placenta or it's attachment and is not affecting the cervix, which are good things.
Q: What are the chances of problems during delivery from the hematoma?
A: There isn't alot of information out there, but they seem to contribute to preterm labor. It is unclear if the position of the hematoma and whether or not the placenta is affected is a factor. There do not appear to be any other problems during delivery and most hematomas have resolved themselves by then. (you can see the links in "more than you would ever want to know about hematomas" on the right if you want to know more)
Q: How do "the boys" feel about this?
A: They are glad to not hear about fertility and mom's cycle anymore... and they tell us they are looking forward to it. (on the condition that they get to sleep in the garage room and the baby is on the other end of the house)
Q: How is Rosie feeling?
A: Sick, tired and fat! (see picture below)
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