Our Last Week

So this past week was our last week of testing for Miss Emma!

Monday was a good day, we started at the NST and she had to be buzzed only once! Poor girl, her last week and she had to get buzzed. But its all ok, it got her moving! The fluid check went well. It was 20.7 so it went down a lot from Thursday which is a relief even though the doctor wasn't concerned about it being high last Thursday!

Thursday was our last day of testing EVER for Emma. Its kind of bittersweet. I know it was a lot but it was starting to become "normal" to me, I was starting to find solace on Monday's and Thursday's routine but like all else in life everything has a season. We have gotten to enjoy Bonnie over the past weeks and she will be missed. We've promised that we will bring Emma into see her once life settles down. She said that she is so involved in this part of the baby but she never gets to see the "finished product". So we will have to take Emma in and show her off.

Emma passed her NST on Thursday like the champ that we all know she is. You have to lay there for 20 minutes and Bonnie said that she had passed very early into the 20 minutes. So she was just showing off for the later half of her test, that's my gal! At the fluid check it came back at 25. There must be something about Thursdays, lol. But its all good, the doctor wasn't concerned. And of course our girl is still breech! I mean I understand I wouldn't want to hang out for weeks on end upside down either if I don't have to, so Emma and I are on the same page there! We got one last look at our sweet girls face! Her and her chunky cheeks and her hair will be here in 2 days! I can't wait to put a BOW in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peter and I have so enjoyed this pregnancy! We are beyond thrilled that we can soon see Emma face to face, however as I'm sure you can imagine this doesn't come without its own set of anxieties. We appreciate everyone's support, love and prayers but we ask that you keep those coming especially in the coming days/weeks/months. Please pray that God provide our family with comfort, peace and wisdom, that Emma's initial surgery and all subsequent surgeries go smoothly and without complications. That she recover quickly so that our family of 3 can be home together where we belong. Please pray for the doctors that will be involved in her care, that God guide their hands and do the best they can for our sweet girl. We appreciate you all! Thank you again for your support, we are truly blessed. 

Our schedule for the next week is as follows, Monday we have to be at the hospital at 6:15 am. They will begin my c-section at 8:30 am. Peter will be able to follow Emma to the NICU at Good Samaritan where they will start an IV, gather her vitals, and check her all out. They will bring her back down to me in recovery so I can see her before they transfer her to Children's Hospital. Peter will follow her to Children's and I'll get settled in at Good Sam. As of right now her surgery is scheduled for Tuesday at noon, so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be praying! The doctor told me on Thursday that I wont be able to see her Monday night and this breaks my heart but I'll be over there as soon as I can Tuesday morning. Right now that is all we know. I am going to do my best to keep this updated to let you all know what is going on and of course to post pictures. One's that aren't black and white and fuzzy looking. 

Again we so very much appreciate your thoughts and prayers. KEEP 'EM COMING!!! 

At the end of the day this is all that matters:

My sweet girl deep in thought! 

Another week bites the dust

Hello world! We had another round of testing this week and she did really well. She's finally getting into the swing of the NST's now that were rounding rounding third and heading home (for all you baseball fans out there).

Monday was a status quo day! She passed the NST with flying colors didn't have to get buzzed at all! WOO HOO little girl! The AFI also went good my fluid level was good too so it was a good day.

Thursday was a fun day, we had our NST and Emma's heartbeat was higher then usual (which isn't a problem) but it made her baseline higher which means she had to work harder at meeting her goal. She got buzzed but only once and then she got her butt in gear! My fluid check was a little surprising it was at 27. From the start we've been told that it shouldn't exceed 24 so I was a little concerned about what the doctor would have to say about that. We had a sweet ultrasound tech who showed us her sweet little face and of course her perfect feet! We met with the doctor and he wasn't to concerned. He said they'd be worried if it was below 5 and thank goodness that isn't our issue.

Emma is still breech at this point and I don't believe she has any plans on changing that. Since I'm having a c-section it wouldn't change that, the only thing that it does affect is the type of incision I'll have to have.  Because of the different incision any future pregnancies will have to be delivered via c-section. But we've learned through this process that Emma marches to her own beat and doesn't do what she doesn't want to do. OH MY we're going to have our hands full with this little girl!

