Where have we been? - Magpie Edition

So, ahem. We've been rather busy the last twenty months.

We happily brought our little girl home 17 days before her due date after three months in the NICU.

The last year and some change has been quite transformative not just becoming parents, but in becoming better partners, learning how to (or in some cases, how not to) communicate with one another and those in our support system.

The first few months were difficult in that we had many, many doctor's appointments. The sheer number of follow ups needed for a preemie and micro preemie were just astronomical. Her retinopathy cleared up, her hearing impairments reversed themselves and her growth and neurological function were tested again and again. And every time, she did amazingly will not only or her adjusted age, but for her actual age.

We could not be more happy, or more grateful.

We made the decision to try for one more baby, knowing that there could be definite challenges for both me and baby, but in January we found out we were, in fact pregnant again.

With all of the losses, the fear and the drugs, tests and doctor visits, we weren't sure we had made the right decision. But with the love and support of our doctors and specialists, they set us on a plan to keep this baby as long as we could.

Well, it's safe to say the progesterone shots, the many scans and tests certainly helped, of only to help make me feel that I had some kind of control over the process.

It hasn't been easy. There have been scares, There have been sleepless nights, trips to the ER and many many calls to our OB. But in about seven weeks, we will be welcoming our second child, who is almost full term and is doing smashingly.

We've been trying to refocus on family, with the effort to create wonderful memories for the Bean and us while waiting her brother, the Sprout to arrive. We're creating family traditions that I'd like to discuss more in depth in future posts.

But here we are...still practicing our druidic faith, still trying to work on creating domestic routine/rhythms...and being grateful for every moment.

Much love to you all,
~Magpie