Life Is Good: Appointment Update

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Appointment Update

I was hoping to upload something very exciting, but it hasn't worked yet. I'll keep trying.

So today I had an appointment with the perinatologist. I went expecting a cervical length check and hoping to get a quick little peak at Baby Elmo. I was pleasantly surprised when they ended up doing a complete and thorough ultrasound of the baby.

First of all...he is most definitely a HE! So now I can add some blue to the blanket I'm crocheting. The ultrasound tech took a very close look at his organs, spine, heart, brain, bones, etc. Everything is looking good. We are at a higher risk of having a baby born with a heart defect, so it's always a relief to hear that at this time the heart is showing no signs of defects. Baby Elmo is measuring at 18 weeks which according to the calendar I will be reaching 18weeks tomorrow. His approximate weight is 8 ounces.

The other big check today was my cervical length. Cervical length can change despite having a cerclage. The cerclage helps and has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of a premature birth related to incompetent cervix. It is, however, not a guarantee. This leads to the necessity of regular cervical checks. The shorter a cervix is the less "holding power" it has and the increase risk of preterm labor. That being said, some women have a short cervix for weeks and manage to stay pregnant to term. They usually need closer monitoring. Okay so that was my little rant about that. So...

My cervix measured 3 cm today which is within the normal range and the doctor expressed no concerns. He encouraged me to keep doing what I've been doing. I return for another check in 2 weeks.

Ryan and Nana went to the appointment today too. Ryan was super cute. As soon as we walked into the exam/ultrasound room Ryan exclaimed, "Momma, baby tummy! Baby Elmo!" He has already figured out what goes on with each of my appointments. He knows that he either gets to "see" Baby Elmo or "hear" him. I'm so glad he is so excited. I just hope that excitement sticks around for when the baby actually arrives. (I wonder how long he'll think I have a baby in my tummy after the baby arrives?...hmmm.)

Nana is really enjoying going to appointments with me too. This is the first pregnancy she has been able to be this involved. I think she's already super attached to this little boy. Today she told me she didn't care what we named him just as long as we bring him over to her house. She LOVES her grandkids and loves to spend as much time as possible with each of them.

Baby Elmo
We think he looks a lot like Ryan.

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Brandy Danielle

Brandy is our firstborn, our precious angel baby girl. Her entry into this world wasn't without excitement. At 26 weeks I started preterm labor with contractions 5 minutes apart. With 10 weeks of strict bedrest, most of which were in the hospital, she made it to 36 weeks.
Brandy was diagnosed with "possible/probable" heart defect around 28-30 weeks gestation. After her birth she was whisked away to the NICU for monitoring and after a few days her defect was formally diagnosed and labeled...atrial septal defect and a cleft mitral valve.
Brandy, upon indications of failure to thrive and pulmonary hypertension, underwent her first of 2 open-heart surgeries at 4 months of age. A week after her surgery on the day of her anticipated discharge home Brandy coded for 13 minutes...a stoke.
From that point on Brandy's life was full of doctor's visits, endless crying, pain and suffering. She underwent another heart surgery, fundoplication and g-tube surgery, treatment for infantile spasms, and a mountain of tests and procedures. Her brain damage was extensive.
Upon counseling of our wonderful, most amazing heart surgeon, Dr. Christopher Knott-Craig, and many hours of prayer, we finally called in hospice and called off all of the extensive medical interventions and surgery needs that would prolong her suffering while possibly prolonging her life. Brandy, our precious baby girl...our angel...passed out of our arms and into the arms of her Saviour, Jesus at the tender age of 17 months.

Ryan Andrew

Ryan, our micro-preemie miracle, is a ball of life. After nearly a year of trying to conceive imagine our delight when we finally knew he was on the way. My pregnancy with Ryan was uneventful at first. It seemed perfect and with all of the precautions for preterm labor being taken and monitored we entered this pregnancy with cautious anticipation covered over by a whole love of naive excitement.
At 20 weeks we discovered our "Baby Peanut" was going to be a little boy. We began to make plans and began dreaming about the day we would meet our son.
Almost 2 weeks later everything changed in our lives. It wa a whirlwind of fear and emtions as I began to bleed, was sent for monitoring in L&D and eventually had an appointment with my OB only to find out that it was serious. I had incompetent cervix with hourglassing membranes. The doctor admitted me to the hospital immediately and an emergency cerclage was placed. The statistics were grim, but the hope was to keep our son inside for at least 10 more weeks. We only made it 10 more days.
Early in the evening of February 11, 2007 our son, Ryan, came into this world in emergency fashion at only 23 weeks 5 days gestation. He weighed 1 pound 8 ounces and was 12 ½ inches long. He was so tiny. All I could think of was “oh my goodness is he really that tiny? And is there any way he could actually make it?” I tried to hold on to hope, but in all honesty I had never met anyone with a baby born that early and that small that ever made it.
Ryan did make it! It was a long, hard road, but in the end he spent 90 days in the NICU. He was on a ventilator for 2 months. Finally on one fine glorious day in May we bundled up our 4 pound 4 ounce baby boy and went home...May 11, 2007.
Ryan is now a spunky, lively, strong-willed little boy. His laughter is contagious and his spirit is compelling. He is our miracle. There are no words strong enough to share our delight and joy that God has blessed us with this little boy.

Evan Alexander