36.5 Weeks - Partially Breech

I had an OB appointment this morning during which we discovered that Maggie is no longer head down.  Luckily it seems she is laying sideways instead of completely breech so at this point she should be easy to turn.  I have an appointment at OPR for Wednesday at 10:00 am to try and turn her.  If Monday's ultrasound at KU Med reveals her to again be head down then we will just cancel Wednesday's appointment.  On Wednesday we plan to do an ultrasound to check her position one final time before trying to turn her.  Pray that we can get her to turn or that she turns on her own!!

36 weeks!!

36 weeks today!!  Only ONE week until she is full-term!!!  So exciting!!  So as I ponder her birth that will be here soooo soon...

I discovered that the name Maggie means "Pearl".  I was googling information on pearls and found this description about the birth of a pearl that I thought was very beautiful:

"The birth of a pearl is truly a miraculous event. Unlike gemstones or precious metals that must be mined from the earth, pearls are grown by live oysters far below the surface of the sea. Gemstones must be cut and polished to bring out their beauty. But pearls need no such treatment to reveal their loveliness. They are born from oysters complete -- with a shimmering iridescence, lustre and soft inner glow unlike any other gem on earth." - from http://www.americanpearl.com/historyoyster.html

I also found this scripture that uses a priceless pearl to demonstrate that Jesus and His kingdom are worth giving up EVERYTHING for:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:45, 46 HCSB)

And although this is not the meaning of those verses, Maggie's precious life was also worth us giving up everything we had to fight for her from the day she was conceived.  Not just hers, but EVERY baby's life from conception.  And hers will certainly be a "miraculous birth" and she will be born "complete" just as God created her and she will need "no treatment to reveal her loveliness".  She will be born "with a shimmering iridescence, lustre and soft inner glow unlike any other gem on earth."

35.5 Week Ultrasound

We had our weekly biophysical profile today but we also got to do all of the growth measurements again and speak with the doctor.  It's amazing how quick and easy these appointments are when everything looks good! :)  Maggie weighs 6 lbs 4 oz...she's already bigger than her brother Wyatt was when he was born (6 lbs 3 oz)! :)  Her liver looks the same (as expected) and they still couldn't find any fluid in her abdomen.  Yay!  We asked the doc, "Considering where we started, we are pretty much at best case scenario and everything is looking really good, right?"  She agreed that we are definitely looking great considering where we started AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL without her being here yet.  God is so good!!  She wants us to make sure the OPR NICU has a neonatal infectious disease specialist, a neonatal gastroenterologist (stomach and intestines) and a neonatal hepatologist (liver).  I have an OB appointment on Friday and I will inquire about it while I'm there.  Maggie was hiding her face today so we didn't get any pictures.  Thank you all for your continued prayers!! :)

From My Heart to Yours

I don't really want to tell everyone online how much of a mess I have been lately, but I am going to anyway because I DO want to tell everyone how many amazing people God has been using to bless and help us.

 

It often blows my mind how God provides exactly what we need and exactly when we need it. First of all, he set up circumstances to help us through this situation BEFORE it even started. He led me to choose the PERFECT Bible study class that had the PERFECT people (who I had never met but are now friends) who would be in the PERFECT situation in life to help me. While attending that class, I found out that Maggie would "be unlikely to survive". That started a whirlwind of appointments and searching for answers and help. I don't have family in town and most of my friends have at least 2 small children and I didn't want to be dumping my kids on top of their kids. But the Bible study class that God led me to provided me with a babysitter (now friend) who has an incredibly flexible schedule and watches my kids nearly every single time we have high risk appointments! And the few times she wasn't available, God provided a backup babysitter, also from that class, and another backup from church. They all have older kids or kids in college and have been very flexible and available and this has made our appointments so much less stressful knowing that we always have babysitters and that they are taking wonderful care of our kids.

Also, my Bible study class was there for me during the worst of the situation when we didn't know if Maggie would survive or not. They provided emotional support and prayer and I don't know how I would have made it through the beginning of this journey without them wrapping their arms around me. The teacher of the class has been so wonderful about keeping everyone updated on progress and prayer requests after the class ended.

