Thank you all for continuing to lift us up.
Praising God as I type, from HOME!
*****To those who didn't know...We went to our weekly appointment this morning at 11am. I was very uncomfortable all morning and had only gotten worse w/ the car ride. I inhaled a yogurt on the ride so I am sure that didn't help. As I approached the window to sign in it must have been obvious the discomfort that I was feeling so the nurse said they'd get me back as soon as possible.
Of course the waiting room was sorta full of the "happy" expecting mommies w/ their hubbies and grammies waiting for ultrasound...and the mom w/ her newly born baby girl (I do so much better seeing baby boys these days).
Again, so obvious by my facial expression the pain that I was feeling...the new mom mentioned the way I looked...then preceded to ask when I was due. I told her 5 weeks but am scheduled to deliver in 3 because Eva is lying sideways and not head down. Then I proceeded to say that we were facing even more complications than just her position and advised of the T18 diagnosis.
I tell everybody. Maybe I shouldn't but I do. I want people to realize how blessed they are to have healthy babies. To realize that we don't always get blessed w/ what we ask for nor does our plan always pan out the way we would want it to or expect it. I don't want to scare people by no means but want them to value life...every life...no matter what!
In the quick 3-minute conversation I managed to advise her how the medical staff (who she was about to see just as I was) advised me that most people terminate and that carrying to term was not the most popular decision. She was shocked. I told her, as I tell everyone, that it was not my call to be the reason for my daughter’s heart to stop. Therefore, we knew from the get-go that termination was not an option. She agreed. She said plain as day that that would not have been what God would have wanted and was completely in agreement w/ my decision. I know that I have made the right decision, it is just wonderful to hear others agree w/ God's word.
Needless to say I was in tears, which doesn't happen too too often, especially when talking to people I do not know...but lately as we approach the "end" of the pregnancy I guess things are just hitting me more than they have. I told the woman that I was just afraid that I wouldn't be able to go home today and that I was not ready for the pregnancy to be over yet. I have to say that I probably wasn't the only one choked up in that waiting room this morning.
The nurse called me to come back to an exam room as soon as she saw the tears. She put me on the monitor right away only to see that I was contracting about every 5 minutes. Again more tears! I just kept praying that God would allow us more time. More time w/ hopes to make it till March 17th. I have to say that I was even begging and pleading w/ God today. I then began to text message my 50 some prayer warriors. Vinnie questioned why I needed my cell phone and through the tears I let him know that I had to get others involved in prayer on my behalf.
The doctor came in and advised that I would be sent up to labor and delivery for more monitoring, given some fluids, meds to halt the contractions (if necessary and as long as there was no changes to my cervix) and then we would go from there. If I was dilated at all or if the fluids/meds didn't settle my uterus then it was likely that we were going to meet Eva today. Can I just say more tears...This was the doctor of my choice, the one I like the most...who smiled like he cared (I know he does) and wiped my tears from my face w/ his thumb! Too sweet!
Labor and delivery...
My cervix was checked shortly after arrival and I am pleased to say it was still long and closed! Answered prayer!!! I begged to not have to get an IV and pleaded to just be able to intake fluids on my own...yeah, that didn't happen (I hate Iv's). The resident was fearful that I would need to go back for a c-section today so an IV would be necessary, not to mention that this also meant no food. Can I just express to y'all how hungry I was!!!
So, after almost two bags of fluids and urinating 3+ time in 2-3 hours...still contracting but definitely slowed down to more like 10 minutes apart...my cervix was checked again and again, it was long and closed! PRAISE GOD! Not to mention how we (me and Eva) heard that doctor Golde was on the schedule this afternoon/evening (he is the one from a previous post who told me that if I didn't make it mid-way through my third trimester or full term that my baby was going to DIE). Therefore, I think that even if my cervix was slightly opened/dilated prior to being check it CLOSED once hearing who was on the schedule! LOL! I have said it before and I will say it again...I'd rather deliver Eva myself, in my van, on the side of the parkway, at 4am than to have Dr. Golde touch me. (I don't really mean this nor do I want this to happen...but I really don't care for this guy at all what so ever). And it's likely that Vinnie might knock him out (Vinnie has yet to meet him)!
So after 5 some hours we were homeward bound! Thank you JESUS! I couldn't wait to eat and to be in my own bed! We got home, I ate and laid down. I passed out till like 9pm tonight, hence the reason I am wide-awake now. It is obvious that I will be on my back for the next 3 weeks or as long as possible. I have a difficult time doing just that so please pray that others will somehow someway accomplish things in my household.
Vinnie has been sick for several days which dampers things a bit. Mya is coughing more and more which again doesn't help the current situation, as I can't go very far to try and stay germ free.
Adding to my prayer requests from yesterday...
Praying for Vinnie's health and Mya's too.
Praying for Mya when it comes to school. If it is not one thing it is another. Still having difficulties, which make me feel like a failing parent and as if I am doing something wrong.
Praying that our finances will remain consistent. (Being that I am on leave of absence I have just a portion of my regular pay coming in. I am thankful that it is something because something is more than nothing...but Vinnie is now laid off for at least 30 days - which could be a blessing in disguise being that he got sick the same day and I really need his help around here - but we were not expecting such to happen and I would have rather had him home closer to Eva's expected date of arrival than now - he is to be going back likely the Monday after our scheduled delivery date - but it would have been nice for the 30 days to begin the day she is born - as I said this could be a blessing in itself though).
Praying for 3 more weeks!
Praising God for Eva's rambunctious activity today! She has been constantly reminding me that she is here and doing well. Her heart rate remained regular and steady throughout the contractions and her movement is even more abundant now than ever! Loving every minute of it! I love spending quiet time w/ her right now!
I am going to lay back down. Trying to get comfortable and remain comfortable for now.
Thank you again!
Love, Chrissy
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
I am such the slacker when it comes to updates!
Once again I am sorry for taking so long to post an update. I just don't feel like sitting here and typing, especially since I have been off work for so long! I have sorta gotten used to not typing...
Anyways, I want to start by thanking each and every one of you who follow us and pray for us on a regular basis. I know that God has heard your prayers because I can see them being answered.
Just about 10 days ago I posted and asked for prayer for I was super uncomfortable and in a lot of pain. Since then the pain has decreased tremendously and I am waking up less throughout the night and have been feeling less uncomfortable. It can only be due to God answering our prayers.
I have to make note of several other prayers that have been answered in the past few months.
In the beginning, as other T18 parents can relate, I was told that 90% of these pregnancies miscarry. I prayed even prior to the diagnosis that I would not miscarry and that everything would be okay. Even though (according to the doctors) things weren't/aren't okay I prayed that God would not allow me to miscarry and to allow me to carry full term. Praise God I have done just that!
Then, I had been so worried and concerned about making it beyond the 28-34 week mark (since 2 doctors had stated early on that it was likely that I would deliver between that time). At 28 weeks to the day I was admitted into the hospital and told that it was likely that I would deliver within 7 days. Well praise God!!! I will be 35 weeks tomorrow! So very thankful to have been able to come thus far and to be able to prove those doctors wrong!
Next, we have been praying for continued growth for Eva. And once again our prayers have been answered! Eva has been gaining a steady 4oz per week since December 31st. Last weeks ultrasound (2/18) showed an approximate weight for her at 3lbs 10oz! Praying that at the time of delivery (3/17) she will be at least a whopping 4lbs 10ozs or MORE!
I am sure that I have more praises to list but they are not all coming to me right now. It wasn't till tonight that I realized all to be thankful for and all to be praising God for.
I actually got out this evening and went to my bible study life group. I haven't been to a Sunday service nor life group in weeks and could physically feel the need to go. So, despite the doctors orders, I got up and out to my local Panara to meet w/ the girls! PRAISE GOD I did! Boy does just that two hour discussion completely lift me up! The girls had called me last week, with a cell phone on speaker, and left me a message to say hello and to let me know that they were thinking about me and praying for me as well. I cried! It makes one feel so special to know that they have the support of others when the devil tries to make you feel so alone! I know that I have the support of many of you all over the world but to know that I have the support of those right here in my hometown really helps too! It was at life group tonight when I came to realize all of the answered prayers over the past few months.
Now moving forward to my current prayer requests...
I am now praying to continue to make it 3 more weeks to our scheduled c-section on March 17th.
Praying that the amniotic fluid will remain at a controlled level. Last week at 34 weeks I was measuring 36. Still not too bad I guess, but praying that it hasn't and doesn't increase anymore than that. If I deliver at 38 weeks and measure 40 weeks I am thinking that my body will be able to tolerate such w/out going into labor on its own.
I am praying for Dr. Thomas (the doctor of my choice) to be able to do my surgery that day.
Praying that we can get a time slot shortly after 8am to be able to discuss our desires w/ the neonatologist prior to the surgery (being that we opted not to write a birth plan). *****Praising God that the neonatologist of our choice is also on the schedule that week and there that morning starting at 8am!*****
Praying that the surgery goes well w/ no complications and that Eva does great throughout the whole process!
Praying that Vinnie doesn't pass out!
Praying that the echo shows the valve defect to be minimal and less of a problem than the cardiologist anticipates. *****Praising God that our pediatric cardiologist is in town that day as well as in the same hospital seeing patients!*****
AND THE BIGGEST PRAYER REQUEST OF THEM ALL.....TO BE ABLE TO BRING EVA HOME!!! AND PRIOR TO EASTER AT THAT! - MAYBE?
I will be completely content if she doesn't make it home in time for Easter (but still comes home sometime thereafter).
I am completely prepared to eat Easter Sunday dinner in the hospital cafeteria, if need be!
