Baby Update #2 --Hospitalization

Whew...what a day. I neglected to post on last weeks appointment because really, we learned nothing new. Yes, I have a tumor. Yes, it is growing at an alarming rate....yada, yada, yada...we are all concerned.

Today however, was a different story. Today, was a day that I wont forget for a long time. Not because it ended badly, but because the roller coaster of emotions was one ride I hope to miss next time around. Here is the play-by-play.

7:45 am- Drop off kids at my friends house in Prescott, so I could drive to Phoenix for my 9:45 appointment.

9:45 am- Arrive at my doctors office; the ultrasound technician walks me to the back room, all the while giving me a hard time for never going to get my glucose tests done. "Ha!," I thought, "you just like everyone else will forget I need one once you start your ultrasound. "

9:50 am- Ultrasound #1- the technician measures the tumor, it is now almost 8cm long, between the size of a baseball and a softball. The amniotic fluid has also increased past the point of normal, to a more dangerous level.

10:30 am- The tech leaves, shares the results with the doctor, I sit staring at the wall for a really long time.

11:00- Ultrasound#2- The doctor has ordered an additional ultrasound to be done internally. (This is the kind that is not fun....yes, ladies you know what I am talking about.)

11:10- Ultrasound #3-A doctor comes in (one I haven't seen before)....wants to redo some of the measurements from Ultrasound #1. She gets on the machine herself, and starts measuring the bloodflow of the baby's heart. She explains to me that it looks like the tumor has now started taking some blood supply away from the baby, and that it appears she might be having some sort of heart distress. They are worried that the baby might be developing anemia, and could be on its way to hydrops.

11:30- I am moved to a separate room to open up the ultrasound room. I can hear two doctors talking about my options and discussing what to do with me in the office next door. Dont they realize these walls are paper thin?

11:40-The genetesist I saw the week before gets me, brings me into her office for a discussion. She says from her point of view, I have 2 options. 1) Fly to L.A. to meet with a doctor at USC who is one of two doctors in the nation who will perform an experimental surgery on me to lazer out the tumor. The surgery is risky, but has worked in the past. There is a big possibility that they might not consider me a good candidate for the surgery once I got there, and would either have to go home or deliver there. Also, there is no guarantee that the surgery wouldn't cause additional issues with me and the baby. 2) Go to St. Joe's hospital in Phoenix, meet with the perinatalogist/fetal surgeon there, and probably be admitted and have the baby soon. At this time the baby has a 96% chance of survival, but only a 87% chance that she would be born without some sort of disability (blindness, deafness, mental retardation, etc.) I need to choose one of the two options.

11:45am- I call Taylor, breakdown in tears, and can barely explain what is going on. Once I do get through it we both agree that the Phoenix option is better. The surgery is too risky for an unknown outcome, and the thought of splitting up our family (the baby and I in LA, with the kids and Taylor in AZ for months on end, was not worth the slight chance of delaying my birth a few weeks. Who knows if it would even work?)

12:00pm- I tell the doctor what we decided, she agrees, and sends me to the fetal surgeon at St. Josephs hospital so that he can look at me at definitely decide what to do with me. Yeah, that lab technician totally forgot about my glucose test. I wanted to tell her, told you so, but thought I might try to act mature.

12:30pm-I decide before I possibly go to the hospital for a while, I am going to treat myself to some good Mexican food, and go shopping at Target. I buy myself some really cute comfy pajamas, and an even cuter summer bag. Now, I feel better. I am ready to tackle this.

2:00pm-My mom calls, she is leaving work so she can be with me at the hospital.

2:30pm-The hospital calls, and wonders where the heck I am. Apparently, they were expecting me hours ago. Umm....yeah, I didn't tell them I went shopping. My dad who works at the hospital also meets us there.

3:00pm- I am directed to see Dr. Giannina, the fetal surgeon, to get his opinion on the whole matter. Here is a news article I found on him.

3:30pm- Ultrasound#4-Dr. Giannina and his tech, look at me for another 45 minutes or so. His analysis is much more positive than Dr. Ponchey, my genetisist. He believes, yes, we are getting pretty close to having some problems, but he thinks my baby will be able to hang in there for much longer than the other doctors. He says he is going to admit me to the hospital, but only for 48 hours for more testing, and to recieve steroid shots. (Giving me steroid shots, will help develop the baby's lungs in case I do have to give birth.) He says that after 48 hours of monitoring, if the baby remains in the same condition, and does not get a whole lot worse, he will let me go home for a few days. I will then come back to the hospital for testing twice a week from here on out. If she drastically worsens, we can discuss other options like fetal blood transfusions, etc....but he does not think we should induce labor at this time. She needs more time to cook, and thinks she can make it at least a couple of more weeks, and maybe even a month or more!

4:00pm- Admitted to the hospital antenatal unit. I score one of only five of the private rooms in the unit. Yippee!

4:30pm-More bloodwork. I am officially turning into a human pin cushion. Taylor and I decide that it is best that the kids sleep in their own bed tonight (they were still in Prescott) and he can bring them down first thing in the morning.

9:00pm- Finally my steroid shot arrives. Never felt that sensation before. Burning in the bum for the next ten minutes.

9:05pm-They discuss my "plan" for the next 48hours. Tomorrow morning I have perinatal counseling to prepare me for a premature baby (whenever that may be), then a non-stress test, then I just get to hang out in bed until 9pm when I get my second shot. On Friday, I will have another ultrasound to see if things have worsened or stayed the same. I cant wait to see Taylor and the kids tomorrow.

11:00pm- I write this blog post because I cant sleep. Ill have another update within the next 48 hours. I mean, what else do I have to do?

P.S. Thank you to all my friends and family who came to my rescue today. Between the kid watching, positive texts I recieved, emergency bag packing and house rummaging, hospital waiting, and husband tending that people performed for me, I am truly blessed. Thank you, thank you. I love you all.