If you follow me on Instagram, then you already know my big news!
We are so excited to be expanding our family, with a little one expected to arrive in January.
Unfortunately, having children is not always so simple. I have many friends who deal with infertility and others who can’t seem to stay pregnant, either way it is so hard. Although this blog is mainly focused on design, I plan on sharing this journey with you as it will be a big part of my life for the next 6 months!
Let me start with our story…
As most of you know, Emory was born at 24 weeks. After her delivery, I was unsure about ever getting pregnant again. The reasons for her early arrival are unknown. When she was about 2 years old, I started to research my options. I met with high-risk obstetricians, had an MRI, blood work, and lots of conversations about my options. After getting all the results back, we decided that pregnancy WAS an option for me.
Since getting pregnant with Emory was unplanned (oops!), I thought it would happen quick. We started trying about 9 month later. Things went well, and I was pregnant within 3 months. We were so excited/nervous/scared/happy! My pregnancy was complicated from the very beginning with lots of spotting, cramping, and ultrasounds. After a long 10 weeks, we lost the baby.
Although I was devastated, we started trying again right away. Things just weren’t happening as I had “planned” and I was not getting pregnant. 8 months, 9 months, 10 months passed and nothing. Finally, on month 13, we were pregnant! I have many friends who have been trying for years and my heart breaks for them. I was able to get a small glimpse into what it feels like, and it is not easy.
I am now 12 weeks pregnant and thrilled! I wish I could say the hard part is over, but for me it is just beginning. My main goal, keep this baby in! This requires me to take some not-so-fun drugs including blood thinner injections in my belly twice a day. I wish I could say they are no big deal, but I’m not going to lie, I don’t like them! I’m not typically squeamish around needles, maybe it’s because I give them to myself?
The best part, if I don’t get the needle in just right, I get a pretty little bruise or blood clot. My stomach is a site to be seen!
I am also taking some extra progesterone which has made me a little nauseous at nights. For some reason looking at the computer makes it worse. (hence my lack of blogging lately, you will have to be patient with me until I can get these hormones under control!).
So far the plan is to keep doing these drugs, have ultrasounds every 2 weeks to check my cervix, and deliver via c-section at 36 weeks. My last c-section was a classical (they cut the uterus vertically) so delivering at 36 weeks is a must.
I’m hoping to avoid hospitalization, bed rest, and a premature delivery…fingers (and legs) crossed!
What have I learned so far? Throw your plans out the window, it probably won’t happen exactly how you want it to, and that is ok!
For now we are thrilled at the possibility of adding a sweet little one to our family. It’s been over 4 years since we have had a newborn in our home and we can’t wait!
I plan on filling you in on our little journey, hopefully with all good news 🙂
Congrats! 🙂 I saw that needle picture on IG last night, and read that you were pregnant. Hoping the best for you and that sweet babe! xx
Congrats!! Wishing you all the best!!
Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us readers, Dani! I’m SO beyond thrilled for you and will be praying all goes well and is uneventful through 36 weeks. Hang in there, Mama! xo
Oh how wonderful sweetie! Good thoughts and prayers coming your way – looking forward to following along!
Congratulations! We got pregnant very quickly with our first two then our third took eight months, so I can empathize with you there. I also had to do progesterone with #3, but no shots. Good luck!
Congratulations Danielle! I really admire your attitude and I’ll be thinking of you and wishing you a healthy pregnancy!
That is so exciting! Congrats Danielle! I will definitely keep my fingers crossed for you…and us on our adventure! 😉
this is wonderful news! i always get teary eyed when i read of people’s pregnancies, so here i am with tears in my eyes, just so happy for you. wishing you the healthiest full term pregnancy ever!
so awesome, very blessed! :)))
congrats on the new baby!
Madebygirl.blogspot.com
MadeByGirl.com
Praying for a healthy pregnancy and baby, Danielle. Congratulations!
Congratulations, Danielle! I am so happy and excited for you! I had to give myself 2 shots of heparin a day when I was pregnant with Asher. I looked like a giraffe from all of the bruising! Praying for a happy and healthy pregnancy for you!
Danielle, I am SO excited for you! That is wonderful news. Thank you for being brave enough to share your story with us. I have many friends who have struggled through pregnancies and I know your story and honesty will help others!
