A Perfect Song for Our Daughter

  We are thrilled to announce that we will be welcoming a baby girl in May 2011!   

Everything she sees

she says she wants.

Everything she wants

I see she gets.

That's my daughter in the water

everything she owns I bought her

Everything she owns.

That's my daughter in the water,

everything she knows I taught her.

Everything she knows.

Everything I say
she takes to heart.

Everything she takes

she takes apart.

That's my daughter in the water

every time she fell I caught her.

Every time she fell.

That's my daughter in the water,

I lost every time I fought her.

Yea, I lost every time.

Every time she blinks

she strikes somebody blind.

Everything she thinks

blows her tiny mind.

That's my daughter in the water,

who'd have ever thought her?

Who'd have ever thought?

That's my daughter in the water,

I lost everytime I fought her

Yea, I lost every time.

 
(Daughter by Loudon Wainwright III)

Placenta Accreta

I had the first trimester ultrasound screening today.  The baby is completely healthy, thank you God for blessing us with a healthy third baby.  We do know the gender!  I will share it soon.  However we did get some not so great news that I am still processing and going over and over.  I have Placenta Accreta.  In short my placenta attached to my c-section scar.  It occurs in 1 in 2500 pregnancies or 25% of women that have c-sections develop this condition.  Today was the initial diagnosis.  I have already been contacted by my OB to come in on Monday to discuss this further.  For now here is some info on Placenta Accreta taken from the American Pregnancy Association. 

The placenta normally attaches to the uterine wall, however there is a condition that occurs where the placenta attaches itself too deeply into the wall of the uterus. This condition is known as placenta accreta, placenta increta, or placenta percreta depending on the severity and deepness of the placenta attachment. Approximately 1 in 2,500 pregnancies experience placenta accreta, increta or percreta.



What is the difference between accreta, increta or percreta?
The difference between placenta accreta, increta or percreta is determined by the severity of the attachment of the placenta to the uterine wall.


Placenta Accreta occurs when the placenta attaches too deep in the uterine wall but it does not penetrate the uterine muscle. Placenta accreta is the most common accounting for approximately 75% of all cases.


Placenta Increta occurs when the placenta attaches even deeper into the uterine wall and does penetrate into the uterine muscle. Placenta increta accounts for approximately 15% of all cases.

Placenta Percreta occurs when the placenta penetrates through the entire uterine wall and attaches to another organ such as the bladder. Placenta percreta is the least common of the three conditions accounting for approximately 5% of all cases.

 What causes placenta accreta?
The specific cause of placenta accreta is unknown, but it can be related to placenta previa and previous cesarean deliveries. Placenta accreta is present in 5% to 10% of women with placenta previa.
A cesarean delivery increases the possibility of a future placenta accreta, and the more cesareans, the greater the increase. Multiple cesareans were present in over 60% of placenta accreta cases.


What are the risks of placenta accreta to the baby?
Premature delivery and subsequent complications are the primary concerns for the baby. Bleeding during the third trimester may be a warning sign that placenta accreta exists, and when placenta accreta occurs it commonly results in a premature delivery. Your healthcare provider will examine your condition and use medication, bed rest and whatever else necessary to help continue the pregnancy towards full term.

What are the risks of placenta accreta to the mother?
The placenta usually has difficulty separating from the uterine wall. The primary concern for the mother is hemorrhaging during manual attempts to detach the placenta. Severe hemorrhaging can be life threatening. Other concerns involve damage to the uterus or other organs (percreta) during removal of the placenta. Hysterectomy is a common therapeutic intervention, but the results involve the loss of the uterus and the ability to conceive.

What is the treatment for placenta accreta?
There is nothing a woman can do to prevent placenta accreta, and there is little that can be done for treatment once placenta accreta has been diagnosed. If you have been diagnosed with placenta accreta your healthcare provider will monitor your pregnancy with the intent of scheduling a delivery and using a surgery that may spare the uterus. It is particularly important to discuss this surgery with your doctor if you desire to have additional children.

 Unfortunately, placenta accreta may be severe enough that a hysterectomy may be needed. Again, it is important to discuss surgical options with your healthcare provider.

