Christy has been moved to her home away from home. She was just transferred to the same room she had last visit. She is now in room 230 on the High Risk Floor.
New room phone number is 678-312-3930.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Afternoon update
The fetal fibronectin test came back negative, which indicates that I'm not likely to have the babies in the next 2 weeks! And, the terbutaline shot stopped my contractions! AND, the babies look so good that the doc took me back off of the continuous monitoring. So, all good news this afternoon. Thank You, God!! I had a great nurse last night that stayed with me (and on the phone with my doc) during the contractions. I'm very thankful to have excellent healthcare. I am hopeful that since I haven't dilated anymore and the contractions stopped that I'll be able to get home sooner rather than later...on strict bedrest. I'd take that any day over being in the hospital!
Thanks for all the emails and phone calls...I'll be in touch with each of you soon. I'm trying to catch catnaps whenever I can since it's hard to sleep in the hospital. I should be moved up to the High Risk Maternity floor this afternoon, which I'm really looking forward to...the rooms are very large and nice. I'll send out my new room number when I get it. My cell phone is not working well in the hospital, so if you do call, please use the hospital number.
Guess that's it for now. Please keep the prayers coming. Thanks!!
Thanks for all the emails and phone calls...I'll be in touch with each of you soon. I'm trying to catch catnaps whenever I can since it's hard to sleep in the hospital. I should be moved up to the High Risk Maternity floor this afternoon, which I'm really looking forward to...the rooms are very large and nice. I'll send out my new room number when I get it. My cell phone is not working well in the hospital, so if you do call, please use the hospital number.
Guess that's it for now. Please keep the prayers coming. Thanks!!
32 Weeks!! +++
Update for you all...We will do our best to keep this site updated with latest news. This is much easier for us and will not fill up your inbox with updates...
This morning Christy started having contractions 2-3 minutes apart around 3:30am. They slowed down to 5-7 minutes apart at 5am. They picked back up to 2-3 minutes apart from 5:30-7:30am. The doctor came in around 7:30am and did a fetal fibronectin test (will tell us if she will deliver within the next two weeks). The doc also checked Christy and she is still at 3cm. The fact that she has not dilated any further is good news. They gave her a shot of terbutaline (to stop contractions and also make the three hearts race). The contractions have slowed/stopped.
They have given her the second shot of steroids for the babies lung development and they put her back on IV antibiotics and fluids.
Sum of it all: The doctor said that Christy will be here from 3-4 days up to 34 weeks. All of us are healthy.
Prayer Request: Please pray that Jackson will be able to adjust to this crazy schedule. We know he is resilient as he has been in the past, but the hospital visits freak him out a little. Also, pray for Christy and the babies. She needs rest.
Stay tuned...
This morning Christy started having contractions 2-3 minutes apart around 3:30am. They slowed down to 5-7 minutes apart at 5am. They picked back up to 2-3 minutes apart from 5:30-7:30am. The doctor came in around 7:30am and did a fetal fibronectin test (will tell us if she will deliver within the next two weeks). The doc also checked Christy and she is still at 3cm. The fact that she has not dilated any further is good news. They gave her a shot of terbutaline (to stop contractions and also make the three hearts race). The contractions have slowed/stopped.
They have given her the second shot of steroids for the babies lung development and they put her back on IV antibiotics and fluids.
Sum of it all: The doctor said that Christy will be here from 3-4 days up to 34 weeks. All of us are healthy.
Prayer Request: Please pray that Jackson will be able to adjust to this crazy schedule. We know he is resilient as he has been in the past, but the hospital visits freak him out a little. Also, pray for Christy and the babies. She needs rest.
Stay tuned...
Monday, July 30, 2007
32 Weeks!!
The good news is that the babies look great! I had an OB appointment this morning and had a BPP (Bio-Physical Profile). This is an ultrasound that tests each baby in four areas: as they practice breathing, measures their amniotic fluid, checks muscle tone and measures movement. They had to score 8/8 in the first 30 minutes or we would have had to do some more tests. Maggie & William scored 8/8 in less than 10 minutes!
The bad news is that I have been admitted to the hospital because I am 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced. I've been here since this morning around 9:00 and hope to be released tomorrow at the latest. We'll see!!