Although, I would love more than anything to wake up Easter morning w/ ALL of my children under the same roof! Not to mention how WONDERFUL it would be to make it to Easter Sunday morning service w/ the WHOLE family as well. I know this may seem unrealistic to most and even more unrealistic to the doctors but I serve an AWESOME God, who is more powerful than anything else WHO CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN! All of the prayer requests that I have already made that have seemed so much smaller than this have been fulfilled and answered. No reason why I can't ask for BIG now!
We have another appointment tomorrow. Will try to update shorty thereafter.
Anyways, I want to start by thanking each and every one of you who follow us and pray for us on a regular basis. I know that God has heard your prayers because I can see them being answered.
Just about 10 days ago I posted and asked for prayer for I was super uncomfortable and in a lot of pain. Since then the pain has decreased tremendously and I am waking up less throughout the night and have been feeling less uncomfortable. It can only be due to God answering our prayers.
I have to make note of several other prayers that have been answered in the past few months.
In the beginning, as other T18 parents can relate, I was told that 90% of these pregnancies miscarry. I prayed even prior to the diagnosis that I would not miscarry and that everything would be okay. Even though (according to the doctors) things weren't/aren't okay I prayed that God would not allow me to miscarry and to allow me to carry full term. Praise God I have done just that!
Then, I had been so worried and concerned about making it beyond the 28-34 week mark (since 2 doctors had stated early on that it was likely that I would deliver between that time). At 28 weeks to the day I was admitted into the hospital and told that it was likely that I would deliver within 7 days. Well praise God!!! I will be 35 weeks tomorrow! So very thankful to have been able to come thus far and to be able to prove those doctors wrong!
Next, we have been praying for continued growth for Eva. And once again our prayers have been answered! Eva has been gaining a steady 4oz per week since December 31st. Last weeks ultrasound (2/18) showed an approximate weight for her at 3lbs 10oz! Praying that at the time of delivery (3/17) she will be at least a whopping 4lbs 10ozs or MORE!
I am sure that I have more praises to list but they are not all coming to me right now. It wasn't till tonight that I realized all to be thankful for and all to be praising God for.
I actually got out this evening and went to my bible study life group. I haven't been to a Sunday service nor life group in weeks and could physically feel the need to go. So, despite the doctors orders, I got up and out to my local Panara to meet w/ the girls! PRAISE GOD I did! Boy does just that two hour discussion completely lift me up! The girls had called me last week, with a cell phone on speaker, and left me a message to say hello and to let me know that they were thinking about me and praying for me as well. I cried! It makes one feel so special to know that they have the support of others when the devil tries to make you feel so alone! I know that I have the support of many of you all over the world but to know that I have the support of those right here in my hometown really helps too! It was at life group tonight when I came to realize all of the answered prayers over the past few months.
Now moving forward to my current prayer requests...
I am now praying to continue to make it 3 more weeks to our scheduled c-section on March 17th.
Praying that the amniotic fluid will remain at a controlled level. Last week at 34 weeks I was measuring 36. Still not too bad I guess, but praying that it hasn't and doesn't increase anymore than that. If I deliver at 38 weeks and measure 40 weeks I am thinking that my body will be able to tolerate such w/out going into labor on its own.
I am praying for Dr. Thomas (the doctor of my choice) to be able to do my surgery that day.
Praying that we can get a time slot shortly after 8am to be able to discuss our desires w/ the neonatologist prior to the surgery (being that we opted not to write a birth plan). *****Praising God that the neonatologist of our choice is also on the schedule that week and there that morning starting at 8am!*****
Praying that the surgery goes well w/ no complications and that Eva does great throughout the whole process!
Praying that Vinnie doesn't pass out!
Praying that the echo shows the valve defect to be minimal and less of a problem than the cardiologist anticipates. *****Praising God that our pediatric cardiologist is in town that day as well as in the same hospital seeing patients!*****
AND THE BIGGEST PRAYER REQUEST OF THEM ALL.....TO BE ABLE TO BRING EVA HOME!!! AND PRIOR TO EASTER AT THAT! - MAYBE?
I will be completely content if she doesn't make it home in time for Easter (but still comes home sometime thereafter).
I am completely prepared to eat Easter Sunday dinner in the hospital cafeteria, if need be!
Although, I would love more than anything to wake up Easter morning w/ ALL of my children under the same roof! Not to mention how WONDERFUL it would be to make it to Easter Sunday morning service w/ the WHOLE family as well. I know this may seem unrealistic to most and even more unrealistic to the doctors but I serve an AWESOME God, who is more powerful than anything else WHO CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN! All of the prayer requests that I have already made that have seemed so much smaller than this have been fulfilled and answered. No reason why I can't ask for BIG now!
We have another appointment tomorrow. Will try to update shorty thereafter.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Another update on the Bolte Family...
This is the latest post from Kristy's blog. Please pray for them...even more today than ever and around, near, at 2pm...as this is the time Happy is schedule to be delivered!
My heart aches for their family right now...as well as for myself. Even though Happy does not have T18 it is still witnessing the possible loss of another precious baby, another child of God. I don't know that my heart can handle such after seeing so many within the past 3 months.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Please forgive me- I don't have the right words to say- so will just tell you what I have heard from my husband who is at the hospital. They have done more tests today and the results showed that Happy is not doing well. They will be doing the c section at 2pm today. From what I have heard they have not been given much hope that they will have a lot of time with Happy after he is born. However, these are doctors, and they seem to give the "worst case scenerio" most of the time. Pray for time with Happy and Luke and Ben going in to meet their brother. I don't know what else to ask you to pray for. I do know that God knows what they need and that He knows what we are asking for even when we don't know. I will let you know when I hear more.
My heart aches for their family right now...as well as for myself. Even though Happy does not have T18 it is still witnessing the possible loss of another precious baby, another child of God. I don't know that my heart can handle such after seeing so many within the past 3 months.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Please forgive me- I don't have the right words to say- so will just tell you what I have heard from my husband who is at the hospital. They have done more tests today and the results showed that Happy is not doing well. They will be doing the c section at 2pm today. From what I have heard they have not been given much hope that they will have a lot of time with Happy after he is born. However, these are doctors, and they seem to give the "worst case scenerio" most of the time. Pray for time with Happy and Luke and Ben going in to meet their brother. I don't know what else to ask you to pray for. I do know that God knows what they need and that He knows what we are asking for even when we don't know. I will let you know when I hear more.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Attention all PRAYER WARRIORS!!!
Please pray for Kristy and Howard, the parents of Happy Bolte !!! Here is the latest post from their blog:
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thursday's sonogram
Kristy asked me to let everyone know that she is back in the hospital. The sonogram today indicated that she would need to deliver now rather than wait until Monday. As of right now they will do the c section tomorrow morning. They are doing another sonogram at 9pm. The results of that may cause them to move the delivery up to tonight. I don't have lots of details. I know that the boys are at home with good friends and will be throughout the night. Ben is still not feeling well. So we will pray for them and their caregivers as well as how and when they will meet Happy and all that goes with that meeting. You all know what Kristy has asked us to pray for, and are doing just that. God knows what they need now and will need. We will keep asking Him to provide for their needs through His power. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything new.
We all know the power of prayer and if anyone needs it now more than ever it is this sweet family of this precious baby boy.
I'll post an update soon pertaining to us...
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thursday's sonogram
Kristy asked me to let everyone know that she is back in the hospital. The sonogram today indicated that she would need to deliver now rather than wait until Monday. As of right now they will do the c section tomorrow morning. They are doing another sonogram at 9pm. The results of that may cause them to move the delivery up to tonight. I don't have lots of details. I know that the boys are at home with good friends and will be throughout the night. Ben is still not feeling well. So we will pray for them and their caregivers as well as how and when they will meet Happy and all that goes with that meeting. You all know what Kristy has asked us to pray for, and are doing just that. God knows what they need now and will need. We will keep asking Him to provide for their needs through His power. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything new.
We all know the power of prayer and if anyone needs it now more than ever it is this sweet family of this precious baby boy.
I'll post an update soon pertaining to us...
Friday, February 15, 2008
Very uncomfortable...
Please pray for me as the last 24 hours or so have been very uncomfortable for me. I am contracting more often and in a lot of pain.
We have tentatively scheduled our c-section (due to Eva's frank breach position) for March 17th (I'll be 38 weeks and our pediatric cardiologist will be in town). We are praying faithfully to make it until then. Please pray w/ us.
Next ultrasound is on Monday as well as an OB check. We will be looking to see Eva's position as well as her growth. Praying for a tremendous weight gain since we last checked.
Sorry this is so short but it hurts to do pretty much of anything lately...
Also, Eva's name is pronounced w/ the long E sound...like in Adam and Eve.
Someone asked in a comment. :)
We have tentatively scheduled our c-section (due to Eva's frank breach position) for March 17th (I'll be 38 weeks and our pediatric cardiologist will be in town). We are praying faithfully to make it until then. Please pray w/ us.
Next ultrasound is on Monday as well as an OB check. We will be looking to see Eva's position as well as her growth. Praying for a tremendous weight gain since we last checked.
Sorry this is so short but it hurts to do pretty much of anything lately...
Also, Eva's name is pronounced w/ the long E sound...like in Adam and Eve.
Someone asked in a comment. :)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
He Gets the Last Word...
1 Peter 5:8-11 (The Message)
8-11
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.
8-11
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Approaching 33 weeks!
Praise God that we have come this far. Please keep praying w/ us that we continue to move forward to the end of March, which is only about 6 weeks away.
Monday's echo went as good as it could, I guess. Eva's heart has continued to grow as it should and the VSD has remained the same size w/out getting any bigger. The valve defect is a different story. It has gotten worse since the last appointment 5 weeks ago and has become more of a concern to the cardiologist. The leakage is considered moderate and we will not know more on this until she is born. The doctor again does not feel that this should affect her for the remainder of the pregnancy nor cause any stress if we were to undergo a normal vaginal delivery (but due to her consistent frank breech position a c-section is very likely).
