We are officially in SINGLE DIGITS!! 9 more weeks!!
So lets recap this adventure so far:
We received the spina bifida diagnosis 10 weeks ago
We had a consultation at Vanderbilt 6 weeks ago
I underwent prenatal surgery for spina bifida correction 5 weeks ago (less than 500 of these surgeries completed worldwide ever!!)
I returned from Nashville to the four walls of this house on bed rest 4 weeks ago
Since then I have:
-I have read 5 1/2 books
-planned a 3rd birthday party
-uploaded 7 months worth of pictures on to the website
-had 3 adventures outside of these walls TOTAL since returning home (just for the record I was literally out of the house with two 4 day old infants after having the twins because I am not one to sit at home)
-sent out baby shower invitations for my dear friend - and am now very busy with planning all of the details of her shower
-written approximately 300 thank you notes (at least that is what it seems)
-downloaded $30 worth of Itunes giftcard treasures
-reorganized my food boards on Pinterest
-helped my sister with a secret project
and maintained my sanity - for the most part! :)
Overall, things are going pretty well. :) I have plenty of projects left to keep me busy - and a whole drawer of books left to read!! I promise to keep you all posted on the fabulous projects that will fill my last 9 weeks of bed rest!! Try not to loose any sleep while you wait to read about my crazy exciting life!
Now, on to the important stuff....the doctors appointment results from today!
Another round of good reports overall! We finally met the last doctor at the ROC practice so we have now gotten to put a face with all the names. She was excited to meet us as well. Said when she walked in that she has heard all about us! Actually she said that she is the doctor that presented about us at the monthly multi-speciality meeting that they have. I don't know much about what that means exactly but she made it sound like it is an opportunity for the high risk OB's to give the pediatric specialists in town a heads up on what will be walking into their office over the next few months. I do know that neurosurgery was in attendance so they officially know we exist now :) Don't know much else but think it is kind of nice to be the topic of conversation among a bunch of really smart doctors!! (Though I would be lying if I didn't say that I would rather be a no body than be popular for this reason) :(
Nothing really new at the doctors appointment today. Little man was quite the show off! Fluid was great (a 20), he was a dancing fool today while she was trying to do the ultrasound so all was well there! Ventricle size had increased a little :( but the doctor said that the change was not significant and nothing to worry about. I talked to Mary about the size increase too - this momma needed a little extra reassurance - this was the run down:
Right now we have one ventricle measuring 1.1 and the other measuring 1.3
Officially "normal" is anything 1 or less (think I may have mentioned that last week)
Our concern is at what point do they start talking about a shunt (Not sure if I have explained what a shunt is so here it goes:
Your brain and spinal cord are surrounded by cerebral spinal fluid. Your brain produces this fluid. Your have 4 ventricles in your brain that help to get rid of this fluid so it does not build up. A build up of this fluid leads to hydrocephalus (which literally means water on the brain). When these ventricles are not getting rid of the fluid like they should they sometimes have to put in a shunt which sort of acts as an extra ventricle that has a tube attached that helps move the fluid from the skull down to the abdomen where the body can take care of it.)
Mary explained that determining the need for a shunt is a multi step process at best. She also said that after baby is born the ventricle size is actually measured in a completely different plane that we are currently measuring them - and one that is much more accurate. Head circumference is also something they watch closely to determine need of a shunt. The biggest red flag is a sudden jump in either ventricle size or head circumference. With all of that said, Mary said we have NO real concern until little guys ventricle size is up around 1.8 to 2.0 (and this would still not mean anything until he was born). She also said that to even discuss a need for early delivery (closer to 34 weeks vs the currently scheduled 37 weeks) his ventricle size would have to be around 3.5 to 4.0. She agreed that a change from 1.1 to 1.3 in a week is nothing to worry about so that's where I am going to choose to stay!!
(Sorry for the super long explanation - bet you didn't think you were going to get a science lesson when you started reading this today)
After our appointment with ROC we headed down stairs to the regular OB - who said for a high risk pregnancy I am pretty low maintenance - Thank you very much Dr. McIntyre and that is how I plan to stay!! She measured me - I am not crazy!! I have been saying for weeks that I feel huge - for those of you that have been nice and said "no no, you look little" thanks for lying to me! I am indeed measuring 2 weeks ahead!! (It's all that extra fluid I have in there - at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!) Doctor said we could officially get my c-section on the books at my next appointment so 2 weeks from now I will be able to report an actual scheduled birthday for this little guy!!
So - prayer requests:
**That these ventricles stop sleeping on the job and start doing their share of the work!! (in other words - that they stop growing!)
**That I continue to maintain my sanity :)
**Continued strength for Stephen - he has been such a trooper - actually heard him say today "it's been really fun" - I think that may have been a bit of a stretch but he is a pretty amazing Mr Mom!!
**Continued development right on track for this little man of ours!!
Also have a special favor to ask - There are so many of you out there praying for us that I want to ask for some really special prayers for some really good friends - if you don't mind :)
**The Corrals - they are very dear friends of ours who are expecting their first child via adoption the end of this month. Their story is amazing - maybe at some point I'll ask her to share it!! For now all I will say is this - things have happened very fast so there is a lot that still needs to be done to get ready for this precious gift. Add to that the stress that comes with being a first time parent (those of you that have children know just what I'm talking about) and then in addition the constant back of your mind fear that something could go horribly wrong and mom could change her mind and you know just why I am asking for prayer!! So far everything has gone so smoothly that it is truly a miracle that only God could have Himself orchestrated!! I know without a doubt that just has He has not left our side He is not leaving theirs!! Prayers for peace, prayers for the birth mom and prayers for precious Hannah who will be joining her forever family in just a few short weeks!! Aunt Kristin can't wait to get her hands on you precious little one!!!
I promise to blog this weekend about the Monster Bash that was had last Sunday!! It was a blast! I did post some pictures for your viewing pleasure until I can get around to writing about it!! :) Enjoy!!
Love and Hugs
and thanks for the prayers!!