And finally home...

You know its just a hard siutation, when, no matter where you are at, you feel like you should be somewhere else. We were/are very glad to be home. And, even looking forward to seeing some relatives tomorrow night. But as soon as I am home, I long for the re-assuring buzz of the fetal heart monitor and the nurses who watch the feed 24/7. I take heart in the fact that my sister in law is on call at Ottumwa hospital for ultrasound this weekend. So, if I don't feel enough movement she would be there if I went to the ER. But, it is a vicious game to play with yourself, "is Lauren moving, is she moving enough?" I so appreciate all the comments on this blog and also on my FB page. I read each and every one to Joe and they all help, they really do.

On the way home today, the University of Iowa called regarding Joe's health. Since, the two tumors were benign, they now question whether or not they should be removed...and if it is in fact what is causing his eye to droop... So, they want to run more tests. They wanted him to drive to Iowa City yet another day for an MRA of his head and neck. Who knew this was different than an MRI. Not us certainly. They sounded as if I had kicked them in the teeth when I said it wasn't really a priority for us right now. So they consented to Joe doing the MRA in Ottuwma and sending the results to them. I have to admit, that we are afraid of more tests and more digging around, and more terrible hypotheses about what could be going on. So I am trying to see this MRA as a way to rule in or rule out taking out the tumor; and hopeful that this will not lead to ugly hypotheses. I simply can't take it.

It is very very difficult to not look ahead at the logistics of all of this. And to wonder, how we will manage. I once read in a self help book that Life is like driving in the fog...and that if you just go as far as you can see that when you get there, you will be able to see further. I have often lived by this mantra, and have at times only been able to see a few hours in front of me. And I am working hard at just focusing on what I can see and understand and make decisions about. But it is not an easy exericse.

I will not likely update again for fear of wearing out my welcome with the readers =). Assuming that there are no developments, I will go back to the hospital next Tuesday for another blood transfusion. Joe is going to hang back with Will and a friend has graciously said she will take the day off of work in DM to be with me. I am not afraid of the procedure itself; not at all. There is always going to be the chance of the decision to go ahead and take the baby..but that is beyond the fog for tonight.

Thinking of each of you, and knowing you all have your own stressors this time of year. Greatful for your friendship.

Liz

Headed home

Glad to be headed home to Our Will. Back next Tuesday.
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Ultra sound

This AM they did an ultra sound to checl on baby's progress. Fluid contines to diminish which is what we want. There will be contined questions about her heart and the damage that the fluid did. We can only pray that it heals itself in utero. The heart rate was a little low this AM (100 instead of the usual 140) but dr wasn't too concerned. He wants to track her heart rate a little longer before he let's me go home. Dad is nervous.
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Transfusion

Well, the transfusion is complete! And it was easier this time. Knowing what to expect made it much better. I listened to lullabies on my IPOD. Pain is really minimal, it hurts less than the IV they put in.

I asked the dr what Lauren's chance is for survival. He said he wouldn't say, but that her odds are improving. The fluid in her body was less, her anemia was less.

Stay overnight, back next week on tuesday for the same drill.

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers today.

Liz
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Blood transfusion

Joe and I made it to Des Moines requiring a 4 AM wake up call! Thank goodness for his mom and a friend to help us get through the next couple days with Will! Blood transfusion at 11. IV in, ouch! Consent for emergency c section signed (God let's hope not). Hoping baby looks good on ultrasound!!
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Ultra Sound Saturday 12/26

Joe and I headed off this AM in the mucky snowy weather. I was greatful that Joe could drive today and that it wasn't a work day. Also, greatful that Jessica took Will today.

It was a quick visit..and the doctor wasn't actually able to see us because apparently he was delivering a baby. However, they did the ultrasound and the stress test on the baby (heart beat/diagnostics) and took the info down to him. They indicated that the baby was slightly improved from where she was at last Wednesday AM. We are headed back next Tuesday for another blood transfusion and hospital stay. At this juncture we are hoping that fluid within the baby's body (around her heart,kidney and spleen) will go away since the anemia has been treated with blood transfusion. The fluid was less today and the number that represents her level of anemia was in the normal range. She will require more transfusion to keep this number in the normal range, and it will evidently take time for the fluid to diminish. We are busy trying not to "count our chickens before they hatch" but it does seem that in four short days things are moving in the right direction. I will update after our transfusion next Tuesday, when they finally let me move around a bit!

good news and bad news

Well it has been a strange strange week. We were braced for the fact that Joe's biopsy was going to be Tuesday. So we decided to try and make the best of Monday by going to Des Moines as a family to an ultrasound for our new baby Lauren (in utero, 29 weeks). I have been having monthly ultrasounds in Des Moines because I tested positive for an antibody Anti S, at the beginning of my pregnancy. I likely contracted the antibody after my blood transfusion in 2004 (car accident). This antibody has the capability of crossing the placenta and poisoning the blood of the unborn baby. The antibody gets worse with each pregnancy, and though I was unaware of it when Will was born; we believe in retrospec that he was affected only mildly right at the end of the pregnancy.