Monday's OB appointment went well. I was able to see the "good" doctor and was able to ask several more questions. I am still measuring about a week ahead which is a good thing because it can only mean that Eva is still growing. Next ultrasound will be the 18th to check her position and growth. I have been and will continue to be seen weekly until delivery. I feel (in my head) that as long as I have my appointments scheduled Eva will remain inside until she is supposed to.
Around March 3rd I will be scheduling the c-section. The doctor said we will be scheduling for 39 weeks if nothing happens before then...but my dilemma is...I hit 39 weeks the week of March 24th...our pediatric cardiologist is out of town March 19th-24th. My goal was to schedule/deliver on the 21st, being Good Friday...but w/ the cardiologist being off, as well as her back up...she said that worse case scenario I deliver while they both are out than it's likely that Eva would be transferred to our local Children's Hospital to have an echo done. Children's is not far from where we are delivering but w/ our time being critical I don't want Eva moved anywhere but to the NICU. Please pray for God's perfect timing in all of this. We know that she will be born in his time but just praying that it works out for the best w/ all medical needs being met as we would like. It seems to make more sense to me to schedule the c-section for the 17th or the 18th to guarantee seeing our pediatric cardiologist but I hate to cut Eva short of one more week inside...but I also fear that if we wait that one more week she might come inbetween, on her own, and then could need to be transfered to Children's. The 17th or 18th would work out better w/ the kids school schedules too limiting their time off being that they are scheduled to be off for the holiday from the 19th-24th.
We are still going through some difficulties w/ the kids. One week it is Mya and the next it is Dominic. I feel like their worlds are being flipped upside down and I have little to no control over the reason why. Please continue to pray for them as well as for Eva, Vinnie and I.
A few nights ago Vinnie was tucking Mya into bed when she began to cry. She then asked him if when Eva is born if she will be her sister. Vinnie assured her that Yes, Eva will be her sister when she is born...Still crying, Mya asked if Eva will still be her sister if she dies. Oh, how this breaks my heart! Of course Vinnie reassured her that Eva will ALWAYS be her sister no matter what! Please pray for Mya's heart! Her heart is aching already for this baby girl...
Monday's echo went as good as it could, I guess. Eva's heart has continued to grow as it should and the VSD has remained the same size w/out getting any bigger. The valve defect is a different story. It has gotten worse since the last appointment 5 weeks ago and has become more of a concern to the cardiologist. The leakage is considered moderate and we will not know more on this until she is born. The doctor again does not feel that this should affect her for the remainder of the pregnancy nor cause any stress if we were to undergo a normal vaginal delivery (but due to her consistent frank breech position a c-section is very likely).
Monday's OB appointment went well. I was able to see the "good" doctor and was able to ask several more questions. I am still measuring about a week ahead which is a good thing because it can only mean that Eva is still growing. Next ultrasound will be the 18th to check her position and growth. I have been and will continue to be seen weekly until delivery. I feel (in my head) that as long as I have my appointments scheduled Eva will remain inside until she is supposed to.
Around March 3rd I will be scheduling the c-section. The doctor said we will be scheduling for 39 weeks if nothing happens before then...but my dilemma is...I hit 39 weeks the week of March 24th...our pediatric cardiologist is out of town March 19th-24th. My goal was to schedule/deliver on the 21st, being Good Friday...but w/ the cardiologist being off, as well as her back up...she said that worse case scenario I deliver while they both are out than it's likely that Eva would be transferred to our local Children's Hospital to have an echo done. Children's is not far from where we are delivering but w/ our time being critical I don't want Eva moved anywhere but to the NICU. Please pray for God's perfect timing in all of this. We know that she will be born in his time but just praying that it works out for the best w/ all medical needs being met as we would like. It seems to make more sense to me to schedule the c-section for the 17th or the 18th to guarantee seeing our pediatric cardiologist but I hate to cut Eva short of one more week inside...but I also fear that if we wait that one more week she might come inbetween, on her own, and then could need to be transfered to Children's. The 17th or 18th would work out better w/ the kids school schedules too limiting their time off being that they are scheduled to be off for the holiday from the 19th-24th.
We are still going through some difficulties w/ the kids. One week it is Mya and the next it is Dominic. I feel like their worlds are being flipped upside down and I have little to no control over the reason why. Please continue to pray for them as well as for Eva, Vinnie and I.
A few nights ago Vinnie was tucking Mya into bed when she began to cry. She then asked him if when Eva is born if she will be her sister. Vinnie assured her that Yes, Eva will be her sister when she is born...Still crying, Mya asked if Eva will still be her sister if she dies. Oh, how this breaks my heart! Of course Vinnie reassured her that Eva will ALWAYS be her sister no matter what! Please pray for Mya's heart! Her heart is aching already for this baby girl...
Sunday, February 3, 2008
A well needed, overdue update...
I apologize for the long delay between updates. You'd think that after being on bed rest for over 3 weeks that I would have nothing but time on my hands. And I do have tons of time on my hands but I tend to get on the computer to check email, the blog world and the good ol' bank account and that's it. I barely even talk on the phone anymore. I figured I'd update tonight before tomorrow's appointments so I do not get too much further behind.
Backing up to Monday, January 21st appointment and ultrasound...
All in all the appointments went well. I asked a few questions and it seems that the perinatologists and I are on the same page when it comes to my delivery requests and options. I have been reassured that I will be treated as a "normal" pregnant women and that gives me much hope and comfort. The ultrasound went as it has, again nothing "new" which is a plus to me. Eva's head is measuring about 2 weeks behind, her limbs about 3 weeks and her abdomen about 4 weeks. All of the measurements must be "normal" for the diagnosis and none have been brought to my attention. The only reason why I know the lack in growth is from watching the screen and watching the numbers...other than that, they say nothing. The amniotic fluid is "slightly" increased and again not by a major amount nor is this an issue. I have been measuring right on track, maybe a week larger than I should be but not a ginormous difference. Eva's weight was approximately 2 pounds 5 ounces, which is about a 12 ounce gain in 3 weeks, 4 ounces a week, which seems good to me, again nothing has been said about this either.
I go back tomorrow to the pediatric cardiologist for a follow-up fetal echo cardiogram and to the perinatalogist afterwards. I pray that I see one of the doctors I like opposed to the rude, ignorant, no bed side manners...you get my point.
Praising God that I have made it almost 4 weeks beyond the test that indicated the possibility of delivering within 7 days. After researching the test online (I have become a research queen since the diagnosis) I came to find out that a positive result could mean that it is likely to deliver within 7, 14 or 21 days. Needless to say I am at 26 days now! WAHOO! Praise God. I do believe that is the result of answered prayers!
Another answered prayer is that I have been on bed rest for almost 4 weeks and will remain on bed rest until after delivery. I know that my work may not be too thrilled about this one but Eva and I are very happy and comfortable! Again PRAISE GOD!
My prayers for now are for Eva's continued growth, to make it to March 21st (Good Friday - seems like a good day to me - I'll be 38 1/2 weeks), the fetal echo to reveal nothing "new" but maybe a decrease in the size of the VSD, to see the "nice" doctor tomorrow and most of all for my family.
We had a rough day on Friday, and not so much pregnancy related... The kids seems to be having some difficulties at school as well as home, again nothing major but some things that need to be addressed now in fear that our lives may be far from normal in these upcoming weeks and months so I am trying to nip what I can NOW! So please pray for Mya and Dominic as I know that they're affected in their own ways w/ all of this.
Same goes for Vinnie and I. We have a lot on our plates right now, as you could imagine and I just pray that things will run smooth or as smooth as possible in the upcoming days, weeks and months. It is hard w/ my limited income and my limited activities for him to pick up my slack. I know that we will always have what we need but sometimes it's hard to have and keep the faith.
Vinnie and I are starting to change our minds about some of the plans and arrangements for Eva if and when the time may come (and I do not mean medically). Please pray for us as we try to make the best decisions. I know that God will continue to guide us as he already has thus far.
I plan to upload the 121 pictures for my latest 3D-4D ultrasound soon. I had this done on the 21st as well and just haven't felt like sitting here and uploading 5 pics at a time. And of course I can't just make it simple and upload few. I gotta do them all!
I know I may be missing a few things due to it being late and the lack of a comfy computer chair at this bedroom computer (not sure why I didn't start out on the lap top while laying in bed) but I hope to update again this week w/ the findings from tomorrow, as well as the pics.
And as most of you know, it has been a difficult month for me. January that is... When I started out on this journey I was first directed to the blog of Poppy Joy Luce and was ecstatic to find someone else who was currently on the same path as I...then from there it just spiraled to so many other stories...Jonathan Jared Edwards, Tristan Asher Hostetter , Mary Grace Summons, Maddox Stanfield all of which had T18 too. It breaks my heart to have witnessed via the Internet all of their stories and unfortunate losses prior to my own. I had such high hopes and dreams and prayed over and over again for these babies and their families (and I still do) but in the end was the reality of it all...of the T18. I will admit that it is very hard to continue to have the high hopes and remain standing in the faith and continue to praise God after seeing all of these outcomes especially before my own. The loss of Tristan Asher Hostetter hit me like a ton of bricks. What seemed to be so unexpected really was expected but I wasn't prepared for it. I sat at the computer that night and sobbed staring at the screen. Mya rubbed my back saying that everything would be okay. Mya still pulls up Tristan's page and looks through all of his pictures. And then to have to try to answer her questions pertaining to Eva makes me wanna curl up in a ball and hide from the inevitable. It makes me second guess the decision I made 19 weeks ago. I KNOW I made the best decision I could for ME, but was it the best for my other children? I so want to know what the future holds for us...
