31.5 Week Ultrasound

Here is a summary of today's ultrasound: 

• Maggie is measuring in the 48th percentile and is 4 lbs 1 oz now...completely average!

• The tiny amount of fluid we saw in her abdomen last time still remains and is still not a major concern. 

• Her liver still looks the same. The ultrasound shows the same calcification on the capsule (the lining around the liver) that we have been seeing all along. The doc said they expect to see it there for the rest of the pregnancy. It is a sign that there HAS BEEN infection. It does not indicate whether or not there still is or isn't an infection.

• At this point we most likely know all we are going to know until she is born. We could still see the fluid decrease or go away, but other than that, things will most likely appear pretty much the same from here on out and the next time we will be able to gain MORE information on her condition will be when she is born. Then we will be able to run tests to find out if she had an infection and if she still has one or not. 

• We will, however, be doing weekly ultrasounds from now on to keep a close eye on her. Our next ultrasound will be next Monday the 3rd. We will also meet with a neonatologist during that appointment to discuss possible medical issues to prepare for and which hospitals would be able to accommodate those possible issues. 

 Thank you all so much for your prayers!! Things look absolutely GREAT compared to how they looked over 12 weeks ago! There is still a lot we don't know so please continue to pray hard for our baby girl. Pray that even though we can't necessarily detect it, that she continues to heal. Pray for peace despite the unknown. 

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6 NIV) 

 And PRAISE Him for the miracles and healing we have already seen, and the unbelievable peace he has provided through this entire situation!!

30 Weeks!!

30 WEEKS TODAY!!!!! :)

MRI Results

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20 NIV)

•10 weeks ago today (19 weeks):  "This is not a baby who is likely to survive.  Sorry.  If you are still pregnant in a week we will do another sono."

•1 week later (20 weeks):  "There is so much fluid that IF this baby ends up surviving the pregnancy, the lungs just wouldn't have room to develop."

•1 week later (almost 22 weeks):  "You guys seem to be pretty optimistic...you may want to tone that down a bit."

•The next day:  "It appears she has a viral infection.  The liver is infected, the fluid doesn't seem to currently be hurting anything, and I'm seeing overlapping sutures in the skull, a sign that her brain has shrunk.  I have only seen that in babies who have already died.  She could possibly survive, but if she does, damage has already been done and there WILL be issues [with the brain].  One of your options is that you have two healthy kids at home and maybe you just don't want to deal with this right now..."

•3 weeks later (25 weeks):  "Things look about the same and I don't think there will be any issues with the lungs developing and I think there is a good chance she will at least survive the pregnancy!  We will do an MRI to see how much damage has been done to the brain so we can get an idea of what to expect."

•3.5 weeks later (almost 29 weeks):  "Wow, the fluid is almost gone!  Liver looks about the same and we aren't seeing the issue with the skull but that could just be the angle so it doesn't necessarily mean improvement.  We will see what the MRI shows."

•2 days later (TODAY, 29 weeks):  "The MRI showed the brain to look VERY NORMAL."

Again, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,"(Ephesians 3:20 NIV)

WOW!!!!  VERY NORMAL!!!  We just witnessed a miracle...one that we all were faithfully praying for!  Thank You, Jesus...and thank you all so much for your prayers!!  We are just so excited  and emotional (and a little in shock) about this news!  She is still a sick baby so please continue to pray for her.  They still believe there is or has been a very serious infection and the liver is still a concern...hopefully we will be given a little more information about the liver issue at our next appointment/sono in 3 weeks.

Thanks again for your prayers for sweet Maggie...keep them coming!  He is faithful!! :D

Ultrasound and MRI

Phewww!!!  What a day!!!  Here is a summary of our two appointments:

• The fluid in the abdomen is nearly all gone!!  There is only a small amount left!!  Praise God!!  This is such awesome news, totally unexpected and an answer to prayer!!  Thank you all for continuing to hope and pray for this! :)

• The ultrasound showed the liver still looking about the same as last time.

• The skull did not appear to have the overlapping plates during this sono as it did on the previous two sonos.  Although it COULD mean improvement, it could also just look different because it was a different angle, so the doc wasn't about to make any assumptions about it.

• The MRI technician guessed that the MRI would probably take an hour since babies don't hold completely still.  Well, here is proof that I am NOT making it up when I say Maggie moves like crazy:  the MRI ended up taking TWO AND A HALF HOURS!!!  She just wouldn't stop moving!  Talk about torture...I hope I never have to do that again!!

• The good news is they DID get what they needed...yay!!  I'm hoping to get a call with the results tomorrow.

No matter what we find out tomorrow, we still know this:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16 NIV)

And we still know this:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)

Please continue to pray to the God of miracles for continued improvement for Maggie and good results from the MRI tomorrow.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20 NIV)

Prayer for Tomorrow

At about this time tomorrow we will be doing an MRI.  We have an ultrasound at 1:30 and then the MRI at 3:30.  Both at KU Med.  Please pray that Maggie holds as still as possible for the clearest images possible.  Pray for peace for us, wisdom for the medical professionals, and good results from the MRI.  You can also pray what our precious Wyatt prays EVERY SINGLE NIGHT before bed (without being prompted):  "Dear Jesus, please help Maggie grow right."  Love him so much.

Special Day!

Today is a special day!!  No, not because it's New Year's Day or my 31st birthday.  On Halloween day, when I was about 19 weeks along, I was told Maggie wasn't likely to survive, and IF she was still alive at 20 weeks we would do another sono.  Well guess what?  I am 28 weeks today and I am officially starting the THIRD TRIMESTER!!!  That's the best birthday present I could ever hope for!!  Doctor's Opinion - 0, God's Plan - 1 (well technically a gazillion).  

Happy New Year everyone!!  2014 is going to be one crazy ride for us, but I'm so excited to meet Maggie and see what amazing things God has planned for her and for us!! :)

Thank you all for your continued prayers!  We have a sono and an MRI on Maggie scheduled for the afternoon of Jan 6th.  Pray that we have another positive appointment!!!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20 NIV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

P.S.  Maggie is kicking me like crazy as I type this! :)