Along this journey there have been so many people reaching out online with words of encouragement and letting us know that they have been praying for us and offering us help. I want to thank you all so much for your support and prayers...it's an amazing feeling to know that when my words and prayers and pleas are all dried up and I just can't pray anymore because I just don't know what else to say, not only does God know my heart and Jesus intercedes for me, but all of you have continued to pray and plea on our behalf for sweet Maggie.

And there have been so many sweet words, gestures, help, encouragement and prayers from so many people here locally. There's nothing I love more than going to my mom's group and other places where I know my family is loved and prayed for and people reach out to us.

I also have a neighbor/friend who has been occasionally watching our kiddos so that Jon and I can take much needed dates. It's an important thing to do, but even more important in this situation when Jon and I really need to be close and supportive of each other. I am so grateful to her and her husband for providing us with those opportunities. She is also a photographer and is going to be taking some very special pictures of my pregnant belly, my labor and delivery, and a couple newborn sessions. How wonderful to be able to capture such special moments after not even knowing if those special moments would even end up happening.

This brings us to the present. God has worked so many miracles for us already and Maggie is doing so much better and things are looking really good. However, I am in the home stretch of the pregnancy and this time it's with two kids at home and during our most challenging pregnancy yet. So now that I have only a month left, my hormones and emotions are going CRAZY and I am a complete mess. Like the biggest mess I have ever been in my entire life (at least it feels like it). All the crazy emotions that God graciously helped me keep under control during the most difficult times are all suddenly being released like a waterfall. Some days it's all I can do to take care of myself and my kids. It's very frustrating because I feel like I should just suck it up and get control, but I have finally resigned myself to the fact that I CAN'T. I just can't do it. I cannot control this. At least not on my own.

Just in the last few days God has provided an outpouring of support for this difficult time in my life. First of all, I can not express enough how amazing my husband is. He has been strong and supportive since the very beginning. Lately I have been quite difficult to live with. I have been incredibly sensitive and emotional and he has endured a lot of me getting upset with him for ridiculous things and he has been giving me grace knowing that this will all be over soon and I will not be such a jerk (my words, not his) for much longer. Also, since I am really struggling to keep up with life, he has started getting groceries, cooking supper, and then cleaning the kitchen after supper most nights so I don't have to. This is after working all day and sometimes even using his lunch break to pick up the groceries. How amazing is he?!? I am so blessed the God gave him to me and that he is the the one by my side through this journey.

I now have OB appointments every week and it has become too much to bring my kids to those appointments and I have two friends who are watching my kids for the rest of those appointments even though they have their own young children at home!! This has further reduced the stress of all my appointments and I am so grateful for them.

A few days ago I had to make the hard decision of quitting the new Bible study class (same teacher and some of the same people in my class who were in the last one) that I just started a few weeks ago. I was sad to do so but I just have more activities than I can handle right now with all of my appointments and my emotional and fatigued condition. Everyone was super supportive of my decision and I know they are continuing to pray.

My Bible study teacher wanted to help us in some way and is organizing some people from class to bring us meals...how amazing is that?? Just one more way God is using people to lift more weight off of our shoulders and bless us. In addition to that, despite finishing up chemo for breast cancer (she has one round left), my mother-in-law has been busy working on a bunch of freezer meals this week to bring to us next time they visit. What a blessing.

Now back to me being a WRECK, I have had so many people available and helpful when I am losing it and and just need encouragement, to talk and cry, or need advice to get me through. My mom, mother-in-law and some close friends have graciously tolerated my emotional breakdowns and have been consistent in encouraging me to accept help and to lean on God first and foremost. 

I have had a couple of friends from my mom's group who have reached out to me to help me at home. One sweet girl is coming to my house soon to help me clean, and the other is coming soon to help me organize and decorate the nursery. How amazing is that?? The help is soooo appreciated, but the friendship and their presence is even more appreciated. I only hope to be as much of a blessing and encouragement to other mom's someday as they have been to me.

