The Start - 14 More Days

 

 

 

The Start To Our Story

First Off:



A thank you to everyone that is reading this and that is sharing in our journey with Baby Whalin.  I have been very blessed in my life to have family and friends that love and support me and my family.  Without all of you I would not have the strength, the drive, or the need to carry on from day to day.  So THANK YOU!

 

Also this week a YouTube video was forwarded on to me from my father-in-law.  It was so very touching and true to life for me that I wanted to share it with you.  Please take a moment to visit the link. 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vn-dpk2qkP8

 The Beginning:

In the beginning being pregnant was a complete shock to me.  It was my husband that told me we were expecting (as funny as it sounds, this time he was right!).  I had always hoped for baby number three to come along however we were happy and settled with my two beautiful daughters.  So when the test came back positive it was a mix of emotions.

I knew that Baby Whalin was not going to be an easy nine months.  When I scheduled my first doctor's appoint and met my OB it was all confirmed that we would be graced with another beautiful child.  However, the doctor wanted me to get an ultrasound ASAP as baby was measuring bigger than the 10 weeks that I thought I was at.  So the very next day, back to the doctors to find out that I was not 10 weeks but 12. Wth that came blood work every quickly to check for any genetic issues.  The weeks to follow became even more interesting when I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy.  What's Bell's Palsy you ask?

"Bell's palsy is a disorder of the nerve that controls movement of the muscles in the face. This nerve is called the facial or 7th cranial nerve. Damage to this nerve causes weakness or paralysis of these muscles. Paralysis means that you cannot use the muscles at all."

Basically, I couldn't do anything with my left side of my face.   I got to drink out of straw, tape my eye shut at night, not taste anything sweet, and talk like I just had a root canal for about a week.  To this day my smile is a little off to the side and my eye doesn't react like my right one.  But its not noticeable to anyone but me. 

So with the issues that I was experiencing I knew that this baby was different and not like their sisters.  I just thought it was a boy – hmm, mother’s always right!  But little did I know how unlike their sisters it would really be!  And yes I said issues, plural.   The nausea throughout the day was crazy.  It didn’t matter what I ate or what I took it didn’t help I just had to deal with it.  On top of that the tiredness was and is just damaging to my everyday life.  I don’t care how little I do in a day I’m exhausted. True pregnancy pains!

20 Weeks:

Yay!  It was time for another ultrasound and with this one we would find out the sex of our baby.  It is such an exciting time for an expecting mother and father.  I never understood those that don't want to find out what they are having.  I can't wait 9 months for a surprise like that!  Not only that but those that know me know that I have to have know EVERYTHING! 

My husband was able to join me for this appointment and the girls where with their grandparents at their schools Welcome Back to School ice cream social. So they start the ultrasound and ask us if we are finding out what we are having.  And the answer is "Of Course!" - I will never forget the moment that she (the ultrasound tech) said "It's a Boy and he isn't shy!".  My reply was tears of joy.  Our prayers had been answered.  My husband's first reply "While I might my hockey player after all".  From there I remember the ultrasound taking a lot longer than normal.  And I also remember that she spent a lot of time playing the heart beat and focusing on his heart. 

Out of no where a doctor comes into the room.  For the life of me I couldn't tell you what his name was or is.  But he apologized for coming in the room like this but "we have a problem" came out of his mouth and my heart dropped.  He explained that he was watching the ultrasound remotely and noticed that there is a problem with the baby's heart.  He gave me a business card with names and numbers.  He explained that in what they are seeing they highly suggest that I speak with a genetic counselor seeing these type of issues are sometimes accompanied with genetic issues like down syndrome.  Again, my responds is tears.  This time not tears of joy but tears of dread, fear, and sadness.

We leave the appointment in a whirlwind of thoughts, but we have to go get the girls at the ice cream social.  Time to suck it up and put on a brave face. The options that we left with - we could terminate the pregnancy (but had to decide that very quickly) or we could continue on with scheduling appointments for a lot more tests, doctors appointments, and talking with a genetic counselor.  Seeing I have only 14 more days left - what option do you think I took???

What's Next:  

Well I guess you will have to stay tuned to find out the next steps, challenges, and discoveries that we have gone through.  

Good Night, until next time and . . . 

Peace, Love, and Cupcakes,
Jillian Whalin