I saw your instagram deets and am thrilled for you. Good luck with this pregnancy it doesn’t look easy!
What wonderful news! Sending good thoughts for healthy pregnancy and baby. Congratulations!!!
Congratulations! Having a baby is always an interesting journey but is always worth it in the end. Will be praying that you and the baby stay strong and healthy.
I love how I can be as excited for you as I would a good friend just from reading your blog for the last year and a half! Sending you good thoughts and prayers. Hope you can enjoy the pregnancy despite the extra work and worries!
Congrats! We have miscarried this past spring and it was not fun. I kept telling myself that we already have a wonderful 3 year old, and it was not our time. Having our little girl makes it easier and harder at the same time.
Hope everything goes great for you and I’ll look forward to your “baby” posts 🙂
Oh Danielle. Hang in there sweet momma. You know how worth it it will be 🙂 Can’t be fun though.
Your honesty is refreshing as I am learning that things in this arena dont always happen as planned. Thank you for sharing the story. Prayers to you and your family for a healthy baby! I look forward to updates.
Congratulations!! Wishing you all the best on this journey 🙂
Congratulations!! Lots of prayers to you that you and baby will stay healthy and that he/she will stay put till that c-section! I feel for ya with those needles- I had to give myself shots everyday with in vitro and I hated it!!! I always put ice on my skin first so I wouldn’t feel it so much, but the meds burned like crazy. No fun. But worth it in the end! Best wishes to you that all goes smoothly!
What a blessing for your beautiful family! I don’t know you, but I am so happy for you and do pray that your pregnancy and little babe are healthy and all goes well. and YAY!
I am so thrilled and happy for you and your sweet family! I’ll be praying for a smooth and uneventful, 36-week long pregnancy!!! xoxoxo
YAYAYAY!!! Wow, so crazy to hear what ups and downs you’ve gone through but what a sweet blessing to have a precious baby in your belly now! I will be thinking about you 🙂
Congrats, Danielle! That was a fun post title to see on my blogroll! Wishing you and your new addition the best of health!
Congratulations!! Wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy.
Yay ! Such wonderful news! I hope your pregnancy goes well and you add another happy, healthy baby to your little family! Congratulations!
Congratulations. One day at a time. Wishing you all the best!
Congratulations! Hoping for a smooth and successful pregnancy!
“(and legs) closed.” HAHA! I admire your outlook on life. Praying for you and the family, but I’ve got good feelings lady! It’s going to be an amazing experience, I’m sure.
Congratulations!!! Sorry to hear of the long road you had to take to get to this point, but what a precious blessing this baby will be for you and your family 🙂 Yay!!!
Congratulations!!! What a thrill, and I will be sending you good vibes!
I only had to have blood thinner in the belly for one week and I hated it every time. I can’t imagine giving it to myself. It bruised almost every time and my belly was so soar.
I also was on progesterone and it made me nauteous too. Hang in there. Those newbies are so precious and worth it in the end.
Huge congratulations! Thank you for sharing your story–your honesty and openness about what you’ve gone through is appreciated, and I hope this pregnancy continues to progress healthfully. I’ll keep checking in for sure!
congratulations danielle! sending positive thoughts your way for a smooth pregnancy!
Congratulations!!! Wishing you the best!
jessica
Congratulations lovely! And for all the hard work you are doing, bless you.
love Chantal
What wonderful news! So sorry to hear about your past heartbreak – very tough. But I’ll be sending good vibes your way for a happy and healthy pregnancy this go round. What a cute little baby bump picture! Congratulations!
Congrats!! Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy!!
Congrats on your pregnancy! I’ve never commented on your blog before, but I’ve had a really similar situation. I had a baby, then had 4 miscarriages, then finally just had baby #2 earlier this month after a couple years of working with high risk doctors. I had to do the progesterone and the twice-daily shots in the belly with blood thinner….sounds really similar to what you’re doing! I can totally relate to the bruises and discomfort! But stick with it because it’s worth it for a sweet little baby!
Congrats and good luck!! Love your blog.
