Friday, June 14, 2013

Hadley Update (Finally!)

So we have been waiting since Monday after the MRI for the results.  At Children's they told us that our doctor should call us by Wednesday to let us know what they saw and what our next move would be.  By 1 PM on Wednesday, I couldn't take it anymore, so I called the doctor and spoke to the nurse who said the results weren't in yet and the office closed at 5 PM, so if I was going to hear anything, it would be before then.  We waited and waited, but nothing Wednesday.  Unfortunately, Hadley's doctor is out of the office on Thursdays, so that meant we wouldn't hear back until Friday at the soonest.  I waited and waited with my phone next to me at all times this morning until about 2:45 PM when again, I couldn't wait any longer and called them myself.  This time, I talked directly to the doctor and when he started the conversation with, "Good news, very good news..." I couldn't help but tear up and mentally thank God.

The doctor said that the MRI revealed Hadley has a vascular malformation under her skin.  He likened it to the hemangioma birthmark that developed on her back when she was about 10 days old and should disappear when she is school aged.  The only difference between the two is that one is on the outside of her skin and the other is underneath it.  He suggested we take her down to Cincinnati Children's Hospital to see a vascular specialist about what to do next, whether to inject it with medicine to shrink it faster or what.  I told him that we have noticed it has shrunken since he first saw it and he was excited to hear that, saying that instead of going to Cincinnati, we could just wait and see if it completely disappears on its own.  He said he would check it out at her 2 year old well check in August unless it started to grow again, in which case we would head down to Cincinnati after all.  Overall, he said we could rest assured that the MRI revealed good things.

It is so terrifying to think that your child could have some kind of life-threatening illness or disease and as much as I have tried to put it out of my mind, fear of losing her still creeps in and hits me out of nowhere sometimes.  It has made me appreciate my Hadley so much more and cherish my time with her.  I feel like I've loved her better in the last month and a half than I loved her before.  We are just so thankful to God for protecting her.  God is so good!

Thursday, June 13, 2013

We are having...

A BOY!

I'm still in shock.  Mark had me so convinced the baby would be a girl and to be honest, although we have a name for each gender picked out, I really love our girl name and only really like our boy name.  I do love our boy middle name because it has special meaning to my family, but I might be open to changing the first name if I hear or see something I like better.  If you are wondering if I am the sole decision maker on names, I'm not... but I am usually the only coming up with names, then initial approval is Mark's job and I think I have the final say.

I don't know what to think of a boy either!  I have only ever known girls.  We have some gender neutral things for babies, but many, many girl specific things too!  I've collected a few clothes for boys at garage sales or whatever with hopes of one day using them, but the reality of actually using them is kind of overwhelming!

I'm happy for a boy, I think!  I know that if we had had another girl, I might have doubted the chance of ever experiencing what a boy would be like.  And I loved seeing Mark be so happy when he saw that little boy part.  He immediately started talking about throwing a ball with him and passing on the business.  I told him that he can play ball with the girls too.

The only thing that could have been better about the ultrasound was the tech couldn't get the best view of the baby's heart.  He wouldn't put his arm down and out of the way.  She said that she did her best and if the doctor looked it over and thought he needed to see more, we would have to come in again for another ultrasound.  She said she didn't see anything alarming, but just to be aware that if the doctor did want us to come back, it was to get a better view.  Hopefully all is well with little guy's heart.

That's the news around here!  Hadley had her MRI on Monday and the procedure went very well.  We are still waiting on the results and hopefully they will call tomorrow with them.  I am trying my best to trust that God is in control and that He will protect her.  Please continue to pray if you feel so led.  Thank you!