Friday, February 1, 2013

pregnancy + Max, as of late.


can i just be real for a sec?

this pregnancy has been so hard. it has been a whirlwind!

from being so stoked at being pregnant, to being the sickest i've ever been for several weeks/months, to being the happiest i've been - learning we were welcoming a boy into the world, to being the saddest i've ever been realizing things weren't the way we always dreamed they would be, to being the most peaceful and calm i've ever been realizing what a special experience this whole thing is, to going back to feeling sick and uncomfortable... it just feels like the world is spinning so fast all around me, and i'm sitting in the middle of it, trying not to get dizzy and barf everywhere.


and that's me being real about it all for a sec.

i think one of the hardest parts of this whole thing is figuring out how to be real, but not intimidating people with just how real and heavy our life is right now. it's like, i can't be fake and just pretend like everything is rainbows and butterflies, because it's not. but then again, i can't lie and say that i just sit here and cry all the time, because that's not true either. it's been pretty amazing how much happiness and fun our little family has been able to have together in spite of the serious future that is knocking on our door. and yet, we have our moments. moments when it's hard to relive this reality that everything isn't normal as i hear our story come out of my mouth to our family and friends over and over again.

and then, we wipe away our mopey faces, pick ourselves back up again, and realize it's another day. and we only have to do things one day at a time. and we have a hundred people around every corner cheering us on to do just that. it's pretty awesome.


the last few weeks have been filled with appointments and exams, ultrasounds and echoes, doctors and nurses. i'm getting used to it.

there have been mixed reviews and updates. at the heart echo, we learned that Max's heart looked much better than it initially did. the cardiologist did detect an opening between the lower chambers - but apparently babies are born with holes in their hearts all the time. we left that appointment feeling happy -- like a hole in the heart was a small victory of sorts (since it was such a better scenario than if one of the ventricles wasn't formed properly, like we had originally been told/thought). it's funny how your perspective changes in situations like this; like receiving news of a hole in the heart is a good thing. i think i would have spazzed out if someone told me Ellie had a hole in her heart when she was in utero! but at this point, this was good news, since sometimes holes heal on their own, and if they don't, surgery down the line has very high success rates.....and for me, i was relieved especially since it meant that Max wouldn't need to come by C-Section at such an early date (like he would have if there had been ventricle problems).


but in between then i have been having tons and tons of contractions. contractions that are painful. and take my breath away. contractions that have felt, in multiple instances, like labor. i have been admitted to the hospital for these contractions. it's not the funnest Friday-night date that M and i have had, i'll tell you what. they did detect several contractions -- yet they weren't progressing labor, which was good news. they have since prescribed for me a med that helps with the contractions -- but i'm being seen and monitored pretty regularly since then.


our latest ultrasound, this last week, was the most troubling update as of late. there was more brain abnormality than before -- i can't remember what part looked odd, but something else did (doctors throw out all these big anatomy words like i should know what all the individual parts of the brain and organs and extremities are. and maybe i should. but i don't. so lots goes over my head). his femurs were measuring small, his ears were lowly set on his head, and of course we saw his little hands and arms -- which always make my heart ache a little. and we saw his heart again -- and that opening, that looked somewhat small before, looked rather large. that relief we had felt a few weeks earlier went away-- because a large hole most likely won't close on its own. but the most alarming part of the ultrasound was that his abdomen measured very small, they couldn't detect his stomach, and my fluid levels were very high. the Perinatologist (the doctor we see for these ultrasounds), seemed very concerned about these things, suggesting that his brain might not be sending the proper signals for him to swallow, causing me to balloon up a bit -- and which he said could be the cause for a lot of the immense rib pain i have been experiencing the last few weeks. he believes that all of this means that Max is at a high risk of coming any time -- and so now i have twice-a-week non-stress tests, weekly steroid injections for his lungs, and weekly ultrasounds to continue to monitor the fluid levels and growth. after telling us all of this, i asked the dr. what all of this meant for his labor and delivery -- and he simply said, "this little guy just has so much going on with him- from here on out, it is a literal fight for life."

those words are still hanging in the air for me.

it was the first time that i felt like i might need to be preparing for something else, too.
you see, we have been preparing for a life with many challenges with Max -- we haven't known what quality of life that will be for him, but we have always thought it was life.
but the look on the doctor's face is etched in my mind -- that look that while it's still important to prepare for a life with challenges, we might also need to be preparing for the challenge of losing that little life, too.

today i just wish we knew which one we should be preparing for. because preparing for both just feels hard. you know? we love this Max so, so much.


the good thing is, i'm not in charge. God is. and i know Him. He is good. He is merciful. He knows what i need more than i know what i need. He knows what Max needs. He knows why this has to be this way. and most importantly, He knows all of His children, inside and out. that means He knows you. He knows my mom. He knows my dad. He knows my friends and my siblings. He knows my girls. He knows M. He knows me. He knows Max. and so that's what i cling to. one day at a time.


afterword: thank you for all of your love and prayers and kindness that so many of you have poured over me and my little family. we truly feel that we are being carried, comforted and supported in a miraculous way -- words can't describe how much that means to me. i'm blessed beyond measure, and that's the truth. 

p.s. you can read more about Max here. i hope to give more regular updates on him in the future.

xoxo

25 comments:

Liz said...

