Baby Girl Update

After a busy week and working probably more than full-time, minus the 3 physician visits we had, we continue to have good outcomes and news to share.

• Final results from the amnio are all normal/negative
• Infection testing and spina bifida advanced testing - negative/normal
• Ophthalmologist visit for visual fields and optic nerve pressure - normal
• Weekly ultrasounds, dopplers, and non-stress tests (NST) - good

As part of my weekly visits with maternal fetal medicine they are now conducting a BPP or biophysical profile - essentially baby girl has 30 minutes to complete a number of different of activities and each are assigned a number. Best score is 10 and anything above an 8 is considered passing. Score below an 8, and we have to repeat the next day to continue monitoring her overall stress level and function. This week, she passed, just in the nick of time. One thing she must do is 'practice' breathing for at least 30 seconds within the 30 minute window. (The things I'm learning). Long story short she decided to give it a whirl right as time was coming to a close. Gotta love that.

Many of you has asked how much does she weigh and I promised to get an update this past week - happy to report she's weighing in at a whopping 2 pounds, which is approximately a 10 ounce gain over 3.5 weeks ago.  Could be better, could be worse - so we're going with grateful there is still gaining going on. Fluid is now slowly diminishing but to be expected starting at 32 weeks, so we're just starting a bit early:)

So, next week. First and foremost my sister, Liz, and her family are coming to KC for the weekend to hang out and so that we can celebrate her birthday - so excited for that! Following the excitement in addition to the 2 weekly physician appointments, I will be getting an MRI to help rule out the cause of my ongoing headaches. Everyone is assuming it will be normal, so hoping the procedure is easy, breezy and I don't feel claustrophobic. 

You all realize at this point what good friends we now are with United Health Care and how grateful we are to have the health insurance that is providing us with affordable answers and options (Go Kiewit!). Our job now is to wait and be patient for the best possible delivery at the most optimal time. What the physicians are finally concluding is that I have a placental problem, caused by what - we're not sure - so we monitor and monitor and monitor in hopes of catching when it decides to fail. Which can happen at any moment, it is this event or the loss of too much fluid that will drive the arrival of baby girl. Could be next week, could be 4 weeks from now, but for now we know that for everyday she stays inside we save ourselves 3 days in the NICU.

So the monitoring will continue and we'll continue to be so thankful for each and everyday that we get and every small ounce that she gains!

Hugs all around!

Inspiration

My mom forwarded me one of her daily devotions today - which was obviously meant for our family. After another few hours at the doctor this afternoon, more diagnosis have been ruled out - and so the cycle continues. Good news = more answers = less answers = frustration for the doctors. This little girl is making them work hard for their degrees - gotta love her endurance!

The verse below defines our journey and our faith today - for this is what we know!

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 

'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future.'" 

Jeremiah 29:11

No News is Good News

Late Friday afternoon we received the initial results from the amnio and the results were negative/normal, so a good cause for celebration! Patrick, Georgia and I enjoyed a quiet, celebratory dinner with grandma and grandpa and relaxed just a bit. We now wait for full results at the end of this week, but remain optimistic that results will be normal.

Friday turned into a whirl-wind day between the test results and a growing infection for Uncle Jimmy. Patrick was expecting to travel to South Dakota sometime over the weekend, but as life would have it, although Jim's test results continue to indicate declining kidney function, his spirits are high and he is enjoying a revolving door of visitors, including Grandma Adeline.

So, for now, Patrick continues to manage the homefront, cooking, cleaning, chauffering GA and me around town and working on the long list of prep items for baby girl. He even managed to squeeze in a 5K for brain cancer on Sunday morning with very limited training and crossed the finish line in 25 minutes. Nice work dad!

My office is now closer than ever to home, literally 2 minutes and baby girl is now 30 weeks young, a milestone some thought we might never approach a month ago. And yet, here we go - probably good for another 10 weeks!

Baby Cisar Update

So, after another long week of waiting, we don't have a ton of news to share. What we know is that sweet baby girl is a little more than 3 weeks behind on growth, is symmetrically small (meaning she's just small all over), my fluid diminished by just a bit, and she appears to be getting what she needs through the cord. This is somewhat different from what we knew before - although we thought she was symmetrically small - in fact her legs were further behind in growth - but as of today - they are are measuring closer to all of her other organs and limbs, which is good news (hoping we can rule out the dwarfism factor).

As a result, after continued encouragement from the doctor, we went ahead and had an amniocentesis, which went well. We will have the initial results late Friday afternoon - this will include definitive answers on downs syndrome and 3 other mutations. The additional infection and other chromosomal results will take a few more weeks. With the ultimate objective to help prepare us as much as possible for her arrival.

Dr. George Lu performed our consult and testing today and was great (as my good friend Amy can attest). He is still saying his top 3 choices are placental, placental, placental but that we don't want to be surprised about anything during the delivery. Never thought I would pray so hard for a weak placenta (given all of the other choices, just seems so much easier:) And so we will continue to pray for patience and understanding each day as we await the results, knowing this is out of our hands.

My advanced rest will continue as my office moves very close to our home, which will be a blessing. God definitely works in mysterious ways. I know so many of you continue to pray for our growing family and we feel so blessed. Thank you - thank you. Hugs to everyone -

Uncle Jimmy Update

Yesterday, Uncle Jimmy, for the first time since June, was transported back to Scotland, from Sioux Falls. He made some good progress over the past couple of weeks and watched out the window of the ambulance during the ride back home. For the next couple of weeks he will be at the hospital in a swingbed until a space opens up at the nursing home.

Unfortunately, but probably somewhat expected, the activities of the day ended with the onset of another fever. Another chest x-ray will help to monitor any new or building fluid and another round of antibiotics will treat the suspected virus.

Despite this minor set-back, we're hopeful that being closer to home is just what Jimmy needs today. We're guessing his room will be full of friends and familiar faces and much of the support he'll need for so many months to come. Godspeed Uncle Jim - we're all grateful for your return to Scotland and familiar surroundings. We love you.

Aunt Kate comes to spend the weekend

Last weekend, while dad was out of town visiting Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Kate came to entertain Georgia. And entertain she did from the park to the zoo to chocolate covered bananas...they had a good time. Not sure who was more tired by Saturday evening.

Thanks for the fab meals and extra rest Katy!

Carousel at the Zoo

Georgia gets big girl bed

Baby Girl Cisar Update

At 28 weeks, 5 days, baby girl Cisar is anxious to test her parents. After weeks of insisting on remaining petite, she is now insisting on rest for her mother. Everyone assured us that our second child would be laid back - 'easy breezy.' So far, she's not upholding this reputation. Next Wednesday is her next growth scan and we are praying for what will be considered considerable/significant growth.

In the meantime, we are continuing to work through a number of tests to get additional information and answers to help prepare for her arrival. And practicing what seems like endless days of patience.

We are so blessed to have so many close and supportive family members and friends. We cannot thank you enough for all of the prayers and continual thoughts that you are all sending our way - it makes the load lighter and thank you does not seem like enough. We love you all and this baby girl and look forward to meeting her - hopefully later, than sooner.