Update on Anna

Well - it's been a long day. We spent 3 hours at CHKD this afternoon speaking with several doctors, specialists and counselors about Anna. We left feeling a little overwhelmed, but on the right track. At this point, the geneticist strongly believes Anna has VELO CARDIO FACIAL SYNDROME, a chromosomal disorder dealing with the 22nd chromosome. Bloodwork is likely to confirm this diagnosis within the next week. What does it mean now that we know this? Anna has a long, uncertain road ahead of her. This syndrome can manifest itself in so many different ways that we won't know exactly the difficulties she will face. She is being referred to a urologist to check her kidneys, since kidney function can be affected, she is being referred to an immunologist, since her immune system can be affected, she is being referred to an endocronologist, since her calcium levels can be affected. There are so many "ifs" or possibilities that it is just best to have her looked at by everyone to rule out the major issues that could present themselves. From the research we've done, VCFS patients can live a highly functional, "normal" life, we just may have a few bumps in the road, but the cardiac and palate issues are the most major, so at least we are getting them out of the way!!!

On to the palate issue - Anna has a submucous cleft palate. The surgery was explained to us and appears to be fairly simple. The discussion that is on the table is the appropriate time to perform the surgery. The Speech Pathologist feels Anna has a severe speech delay due to another underlying cause (probably VCFS) not just the palate issue. She, the ENT and the surgeon must now decide whether to do the surgery immediately or allow Anna to be in more aggressive Speech Therapy 2 times a week and do the surgery after she shows improvement. They will discuss the options over the next few days and let us know the best course of action for Anna.

I know that is probably very overwhelming information and if you ask me, what can we pray for, I'm not even sure what to answer. Pray for the road ahead of us. It just got a lot longer than we anticipated it being. Pray for protection for Anna with the upcoming cold/flu season as she is so susceptible to "bugs." Please pray for me to be strong and to have faith that God's timing will be perfect and that I can take it one day at a time. I will not lie and tell you I'm doing "okay" with all of this. I feel very overwhelmed, mostly due to the fact that I have another baby on the way. I feel like the next 4 months with Anna are crucial and I would like some "normalcy" to be in place when the baby arrives. But I can't control any of that, I can't make it all go away, I just want to have faith in the Lord's timing and will. I keep telling myself that He knows we can handle this, that's why He's chosen us.

Thank you for being a support for our family and for loving Anna so much. I know she can't tell everyone how loved she feels, but one day we'll tell her how loved and lifted up she was!

As always, I'll keep you posted!
Trustin in HIm,
Jen

Did he just say that....

Yesterday I had my 24 week appt. which was very uneventful. Weight check, measurement check, heartbeat check - nothing exciting(yes, the heartbeat is always exciting)! However when I asked the doctor about the constant pain I've been having in my lower abdomen and the back pain in the middle of the night, he says, "Well, it is your third pregnancy and you are OVER 30!" I couldn't believe he pulled the 30 card on me. My best friend and I agree we still don't feel any different than we did at 25, shouldn't our body just go with what our mind says? I wonder how Michele Duggar's body feels right now!

Budding Artists

Erin is an art loving girl, and I think she's having an influence on her younger sister. Whenever Erin is doing art, Anna wants to join in. Yesterday, I was having Erin paint a canvas for our bathroom, something she is going to do every year, and of course Anna had to join in. I wish I'd had a baby canvas for Anna, because I'd love to hang hers as well. I still may frame it and hang it somewhere. You can't beat reasonably priced treasures like these!

Erin's masterpiece - a sunset

Anna's masterpiece - a garden of colors

Erin's first day of Kindergarten

Our Little Kindergartener!

One cute little Erin with a Princess backpack!

A teary goodbye.

A future Seahawk!

Celebrating a great first day with our free birthday meals at Silver Diner!

Our baby started K-5 yesterday and I just can't believe it. She was very excited about it before we arrived at school, but quickly became anxious when we got there. Daddy was persistent that we not hang around, but make a quick exit to make it easier on her. I know he was right, but it sure was hard to leave her in tears. Mrs. Mulford said she did great and only had a few tears throughout the day. What a big transistion for a little girl, but I know she is going to love school. They go to art today and I think that will seal the deal. There was no shortage of details about her day yesterday, from who lost a bear to what they sang in chapel, we got a full recap. I'm so thankful that she is in a warm and caring place that I'm very familiar with. It is very surreal to be taking my own child to the school I went to and taught at, but very exciting for sure!

4 NO MORE!!!

Erin is officially a 5 year old now!!!! We partied with the family in Duck since we were on vacation. If you remember a former post, Erin had asked for a Madagascar party which is very hard to find. Thanks to a friend having saved tableclothes from her sons bday party, a cake store having a edible sticker and getting left over plates from Jumpin Monkey - the party all came together. It was nothing short of the Lord's hand helping me get all those things. She had a great time having pizza and cake with her family!

We splurged and gave her a Chuck E Cheese party this year and it was worth every penny. She smiled from ear to ear all night. She lived it up, ate it up, played it up and was surrounded by her friends. It was a great night for her with lots of special Chuck E Cheese time.

I can't believe my little girl is 5. She is so beautiful inside and out. She has a personal relationship with the Lord and believes He can do anything. We can't wait to watch her grow this year as she begins Kindergarten!

Beach Vacation 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Thinkin' Pink

Well it's official - Baby #3 is Girl #3! We had an inconclusive ultrasound on the 4th, but after a rescan on the 5th she was able to make herself known. Yesterday was a day of adjustment for me. My motherly instinct, along with all of my friends, told me this was for sure a boy. Some instinct huh! At first I really didn't care what the baby was I was just happy to be pregnant, but as the pregnancy went on I started to lean towards wanting a boy. I wanted the chance to do something different, buy little polo shirts and have that mother/son bond. I know I love little girls and will adore this little girl as well. So after a day of major rethinking I can see the joy in having 3 little princesses around the house. Such sweet giggles and joyful music already fill our house, I'm sure this one will join right in. I certainly don't want to think about the teenage years, but they are a long way off. For now, I'm going to focus on the blessing of a healthy little girl who is well on her way to having a very special name picked just for her.

I told Erin I was sorry that we couldn't give her a brother and she said, "That's okay mommy, God knows what's best for us." What an awesome role model she already is for her little sisters. So princess #3 will arrive in December, a true Christmas present. Until then we'll have fun preparing for her by moving her big sisters into the same room and probably transforming the playroom into a princess castle! We are definitely Thinkin' Pink around here!