We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas celebration with friends and family. We certainly did. We have been very busy running from one weekend to the next but now that is drawing to a close. I look at my planner and 2008 is a blank slate. This is quite the contrast in leaving 2007 behind. I am not worried about not being busy however it will be interesting to see what God has up his sleeve for our lives in the coming months. It is so much easier when we make the plans and fill in each day and quite another when the space is stark white.
I have had 2 appointments since I have last updated you and not much has occurred. They were quick appointments with no ultrasounds. Everything seems to be fine and I have one more quick appointment on the 2nd and then a more detailed one on the 7th to be certain Whitney is ready to come and meet us on the 8th. My c-section is scheduled for the afternoon of the 8th. Please be in prayer for us as we will be unable to hold her and I am sure Matt will be torn as to be with me or Whitney. She will immediately go to the NICU and her surgery for her back closure is scheduled for Wednesday morning the 9th. They anticipate that she will be in the hospital for 2 weeks and we will keep you posted as to when or if her shunt surgery will be to relieve the pressure on her brain.
Have a blessed New Years!
December 28, 2007
December 10, 2007
Grace
Every once in a while, we get a card in the mail that makes us stop and reassess what's happened to us. We got one late last week.
Someone who knows someone who knows Susan sent us a card to encourage us. In it, she related that she had been praying for us ever since she learned about Whitney in October. She then related to us how God's grace is always sufficient for us by telling us how God had carried her through unspeakable grief: she had lost three children to a very rare metabolic disorder. During one of the pregnancies, her doctors ruled out autism, and she was disappointed. She knew that she could care for a child with autism, she could pour her love into providing for that child. But she couldn't pour a lifetime of love into the children she lost. She reminded us that, Lord willing, we would have that opportunity with Whitney. And with that, God reminded me (again) that Whitney with her spina bifida is a blessing that we have only by His grace.
Someone who knows someone who knows Susan sent us a card to encourage us. In it, she related that she had been praying for us ever since she learned about Whitney in October. She then related to us how God's grace is always sufficient for us by telling us how God had carried her through unspeakable grief: she had lost three children to a very rare metabolic disorder. During one of the pregnancies, her doctors ruled out autism, and she was disappointed. She knew that she could care for a child with autism, she could pour her love into providing for that child. But she couldn't pour a lifetime of love into the children she lost. She reminded us that, Lord willing, we would have that opportunity with Whitney. And with that, God reminded me (again) that Whitney with her spina bifida is a blessing that we have only by His grace.
December 4, 2007
Overwhelmed
We are now 5 weeks away and after yesterday I am feeling a bit more stressed about Whitney's upcoming arrival. My doctor appointment went well. She is no longer in the breach position which I suspected as she kept me wake the other night. This allowed us to get a great look at her spine which we have been unable to do through ultrasound. I have to admit that it was hard for me to see the reality of her spina bifida lesion. However, it does remind me how grateful I am that I am able to process this now before her arrival. She is now 4 lbs and 15 oz which places her in the 56th percentile. She has grown quite a bit in the last few weeks. Her hydrocephalus is now measuring 27 and 17. The ventricles are usually symmetrical so we are not sure what this means as of yet. The positive thing is that her head circumference is measuring normal. We were unable to see her feet so I pray that they are still not clubbed.
Matt met me for a tour of the NICU after my appointment and we were amazed at how large it was. There are currently 82 babies. We saw the first room and then the second and I thought, "wow they have 2 rooms". I think we saw around 16 different rooms with babies in them. Many of the babies are so tiny and have so many difficulties that it made me very grateful that Whitney will enter this world full term. I was encouraged to see 3 people I knew that I did not expect to see. It is always uplifting to see a familiar face. We did find out that Whitney's stay will be closer to 2 weeks not 1. We are a little disappointed as it will be very hard to leave her there for that long and more difficult as I am going to nurse her and will not be able to drive for a few weeks after surgery. The details will all iron out, right?
This week we also have a tour of the rehabilitation hospital in town and Fiona's toddler bed is scheduled to arrive. Next week we will begin our search of a school in the area that integrates special needs children. My next doctor appointment is on the 17th and it looks like it may be my last one before January 7th and 8th. The time is flying by.
Matt met me for a tour of the NICU after my appointment and we were amazed at how large it was. There are currently 82 babies. We saw the first room and then the second and I thought, "wow they have 2 rooms". I think we saw around 16 different rooms with babies in them. Many of the babies are so tiny and have so many difficulties that it made me very grateful that Whitney will enter this world full term. I was encouraged to see 3 people I knew that I did not expect to see. It is always uplifting to see a familiar face. We did find out that Whitney's stay will be closer to 2 weeks not 1. We are a little disappointed as it will be very hard to leave her there for that long and more difficult as I am going to nurse her and will not be able to drive for a few weeks after surgery. The details will all iron out, right?
This week we also have a tour of the rehabilitation hospital in town and Fiona's toddler bed is scheduled to arrive. Next week we will begin our search of a school in the area that integrates special needs children. My next doctor appointment is on the 17th and it looks like it may be my last one before January 7th and 8th. The time is flying by.
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