The bad news is that I have been admitted to the hospital because I am 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced. I've been here since this morning around 9:00 and hope to be released tomorrow at the latest. We'll see!!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Encouraging Appointment - Jackson
Brandon and I took Jackson to the Alopecia specialist today. It was a very good appointment...the nurse and doctor were both very thorough and detailed in getting Jackson's Alopecia history. The doc was very personable and easy to talk to. He wants to run new thyroid tests that are more extensive than those previously run. Because my dad and I both have a thyroid disorder (auto-immune), Jackson has Alopecia (auto-immune) and Brian has PSC (auto-immune...see below) he thinks there may be a correlation. He also wrote Jackson a prescription for a stronger corti-steroid which we'll apply to the bald spots 1x a day. We go back in 6 weeks for a follow-up appointment. The doctor is hopeful that we'll see some good results from this new treatment. I feel very good about this next step! Thanks for the prayers and keep them coming!
I mentioned above that Brian has PSC. He was diagnosed this week. I've attached a link to his blog...please read and start praying for him, Jen and the rest of the family. Thanks!
http://upofdn.blogspot.com/2007/07/medical-mystery-tour-2007.html
I mentioned above that Brian has PSC. He was diagnosed this week. I've attached a link to his blog...please read and start praying for him, Jen and the rest of the family. Thanks!
http://upofdn.blogspot.com/2007/07/medical-mystery-tour-2007.html
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
31 Weeks!
It's hard to believe that it has been almost 8 weeks since I was admitted to the hospital (and 7 weeks since I've been home!). At that point, we weren't sure how long I would be able to keep these babies inside and were hoping and praying to just get to 28 weeks. It's really great to be at 31 weeks now and to know that both babies are thriving!
I had appointments on Monday at the specialist and regular OB. My Mom drove up on Sunday afternoon to go to the doc with me and to get another chance to see the babies. We had a "growth ultrasound" at the specialists office. The babies are really growing! They estimated William's weight at 4 lbs 2 ounces (83rd percentile) and Maggie's weight at 3 lbs 7 ounces (36th percentile). So basically, Maggie is 3 1/2 lbs and William is 4 lbs...not a bad difference in fraternal twins. I was a little concerned at first because I thought the difference in weight was significant, but all the docs were pleased with their growth. They also look at each twins vital organs at these detailed ultrasounds and both babies look awesome! As I am getting bigger and more uncomfortable it's nice to know that the babies are thriving. If I were to have them now, the docs estimate that they would spend about two weeks in the NICU...not too bad when we were looking at 3 months in the NICU when I was first admitted to the hospital. My goal is to hold onto these little ones until 34-36 weeks so they spend very little time in the NICU at all.
I am getting more excited about bringing Maggie and William home. I know that our house is going to be chaotic for a while, but I look forward to being off of bedrest and taking care of my 3 kids (my goodness...that sounds weird!). Jackson's preschool starts again on September 5th...he will go 3 days a weeks from 9am-12pm. He enjoyed it so much last year and I know he'll be excited to start "school" again. The three mornings he is at school will give me "2-on-1" time with the twins and I look forward to getting them on a good schedule so that Jackson and I can have "1-on-1" time in the afternoon.
Brandon has been working diligently on the "honey-do" list that WE(!) put together. He has done a great job taking care of me, Jackson, the household, his job and still finding the time to work on our list. I know that he welcomes the day that we cross the last item off the list and throw it away (or maybe he'll want it framed!). He left the house at 4am this morning to fly to Washington DC and flies back in tonight around 7pm. He continues to excel at his job and I expect to hear great things about the meeting he had today. I am very proud of him and know that I am blessed to have a great husband/best friend as well as him being an excellent father and provider.
HUGE ANSWER TO PRAYER!
Thank you to everyone that joined us in praying that Jackson would get into the dermatologist earlier. I've been calling almost daily to ask for him to be squeezed into a canceled appointment rather than having to wait until his August 14th appointment (I would have been 34 weeks at that point). I struck gold this morning when I called...they had a cancellation tomorrow at 11:15 and we got the appointment!!!! I am super excited! The doc we're taking Jackson to is the best pediatric dermatologist in the Atlanta area and is on the Alopecia Areata board. I feel so much relief to have a chance to see this doc and to get a second opinion on Jackson's hair loss. I finally feel like we are making progress...even if nothing new comes of this appointment, I will know that we are doing everything possible. So my new prayer request in regards to Jackson's alopecia is that we would have a good appointment and connect with the doctor in such a way that we know without a doubt that we are in the best place possible for Jackson, getting the best care. I do still ask that you all pray for a miracle...that Jackson's hair would regrow and we wouldn't have to deal with this. But, if that doesn't happen, I ask that you all would pray for Brandon and I as we figure out how to deal with this and that we would equip Jackson in a way that he can stand tall in knowing that alopecia doesn't in any way define who he is. He is such a great little boy that I don't think this can or will hinder him...I believe that I will always have a harder time with it than he does.
