I have read two stories about families that have been in almost the exact same position as we are in with our little boy's condition. Click below if you like to read further.
http://www.fetalhope.org/patients-families/stories/?sid=770
http://www.fetalhope.org/patients-families/stories/?sid=255
Both of these families saw Dr. Quintero - he is supposed to be the king of all surgeons when it comes to fetal surgery and he is the only doctor in the US that has performed the fetal surgery on the actual blockage. I am obviously putting the cart before the horse here as we don't know what exactly we are dealing with, but I am honestly considering flying to FL. My parents are in Naples for 3 weeks and Miami or Tampa (he performs surgeries in both cities) are only 2 hours away.
Now, if only tickets weren't un-godly expensive! Another thing that makes me start biting my nails is the surgery would be out network . . . meaning we would have to pay 30% of the bill, which I can imagine would be a lot.
I thought I had lost all of my optimism but I think it's starting to return!
Monday, November 15, 2010
1/2 Way Through November?
Thank goodness! November might go down as my worst month of all time so I am ready for it to be gone, gone, gone.
I was boycotting blogging because somehow when they updating the blogging tools, mine got deleted so I only have 4 options (bold, italic, strike through and link . . . I need MORE)!!!!
Our weekend was a pretty good one. Friday night I went over to my good friend Meredith's house as our good friend Jules was in town who moved to NV. We literally chatted for a good 4 hours, and if I wasn't tired we could have chatted all night. That's when you know you have great friends! It was so good to see both of them.
Saturday AM Aunt Mary watched Will while we went out for Tom's ambassadors club social. I only stayed for a little while as Will had to go down for a nap, but it was great catching up with the ladies! 2 of the other ladies there were pregnant as well and both are having girls - I have 5 friends that are having girls! This little boy is going to be surrounded! :)
That night we took it easy and got food to go and watched a movie. My kind of night. Yesterday cousin Jenna (Krista's little girl who is 3.5 mo older than Will) came over for a play date and it was a great time. Will just loves her! He kept smiling at her and saying hi, hugging her and patting her on the back. It was so cute. She is such an easy child compared to Will! I think we said NO Will about 50 times while she was there and not one NO Jenna . . . there might have been one, but I think that is only because Jenna was following what the crazy was doing. I guess that's just the difference between boys and girls. At least that is my excuse for now!
Thankful for . . .
Nov 15 - this is the week we find out what is in store for our little baby boy. I have mixed emotions about this as I sometimes just want to pretend he is fine but in reality he is not and we could even see on the US that our little boy's heart stopped. Some days it's just too hard to deal with so pretending like all is fine will have to work.
Nov 14 - Will's day. He is thankful for his cousin Jenna. She is so much fun.
Nov 13 - Gap's Give and Get discount - I saved SO much money and was able to donate 5% of the profit to a charity of my choice. Gives me a reason to shop! :)
I was boycotting blogging because somehow when they updating the blogging tools, mine got deleted so I only have 4 options (bold, italic, strike through and link . . . I need MORE)!!!!
Our weekend was a pretty good one. Friday night I went over to my good friend Meredith's house as our good friend Jules was in town who moved to NV. We literally chatted for a good 4 hours, and if I wasn't tired we could have chatted all night. That's when you know you have great friends! It was so good to see both of them.
Saturday AM Aunt Mary watched Will while we went out for Tom's ambassadors club social. I only stayed for a little while as Will had to go down for a nap, but it was great catching up with the ladies! 2 of the other ladies there were pregnant as well and both are having girls - I have 5 friends that are having girls! This little boy is going to be surrounded! :)
That night we took it easy and got food to go and watched a movie. My kind of night. Yesterday cousin Jenna (Krista's little girl who is 3.5 mo older than Will) came over for a play date and it was a great time. Will just loves her! He kept smiling at her and saying hi, hugging her and patting her on the back. It was so cute. She is such an easy child compared to Will! I think we said NO Will about 50 times while she was there and not one NO Jenna . . . there might have been one, but I think that is only because Jenna was following what the crazy was doing. I guess that's just the difference between boys and girls. At least that is my excuse for now!
