Saturday, October 11, 2008

APPT with DR Foody

It's been a while since we've posted and we had one other Dr's apointment last week that we'd like to chat about. It was with Dr Foody, a pedatric neurosurgeon at Spectrum Health. After giving us more in depth detail on what would happen after the G-man was born, we felt confident that he's the right Doctor for our little guy. So this is how things typically work out in a case like this...
Dr. Foody would like Leigh to have the first c-section of the morning (at around 37 weeks), and then that afternoon, he and a plastic surgeon will close the opening in his back. At this time, they may or may not know if a shunt is needed. If they are 100% sure that it is needed, they will do that during the same surgery. If they aren't sure, they will wait. Most likely it will be known in a few days if a shunt will be needed. 80-90% of all babies born with spina bifida end up needing a shunt. Overall, we both feel that having the surgery in GR will be whats best for the baby, having all his Doctors nearby will be what's best in the long run. We've heard excellent things about Dr. Foody and have full confidence in the decisions he will make and the surgery he will perform. Continue to pray for us as we get new information, as it is helpful to know, but at times can be overwhelming.

We get stronger everyday and are more at peace with the situation, please know that is from the prayers we have been receiving. keep it up!

love,
andy and leigh

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

U of M trip

4:15 AM is ungodly early.
This was confirmed by both Leigh and I this morning. Somehow we managed out of bed, into the car, and on our way to UofM hospital to have a consult with a genetics counselor and to have another round of ultrasounds. The reason being is if we plan to have the surgery at U of M this intial consult is required by them. So off we went, not knowing exactly what would come out if it, but we both prayed the news would not knock us down again, as we are currently in a better state of mind and finding peace in the situation.

So, what did we find out... overall, a lot of the same stuff, but were much more prepared to take in any new info they threw at us and were able to ask questions we had jotted down beforehand.

The ultrasound was very complete as they measured all his parts (yes even that one :)

So this is what we know:

1. the opening in the spine is at an L2-L3 level, not the best, but not the worst, right in the middle as far as mobility and other functions are concerned. Good chance he'll be able to walk with crutches and braces , but they said as he gets older, wheelchairs are often the easiest way to get around and keep pace with the world. W'ell cross that bridge when it arrives.

2. His legs and ankles appear straight and were moving all over! We know his legs will not be as strong as normal, but seeing this gave us Hope and we were encouraged!

3. It appears as the G-man is suffering only from spina bifida and not any other chromosonal abnormalites that can appear in instances like this.

4. Heart and everything else looks great and functioning properly.

5. getting up at 4:15AM makes us tired :)


So, overall we felt this trip was positive for us. It shed light on a few new things and we both feel like we can face this situation with Grace.

Thank you all for your love and prayers,

we love you,

Leigh and Andy

Thursday, October 2, 2008

QUICK UPDATE

I just wanted to give you all a quick update on what is going on over here, it's been awhile since I've posted. Last night we were able to meet with the couple who is also expecting a baby boy with SB. What a blessing that was!! They are such great people, and it was so nice to talk with someone who knows EXACTLY what we are going through! What was even nicer was that I think that we would actually be friends even if we weren't in this situation together! :) They are pretty much at the same point that we are, just starting to meet all of the doctors and gather all of the information that they can. Speaking of doctors...we have a few appointments next week and could use your prayers. On Tues. we are going to the University of Michigan hospital to meet with their high risk ob, we wanted to talk with their pediatric neurosergeons but in order to do that, I first have to be seen by their ob. Then, on Wed. we will be here in Grand Rapids meeting with the pediatric neurosurgeon here, learning more about the surgery that he will need right away. So please keep us in your prayers this upcoming week. Pray that we know what questions to ask and that we don't get too overwhelmed with all of the new information. On a VERY happy note, the baby has been moving ALL around! Especially at night and in the morning he is just kicking away! What a great feeling, even through all of this he is letting us know that he is OK!

Monday, September 29, 2008

5K


So this is Andy posting...

After making my way back to earth from the hardest few days of my entire life, I realized i had a 5K Race for the Cure Saturday, Sept 27. I was very undertrained both physically and mentally, but there was NO WAY i wasn't going to run that morning. So i met my team runners (the ladies from Designvox) and put up my best time ever! Honestly with all the craziness going on in my head it was a very emotional and meaningful run. But no joke, I was physically done 3 minutes in, but kept going though. Seems like a timely metaphor for whats to come. :)

Sunday, September 28, 2008

THE PRAYERS ARE WORKING!

Andy and I found out yesterday, through a friend of his mom's, that there is another couple in our EXACT situation. They are around our age, pregnant with their first baby (a boy), and they were just recently told that their son has spina bifida. The real kicker is that they live on the street directly behind us and just a few houses down! If I were to go in my backyard right now, I could probably see their house! They will be coming over sometime this week so we can all get a chance to know each other and support each other with all of these tough decisions that are needing to be made (ex. finding the right surgeons and doctors to take care of our little ones once they are here.) OH, and I forgot to mention that they are due 2 weeks before us!! I am not in any way happy that they are going through the same thing that we are, but I can honestly say that I feel God at work, bringing the 4 (ok, 6) of us together in this way. :) We just wanted to let you all know that your prayers are greatly appreciated and definatley being felt. We love you all.

Friday, September 26, 2008

IT'S A NEW DAY!

I have to say that today was 100% beter than the last 2! I have started doing some research and have decided that instead of looking at all of the things that "might" be wrong with our little guy, I'm going to focus on researching other parents whose children have SB and how adults cope with it. So far everything I have found is amazing! Every single parent that i have "met" online has said the same thing...that their child is a blessing. This makes me even more eager to meet our little blessing. :) We know that there will be challenges along the way, but we also know that whatever comes up, we can handle it. I have met one women in paticular who has a three year old daughter with SB and she has been such an encouragement. She has answered so many of my questions, and knows exactly where we are. It also helps that my mom, sister, and I all went shopping and picked out some pretty adorable stuff for the little man, funny how shopping can do that! :) I hope that this post finds you all well, and we will continue to update you all. Thanks so much for all of your prayers, they mean the world to us!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

IT'S A BOY!


So we went for an ultrasound on Wed. and got the best news of our lives...WE'RE HAVING A SON!!! Followed somewhat quickly with the worst news of our lives...out little boy has spina bifida. Even writing it now it is somewhat hard to believe. So many questions that have no answers. The one thing that we do know is that THIS is our son. The baby that God intended for us to have. No matter what obsticles come up, we will love him always. We saw a maternal fetal medicine specialist this morning and learned a little more about what exactly it is that our little guy has. He has an opening in his spine at the L2 vertebrae. I still don't even know how to say that. This means that the nerves are growing on the outside of his spine and will need to be surgically put back into place within 24 hours of being born. He will most likely be able to walk with the aide of tall leg braces and crutches but may choose to use a wheelchair, I hear that little boys like to go fast! :) His feet and legs are straight which is a great sign. He has excess fluid on the brain, which all babies of spina bifida have, and may or may not need a shunt put in once his is born. As for now, that is all we know. We will be meeting with a pediatric neurosurgeon next Friday to find out exactly what will happen once he is born and to find out what other physical limitations he may have. We know that together, with God, our families, and our friends we WILL get through this. We are still so excited to be having a little baby boy and cannot wait to meet him and hold him in our arms.