It's Getting Bigger!!!!!

My belly has officially popped out!!!! Eli looks at it all the time and says it going to pop. : ) That's exactly how I feel.

Beautiful Baby Pictures

I don't know this baby, but I know the sweet person that knits these hats. The hats are absolutely beautiful!!! I can't wait to get one for Baby Chase!!!! I LOVE these pictures...I think they are so precious!!

www.waldorfmama.com

Sleeping

Eli was VERY tired and fell asleep in the chair. He woke up for a minute and I said let's go get in bed. As he was getting out of the chair to go in the bedroom, he fell asleep again. It was so funny to watch him sleep standing up! : )

Another Dr Visit

I had two more Dr appointments yesterday, one with a perinatologist and one with my ob. I am happy to report that both went very well. We went to the perinatologist for another detailed sonogram to look at Chase's overall development. Except for the heart issues, he said that Chase looks very strong and healthy. His develpment is on track. He also looked at the heart and thought that the blood flow in and out of the questionable ventricle looked very good. In his opinion, if that continued, it should be strong enough and big enough to use. Yeah!!!! I know that he is not the decision maker, but it was good to hear someone say that. We just need it to be growing and getting good blood flow.

My ob visit was very standard. No new information. He said all was looking very good and Chase is growing well. We are still looking at the week of September 8th for delivery.

Thankfully, we don't have another Dr appointment of any kind for 2 weeks!!! It's so funny...when I was pregnant with Elijah, it seemed like all my friends were having multiple sonograms and I had one. I always wished I had more. Now that I've had too many to count, I would be happy if I never had another sonogram!!! ; ) Funny how that works!

Thanks to everyone that has been praying for us. Please continue. Especially pray for the right ventricle to GROW.

God is good.
God is in control.
God is THE great physician.
God is soverign.
God is love
God is peace.

My Eli!

Night at a Hotel

Even though the conference was just in Irving, we stayed at the DFW Westin (conference hotel) on Saturday night....mainly b/c we would have spent the same on gas driving back and forth, but also because we LOVE staying in hotels when it is for fun (not business). Eli loves hotels too. As expected, we all had a great time! There is just something so relaxing about staying in a hotel. I sat on the bed and watched a movie without feeling guilty or feeling like I should get up and do some laundry or pick up toys or wash dishes or any other housework that is never ending.

Eli was super tired on Saturday night, but managed to go swimming with Hunter at 9:00pm. He was so excited to be in a hotel....I don't think he went to bed until 11:00!

Instrument Petting Zoo

This past weekend, we attended the La Leche League of Texas Annual Conference which was held in Irving. We had a wonderful time. It was so nice and encouraging to attend a conference full of people that parent in a similar way. I enjoyed attending several sessions on Saturday and Sunday about attachment parenting, breastfeeding, organization, play time, etc. While I was attending those sessions, Hunter took Eli to the sessions for children. He especially enjoyed the Instrument Petting Zoo where he got to play the cello. It was actually a violin, but in Eli's world, everything is a cello. : ) He loves instruments, especially the cello!

Dr Visit Update

Well, today was a big day. We had another appointment at Children's. The tour of the CVICU was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. It made things seem more real, but I wasn't in tears the entire time like I thought I would be. It was so peaceful and the nurses and staff seemed so caring that it made for a very good experience. It's SO overwhelming knowing that Chase will be there in 8 short weeks, but it was a good experience.

The visit with the Cardiologist went well. Chase's heart is continuing to grow, but they did not see any significant changes. The right ventricle (which we found out today is VERY critical), is still growing, but is much smaller than the left. They are still optimistic about the ability to use it, but no decisions can be made until birth. I LOVE our Cardiologist!!!

The visit with the surgeon was a bit overwhelming to say the least. He is an extremely intelligent man and very honest. He told us again that Chase's condition is VERY complex and on a scale of 1 to 10, it's about a 8 1/2 or 9. One thing that he did inform us of was the VERY critical nature of the ability to use the right ventricle. If the right ventricle is too small and requires bypassing, Baby Chase's chances for survival beyond 2 or 3 years are about 30%. That was VERY hard to hear!!!! PLEASE, PLEASE PRAY FOR THE RIGHT VENTRICLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW!!!!!!! We will know a couple of hours after birth whether or not it is usable.

