Good News & Bad News

I went in for my regular doctor appointment today and we received both good news and bad news...




The good news is....

• I no longer have Placenta Previa! This means that I can give birth without having a c-section (if Davis is healthy enough to handle it.)

• Also Davis' intestines do not appear to be dilated at this point!

The bad news is...

• Davis is measuring smaller than they would like and the doctors are concerned about growth restriction. What this means is that Davis is already at a high risk for stillbirth due to his gastroschisis and now this puts him at an even higher risk. I am now required to go into the hospital twice a week for non-stress tests, ultrasounds, and consults until Davis is born. They will watch for any signs that Davis is not thriving. If this turns out to be the case there are a few things the doctors will do...they will hospitalize me until Davis is born, they can give Davis a shot of steroids to help his lung development, and if it comes down to it they will do an emergency delivery to get him out before things get dangerous. I go back for my first round of non-stress tests this Friday.

• Another issue they told us about today is that because Davis' intestines are floating outside his body the intestines are actually pulling his stomach and bladder down. They don't think this should cause any major damage at this point in the pregnancy but I would really appreciate your prayers on this.

All the other things at went on today....

• I had my blood tested for gestational diabetes (hopefully there will be no problem with that)
• I received a flu shot (because I was exposed to the swine flu last week when I went to visit the kids at my mom's elementary school)
• Davis had the hiccups during his ultrasound :-)

Thank you again for your support and prayers! I will continue to keep everyone posted. My next appointments are this Friday, October 2nd and then again on Tuesday, October 6th.

OSP Recruit Trooper Brian Glaser...

(Sunday, September 20th at Brian's Oregon State Police swearing in ceremony)

(This picture was taken by the Statesman Journal Newspaper just after I pinned Brian with his new police badge.)

(The new recruits at the swearing in ceremony)

September 20th, 2009 at 4 o'clock in the evening Brian and his fellow recruits were officially sworn into the Oregon State Police. Below is the newspaper article that was in the Statesman Journal....

OSP Welcomes new recruits
By Thelma Guerrero-Huston • Statesman Journal • September 21, 2009

One was a waiter. Four have military backgrounds. Ten have college degrees.

What the 21 men sworn in Sunday at the Oregon Public Safety Academy Hall of Heroes in Salem have in common is that they are the latest crop of Oregon State Police recruits.

Salem resident Stacey Boeholt, whose husband, Chris, is a recruit, was one of about 75 people who attended Sunday's event.

Like other wives, Boeholt pinned her husband with an OSP badge during the event.

"I'm very proud of my husband," the wife said.

Chris Boeholt will be assigned to Patrol Services Division in Albany after he completes the academy.

Brian Glaser of Albany said he was counting his blessings for having made it this far.

He'll be assigned to the Fish & Wildlife Division in Salem.

"The academy is going to push me mentally, physically and emotionally," he said. "It's going to be intense. I'm a little nervous, but that's the way it goes."

Glaser and his wife, Jordyn, are expecting their first child in November.

James Andrews, 29, of Corvallis wasn't a bit nervous Sunday.

"All the jitters are past now," Andrews, a former Corvallis police officer, said. "It's a tough start, but I've always wanted to help the community in one way or another."

Andrews has a fish and wildlife degree from Oregon State University. He'll be assigned to OSP's Patrol Services Division in Salem.

The new recruit troopers are the first group of 39 new positions approved by the 2009 Oregon Legislature.

They, along with recruits from other agencies, will next receive 30 weeks of intensive training, including a grueling 16-week training session through the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training or DPSST.

They'll also undergo 10 weeks of training unique to OSP.

They're expected to graduate and go to work in May 2010.

Earlier this month, more than 360 applicants took the entry test for upcoming hiring opportunities as an Oregon State Police trooper.

"Included in that group was the largest number of female applicants to successfully complete this initial phase of testing," said OSP Superintendent Timothy McLain. "We'll probably be seeing them at our next recruitment in January."

There were no women or people of color among Sunday's group of recruits.

"We're working really hard on that," said McLain of recruiting minorities.

Thanks for your prayers!

Here is the link to the Statesman Journal article: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090921/NEWS/909210327&s=d&page=1#pluckcomments

Nursery Wall Quote

I put this quote up in the nursery because it reminds me so much of Brian and I have a feeling Davis will be just like his dad!

Incredible blessing...

The INCREDIBLE Story of one little boy's fight for life....The story of how Sparrow Clubs came to be. (Click on the picture to buy the book)

Please visit the Sparrow Clubs Website!

We just found out this week that Sparrow Clubs has decided to adopt Davis as a "Sparrow"! This is such an answer to prayer! If you are not familiar with Sparrow Clubs please visit the website link above, it is truly an incredible story!

This is the description the website gives....

"Sparrow Clubs USA is proof that you're never too young to make a difference. As the nation's only youth-based charity of its kind, Sparrow Clubs not only provides financial and emotional support for critically ill children and their families, but also empowers young people to help a child through charitable service experiences."