Christmas Cards, Calendars, and Gift Tags

Next week is Thanksgiving, so over the weekend I will be putting away all of the fall decor and dragging in all of the Christmas Rubbermaid bins.  This time next week it will begin to look a lot like Christmas at the Harris' house!! I love this time of year and even more so this year as the boys are really getting into seeing all things Christmas minus Santa (that's an entire different post). Along with putting up our decorations, I will also begin  preparing our Christmas Cards. I love sending Christmas Cards almost as much as I love receiving them.  I always send Christmas Cards with our family picture.  I am thinking of adding a little something to this year's Christmas card, we'll have to see if I can keep a secret that long:)


I have also found a fun way to display all the cards we get.  I love having them up through Christmas and the New Year.  I don't write one, but love reading other families Christmas letters.  I feel like my blog is enough of a letter. 

This year our cards will be coming from Shutterfly.  Shutterfly is so user friendly and I love ALL of the card designs available.  It really is easy as 1-2-3.   Choose the card, drop your family picture in it, and order!  Before I order I love the "preview" feature so I can see what our card will actually look like. 

Here are a few of my favorites.  What do you think?

Need a gift idea?  Why not use all those photos that are saved to your computer and create Photo Calendars.  I bet some special people in our life will be getting one of these this year (I better get to work)!

Something else that I LOVE and will be using this year from Shutterfly is the Christmas Gift Tags.  OMG I am bananas about these.  They are so cute and will make gift wrapping go a little quicker using pre-made gift tags!  Each gift will have the "finish" look by using these gift tags.  I am so excited, can you tell?!  I am going to use one of these on the gifts we give this year.

There are several cute designs, it will be hard to chose.  However I need to get on the ball and get the cards, calendars, and gift tags ordered.  When you get a Christmas card, calendar, and or gift from our family just act surprise if you see one of these designs again :)  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and Logan is singing the entire song of Jingle Bells as I write this!  If I can get him on video I will post it, so sweet to experience Christmas through a children's eyes. 

{Legal Disclaimer: all opinions are mine, but I was offered 50 free cards from Shutterfly in exchange for this review. If you would like more information about this promotion, click HERE.}

Reflections of Motherhood

I would add
"Its okay to cry"
"Time passes to quickly"
 "You will wonder how you ever lived without your child"
 "I still want/need my mom"

Tomorrow's Ultrasound

Tomorrow I have the Ultra-Screen Ultrasound.  This is an ultrasound that is newly offered that has to be done between weeks 11.5 and 13.6.  Tomorrow I am 12 Weeks 5 Days.  We have been told that more than likely the perinolgist will be able to tell us the sex of the baby.  However, tonight my heart is heavy and I no longer care at all what the sex is.  I pray that the baby is ok and is growing normally.  Of course we were anxious to hear the gender, but now I am just anxious to hear the dr. say everything is ok.  A friend of mine (I actually taught her son), lost her baby boy today from Trisomoy 13.  Trisomy 13 and 18 are several chromosomal disorders which cause profound mental retardation and multiple birth defects.  Most babies with trisomy 18 or 13 live no longer than one year.  Jedi, was 13 days old. 

From Elizabeth's blog "jedidiah joseph was diagnosed at 20 weeks gestation with trisomy13, a chromosomal malformation that is not "compatible with life" and manifests itself in various ways. he is our seventh child and is already such a blessing. he has already touched so many. please pray for him and our family as we travel along this new path God has laid for us."  http://trisomyjourney.blogspot.com/

For the past 13 days, Elizabeth, Jedi, and their entire family have been on my mind and in our daily prayers.  My heart hurts for them tonight as they prepare for Jedi's funeral tomorrow.

11.5 Week OB Appt

November 12, 2010 was a busy day.  I went and had my hair done - something I LOVE to do and so look forward to.  Then the boys and I headed to my 11.5 week OB appt.  It is really called the OB Workup appt, where lots of papers and pamphlets are given (from nurses), lots of paperwork is filled out (by me), blood is taken (mine), and the baby's heartbeat is heard.  I knew it would be a long appt so the boys an I went prepared with the mini dvd player, snacks, drinks, and books.  When we went back to the room the nurse went over all the papers and then had me lay down to hear the heartbeat.  She couldn't find it.  After several tries she said we needed to go the ultrasound room and Dr. Graham would be in.  My only thought was something is wrong and I am alone with the boys.  I really had to keep it together though I was on the verge of losing it.  I called Brian and let him know and told me I would call as soon as the dr. examined me.  Dr. Graham immediately found the baby and the baby's heartbeat and the boys and I saw it on the ultrasound screen.  Again a sound that never gets old - your baby's heartbeat.  After an examination he promised to get some cool 3D images for me.  Well of course I said "just show me the penis!"  He is so great he looked around and zoomed in on the area and said......
Well I'm not telling yet.  I have an ultrasonic ultrasound (checks baby out very closely) Friday the 19th.  I think we are going to wait until Christmas to tell family and friends .  I think it is a fun surprise.  We'll see if I can wait that long.  Until then make your guess in the gender poll - its located in the top right corner.  Healthy and growing strong is all that we want. 

