Week 23

 "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." --Phil. 4:6-7 (The Message)


Today went better than we expected! We are seeing God at work! :) It's amazing! (We still have a LONG way to go...but...we are thankful for little positives!)


We had two doctor's appointments..one with the specialist and one with our OB. The ultrasound at the specialist showed that Junebug has switched positions (yet again). Last week, Junebug was breach...but today, the baby was head down and had flipped left to right. The doctor is amazed (and puzzled) how the baby is able to do that without there being fluid. It shouldn't be possible, but this bug is a mover...and fighter! God is allowing it to move and "stretch" as much as it can! From what they can tell, the kidneys have developed more. They showed up on the ultrasound today as a gray color instead of the big, black blob they were before. There is still some black (a.k.a fluid) in the kidneys...but it's much smaller than it has ever been! They still can't determine the function of the kidneys, but at least the look better! Again, God's work! And they believe there is fluid in the bladder since it shows up black. We are assuming there is a breakdown somewhere from the kidneys to the bladder to the excretion of the urine. The heartbeat was still strong and perfect at 144 bpm!


Our OB was very encouraged today when we visited her! She is encouraged by the changes Junebug is showing, the strong heartbeat, and the fact we have made it to this point...23 weeks. :) We discussed what possibilities lie ahead as far as monitoring, delivery, and post-delivery...but we will know more "definitive" (as much as we can...) next Thursday. We are meeting with the specialist, the OB, and a neonatologist to come up with a plan for our Junebug. (I will keep you updated after that...) They will give me steroids to help in the development of the baby's lungs starting at 24 weeks. 


Please continue to pray! Pray for Junebug's body...that God will continue to heal and develop the kidneys, that JB will stay away from the umbilical cord (that's still a concern), and that we can make it to at minimum 24 weeks! (Of course, we would love to make it to 26-28 weeks...the longer, the better!) Pray for Rob and I...we need the continued peace and knowledge of what is best for our baby. Pray for our families...they need the peace, knowledge, and support too! And pray for our friends...they have been a huge support to us and will continue to be, but we don't want them to get worn or stressed out!


To our Junebug:
Wow, bugger! You are one strong baby! I love that I can feel you moving/poking...even if it keeps me up at night! It gives me reassurance that you are ok in there, so don't stop for too long! Bug, God is touching you...healing you...using you! There are people who "know" you...and are amazed by God's work in you. I can't even imagine what He has planned for you after your arrival! Big things, baby, big things for Him! Hang out in there for a couple more weeks...and stay away from that fun-looking cord! We love you!! 
Momma and Daddy

Week 22 (and a half...)

"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." --1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (The Message)

We went to the specialist again yesterday for our weekly ultrasound to check on Junebug. There wasn't any visible changes...still no fluid! We did get to see all 4 chambers of the heart pumping away (161 bmp), which we haven't been able to see before.

There were a couple of funny things from the appointment:

• Junebug had the hiccups during the ultrasound. It was pretty funny to watch the little bug twitch on the monitor and to know that's what I was feeling. 
• He/She kicked hard enough that I immediately put my hand on my stomach and the ultrasound tech said she felt and saw it! Junebug was trying to tell her, "Leave me alone! Stop poking at me!" 
• The baby was sucking on either their hand or arm. (We could see the jaw moving up and down, in a sucking motion with their arm up at their mouth.) 

Even though there wasn't anything that we would call "positive"...there were some humorous parts! This is the first appointment that we've had that they didn't tell us something super negative...so I will take that as a positive. :) 

We are still praying for a miracle for Junebug! Please continue to pray for our families as you pray for us! This is just as tough on the "grandparents" and "aunts and uncles" as it is on Rob and I! 

We appreciate everything that you have done for us this far! Your words of support and encouragement mean more than you will ever know. You (along with God) are helping to carry us through this rough time!

On A Positive Note...

Rob was able to feel Junebug move this morning! I've been able to feel the movements for several weeks, but they haven't been hard enough for him to feel on the outside. This morning we were cuddling in bed and he had his hand on my belly. He started giggling and said "I felt the baby! It just moved, right?" :) I'm so glad/excited that he was finally able to feel it. Junebug is shifting positions again. Little bug doesn't stay still for too long...which is great, as long as it stays away from the umbilical cord.

Week 21

We went back to the specialist yesterday for another ultrasound to check on Junebug. Everything still looks the same from what she can tell. Junebug's heartbeat was 152 bpm and it was moving around. The measurements they got were perfect....right on for 21 weeks! It's still being a stinker and not letting us know the gender. I don't think they would be able to tell anyway because the ultrasound picture quality is so poor due to lack of fluid. The doctor informed us that she doubts that we will see the 24 week mark and even if we do, the baby may be too small to go to the NICU at the hospital. I assume we could still send Junebug to Riley's NICU...but didn't ask. We left there discouraged again...feeling like the glimmer of hope was extinguished. But then we remembered that our God is bigger and can do anything! We are staying positive...not giving up on this miracle we call Junebug! It's defying the odds as it is...strong heartbeat, active, and growing like it should. We are blessed to be experiencing pregnancy and are enjoying everyday this miracle is with us!

Keep praying! :) Like I have said before, we are feeling them. We wouldn't be as strong as we are without God's help and your prayers! The encouraging messages we are getting on Faceb**k, emails, texts, and in person are getting us through this tough time. (We have kept all of the Faceb**k messages and emails from this journey and they will be going in Junebug's scrapbook.) We love you all!

Update...Week 20

We went to the OB on Thursday. Junebug's heartbeat is still perfect (mid-150s). She told us she thinks that if Junebug can stay alive in me (away from its umbilical cord) until at least 24 weeks, they will monitor closer. They may be able to deliver Junebug via C-section between 24-28 weeks, give the baby steroid shots for the lungs, hook it up to a dialysis machine (along with other machines), send it to the NICU, and pray for the best. According to the doctor, this would be the only chance of survival. Obviously, the odds are still against us...but at least it's a little hope. We are still praying for a miracle!