Hope for Charlie

Week 33

We all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and visit with the family... we hope that everyone had a blessed week and was able to take the time to remember what they were most thankful for.

"Little Charlie" enjoyed the turkey and lots of football, he seems to move a lot with food and watching the game. 

After all of our doctor visits last week, we have decided to hold tight (to not drain any fluid). We don't want to risk pre-term labor at this point, and our doctor has said that with all of our son's activity he is "cautiously optimistic" that we will make it further a long in the pregnancy.  It is exciting news for us, as we respect his opinion and like our OBGYN, has been very honest while compassionate.  I will continue on the medicine and keep monitoring the AFI on future visits and hope that it slows. 

Keep us in your prayers as it continues to be uncomfortable, but want to hang in there as long as we can... still hoping and praying for a 12/28 delivery.

All our love... The Deebs

Week 32

Another week of hanging out and "Little" Charlie playing soccer :) and celebrating another birthday for him...

We went to the doctors several times over the last week, we decided to try a medicine where the possible side affect may be a reduction of amniotic fluid.  I am taking the medicine and will see both doctors on Tuesday to get an update. 

The concern is that if we drain the fluid, I could go into labor or the fluid level will be back to the current level in only a couple of days.  Neither situation is desired as we would like "Little" Charlie to hang out longer in the belly and I would not like to face draining fluid every couple of days.  So, we are continuing to take one day at a time and I am taking it easy so we can go as long as we can.

I will say it was a tough week, emotionally I felt drained and left without any options.  For those of you who know me - know I am a planner and like to have some semblance of control, I know that I lost control of the situation the day we were diagnosed; however I felt that if we had a due date where we could plan our family being here, have Charlie baptized, and plan our limited time together - it was the most and or best I could hope for.  I also had a time line where I knew we could spend another month enjoying his time with us in a place that is peace for him, now I am unsure of how much time we do have. 

During this holiday, we should all be thankful of our family and friends and the time that we have together.  I know that no matter how much grief I may experience with the short time we will be gifted with "Little" Charlie, I know in my heart and soul that I am gifted with a special spirit that has brought our family closer to each other, I have seen a strength in my husband and daughter that I would never have looked for, I have seen support from complete strangers, I have seen love from those around us that I would never have thought to ask for, I have seen an outpouring of faith that has brought us farther than we should have come.  I am thankful for many things during this time of the year, but what I am most thankful for is our son.

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.  So now I give him to the Lord.  For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."  1 Samuel 27-28.

Many thanks and love to you during this holiday ~ The Deebs

Week 31

Little Charlie and I took our last trip, we traveled to Jacksonville, FL.  Part of me will miss being on a plane, only because he moves a lot with the altitude change and I feel so close to him.

We are also happy to be home, the "Little Man" also moves a lot to Daddy and Hannah's voice and we all get a laugh to see what makes him throw an elbow or deliver a kick.  Hannah has decided he would make a great soccer player like all of the Deebs :)!

Well, I am extremely uncomfortable... the amniotic fluid continues to increase and I feel like I am carrying around a bowling ball in liquid.  We went to our doctor yesterday and have started to take medicine for 3 days, the possible side affect is a reduction in amniotic fluid.  Our fingers are crossed that it works and will know by Thursday when we go back.  When they measure AFI, normal should be around 18, I was 32 a week and a half ago and 35 yesterday... we are hoping to decrease the fluid or at least get me to a holding pattern - at some point like a water balloon, my water will break and I will be delivering.  It is unlikely that we will get to 12/28, which was the date we choose for his birthday.  I am now hoping to get to mid December.  Another option is draining the fluid; however there are risks to that as well: labor and or possible infection (based on how many times it has to be performed) and it may only help for a few days.

So keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer.. we really want "Little" Charlie to hang out longer and keep developing, my hope is the longer he stays in the belly, (possibly) the longer he is able to be loved on earth by us.

As always, thank you for your love and support ~ The Deebs

Week 30

This week I am faced with where to start... You know the old catch phrase, "I have some good news and some bad news..."  So I guess I will just recap the week.

We were able to meet with our doctors at the NIC unit at Baylor Frisco Hospital and discuss our plan for "little" Charlie, the facilities are wonderful and I know they will support us throughout this, so we felt that was one thing we didn't need to worry about.  The challenges that we reviewed were if he had transposition (the arteries in his heart reversed), something we needed to look for, and the other immediate and confirmed issues of Tracheoesophageal Fistula and or Esophageal Atresia (the trachea and or esophagus not attached to the stomach).  At this point we did voice our plans that we would not insert a feeding tube or put him on ventilation/oxygen.   This was the most difficult meeting as everything inside you wants to do anything and everything to give your child health and peace and the best we can do is make sure that he knows he is loved and give him medicine so he doesn't suffer as he passes away. 

I have also become increasingly uncomfortable and jokes aside about my tummy, I have gotten rather round and quickly.  It appears that I now have too much amniotic fluid as "little" Charlie is excreting fluid through his kidneys but since he cannot swallow, he is not ingesting fluid.  So something to watch for as it will probably lead to an early delivery.  We had asked Hannah to pick Charlie's birthday and she had chosen 12/28/09, as she wanted him to have his birthday as close to Christmas as possible as it a joyous occasion.  We will watch carefully, but I am not sure I will make it to Christmas.

The joys of the week... the team at Dr. Jacoby's office (OBGYN), have shown their support by not only posting but celebrating Charlie's birthday with us... before we left they gave us a birthday cake to celebrate another week... just when I was at my lowest because the outcome weighs so heavily, I am able to see the joy through others - Thank you!

Hannah also went with us to see the Ultra Sound 2, Dr. Rinehart was so kind with her, and she was so excited to see her brother's heart beat, body, spine, and general shape... Little Charlie was playing hide and seek as he was facing my back and of course breech again.  We were also told that we don't see any heart defects, so now I am looking forward to a few days with our son!  Little Charlie is still growing and now weighs a whopping 3 lbs. 2 oz.

So that was the week in a nutshell... I am moving a little slower :), Charlie is kicking a little more and throwing some elbow, and the family is taking it one day at a time.

"Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For he Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."  Psalm 100: 3-5

Week 29

This week Baby Charlie and I were able to visit San Diego and Seattle.. two great cities!  The most important part of our trip was that we were able to enjoy a delicious In & Out Double Double :)... best burger ever and Charlie loved it as well.

We had a lot of movement this week and a strong heartbeat.  I must admit to getting uncomfortable, I hit that stage where it is effort to get out of a chair (already).  Daddy Charlie has said that I am certainly carrying him different as he is all out in front, he also commented that I was "wider" with Hannah :).

This week is full of doctor's appointments; we have our meeting with the NIC unit on Monday, our OBGYN on Thursday, and our perinatologist on Friday. 

It will be a tough week as we need to get started on our birth plan, which really is an oxymoron for any situation like this.

As always - thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Much Love - The Deebs