Just a few more days...

It seems my amniotic fluid has increased to 10 since Monday.  This is a good sign and it looks like Monday the 6th will be the big day! We are very anxious (especially me) and hope that everything goes smoothly.  We also pray that Adriana's tests go well next week, as well as her bodily functions outside of my womb.

Anxiously waiting for another sister to play and cuddle with...

July 30th appointments

It looks as if I've gained a little fluid over the past couple of days (or perhaps it was just the position she was laying in).  Although the doctors seem to be less worried, Matt and I will still need to go back to Baltimore on Thursday for yet another monitoring appointment.  At this point, we are pretty tired of that place and the traveling! Wouldn't it be nice if i just went into labor Thursday instead of having to leave just to come right back on Sunday night?!  I'm not holding my breath though...

Update

Today we ventured to Baltimore for another scan and more monitoring.  It seems as if my amniotic fluid level has not increased or decreased since Tuesday's appointment.  Unfortunately, since it is still borderline (low), I will need to be scanned every couple of days until she is born (unless it increases).  Matt and I must go back to UMMC on Monday.  Meanwhile, Adriana seems like she has not a care in the world--she continues to be quite rambunctious.

Since growth is obviously not a problem, we have no updates on that--I'm just praying she won't be a ten-pounder.

July 24th appointments... Is it August yet?

Adriana is still above average in size, and we're eager to meet her!

Today we took a tour of the NICU, and it eased our minds.  Originally, I had dreaded what it would be like--with all the tubes, sick babies, and strangers.  When I pictured it, I constantly had that lump of worry in the back of my throat.  I pictured the worst for Adriana.  I'm happy to say I am no longer freaking out about her well-being in the NICU, however.  When we visited, it was a very quiet and soothing environment with lots of friendly nurses tending to each tiny baby carefully.  In fact, we didn't even hear one baby cry the entire time, and they all seemed to be comfy and cozy in their incubators.

We were also set up with a social worker who has reserved us a room at the Ronald McDonald House.  It's not very far from the hospital.  This way, we can have a comfortable bed to sleep in (for $15/night!) close to Adriana who will have to stay in the NICU for at least 72 hours after birth for monitoring.  During that time, the cardiologists will be able to give a more definitive diagnosis of Adriana's heart defects, and make a final decision on treatment and surgery.

Unfortunately, there was some troubling news today.  My amniotic fluid looks as if it has decreased (although by a small margin) and we must go back to UMMC on Friday as a precaution.  It could be nothing, but we're not taking any chances.  I will be monitored on a machine to make sure Adriana is doing ok in there, and make sure that I won't be going into labor before my induction date.

July 17th Appointments

Adriana is now measuring 6 pounds, 11 ounces with 3 more weeks to go until induction day!  Please keep in mind, measurements could be plus or minus a pound.  Regardless--at the rate she's growing she'll most likely be larger than Tateum and Cameron were at birth (7, 5 and 7, 6).

My amniotic fluid has stayed at about the same level in the last couple weeks.  It has not decreased, Adriana is growing, and she has passed all physical exams during the ultrasound with flying colors.  CAFCA will continue to monitor fluid levels weekly, but are fairly confident that there is nothing to worry about.

We are waiting impatiently for August...

July 3rd Appointments

In just 2 weeks, Adriana has grown from 4 pounds, 4 ounces to 5 pounds, 12 ounces!  Amazing.  CAFCA docs were excited by this, but were troubled that her Amniotic fluid has gone from 13.5 to 6.1 in the last 2 weeks.  Although 6.1 is in the "normal" range, they're concerned about what may have caused such a rapid decrease in fluid.  The doctors in Hagerstown and UMMC will be monitoring me, Adriana, and the Amniotic fluid, making sure I'm not leaking as well as making sure Adriana is urinating at a normal rate.
Matt and I met the Dr. Alger, who will be delivering Adriana at UMMC.  She seems like a very nice lady, and is taking all precautions.  We are all set up with an induction date on AUGUST 6 (provided that fluid levels stay in the normal range and I don't have to go sooner)!

*I will not have to have a C-Section.  Natural labor will not affect Adriana adversely.

June 18th Appointments

According to CAFCA and Dr. Chaves, Adriana's heart looks the same and is pumping beautifully. It's still "wait and see how the right ventrical functions after birth". However, she's growing at a faster rate than before!  Previously, she was in the 20-35% range for size, and now she's 51%--measuring 4 pounds and 4 ounces!  I'm looking forward to her arrival and it can't come soon enough! 

All Things Happen For A Reason

I found this story while doing some research for Adriana.  I'll warn you ahead of time--it's a bit emotional.  But somehow it's uplifting.  It's a story which depicts God carefully choosing parents for each child after much consideration.  Every year 25,000 couples become parents of children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and I hope that they read this--along with other parents with special needs children.  We hope to live up to the standards of this narrative.

*  *  *

"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint, Matthew. Forrest, Michael,
daughter, patron saint, Cecilia. "Rudledge, Carrie and Adam, twins, patron saint, give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

Finally, he passes two names to an angel and smiles, "Give them a special needs child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? They're so happy."

"Exactly," says God. "Could I give a special needs child to parents who do not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But have they patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want them to have too much patience or they will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, they'll handle it.

"I watched them today. They  have that feeling of self and dependence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother and father. You see, the child I'm going to give them has his own world. They has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think they even believe in you."

God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. These two are perfect. They have just enough selfishness. "

The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If they can't separate themselves from the child occasionally, they'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman and a man whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. They don't realize it yet, but they are going to be envied. They will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' They will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When their child says 'Momma' for the first
time, they will be present at a miracle and know it!

"I will permit them to see clearly the things I see . . . ignorance,
cruelty, prejudice . . . and allow them to rise above them. They will
never be alone. I will be at their side every minute of every day of their life, because they are doing my work as surely as they are here by my side."

"And what about their patron saint?" asks the angel, pen poised midair.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

May 29th Appointments...

Today Matt and I met with CAFCA and with Dr. Sanjay Kaushal.  At the first appointment with CAFCA we found that Adriana is now 2 pounds and 15 ounces.  She is in the head down position (vertex), and is still doing some crazy movements in there!  Steady growth and movement are a good sign.

Our second appointment was with Adriana's future cardiac surgeon, Dr. Kaushal.  This was the first time we've met him, and so he gave us the complete low-down.  Dr. Kaushal explained that depending on how Adriana's right ventrical grows and functions, will depend on the type of surgical procedures he will have to perform on her heart.  If her right ventrical proves to be healthy and successful in assisting blood flow, at around 6-8 months of age, he will surgically close the hole between the two ventricals.  This particular surgical procedure has proven to have over a 90% success rate, and it would be her first and last heart operation.  However, if her right ventrical is not sufficiently large enough, two different surgeries will have to be done.  The first will be at 6-8 months of age, and she will  have to have a band around her pulmonary artery to restrict blood flow to the lungs (to make sure blood disperses evenly throughout the body).  At around 3 years of age, she would have to have a Glenn Shunt.  These two surgeries have a 90% success rate.  Surgeons have been implementing these procedures for the last 20 years, so they are not new or unheard of.  Many of the babies who had these surgeries are now in their 20's, living good lives.  In the last 4 years, UMMC has not lost any of these children/babies and they continue to perfect these operations.

Dr. Kaushal reiterated that we will not know which path we'll have to take until after Adriana is born and she has a series of CT scans as well as echos.  We hope for the best.