Well, today is a new day. Weston is still making great progress. We are incredibly happy that he is doing as well as he is. Your prayers are still appreciated. He has been nursing... very slowly... but it seems to get some food in his tummy. The surgeon today was a little frustrating to be around as he still hadn't look at the results at morning rounds today.
There are a few things rolling around with the surgical staff here. 1. That Weston and mom would be going home sometime soon so that way Weston can grown, recover, and hopefully get bigger before surgery in a few months. 2. That Weston would need surgery which is scheduled for Wednesday. Both of these options carry with them risks and challenges. We are hopful for the first option as Ellie would be home with him for almost all of her maternity leave.
Right now the veins are unobstructed. Meaning that everything is registering well... its hard for him to nurse and just be alive at the same time because of their position though. So, they are taking things in stride. The nursing staff has said repeatedly that he is one of the healthier kids on the floor. YAY for that!
Mom is doing well. She was discharged today and seems to be doing quite wondefully well considering. Spending another night in a hospital bed..this time in Weston's room! We are grateful for all of you in this process! Keep the prayers coming!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Little Feet
Thanks for the amazing prayers, encouragement and support. We couldn't do this without knowing that lots of you are supporting us. Thanks for the wonderful blessings and for helping us get through this process. We are grateful for each and every one of you. Thanks for what you have done and continue to do.
Weston has improved greatly throughout the day. We had lots of great family visits today to keep us company and help lift our spirits today. We have made HUGE positive strides and today actually took a bottle and nursing rather than just food through an IV.... which is HUGE gains for us! Sometimes its the little things that help get us through!
Mom is a champion! I am proud of this beautiful mom and she has been doing so well throughout the entire process.
We wait with baited breath as the days progress and are excited to see what may come for the future. Thanks for continuing to pray for all in this process. We couldn't do it without you!
Mom is a champion! I am proud of this beautiful mom and she has been doing so well throughout the entire process.
We wait with baited breath as the days progress and are excited to see what may come for the future. Thanks for continuing to pray for all in this process. We couldn't do it without you!
Introducing...
Weston Michael HallquistBorn Tuesday, October 16, 2012
12:56 pm
7 lb 3.7 oz
21 inches
We were given immediate tubes on our face and already by the time Mama and Daddy went to bed last night, some of those were gone (as seen in the picture..don't you like my hat, too? The hospital gave it to me)! Lots of tests were done right away within the first few hours of his life yesterday and another CT scan is being done this morning. We don't know details about the next step yet but will try to keep everyone informed once we do.
Thanks for the continued good thoughts, prayers, and kind words.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
5 Days!
We had another doctor appointment this morning down at the U of M. Everything still looks great...baby is 6 lbs 10 oz so is a good "average" size. He or She will continue to grow for only approximately 5 more days until I am induced on Monday morning. The goal is just to break my water and see what happens :) Hoping my body continues to help the process along :) The doctor said it's doing well so far.
Monday will be an early morning. We are to report to the U by 7 am to get the process started. I have accepted the fact that whatever happens is what will happen, as long as I have a baby at the end :) (which we all know I will).
Lots to finish up in the next 5 days to be as "prepared" as you can be for a baby to arrive!
Monday will be an early morning. We are to report to the U by 7 am to get the process started. I have accepted the fact that whatever happens is what will happen, as long as I have a baby at the end :) (which we all know I will).
Lots to finish up in the next 5 days to be as "prepared" as you can be for a baby to arrive!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
36 1/2 Week Photo Opportunity
We had maternity pictures taken today by Kirsten Eitreim of KME Photography. Didn't she do a great job?? She even got Rasmus in some! Here are a couple of our 'sneak peeks'. We had a lot of fun being at a beautiful park on a gorgeous fall morning, with a few colors starting to change!