Thankful for . . .
Nov 15 - this is the week we find out what is in store for our little baby boy. I have mixed emotions about this as I sometimes just want to pretend he is fine but in reality he is not and we could even see on the US that our little boy's heart stopped. Some days it's just too hard to deal with so pretending like all is fine will have to work.
Nov 14 - Will's day. He is thankful for his cousin Jenna. She is so much fun.
Nov 13 - Gap's Give and Get discount - I saved SO much money and was able to donate 5% of the profit to a charity of my choice. Gives me a reason to shop! :)
Thursday, November 11, 2010
November 11
Today I am thankful for video cameras and my snugly little baby toddler.
Last night we got the video camera out as Will was so excited that he was putting the shapes into the correct spots. He would start clapping after each shape went through and would get the biggest smile on his face (when he does something like that Tom and I make it a huge deal and start clapping and say yeah Will - we are all for the positive reinforcement :)). He was so proud of himself. He continued to do this for a good 10 minutes and would look at us because he knew darn well we should be clapping and cheering as well.
Every time we get the video camera out we like to look back to when he was a little itty bitty baby and it sure is crazy to think he was that small. Looking back at those chins, hearing him gwha and ga, snort when he laughed, get frustrated for having to do tummy time, his tiny little clothes and the list goes on and on. So I am thankful for our video camera that has captured so many moments that I don't want to forget!
Look at those chins and that smile!
My tiny little bubber . . . he definitely didn't stay tiny for long!
Last night we got the video camera out as Will was so excited that he was putting the shapes into the correct spots. He would start clapping after each shape went through and would get the biggest smile on his face (when he does something like that Tom and I make it a huge deal and start clapping and say yeah Will - we are all for the positive reinforcement :)). He was so proud of himself. He continued to do this for a good 10 minutes and would look at us because he knew darn well we should be clapping and cheering as well.
Every time we get the video camera out we like to look back to when he was a little itty bitty baby and it sure is crazy to think he was that small. Looking back at those chins, hearing him gwha and ga, snort when he laughed, get frustrated for having to do tummy time, his tiny little clothes and the list goes on and on. So I am thankful for our video camera that has captured so many moments that I don't want to forget!
Look at those chins and that smile!
When it's time for Will's bedtime he is very easy to go down. We could just lay him in his crib with skip it, a passy and a blanket and he would be down for the night. But we usually read him a book or two or sing him songs first. Last night after seeing my little cuddly baby I wanted to see if I could rock him to sleep so I gave him skip it and his passy and he just snuggled up with me. I cradled him like a baby and sang him songs and rocked him to sleep. It definitely gave me the feeling of having my itty little baby in my arms, well except for the fact that his legs are completely hanging off the rocking chair. :) I can't even put into words the feeling you get when you watch your child fall asleep/sleep. It definitely brings you back to when they were born!
My tiny little bubber . . . he definitely didn't stay tiny for long!
So sweet and peaceful snoozing away!
The countdown begins until we find out what is next for our little baby boy #2. 1 MORE WEEK! As you have seen from my posts, this has been a roller coaster and I am more than ready to know what comes next. Next week, please go by fast!!!! :)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
November 10th
Today I am thankful for Bon Jovi. My hubby is going to roll his eyes when he sees this. :) But seriously, he is great, wait, not great, he is AWESOME! I have been to 2 concerts that were in DSM and both were amazing. We had great seats both times and were super close to the stage. I must say I was a little bit upset that he didn't come back to DSM on his last tour. This AM we watched dvr'd Letterman and Bon Jovi was on and sang his oldie It's My Life and Will and I rocked out - that boy it smart! Honestly, what's not to love about Bon Jovi? He is VERY easy on the eyes (I don't care how old he is, he still looks great) and who doesn't blare Living On A Prayer when it comes on the radio or I-pod? He just makes me smile. :)
Yes, that is Bon Jovi clearly reaching out to me at is Have A Nice Day tour! I went with my sisters and good friend Kristina! Of course we had a blast!
