Twice a Week Appointments

I guess it is a sure sign of the "quick approaching due date", when they have you coming in twice a week for the NST & AFL. I am now officially on the every Tuesday and Friday schedule. Kaden did great today, and my AFL was at 16.6!!! That just makes me sooo happy. I am trying (although I am not convinced we can control our amniotic fluid level)to really keep it in check. I want Kaden to bake as long as physically possible, and one of the highest risks to us CDH mommies is early labor due to Polyhydromnios (high amniotic fluid). Of course I love getting to look at him twice a week--today he was soooo cute: He was sucking his thumb with one hand, the other hand was on his cheek, and he had one of his feet up under his chin. Even the nurse way saying how cute he looked. He is already such a HAM! The doctor said his NST "strip" looked fantastic, so hoping still for a very healthy heart! I am nervous about our appointment on Monday at UCSF. That is always where we get the most information, and at this point I almost feel like I don't want any more information. I am really going to try to ignore any not-so-positive info (if we get any). I feel so deeply that Kaden will do amazing things when he is born, and that we WILL bring him home healthy.

This has been a VERY busy 10 days for all the newly arrived CDH babies. Addison was born on the 17th the UCSF, and our prayers are working--she is doing good and is scheduled for her surgery on Thursday. Joseph seems to be doing well and on the last update he went from "not-so-good" to being removed from ECMO and holding his own. We all continue to pray for him (and Skye & Carla) and look forward to his updates. Another baby girl, Oakley, is doing well at Atlanta (with Joseph) at 12 days. It must be so great for the families to have each other for support. I am anxiously awaiting an update on Alina--our UK CDH baby belonging to Alex & Ingrid--we are praying that her surgery went well, and she will be back home soon!! Just know we are thinking about you. Also, one of my other "little inspirations" is baby Davis. He is now about 25 days old and is doing so fantastic! Check out his blog--they all look so happy....I could go on and on, as there are so many babies already home that are doing so well. They bring me great comfort and hope reading their updates everyday.

I know that all of us "still preggo" mommies (and daddies) are starting to get anxious and scared. It will be a pretty busy month (or two) ahead of us with Kaden, Maxton, Jaime, Jon, Kamryn, Ava, Juan, Lil Peanut due to Jeremy and Carrie, and Layla all due within the next few weeks. I lift our babies up to God every waking moment that we will ALL have nothing less than spectacular outcomes. I do believe we all, as parents, have chosen the best care possible for our little CHERUBS and they will beat the odds!

In closing, I want to just mention how DEEPLY touched I was to receive a message from Jamie Morrow, Angel Kaden Morrow's mommy. Her Kaden chose wings over feet, and thru her pain, she reached out to me and told me that her Kaden was watching over mine. That means more to me than I would ever be able to express. I pray that God is bringing some sense of peace to you, James & Kayleigh. I know that your pain is unimaginable, but Kaden truely is an angel and with you everyday. He is absolutely one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen...