Monday, November 26, 2012
Feeling Blessed!
Today we received the most amazing phone call! The Univ of Michigan called to let us know that our blood work was back and everything is NORMAL! Words cannot express how happy and relieved we are. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts, prayers and support. We were given a great blessing today...and I hope this is a sign of more good news to come!
Friday, November 16, 2012
UofM Apppointment
As most of you know I had my second appointment with UofM yesterday. Our day consisted of meeting with genetic counseling, having an ultrasound, getting a fetal echo and meeting with the surgeon. We had went into this day feeling good, ready to get some questions answered and see our little girl again. We left feeling quite deflated as we didn't get the exact news that we were hoping for (that all looked the same as before and she is developing well).
Our first appointment was the one that knocked us off our socks. We met with the genetic counselor who sat with us to take family history, discuss some testing options, etc. Kyle and I both decided before going into this meeting that we did not want to test to see if Sloan had any other abnormalities. We communicated that to the counselor and she supported our decision. After that meeting we went to do an ultrasound. During that ultrasound the doctor came in and pointed out to us that they discovered some fluid on Sloan's left kidney. They said it's of moderate concern, fluid level was at an 11, mild concern is when the level is at 5 - 6 and high concern is when the level is at 15 or more. Right now they are unsure what this means for her kidney. The tissue around the fluid looks healthy and her right kidney is perfectly fine. They also re-assured us that anyone can function normally with only one kidney if needed. What concerned them the most was now she has two major organs not developing/functioning appropriately (heart & kidney). This puts up a a red flag to them that there could possibly be something else larger going on (chromosomal disorder). If it's anything, they think that it would most likely be down syndrome. They gave us the option to do an amnio or a blood draw to confirm for sure. The amnio being able to test for all chromosomes, the blood draw being able to test for the major three (down syndrome, chromosome 13 & 18). We were shocked, scared and heart broken once again. We left that meeting in tears and unsure of what the right next step was.
The remainder of our appointments went how we wished the entire day would have gone. The OBs let me know that they will induce me at 39 weeks (no set date yet) and that I will need to be in Ann Arbor at 38 weeks seeing as I came two weeks early with Drake. The plan will be for me to deliver vaginally unless of course there is a need for a c-section (like any delivery), after birth they will take Sloan and check her out, get her started on a few meds and ensure she is stable and then bring her right to us so we can hold her. The cardiologist said that there are no changes in her heart (positive thing) and that she doesn't anticipate that there will be any at this point. The surgeon, Dr. Bove, was amazing and spent so much time with us answering our questions and describing what the procedures will consist of. He also was the only one who finally gave us their recommendation on if we should do an amnio or the blood test or nothing. We had been asking each person all day what we should do and kept getting the answer that it's a personal decision. Dr. Bove was the one to reduce the anxiety and stress on our shoulders and advise us on what he thought was best. I don't think he knows how much we appreciated someone being upfront with us - but I hope to be able to tell him one day.
So, as you can tell, we did the blood work. Knowing this would test for the three major concerns and is less invasive/risky for the baby than an amnio. Now we wait...around 10 days we should have the results back. When we started this journey with Sloan I had no idea that we would hit more roadblocks. My thought, or I guess my hope, was that we'd attack this heart hurdle when we got to it. But I guess we are being challenged a bit before then. We had just now gotten to the point that we felt comfortable with her heart defect and what needed to happen. Then it seems like our world came crashing down again. I'm just not sure how much more this little baby can take - seems so unfair.
They have told us the odds are in our favor that this will come back clear. Around a 10 - 15% chance that it will show another issue. And Dr. Bove also said it's extremely odd for this heart defect to be linked to something else. But I can't help but sit and worry that our luck hasn't been good so far and that while the chance is small there is a chance. I am trying to stay optimistic and strong for Sloan but it is constantly in the back of my head and I know each time I hear the phone ring my gut will drop.
Please keep Sloan in your thoughts and pray with us that these results come back clean.
Sloan's Stats this week:
- 27 weeks & 6 days on 11/15
- heart rate: 153
- 3 lbs 1 oz (91st %) - she's a big...growing girl! :)
Our first appointment was the one that knocked us off our socks. We met with the genetic counselor who sat with us to take family history, discuss some testing options, etc. Kyle and I both decided before going into this meeting that we did not want to test to see if Sloan had any other abnormalities. We communicated that to the counselor and she supported our decision. After that meeting we went to do an ultrasound. During that ultrasound the doctor came in and pointed out to us that they discovered some fluid on Sloan's left kidney. They said it's of moderate concern, fluid level was at an 11, mild concern is when the level is at 5 - 6 and high concern is when the level is at 15 or more. Right now they are unsure what this means for her kidney. The tissue around the fluid looks healthy and her right kidney is perfectly fine. They also re-assured us that anyone can function normally with only one kidney if needed. What concerned them the most was now she has two major organs not developing/functioning appropriately (heart & kidney). This puts up a a red flag to them that there could possibly be something else larger going on (chromosomal disorder). If it's anything, they think that it would most likely be down syndrome. They gave us the option to do an amnio or a blood draw to confirm for sure. The amnio being able to test for all chromosomes, the blood draw being able to test for the major three (down syndrome, chromosome 13 & 18). We were shocked, scared and heart broken once again. We left that meeting in tears and unsure of what the right next step was.