I have added a new blog to my prayer list, if you haven't noticed...Jacob Ryan Fahmer. Please pray for them! Also please pray for the family of Happy Bolte. Although Happy does not have T18 his family is still in need of your prayers. And Gwyneth Rose too! She has a long way to come as well as her Mom. Both are by far in the clear and out of the woods. Please continue to lift them up as well. And I do not by any means want people to stop praying for the list of others that I have mentioned before. Their journeys may appear to be over because their pregnancies are and their babies are now in heaven but the reality of it all is that their hearts still ache, they are still grieving and are still working through he healing process. Please pray for them too.
Backing up to Monday, January 21st appointment and ultrasound...
All in all the appointments went well. I asked a few questions and it seems that the perinatologists and I are on the same page when it comes to my delivery requests and options. I have been reassured that I will be treated as a "normal" pregnant women and that gives me much hope and comfort. The ultrasound went as it has, again nothing "new" which is a plus to me. Eva's head is measuring about 2 weeks behind, her limbs about 3 weeks and her abdomen about 4 weeks. All of the measurements must be "normal" for the diagnosis and none have been brought to my attention. The only reason why I know the lack in growth is from watching the screen and watching the numbers...other than that, they say nothing. The amniotic fluid is "slightly" increased and again not by a major amount nor is this an issue. I have been measuring right on track, maybe a week larger than I should be but not a ginormous difference. Eva's weight was approximately 2 pounds 5 ounces, which is about a 12 ounce gain in 3 weeks, 4 ounces a week, which seems good to me, again nothing has been said about this either.
I go back tomorrow to the pediatric cardiologist for a follow-up fetal echo cardiogram and to the perinatalogist afterwards. I pray that I see one of the doctors I like opposed to the rude, ignorant, no bed side manners...you get my point.
Praising God that I have made it almost 4 weeks beyond the test that indicated the possibility of delivering within 7 days. After researching the test online (I have become a research queen since the diagnosis) I came to find out that a positive result could mean that it is likely to deliver within 7, 14 or 21 days. Needless to say I am at 26 days now! WAHOO! Praise God. I do believe that is the result of answered prayers!
Another answered prayer is that I have been on bed rest for almost 4 weeks and will remain on bed rest until after delivery. I know that my work may not be too thrilled about this one but Eva and I are very happy and comfortable! Again PRAISE GOD!
My prayers for now are for Eva's continued growth, to make it to March 21st (Good Friday - seems like a good day to me - I'll be 38 1/2 weeks), the fetal echo to reveal nothing "new" but maybe a decrease in the size of the VSD, to see the "nice" doctor tomorrow and most of all for my family.
We had a rough day on Friday, and not so much pregnancy related... The kids seems to be having some difficulties at school as well as home, again nothing major but some things that need to be addressed now in fear that our lives may be far from normal in these upcoming weeks and months so I am trying to nip what I can NOW! So please pray for Mya and Dominic as I know that they're affected in their own ways w/ all of this.
Same goes for Vinnie and I. We have a lot on our plates right now, as you could imagine and I just pray that things will run smooth or as smooth as possible in the upcoming days, weeks and months. It is hard w/ my limited income and my limited activities for him to pick up my slack. I know that we will always have what we need but sometimes it's hard to have and keep the faith.
Vinnie and I are starting to change our minds about some of the plans and arrangements for Eva if and when the time may come (and I do not mean medically). Please pray for us as we try to make the best decisions. I know that God will continue to guide us as he already has thus far.
I plan to upload the 121 pictures for my latest 3D-4D ultrasound soon. I had this done on the 21st as well and just haven't felt like sitting here and uploading 5 pics at a time. And of course I can't just make it simple and upload few. I gotta do them all!
I know I may be missing a few things due to it being late and the lack of a comfy computer chair at this bedroom computer (not sure why I didn't start out on the lap top while laying in bed) but I hope to update again this week w/ the findings from tomorrow, as well as the pics.
And as most of you know, it has been a difficult month for me. January that is... When I started out on this journey I was first directed to the blog of Poppy Joy Luce and was ecstatic to find someone else who was currently on the same path as I...then from there it just spiraled to so many other stories...Jonathan Jared Edwards, Tristan Asher Hostetter , Mary Grace Summons, Maddox Stanfield all of which had T18 too. It breaks my heart to have witnessed via the Internet all of their stories and unfortunate losses prior to my own. I had such high hopes and dreams and prayed over and over again for these babies and their families (and I still do) but in the end was the reality of it all...of the T18. I will admit that it is very hard to continue to have the high hopes and remain standing in the faith and continue to praise God after seeing all of these outcomes especially before my own. The loss of Tristan Asher Hostetter hit me like a ton of bricks. What seemed to be so unexpected really was expected but I wasn't prepared for it. I sat at the computer that night and sobbed staring at the screen. Mya rubbed my back saying that everything would be okay. Mya still pulls up Tristan's page and looks through all of his pictures. And then to have to try to answer her questions pertaining to Eva makes me wanna curl up in a ball and hide from the inevitable. It makes me second guess the decision I made 19 weeks ago. I KNOW I made the best decision I could for ME, but was it the best for my other children? I so want to know what the future holds for us...
I have added a new blog to my prayer list, if you haven't noticed...Jacob Ryan Fahmer. Please pray for them! Also please pray for the family of Happy Bolte. Although Happy does not have T18 his family is still in need of your prayers. And Gwyneth Rose too! She has a long way to come as well as her Mom. Both are by far in the clear and out of the woods. Please continue to lift them up as well. And I do not by any means want people to stop praying for the list of others that I have mentioned before. Their journeys may appear to be over because their pregnancies are and their babies are now in heaven but the reality of it all is that their hearts still ache, they are still grieving and are still working through he healing process. Please pray for them too.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
e.JPG)
eHS.JPG)
e.JPG)
e.JPG)
e.JPG)
e.JPG)
eCS.JPG)
e.JPG)
e.JPG)
e.JPG)
e.JPG)
eBW.JPG)
e.JPG)
e.JPG)
eHS.JPG)
e.JPG)
eBW.JPG)
e.JPG)
e.JPG)
e.JPG)
e.JPG)
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Please lift up the prayers...
Please lift up the family of the sweet, miracle of God...Tristan Asher Hostetters' family tonight as he went home to be w/ Jesus at 4:40pm this afternoon. Most of you have been following Yvette's pregnancy, delivery and the 56 days of his life, others may not know who he is...but regardless this is hard for anyone to swallow as those who know he was doing so well.
Indeed this was God's plan but that doesn't mean we can't wonder why and it doesn't mean that we will ever understand. Please pray for Yvette, Trayc, Tanner and Tayden as well as the rest of their families. We all know that this journey is far from being over.
Indeed this was God's plan but that doesn't mean we can't wonder why and it doesn't mean that we will ever understand. Please pray for Yvette, Trayc, Tanner and Tayden as well as the rest of their families. We all know that this journey is far from being over.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
*****URGENT*****
I'm a little late at checking the blog world and email but never too late for prayers!
PLEASE join me tonight in praying for the family of sweet Maddox Stanfield, mom Kenzie, dad Dusty and big brother Deacon. Kenzie was scheduled to deliver Maddox on February 5th but God had a different plan as her contractions started today. Dusty was out of town on business and is working his way back to be w/ Kenzie. All other family members live out of the area so they are in the process of getting to the hospital as I type. Maddox should be here tonight or tomorrow. Please pray that he will be born alive, w/ minimal complications, and that the family will have precious time w/ him and full of memories. Maddox also has T18 as well as spina bifida but the Lord has it all under control. He is in control and all is in His hands.
Please check the Stanfield site for updates.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE STANFIELDS AS THE NIGHT GOES ON!
PLEASE join me tonight in praying for the family of sweet Maddox Stanfield, mom Kenzie, dad Dusty and big brother Deacon. Kenzie was scheduled to deliver Maddox on February 5th but God had a different plan as her contractions started today. Dusty was out of town on business and is working his way back to be w/ Kenzie. All other family members live out of the area so they are in the process of getting to the hospital as I type. Maddox should be here tonight or tomorrow. Please pray that he will be born alive, w/ minimal complications, and that the family will have precious time w/ him and full of memories. Maddox also has T18 as well as spina bifida but the Lord has it all under control. He is in control and all is in His hands.
Please check the Stanfield site for updates.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE STANFIELDS AS THE NIGHT GOES ON!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
WAHOO! Another Answered Prayer!
I just got the call from the doctor’s office w/ the results from yesterday's glucose tolerance test.....NORMAL!!!
The results are NORMAL!!!!!
Some might think that I am slightly over reacting w/ this test because in "normal" pregnancies gestational diabetes is not a major issue...but when the pregnancy is nothing but "normal" everything is a little more complicated.
So, in receiving the good news I am ecstatic...not to mention super happy that I can continue my normal eating habits...which consists of lots and lots of pasta (we're an Italian family, what do you expect), breads and potatoes...and the wonderful creamy fudge ice cream cake, banana split and fried ice cream from the ever so famous King's Family Restaurant!
Can you tell the excitement???
I called Vinnie to tell him about the results. He missed my call (as he is the only one working these days) and called me back a few minutes later. I told him the results; he asked what that meant... (guys have no clue)... he said "Good, finally some good news!" I said "No, let’s call it an answered prayer!" And he agreed!
WE THANK YOU LORD!
The results are NORMAL!!!!!
Some might think that I am slightly over reacting w/ this test because in "normal" pregnancies gestational diabetes is not a major issue...but when the pregnancy is nothing but "normal" everything is a little more complicated.
