Today marks 24 weeks and three days of pregnancy with our
amazing fighters. It’s been a
while since we updated you and for that I apologize. Thank you for staying by
our sides across the miles through prayer and encouragement. I am so happy to share that we have good news! The past few weeks
of doctors’ visits have been very positive and we feel safe sharing with you
that things just keep improving with the boys!
Baby B-the recipient baby, who you should remember was the
most sick, has made miraculously quick improvements! We knew that doctors were
hopeful that in 4-8 weeks after the surgery we would likely see improvements
with decreased fluids and healing of his heart but that progress came much
quicker than expected! As of our
weekly scan on Thursday, January 3 (our 4th wedding anniversary!)
the fluid around his heart and in his abdomen is no longer visible!! It’s gone!!! The most shocking news for
us was hearing the fetal cardiologist say that his heart is no longer
leaking!!! His heart is still
enlarged due to the stress that has been put on it. As long as we can avoid preterm labor doctors are
confident this will also improve. Please continue to pray for complete healing
of his heart. As for Baby A-the
donor baby-the word is he looks completely normal and we even got to see hair growing
on his little head in a recent ultrasound. With every ultrasound, even the day of the surgery, the boys
are extremely active to the point that it is common to hear doctors and staff
say “you are going to have your hands full with these two!” The boys are even growing at a much more even rate now. It is very rare for there to be a reversal of TTTS after surgery but of course it is a possibility so please don't stop praying now! We will praise God whether storms return, rage on, or clear up all together but we are so thankful for something to celebrate.
In other news we are now homeowners and settling into our
first home…no more apartment life for us! Poor Jonny can finally come home from work in the
evenings and relax at least a little thanks to the help from both my Mom,
Jonny’s parents, and our friends Erin & Brian, who have come at different
times to unpack and get us settled in. It's a big job that I have hated it sit by and watch happen without me but I'm doing my best to follow doctors orders. Hopefully before long we can start showing you photos of our new house
and scan in ultrasound pictures for you to see the grown of our little
guys. Obviously I’m not allowed to
be acting as photographer-boo but as Jonny’s schedule settles down you’ll start
to see more. Also, to answer the
most popular question lately, yes we are working on names so that you will know
them as more than A & B! We’ll let you know when we’ve made a final
decision.
As for my health, I have been battling bronchitis for almost
two weeks. You would think with all the “rest” I get that I would recover more
quickly but the truth is until a few days ago the miserable coughing was so bad
that I wasn’t able to sleep much at all.
I’ve been put on more medications and am catching up on sleep. I of course will remain on bedrest and will be
for the remainder of the pregnancy.
The rules are still-only up on my feet for trips to the bathroom, to eat
meals at the table, grab a snack, etc…and only one set of stairs per day-that’s
the hard one now that we live in a 2 story house! So far my greatest
accomplishment has been watching the first 2 seasons of Downton Abbey in time
for the start of season 3 last night. I’ve gotta celebrate the little
things-right!?
Each Thursday brings new scans from doctors-we will keep you
updated. Please continue to be in prayer for the improvement of Baby B’s heart,
for me to kick this respiratory infection, for Jonny as he takes on all the
worries of the world caring for us (meaning me, the boys, and our dog Tucker),
and for many weeks to come with NO preterm labor!
We can't thank you enough for the prayers, meals, cards, and even financial help! It is all so humbling and we will never be able to repay your kindness.
Blessings,
Katrina
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