And this is his last tour in Des Moines, Lost Highway. All 3 of my sisters share the love for Bon Jovi . . . although the older 2 probably have more love as they were not babies when he was starting out. :)
Yes, that is Bon Jovi clearly reaching out to me at is Have A Nice Day tour! I went with my sisters and good friend Kristina! Of course we had a blast!
And this is his last tour in Des Moines, Lost Highway. All 3 of my sisters share the love for Bon Jovi . . . although the older 2 probably have more love as they were not babies when he was starting out. :)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
November 9th
Today I am thankful for the Internet, for many reasons.
Thank you again for all your continued prayers for baby #2, he needs them! This little guy fought to be conceived so I have no doubt that he is fighting to come into this world as healthy as can be! I will be honest, anxiety hits me full force when I think about having to see his bladder on the screen next Thursday. It just makes your heart sink. But, if things go our way, we will be able to see the bladder decrease when the doctor does the bladder tap.
At times I think if we do this shunt it is messing with God's plan. My baby shouldn't have to feel pain at 16 weeks - when he is in the womb he is supposed to be protected from all harm, this is the safest place he will ever be in . . . but here we are poking him with needles and then possibly putting a shunt into his bladder??? After telling my sister my crazy feelings/thoughts she pointed out that God created people to become doctors who are able to perform these miraculous surgeries that could save my babies life. Can you now tell why I am not getting sleep? I think WAY too much, my brain doesn't stop. :)
- I would not have a job if it were not for the Internet and I really like my job!
- I get to easily keep up with my friends and see photos of their families, etc (thanks FB and blogs!).
- I was able to research baby boy #2's condition and get in contact with other families who have had to deal with similar situations. Some that give me hope and some that give me the strength to deal with what might be thrown our way.
- I get to talk to my friends/family on IM which always makes the day go by a little bit faster.
- Google is awesome. Although sometimes it is not good for those that might be a little bit of a hypochondriac (ME). :)
- E-vite rocks- go green, right?
- E-mail is awesome, especially for friends that are 2 hours behind . . . I go to bed way too early.
- When Will starts dating (when he is 18 :)) you betcha ya I will look up her record!
- Online shopping . . . if you are a good customer, you get free shipping so why would you not shop online? :)
- I get to read spoilers on my soaps, read up on my gossip magazines, catch up on the news/weather, etc!
Thank you again for all your continued prayers for baby #2, he needs them! This little guy fought to be conceived so I have no doubt that he is fighting to come into this world as healthy as can be! I will be honest, anxiety hits me full force when I think about having to see his bladder on the screen next Thursday. It just makes your heart sink. But, if things go our way, we will be able to see the bladder decrease when the doctor does the bladder tap.
At times I think if we do this shunt it is messing with God's plan. My baby shouldn't have to feel pain at 16 weeks - when he is in the womb he is supposed to be protected from all harm, this is the safest place he will ever be in . . . but here we are poking him with needles and then possibly putting a shunt into his bladder??? After telling my sister my crazy feelings/thoughts she pointed out that God created people to become doctors who are able to perform these miraculous surgeries that could save my babies life. Can you now tell why I am not getting sleep? I think WAY too much, my brain doesn't stop. :)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Weekend!
Our weekend was pretty low key. Friday night we were supposed to go to dinner with friends but as I mentioned before I haven't been sleeping well and this no sleep thing is really taking a toll on my body. I was not feeling well at all and didn't eat dinner and just went straight to bed. You know I am sick when I pass up a steak and texas toast at Rubes. I was so bummed.