All of this support has helped me so much, but the things that is really sustaining me right now is God. Thanks to dear friends and family pointing me in the right direction, I have been trying to remember during the crazy moments when I have no one to help me and I just don't know how I can do it, that God is ALWAYS there and he is my best support. Instead of freaking out in those moments, I need to pour my heart out to my Savior. "The Lord has heard my plea for help; the Lord accepts my prayer." (Psalms 6:9 HCSB). And I need to meditate on His Word because it is truth. "I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me". (Philippians 4:13 HCSB)

I know this is a super long post, but God is just so good and faithful that I just felt like it needed sharing. Dear friends, when you are going through life's toughest trials, He is there. He has not forgotten you. He has not forsaken you. I have known this but now I am living proof of it. He is in every detail of every moment. He will bring you through. And how awesome is it that He has used YOU to help bring me and my family through this trial? Thank you.

35 Weeks!!

I am 35 weeks along today!!  Only 2 weeks until Maggie is full-term!! :)

Another Sign of Improvement!

Today I had another biophysical profile.  I figured it would be like the last couple of ultrasounds: quick, no signs of early delivery, and no new information on her condition.  Well the first two things were correct, but the technician took the time to look around for signs of the remaining fluid.  She couldn't find any!  She found a spot that looked like it COULD be a teeny tiny amount of barely detectable fluid, but she wasn't very convinced that fluid was what she was seeing there.  She took the images to the doc to get her opinion.  The doc agreed...the fluid is either completely gone or there is BARELY any there, but the doc was also not convinced she was actually seeing any fluid.  So exciting!!  We have been praying that God would continue to heal her body while she's in there, and He must be doing just that!! :)  So exciting!  And we got adorable 3D pictures today...can't wait to meet her in person! :)

We Made Our decision!

We have made our decision!  We will be delivering Maggie at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.  They have a level 3b NICU and I have heard great things about them!  I'm very happy we will be delivering there for several reasons.  First of all, I get to continue with my regular OB doctor and she will get to deliver Maggie.  Secondly, I delivered Jack there and so I am already familiar with them and had a good experience!  Lastly, IF Maggie ends up in their great NICU for any length of time, OP Regional is only a 15 to 17 minute drive versus 35 minutes to KU Med.  If we end up shuffling back and forth between the hospital and home, OP Regional will be much more convenient.

Thank you all again for your continued prayers!  I am just so grateful and excited to meet this precious little girl that has already touched so many people.  I just can't wait to see what God has in store for her life!! :)

33.5 Week Ultrasound

I had my weekly Biophysical Profile (ultrasound) done again today.  They check for things like practice breathing, certain types of kicks and movements, and sufficient amniotic fluid.  It was very quick and and went well...so quick we didn't even get any pictures.  Hopefully next time!  I will go back for my next one Monday at 1:30.

In Awe of an Awesome God

I was just re-reading the post about the news we got on January 8th (if you haven't read it yet, read the post titled "MRI Results").  I am continually in awe that God would bless us with this miracle.  It is exciting, amazing and humbling.  I am just so grateful.  It is really hard and scary to wait these last 5 or 6 weeks until she is born to find out the status of her health...but at this point, how could I NOT fully trust that she is in His hands?  He loves her so much and He wants the best for her.  I don't know what "the best for her" will end up being, but He does and I will trust His will.  He did, after all, send His Son to die for Maggie so that she can have everlasting life through Him.  What an awesome and loving God we serve.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)

Meeting with the Neonatologist

Today's ultrasound went well and showed no new information.  We then spoke with a neonatologist from the KU Med NICU.  She explained the things we should expect after Maggie is born and then expanded on multiple scenarios that could play out and what they would entail.  I will not explain those scenarios here because we really won't know anything for sure until she is born.  We will just update everyone on what DOES happen instead of what COULD happen.  What we DO know is that she will be taken to the NICU right away for observation and testing.  She will not get to eat right away until they thoroughly examine her.  Beyond that it branches into a ton of different scenarios and treatments and outcomes depending on their findings.  We are still undecided on which facility we will deliver.  We need to get a little more information before we make a decision.  Overall the neonatologist answered a ton of our questions and prepared us as well as she could under the circumstances.  Please pray that Maggie continues to heal between now and when she is born so she will need minimal or no medical intervention.  Our next ultrasound is next Monday at 1:00.  Thank you all for your continued prayers!!!