At Home in the Mountains

Wanted to ask for prayers for a couple of more things. One is that we should be getting the full chromosomal test back on Monday or Tuesday of next week. I have to say that I'm very nervous about that and what is going to happen. Second is that I have to go in for an MRI on the baby's heart on the 4th. This is to make sure there is nothing on the outside of the heart that is causing it to shift like it has. So we thought we were done with doctor's appointments for awhile, but no. The MRI takes 1-3 hours so I will need a lot of patience to just lay there while they are doing it. We have had a good time with our family so far. It has been nice to relax and just let ourselves take a break from everything for a while. We've been at my Mema and Papa's house in Farwell and we'll head over to my other grandparents house today. My Papa is at home and that has been great to see. Last time I saw him (last Thanksgiving) he was in the hospital and not in his right mind due ...

We went to see the genetic counselor this morning at 10. What we found out was hopeful for now, although we'll have to continue watching to see how thing develop. She said from what the doctors had communicated to her and from the initial results of the fish test (test for the chromosomal defects) and because I have been feeling the baby move every day, right now she thinks the baby may have a condition called Amyoplasia Congenita. This is a condition where the baby develops normally except for the hands and feet which can be corrected through orthopedic treatment, at least to some extent. People with this condition can live normal lives. This is obviously the best news we've had all week and much better than where we were a week ago. However, this isn't a diagnosis. We still need to watch the baby's development and also get the complete results from the chromosomal testing. BUT we are so thankful that today we have good news and something to hope for. For those (like m...

We saw the pediatric cardiologist today. They looked at the baby's heart a lot on the sonogram. This doctor's conclusion is that the prospect for the heart its self is better than we were given before. The heart is small but it is anatomically correct. I guess I was more right than I knew when I wrote at first because he said the heart was shifted a little to the left and twisted a little from the normal position but he said that the heart will work even if the position is wrong and if everything continues to develop correctly then it should be able to work without any kind of surgery at birth. Again the only concern is that it is smaller than usual for the gestational period. So while this sounds good we don't know if this is hopeful or not. We will meet with the geneticist on Monday to try to determine what or if genetic issues are involved for the problems that they are seeing right now. This is all we know for today and the doctor today told us that he can't say if ...

Wanted to let you all know we got the report from the amniocentesis today. All of the chromosomes they looked at on the quick test came back normal. So it's not trisomy 13, trisomy 18, down's, or triploidy. They will get the complete kariotype back next week sometime. So because all these results were negative we will have to go to the cardiologist tomorrow and then to the geneticist on Monday. We'll know more after seeing the cardiologist tomorrow at 11:45, but from what they have been telling us it does not look good. I was a little confused about what I told you all about the heart on Tuesday so I'll explain that again. It is not developing in the wrong place. The problem is that the heart basically only has a left side. So the side that brings air flow to the lungs is not developing. We just ask your continued prayers for wisdom and strength for us as we try to figure out what is going on and what our options are. It may be that another chromosome that hasn'...

Many of you have probably heard all ready, but Aaron and I got some devastating news today. Our baby will probably not survive outside the womb. They did an amneostasis this afternoon to test for chromasomal defects, which is what they think it is right now. I know I am spelling everything wrong so I hope what I write makes enough sense for everyone to understand what is going on. The specialist we went to see feels that it is triploidy or triamias 18. Those may not be the right names but they are two of the three chromasomal defects. The other is down's syndrome. He did not feel that it was down's. The other two defects are fatal so if we carry the baby to term it will not live but for a few days or hours if one of the defects above is the problem. We will know in 2days. If it is not one of those then we will have to go to a cardiologist and a genetic counselor. The baby had clubbed hands and feel and it's heart is not formed correctly and is not in the right place. Becau...

SOLD! This puppy went home on Saturday. We got $250 for her. I would have definitely liked a little more since she was a tri but we'll take what we can get! SOLD! (AGAIN!) We got $300 for JJ the second go around. Jessica you sure know how to pick a dog! :) She went home with a family that had three kids. SOLD? A guy came over last night to look at the puppies. He is looking for a dog that would make a good hunting dog. He liked Mustache (below) and Little Miss. He went home to talk to his wife about which dog they wanted and is supposed to let us know. I think he'll take Mustache, but I don't know. Needs a home! Poor Little Miss. She would have a home if weenie lady hadn't given JJ back. She is so cute and sweet. She is calm and would make a great pet for anybody. Aaron wants her to go home with my parents at Thanksgiving but that is not happening. Somehow my Dad equates owning a dog to letting it sleep in your bed. Hmmm. Needs a home! Roley is an active boy. I th...

Roslyn (named after some science person by Aaron). She is the first tri colored puppy we have ever had. Her tan markings started coming in about a week ago. She has the tan "eyebrows" though you can't really see them in this picture. You can see a little of the tan color on her hip. I have always want to have a tri puppy so this is really cool. Roley the puppy. A b/w male. The Onsie? Is this what that is? This is the first gift we got for the baby. ************************* First order of drama, I felt the baby move for the first time on Wenesday. I was writing an email to my mom and I suddenly felt like someone thumped me from inside my stomach. It took a second before I realized, "Hey! That was the baby!" It was so cool. We have had a little dog drama since last I wrote. Jessica Jr. is back with us. The lady who bought her called Sunday right after we got out of church to say that the puppy was not working out with her dog. Her dog was getting upset at the pup...