Nothing new is happening in the medical world, it's all about waiting at this point (and waiting a couple more weeks sounds like a great idea!). Jeremy had the realization that it is now under 20 days until they want to induce and have Pip arrive...man, I guess I better pack those bags ;)
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Weekly Appointments
We're already down to the weekly appointments! CRAZY!! We have 4 weeks until induction date!
Today's appointment was in Maple Grove so Ellie didn't have to take any time off and even got to school within 5 minutes of her 'expected' time! (Don't worry, she was at school an hour after she had to be so she made up that 5 minutes without a problem.) She was pretty impressed that since we showed up early we got in early. Hopefully that will happen again the next couple of weeks, too.
We had the BPP (Biophysical profile) today which is an ultra sound that looks specifically at the heart rate, muscle tone, movement, breathing, and amount of amniotic fluid around Pip. My understanding is I will have another one for the next two weeks again as well since we are considered 'high risk'. Everything looks good! Pip is still head down and moving all over the place!
Continue the good thoughts and prayers :) We thank you for all of them you have already sent our way!
Today's appointment was in Maple Grove so Ellie didn't have to take any time off and even got to school within 5 minutes of her 'expected' time! (Don't worry, she was at school an hour after she had to be so she made up that 5 minutes without a problem.) She was pretty impressed that since we showed up early we got in early. Hopefully that will happen again the next couple of weeks, too.
We had the BPP (Biophysical profile) today which is an ultra sound that looks specifically at the heart rate, muscle tone, movement, breathing, and amount of amniotic fluid around Pip. My understanding is I will have another one for the next two weeks again as well since we are considered 'high risk'. Everything looks good! Pip is still head down and moving all over the place!
Continue the good thoughts and prayers :) We thank you for all of them you have already sent our way!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Processing...
I admit, I am still processing everything we learned today. We were able to meet a lot of people and see the Labor and Delivery area, the NICU, and the CVICU (cardio vascular intensive care unit) where Pip will be staying at some point. We thought we would have 'wait' time sitting around between appointments today and boy, that didn't happen! My mom came with us today to try to help us ask more questions, have another set of ears to hear what we hear, and someone who has gone through this before. Not an easy job. (Thanks, Mom!)
I'll try to start at the beginning...
First, we had (another) level 2 ultra sound. Everything is measuring 'perfectly' and Pip weighs approximately 4 lb 11 oz. Pip is measuring right on schedule as well (within the one day my due date has moved, no big deal) and is head down.
Before we had our fetal echo, we met with a coordinator, Meg, who answered a LOT of our questions right away as well as explained how the rest of the day would go. She was very helpful and stayed with us most of the day so she also heard what we heard and can answer questions as we sit here at home thinking of more. This is different then our first initial care coordinator who provided more questions than answers.
After the echo, we met with the same Dr. again and heard much of the same thing we heard at 31 weeks (3 weeks ago). They are still seeing the same thing in the echo that the veins aren't all going to the right place (Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return), which means Pip will have surgery...we just don't know when. That part is very up in the air and will be until Pip is delivered (how soon will depend on how Pip is when he/she is born and the results from various tests they will do right away).
We met a high risk OB/GYN who will very possibly be the Dr. that delivers Pip, but you never know how that works :) They are suggesting that we come down there at 39 weeks to be induced so I don't go into spontaneous labor so far away and so we don't go overdue so the baby has meconium aspiration. They are telling us the combination of the heart defect and then adding meconium aspiration would not be good for the baby. We had a very serious discussion about my wishes and how being induced is not my first choice. They did agree that we can try any and all 'natural' ways to induce before pitocin. This however, came after quite a bit of emotions regarding not trying a chemical inducement.... when that happened we then were given a second option. Guess I'll be looking into naturally inducing myself before that point! As I said, I'm still processing this information so I'm not 100% sure how I feel about all of it yet.