I do have one additional prayer request. A family member was given a difficult diagnosis yesterday. I won't go into detail, but I do ask that those that pray would join us in prayer for this unspoken request.
So thankful to have each of you in our lives... :)
I had appointments on Monday at the specialist and regular OB. My Mom drove up on Sunday afternoon to go to the doc with me and to get another chance to see the babies. We had a "growth ultrasound" at the specialists office. The babies are really growing! They estimated William's weight at 4 lbs 2 ounces (83rd percentile) and Maggie's weight at 3 lbs 7 ounces (36th percentile). So basically, Maggie is 3 1/2 lbs and William is 4 lbs...not a bad difference in fraternal twins. I was a little concerned at first because I thought the difference in weight was significant, but all the docs were pleased with their growth. They also look at each twins vital organs at these detailed ultrasounds and both babies look awesome! As I am getting bigger and more uncomfortable it's nice to know that the babies are thriving. If I were to have them now, the docs estimate that they would spend about two weeks in the NICU...not too bad when we were looking at 3 months in the NICU when I was first admitted to the hospital. My goal is to hold onto these little ones until 34-36 weeks so they spend very little time in the NICU at all.
I am getting more excited about bringing Maggie and William home. I know that our house is going to be chaotic for a while, but I look forward to being off of bedrest and taking care of my 3 kids (my goodness...that sounds weird!). Jackson's preschool starts again on September 5th...he will go 3 days a weeks from 9am-12pm. He enjoyed it so much last year and I know he'll be excited to start "school" again. The three mornings he is at school will give me "2-on-1" time with the twins and I look forward to getting them on a good schedule so that Jackson and I can have "1-on-1" time in the afternoon.
Brandon has been working diligently on the "honey-do" list that WE(!) put together. He has done a great job taking care of me, Jackson, the household, his job and still finding the time to work on our list. I know that he welcomes the day that we cross the last item off the list and throw it away (or maybe he'll want it framed!). He left the house at 4am this morning to fly to Washington DC and flies back in tonight around 7pm. He continues to excel at his job and I expect to hear great things about the meeting he had today. I am very proud of him and know that I am blessed to have a great husband/best friend as well as him being an excellent father and provider.
HUGE ANSWER TO PRAYER!
Thank you to everyone that joined us in praying that Jackson would get into the dermatologist earlier. I've been calling almost daily to ask for him to be squeezed into a canceled appointment rather than having to wait until his August 14th appointment (I would have been 34 weeks at that point). I struck gold this morning when I called...they had a cancellation tomorrow at 11:15 and we got the appointment!!!! I am super excited! The doc we're taking Jackson to is the best pediatric dermatologist in the Atlanta area and is on the Alopecia Areata board. I feel so much relief to have a chance to see this doc and to get a second opinion on Jackson's hair loss. I finally feel like we are making progress...even if nothing new comes of this appointment, I will know that we are doing everything possible. So my new prayer request in regards to Jackson's alopecia is that we would have a good appointment and connect with the doctor in such a way that we know without a doubt that we are in the best place possible for Jackson, getting the best care. I do still ask that you all pray for a miracle...that Jackson's hair would regrow and we wouldn't have to deal with this. But, if that doesn't happen, I ask that you all would pray for Brandon and I as we figure out how to deal with this and that we would equip Jackson in a way that he can stand tall in knowing that alopecia doesn't in any way define who he is. He is such a great little boy that I don't think this can or will hinder him...I believe that I will always have a harder time with it than he does.
I do have one additional prayer request. A family member was given a difficult diagnosis yesterday. I won't go into detail, but I do ask that those that pray would join us in prayer for this unspoken request.
So thankful to have each of you in our lives... :)
Friday, July 20, 2007
Jackson - Alopecia Update & Prayer Request
Jackson's alopecia has gotten considerably worse in the last couple weeks. He has several more patches of hair loss and no re-growth. I made an appointment for him with a specialist - it's on August 14th. I'll be 34 weeks pregnant at that point and am desperately trying to get him an appointment earlier. His pediatrician office is also trying to help us get an appointment. They've been told to call back on Monday to see if anything opens up. PLEASE say a prayer that: 1) God would heal Jackson's alopecia and hair would begin to re-grow, and 2) that we will be able to get him in for an appointment with the specialist ASAP. Thanks.
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