We took Will to build a bear and to see santa in DM on Monday. Then we went to my ultrasound where we found out that Lauren was highly anemic and critically ill. They sent Joe and I home to take Will home and to return to be admitted to hospital the next AM.

The next day was ALSO Joe's biopsy in Iowa city and I had to be admitted to hospital for an intrauterine blood transfusion. I felt less than human given the pressures that Joe and I were both facing. And that additionally, my father who has COPD is currently quite sick.

We prayed for good weather and in the morning Joe left for Iowa City and I for Des Moines, Mercy Hospital. My brother Barry met me at the hospital and they did my blood transfusion at 2:00. Iowa City rushed to get Joe through his appointments and then he rushed to Des Moines. He got there in time for the second half of my surgery. The blood transfusion was sort of like an amniocentesis, it was a 10 on the anxiety scale, a 1 or 2 on the pain scale, but I just cried and cried through the whole thing. One door down is a room prepped to take the baby by emergency csection. We made it through the procedure. And the doctor reported that he hoped it saved her life. She was doing much better yesterday AM. Because of the holiday, they let me go home. But, I have to go back on Satruday for an ultrasound to check her. Then back every Tuesday for another blood transfusion (with possible csection) and stay over night until Wednesday or Thursday. At home, I am on bed rest. They will not let me go past 37 weeks. I am 29 weeks now.

At 6:00 two nights ago, following our horrific day, the University of Iowa called to say that Joe's tumor is benign. No cancer. We are so happy. It literally occurrs to me over and over in a day that I am worried about Joe's life, and then I remember over and over, that it is OK. At this point, I am praying and hoping that Lauren's blood treatements work. There should be no long term damage if it works with our biggest risk being premature birth or death to her because the transfusions don't work or because the procedure itself hurts her. I am glad to be home, and at the same time anxious to get back to get her back on the monitor to see how she's doing.

Merry Christmas! I hope its a good one for you guys. I know that despite our worries, I have 50% less to worry about today than yesterday, that no matter what I am lucky that I am the mother of Will, that Mercy in DM offers me world class care and that I trust God. I will deliver my baby in Des Moines when the time comes.

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat!

Well there has been lots of news to report here, but somehow I forget to update my blog!

First, on the up side, our new baby is doing well. Expected to arrive Feb 25, it is a girl; and we plan to name her Lauren Grace Rich. We are very excited.

Secondly, Will loves all things Christmas! Christmas with a 2 year old is truly magical. He has insisited on about 50 viewings of the Polar Express and has loved visiting Santa Claus. He knows all of the Christmas vocabulary, and loves reporting to us about Claus, and reindeer. Tonight we are celebrating at Joe's mom's with his brothers and dad. Should be very exciting.

Third, Joe's littlest brother Matt is expecting a baby. We only recently realized this when he and his girlfriend Selena attended Will's second birthday party at Happy Joe's. Who knew?? She's due in about April!?

Last but certainly not least, your prayers are being called on. Joe recently has been experiencing some health problems. Following a sinus infection his right eye began to droop. After a great many MRIs and Cat Scans, they discovered a tumor on his thyroid. The neurolgoist think this tumor is pinching the nerve to Joe's eye. But of greater concern right now is whether the tumor is benign or malignant, and if it is contained to just his thyroid or worse spread to his chest/lungs. Tuesday we are headed to the University Hospitals for a biopsy and cat scan of Joe's chest. I anticipate a surgery to remove the tumor regardless of the cancer report. But, the anxiety and worry has been difficult for all of us.

It has been a very good 2009 for Joe, Liz & Will...we hope to conclude the year with a little good luck and answers to our prayers for a healthy dad and husband!

Its a girl???!!?? Or is it?

I am 19 weeks along now, and feeling great! I have had a number of check ups along the way due to a question about an antibody that I tested positive for. Yesterday was an in depth ultrasound to see if the baby is being negatively affected (or becoming anemic) becuase of antibody Anti S. If the baby were to become anemic, he/she may have to have a blood transfusion in utero. My check up yesterday in Des Moines indicated that so far there is nothing to be concerned about. Check back in four weeks. Additionally, I was hoping to find out if baby Rich is a girl or a boy! The sonographer said several times that she thought the baby is a girl, but in the end she said she wouldn't say for certain. That, the baby wouldn't uncross (HER??) legs during the whole 45 minutes! So I guess I will hope to find out more in four weeks!