Sorry this is so late in coming, we had a very long day yesterday in Iowa City.
Our first appointment was another ultrasound at 11 am. The baby's ventricles are still measuring large. The doctors were encouraged that in 5 weeks there had been very minimal enlargement (measuring 18 and 19 mm now instead of 17 mm). This means that though the condition is still serious, it is currently not rapidly progressing, so we are thankful for that. The baby's head is measuring a little big, but nothing off the chart so that is another positive thing (often swelling in the brain can lead to an extremely swollen head). And, we have a 6lb 4oz kid in there, so we think it will be a big one by the time 40 weeks rolls around...
We then met with the high risk delivery doctors to talk about the birth plan. We were also encouraged that the baby has a good head size so at this point we are all set for natural labor and delivery. The baby then had a non-stress test for about 30 minutes and passed with no problem.
Our next meeting was with a neonatologist, who discussed with us what would happen after the birth and the potential treatment options. The baby will go to ICU right after birth to get checked (ultrasound yet again). After that, how the baby does with feeding, response, etc. will determine how long the baby is in ICU and the hospital in general. The doctor did say that 50% of the time these type of cases turn out just fine if they are isolated. We toured the birthing suites and the ICU and then finally called it a day around 4:45.
We will head back for an ultrasound on May 6th. If the fluid increase is negligible, then we will go ahead with a normal birth. If we see a huge increase (the docs do not think this will be the case, but are always cautious I suppose) then we will most likely have a scheduled c-section.
We are very grateful for your prayers, we cannot say how much it means to us. As you can imagine the uncertainty and waiting is hard at times, but we are really learning to place our trust fully in the Lord and His perfect plan.
Please continue to pray for a decrease in fluid in the baby's brain and that there would be no brain damage as a result of the fluid. Also you can pray for Beth as she finishes out the school year being 9 months pregnant!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Appointment Tomorrow
It has been a crazy busy time for the Pitmans in the last few weeks and we have really slacked off in blog-o-land.
We just finished directing Willy Wonka at Tri-State this past weekend, and it was a smash hit by all accounts. Beth's parents even made the trip from Canada to see the show!
We have appreciated your continued prayers for us and the baby. We head back to Iowa City tonight and go to the University Hospital tomorrow for 3 appointments. It is our prayer that the Lord will have provided healing for our child and that everything will show up normal on the ultrasound. Please pray for us as we meet with the specialist, the high-risk delivery doctors, and the neonatologists.
We need to set a plan for the birth tomorrow, and it will be dependent on the ultrasound results. If the baby's condition is stable then we will wait until labor comes naturally. If the doctors feel that the ventriculomegaly has worsened, they will likely set a date for inducement or a c-section. We are still set to deliver in Iowa City in the absence of a miracle of total healing.
We would appreciate your prayers today and tomorrow as we seek to submit to God's will in this difficult time of uncertainty. We will post an update tomorrow afternoon/evening. Thanks again for your support!
We just finished directing Willy Wonka at Tri-State this past weekend, and it was a smash hit by all accounts. Beth's parents even made the trip from Canada to see the show!
We have appreciated your continued prayers for us and the baby. We head back to Iowa City tonight and go to the University Hospital tomorrow for 3 appointments. It is our prayer that the Lord will have provided healing for our child and that everything will show up normal on the ultrasound. Please pray for us as we meet with the specialist, the high-risk delivery doctors, and the neonatologists.
We need to set a plan for the birth tomorrow, and it will be dependent on the ultrasound results. If the baby's condition is stable then we will wait until labor comes naturally. If the doctors feel that the ventriculomegaly has worsened, they will likely set a date for inducement or a c-section. We are still set to deliver in Iowa City in the absence of a miracle of total healing.
We would appreciate your prayers today and tomorrow as we seek to submit to God's will in this difficult time of uncertainty. We will post an update tomorrow afternoon/evening. Thanks again for your support!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
U of I Appointment
Last night we headed to Stu and Becky's in West Liberty so we wouldn't have as far to drive this morning to the appointment. Plus, we got to hang out with them and have some awesome Indian food and ice cream with home-made fudge sauce!
