Home Sweet Home...

Addy's labs and xrays looked great so she was finally released from the hospital yesterday! We will be attending many cardio appointments in Frederick and monitoring growth to determine when heart surgery is needed and what exactly it will entail.

We are soooo excited to have her home!!!!!

The girls are simply in love with her too...

Guess what!

Today Matt and I were told that Addy's heart is actually forming defenses by itself inside her pulmonary artery in order to regulate blood flow to her lungs better!  How amazing is our little girl?!  Although surgery will still have to be done to close the ventricular septal defects, her heart has proven to be strong as well as independently proactive.  This means that we will most likely be able to put off surgery for months.  Addy will have to attend many progress check-ups and we'll play it by ear. 

We are so excited that she is achieving all of her goals in regards to eating, oxygen levels, heart rate and blood pressure.  The doctors explained that unless there is a drastic turn of events, SHE WILL PROBABLY BE DISCHARGED ON MONDAY!!!

Adriana Ruth Schoonveld is Born

Matt and i welcomed our third gorgeous baby girl into this world at 12:01pm on Monday August 6, 2012.  Addy was 6 pounds, 7 ounces.  She was delivered via emergency c-section because of some circulation problems due to stress stemming from labor on the umbilical cord.  The doctors were not aware prior to birth, but her cord was not connected in a stable fashion to the placenta.  Instead, it was hanging onto the membranes surrounding it--this is dangerous.  Luckily, the doctors and sugeons were fast-acting when they realized something was hindering her  circulation and heart rate and were able to get Addy out before any damage was done. We are so very thankful.

Less than 6 hours after her birth, Adriana was taken off of her breathing assistance and has been thriving thus far.  Her oxygen levels, heart rate, and bodily functions have been in the normal range.  We are counting our lucky stars! 

Cardiologists are still monitoring her defects and we are still unsure of when she will be discharged.  They have confirmed the dextrocardia, two ventricular septal defects, and double-outlet right ventrical.  The additional monitoring will give them an idea of how to fix these problems.  It is promising, however, that it seems her right ventrical (which is the smaller of the 2) has been functioning very well.  We continue to pray--especially because rumor has it that she may need surgery in a couple months rather than 6 months down the road.

We will keep you updated!

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.