The phenomenal Jessica Carey, Elliott and Zane (Di/Di Fraternal twins, 3 years old today).
Jessica and her boys are previous project participants from our last stop in Portland. You can view their previous photo here: http://www.4thtrimesterbodiesproject.com/gallery-1/2015/11/23/jessica-carey
Jessica thought that she was having trouble conceiving due to PCOS but learned that she doesn't ovulate and doesn't have eggs to ovulate. They turned to fertility treatments and IUI and her boys were conceived on their last attempt. Jessica's pregnancy was uneventful until 36 weeks when Elliott's water broke and his placenta ruptured. They rushed to the hospital and her boys were born via emergency cesarean birth.
Elliott wasn't breathing so he was taken immediately to the NICU but only spent two days there. Zane was sent to the NICU a few hours later due to low blood sugar for a four hour observation. In the meantime, Jessica clotted and hemorrhaged and they were worried she would need to be opened back up and have a blood transfusion but the doctor was able to get things under control.
Once home, the boys began losing weight quickly even though Jessica had a lot of milk. The doctors kept insisting that there was something wrong with her supply but eventually figured out the boys had issues sucking. They were finally sent to an occupational therapist where they learned how to hold the boys mouths to get them to suck out of bottles and were able to use donor milk. They soon learned that Elliot had a lot of food sensitivities so Jessica had to switch him to home made formula while Zane continued getting donor milk.
Elliott developed plagiocephaly and began showing signs of cerebral palsy so they continued OT and went to see a neuro-developmental specialist. They were able to resolve both his plagiocephaly and see his CP diminish with therapy and time. However, by 15 months both boys began showing signs of regression and Autism and were officially diagnosed at 21 months. They are both non-verbal, in intensive therapies four days per week and start developmental preschool on Monday. Feeding is still an issue with both of the boys, they are only able to eat pureed foods and drink from a bottle.
Jessica is grateful for what her boys can do but motherhood thus far has been really hard. When she participated previously she was at her high, so happy but she's at her lowest low these days. When she realized how she was doing she wanted to document it so she can be more mindful of her progression as she want's to move towards happiness again. She says she's barely keeping it together but has a hard time leaving her boys so she just doesn't. Jessica knows that other special needs moms have this low point and she wants to let others know they are not alone.