Saturday we watched football all morning and afternoon. Gosh, what great games. Such a bummer that the Cyclones lost to NE, but what a great fight and fun game to watch. Saturday night turned into a bloody mess. Will's LOVES to run on the couch and as he was doing just that, he took a header into the arm of the couch (which is not soft like the rest). Tom picked him up and there was just blood everywhere. Talking about scary! It wouldn't stop and the poor guy was hurting and was scared. We finally got him to calm down and got the blood under control. I was very nervous to look inside his mouth as I was not sure what I would find or not find (missing teeth). Thankfully, all teeth were accounted for and we were just looking at a big, bruised lip. One would think after that he would learn his lesson . . . nope. 30 minutes later he was going to attempt it again.
Sunday we played outside, went for a walk, cleaned the house for Grammy to come and stay with us, danced with Will (he was loving So What by Pink :) and then went over to Mary's house for Grace's b-day. I can't believe she is 9. My nieces and nephews are growing up WAY too fast!!!! Food wasn't my friend last night so dinner was skipped and so was cake and ice cream. This is NOT the diet I want to be on, but hopefully this means that baby boy #2 is doing well in there and that is the reason why food is not my friend!
Today I am going to attempt to go to the gym. I haven't been since we found out about our little guys bladder and I am hoping this will give me a little bit more energy. I walk up the stairs and am winded - not a good sign when you want to keep up with your 1 year old!
Continuing on with things I am thankful for :) . . .
Nov 8 - toast and orange juice. Toast is the only food that sounds good to me and orange juice tastes so good and gives me the nutrients I need as food hasn't been my friend these past few weeks. Did you know that light orange juice is just made up of filtered water and orange juice? What a rip off!
Nov 7 - beautiful weather! It just makes the day SO much better . . . especially when it hits 70 degrees in November! Tom took Will outside to play football, run around in the grass and just be boys. It was so cute to watch. I just pray that baby boy#2 will be able to do the same with his big brother and Daddy. I can see all three of them being outside being boys and hope that God knows how much I want that to be true.
Nov 6 - for the weekend. I love every part of the weekend - and this weekend it was beautiful! I love that I get to spend 2 full days with my hubby and Will and especially love when there isn't anything going on and we can lounge in our pj's all day!
Saturday we watched football all morning and afternoon. Gosh, what great games. Such a bummer that the Cyclones lost to NE, but what a great fight and fun game to watch. Saturday night turned into a bloody mess. Will's LOVES to run on the couch and as he was doing just that, he took a header into the arm of the couch (which is not soft like the rest). Tom picked him up and there was just blood everywhere. Talking about scary! It wouldn't stop and the poor guy was hurting and was scared. We finally got him to calm down and got the blood under control. I was very nervous to look inside his mouth as I was not sure what I would find or not find (missing teeth). Thankfully, all teeth were accounted for and we were just looking at a big, bruised lip. One would think after that he would learn his lesson . . . nope. 30 minutes later he was going to attempt it again.
Sunday we played outside, went for a walk, cleaned the house for Grammy to come and stay with us, danced with Will (he was loving So What by Pink :) and then went over to Mary's house for Grace's b-day. I can't believe she is 9. My nieces and nephews are growing up WAY too fast!!!! Food wasn't my friend last night so dinner was skipped and so was cake and ice cream. This is NOT the diet I want to be on, but hopefully this means that baby boy #2 is doing well in there and that is the reason why food is not my friend!
Today I am going to attempt to go to the gym. I haven't been since we found out about our little guys bladder and I am hoping this will give me a little bit more energy. I walk up the stairs and am winded - not a good sign when you want to keep up with your 1 year old!
Continuing on with things I am thankful for :) . . .
Nov 8 - toast and orange juice. Toast is the only food that sounds good to me and orange juice tastes so good and gives me the nutrients I need as food hasn't been my friend these past few weeks. Did you know that light orange juice is just made up of filtered water and orange juice? What a rip off!
Nov 7 - beautiful weather! It just makes the day SO much better . . . especially when it hits 70 degrees in November! Tom took Will outside to play football, run around in the grass and just be boys. It was so cute to watch. I just pray that baby boy#2 will be able to do the same with his big brother and Daddy. I can see all three of them being outside being boys and hope that God knows how much I want that to be true.
