I saw my doctor here in Great Bend this afternoon, and nothing's really changed. They did a biophysical profile on Kristen (checking movement, etc.) and she scored 8 out of 8. She's definitely growing!
My doctor here thinks that returning to the specialist in Wichita will be a waste of time and money, but Will and I aren't so sure. There's an obvious difference of opinion about the size of the CCAM between the two offices, and it's difficult to put more stock in the opinion of the doctor who's never seen a CCAM before than in the one who's seen many. At this point, we're still planning to go back to Wichita on the 24th to see Dr. O'Hara (who will definitely be there this time!). We'll see what she thinks and then decide what to do about where to deliver. Please join us in praying that the decision will be clear to us.
I did find out what happened to the films that were supposed to be in Wichita at our last visit there. They were there, but apparently things get a little chaotic when a visiting specialist comes to fill in. Due to the cost of bringing him in, they fill the schedule completely full. The films may have been misplaced at the Wichita office, or everyone was just too busy to look in the right place...I don't know. I do know, however, they made it there.
Regardless, Kristen seems to be doing well at this point and may not require surgery right after birth. Evaluation of the lung would have to be done after her arrival to determine when surgery would be necessary.
Her head is down and her rump is front and just off-center to the right most of the time. Not the most comfortable position...for me anyway! Between that and fighting sinus issues, I haven't been sleeping well at night. Will and the girls have been great about helping out though. I don't know what I'd do without my amazing family and friends!
For the time being, no news is good news, I guess. I'll keep the site updated as we find out more. God bless you all!
Wichita doctor visit
Well, our Wichita appointment was yesterday. Dr. O'Hara was at a conference and had a Dr. Farb filling in for her. He told us the sonogram showed that the mass hadn't changed in size from when we were there 6 weeks ago. I questioned him about what the sonograms from Great Bend showed (that the mass had shrunk a couple of weeks ago) and he said he only had what the Wichita office did 6 weeks ago and yesterday. He checked and apparently the films never made it to Wichita as I was assured just last Monday that they would. We're a little frustrated!
There really wasn't any bad news, we're just not where we thought we were. The cysts that were in the mass 6 weeks ago are gone, and though the size of the CCAM hasn't changed, the size of Kristen has. Since she has grown and the CCAM hasn't, the right lung has more room and is developing (though not as much as we were told here). The fact that the CCAM hasn't grown is very good. And Dr. Farb does believe that indications show the CCAM is resolving.
They scheduled another appointment for us in Wichita in 3 weeks. I pray that Dr. O'Hara will be there then! (I'm sure Dr. Farb is a very good doctor, but I sure missed Dr. O'Hara's wonderful way of explaining things.) Dr. Farb didn't think surgery would be required right away for Kristen, should the mass still be there, but he still thought we should deliver in Wichita. We'll know more after the next appointment on April 24.
Thanks to you all for your continued prayers!
There really wasn't any bad news, we're just not where we thought we were. The cysts that were in the mass 6 weeks ago are gone, and though the size of the CCAM hasn't changed, the size of Kristen has. Since she has grown and the CCAM hasn't, the right lung has more room and is developing (though not as much as we were told here). The fact that the CCAM hasn't grown is very good. And Dr. Farb does believe that indications show the CCAM is resolving.
They scheduled another appointment for us in Wichita in 3 weeks. I pray that Dr. O'Hara will be there then! (I'm sure Dr. Farb is a very good doctor, but I sure missed Dr. O'Hara's wonderful way of explaining things.) Dr. Farb didn't think surgery would be required right away for Kristen, should the mass still be there, but he still thought we should deliver in Wichita. We'll know more after the next appointment on April 24.
Thanks to you all for your continued prayers!
She's a contortionist!
I just got back from the doctor's office here in Great Bend. The mass hasn't really changed much from last Monday (still about the same size (1.19 cm x .909 cm), but Kristen's doing very well. Dr. Marshall is still very encouraged and sees no reason I can't deliver here in town (provided the doctor in Wichita agrees). They did a biophysical profile today, which basically tracks movement, increases in heart rate with movement, muscle tone, breathing rate, and the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. Dr. Marshall said she did perfect!
We head to Wichita this Friday to see Dr. Forbes (I think that's his name). Dr. O'Hara is out of town this week, and Dr. Forbes is filling in for her. He's from the east coast and travels around the country, filling in for maternal fetal specialists, such as Dr. O'Hara. Debbie, the sonographer here in town, will be working with Dr. Forbes 3 days this week in Wichita and will take all the films of Kristen's CCAM with her so Dr. Forbes can see the progression over the last 6 weeks. Though Debbie has never seen a CCAM resolve, Dr. Forbes has, so we're anxious to hear what he has to say.
We're of course grateful that the mass has gotten smaller and continuing to pray that it's completely gone by the time Kristen makes her arrival. And we thank all of you for your prayers! God has worked such a miracle in this little girl's life even before she has breathed her first breath. We stand in awe of Him who made us all.
