I feel like today was such a long day. Judah did well on all his testings: Practicing breathing, moving, heart rate and so on. The goal is to stay pregnant as long as possible and today they set up all our plans for our induction date. As of right now I will be inducted on Sunday April 15th. This is a great thing because 1. It gives me more time to prepare and 2. It gives him more time so that his lungs are fully developed. Obviously this is a tentative date and could change based on lots of different variables but the main things that would change this date is if I go into labor or if he would be showing signs of distress which is partly why I have an ultra sound every week - They monitor him rather closely.
After our appointment today we took a tour of the Labor & Delivery Unit and the NICU. I think it was harder than I expected. Judy (the head nurse) was going over what everything would look like and it just became so real. She said that as soon as he comes into the world he will be brought over to this tiny little bed in the room and that there would be so many people around him that I probably wouldn't be able to see him. As soon as he is breathing and heart rate is established they would take him straight to the NICU - Without me seeing him or even touching him :*( He will be in the NICU at University Hospital for about and hour or two - thats where they will get him hooked up to all the necessary tubes, iv's and meds and then a transport team from Children's will come over and get him but before they take him to Children's the will bring him by my recovery room so that I can see him and say bye and hopefully at least touch him. From that point he will be taken to Children's CICU where they will do testing on him. Josh will be with him so I'll stay connected via phone. If all goes to plan and I can do a vaginal delivery then I should be able to go over to Children's within 5-7 hours after delivery.
As of right now we're trying to figure out accommodations after I am released from the hospital (1-2 days). Judy mentioned the Ronald McDonald House (kinda like Dorm rooms with common areas) which is located directly across the street or we could go with Extended Stay America which isn't as close but it give privacy (more like a hotel/Apartment style). Financially the Ronald McDonald house makes more sense but we're looking into both options because I personally feel like I will want/need more privacy. These are the times I wish I was a wealthy lol. Oh well! God will work it out and put us in the right place.
It was challenging to listen to "the plan" and I thought I could hold it together but unfortunately I wasn't that strong. I think seeing the delivery room and seeing the tiny little bed just made me realize how hard it's going to be. I need prayer specifically over the time of delivery. I want it to be as peaceful as possible seeing as how birth it's such a traumatic experience for babies anyway plus all the extra stuff my poor little guy has to endure. I want it to be calm, quiet and peaceful. I don't want to lose it and be a wreck and truthfully only God can help me with this.
That was our day for the most part. I do feel like we got a lot of questions answered and I am for sure feeling more prepared as far as knowing what to expect (somewhat). The hard thing is that everything could change so I'm trying not to be to invested in any "plan" other than the plan of having a baby lol. God is in control. Simple as that. Doesn't make things "easy" but it sure does make things better.
Thanks for reading and most importantly thanks for praying and believing with us! Still praying and believing that he will be healed. Notice I didn't mention any surgery or operations of any kind because I'm believing that once they get him to CICU and they do the echo that they will see a healed heart.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Update on Judah 3/5/12
Today we went back to cincy for our weekly checkup. There were several areas that I was praying for outside of our usual prayer for healing of Judah. One, that my fluid levels stay between the normal range (8-25). Two, that Judah's growth isn't so rapid that they make me take my 3rd glucose test. Three, that we wouldn't be scheduled for an induction before Easter.
For those of you wondering what I mean by "fluid levels" I mean the amniotic fluid surrounding Judah... a month ago we were told mine was to high and if it didn't decrease then my induction date could be set for 4/2 (37 weeks). They recommended a diabetic diet based on Judah's size and my high fluid levels. Well, I did of course what most people do and went home and googled "high amniotic fluid" and I freaked myself out. I was so overwhelmed and to be honest and emotional wreck about it. So I started my new diet and I'm not gonna lie it has been a massive challenge! The positive, as most of you know is that I've only gained 1 pound in 35 days. So back to the story, 3 weeks ago my fluid levels were at 27. Then 2 weeks ago my fluid levels were at 27.8 then last week my fluid levels were down to 22 (They want it between 8-25)! Obviously I was excited to hear that it had dropped since this was a huge concern for me! Today my fluid levels were up a bit at 25.5 and as long as it doesn't keep going up then my induction date will most likely be after 4/9 :D Excessive fluid can bring extra complications so please be praying that mine stay within the normal range! We don't need any extra "complications".
Judah weighed in today at 5lbs 6oz which means that even though he is still "big" for his age he isn't gaining weight at the same pace! This is really great! We want him to be a good size but his weight today made it so they didn't make me retest for gestational diabetes and also they said he looked good in size which is a first. He is doing everything he is suppose to be doing and as far as he is concerned he doesn't have a problem in the world... he's just perfect.
We met a new Doctor today who we absolutely loved! Please pray that he is the delivering doctor! He was so kind and humble and introduced himself as "Jim"- thats a rarity... He's the first one that didn't put the "Doctor" in front of his name.