So, in receiving the good news I am ecstatic...not to mention super happy that I can continue my normal eating habits...which consists of lots and lots of pasta (we're an Italian family, what do you expect), breads and potatoes...and the wonderful creamy fudge ice cream cake, banana split and fried ice cream from the ever so famous King's Family Restaurant!
Can you tell the excitement???
I called Vinnie to tell him about the results. He missed my call (as he is the only one working these days) and called me back a few minutes later. I told him the results; he asked what that meant... (guys have no clue)... he said "Good, finally some good news!" I said "No, let’s call it an answered prayer!" And he agreed!
WE THANK YOU LORD!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
One week down...(since the preterm scare)...praying for at least 9 more weeks!
I just wanted to give a quick update to those who have emailed, texted or called to see how things are going.
I have to say that having a week off of work has been such a blessing. I have gotten so much well needed rest that my body (and baby Eva) are very much appreciating it! I still get up and out a little to maintain my sanity...and my cravings but all in all I have been just taking it easy.
Since last Wednesday, the day I was discharged, my contractions have ceased tremendously! If I have any it might be less than 5 a day! PRAISE GOD!!! Wednesday I was still pretty uncomfortable, but by Thursday I felt 90% better. Overnight Thursday to Friday I was back to being uncomfortable but held me belly all night just praying at every contraction and every pain. I thought it was "time" but when I woke up Friday morning and realized that the night was "uneventful" I praised God for one more day and thanked him abundantly!
By Saturday the low back pain came back and has remained since but when brought to my doctors attention on Tuesday he seemed content that it is not joined by the continuous contractions like it was last week. AGAIN PRAISE GOD!
Besides losing 3 pounds in 10 days the appointment went well. I am now measuring 30 inches externally, so not too bad for being 29 weeks. I have an appointment w/ the high risk doctors on Monday as well as another ultrasound. Praying for continued growth for Eva as well as nothing "new" to be discovered.
I am to remain on bed rest until at least Tuesday, when I go back to my regular doctor. I don't want to say that I don't want to go back to work, not that I do, but I feel so much "safer" at home and being less active then rushing to get one child off to junior high, one to elementary and then get myself off to a bus stop, in the 17 degree weather, sit or stand on a crowded bus, run 3 blocks (cause chances are the bus was late and it's too cold to walk)...just to get to work to be uncomfortable for 8 hours...then reverse the trip flying to daycare by 6pm to get the children to come home and figure out what we are doing for dinner. So, on that note...no, I really do not want to go back to work in fear that it will cause Eva to be born too soon. But I trust God that if I am to go back than my doctor will release me to do so.
I always sit down here to type a "quick" note and it turns into a novel. I don't intend for that to happen, as I am the last one who likes to type but it never fails. I could go on and on but I am going to try to cut this off as I am a little tired today.
I went back to the lab this morning to have the 3 hour glucose tolerance test done. YUCK! The drink was double the grams as the first one meaning that the stuff was like syrup. Not to mention the four times blood needs to be drawn! Yes, FOUR times of feeling like a pin cushion! My poor arms! I may have gained 11 pounds during this pregnancy but I can assure you that not an ounce of that is in my arms! One stick when I got there, then every hour till I left! Praying that the results are negative so I can have one less thing to be concerned about for the rest of the pregnancy as well as for Eva after delivery.
Please continue to pray for the other families that I have mentioned below.
The Summons family as they are grieving the loss of Mary Grace Summons . I have to say that this was a hard one for me to swallow as I had so much hope for them. I try not to "compare" our T-18 situation to many as they ALL are so very unpredictable and each is different in many ways. But I have to say that out of the few moms that I have been following and in touch w/ that this one was the one that I was "comparing" ours to. As I mentioned in a previous post that it is hard for me to sit back and witness the other moms deliveries prior to my own. I will have already seen there heartache and felt their pain prior to my own. It is hard.
Please pray for Gwyneth Rose and Tricia! They are by far not out of the woods. Both girls are amazing and both need our prayers.
Please pray for Angie and Nathan Luce, the parents of (Poppy Joy Luce) as they are making the decisions to proceed w/ adoption. God has lead them thus far and we need to pray for God to continue to lead them in the right direction.
I will try to post an update after my appointments on Monday and Tuesday. Thank you for the continuous thoughts and prayers for me, Eva and our family!
I have to say that having a week off of work has been such a blessing. I have gotten so much well needed rest that my body (and baby Eva) are very much appreciating it! I still get up and out a little to maintain my sanity...and my cravings but all in all I have been just taking it easy.
Since last Wednesday, the day I was discharged, my contractions have ceased tremendously! If I have any it might be less than 5 a day! PRAISE GOD!!! Wednesday I was still pretty uncomfortable, but by Thursday I felt 90% better. Overnight Thursday to Friday I was back to being uncomfortable but held me belly all night just praying at every contraction and every pain. I thought it was "time" but when I woke up Friday morning and realized that the night was "uneventful" I praised God for one more day and thanked him abundantly!
By Saturday the low back pain came back and has remained since but when brought to my doctors attention on Tuesday he seemed content that it is not joined by the continuous contractions like it was last week. AGAIN PRAISE GOD!
Besides losing 3 pounds in 10 days the appointment went well. I am now measuring 30 inches externally, so not too bad for being 29 weeks. I have an appointment w/ the high risk doctors on Monday as well as another ultrasound. Praying for continued growth for Eva as well as nothing "new" to be discovered.
I am to remain on bed rest until at least Tuesday, when I go back to my regular doctor. I don't want to say that I don't want to go back to work, not that I do, but I feel so much "safer" at home and being less active then rushing to get one child off to junior high, one to elementary and then get myself off to a bus stop, in the 17 degree weather, sit or stand on a crowded bus, run 3 blocks (cause chances are the bus was late and it's too cold to walk)...just to get to work to be uncomfortable for 8 hours...then reverse the trip flying to daycare by 6pm to get the children to come home and figure out what we are doing for dinner. So, on that note...no, I really do not want to go back to work in fear that it will cause Eva to be born too soon. But I trust God that if I am to go back than my doctor will release me to do so.
I always sit down here to type a "quick" note and it turns into a novel. I don't intend for that to happen, as I am the last one who likes to type but it never fails. I could go on and on but I am going to try to cut this off as I am a little tired today.
I went back to the lab this morning to have the 3 hour glucose tolerance test done. YUCK! The drink was double the grams as the first one meaning that the stuff was like syrup. Not to mention the four times blood needs to be drawn! Yes, FOUR times of feeling like a pin cushion! My poor arms! I may have gained 11 pounds during this pregnancy but I can assure you that not an ounce of that is in my arms! One stick when I got there, then every hour till I left! Praying that the results are negative so I can have one less thing to be concerned about for the rest of the pregnancy as well as for Eva after delivery.
Please continue to pray for the other families that I have mentioned below.
The Summons family as they are grieving the loss of Mary Grace Summons . I have to say that this was a hard one for me to swallow as I had so much hope for them. I try not to "compare" our T-18 situation to many as they ALL are so very unpredictable and each is different in many ways. But I have to say that out of the few moms that I have been following and in touch w/ that this one was the one that I was "comparing" ours to. As I mentioned in a previous post that it is hard for me to sit back and witness the other moms deliveries prior to my own. I will have already seen there heartache and felt their pain prior to my own. It is hard.
Please pray for Gwyneth Rose and Tricia! They are by far not out of the woods. Both girls are amazing and both need our prayers.
Please pray for Angie and Nathan Luce, the parents of (Poppy Joy Luce) as they are making the decisions to proceed w/ adoption. God has lead them thus far and we need to pray for God to continue to lead them in the right direction.
I will try to post an update after my appointments on Monday and Tuesday. Thank you for the continuous thoughts and prayers for me, Eva and our family!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Please Pray...
Please life up Mary Grace Summons and her family as mom Kim, dad Chris and her sisters Kailey and Allison anxiously await Mary's arrival. They are going in this evening to begin the induction process, Mary's birthday will be likely tomorrow. Please pray that Mary Grace will tolerate labor well and remain strong and be born into this world alive. Please pray that her family will have lots of time w/ their precious baby girl!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
A HUGE THANK YOU and Answered Prayers...
I started to type this next paragraph at the bottom of this post then realized how important it was and moved it to the top.
I thank each and every one of you that have lifted me and Eva and my family up over the last 18 hours or so. The tears rolled down my cheeks as I read the posts and comments from those of you that I have never even met and may never do so until we get to Heaven. It means so much to know how much support I have all around the world, more support from perfect strangers than I have in my own backyard. That just goes to show the Lord God we serve and how he has brought us all together along this sad and unpredictable road.
I cherish each and every one of you. You each have touched my heart in ways that I never knew to be possible. Even those who post anonymously, it shows that you care! Please continue to pray for us in the days and weeks that lie ahead. As we all know that this journey will not end w/ delivery and it may never end but the support is evident and I couldn't have come along this far without it and the faith in my God! Thank you again!
Where do I start? It seems I have been posting more lately w/ the request to pray for others than I have for us. Needless to say, after yesterdays findings I now ask for our prayer "warriors" to lift our family up as well as the others that I have mentioned in previous posts.
I'll go back to 12/26/07 to the appointment w/ the pediatric cardiologist. All went very well, or should I say nothing was worse than it had been since our 11/26/07 appointment.
The 4-5mm VSD is still present and still not a major issue. The Mitral Valve Prolapse has been changed to Mitral valve regurgitation (or mitral regurgitation — is a condition in which your heart's mitral valve doesn't close tightly, which allows blood to flow backward in your heart. Mitral valve regurgitation is also called mitral insufficiency, or mitral incompetence). This seemed to be of most concern to the Dr. but still does not change the way we will proceed and will be looked at closer at the time of delivery.
