28.5 Weeks

Status Update
Let me first begin by saying how grateful we have been for the prayers that each of you have offered on our behalf. As you may have experienced in your own journey sometimes a "status update" is simply not enough. Here is a window into our last couple of weeks...

Rocking our World
A week ago Tuesday, I went into the OB for a routine check-up. At that appointment she gave me the results from an ultrasound (one that I had done for a children's study @UCI...another story). The study does not discuss results with the participants but does send information to the OB if there are concerns. Hearing the first result (a two vessel umbilical cord) was not shocking as I had just met with our Perinatologist (high-risk baby doctor) a few days before. For those of you just joining my pregnancy story, I have been classified as "high-risk" because of my auto-immune issues (my body reacts similar to a lupus patient in pregnancy...see blogs from 2007 for story of Gabe's birth).

The Perinatologist checked the heart, kidney's, and her growth closely as these tend to be the areas that show signs of weakness in a two vessel cord child...so far so good. The second result that came back from the study was that our daughter appeared to have a "low nasal bridge." My doctor tends to be a bit avoiding of emotion and moved on quickly from this news leaving me little time to process my own thoughts and emotions. It wasn't until I arrived at the elevator that I began to digest her words.

The Scan
That night we called the Perinatologist and scheduled an appointment for last Friday. Three nights past without much sleep as I anticipated the results. In this appointment, we were first scanned by the ultrasound tech and then by Dr. Lagrew (our Perinatologist). He also saw the "low nasal bridge" and decided that because we also have a two vessel corded baby that we should talk to the geneticist about correlations (I honestly didn't realize that the two vessel cord was a risk-factor for other issues but about 1/3 of children have chromosomal anomalies). We asked our doctor specifically about the chances that we were facing Downs or Williams syndrome and his response was "I don't think so."

More than we Anticipated
We had hoped to meet with the Geneticist (the doctor) but ended up in a room with the ultrasound tech and the genetic counselor (who had talked to the Geneticist on the phone)...oh and PS our Perinatologist was called to the OR for an emergency. In just moments we went from feeling relieved that our child likely did not have a serious condition to being told by the genetic counselor that the highest correlation with our two factors (the 2 vessel cord and low nasal bridge) is Downs Syndrome. We asked a ton of questions but seemed to hit a wall with the professionals that were available to us in the room and so we left feeling less than "counseled" or maybe I'm confusing the term counselor with the idea that we should have felt somewhat consoled.

A New Lens
From the moment that we found out, I have been living in the rawness of my emotions (maybe that is what comes with the pregnancy territory). It has been so good to walk with my husband through each moment of this process. He is the one who scores off the charts on the Strength Finders assessment in the area of ADABILITY...wheww glad one of us is rocking that trait. He has held the big picture for us both reminding me often that no matter who our daughter is that "we as her parents will help her to find her purpose in this life." When I step back and think about parenthood, even with my sweet healthy son Gabriel, I realize that this truth does not change. Somehow this is the knowledge that allows me to ask the strength to get past some of my own stuff...you know the subtle dreams that we just assume will be available for our kids...I'm sure I'm not alone on this one.

Saturday night I finally got some sleep and was able to put my grief on the back burner (at least for the moment). We had another conversation with our Perinatologist on Monday night (both Jeremey and I talked to him...long story but I realized I was so that "patient"...you know the one that calls the exchange after hours even when they are not in imminent danger). Our doc was so gracious with us. Our next appointment is on Monday at 8:30 AM. In that appointment we will have a series of measurements taken that the Geneticist requested, review old scans of her, and look at pictures of Gabriel (both pre and post birth because of his nasal structure, which we also think is lower).

To Make Matters Worse...
I now feel like I have a better understanding of the expression coined above. Just when I thought things were nearing bottom, yesterday morning, I woke feeling "not well." I was certain if I ate I would feel better...instead I began throwing up. Combined with my aching body (that was swelling), diarrhea, and raising blood pressure we were told to go to Labor and Delivery. When we arrived, they put me on the monitor (for baby's heart rate and to see if I was contracting). It wasn't long and my back was "aching" intermittently and then greater waves of nausea came with this awful feeling of being kicked in the stomach. I didn't realize I was having contractions nor did my nurse. After leaving the room for a few minutes, she returned and was shocked to see the readout that showed I was contracting quite regularly. From that point the staff began working quickly to try to get them under control. They began with a pill and then moved to a potent shot in my arm as my body was not responding. We had a test done to see if there was a protein present near my cervix. If present, there is a likelihood of going into labor in the next couple of weeks...we were so thankful to be negative as this bought us some time to simply get the contracting and other symptoms under control.

FLU?
I had numerous tests done while I was in the hospital. None seem to be conclusive as to what is causing any of my presenting issues. My OB is a suspecting that I may have some version of the flu and is treating me with Tamiflu. After spending the night in the hospital (with my amazing nurse and dear friend Kristin), I am home on a drug called Nifedipine which is to help stop my contractions and I am on bed rest (peeing and sitting up to eat only...don't worry I'm writing this post from a laptop in my bed...smile). I will go back to the OB on Tuesday.

Life with Gabe (yep two-year-olds and bed rest are incompatible)
I could not be more thankful for friends that know that I am not good at asking for help. Gabe spent two days with our friends Chappell and Kent (he did a full-on cheer when Kent showed up at our door yesterday). Aside from the our little guy coming home dressed like a metro sexual (they have a little girl and we didn't send extra clothes...) he was in such good spirits. My mom arrives tomorrow morning (Friday) and will be in town until Wednesday. We have much to figure out in these next days but feel so fortunate to be working out a bed rest schedule vs. the alternative. Your continued prayers for our little girl (feel free to be bold), for my health, and for us to get as much time out of this pregnancy as we can (I would love to get to week 37...but anywhere in the safe zone would be great).

We'll keep you posted as we learn more in our doctor appointments or if there are any changes.

With love,

The Kings