Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Another round of appointments

We had an ultrasound, OB appointment, and fetal echo last week. The ultrasound showed that Cora is growing normally, she's already two pounds! We got some really good 3-D pics of her. The OB appointment was fine. He just wanted to check in and see that everything was progressing normally. He told me that I'm now on the "3,3,2,2,1,1 plan so I go back on the 21st. The fetal echo was normal also, nothing new. That is both good and bad to us. I keep having this hope that the sinusoids will go away. Its so hard to think about my little girl waiting around for a heart, with her health getting worse the more she waits. If the sinusoids go away or turn out to be small, then she can have the Norwood, Glenn, and Fontan surgeries. That would make me SO happy!!! The good news was that the valve betwen the left and right chamber is still wide open, allowing the body to mix red and blue blood and pump pruple throughout the body. If that closes, it gets really hard to treat, and she'd have a much smaller chance of survival. We were suposed to meet with a cardio-thoracic surgeon and have so many questions for him! Unfortunately, he was performing a Norwood procedure at the time, so we'll have to wait until Feb. We met with a neonatologist who will be caring for Cora right when she's born. He was so nice, and we really liked him!!! He asked all kinds of questions and seemed genuinely interested in everyting. He then wrote a letter to everyone involved explaining us and our family, Cora's condition, the complications, and the expected care that she will receive. The letter was so nice, I may have to scrapbook it later. He told us that right when she's born, we'll get a few minutes with her and then she'll be taken over to Children's for an echo, cardiac cath, other tests, and medication to keep her heart open and able to pump blood to the body. He said some things that made me cry for the first time in a long time. The closer we get, the harder it is to deal with everything. He told me that Erik's job will be running back and forth between Children's and Barnes, relaying all kinds of info to me. My job will be to stay in bed and try to recover from the C-section as fast as possible so that I can get up and go see my little girl. I lost it at that point. It is going to be so hard for me to sit in bed without being able to see Cora and make sure that she's okay. I know that it won't take long for me to get up in a wheelchair to see her, but its going to feel like an eternity. I also know that Erik will do everything he can to make I know as much as possible about Cora while taking care of me in bed. Its just really hard to think about right now.

5 comments:

Jill Dupy said...

Jenny & Erik,
We are praying for you guys every night. Stay strong! PLEASE let us know if there is anything that we can do to help you through this...we are happy to help.

Love, Jill, Jeff & Jada

Anonymous said...

Jen,
As soon as I saw the name you chose I got excited. Cora was on our list of names, too. I think it's beautiful, but Richard vetoed it. I'm glad you're using it!
It was very difficult for me to stay put at Barnes after Ginger was born and taken to Children's. Be sure you have your cell phone with you so that Erik can call you from Cora's room at Children's once he gets there to give you an update. You'll need your cell phone because they'll move you to a different room after delivery, and Erik won't be able to get that room number right away to call you on the hospital phone. You can also tell him where to find you once he comes back to Barnes. One considerate thing they do at Barnes is move you to the antepartum area of rooms instead of the postpartum after you deliver and your baby goes to Children's. They move the mothers whose babies go to Children's to antepartum so that you aren't reminded by hearing and seeing other mother's with their babies that you don't have your baby with you. I'm sure you'll appreciate that as much as I did. They also put you in a room with 2 beds and allow one of your family members to use that 2nd bed while you're in the hospital. So, Erik or someone else could plan to stay with you in your room and push you back and forth to Children's in the wheelchair because they won't let you walk it yourself for the first couple of days.
Stay strong!
Bonnie

Anonymous said...

Hey Sweetie,

No..it is not going to be easy. However, you WILL get through it. Your positive personality fills the room and you have the power to influence the atmosphere and change an outcome. I have seen you do it before.

Cora is already a blessing from God and she will always be. God's ear is not deaf that he cannot hear, nor his hand short that he cannot touch. You are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.

You will be taking baby steps, let us be your support and hold your hands, until you can find your footing.

Thanks for keeping us informed on what is going on...and how you are doing. Tell us when you need someone to hold your hands, I know it is difficult. You have a lot of emotions, questions and fear that is normal, what can we do...is what we need to know.

I love you, looking forward to seeing your beautiful smile.

Kandy

Anonymous said...

Jeff and I are PRAYING for you and Erik and your little angel.. I will be sure to pray for you every day.... (Winona)

Anonymous said...

Stay strong, Jenn and Erik. I can only imagine the emotions you two are experiencing and going to experience. But know you have a HUGE family for support, we ALL love all of you guys and are here whenever you need us for whatever you need us for!

Love,
Macie (and the rest of the crew)