Pictures taken at 11.5 Weeks Appt

Saying Goodbye

On Friday November 5, 2010, my grandma, Catherine Cappellino passed away.  She has been sick for a while now.  My mom went to live with her in August to take full time care of her.  Something I know she will always be glad she did.  I took the boys to visit her in early August, I am so happy I did this.  I learned of her death in the early afternoon, by that night, I had a flight booked and my bag packed to leave Saturday morning. 
However before I left Austin became very sick.  He woke up choking on stomach acid and drainage from his nose:(  The choking, gagging, in and out episodes occurred several times within an hour.  Brian was on his way home from work, but knew we needed help.  I called 911 and dad.  Within in minutes they were bother at my house.  I knew if I had to go to the hospital with Austin someone needed to stay with Logan.  Thank God for having family close by.  After about an hour the paramedics determined that Austin was ok, just having difficulty getting rid of nose drainage and that he was sick.  They recommended that we keep him upright for the remainder of the night.  I was very scared, but thankful Brian was home by then to help.  The next morning we left for the airport at 8am.  I cried most of the way, since it was the first time leaving both Brian and the kids.  Before I knew it I was eating my bagel and drinking my coffee on the airtran flight.  I arrived to Meadville Saturday afternoon and was glad to be with my mom.  The rest of my family came on Sunday. 
Sunday was my grandmother's viewings where we saw a lot of family and old friends.  Monday was the funeral and lunch afterwards.  Before I knew it I was back on a plane headed home to my boys.  It was a long sad weekend.  I was exhausted.  It took me several days to recover.  A comforting thought I have had is that my grandma and grandpa are back together again holding hands and talking in Italian in Heaven.  Saying goodbye is never easy, but knowing we be reunited one day with friends and family that have gone before us eases the saddness a bit.

The following are pictures from our visit in August.  Pictures taken at my grandma's and then at the fair.  I am so glad we have these pictures.



New Look and New URL

As our family is growing loganandbaby.blogspot.com no longer seems to fit as the address to our blog. So along with a fun new look the URL has changed. If you have Harris Happenings saved to your favorites you will need to delete it, go to the new address, and then save to your favorites. Sorry for the confusion, hope you will still continue to read about the Harris Happenings! The new URL is:

http://www.megbrianandthree.blogspot.com

A special thank you to Leslie for our new blog design as well as changing the URL for us:) Her info is on the side of my blog or go directly to her website.

10 Weeks Down Only 210 Days To Go

30 weeks left sounds a lot shorter than 210 days!  Not even out of the first trimester and I am already so excited to meet this little peanut.  Boy or girl, we still don't know.  I had a dream last night I was at Nordstrom picking out baby girl clothes.  Dresses, tons of dresses.  Can you imagine?  I really can't.  I am almost convinced its a boy.  I am great with another boy.  I grew up with lots of brothers and their friends.  I have a lot of boy stuff.  I love the bond I have with my boys.  I am a boy mommy as of now, in 210 days who knows; maybe I will still be a boy mommy of 3 or maybe I will have a daughter and two sons.  The unknown is exciting, but not exciting enough not to find out.  We may find out before Christmas.  Next week I go for my 11 week OB workup.  Here is my 10 week update from the Bump.com

Your Pregnancy: Week 10

Notice a network of tiny blue veins crisscrossing your already achy breasts and (sorry) disappearing waistline? Though you may not love the new look, these veins carry the extra blood needed to nourish your burgeoning baby. You also might see the effects of pregnancy on your face -- in the form of major breakouts, that is. (Thanks, hormones.)
 
Baby's now the size of a prune!
With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will start working too.)

Austin's 2nd Birthday Party Part 1

On Austin's actual birthday, October 15, 2010, we had a small party at Chuckee Cheese with our families.