This morning we headed back to the University Hospital for our follow up to our Dubuque ultrasound. We felt an amazing sense of peace and were very calm through out the whole appointment; your prayers were very evident to us.
The ultrasound did confirm what the doctors in Dubuque saw - the baby's ventricles in the brain are still measuring quite large. After the ultrasound we consulted with 3 doctors (one of which was the same doctor we saw last time). There was also the ultrasound tech and an intern in the room, so it was quite the little party.
The doctors were able to give us a diagnosis - a condition called ventriculomegaly, which basically describes excess fluid running through the brain. They did a detailed scan on the rest of the baby, paying special attention to all other areas of the brain, and concluded that everything else looked normal. This is a good sign that this is the only condition that the baby has. They did say that there is about a 1% chance that this condition is a result of a genetic disorder or some type of infection. There is no way to tell without an amniocentisis, which we declined again. So, they gave us a 99% chance that this is the only condition that the baby has, which is positive.
So, basically here is where we stand now...
1. We will have to come back to Iowa City in 5 weeks for a follow up ultrasound. They want to continue to monitor the amount of fluid in the brain to see if it is maintaining the same measurements, increasing, or (hopefully) decreasing.
2. We will also meet with hi-risk obstetricians (this is our category now) and neo-natal specialists at this time.
3. We will have to have the baby in Iowa City instead of Dubuque. Baby will have to have scans after birth to check on the condition, and if it is severe enough it may require intervention by the doctors down there (basically this would involve surgery to drain fluid off the brain). Plans for a normal delivery are still in place, unless the condition worsens a lot. If this is the case, Beth may have to be induced a few weeks early. A c-section is not in the plans as of now.
We felt very reassured that we were able to get a diagnosis and that the doctors were calm and optimistic about the outcome. It is helpful for us to know that this is something that they have encountered often.
We would love your continued prayer support, and we are still hopeful for a reduction in the ventricle size in 5 weeks. We have really appreciated your prayers thus far and have felt a calm and peace that is not from ourselves! We will keep you updated!
This morning we headed back to the University Hospital for our follow up to our Dubuque ultrasound. We felt an amazing sense of peace and were very calm through out the whole appointment; your prayers were very evident to us.
The ultrasound did confirm what the doctors in Dubuque saw - the baby's ventricles in the brain are still measuring quite large. After the ultrasound we consulted with 3 doctors (one of which was the same doctor we saw last time). There was also the ultrasound tech and an intern in the room, so it was quite the little party.
The doctors were able to give us a diagnosis - a condition called ventriculomegaly, which basically describes excess fluid running through the brain. They did a detailed scan on the rest of the baby, paying special attention to all other areas of the brain, and concluded that everything else looked normal. This is a good sign that this is the only condition that the baby has. They did say that there is about a 1% chance that this condition is a result of a genetic disorder or some type of infection. There is no way to tell without an amniocentisis, which we declined again. So, they gave us a 99% chance that this is the only condition that the baby has, which is positive.
So, basically here is where we stand now...
1. We will have to come back to Iowa City in 5 weeks for a follow up ultrasound. They want to continue to monitor the amount of fluid in the brain to see if it is maintaining the same measurements, increasing, or (hopefully) decreasing.
2. We will also meet with hi-risk obstetricians (this is our category now) and neo-natal specialists at this time.
3. We will have to have the baby in Iowa City instead of Dubuque. Baby will have to have scans after birth to check on the condition, and if it is severe enough it may require intervention by the doctors down there (basically this would involve surgery to drain fluid off the brain). Plans for a normal delivery are still in place, unless the condition worsens a lot. If this is the case, Beth may have to be induced a few weeks early. A c-section is not in the plans as of now.
We felt very reassured that we were able to get a diagnosis and that the doctors were calm and optimistic about the outcome. It is helpful for us to know that this is something that they have encountered often.
We would love your continued prayer support, and we are still hopeful for a reduction in the ventricle size in 5 weeks. We have really appreciated your prayers thus far and have felt a calm and peace that is not from ourselves! We will keep you updated!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Follow Up Ultrasound
We had our follow up ultrasound (29 weeks) this week in Dubuque to check on Baby's brain again. We were so encouraged after our last appointment in Iowa City, so we were expecting another good report. Unfortunately this was not the case.