Emily and Gracie were there to see Kristen blinking and smiling today. Debbie took several pictures of Kristen's face, most in 3-D this time. I'll post the best ones in the photo album. She's quite flexible...she had her foot resting on top of her head in one of the pictures!
We head to Wichita this Friday to see Dr. Forbes (I think that's his name). Dr. O'Hara is out of town this week, and Dr. Forbes is filling in for her. He's from the east coast and travels around the country, filling in for maternal fetal specialists, such as Dr. O'Hara. Debbie, the sonographer here in town, will be working with Dr. Forbes 3 days this week in Wichita and will take all the films of Kristen's CCAM with her so Dr. Forbes can see the progression over the last 6 weeks. Though Debbie has never seen a CCAM resolve, Dr. Forbes has, so we're anxious to hear what he has to say.
We're of course grateful that the mass has gotten smaller and continuing to pray that it's completely gone by the time Kristen makes her arrival. And we thank all of you for your prayers! God has worked such a miracle in this little girl's life even before she has breathed her first breath. We stand in awe of Him who made us all.
Emily and Gracie were there to see Kristen blinking and smiling today. Debbie took several pictures of Kristen's face, most in 3-D this time. I'll post the best ones in the photo album. She's quite flexible...she had her foot resting on top of her head in one of the pictures!
The mass is changing
Great report today! The mass is continuing to change in texture (even from the last sonogram just 10 days ago) and is about 1/3 the size it was when they first discovered it (3.29 cm then to 1.2 cm today). I asked about the size of Kristen's right lung in comparison to her left...it's nearly the same size!
She's up to about 4 pounds now and growing very well. As active as she is, it's no wonder to me! I think she has developed her own exercise routine - it feels like kickboxing!
I go back for another sonogram here in Great Bend next Monday (3/30), then will see the specialist in Wichita that following Friday (4/3). We'll see what she says at that point...the mass could even be completely gone by then. If so, there is a possibility that we could deliver here in Great Bend instead of in Wichita. Emily and Grace are very hopeful for that so they can see their new little sister sooner!
We are all so very grateful - foremost for God's healing in this situation, His grace and mercy throughout it all - and also for all of the many prayers that have been lifted on Kristen's behalf. Thank you so much!
She's up to about 4 pounds now and growing very well. As active as she is, it's no wonder to me! I think she has developed her own exercise routine - it feels like kickboxing!
I go back for another sonogram here in Great Bend next Monday (3/30), then will see the specialist in Wichita that following Friday (4/3). We'll see what she says at that point...the mass could even be completely gone by then. If so, there is a possibility that we could deliver here in Great Bend instead of in Wichita. Emily and Grace are very hopeful for that so they can see their new little sister sooner!
We are all so very grateful - foremost for God's healing in this situation, His grace and mercy throughout it all - and also for all of the many prayers that have been lifted on Kristen's behalf. Thank you so much!
Resolving?
I had another sonogram today...quite an extensive one (35 minutes!). The size of the mass hasn't changed since last week, but the texture of it has. There are fewer cysts within it, and it's getting more difficult to distinguish. All in all, both the doctor here and the sonographer are encouraged by what they saw. Praise God, the doctor believes that the mass may be resolving itself!
Kristen weighs about 3 pounds 12 ounces right now and everything else they checked on her was just fine. Gracie was amazed at the number of pictures Debbie printed today, but we only ended up with a couple to bring home. One is of her nose and lips, the other is a fuzzy look at her face.
My next sonogram is a week from Monday (March 23).
Kristen weighs about 3 pounds 12 ounces right now and everything else they checked on her was just fine. Gracie was amazed at the number of pictures Debbie printed today, but we only ended up with a couple to bring home. One is of her nose and lips, the other is a fuzzy look at her face.
My next sonogram is a week from Monday (March 23).
"Follower of Christ"
I just got back from the doctor's office...with good news! First of all, my glucose test came back great (yeah!). More importantly, the mass in Kristen's chest is smaller than when they first measured it (YEAH!).
Dr. Marshall was even smiling today (I had decided going in that if he walked in with a long face, I might have to punch him!) He said everything looks good with Kristen...no excess fluid anywhere, heart rate is good, and breathing movements are just what they should be right now.
We are so thankful for all the prayers that have been, and continue to be lifted up for our baby. We are most grateful for God's hand in her life, which is why we chose the name Kristen...it means "follower of Christ."
Dr. Marshall was even smiling today (I had decided going in that if he walked in with a long face, I might have to punch him!) He said everything looks good with Kristen...no excess fluid anywhere, heart rate is good, and breathing movements are just what they should be right now.
We are so thankful for all the prayers that have been, and continue to be lifted up for our baby. We are most grateful for God's hand in her life, which is why we chose the name Kristen...it means "follower of Christ."
Glucose tolerance test today
I headed to the hospital this afternoon for the glucose tolerance test. The sugar solution wasn't quite as nasty-tasting as I remembered, but I did take a straw along! (A nurse recommended using a straw to get the solution down quicker without having to taste it quite as much.) Hopefully, the lab will have the results to Dr. Marshall by the time I go in Friday...and they'll be good results!
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