As of right now everything looks good and we are hopefully planning for an induction after Easter. The Doctors did mention that with higher fluid I could end up going into labor before and if I do I need to call the head nurse as soon as we were on our way because there are so many specialists that will need to be called in for his delivery and if I felt like I can't make the drive to go to my local hospital and have them transport me to Cincy... it all seems so dramatic! She also mentioned that there might be some concern for me to have a vaginal delivery but I'm praying she is wrong. We did ask the head Doctor in Cardiology at Children's and he said that it would be fine but I'm not sure if that changed since he had to talk to his colleagues about Judah's case. I really do desire to have a vaginal delivery and it would make my recovery quicker. If (God forbid) I had to have a c-section it would be even longer that I would be away from Judah if God doesn't heal him. With vaginal delivery I would be able to see him (where ever he may be) within a couple hours.
Please pray for me as I put together somewhat of a birth plan. It's been an emotional roller coaster and the thought of not being able to see Judah for hours after delivery is seriously breaking my heart. I know many parents out there have gone through similar situations and they made it through just fine but I can only experience my life and walk in my own shoes so forgive me if I don't necessarily feel "comforted" by your stories. They are encouraging but in that moment I will not be thinking of you and your story... I'll be thinking about my baby and how badly I want to hold him or even just see him.
Again believing for God to intervene and show His glory. I know many people who have no faith in God and think I'm crazy for believing in Him for this kind of miracle but I KNOW my God is ABLE. I've seen the power of God in my own life and the lives of my loved ones. If God doesn't heal Judah that doesn't make Him less powerful or less mighty it just means there is purpose beyond our scope of understanding. I trust God with all I am and all I have... I know He provides the strength, provision and grace to endure any trail. There is no one like Him. Proud to be His and honored to call Him mine.
For those of you wondering what I mean by "fluid levels" I mean the amniotic fluid surrounding Judah... a month ago we were told mine was to high and if it didn't decrease then my induction date could be set for 4/2 (37 weeks). They recommended a diabetic diet based on Judah's size and my high fluid levels. Well, I did of course what most people do and went home and googled "high amniotic fluid" and I freaked myself out. I was so overwhelmed and to be honest and emotional wreck about it. So I started my new diet and I'm not gonna lie it has been a massive challenge! The positive, as most of you know is that I've only gained 1 pound in 35 days. So back to the story, 3 weeks ago my fluid levels were at 27. Then 2 weeks ago my fluid levels were at 27.8 then last week my fluid levels were down to 22 (They want it between 8-25)! Obviously I was excited to hear that it had dropped since this was a huge concern for me! Today my fluid levels were up a bit at 25.5 and as long as it doesn't keep going up then my induction date will most likely be after 4/9 :D Excessive fluid can bring extra complications so please be praying that mine stay within the normal range! We don't need any extra "complications".
Judah weighed in today at 5lbs 6oz which means that even though he is still "big" for his age he isn't gaining weight at the same pace! This is really great! We want him to be a good size but his weight today made it so they didn't make me retest for gestational diabetes and also they said he looked good in size which is a first. He is doing everything he is suppose to be doing and as far as he is concerned he doesn't have a problem in the world... he's just perfect.
We met a new Doctor today who we absolutely loved! Please pray that he is the delivering doctor! He was so kind and humble and introduced himself as "Jim"- thats a rarity... He's the first one that didn't put the "Doctor" in front of his name.
As of right now everything looks good and we are hopefully planning for an induction after Easter. The Doctors did mention that with higher fluid I could end up going into labor before and if I do I need to call the head nurse as soon as we were on our way because there are so many specialists that will need to be called in for his delivery and if I felt like I can't make the drive to go to my local hospital and have them transport me to Cincy... it all seems so dramatic! She also mentioned that there might be some concern for me to have a vaginal delivery but I'm praying she is wrong. We did ask the head Doctor in Cardiology at Children's and he said that it would be fine but I'm not sure if that changed since he had to talk to his colleagues about Judah's case. I really do desire to have a vaginal delivery and it would make my recovery quicker. If (God forbid) I had to have a c-section it would be even longer that I would be away from Judah if God doesn't heal him. With vaginal delivery I would be able to see him (where ever he may be) within a couple hours.
Please pray for me as I put together somewhat of a birth plan. It's been an emotional roller coaster and the thought of not being able to see Judah for hours after delivery is seriously breaking my heart. I know many parents out there have gone through similar situations and they made it through just fine but I can only experience my life and walk in my own shoes so forgive me if I don't necessarily feel "comforted" by your stories. They are encouraging but in that moment I will not be thinking of you and your story... I'll be thinking about my baby and how badly I want to hold him or even just see him.
Again believing for God to intervene and show His glory. I know many people who have no faith in God and think I'm crazy for believing in Him for this kind of miracle but I KNOW my God is ABLE. I've seen the power of God in my own life and the lives of my loved ones. If God doesn't heal Judah that doesn't make Him less powerful or less mighty it just means there is purpose beyond our scope of understanding. I trust God with all I am and all I have... I know He provides the strength, provision and grace to endure any trail. There is no one like Him. Proud to be His and honored to call Him mine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)