First tiime commenter here…….Congrats to you! I have a 25 weeker who is nearly two. I am still in the swearing off ever having another, but hearing about stories like yours gives me hope that maybe one day I will be able to. Loge ops prayers for you and especially that your baby stays put!
Congrats to you all! Babies truly are miracles…I’m lucky to have my two…
I believe everything happens for a reason. Praying for you & your new family. How does Emory feel about having a sibling? So excited for you!
Congrats!!! I saw the news on instagram! So exciting… wishing you a healthy pregnancy!
Congratulations! Warm wishes for a 36-week long uneventful pregnancy. Fingers crossed!
Oh congratulations. That is such wonderful news. All the best with the pregnancy. My prayers are with you to reach full term.
Love Chrissi
http://www.christianaholt.blogspot.com
Best of luck! I know how giving yourself blood thinner shots goes. I had to do that with my 4th. Oh the black and blue marks on my tummy. It does go away, so thats good. I hope all goes well for you.
Yeah congratulations! I’m so happy for you, you have an incredible story and I hope this pregnancy goes well for you!
capishaw@yahoo.com
Wonderful news!!!! So happy for your family! I had sort of a similar story to yours and now I am due with my second this Fall. I know you are probably being guarded but enjoy every minute of it and think only positive thoughts about this pregnancy. The time goes fast and you should enjoy it. sorry you have to do injections…they are hard and painful but makes you more appreciative of this little bean to come! Sending you postive vibes!
Fingers and legs crossed – haha that is hilarious! Sorry for your ups and downs, stuff like this is so emotional and I felt especially sad for you that on top of your already changing hormones you have to take the devils hormone. I call it that because basically it makes me sick and crazy. Hopefully you won’t have much of either. You need to have a party when you make it past 24 weeks with this little one, that is something to be celebrated!! Congrats again, and I can’t wait to read all about it.
Congratulations! You look amazing! So happy for you guys. Hang in there and keep smiling! Everything will work out! My thoughts and prayers are with you. He/she will be such a lucky baby! 🙂
Congratulations!!! This post brought tears to my eyes! I love following your blog… so sweet and sincere. I will keep you in my prayers and look forward to following you along this journey! xoxo
I love your blog!
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Congratulations!! Will keep you in my prayers for a healthy pregnancy!
Congratulations!!! Exciting news & wishing it to be a LONG and healthy one. My bff had twins at 24 weeks and for her next baby after constant monitoring stayed in until 37 weeks.
PS. I thought you might be sharing this kind of news, I’ve been following you for a long time and rarely is your posting sporadic. I was hoping it was for morning/all day sickness:)
Congratulations! Good luck with everything!
I’m so happy for you and your family! I’ll be thinking positive thoughts for a long (36 weeks) and healthy pregnancy and delivery! 🙂
Congratulations! What a cute little belly! Emory must be so excited!
You´re so right! Plans? Don´t do them…
For us it was not easy to get pregnant and she was born one month earlier.
The second one? We´ll see 🙂
Congrats, everything will go well!
Oh my gosh! Congrats and wishing for a healthy pregnancy!
I have been following your blog silently for a long time, but with such good news had to write to say: Congratulations!!!
I already love all your posts, but now I’ll be looking forward more news of your pregnancy…we will have our first baby in January too! 😉
Congrats again and best wishes!!
Not sure how I missed this but I just wanted to say a very delayed congratulations! So excited for you and your family. You have a great attitude!
I’ve been following your blog for awhile now, but I don’t think I’ve ever commented before. Now reading about your good news, I just wanted to say congratulations & best wishes!!! I already love your blog and look forward to your posts, but now even more so. Keeping you in my prayers for a safe and healthy pregnancy.
~ Jen
http://www.dwellwithstyle.com
I’m slow to congratulate because life here is a bit crazy, but I am so very happy for you! Best of luck with your pregnancy, and I can’t wait to follow your journey. I adore your blog!
Dbyrne1[at]gmail[dot]com
Oh my goodness….I have no idea how I missed this- just wanted to tell you that I am so touched by your story and can relate:) Wishing you the happiest and healthiest 9 months! xoxoxo
CONGRATS!! What exciting news for your family. I’m crossing my fingers and toes for you- I hope that you are problem free till 36 weeks!
It most be so amazing feeling something kicking inside you.