That same day we met w/ the neonatologist at the hospital where we are delivering. I have had a previous relationship w/ Dr. B as she was Dominic and Mya's pediatrician until shortly after Mya was born in 2000, this was right before she went on the neonatology. She was great in her explanations and got us better prepared w/ what can happen. It was at this time that I decided against a birth plan because she stressed the fact that I can express my wishes upon arriving at the hospital for delivery, as many things can change along the way. All in all the day went well but as every day that I have appointments I tend to get a little down as reality gets the best of me, or should I say satan.
For about 2 weeks prior to Christmas I have to say that I almost forgot that I was pregnant. Not completely but I had less time to "think" (in which I tend to do too much) and spent more time focusing on work and home to get prepared for the big day (Christmas Day, that is). It was at my regular prenatal appointment on the 12/21/07 and my 3D/4D ultrasound on the 22nd when I "remembered again" that I was (and still am) very much pregnant. Christmas went well and we enjoyed a nice 5 or so days w/ the normal - family and friends and lots and lots of food!
My next set of appointments was on 12/31/07. I had the glucose tolerance test done...or should I say attempted. I drank the gross stuff and proceeded up stairs to my ultrasound and ob check w/ the high risk doctors/perinatologists. I arrived about 10 minutes late (due to the delay in the lab) and they took me 25 minutes later. Those of you who don't know how this test works...it is drinking this high in sugar drink and then having blood drawn exactly 1 hour after checking the sugar levels, I think. I had the ultrasound first and then the Dr. came in for a consult (no ob check after all, and not by my choice). Again nothing more major was detected. I could see from the screen that Eva's head and limbs are still about 10-12 days behind and her abdomen appeared to be 17-19 days behind. Not too much extra fluid, some, but not tons. Maybe 2 weeks worth, as it has been, because I am still measuring to date externally (at least I was until yesterday where I now seem 1 week ahead) but the Dr. said that you can always give or take the measurement by 2. I was also advised on that 12/31/07 appointment Eva's weight appeared to be approx. 1 lb 9 oz (which I am hoping and praying that she will continue to grow as the more time she has inside).
I got out of the appointment 10 minutes late and back to the lab apprx. 15 minutes late to have my blood drawn. Therefore, the test was void and would need to be done again. I was emotional as it was and was not doing that again in the same day! I left and drove to the cemetery where Eva would be laid to rest if need be. This is the first time I have done this and took a lot to do it. I have been so strong up until now and like I said on days of appointments I tend to drop down so low. I took a picture of her grandma's stone which is already present at the site. I just wanted to have in mind where her name would go and how exactly we would go about that whole process (having her name added or even her own stone). After a day like this I have to say that bringing in the new year was I guess as good as it could be.
I had the glucose test done again on 1/2/08 w/ the results called to me from the Dr. on 1/3/08 to advise me that the level was slightly elevated. NICE! If it's not one thing...it's another! From my understanding I will not be proceeding w/ the actual diagnostic test (which is the same as the 1 hour one but it is 3 hours instead and drinking double the gross stuff). I will meet w/ the dietitian and have finger sticks at weekly appointments (given I make it beyond this week) and go from there. I know that one factor they watch for w/ moms that get the gestational diabetes is over-growth of the baby. Can I just say this? Any overgrowth w/ my trisomy 18 baby is an answered prayer if you ask me!!!
So, here we come to yesterdays, unexpected appointment. I had been in last Thursday 1/3/08 for a prenatal appointment w/ the Dr. whom I love. This is when I was measuring exactly where I should have been externally. I advised him of the cramps and contractions that I had been having but he didn't seem to be too alarmed. These cramps proceeded from Thursday thru Tuesday (yesterday) accompanied by low dull back pain, so I decided to call the office to just let them know. They asked me to come in, just in case, at 3pm. At the time of arrival the cramps seemed to be coming maybe 3-5 times an hour, so I was not too concerned. The Dr. examined me and advised that I was not dilated although my cervix was soft but still long. He did a test called Rapid FETAL FIBRONECTIN (a test that has been FDA approved since 1995. It is used by healthcare providers worldwide to identify women at risk for premature delivery. Fetal fibronectin is a protein, which is present at the interface between mother and fetus. When this interface is disrupted, fetal fibronectin is detected in vaginal secretions. A positive test acts as an early warning and helps identify women at risk for preterm delivery, while a negative test reassures the woman that it is highly unlikely delivery will occur in the next 7-14 days. A negative fetal fibronectin test will allow many women to be spared unnecessary treatment as a result of prolonged bedrest and limited mobility). The test can take over 20 minutes for the results to come back so I was sent over to the Labor & Delivery to be monitored in the meantime. Little did I know that I was there for the night!
The contractions were little ones but occurring every 7-10 minutes. The test came back positive which gives me a 50/50 chance of going into full labor w/in 7 days. PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN! I was given an injection on Terbutaline (a drug that is used to suppress preterm labor) to allow my uterus to settle and possibly stop the contractions but if the labor was real this would not work. I was also given Betamethasone (a Steroid Injection for Fetal Lung Development. Injections of corticosteroids for fetal lung development has been praised as one of the best advances in fetal medicine in the 90s. Since 1994 the National Institutes for Health and other professional organizations have encouraged their use in promoting the development of fetal lung development in moms who were at risk for preterm labor or birth).
Here is to my answered prayers and with the help of all of you out there praying for us! The contractions have subsided, not ceased, but slowed down. They have not caused any changes to my cervix and I was discharged this morning. Now this does not mean that I am out of the woods and that I won't deliver w/in the next 7 days but it gives me more time to spend w/ Eva safely inside and allows her more time to grow, gain weight and for all of us, including her to get better prepared for the delivery that lies ahead.
I am not ready for this pregnancy to be over. Don't get me wrong, I want to meet this precious baby girl more than anything in the world but I am not ready to be separated from her, in more ways than one. I know that God knows her exact birthday and she will be born in His time. I just only wish I knew when that was. I wish He and I had the same plan!
I am now on bed rest for at least a week, returning to the doctors next Tuesday, if nothing occurs in the meantime...PLEASE PRAY THAT THE NEXT 6 DAYS ARE VERY UNEVENTFUL IN TERMS OF EVA BEING BORN TOO SOON!
I'll post as often as possible and try my best to keep y'all up to date.
I thank each and every one of you that have lifted me and Eva and my family up over the last 18 hours or so. The tears rolled down my cheeks as I read the posts and comments from those of you that I have never even met and may never do so until we get to Heaven. It means so much to know how much support I have all around the world, more support from perfect strangers than I have in my own backyard. That just goes to show the Lord God we serve and how he has brought us all together along this sad and unpredictable road.
I cherish each and every one of you. You each have touched my heart in ways that I never knew to be possible. Even those who post anonymously, it shows that you care! Please continue to pray for us in the days and weeks that lie ahead. As we all know that this journey will not end w/ delivery and it may never end but the support is evident and I couldn't have come along this far without it and the faith in my God! Thank you again!
Where do I start? It seems I have been posting more lately w/ the request to pray for others than I have for us. Needless to say, after yesterdays findings I now ask for our prayer "warriors" to lift our family up as well as the others that I have mentioned in previous posts.
I'll go back to 12/26/07 to the appointment w/ the pediatric cardiologist. All went very well, or should I say nothing was worse than it had been since our 11/26/07 appointment.
The 4-5mm VSD is still present and still not a major issue. The Mitral Valve Prolapse has been changed to Mitral valve regurgitation (or mitral regurgitation — is a condition in which your heart's mitral valve doesn't close tightly, which allows blood to flow backward in your heart. Mitral valve regurgitation is also called mitral insufficiency, or mitral incompetence). This seemed to be of most concern to the Dr. but still does not change the way we will proceed and will be looked at closer at the time of delivery.
That same day we met w/ the neonatologist at the hospital where we are delivering. I have had a previous relationship w/ Dr. B as she was Dominic and Mya's pediatrician until shortly after Mya was born in 2000, this was right before she went on the neonatology. She was great in her explanations and got us better prepared w/ what can happen. It was at this time that I decided against a birth plan because she stressed the fact that I can express my wishes upon arriving at the hospital for delivery, as many things can change along the way. All in all the day went well but as every day that I have appointments I tend to get a little down as reality gets the best of me, or should I say satan.
For about 2 weeks prior to Christmas I have to say that I almost forgot that I was pregnant. Not completely but I had less time to "think" (in which I tend to do too much) and spent more time focusing on work and home to get prepared for the big day (Christmas Day, that is). It was at my regular prenatal appointment on the 12/21/07 and my 3D/4D ultrasound on the 22nd when I "remembered again" that I was (and still am) very much pregnant. Christmas went well and we enjoyed a nice 5 or so days w/ the normal - family and friends and lots and lots of food!
My next set of appointments was on 12/31/07. I had the glucose tolerance test done...or should I say attempted. I drank the gross stuff and proceeded up stairs to my ultrasound and ob check w/ the high risk doctors/perinatologists. I arrived about 10 minutes late (due to the delay in the lab) and they took me 25 minutes later. Those of you who don't know how this test works...it is drinking this high in sugar drink and then having blood drawn exactly 1 hour after checking the sugar levels, I think. I had the ultrasound first and then the Dr. came in for a consult (no ob check after all, and not by my choice). Again nothing more major was detected. I could see from the screen that Eva's head and limbs are still about 10-12 days behind and her abdomen appeared to be 17-19 days behind. Not too much extra fluid, some, but not tons. Maybe 2 weeks worth, as it has been, because I am still measuring to date externally (at least I was until yesterday where I now seem 1 week ahead) but the Dr. said that you can always give or take the measurement by 2. I was also advised on that 12/31/07 appointment Eva's weight appeared to be approx. 1 lb 9 oz (which I am hoping and praying that she will continue to grow as the more time she has inside).