There seriously is not a day that goes by that I don't think about you and that precious precious boy. That ultrasound picture melts my heart. You are such a strong person. Thank you for sharing. Love you!

Sadie B said...

You are such a fighter Marci! Your strength and testimony will forever be an example to me.

Candace said...

Marci, you amaze! Keep writing and I'll keep praying. Love you and your little fam.

Lanette - Never Give Up! said...

May the Lord continue to send you peace and strength for the journey ahead. I feel helpless yet yearn to do something to ease your burden. My prayers are fervent in behalf of your sweet family.

elysebeard said...

I love you guys. GO MAX!

RM said...

Thank you for being so real. It feels like it could be me. I think you are wonderful and love your testimony. Hang in there. We're all praying for you

-adrienne

Mel said...

I can't even imagine what this whole experience is like. My heart goes out to you and your family. Thank you for sharing the journey. You are strong. Stronger than you realize.

Tammy said...

Thank you for so honestly sharing how you are feeling, it is heartbreaking to read, but I just keeping thinking of how strong you are... And what a feeling of love exudes from you. Prayers and thoughts with you Marci... And your sweet Max.

The Hurst Family said...

Love you girl.

Tiffany said...

thank you for sharing Marci...the way you write about what you are experiencing and going through is very inspiring and uplifting. You are truly such a great example to me. You and baby Max have been in our constant thoughts and prayers xoxo

Ashley and Aaron said...

Marci, I just love you. Such a real, down-to-earth gal, such a talented writer, such a strong woman full of faith!

Jeanne said...

Thank you Marci,
you write so beautifully, I was so moved. I think of you and your family often and you are in our prayers. Have you been able to talk to Heidi McMillen? She has lived both of your outcomes. She is open and honest, like you, and she is a rock. I hope you get a chance to chat with her sometime. She will make you feel the LOVe. Fingers and toes and hands and heads crossed and bowed for you all here!

Vindie said...

Marci, my heart aches for you and your family. Love and prayers are being sent to you from England. xxx

Heather said...

Prayers and hugs coming your way!

Rachelle Packard said...

We love you guys so much Marci! You are always in our thoughts and prayers. Your optimism is so encouraging. Thank you for sharing all of this with us.

Tanya said...

Marci, you are a living testimony of what faith in the gospel and in Heavenly Father can do for a person. You are amazing. Max is blessed to come to you and your family!

Unknown said...

We are praying for your dear family and precious Max. We are sending you love and hugs from good old Utah Valley.

Becky said...

oh marci, im not even sure if you remember me. but we lived in the avenues together before you and M were even dating. i just wanted to write to tell you that you are inspiring. your words, uplifting. i hope you will continue to feel peace and comfort, and cling to those feelings when you feel like you have nothing left. many prayers sent in behalf of you, your family, and especially that mighty max of yours!

erin said...

What an amazing outlook you have on this whole situation. Somehow through this great challenge you are inspiring and uplifting others. I know we are friends from so long ago, and don't keep in touch, but I want to you and Mike to know how much love and respect I have for you. And how much my heart aches for your family right now. Sending you both the biggest hug!

Happiness is... said...

I am so sorry to hear about your precious little Max. I wish there were something I could say, or do to make it all better. Thank you for your faith, your testimony and knowledge of who knows us best. I'll be praying for you and your family. Know that we love you.

Heidi McMillan said...

Prayers and love Marci and Mike! Your testimony is a strength to all of us. Max is one lucky little man to be born into such an incredible family...We love you.

Joey, Amber, Ken , Ellie, Bruce and Patrick said...

Marci, you are so amazing. Your testimony is so precious and truly strengthens me. Many thoughts and prayers for your cute family.

anne said...

I went through an experience similar to this with a friend of mine 2 years ago. I am amazed at the strength that is given to the families in these situations. You are amazing and Max couldn't be going to a better family. You're in our prayers.

Brooke said...

you can be as heavy and honest as you want. I find I write more when Im a tad bit blue than when I am happy. It lifts the load ... so write away. love you much
B

Unknown said...

Oh Marce! I had no idea about your little man. I'm thinking and praying for you and the little fighter! I'm glad you have good doctors who are fighting for him, too!!! Lots of love!