Life Is Good

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Ultrasound today--

Evan is weighing approximately 3 pounds 5 ounces. He passed 8/8 on the biophysical profile. No change in the cervical measurement from 2 weeks ago. I'm grateful for no further shortening.

I'm very grateful for the good report. Unfortunately the experience itself was horrible. I sat in a wheelchair for over an hour in a little room waiting. Why don't they wait to come get me until they are actually ready?! I don't know if the tech had never done one before but she took some measurements, had to retake them at least twice and after finishing and leaving the room came back twice because she "forgot" to measure a few things (aminiotic fluid level, blood flow through the cord, etc.) When it came time for the trans-vag u/s for the cervix she looked at the wand and asked me, "do you stick this thing in or do I?" (Sorry for those that up until this point had no idea how the cervical u/s was done.) Are you serious?! Needless to say that ended up being the roughest (most violating) cervical u/s I've ever had. I'm hoping that horrible ultrasound doesn't start anything tonight. So far no extra contractions though. That's good.

3 hours after leaving for the u/s I was returned to my room feeling a little like Cinderella. Just another ugly stepchild. Anything but a beautiful pregnant mommy walking around with her ever-expanding belly showing off the miracle of new life growing within her. Anything but that lovely pregnant mom planning her nursery, shopping for cute baby things, attending showers. Anything but that special person strangers give up their place in line for, help in ways you never expected and showering her with oohs and aahs because the miracle of life growing within her is so noticeable and so aah inspiring.

2 comments:

Chris & AnnMarie said...: Hey Julie,
I know exactly what you're feeling. It's really tough to spend your days laying in a hospital...instead of outside enjoying pregnancy. I'm so sorry. If you ever need to talk to someone who understand, email me at nursekolkhorst@yahoo.com

I'm so happy that Evan is doing so good...he's precious! Hopefully you have a few more weeks at least and you will be out of that place in no time!

Take care and praying for you!

Ann Marie; May 5, 2010 at 3:59 PM
Janelle said...: Oh my sweet Julie...
I am so sorry. I can't imagine how you are feeling, but my heart breaks for you. We all dream of the way it should be, unfortunately some of us don't have it work out that way. Please know that you are an inspiration to those of us that don't have the perfect dream, I consider you our leader. :) Draw strength from us when you need it, we certainly draw it from you.
Hang in there...Evan is the luckiest little guy, his mommy is already his hero!
Love you.
Janelle; May 12, 2010 at 11:20 PM

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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