I just can't believe it...

Max at 25 weeks. ( A bit chubbier!!)

I love you so much. I love you so much. How does that happen? You are this little...thing. There's a lump that makes me ribs hurt, and my ankles are kind of sore while I stand for 10 hours at work. You are everything. The miracle that God thought I could have you placed in my world has changed everything for me. You are my blessing. I love feeling you move, you little monster inside! When Daddy talks to you at night, I ruin the moment laughing because you roll and move so big at the sound of his voice. I think you have a big bottom, because there's always a lump on one side! I think you are probably so funny. I love you so much. I want to teach you to know how to be kind, when others dont give you kindness, and I want you to protect people who need protecting. I'm pretty sure you are very smart, and handsome. I don't care what you grow up to be, as long as you are humble and do it to God's glory. I feel just a tiny bit of what the Father feels for us when I think of you. I just can't believe it...and I haven't even held you yet.

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23 Weeks and Counting

Just a quick picture! :) This is at 23 weeks, and I'm 25 now. He's bigger now, but I just think this picture is so funny, look at that mouth! The "book" says that at 23 weeks they dont really have any fat under their skin, so they look a bit deflated, and I agree!

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Here's where Max will be born!

Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, is where Dr. Kays is...so that's where we want to be!

To read and/or learn a little more about CDH and Dr. David Kays, check out this website built by parents that Dr. Kays has helped. http://www.realhopeforcdh.com/

We went to Florida at the end of April to have a consultation with Dr. Kays and Dr. Richards, who is the OB/GYN who'll deliver Max. We went first to an ultrasound and OB appointment with Dr. Richards, who immediately made up realize we were in the right place! We got more clarity and answers from that appointment than the many I've had here is Phoenix (every week and a half to be exact! ahh). Dr. Richards recommended that I return at 36 weeks, to begin steroids to strengthen Max until 38 weeks. Then I'll get induced, and if that goes longer than about 4-6 hours I'll have to have a C-Section done to avoid any trauma. After Max is stable, he'll get his surgery done, and have an average of a 5-7 week recovery in the NICU. What a relief meeting this doctor!

Next, we went to Dr. Kays office. He is the Chief of Surgery in the pediatric unit at Shands, and also a professor of medicine at the University of Florida. He spent two hours with us, explaining every part of the surgery and recovery process. It's really intimidating and intense what our little baby will have to go through, but I feel so confident we are in the right hands. Dr. Kays' kids have a survival rate of around 80%, compared to Phoenix's 50%. Also, he projected that Max's "odds" are about 90% of being just fine after surgery, so we are excited that he's confident that Max's situation is very treatable. Then Dr. Kays took us to the NICU for a little tour, to see what we would be coping with after surgery.

Thank GOD for this opportunity!! We are in the best hands in the country, as far as this disorder is concerned, and I'm so humbled and blessed that so many people have been keeping Max in their prayers! So, that's what's new, I am excited about our time in Florida. Other than regular appointments, ultrasounds every two weeks, nothing new should really be happening for the next 10 weeks. Then...BABY TIME! :) I'm 25 weeks now, so actually thats 13 weeks left, but 10 weeks until I'm on maternity leave for work. :)

More to come...

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Meet Max!!

Can you see him and his perfect little face?? :)

He is 19 weeks this coming Wed, and he is about 7 inches long and 7 oz big! I just started feeling him kick and move this week, bringing me the joy and "reality" I've been waiting for. I am so in love with him, I can't hardly describe this new level of love God has shown me!!

Well, Jordan and I were thinking we should get going on blogging this crazy experience. Where to begin?? Well, it only took two months to get pregnant, and that can be almost as surprising as taking a long time to get pregnant. My first trimester was just fine, I couldn't complain! I found that the secret is just to keeeep eating, otherwise I'd get super duper sick and nauseous. But, all that snacking only gained me about two pounds in that first 12 weeks.

Now I'm in exactly halfway through my second trimester...and the story gets interesting!! At my first ultrasound at 16ish weeks, they saw something interesting. That thing turned out to be a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). What the heck is that? Right...I know. It's something like this...

What is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia?
"Congenital" means "born with." The diaphragm is the breathing muscle that separates the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity. The diaphragm develops when the fetus is about two months old.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is the absence of the diaphragm, or a hole in the diaphragm. This can occur on either the left or right side, but is most common on the left.
The contents of the abdomen, including the stomach, intestines, liver and spleen, may go through the hole and into the chest. The contents prevent the normal development of the lung (pulmonary hypoplasia) on that side, and may affect the growth of the other lung. After birth the infant will have difficulty breathing if the lungs are not developed enough.

Are you KIDDING ME???? You are supposed to get pregnant and have a happy perfect time!?

But God has His own plans, and I believe in his perfect plans! So, things were scary. As we researched, we learned that the average survival rate of babies with this issue is 50-60%, but God has bigger plans! We found a doctor in Gainesville, Florida, who specializes in this particular issue. For example, "my" perinatologist (high risk pregnancy doc) is the best in AZ, Dr. Mills of Phoenix Perinatal Associates, and he's seen about 10 cases in his whole career. Dr. Kays, in Florida, has seen 120 cases in the last 10 years! This doctor's success rate is 92%! So, we have now realized that this is NOT a matter of life and death, but a matter of getting through a very tough time after delivery.

SO, I'll be induced two weeks early, and I need to be in Florida about two weeks before that. Then, surgery, and an averge of a 6-10 week recovery period. I'll be IN Florida for almost three months!!! Wow, huh? Well, God is GOOOD, ALLLL the time, not sometimes. I feel confident, just a little shocked...it hasn't sunk in. So, I'll be updating this blog as we plan and get new information. Then, in Florida, as boredom sets in, I'm SURE you'll hear from Jordan and I a lot. :)

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One more

here's one more, it was my favorite of the whole day!

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Our first family photo

Jordan and I never had engagement pictures, and the wedding pics are getting old! :) So, in addition to our funky pics by Misty (Mistymichellephotography.com), we had some low-key pics taken in downtown Scottsdale too. I'm happy that our dogs are in them...I love them! Well anyways here ya go.

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Picture day!!

I am SOOO excited! We were asked by a pal to model for her portfolio so that she could build up some wedding pics. She wanted a cool editorial style...so we went to downtown Phoenix! Jordan was his usual rocker self, with the addition of a ripped up shirt from Goodwill, and I threw on my wedding dress! (I'm so glad I got to wear it again!!!) I can't wait to see

more and show ya'll. We are two and a half years married, and I couldn't be MORE BLESSED! :)

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I love my hubby.

i do. i love him more than my life itself! That's all I really have to say! He bought me a new lap top today, and then spent two hours setting it all up for me! What a man...

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