Nov 6 - for the weekend. I love every part of the weekend - and this weekend it was beautiful! I love that I get to spend 2 full days with my hubby and Will and especially love when there isn't anything going on and we can lounge in our pj's all day!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Today . . .
I am thankful for Diet Coke and concealer.
Without Diet Coke I would not be able to keep my eyes open. I need 8 hours of sleep to function and these past few days/weeks I have maybe been getting 3 hours of sleep. Coffee makes me throw up at this point, so Diet Coke it is. For all of those wondering "I thought you should not drink caffeine when you are pregnant?" Doctors say you can have up to 200 mg and a 12 oz can of diet coke has only 35 mg . . . so I am in the clear. :)
My 2nd thing that has been a saver is concealer. Clinique for that matter. I have always had a problem with circles under my eyes - no matter how much sleep and water I drink - it doesn't help. I have asked many doctors about this and they just confirmed what I already knew - I have very thin skin under my eyes . . . thus my issue. Don't think I have asked them about surgery. :) Concealer has helped me look like I have a week old black eye vs a brand new one. So thank goodness for that! In college I worked at the GAP and one of my co-workers asked me one day if I had a black eye! Who would ask something like that????? I blame the lighting at GAP and perhaps a little bit of dehydration from boozing a bit too much?
Onto my crazy toddler. If you see him he will do the following: say HI, give you a hug, start doing the wheels on the bus, put his hands over his eyes and do peak-a-boo and point somewhere and say ball (he knows what a ball is, but I think he just likes to say ball).
He is also BIG into books (not so much the reading, but turning the pages) and can kind of say book. Doesn't quite get the k at the end but we are working on it. He will point and say book and then will go and grab it and bring it to you and want you to read it to him. I just love it.
Tom found Will a tool set and that child loves it. It's funny how boys get into boy things and girls get into girl thing. My cousin Jenna already LOVES shoes and wants to choose which ones she is going to wear for the day. :)
He also loves to dance! Let's hope he has Mommy's dance moves and not Daddy's! :)
Have a great weekend!
Without Diet Coke I would not be able to keep my eyes open. I need 8 hours of sleep to function and these past few days/weeks I have maybe been getting 3 hours of sleep. Coffee makes me throw up at this point, so Diet Coke it is. For all of those wondering "I thought you should not drink caffeine when you are pregnant?" Doctors say you can have up to 200 mg and a 12 oz can of diet coke has only 35 mg . . . so I am in the clear. :)
My 2nd thing that has been a saver is concealer. Clinique for that matter. I have always had a problem with circles under my eyes - no matter how much sleep and water I drink - it doesn't help. I have asked many doctors about this and they just confirmed what I already knew - I have very thin skin under my eyes . . . thus my issue. Don't think I have asked them about surgery. :) Concealer has helped me look like I have a week old black eye vs a brand new one. So thank goodness for that! In college I worked at the GAP and one of my co-workers asked me one day if I had a black eye! Who would ask something like that????? I blame the lighting at GAP and perhaps a little bit of dehydration from boozing a bit too much?
Onto my crazy toddler. If you see him he will do the following: say HI, give you a hug, start doing the wheels on the bus, put his hands over his eyes and do peak-a-boo and point somewhere and say ball (he knows what a ball is, but I think he just likes to say ball).
He is also BIG into books (not so much the reading, but turning the pages) and can kind of say book. Doesn't quite get the k at the end but we are working on it. He will point and say book and then will go and grab it and bring it to you and want you to read it to him. I just love it.
Tom found Will a tool set and that child loves it. It's funny how boys get into boy things and girls get into girl thing. My cousin Jenna already LOVES shoes and wants to choose which ones she is going to wear for the day. :)
He also loves to dance! Let's hope he has Mommy's dance moves and not Daddy's! :)
Have a great weekend!
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