I got out of the appointment 10 minutes late and back to the lab apprx. 15 minutes late to have my blood drawn. Therefore, the test was void and would need to be done again. I was emotional as it was and was not doing that again in the same day! I left and drove to the cemetery where Eva would be laid to rest if need be. This is the first time I have done this and took a lot to do it. I have been so strong up until now and like I said on days of appointments I tend to drop down so low. I took a picture of her grandma's stone which is already present at the site. I just wanted to have in mind where her name would go and how exactly we would go about that whole process (having her name added or even her own stone). After a day like this I have to say that bringing in the new year was I guess as good as it could be.
I had the glucose test done again on 1/2/08 w/ the results called to me from the Dr. on 1/3/08 to advise me that the level was slightly elevated. NICE! If it's not one thing...it's another! From my understanding I will not be proceeding w/ the actual diagnostic test (which is the same as the 1 hour one but it is 3 hours instead and drinking double the gross stuff). I will meet w/ the dietitian and have finger sticks at weekly appointments (given I make it beyond this week) and go from there. I know that one factor they watch for w/ moms that get the gestational diabetes is over-growth of the baby. Can I just say this? Any overgrowth w/ my trisomy 18 baby is an answered prayer if you ask me!!!
So, here we come to yesterdays, unexpected appointment. I had been in last Thursday 1/3/08 for a prenatal appointment w/ the Dr. whom I love. This is when I was measuring exactly where I should have been externally. I advised him of the cramps and contractions that I had been having but he didn't seem to be too alarmed. These cramps proceeded from Thursday thru Tuesday (yesterday) accompanied by low dull back pain, so I decided to call the office to just let them know. They asked me to come in, just in case, at 3pm. At the time of arrival the cramps seemed to be coming maybe 3-5 times an hour, so I was not too concerned. The Dr. examined me and advised that I was not dilated although my cervix was soft but still long. He did a test called Rapid FETAL FIBRONECTIN (a test that has been FDA approved since 1995. It is used by healthcare providers worldwide to identify women at risk for premature delivery. Fetal fibronectin is a protein, which is present at the interface between mother and fetus. When this interface is disrupted, fetal fibronectin is detected in vaginal secretions. A positive test acts as an early warning and helps identify women at risk for preterm delivery, while a negative test reassures the woman that it is highly unlikely delivery will occur in the next 7-14 days. A negative fetal fibronectin test will allow many women to be spared unnecessary treatment as a result of prolonged bedrest and limited mobility). The test can take over 20 minutes for the results to come back so I was sent over to the Labor & Delivery to be monitored in the meantime. Little did I know that I was there for the night!
The contractions were little ones but occurring every 7-10 minutes. The test came back positive which gives me a 50/50 chance of going into full labor w/in 7 days. PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN! I was given an injection on Terbutaline (a drug that is used to suppress preterm labor) to allow my uterus to settle and possibly stop the contractions but if the labor was real this would not work. I was also given Betamethasone (a Steroid Injection for Fetal Lung Development. Injections of corticosteroids for fetal lung development has been praised as one of the best advances in fetal medicine in the 90s. Since 1994 the National Institutes for Health and other professional organizations have encouraged their use in promoting the development of fetal lung development in moms who were at risk for preterm labor or birth).
Here is to my answered prayers and with the help of all of you out there praying for us! The contractions have subsided, not ceased, but slowed down. They have not caused any changes to my cervix and I was discharged this morning. Now this does not mean that I am out of the woods and that I won't deliver w/in the next 7 days but it gives me more time to spend w/ Eva safely inside and allows her more time to grow, gain weight and for all of us, including her to get better prepared for the delivery that lies ahead.
I am not ready for this pregnancy to be over. Don't get me wrong, I want to meet this precious baby girl more than anything in the world but I am not ready to be separated from her, in more ways than one. I know that God knows her exact birthday and she will be born in His time. I just only wish I knew when that was. I wish He and I had the same plan!
I am now on bed rest for at least a week, returning to the doctors next Tuesday, if nothing occurs in the meantime...PLEASE PRAY THAT THE NEXT 6 DAYS ARE VERY UNEVENTFUL IN TERMS OF EVA BEING BORN TOO SOON!
I'll post as often as possible and try my best to keep y'all up to date.
Monday, January 7, 2008
URGENT - Tricia, Nathan and baby Gwyneth Rose...
Posted by Isaac Leino 's mom earlier today...
Nathan just called me this morning asking for as many people as possible to join in prayer for Tricia.
They have decided to go ahead with the C-section as soon as possible. Tricia has had increasing difficulty over the past few days & is to the point that she can no longer carry their little girl without causing both of their health to fail. She's had many problems with her heart & lungs over the past 48 hours. Since she is 24 weeks along, it is possible for their little girl to survive & continue growing outside of the womb with Neonatal Intensive Care. However, this will not be an easy procedure for Tricia as her body is already incredibly weak.
PLEASE PRAY! This is a scary time as it is very possible that neither Tricia nor their little girl will make it through the operation. Nathan will be posting updates to his blog throughout the day. CFHusband.Blogspot.Com
Here are the updated posts from Nathan...
Monday, January 7, 2008
New Plan
Tricia's medical team (all 30+ of them) met today at 1:30 and presented an alternate plan which we are going to go with. Tricia will be intubated and ventilated tomorrow morning at 10:30am. They will watch her for a few hours. If everything looks good, they'll give her a tracheotomy. They'll leave her on the ventilator for a few days, allowing her body to regain strength and her lungs to get cleaned out, and then will perform the c section on Friday.
If her body does not like the ventilator, they will perform an emergency c section then and there.
All of the prayer from the post below remains the same...only the timing has changed.We continue to be amazed at the number of people praying and the very cool stories coming our way. Thank you.
Nate
Posted by MilePost13 at 4:56 PM 53 comments Links to this post
Labels: CF, Family, Friends, God, Gwyneth Rose, Hospital, Prayer, Pregnancy, Tricia
And She Will Be Called...
Gwyneth Rose Lawrenson
Gwyneth - A Welsh name meaning, "Fortunate, Blessed" and/or "White, Fair"
Rose - An English name
Lawrenson - A strong English name meaning, "Son of Lawrence" and/or "Endowed with incredible intelligence and charm, flat-out good looking"
So, she will be a Blessed, White Rose in our lives.
With a little thinking, you can figure out how she is named after her mother.
Nate
(Be sure to read the Latest Update)
Posted by MilePost13 at 10:17 AM 65 comments Links to this post
Labels: Gwyneth Rose
The Time Has Come
Tricia made the decision this morning to go ahead with the C Section as early as possible. Her CO2 levels continue to rise, and her discomfort and lack of sleep is becoming almost unbearable. I'm amazed that she lasted this long, and we are not surprised that it has come so soon.
The doctors have told us that the surgery will take place either this afternoon or tomorrow, probably tomorrow. She will be Anesthetized, Intubated and Ventilated and then operated on. The C Section will take no more than a few minutes. She will be kept under for a few hours to allow her body to become accustom to the ventilator.
If her body does not accept the ventilation, she will be in serious trouble. If her body does accept, she will hopefully be weened off the ventilator until she can breathe appropriately on her own. (this will be important as we look ahead to the double lung transplant)
There are obviously many risks involved.
Several things we can pray for:
> Peace for Tricia and I about this decision. We are at peace now, and have been with every decision so far, and God has blessed each and every one.
> Peace for our family. Our parents will be here with us, as well as my grandparents and maybe a few others, but many of Tricia's family either can't be here or will not be here in time for the surgery. In some ways, it's easier to be in the situation than reading/hearing about it from a distance.
> CO2 levels to remain stable or drop. Every ultrasound has shown the baby to be perfectly healthy, which means nothing has affected her so far. That could change at any time.
> The doctors and staff have been incredibly supportive. This is not a delicate operation, but it does involve a lot of risks and there will be a massive amount of people involved. Everything needs to work exactly as planned.
> Without a miraculous recovery, Tricia's Lung Function will never become well enough for her to be placed on the Double Lung Transplant list. The pulmonary docs have told us that, if everything goes well, it will be a minimum of 2-3 months until she will be well enough for a transplant.
> That God will continue to make Himself known, especially to those on the staff here who does not know Him in a personal way. God has already used Tricia's Journey to do extraordinary things, and we have seen God do amazing things already with our story in the past few weeks and months. The stories that have been coming in are concrete proof to us that we have been in the center of God's will throughout this entire process. We want the entire world to know that.
Our family and friends, and the prayers of the thousands who have heard of us have been what God is using to sustain us and give us courage and strength. No matter what happens, we are eternally thankful for all that He has done.
Nate
Posted by MilePost13 at 9:35 AM 64 comments Links to this post
Labels: 65Roses4Pattysue, CF, Emotions, Family, Friends, God, Hospital, Organ Donation, Prayer, Pregnancy, Transplant, Tricia
3:45am
Got a call at 3:45 that Tricia needed me back at the hospital...she's doing better now that I'm here, and Agnes went home to get a few hours of sleep. I've got a recliner in here now, so maybe I can get a few hours myself.
Nate
Posted by MilePost13 at 4:59 AM 27 comments Links to this post
Labels: Hospital, Prayer, Tricia
Nathan just called me this morning asking for as many people as possible to join in prayer for Tricia.
They have decided to go ahead with the C-section as soon as possible. Tricia has had increasing difficulty over the past few days & is to the point that she can no longer carry their little girl without causing both of their health to fail. She's had many problems with her heart & lungs over the past 48 hours. Since she is 24 weeks along, it is possible for their little girl to survive & continue growing outside of the womb with Neonatal Intensive Care. However, this will not be an easy procedure for Tricia as her body is already incredibly weak.
