Last three Dr Appointments

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I am not the best at keeping a journal! I guess I need to update everyone on the last three visits to the doctors. Balancing the many appointments with work and our home life is getting tough, but worth it. The Doctors are doing an outstanding job on keeping up with Gabe and how he is growing. The visits haven't been very eventful, but normal and uneventful in this situation is wonderful news!

On May 11th, I went to see Dr. Parra, the Cardiologist. He performed another echo on Gabe's heart. With Gabe's growth, it was much easier to look at his heart and arteries a little better. Although his heart is still unchanged, we did get some news. With his transposition of the arteries, it was first thought that they would have to switch his two main arteries back to the way they should be. (in case you don't remember, his aorta and superior vena cava are transposed). But it turns out that his aorta is large enough to do the job of the vena cava and they will leave them as is. This is one less detail to work on in surgery. It also increases the possibility that his first surgery won't have to be open heart with bypass. They can do the Taussig shunt procedure through an incision on the right side of his back. An echo upon birth will determine this more clearly. We also found a VSD (ventricular septal defect). This is a hole or opening between two of his lower chambers. Typically, this isn't a good thing, but in his case it helps the blood flow into the right side of his heart. I am not sure if this is something that we will have to deal with later with his other two surgeries. Dr. Parra said that he was happy with the results of today's visit and he seemed much more optimistic than our last visit. We really felt good when we left his office. He said that he would not have to see Gabe anymore until the day of his birth. So that's one less appointment to worry about!

After this appointment, one of the Vanderbilt social workers took us on an indepth tour of the NICU (where he'll be upon birth), the PICU (where he'll be after surgery), the 6th floor (where he'll be right before going home), the surgical waiting room, and the Labor and Delivery wing at the Medical Center. I had heard stories about the distance between the labor and delivery rooms to the Childrens Hospital, but upon taking the walk, it wasn't bad at all. I had a bit of a hard time in the PICU. The reality of the situation really set in. It was tough seeing the babies and children recovering from heart surgeries or waiting for transplants. I wondered about the fairness of it all. Why them?? It's heartwrenching. But I realized that it is not my place to question the Lord. There is always a reason. Even if its one we will never understand. I just need to continue to have faith in him solely. To let him carry the burden and trust that regardless of what happens, he loves us unconditionally. I will never give up on a miracle.

On May 19th, we went to see the high risk OB at Vanderbilt. They performed an in-depth ultrasound. We got to see so much of the little guy! He has gained a little over a pound. He weighs 3 lbs and 6 oz so far. He is not as big according to the growth chart. Last month he was at 73% in growth. This month he is only 36%. But the doctor was still very happy with his growth. She said that the percentile will fluctuate a lot in utero. We'll have to wait and see what its like next month! The best part of this visit was that we got to see a clear close up of his face!!! And Let me tell you....he is soooo stinkin cute!!! He looks a lot like Jessie. But his cheeks are a little chubbier and he definitely has my nose (poor guy). He seems to have my mouth too, but Jeff's dimple chin. I cried when I saw him. He looked a little pouty about being disturbed. It was so cute! Besides seeing his little cherub face, they looked at his everything. And he seems to be growing well. His limbs were proportioned correctly for his size and weight and with the rest of his body. I will go back for follow up next month.

On May 21st, I went for my "every two week" appointment with Dr. Brown. This is the fastest and easiest of all appointments thus far. They simply keep up with the typical OB type stuff. Weight, size of my belly and they listen to his heart rate. It was in the 140's. You would never know...
We discussed the non-stress tests again. They will begin soon. So that will mean that I will be going to see him twice a week. Initially, it was going to be at 32 weeks but they are going to wait until I am around 33-34 weeks. I am currently 30 weeks. These tests will monitor Gabe a little closer to make sure that he is moving, swallowing, etc. as he should be.

Well folks, there you have it, a recap of the past two weeks. Fairly uneventful, but no news is always good news in Gabe's case. I also want to add in closing, that my thoughts and prayers go out to the Bibb family, whose little boy, Ethan, passed away last weekend from a long battle with cancer. He was a very courageous little boy. No parent should have to bury their child. I pray that the Lord keep them strong in the minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years to come.

A Wonderful Mothers Day Weekend

What a great weekend we had! On Saturday Jeff and I along with my parents and Jeff's mom went to the American Red Cross to get certified in Infant/Child CPR. Despite some joking around from Jeff that I had probably allowed my dummy to suffer severe brain damage for forgetting to hold his nose while blowing into his mouth, it went pretty well. The class was interrupted briefly by the Mayor, the Governor and the Director of Homeland Security, Janet Napolatino and their visit/ photo opp at the American Red Cross. Some in the class where really excited. I'm glad it made their day.