The remainder of our appointments went how we wished the entire day would have gone. The OBs let me know that they will induce me at 39 weeks (no set date yet) and that I will need to be in Ann Arbor at 38 weeks seeing as I came two weeks early with Drake. The plan will be for me to deliver vaginally unless of course there is a need for a c-section (like any delivery), after birth they will take Sloan and check her out, get her started on a few meds and ensure she is stable and then bring her right to us so we can hold her. The cardiologist said that there are no changes in her heart (positive thing) and that she doesn't anticipate that there will be any at this point. The surgeon, Dr. Bove, was amazing and spent so much time with us answering our questions and describing what the procedures will consist of. He also was the only one who finally gave us their recommendation on if we should do an amnio or the blood test or nothing. We had been asking each person all day what we should do and kept getting the answer that it's a personal decision. Dr. Bove was the one to reduce the anxiety and stress on our shoulders and advise us on what he thought was best. I don't think he knows how much we appreciated someone being upfront with us - but I hope to be able to tell him one day.
So, as you can tell, we did the blood work. Knowing this would test for the three major concerns and is less invasive/risky for the baby than an amnio. Now we wait...around 10 days we should have the results back. When we started this journey with Sloan I had no idea that we would hit more roadblocks. My thought, or I guess my hope, was that we'd attack this heart hurdle when we got to it. But I guess we are being challenged a bit before then. We had just now gotten to the point that we felt comfortable with her heart defect and what needed to happen. Then it seems like our world came crashing down again. I'm just not sure how much more this little baby can take - seems so unfair.
They have told us the odds are in our favor that this will come back clear. Around a 10 - 15% chance that it will show another issue. And Dr. Bove also said it's extremely odd for this heart defect to be linked to something else. But I can't help but sit and worry that our luck hasn't been good so far and that while the chance is small there is a chance. I am trying to stay optimistic and strong for Sloan but it is constantly in the back of my head and I know each time I hear the phone ring my gut will drop.
Please keep Sloan in your thoughts and pray with us that these results come back clean.
Sloan's Stats this week:
- 27 weeks & 6 days on 11/15
- heart rate: 153
- 3 lbs 1 oz (91st %) - she's a big...growing girl! :)
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Halloween
Halloween night this year we spent at the hospital passing out candy to nurses, doctors, hospital staff and visitors. Drake and his cousins had a blast dressing up and putting smiles on the faces of those in a place that isn't always happy. Drake was a hit in his dino costume - thanks Mimi!
Prior to Halloween this year Kyle and I carved a few pumpkins which we wanted to share. We made one for each of the kids, Drake & Sloan, and tried to have it represent each of them individually. We ended up with an old english letter D for Drake and a heart for Sloan.
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| Drake & Aiden |
Prior to Halloween this year Kyle and I carved a few pumpkins which we wanted to share. We made one for each of the kids, Drake & Sloan, and tried to have it represent each of them individually. We ended up with an old english letter D for Drake and a heart for Sloan.
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| Halloween 2012 |
Monday, November 5, 2012
Thankful
Well God has had a way of testing our family once again and showing us exactly what we should be thankful for. On Monday, October 29th my father was airlifted from South Haven Hospital to Borgess in Kalamazoo, MI. My mother had taken him in that morning as he was complaining he could not breathe. When he arrived to the hospital they could not diagnose what was going on with him. His vitals were all over the place. We quickly requested a transfer to a larger hospital and they lined up the helicopter to get him there immediately.
Kyle, my mom and myself drove up to Kalamazoo together as they loaded my father into the helicopter. We arrived shortly before he did and saw him get wheeled into the ICU. As he was wheeled past Kyle mentioned that he could hear him talking - a hugh sigh of relief passed all of us as we were so clueless to what is going on and how he faired in the helicopter. After they were able to get him situated in the ICU they allowed us back (my mom, me, Kyle my sister & her husband) so we could see/speak to him briefly before they put in the breathing tube. I had no idea at the time that it could have been the last time that I saw or spoke to him. Thankfully it is not the last time.
After what seemed like forever, we received an update that the issue was he had a UTI that then went septic putting him into multi-organ failure. The doctor told us that he was a very, very sick man and that as of now he is on life support and there is a potential he would not make it through. Since Monday, he has been fighting back and slowly but surely getting better each day.
Having spent a week with my family praying and hoping for the best it's also given me a lot of time to think about what I am thankful for....
Kyle, my mom and myself drove up to Kalamazoo together as they loaded my father into the helicopter. We arrived shortly before he did and saw him get wheeled into the ICU. As he was wheeled past Kyle mentioned that he could hear him talking - a hugh sigh of relief passed all of us as we were so clueless to what is going on and how he faired in the helicopter. After they were able to get him situated in the ICU they allowed us back (my mom, me, Kyle my sister & her husband) so we could see/speak to him briefly before they put in the breathing tube. I had no idea at the time that it could have been the last time that I saw or spoke to him. Thankfully it is not the last time.
After what seemed like forever, we received an update that the issue was he had a UTI that then went septic putting him into multi-organ failure. The doctor told us that he was a very, very sick man and that as of now he is on life support and there is a potential he would not make it through. Since Monday, he has been fighting back and slowly but surely getting better each day.
Having spent a week with my family praying and hoping for the best it's also given me a lot of time to think about what I am thankful for....
- A family that comes together to support each other no matter what
- A loving husband who has stepped up to help out however he can both emotionally & physically
- Friends who would do anything to help and support me during a time of need
- An amazing father who is a fighter and continues to show me how strong he is on a daily basis
- A wonderful son that even during the worst of times can put a smile on my face
- A mother who is beyond strong and we owe our fathers life to. If if wasn't for her getting him to the hospital so quickly, I'm not sure we'd be having the same outcome as we do now
- A brilliant set of doctors & nurses who have helped to get my dad to where he is now
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