It appears the ventricles in Baby's little brain are now measuring over 16mm. Two months ago they were measuring just over 10mm, which was enough of a concern that we were sent to Iowa City. This amount of fluid seems to be a severe problem, as well as the fact that it seems to be increasing. There also may be some issue with the corpus callosum (the part that connects the 2 sides of the brain), but the ultrasound in Dubuque could not confirm that. We now have to go back to Iowa City next week for another level II ultrasound and to consult with a specialist. We hope at the very least to get some kind of diagnosis at this time.
Here are some specific things you can pray for:
1. That the ventricle size in the brain would decrease to under 10mm (this is the "magic" number).
2. That the corpus callosum would be healthy.
3. That we would have strength and peace in this time of uncertainty
It is hard not to be frustrated and worry at this time, but we are placing our trust in the Author and Giver of life.
We will have an update for you all on March 4th, the day of our appointment (which is at 8:45am).
Thank you for your prayers for us and our little one!
Baby's Daddy is 30!
And Mommy threw a big surprise party last Friday! Our house was jam packed and it was a ton of fun!
Ashlee's awesome cake!
Beth's Mum's cookies!
The cake maker! 
Wii on the projector!
On Saturday we headed to Madison for an overnight trip with Nate and Nicole and Dan and Beth. It was a perfect birthday!
The Taj Indian restaurant 
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Baby's First Shower
We have just returned from a great whirlwind trip to Canada. We flew in late Friday night, and flew back home Monday afternoon, and in between managed to squeeze in a lot of fun! We had "Family Valentine's Dinner", good times catching up with friends, a fishing trip for Neil and Baby's first shower. It was beautiful, wonderful and perfect, and we are so thankful for everyone who was able to come, and most of all to the lovely ladies in charge of making it so fantastic. It was a great time, and we feel so thankful for and blessed by all of the love "showered" on us. We loved ALL of our gifts...all of the itty bitty adorable clothes, the many (and much needed) baby supplies, Breha's beautiful handmade quilt (in cooridnating nursery colors!), the very cool "Oh Baby!" products sewn by Jenny and Deborah, and the money given to put towards those bigger "essentials". Here are a few pictures from the weekend...
A steamin' pot of lobsters from Family Valentine's Dinner
The beautiful setting and setup for the shower, thanks to Breha, Deborah and Jenny, planners and decorators extraordinaire!
Cookies made by "Grandma" Patterson-Baby boy or girl...we don't know!
Our scrumptious luncheon...my mom is a fantastic cook!!
One of the MANY beautiful desserts!
Two fun shower games: Match the crazy celebrity with their crazier baby names, and "Ooey Gooey, Guess the Pooey", which is not as gross as it sounds, but involved diapers, chocolate and a discerning sense of smell and sight!
Monday, February 9, 2009
We're going to have...
A Niece!
Stu and Becky found out on Thursday that they are having a girl! We are so excited to have a little niece! And it's already been fun to pick out cute, girly clothes and accessories.
We are still not sure what our Baby Pitman will be, as we opted to "not find out". But although we don't want to know FOR SURE, we are doing everything we can to figure it out on our own. We're eating up all the old wives' tales (carrying high vs. carrying low etc.) and the Chinese lunar calendar...with very mixed results! We even took a quiz based on these "predictors" and found out that there is a 50% chance we're having a girl...and a 50% chance we're having a boy! (Helpful!)
Regardless, he or she will be here in about 95 days! And will be wearing these VERY cute (VERY gender neutral) cloth diapers on his or her little baby butt! This is our first "shower" present (a little before the shower!) from Mum Patterson. They arrived today, and we think they are SO fun! (Ask us again how fun they are when we're doing a load of poopy diapers per day!)
Baby is currently 26 weeks, and is as long as an English cucumber, and as heavy as a rutabaga! We head to Canada this weekend (with the little rutabaga!) for a visit, "Family Valentine's Day" and our first baby shower. We'll post more pictures soon!
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