As of today we have 8 days until our princess is here. 8 days until our life is completely and forever changed because of one sweet, chunky cheeked little girl. 8 days until we can finally see her chunky little cheeks. 8 days until we can kiss her face. 8 days until we can see the beautiful little girl that we've only seen through ultrasound. 8 days until we can see if she looks like Peter or me. 8 days until we can finally tell her to her little face that we love her. We can't wait, but at the same time can you say FREAK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you all for your continued prayers, and support. It has been such a blessing to our families. We ask for continued prayers and thoughts as we enter into the last week of our pregnancy, please pray for a smooth delivery, and that Emma's recovery from her surgeries, and my recovery go smoothly and without complication. Also please be praying that God provides us peace, comfort, and wisdom through what will be one of the most trying times in our lives! Thank you again, it certainly doesn't go unnoticed!

At the end of the day this is what matters

Getting Closer

Sorry for the lull in posting, we've been preparing for Emma's fast approaching arrival. As I sit here and right this we have only 17, I REPEAT, 17 days until she is here. I don't know if you read that right, I'll repeat 17 DAYS!!!!!

Thursday the 28th went well! Emma cooperated for her NST and didn't require to be buzzed at all! WOOP WOOP go baby girl go!!! Then we headed to our AFI and that was good as well, we had a very sweet girl which always makes me happy. My fluid was good at 21.4 so its holding steady! I finally got the courage to ask if we could see her face and she obliged us. We got to see her sweet face, and of course her eency weency (those aren't technical words) feet! The tech measured her foot and said it was 7 cm, which works out to be about 2.8 inches. So tiny! We have lots of little socks that her sweet little feet are going to look so cute in!

Monday also went well, Bonnie wasn't in our NST so that always puts a kink in things. The nurse we had is sweet as can be but its just not Bonnie. Emma knew something was up too, she cooperated once, but then decided to be stubborn and was done, so she had to be buzzed. That really pretty much made her mad because by golly her heart rate got up there which made the nurse happy! My AFI went well, my fluid was good. I believe it was 22. We didn't get any extra's this go round we had a grouchy tech. But to each your own, as long as I can walk out of there knowing my baby girl is healthy that's what really matters! 

Thursday the 7th went REALLY well. Seeing as it was the first Thursday of the month it was our growth scan. So that meant and extended look at sweet baby girl! Everything is looking good and right on track for whats going on with her. Her vent's grew again, well her left one did, the right one stayed pretty much the same, which is good that at least one didn't change! She weighs a WHOPPING 7.8 pounds. That means we are on track for a 9lb baby! AHH, we thought she'd be a chunky monkey! She was folded in half like a taco (in my words) meaning that her feet were at her face. Talk about uncomfortable. This didn't seem to bother her to much though! Her NST went well too, although she had to buzzed again. But that's alright, she's just tired of behaving for those silly things! All in all everything was good! And I have a few pics to share! 

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We think she is smiling here! You can see it in her cheeks! This was right after she stuck her tongue out at us! She thinks she's sooo funny!!! LOL! 

Thank you so very much for  your continued love, support, prayers, and thoughts. It means so much more to Peter and I then I can ever express! Thank you, thank you! 

At the end of the day our healthy baby girl is what matters...

She's done it again!

I think were on a roll folks (however I don't want to jinx myself)! On Thursday we had another NST and AFI! She did the NST like a champ (like we all know she is), there was no buzzing involved! WAHOO!!! She's getting to be such a big girl! Makes me so proud. Although even when she does have to get buzzed I'm still proud. Our AFI was good as well, she is still breech! Although this doesn't matter much because we already have a c-section scheduled. My fluid levels were good holding steady around 19, so I'll take that!

Today (Monday) was a good day too, again she rocked the NST like the growing baby that she is! There was no buzzing involved whatsoever! She even made Bonnie proud! The AFI went well as well, again there wasn't much to it, the tech did what she was there to do today, however today I worked up the nerve to ask to see her face, and she obliged! So we got a quick peek at her cute, chubby little face!

Peter and I are sooooo very blessed. We have had 2 baby showers in the past two weekends and the love and support that was there is amazing, and so very humbling! We'd like to thank each and everyone of you for your continued support, it means so much to us! Even if we've not met and its just through prayer, it doesn't go unnoticed and as they say prayer can move mountains!