On Sunday, Jeff and Jessie surprised me with my beautiful gift! They planted a variety of Dahlia's into a planter for our back patio. As you can see they are gorgeous. And Jessie was so proud even though she admitted that her daddy really bought them and did most of the planting. It was a wonderful day. There was a time in my life when I questioned whether or not I was ever going to become a mother. Despite how badly I wanted it, I thought that it wasn't in God's plan for me. Then Jeff came along and completely changed my life. I am so blessed to have been chosen as the mother of my two children and wife to my husband. They are truly special in their own way. Although, Gabe hasn't quite made an entrance into this world, I feel that I already know him so well. My family is my world and there is no better or more rewarding job than to be a mother.

Below is a poem that was posted on one of the blogs I've been following. I felt that it couldn't be more accurate of what it feels like to have a child with CHD. It reads:

The Day I became a 'Heart Mother' by Stephanie Husted

One day my world came crashing down, I’ll never be the same...They told me that my child was sick...
I thought, am I to blame? I don't think I can handle this...
I'm really not that strong... It seemed my heart was breaking...As, I'd loved him for so long.
I will not give up on this child... Despite your best "advice"... I will give my child a chance...
No matter what the price... And I will learn all that I need... To help my child to thrive...
I'll even use that feeding tube... My child will survive!
Will he require therapy? What if he can't gain weight?
Alright God I can do this... I will not curse our fate.
The feeding pump beeps, (at 3:00 a.m.) It serves as my reminder...
How many parents would welcome that sound? Tomorrow Lord, I will be kinder.
Another angel earns their wings... and I run to my sleeping child's bed...
I watch him then, for quite awhile... (Bend down and kiss his head)
Then I cry for the parent's whose lives have been broken, and I look to God wondering why?
Oh Lord, I just can't know your ways... No matter how I try.
And yet, I trust YOU hold his life, (and guide us through each day)
My mind says savor each moment he's here... But my heart whispers, “Please let him stay”.
From... pacing the surgical waiting room... to sitting by his hospital bed...
From... Wishing for a good night’s sleep... to learning every med...
From... wondering will he be alright? To watching him reach out his hands...
with every smile, my heart just melts... (despite life's harsh demands)
For all who see that faded line... I look to them and smile... You see my child is loved so much...
I would face any trial... That same scar I trace with my finger... (It's the door to his beautiful heart)
I never guessed how much I'd love him... (Just as YOU loved him right from the start)
A heart mom is always a heart mom... (Now wise beyond her years)
And for those who have angels in heaven... Our hearts share in all of your tears...
Every day I will strive to remember...
You chose me for him (and no other)
and I will embrace that beautiful day...
When I became a "heart mother".

The Flood

Jeff and I wanted to post that our thoughts and prayers go out to all that have suffered a loss in the devastating flood. We were very lucky in White House. I am so proud to say that I am a Tennessean. Our state and its people have really shown an immense amount of class in the face of such a tragedy. Their resilience and determination to overcome this devastation should truly be applauded.

I have attached a few pictures of the flooding in downtown Nashville. I took these from my office window the Monday after the rain had moved out. The first is of the Cumberland River. At this stage it was still rising.

This next one is of the Cumberland River at Riverfront Park. Across from LP Field. The parking lot at LP was completely underwater and the water was making its way to the field.

The one below is of the Farmer's Market on 8th Ave.

28 Week OB Appointment

I went for my first of many appointments this month. This was just a normal obstetrical visit with Dr. Brown. It was basically uneventful. Considering the emotional havoc of previous doctor's visits, I'd have to say that uneventful is great!!! We discussed the non-stress tests I will have beginning at 32 weeks. And also the aches and pains that I have begun to feel that I seemed to have blocked out from my pregnancy with Jessie. It is all so worth it! I cannot wait to meet my little mini-Moose! He moves around so much now. It's really neat to watch my belly jump and pop. Probably more neat to me than the average person because it's a reminder that Gabe is thriving and doing so well. So, I'm still gaining weight with no end in sight! Dr. Brown says my gain is great, but between us, I feel like I am the size of 3 huge men! My belly is measuring normal and the baby's heart rate is in the 140's. So all looks great! I go back in two weeks. Of course I will see two other doctors before then, so more updates will follow!