Friday, August 24, 2012

Cardiology and Tapioca Pudding

What do they have in common you ask?  Nothing.  One scares the shit out of me, and the other is my perfect comfort food.  I suppose without one, I'd have no excuse for the other.  Maybe that's as close as they come to being in common.

I had another echo this afternoon.  No change, which I suppose is good.  You'd think by now it would have sunk in that he's not going to just get better on his own.  Yet I pray every day for just that very thing.  The tech asked me if I was grateful for having received his diagnosis ahead of time.  I told her it was a mixed blessing.  I admitted that I can finally be thankful, knowing that I will deliver in a room full of people who already know what is going on and can step in and help.  But on the other hand, this is the last pregnancy for me, and I find myself too worried to just enjoy and appreciate it for what it is.  So that's hard.

Dr. Adel came in for a few, answered a couple of questions and then sent us off.  We toured "labor and delivery" which consisted of 2 labor and recovery rooms, and 1 operating room.  With Mason, I was wheeled in, drugged to the hills, with really no idea of what my surroundings looked like.  Today, staring into that cold and sterile operating room, it really hit me.  And it hit me hard.  Chris toured the Cardiac ICU area and I sat and had a good cry.  It's like, one day I am fine.  Better than fine.  I am hopeful and optimistic and nothing can touch me.  And then reality comes and slaps me in the face, like a cold stinky fish tail and all of a sudden my mind is where my mind does not belong.  Those are the times I come home and make tapioca pudding.  And wish my mother was here.

We met very briefly with Dr. Campbell, one of the surgeons.  There had been an emergency transplant case, and all three surgeons were scrubbed in.  So our conversation with him was short.  I mostly just wanted to see if he agreed with what we are hearing, and also just to meet him.  He is also optimistic that we will get the PA Band and not the Norwood surgery, which is wonderful news.  I continue to pray.

So that's all for now.  I go see the OB on Friday, re-taking my gestational diabetes test then.  For now, I will go drown my worries and fear and sorrows in a bowl of tapioca pudding.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Shower With Dad


I think thay had a good time!

High Fashion




What can I say, the boy loves shoes?!?!

Summer Fun!





Mason loves summer.  He loves helping in the yard and riding his bike.  Now, if I could just convince him to mow the yard!!  That would be great!

Elmo Backpack - thanks Grandma!




I guess Grandma thinks he needs to be ready for school.  Mom think he needs to stay home a while longer.  I am not ready to think about sending my baby off to school yet.

Friday, August 17, 2012

OB Update

Chris was off work today, so I drug him with me to the OB.  We had an ultrasound first, mostly to check growth.  Jodi is the tech there, and we have really come to have a friendship over the years, with my pregnancy with Mason, and now with Jackson too.  All of the measurements looked good.  He's come up to the 56th percent over all.  She checked and double checked everything and gave us an A.  She put his weight at 3 pounds 14 ounces.  She tried to get some fun 3D pics of his face, but much like his brother, he likes to keep his hands in his face.  3 weeks ago he was head down.  But today I knew he was breech before she even hooked up the ultra sound.  He flipped last weekend.  Hurt like hell!  He is "butt breech" she called it, with his butt cheeks down.  He had both fists and both feet in his face.  Silly kid was pretty much curled into a circle.  So, no good pics to share.  I have another ultra sound in 4 weeks.  Maybe then.

Then we wandered down the hall to meet with my OB.  I had my gestational diabetes test 2 weeks ago.  No one called me, so I assumed "no news is good news".  Well, we all know what happens when you assume!  My test result was 129.  A flunked test is 135.  So, yes, I passed, but just barely.  And, she said I have a little extra fluid.  And the only thing that causes extra fluid is gestational diabetes.  So, I left with another "cool aid" and instructions to come back in 2 weeks and be tested again.  YUCK!  Seriously, can't I catch a break?!?!

My c-section is being scheduled for 10-11-12.  No official word yet, but everyone tells me it should be fine.  There are only 2 operating rooms at Childrens for adults, so it's just a matter of making sure we schedule one.

Emotionally I am feeling better.  I have found a few good "heart momma" chat boards, and some local friends for support.  In fact, one friend is at Children's today for her son's 2nd surgery.  I have been praying for Liam (and his mom and dad) all day.  Chris and I check in with each other on a somewhat frequent basis.  He seems to be doing pretty good too.  I am not sure if it's total denial, or what, but I feel good about things.  Ask me again when I flip the calendar from September to October, and chances are I'll tell you I am loosing my shit.  But, today, I am doing alright.