I'd like to just ask for your continued prayer, there are so many requests that we have, all mainly surrounding our sweet baby girl, but there is a specific one for us. That is that God gives us peace, as her due date approaches we get more anxious. We know that this is all in God's control and we are thankful for that because that would be quite the burden to carry however we still need our anxious hearts calmed.

Thanks again, and I've yet to receive any new pics, so we'll just reminisce with an oldy but a goody!, at the end of the day my sweet, healthy, precious, baby girl is all that matters!

Celebrate

Sorry for the delay but were back at it!

Bust out your party hats and noisemakers folks, we're having a party!! Emma graduated, well for a day anyways!! Our appointment on Monday Feb 11 was a GREAT day!!! Bonnie was right, its like something magical happens when the baby hits 32 weeks! Emma didn't get buzzed AT ALL!!! We had our own little party in the NST room. LOL! Our fluid check was also great, we've been able to stay with in the normal range. I walked out of that hospital like I'd just accepted an Oscar (on Emma's behalf of course).

Thursday was a good day, she didn't cooperate as well but you know life's tough when your trying to grow! There are some days when you just don't feel like behaving, I know that happens to me sometimes. This poor girl has come down with the hiccups, they aren't your run of the mill hiccups either they are SERIOUS, last about 5 minutes and happens at most 3 times a day! This day was no exception, we were going about our business listening to her precious little thump, thump, thump of her heart beat when all the sudden she got the hiccups. I blame Bonnie, lol, she had to buzz her which I believe scared the hiccups into her. These hiccups lasted for what seemed like forever, they had to call in the doctor to make sure she was reactive enough and as soon as the doc looked at her graph she said the baby has the hiccups. LOL... they were that identifiable. But the doctor cleared her and sent us on our way for the AFI. That was a quick check, the levels were all good and we were on our way.

That brings us to this past Monday. Our sweet baby girl cooperated (well sort of), she only had to be buzzed once, this is progress compared to last Thursday. She got to the 150's on her own once and then Bonnie was waiting till the end to see if she'd do it again, alas she did not. So she got buzzed. But that ticked her off she jumped up to 160 and then hung around there for a while. I can imagine she was saying to herself, I'm going to make this buzz worthwhile. Oh baby girl. We went to the AFI and that was good. The ultrasound tech's have been turds lately and haven't given us anything extra to look at, just telling us we are good. Which of course I appreciate, I just always like to get that extra look at my baby's sweet chunky face!

That about sums it up for us. Thank you all so much for your love and support, it means more to Peter and I and our families then we'll ever be able to express!! Thank you thank you!

At the end of the day this is what matters

Thursday we meet again!

We shall begin this post to say that we have a DUE DATE!!! Emma will be here on March 25, 2013! I like this day for our baby girls birthday! Its a Monday so it'll be great, and it'll be here before we know it. 

Monday was another good day. We went for the NST, that went well, baby girl was buzzed only once, and that was near the end so its getting easier just like Nurse Bonnie said it would. Then we went for our AFI, my fluid levels were good it was 18.6 so its hanging steady! PRAISE GOD! Here's our pictures from Monday, they are a little hard to see because Emma wasn't looking at the camera. Doesn't she know that her momma is a sucker for pictures, and MANY will be taken once she arrives!!! 

This is her face, she is squishing her hand to her chunky little cheeks! EEEKKKS!

Here is her sweet foot!! LOVE IT! 

