Sixteen weeks and feeling great! But sadly, more anemic than two weeks ago. My hemoglobin dropped a full point, down to 8.4. Back in early February I was around 13, a number I won't see this pregnancy due to the dilution of my blood: I'll have 2.5 times the amount I normally do circulating through my system (as I understand it), trying to nurture those babies and keep my body working right. The doctor ordered a full panel of tests to check my iron stores and no doubt other stuff he didn't bother explaining to me. Meanwhile, I continue to drink my nasty liquid iron and pray for safety for the babies. I just want them to get enough oxygen! We have our next baby sonogram and check-up on Tuesday, so we'll update you then. I should get my blood panel results back around then, too.
My feet and ankles have either started to swell, or I have gotten fatter down there. :) I sure felt the effects of my lack of iron, increased weight (23 pounds, woo-hoo!), and just the taxing drain five babies create on my whole system yesterday when Gavin and I got to fulfill a years-long dream of mine: visiting the Biltmore in Asheville, NC. (Thanks for helping us make that trip so much more affordable and fun, Uncle Gary and Annelies! It was wonderful to see you again! And thanks, Lisa, for keeping Isaac!!!) I said it was an early anniversary celebration since I'll be out of commission by August 14th. However, I don't think it was super romantic for Gavin to help his huffing, puffing, puffy wife all over the house and gardens, with lots of rest stops for my benefit. :) But he was unfailingly considerate, a great sport, and is a wonderful friend and husband, even when all we can do is laugh at the circumstances we find ourselves in! We do that a lot nowadays.
One thing that really struck me was how much more impaired I was by my pregnancy than other women were by theirs (presumably singleton pregnancies). It was embarrassing! One hugely pregnant mom was pushing a stroller around. I wished I had a shirt that said "Quints on Board" or something like that. Then I might not look like such a wimp . . .
Some pictures of yesterday, just for fun:
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| Many bedrooms in this house are larger than our home in Ukarumpa (960 square feet). |
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| The "Winter Garden" |
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| One of many reasons we came now instead of later with six kids: there's a sheer 20-foot drop-off over that low ledge. |
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| The outside of the stairwell that nearly did me in. |
Love to you all, and thanks a million for the continued prayers which are very apparent!
Carrie, for Gavin and Isaac, too.
My Mom & I visited Biltmore when Russ & I were home for furlough from PNG in 2007, and I immediately fell in love with it, referring to it as my 2nd home ;-) Having traversed that place myself two days in a row, and being weary without being pregnant, let alone carrying 5 little ones, you have every excuse for getting tired!! There is a lot of walking & a lot of stairs both up & down. I think you got your day's exercise!! A special t-shirt would be really cool :-)
ReplyDeleteNo MORE Biltmore for you till after those babies. You don't need that much exercise. :) Love you and glad you got to go.
ReplyDeleteMy mom said the same thing, and after I got home I read in my multiples pregnancy handbook that I shouldn't be standing more than an hour at a time, much less hiking around a castle! I'll copy what I replied in general below:
DeleteI told Gavin I was really glad I saw the Biltmore, but also glad we hadn't done it much before (when I was still struggling with some nausea) or at all later. I was actually a bit worried about having overdone it, but the ultrasound today showed all babies doing great, big for gestational age (even the little girl who was "right on" before, with her siblings outdoing her). And the sonographer was able to verify there are indeed 2 little girls! The key "lines" between the legs were visible on both today!
Don't worry about looking like a wimp, it's worth it:-) I always felt like everybody thought I was a wimp too, not even looking real pregnant, but needing to be on bedrest. Let me know if you need anything!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, I told Gavin I was really glad I saw the Biltmore, but also glad we hadn't done it much before (when I was still struggling with some nausea) or at all later. I was actually a bit worried about having overdone it, but the ultrasound today showed all babies doing great, big for gestational age (even the little girl who was "right on" before, with her siblings outdoing her). And the sonographer was able to verify there are indeed 2 little girls! The key "lines" between the legs were visible on both today!
ReplyDeletehow fun!! I love your beautiful pictures, dear sister!
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