Health Update.

It has been 4 months since LK’s arrival. And what a crazy 4 months it has been, right?

Being pregnant, giving birth, and dealing with a health crisis during a pandemic is an adventure in itself. One I would happily never experience again!

I am thrilled our schedule which has been just jam-packed with doctor appointments is tapering off. We are settling into a nice little routine. Not exactly how I envisioned this season in our life looking. Although, if I have learned anything over the past months, it’s that IT IS OK. It is ok to be sad. Ok to be pissed. Ok to be happy. Ok to ask for help or a second opinion. Ok to take a nap. Ok to leave the laundry for another day…

Here is where we are today:

Leah is currently rocking a cast to adjust her metatarsus adductus. We are looking at removing the cast this week and moving towards straight-laced boots on both feet. She will wear them 23 hours a day for the next few months. Already, in 3 weeks of casting, we can see a significant straightening in her little foot.

At 6 months we will repeat L’s echo to check on her heart murmur as well as complete some genetic testing. With our little guy having Uncombable Hair Syndrome coupled with Leah and my health issues as of late we are looking at possible connective tissue disorders linking everything together.

I completed some genetic testing for some scary diseases, trying to get to the cause of my bilateral vertebral dissection. The results came back negative, which is AMAZING news. So after meeting with a vascular surgeon, rheumatologist, genetic counselor, naturopath, and getting a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, it seems as if my dissections and pseudoaneurysms might possibly have simply been caused by childbirth.

My 3 month MRA showed some great progression in the vertebral arteries healing themselves. If all continues this direction, over the next months I can begin to come off some of the medications that are keeping my blood pressure super low and me super tired.

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis a few weeks ago. In the last couple of months of pregnancy, I began experiencing horrible joint pain. Some mornings I would wake up not able to lift my left arm above my shoulder or my jaw would just tense up and I couldn’t chew without wincing. After the dissection, I figured the two ailments had to be linked as I literally have had little to no other health issues my entire life. But alas I think pregnancy was just the perfect storm for me to bring about two not so great conditions relatively around the same time. Thank goodness babies are completely adorable and totally worth the havoc they reign upon your body.

In two months both Leah and I have more tests. But for right now we have all the answers we need and are making huge strides in the right, a healthy direction. Thank you everyone for your support along this journey.

xoxo Kileigh + Leah