And that brings us to today. GUESS WHAT... Emma hit her mark today on her NST without ANY buzzing!! WAHOOOOOOOOO!!!! Milestone met!!!!!!!!!! YAY BABY GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!! In fact she did it 3 times when it was only required that she hit it twice! Today was also a growth scan day! So we got an extra long look at our sweet girl! My fluid level was good, 16.9, which is the LOWEST its ever been. We were taking bets as to how much Emma weighs.. (not real bets dont worry) just a little pool shall we say. Anyways, Peter guessed she'd weigh 5.8, I said 4.10, mom and a friend said 5 on the nose. So imagine our excitement when the tech told us that Emma weighs 5.8 pounds. HOLY MOLY!!!!!!!!! We were told to expect her to gain a half a pound a week which is another 3.5 pounds! Watch out world we have a chunker on our hands! But we're ok with that. We need her as chunky as possible for her surgery! Her vents measured larger then I would have liked to have seen, they were both in the 30's. I pray that they don't get any larger, although none of the doctors seemed to concerned seeing as her head has also grown comparably. We had a follow up with the doctor which was good. It was the same doc that is going to deliver our sweet girl so that was good. All in all a good day, alot of UPs and just one down. We have so many blessings in our lives and I just have to keep my faith steadfast that God is the ultimate one in control! Just a few prayer requests..a) that she stays put until March 25 and b) That her vents don't get any larger. I leave you with a few pictures from today! 

Here is her sweet little face, looking at the camera

This is her beautiful profile

And again, her sweet foot!!!

at the end of the day this is what matters

Thank you all for your continued thoughts, and prayers. It is much appreciated!!! 

Sheweeeeeee...

Today was another busy day for us Hendrikson's! I was fortunate to have the day off work, Peter however didn't have that luxury and had to work until 10am however I digress!

We started off today with a visit to the NICU we got there at around 11:15 checked in with the front desk and were met by a charge nurse named Morgan. She is a very sweet gal! She explained to us the detailed hand washing process that'll need to be done to keep our girl and the other sweet babies healthy! She then went on to tell us about checking in at the front desk and the visitor policy. Which right now is pretty strict because of flu season and the concerns for RSV. I understand their policy and don't want to put any babies in jeopardy however I'm not a fan of it. Currently it'll be Peter and I who will have 24/7 access then only 4 other people will be allowed to visit Emma while in the NICU. I am praying that the flu season ends before Emma gets here because we have a lot of friends and family that will want to see our sweet baby girl. It was explained to us how it'll work while she's there with the doctors and nurses. She will have a group of assigned nurses that'll follow her care until the time she is discharged. They've thought of EVERYTHING... for heaven's sake they even have a laundry room with all the items needed!!! We are truly fortunate to live in such a city where GREAT medical care is so close to home. How blessed we are to live in Cincinnati!

We then met with the neurosurgeon. He was a nice man, I was initially intimidated because I had just assumed he'd be stand-offish and straight to the point, however this wasn't the case. He was nice, and was there to inform us about her surgery day and what that'll entail and to answer our questions. One of the questions that has been pressing on my heart was answered to my liking today. I have been so wrapped up with worry about not being able to hold Emma for an extended period of time after her back closure. I understand that it would be for her sole benefit if I wasn't able to but it has been weighing heavy on my heart. Well I asked him about how long after her back closure would we be able to hold her and he said that as long as the NICU doc's were ok with it and she wasn't on the ventilator or anything like that, that I could hold her the same day as her surgery! WHAT A RELIEF!!!! Another prayer answered! We also got to see what a shunt looked like. Its pretty much just a long tube, that if she needs one would be placed in her brain and would go down to her abdomen where it will dump the cerebral fluid. This is what it looks like...

After a quick lunch in the hospital cafeteria (which actually isn't so bad) we then got a tour of the Spina Bifida clinic where we will go for follow up care once she is here, this is where all her doctors will be. It'll be on an assigned day typically Monday afternoons and we'll just go there and the doctors will come to us (how nice is that). We were told that the first visit will be with the Urology doctor and the Development team.

Today was also our normal testing day, so off we went to Good Sam. We had the NST where of course Emma chose not to cooperate and was buzzed, but they eventually got what they were looking for! Then onto the ultrasound... my FAVORITE part of testing day. The fluid level was good at 19.4. Then the ultrasound tech was showing us her profile and said that she was able to tell that Emma had hair! She said it's pretty unusual to see hair at this point in the pregnancy, forever Peter and I had decided that Emma would be as bald as an onion when she was born because we both were, but I can't wait to put her first bow on her!!  While we were admiring her beautiful locks, the tech saw her stick her tongue out at us. I can just see it now... she's already blowing raspberries and she isn't even here yet!!

I think that sums up today! Thank you for your faithful thoughts and prayers, we appreciate every single one of you! And of course I leave you with pictures!!

And at the end of the day she is what matters!!!