Neonatology Appointment At Good Sam

Good Morning Everyone!  Last Friday I went with mommy and daddy to Good Sam to meet with the neonatology unit to talk about my birth.  After about 2 minutes the doctor was already in tears!  Even before mommy...that is a record!  Then of course mommy started crying.  The doctors were impressed with my mommy and daddy because they had 3 pages of notes they wanted to discuss about me.  I definitely am loved!  We talked about what kind of birth to do, my feeding, my spine, my heart, and a lot more.  The doctors wanted to know if mommy was going to try to breast feed and whether or not they wanted to do feeding tubes if I was having trouble feeding.  Some parents think it's artificial and don't want to do that.  They discussed that yes they wanted to give me any kind of food I would be able to take.  Then we discussed c-section birth vs. vaginal birth.  The doctors have all told us that it would be fine for me to be delivered without a c-section as long as I turn...I am still breech.  I am trying to turn.  My little bottom is just a little big.  It's like daddy's so I am having a hard time turning.  :)  Heehee!  My daddy's friends used to call him Beef because of his big rump.  :)  We also discussed my spine.  According to the tests I have Spina Bifada which may need to be fixed once out of the womb.  The doctors couldn't really detect it on the ultra sound though.  So the seriousness of it is unknown.  We also discussed whether or not mommy and daddy would do CPR if I was not breathing.  They discussed they would do anything that would bring me comfort and peace and help me to breathe, but wouldn't do extreme measures to prolong my life that would inflict pain.  If Jesus is ready to take me, then they would just have to let go and let God's will be done...knowing that God has already set in motion all the days of my life!  I know that is hard for mommy and daddy to think about, but also so comforting to know that my life is to bring God glory whether how long or short.  :) 

Mommy and I ate oatmeal this morning and she read me a gospel narrative out of her book:  The Gospel Primer.  Here is what she read:

So wonderfully caring
is God ev'ry day,
Creating, sustaining
your life Isaiah ev'ry way.
Each breath you intake,
ev'ry beat of your heart,
All pleasures well-tasted
are His to impart.
Indeed, for such blessings
He should be adored
And honored supremely
as eminent Lord.

"For You formed my (Isaiah's) inward parts; You wove me (him) in my mother's womb.  I will give thanks to You, for I  (Isaiah) are fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.  My (Isaiah's) frame was not hidden from You, when I (Isaiah) was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my (Isaiah's) unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me (Isaiah), when as yet there was not one of them"  Psalm 139:  13-16.

Keep praying for me!  I will be coming to meet you all soon!  Less than 7 weeks!  Unless I decide to take my time!  It's quite comfy in here.  I am not sure what it will be like out there!  Plus I am enjoying all of this great food!  Somehow I don't think they will be feeding me Chipotle in my feeding tube!

Fetal Echo

Hello everybody!  Yesterday I spent 3 hours at the doctor getting a fetal echo on my heart.  It looks like I have a hole in my heart.  Although this is not so good news, it really isn't the worse news we have received.  See I guess what causes many babies with Trisomy 18 not to live isn't their heart, kidneys, feet, hands, etc, it is actually the fact that they have a hard time breathing and feeding once leaving the mommy's tummy.  So basically if I get to go home with mommy and daddy, I could just stop breathing at any time.  As the doctors and others were sharing the news with mommy and daddy, mommy held it together for about 5 minutes and then broke into tears again.  So the doctor had to give her some tissues.  She is trying to be a trooper, but I know this is all very hard for her to hear.  It looks like I have gained a little weight, but am still under the growth that is normal at this point in time.  I am weighing about 2 lbs 10 oz give or take a few ounces and should be more like 3.75 pounds.   Yesterday I turned 8 months!  Nobody can believe mommy is that far along because she is so small.  Just between us, I know she wants to get bigger fast!  So pray that her belly shoots out because I am growing so big! 

My mommy went to register at Buy Buy Baby the other day with her friend Ashley.  Ashley helped her pick out some great stuff for me.  I hope I can use it!  Keep praying that I can.  It all looks like so much fun!  Pray for a miracle to happen these next two months that would just floor the doctors.  That would be so great to see wouldn't it!  Also pray for mommy and daddy this week.  We have 2 doctors appointments.  The one on Friday will be with the Neonatal  unit at Good Sam.  Pray that God helps my mommy and daddy make wise decisions about my birth. 

Thank you for praying for me and fighting for me.  I love you all very much!  Thank you for being there for mommy and daddy too and praying for them!

7 1/2 Months

Hello everyone!  Thank you for joining our blog.  Mommy says she wants you all to know how I am doing along the way and you will be able to follow it on here and be praying for me!  Today I had a very low key day.  Mommy and daddy have been really into couponing.  So I spent a lot of time couponing with mommy.  It was very boring actually.  :)  I was quite a bit active today, but I am trying not to kick as much.  It makes mommy jump.  I began to move around after mommy had her lunch and daddy put his hand on me.  I moved a little just for him so he could feel me too!  Lunch was really good.  I had brown rice with chicken and veggies...oh and lots of cheese...mommy and I love cheese!  We also love potato chips, but shhh!  Mommy told me not to tell.  She knows it isn't very healthy.  Tomorrow we were suppose to go to Bethesda to do an echo on my heart, but they rescheduled it for Friday at Children's Hospital.  So you can be praying for me.  It will be at 8:30.  The doctors are going to look at my heart and tell mommy and daddy what is going on with it.  It feels fine to me! I sure hope they don't press that tool on my head again.  That hurt.  I decided to give them a run for their money last time because they were chasing me around with that thing.  I heard them laughing.    Then mommy said I was rebellious just like daddy.  Well mommy just fed me a fruit bar so it's time for me to bounce around a little and then off for a nap again.  :)  Pray for me.  I am growing, but it seems the doctors don't think I am growing fast enough.  Tell mommy I need more french fries.  That will fatten me up.  :)  Thank you for loving me and praying for me!  Don't forget...I am fearfully and wonderfully made...despite what the doctors may think!!!!  They just don't understand God's creation, that's all.  We all come in different packages.  Good Night!