Whew...Don't forget to breath!!

So...I just finished posting our Mexico trip. Sorry it took me so long to get it all on here. However, Shayne and I have been pretty preoccupied with some other stuff that's been going on. Here's a brief synopsis of what we are "dealing with" at this point...

After getting back from Mexico, I talked to Doc, and we both expressed that we needed to find out what we needed to do with my incompetent cervix. I've known for 12 years, since my last major surgery, that I have a incompetent cervix. I've also known that I've needed to have an abdominal cerclage, as apposed to a vaginal cerclage since then as well. However...very, very few dr.'s know of the abdominal cerclage. That was the case with Doc...but as always, he lets me do my research and trusts what I find.

So...I felt VERY prompted on Thursday night to do some research on the trans abdominal cerclage, or TAC. I discovered that the few dr.'s that do perform the procedure, like to do it between 10-11 weeks. I am now at 12 weeks, that stressed me out a little. So, I found probably the best dr. in the U.S. that performs this procedure in Chicago. There are zero dr.'s in Alaska that perform it...in fact there are probably only about 100 dr.'s that are truly competent in the procedure in the U.S. So...I call Doc Thursday night, and he asks for the Dr.'s name and phone #, and calls him Friday morning.

Well, Doc called me at work on Friday afternoon, told me he was immensely impressed with this Dr. Haney, that my procedure was scheduled for Wednesday, and that we needed to call them and get the all the paper-work started and purchase plane tickets! Needless to say...Shayne and I have been a bit overwhelmed! Shayne and I made a bunch of phone calls, and we are flying out for Chicago tomorrow night. We will be flying into Chicago Wednesday at 6:30am, I have to be at the hospital at 10am for an ultrasound, at the surgical center @ 10:30am for pre-surgery "stuff", and will have the procedure done at 12:30pm... all on Wednesday. I have a 48 hour hospital stay. I will be release around Friday morning, and we will fly back to Anchorage Saturday evening.

This is not just small out patient procedure. I will be having surgery similar to a C-section in order to basically "tie" my cervix shut, so I don't miscarry about about 18-20 weeks. However...the good news is that after having this procedure, I shouldn't need ANY bed-rest, and should be able to carry the baby full-term, or very near full-term!

I did have an appointment with Doc today, and everything looks great!! He says my cervix is doing awesome at this point, and we got to see our baby actually moving!! He/She has arms and legs, and a face...and it was moving around!! It was soooo cool!! I cannot tell you how incredible it was to see our baby moving there on the screen...it was all so surreal!! I have pictures, but I'm a little pressed for time...I have to pack, and clean, and, and, and...before leaving tomorrow. So...I haven't scanned the picture...but I will as soon as we get back.

I just have to say through this whole process...that Shayne and I have the most incredible support group!! We have family that keep us in their prayers, and call and make sure we know they are thinking and praying for us. But even more important for us at this point, is the fact that we have an incredible "family" here in Alaska. We both have some incredible co-workers that are very supportive of us having to leave on short notice. In fact, the nurses at the hospital have informed Shayne, they aren't covering for him, they are working for me! They make me cry. We have an incredible group of friends in our ward that have been supportive, and willing to do whatever, to help us get through this. In fact...Becky has become my surrogate mother, and is making darn sure I'm not going to do anything "dumb" in my post-surgery recovery. :)

I cannot tell you how much I love our families in Idaho and our "family" here in Alaska. We are truly blessed!!