30 Weeks!!

This picture is from 3 weeks ago...at my 30 week point. But, better late than never...right!?!

Try to ignore my goofy expression. Honey was being silly while taking the picture, so I joined in the fun and made the goofy face. Actually, this picture is the best one of the 4 he took.

October 15, 2008

Today, I am officially 32 weeks! I had my 32 week check up today. I got to meet one of the other doctors in the practice today. So far I've only met 3 of them, and there are still more that I still haven't met. I am finally starting to get comfortable with the idea of going to a new OB. However, meeting a new doctor yesterday really made me miss my old doctors in Chambersburg. Oh well.

My appointment was very routine...and Baby was doing just fine. They did an ultrasound to check his growth. They seemed to be rather rushed, so they didn't go over any of his measurements with me. All I know is that he measured to the 32 weeks and his heart rate was 130.

We took a quick tour of NICU and the Labor/Deliver Unit at the Hospital. I was very surprised at how nice it was. Being the first time delivering at this hospital, I wasn't sure what to expect. But the rooms are very nice. We got to know what to expect when Baby is born. It wasn't really anything new, other than, they basically are going to be rushing us through Labor/Deliver process so that we can be transfered to duPont right away. As soon as Baby is born he will be given some IV's and I will get to hold him for a few minutes. Then he will be taken to the NICU for further assessment. Once he is taken to NICU, then I will get to go sit with him. We won't be in Harrisburg very long, well at least Baby won't be. Once he is stablized and ready for transport, he will be taken to duPont and placed in their NICU until I arrive. This is all information we already knew, but walking through the process with the nurses just seemed to make the process even more real. While in the NICU, we saw a baby that was born at 25 weeks and weighed only 1 pound. He had a twin who was also in the NICU. He was so tiny, and fragile looking...definitely an image I will never forget!

I go back to Harrisburg next Friday for my last appointment with the Cardiologist. I will be having one last echocardiogram before baby is born. We won't see the cardiologist again til Baby is born, and he will have an echocardiogram then.

I hope to post pictures soon...so check back to see Baby's updated 4D picture. And of course, my belly, (which I think cannot grow anymore!). :o)

Another Update...

In keeping with the purpose of this blog...I figured it was high time I shared about my last OB appointment.

The blood work turned out fine! I saw my OB on September 26th, who seemed pleased with how things were going. I am officially back to my starting weight, or pre-pregnancy weight. I actually lost about 12 lbs in the first trimester, then very slowly gained it back. They did a "growth scan" to check the baby's size. This is nothing more than an ultrasound...he weighed about 2 lbs 11 ozs. and his heart rate was 148. The lab tech had trouble getting some of the measurements, Baby didn't really want to cooperate so much.

We also saw Baby's cardiologist for an updated echocardiograhm. It went ok. The Cardiologist said there was very little to no change in the appearance of Baby's heart. He definitely didn't change his diagnosis.

I go back on October 15th to see the OB...and I see the cardiologist on October 24th. That will be the last time we see the cardiologist until Baby is born.

Be praying...we know God has amazing things instore for Baby Brother!

Blood work, yuck!

My OB in Harrisburg has been asking me to get some blood work done. I finally did it...today was the day I've been dreading! I had 5 tubes of blood drawn, one of which was for the glucose test. Yes, I had to drink the dreaded "orange soda".

But, as much as I tried to avoid the tests, I survived...

Baby...an official introduction!!

I got this great shot printed at my last OB appointment. I figured it was time to actually show off our handsome little man!

This ultrasound was done at 26 weeks and 2 days!

(August 29th)

A. I. duPont Children's Hospital

This past weekend we had an appointment for our "Family Session" at the duPont Children's Hospital in Wilmington Delaware. We met the surgeon who will be doing Baby's open heart surgery and took a tour of the Cardiac Unit.

Originally, we planned on staying in Wilmington/Philadelphia area for the night. Mainly because we were expecting this to be a very overwhelming visit. I didn't expect the visit to go well, mainly because of how my appointments went in Harrisburg. The appointment didn't go anything like I had thought it would.

The surgeon knew all about us, before we arrived. He actually took the time to study our chart, which made the visit way more personal. We spoke with him about the actual procedure and what to expect. We also got to meet some of his staff. We were impressed with how friendly and sincere everyone was. You could definitely tell they were passionate about their jobs. We met Judy, the social worker, who would be handling our case. She was very excited to meet us face to face. She said that Dr. Robinson had already told her all about us! She was a wonderful lady...she showed us around the cardiac unit, operating room, and living areas.

The entire appointment took a little less than 2 hours. When we left, Honey and I both felt a huge relief, like a weight had been lifted from our backs. We were both very nervous about how the day would go. But, after this visit, we both felt very comfortable with the doctors and staff that will be caring for Baby.

The only time I got a bit emotional was when we walked through the Cardiac ICU and there were two tiny babies laying in cribs with monitors and stuff attached to them. They each had a nurse sitting by them...and no parents around...anywhere. It broke my heart to see such a tiny baby, post surgery, with only a stranger there to comfort them.

25 weeks!

About 2 weeks ago, I had a dream. And, in my dream I was having a conversation with God. He was telling me that I was to have an ultrasound at my next prenatal visit. The conversation went like this:

God: You need to have an ultrasound at your next doctor visit.

Me: Why, I just had one a few weeks ago? I would rather not do it again, yet.

God: You need to have an ultrasound...request one if you need to.

Me: Fine, I'll do it. But why is it so necessary already.

God: I have something to show you!

When I woke up the next morning, I shared my conversation with Honey. He said we would do whatever was necessary to have that ultrasound.

Friday August 29th we were driving to Harrisburg to see the OB, and for the first time I felt a peacefulness about going. For the first time I didn't cry the entire drive there.

The visit went fine, it was a routine exam just like I expected. Before I left the doctor came into the room and said he wanted to do an updated ultrasound to check Baby's growth.

During the ultrasound, the technician was measuring Baby's arms, legs, belly, and head. She also checked the umbilical cord & its blood flow. She saved his heart for last. When she got a good angle of his heart, she took the required measurements then just looked at the pictures with a puzzled look on her face. She then asked us if we were sure the baby's diagnosis was HLHS. When we told her yes, she continued taking measurements. When we saw the pictures of Baby's heart we could see all four functioning chambers and the two on the left were almost the same size as the right! The smaller left chambers were obviously growing!!

Baby weighs: about 1 lb 10 ozs

Next appointment: September 26, with the cardiologist

We have no official heart measurements, or a report from the cardiologist at this point. But, it was clear to us just what it was that God wanted us to see in that ultrasound.