Thank you for all the prayers. I felt so peaceful the entire day...not one tear if you can believe that!!! I just know that regardless of what happens that God is in complete control. Of course, I'm praying for the best possible outcome, but am at peace with everything right now. I know that it would not be possible without prayers from so many and for that I am so thankful. We have less than 8 weeks until delivery....C-section will likely happen on September 10....please pray for the right ventricle - it is SO important for his survival....his chances go from 30% to 80% if we can use the ventricle.

Thank you again!!!!

Prayer, Please

Tomorrow is our 2nd appt with the Cardiologist and the appointment with the surgeon. Please pray that Baby Chase's heart looks stronger, better and that his right ventricle has grown so that it can be used (three chambers will work, but four is better!). Also, please pray for Hunter and I as we tour the Cardiac ICU. I know it will be hard to see, especially knowing that my sweet Baby Chase will be there in 8 short weeks! Thank you so much for your prayers...I'll provide an update tomorrow.

Playing Outside

Motorcycles

A new thing that Eli is fascinated with....Motorcycles!

Tractor Mowers & Other Lawn Equipment

Anyone that has spoken to Eli at least once knows that he is completely obsessed with "tractor mowers" (anything that may resemble a riding lawn mower) and any other lawn equipment. While in Arkansas, his obsession continued, but this time he actually got to sit on a couple of "tractor mowers" (besides the ones in Lowe's or Home Depot).

Happy 1st Birthday, Madison!!

Madison celebrated her 1st Birthday on July 11 (Madison's Daddy and Hunter are cousins). We went to Arkansas last week to visit and help celebrate her birthday. Unfortunately, I didn't get many good pictures during the birthday party, but did get a couple of the cake and Madison eating it.

Painting Pottery

While visiting family in Arkansas, we went to paint pottery in Little Rock. It was so much fun...Eli loved it!

Our finished products
Dalaina and Madison
Jason, Dalaina and Madison's finished product - while they were making their plate, Eli touched the side with paint on his hand!!! I just about died!!! Thankfully, Dalaina was VERY understanding about it and just turned his half hand print into a design. : )

Just Like Mommy

Eli was pretending to be talking on the phone in the car last week. I love listening to his little conversations and trying to figure out who he's pretending to talk to!

Wonderful Dr Visit

We had our appointment today with Dr. Wells, our new Ob. He was WONDERFUL!!!!!!!! He was exactly the Dr that we have been praying for. He was so compassionate and seems very capable. He was very honest about the differences between delivery at Presby or Baylor and delivery at Parkland, but he said that they would do everything possible to make it the best experience for me. I couldn't be happier!!!

We also had a sonogram and Baby Chase is continuing to grow. He weighs about 2 lbs 9 oz. He's gained almost a full pound in 2 1/2 weeks! The Dr said his growth and development look great. He didn't look extensively at his heart, but Hunter and I both thought it looked different than in the past. It's probably just growing more, but I'm looking forward to our next visit with the cardiologist. I wonder if she is going to think that it is growing stronger or looks different???? I keep praying for that!! The Dr switched the sono machine to 3-D a couple of times and we got to see Chase's face. It was so sweet. Hunter and I were so surprised to see how much he looks like Eli! I LOVED seeing the pictures. His nose and lips are definitely like Eli's. I was just amazed by the whole sonogram. It is truly a miracle!!!!! Despite all Chase's health issues, we feel so blessed to have him and to be his parents. God has truly blessed us.....again!!! : )

Dr Appt

We have an appointment tomorrow with the Dr that will hopefully be our new OB. He is at Presby Plano, but also delivers at Parkland. We have a sonogram and consultation with him. I'm praying that this will be a better experience. I'll give an update tomorrow. I'm anxious to see Baby Chase on the sonogram. I pray his heart looks better and that maybe, just maybe we can see his beautiful, healthy spleen! ; ) Doesn't that sound so funny! : )

More tomorrow.....