Next we had a NICU consult. We met a Dr. who will most likely be part of Pip's team once he/she is born and help determine how soon the surgery needs to be completed. He talked to us about the logistics side of surgery, tubes, and recovery. We heard again that it will be a minimum of 2 weeks, could possibly be 3, depending on how soon after birth surgery happens and again how fast Pip recovers (none of which we know until they arrive).
The Dr. also explained how the recovery portion will most likely go and then gave us a tour of the labor and deliver area, the NICU (where Pip will probably be immediately after birth if surgery does not happen immediately) and the CVICU (where Pip will be after surgery). Hopefully we will remember when we go back ;) We did find out where we come if I am in labor (without being induced), where to park, ect ect...all those logistical things ;) which feels good to know.
We also learned there are options of places that we can stay while the Baby is in CVICU even after I am a patient, so hopefully we wont have to be driving back and forth EVERY day.
Mostly we gained a wealth of information that has helped us process things a little easier. The team of doctors at this appointment were far more helpful than the previous two. Thanks for your prayers, the well wishes and for sending us your best in this process. We are grateful and blessed because of it already. We don't know what the future will hold for sure but at least now we are starting to get a better handle on it.
I'll try to start at the beginning...
First, we had (another) level 2 ultra sound. Everything is measuring 'perfectly' and Pip weighs approximately 4 lb 11 oz. Pip is measuring right on schedule as well (within the one day my due date has moved, no big deal) and is head down.
Before we had our fetal echo, we met with a coordinator, Meg, who answered a LOT of our questions right away as well as explained how the rest of the day would go. She was very helpful and stayed with us most of the day so she also heard what we heard and can answer questions as we sit here at home thinking of more. This is different then our first initial care coordinator who provided more questions than answers.
After the echo, we met with the same Dr. again and heard much of the same thing we heard at 31 weeks (3 weeks ago). They are still seeing the same thing in the echo that the veins aren't all going to the right place (Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return), which means Pip will have surgery...we just don't know when. That part is very up in the air and will be until Pip is delivered (how soon will depend on how Pip is when he/she is born and the results from various tests they will do right away).
We met a high risk OB/GYN who will very possibly be the Dr. that delivers Pip, but you never know how that works :) They are suggesting that we come down there at 39 weeks to be induced so I don't go into spontaneous labor so far away and so we don't go overdue so the baby has meconium aspiration. They are telling us the combination of the heart defect and then adding meconium aspiration would not be good for the baby. We had a very serious discussion about my wishes and how being induced is not my first choice. They did agree that we can try any and all 'natural' ways to induce before pitocin. This however, came after quite a bit of emotions regarding not trying a chemical inducement.... when that happened we then were given a second option. Guess I'll be looking into naturally inducing myself before that point! As I said, I'm still processing this information so I'm not 100% sure how I feel about all of it yet.
Next we had a NICU consult. We met a Dr. who will most likely be part of Pip's team once he/she is born and help determine how soon the surgery needs to be completed. He talked to us about the logistics side of surgery, tubes, and recovery. We heard again that it will be a minimum of 2 weeks, could possibly be 3, depending on how soon after birth surgery happens and again how fast Pip recovers (none of which we know until they arrive).
The Dr. also explained how the recovery portion will most likely go and then gave us a tour of the labor and deliver area, the NICU (where Pip will probably be immediately after birth if surgery does not happen immediately) and the CVICU (where Pip will be after surgery). Hopefully we will remember when we go back ;) We did find out where we come if I am in labor (without being induced), where to park, ect ect...all those logistical things ;) which feels good to know.
We also learned there are options of places that we can stay while the Baby is in CVICU even after I am a patient, so hopefully we wont have to be driving back and forth EVERY day.
Mostly we gained a wealth of information that has helped us process things a little easier. The team of doctors at this appointment were far more helpful than the previous two. Thanks for your prayers, the well wishes and for sending us your best in this process. We are grateful and blessed because of it already. We don't know what the future will hold for sure but at least now we are starting to get a better handle on it.
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