PLEASE PRAY! This is a scary time as it is very possible that neither Tricia nor their little girl will make it through the operation. Nathan will be posting updates to his blog throughout the day. CFHusband.Blogspot.Com
Here are the updated posts from Nathan...
Monday, January 7, 2008
New Plan
Tricia's medical team (all 30+ of them) met today at 1:30 and presented an alternate plan which we are going to go with. Tricia will be intubated and ventilated tomorrow morning at 10:30am. They will watch her for a few hours. If everything looks good, they'll give her a tracheotomy. They'll leave her on the ventilator for a few days, allowing her body to regain strength and her lungs to get cleaned out, and then will perform the c section on Friday.
If her body does not like the ventilator, they will perform an emergency c section then and there.
All of the prayer from the post below remains the same...only the timing has changed.We continue to be amazed at the number of people praying and the very cool stories coming our way. Thank you.
Nate
Posted by MilePost13 at 4:56 PM 53 comments Links to this post
Labels: CF, Family, Friends, God, Gwyneth Rose, Hospital, Prayer, Pregnancy, Tricia
And She Will Be Called...
Gwyneth Rose Lawrenson
Gwyneth - A Welsh name meaning, "Fortunate, Blessed" and/or "White, Fair"
Rose - An English name
Lawrenson - A strong English name meaning, "Son of Lawrence" and/or "Endowed with incredible intelligence and charm, flat-out good looking"
So, she will be a Blessed, White Rose in our lives.
With a little thinking, you can figure out how she is named after her mother.
Nate
(Be sure to read the Latest Update)
Posted by MilePost13 at 10:17 AM 65 comments Links to this post
Labels: Gwyneth Rose
The Time Has Come
Tricia made the decision this morning to go ahead with the C Section as early as possible. Her CO2 levels continue to rise, and her discomfort and lack of sleep is becoming almost unbearable. I'm amazed that she lasted this long, and we are not surprised that it has come so soon.
The doctors have told us that the surgery will take place either this afternoon or tomorrow, probably tomorrow. She will be Anesthetized, Intubated and Ventilated and then operated on. The C Section will take no more than a few minutes. She will be kept under for a few hours to allow her body to become accustom to the ventilator.
If her body does not accept the ventilation, she will be in serious trouble. If her body does accept, she will hopefully be weened off the ventilator until she can breathe appropriately on her own. (this will be important as we look ahead to the double lung transplant)
There are obviously many risks involved.
Several things we can pray for:
> Peace for Tricia and I about this decision. We are at peace now, and have been with every decision so far, and God has blessed each and every one.
> Peace for our family. Our parents will be here with us, as well as my grandparents and maybe a few others, but many of Tricia's family either can't be here or will not be here in time for the surgery. In some ways, it's easier to be in the situation than reading/hearing about it from a distance.
> CO2 levels to remain stable or drop. Every ultrasound has shown the baby to be perfectly healthy, which means nothing has affected her so far. That could change at any time.
> The doctors and staff have been incredibly supportive. This is not a delicate operation, but it does involve a lot of risks and there will be a massive amount of people involved. Everything needs to work exactly as planned.
> Without a miraculous recovery, Tricia's Lung Function will never become well enough for her to be placed on the Double Lung Transplant list. The pulmonary docs have told us that, if everything goes well, it will be a minimum of 2-3 months until she will be well enough for a transplant.
> That God will continue to make Himself known, especially to those on the staff here who does not know Him in a personal way. God has already used Tricia's Journey to do extraordinary things, and we have seen God do amazing things already with our story in the past few weeks and months. The stories that have been coming in are concrete proof to us that we have been in the center of God's will throughout this entire process. We want the entire world to know that.
Our family and friends, and the prayers of the thousands who have heard of us have been what God is using to sustain us and give us courage and strength. No matter what happens, we are eternally thankful for all that He has done.
Nate
Posted by MilePost13 at 9:35 AM 64 comments Links to this post
Labels: 65Roses4Pattysue, CF, Emotions, Family, Friends, God, Hospital, Organ Donation, Prayer, Pregnancy, Transplant, Tricia
3:45am
Got a call at 3:45 that Tricia needed me back at the hospital...she's doing better now that I'm here, and Agnes went home to get a few hours of sleep. I've got a recliner in here now, so maybe I can get a few hours myself.
Nate
Posted by MilePost13 at 4:59 AM 27 comments Links to this post
Labels: Hospital, Prayer, Tricia
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
More prayers needed...
The following is a post from Maddox Stanfield 's mom, Kenzie :
Please pray for my friend Christie and her husband James as they will be going to the hospital early tomorrow morning to begin her induction to meet their sweet little boy. She is pregnant with a baby who is also diagnosed with full Trisomy 18. I know that she greatly appreciates each prayer lifted up for their family (they also have a little boy, Wesley, at home) and I will be sure to update you as soon as I get any information.
Thank you for praying!
We all know that prayer can move mountains!
Please join in and help move the many mountains that lie ahead!
Please pray for my friend Christie and her husband James as they will be going to the hospital early tomorrow morning to begin her induction to meet their sweet little boy. She is pregnant with a baby who is also diagnosed with full Trisomy 18. I know that she greatly appreciates each prayer lifted up for their family (they also have a little boy, Wesley, at home) and I will be sure to update you as soon as I get any information.
Thank you for praying!
We all know that prayer can move mountains!
Please join in and help move the many mountains that lie ahead!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Update on Tricia, Nathan and their baby girl...And again requesting prayers...
Please pray for Nathan & Tricia Lawrenson!! Tricia's health is rapidly failing, greatly jeopardizing both her life & their unborn daughter as she is 23 weeks pregnant. Nathan has posted specific pray requests on his blog. PLEASE PRAY!
Here are her specific requests:
This is from Tricia's Blog, which she updated last night while Nathan was sleeping.
Prayer Requests:
1. My lungs are in such bad condition at this point that the doctors can’t be sure of what will happen next. Please pray for the antibiotics that I am on to begin working effectively. So far, they have not helped out with any kind of improvement. Each day counts.
2. Mucus is what traps infection and keeps my o2 levels low and me from functioning at my best. I have had a hard time coughing up the gross stuff which once I do, will help my lungs out a great deal. Pray that I cough lots of it out easily without too much damage to my lungs and airways.
3. I have not slept more than 3 hours each day in the past week and a half. I am use to a normal 12-16 hours a day sleep. This is greatly effecting my body’s ability to fight infection, regain strength, and help me to get better. Please pray that I begin to sleep better. I have been on sleeping meds which have yet to help since it is a breathing issue and not just a lack of sleep desire.
4. My lung capacity is very very low, please pray I remain stable until giving birth and then waiting for a transplant.
5. If I don’t get better, I could be too sick for a transplant. Please pray this does not happen.
6. Pray for my heart to stay in good shape. It is beating slightly to fast and has been doing this for quite some time. Pray that it comes down to a normal heart rhythm.
7. We don’t know yet about the details of having this baby but know it will be a complicated and risky procedure. The more time the better for the baby... a couple more weeks in my utero can make a huge difference when it comes to a good outcome for her. Pray for wisdom for the doctors and our family as we make these decisions.
8. Pray for the safety of the baby during all of this stress going on and for a safe delivery and recovery. She will most likely be rushed into NICU post birth.
9. That complications don’t arise from my feeding tube, port-o-cath, diabetes, or heart and non lung issues.
10. Pray for our peace of minds, and for our families. This has been a very stressful and scary situation for Nathan and I. Things are beginning to happen so quickly and so much is uncertain. Our faith is not shaken and we firmly believe in miracles and the power of prayer. Please be sending our prayer requests to your fellow friends and family!
Thank You
Tricia
Here are her specific requests:
This is from Tricia's Blog, which she updated last night while Nathan was sleeping.
Prayer Requests:
1. My lungs are in such bad condition at this point that the doctors can’t be sure of what will happen next. Please pray for the antibiotics that I am on to begin working effectively. So far, they have not helped out with any kind of improvement. Each day counts.
2. Mucus is what traps infection and keeps my o2 levels low and me from functioning at my best. I have had a hard time coughing up the gross stuff which once I do, will help my lungs out a great deal. Pray that I cough lots of it out easily without too much damage to my lungs and airways.
3. I have not slept more than 3 hours each day in the past week and a half. I am use to a normal 12-16 hours a day sleep. This is greatly effecting my body’s ability to fight infection, regain strength, and help me to get better. Please pray that I begin to sleep better. I have been on sleeping meds which have yet to help since it is a breathing issue and not just a lack of sleep desire.
4. My lung capacity is very very low, please pray I remain stable until giving birth and then waiting for a transplant.
5. If I don’t get better, I could be too sick for a transplant. Please pray this does not happen.
6. Pray for my heart to stay in good shape. It is beating slightly to fast and has been doing this for quite some time. Pray that it comes down to a normal heart rhythm.
7. We don’t know yet about the details of having this baby but know it will be a complicated and risky procedure. The more time the better for the baby... a couple more weeks in my utero can make a huge difference when it comes to a good outcome for her. Pray for wisdom for the doctors and our family as we make these decisions.
8. Pray for the safety of the baby during all of this stress going on and for a safe delivery and recovery. She will most likely be rushed into NICU post birth.
9. That complications don’t arise from my feeding tube, port-o-cath, diabetes, or heart and non lung issues.
10. Pray for our peace of minds, and for our families. This has been a very stressful and scary situation for Nathan and I. Things are beginning to happen so quickly and so much is uncertain. Our faith is not shaken and we firmly believe in miracles and the power of prayer. Please be sending our prayer requests to your fellow friends and family!
Thank You
Tricia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