The elementary school my mom teaches at will be adopting Davis as their Sparrow this year. I will be going over to Redmond in the next few weeks to meet the kids at the school and share our story with them.

The Lord just keeps providing for us....

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet you heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

~Matthew 6:25-26

Thank you again for all your support and prayers!

He calms the storm....

"Without warning , a furious storm came up on the lake,so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying 'Lord, save us! We're going to drown!' He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."

~Matthew 8:24-26

This is the Bible verse I found right after the appointment when we were told about Davis' defect and also that I would most likely die if we didn't terminate the life of our baby.

Sometimes in life it feels like we are drowning and we can't seem to get our head above water...Only HE can calm the storm, we can't do it alone!

Surgeons, NICU & The Ronald McDonald House

(We we be living at Doernbecher's Ronald McDonald House)

On Thursday we spent the day at Doernbecher Children's Hospital meeting with Davis' surgeons, meeting the team at the NICU, viewing the birthing unit and touring The Ronald McDonald House.

It was really wonderful to meet the people that will be responsible for saving our little boy's life. You see places and people differently when you know they will be the ones helping your child in ways that you can't.

The surgeons confirmed that everything with the operation and treatment will just depend on Davis' condition at birth. Basically we just have to wait and PRAY until he gets here. They also told us that even if things go smoothly without any setbacks we will not be leaving the hospital anytime before 4 to 6 weeks after he is born. This means we will definitely be spending Christmas in the NICU so once we finally are allowed to go home we figure we can get a pretty good discount on an old Christmas tree and have a little family Christmas to celebrate!

Seeing the NICU was both difficult and reassuring. I teared up when we first walked in to the unit knowing that Davis would soon be struggling there. While we walked through we met another family who had a baby with gastroschisis. He had been there 3 weeks so far but still had a ways to go (his name is Ryder so please keep him in your prayers as well). Ryder's father, Rich, explained to us that is a LONG and FRUSTRATING journey but to just hang in there. It was very nice to speak with other parents that are going through this too. We also learned that people can come to visit us and see (and touch) Davis while we are in the NICU. Here is a link with more information about the Doernbecher NICU: http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/doernbecher/programs-services/neonatal-care/.

Touring the birthing unit was good because I got to see just how close to Davis and I will be once he is in the NICU and I am still in the hospital....they are connecting units so that made me feel a little better. Davis will be taken away IMMEDIATELY after he is born, I will not get to see him or touch him until later on. I think that might be one of the hardest parts about this whole situation.

The Ronald McDonald House was wonderful! It will provide us with a space to shower, do laundry, eat meals and maybe at some point sleep. I feel very blessed that I will not have to be far from Davis when I can't be directly with him in the NICU. Here is the link to see more information (including pictures) on the Ronald McDonald House where we will be staying: http://www.rmhcoregon.org/index.php.

Again thank you for your prayers and support. My next appointment will be in less than 3 weeks on Tuesday, September 29th.

September 8th Appointment

Today Brian and I went to our latest appointment up at OHSU. Below is a list of the updates from today's appointment....

1. Davis has now moved up to the 28th percentile in growth (he was in the 24th percentile last appointment.) The doctors explained to us that babies with gastroschisis have inaccurate growth estimates because one of the main measurements they use is the abdomen. Since the abdomen is missing a lot of the contents it measures small and therefore brings the average percentile down.
2. There is now another complication to add to the mix called placenta previa. This is when the placenta is located low and completely blocks or partially blocks the baby's "exit". In my case it is partially blocked. The doctors have been monitoring this issue for several weeks but have not seen any improvement so far. They will continue to watch this up until I am ready to give birth and hope that it moves. If it doesn't move I will be required to have a c-section. Placenta previa occurs in about 1 in 200 pregnancies. I figure since we already have gastroschisis which is 1 in 5000 and a heart defect that occurs in less than 1% of the overall population, why not add something else that is supposed to be "uncommon"!!!
   
3. Davis' intestines appear to be somewhat dilated at this point but it is difficult to tell. As he grows and there is less space for him the intestines get squished into where ever there is room. It is expected for the intestines to be somewhat dilated and inflamed upon birth (since they are irritated by the amniotic fluid) but we are just praying they stay healthy and unhurt until he is born.
4. Davis' delivery (induced or c-section) has been set for MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd!!! The doctors really want him to make it to this point because they are concerned about his lung development. Since gastroschisis babies grow with the intestines on the outside of the body it is difficult for them to breath once the defect is fixed. If Davis can get to week 37 his lungs will be a lot stronger and more likely to be able to handle the extra pressure once the intestines are put inside his body.

**On Thursday we go back into OHSU to meet with Davis' surgeon (Dr. Zallan) and we will also tour the NICU and the Ronald McDonald House (where we will be staying while Davis is at Doernbecher). I will post the update after our appointment.

Thank you again for all you prayers and support!

Davis' Nursery

Davis' Nursery

Forest Animal Theme

The chair in which I will spend many hours!