Look at this facial expression!
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What we'll be doing tomorrow
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Our church has been opening their playgrounds to mommies and preschoolers on Friday mornings this fall, and it's such a sweet blessing. Assuming that my jump in meds (see my other post today for more on that) doesn't hit me hard tomorrow, we'll be there!
Jocelyn loves the big kid equipment!
She sits down and starts scooting on her butt about two feet before the slide even begins!
Loving the slide!
And now, for a glimpse of Jocelyn's jealous side, check out the next three pictures ...
1) Jocelyn smiling while playing with the music area as Bennett approaches in the background
2) Jocelyn giving Bennett a dirty look when Bennett decides that she wants to play too
Jocelyn throwing a fit when Bennett doesn't leave after the dirty look - I think we need to work on sharing!
Jocelyn loves the big kid equipment!
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She sits down and starts scooting on her butt about two feet before the slide even begins!
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Loving the slide!
 |
And now, for a glimpse of Jocelyn's jealous side, check out the next three pictures ...
1) Jocelyn smiling while playing with the music area as Bennett approaches in the background
 |
2) Jocelyn giving Bennett a dirty look when Bennett decides that she wants to play too
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Jocelyn throwing a fit when Bennett doesn't leave after the dirty look - I think we need to work on sharing!
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More meds
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I'm definitely having a nasty flare of rheumatoid arthritis, so I get to take more medication starting tomorrow. The only thing my doctors have okayed for use in pregnancy is prednisone, and I was on a low dose. The plan is to majorly increase my dose for three weeks, then drop five mgs every five days after that until we get back down to my current dose. It is possible that by then I'll be in remission and we'll be able to continue to decreasing those meds until I'm off them altogether; that's probably unlikely, though, since most women who go into remission are improving (not worsening!) by this point in their pregnancy.
A lot of you sweet friends have asked if prednisone is safe during pregnancy. Yes, it is mostly safe during pregnancy, but it has been linked in some studies to a slight increase in cleft lip/palate (which only brings the total risk to 2-3%, so it's still unlikely, though my risk might be higher anyway if there's a genetic link since my nephew was born with it) and a similarly slight increase in gestational diabetes. Thankfully, the cleft is often visible in the 20-week ultrasound, so if we're in that 3% we should be able to prepare. And I'll probably have my gestational diabetes test earlier than most, so we'll stay on top of that. Simply put, we're willing to accept the (tiny) risks of taking prednisone during pregnancy because the risks of not taking it are greater. Without prednisone, I cannot go through the motions of a typical day without tears; without prednisone, the inflammation in my joints would go unchecked, resulting in more damage to my bones than RA has already caused.
As disappointed as I am about having to increase my meds at a time that I hoped to be decreasing them, it is a blessing that this medication increase should allow me to be a wife and mom, something that has been exceedingly tough lately. This present flare has brought about stiffness, swelling, and pain in my feet, ankles, knees, hips, lower back, wrists, hands, and neck. Given that my last flare only affected my hands, wrists, one elbow, and one foot, this is a much more systemic one. Despite that, though, this is much more bearable because a) we know what's wrong now, so we're not waiting for a diagnosis this time and b) I have a relationship with my doctor now so it's easier to take care of issues with a phone call instead of waiting a month for the next appointment. I do have a follow-up appointment at the end of this month, so I'll be able to provide more of an update then. Thank you for your continued prayers!
A lot of you sweet friends have asked if prednisone is safe during pregnancy. Yes, it is mostly safe during pregnancy, but it has been linked in some studies to a slight increase in cleft lip/palate (which only brings the total risk to 2-3%, so it's still unlikely, though my risk might be higher anyway if there's a genetic link since my nephew was born with it) and a similarly slight increase in gestational diabetes. Thankfully, the cleft is often visible in the 20-week ultrasound, so if we're in that 3% we should be able to prepare. And I'll probably have my gestational diabetes test earlier than most, so we'll stay on top of that. Simply put, we're willing to accept the (tiny) risks of taking prednisone during pregnancy because the risks of not taking it are greater. Without prednisone, I cannot go through the motions of a typical day without tears; without prednisone, the inflammation in my joints would go unchecked, resulting in more damage to my bones than RA has already caused.
As disappointed as I am about having to increase my meds at a time that I hoped to be decreasing them, it is a blessing that this medication increase should allow me to be a wife and mom, something that has been exceedingly tough lately. This present flare has brought about stiffness, swelling, and pain in my feet, ankles, knees, hips, lower back, wrists, hands, and neck. Given that my last flare only affected my hands, wrists, one elbow, and one foot, this is a much more systemic one. Despite that, though, this is much more bearable because a) we know what's wrong now, so we're not waiting for a diagnosis this time and b) I have a relationship with my doctor now so it's easier to take care of issues with a phone call instead of waiting a month for the next appointment. I do have a follow-up appointment at the end of this month, so I'll be able to provide more of an update then. Thank you for your continued prayers!
Puddle-jumping fun!
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(No, Jenelle, this has nothing to do with Stargate, despite the puddle jumper reference.)
On our second day in Chapel Hill with Daddy (which will take several posts since I was able to take a lot of pictures), the skies were clear ... but there were PUDDLES!
Testing out a puddle ...
Jumping (note that she is airborne in the picture!)
So excited about the puddle! (This is her excited squealing face.)
Later in the day a girl chased us down to tell me that she watched Jocelyn splash in the puddles from her study spot in the undergrad library, and it made her day! Another girl ran into us in the pit and told Jocelyn, "You made me smile today when you were playing in the water. Can I shake your hand?" Then she stuck out her hand, and Jocelyn smiled, paused, and then shook it. I've never seen her shake anyone's hand before - so funny!
On our second day in Chapel Hill with Daddy (which will take several posts since I was able to take a lot of pictures), the skies were clear ... but there were PUDDLES!
Testing out a puddle ...
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Jumping (note that she is airborne in the picture!)
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So excited about the puddle! (This is her excited squealing face.)
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Later in the day a girl chased us down to tell me that she watched Jocelyn splash in the puddles from her study spot in the undergrad library, and it made her day! Another girl ran into us in the pit and told Jocelyn, "You made me smile today when you were playing in the water. Can I shake your hand?" Then she stuck out her hand, and Jocelyn smiled, paused, and then shook it. I've never seen her shake anyone's hand before - so funny!
Wacky dream ...
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Last night I had an, umm, odd dream. I was 13.5 weeks pregnant (about a week and a half further along than I really am), and I went into labor, giving birth to a perfectly healthy baby girl weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce. The doctors decided that they would need to study us to determine ways to allow other preemies to survive that early. Oh, yeah, and while Lee was not there in the delivery room, Obama was. Except I didn't realize it was Obama immediately, because he was wearing a Nixon mask.