34 weeks, 4 days and still chugging along

This past weekend was another switch & visitor weekend.  Switch weekends and visitors coming always make the time go faster.  It was sad to see the boys go home but they will be back out this weekend so I don't have to do the two week stretch again.  Peyton & Myles are really excited about coming back out on an airplane.  They are becoming quite the travelers and know how to navigate airline security with the best of them.  Jeff is doing a quick turnaround and flying back home Sunday.  He's traveling with the Hope basketball team to Wisconsin in a week and half and then coming out here afterwards until the baby is born.  I'm hoping for a happy husband with two wins in Wisconsin, Go HOPE!

My Aunt Peggy and cousin Linsey came to visit this weekend.  They helped my mom drive out and my mom said it was the fastest 12 hours in the car.  They even missed a highway in Philadelphia due to either talking or my mom crocheting and not navigating.  Either way, it was fun to have Peggy & Linsey here.  A special shout out to Peggy, this is her second time visiting me in my second home!  This time we were able to get out and about.  The first time she visited me I was only 1.5 weeks out of surgery and not very mobile.  My mom and I had been itching to visit Chestnut Hill so we thought this would be the perfect time with our visitors.  Chestnut Hill is a cute little corner in the north part of Philly.  It has lots of different shops and fun taverns.  The mainstreet is cobblestone like much of Philadelphia along with still operating street cars.  Very cute town, very New England.

Sunday we had breakfast at Ronald McDonald House and then headed to IKEA.  Yes, this was my third time visiting IKEA but the first time going to the IKEA in Conshohocken.  This lovely city has two IKEAS!  Also, when you have lots of time and a wheelchair, IKEA is the perfect place to slowly browse and have a cheap lunch.  And in keeping with the Choosing Joy theme, IKEA and its organizing also makes me feel Joyful as I love organizing!  We attempted to show Peg & Linsey Fabric Row but it was closed on Sunday.  Since we were in the South Philly area we hit up Pat & Genos.  Actually, we just had Geno's and then headed to Cafe Crema for cannolis.  Marc Damstra, every time I have a Philly cheesesteak, I think about how I could ship you one without it getting soggy.  I have yet to come up with a way, let me know if think of a clever shipping method!  I told Julie she should take one home on the plane to you.  After our dinner Peg & Linsey had to head back to the mitten state.  Its always hard when visitors leave but at least now I can say, see you in a few weeks!  Thanks for visiting me Peg & Linsey, it warms my heart to have such a supportive family.  Love you gals.

In keeping with our Choosing Joy theme, I need to show some love to the Ronald McDonald House.  There are families here who are dealing with some extremely scary situations for their children.  There are kids here who are enduring chemotherapy & radiation on a daily basis.  There are children with half of hearts, parents of children born at 26 weeks, the list goes on.  You would think it is a depressing place and yet I have never met a more positive and encouraging group of people.  Everyone is so open and encouraging to each and every situation.  Its like having your own personal cheering section.  I wish all parenting situations, athletic events, or just life in general would be such a positive and supportive place.  With that being said, our local Ronald McDonald is having a fundraiser and selling socks for $5 through November 22, you can read about the local fundraiser here.  If you need some stocking stuffers this year please consider the stripe socks and if you take a picture make sure to use the hashtag #GetYourSocksOn.  Six months ago Jeff and I would have never thought we would be needing the services of the Ronald McDonald House.  My how things can change in a short amount of time.  The Ronald McDonald House will always have a special place in our hearts and we look forward to getting involved with our local RMH in the near future.

34 weeks

We've made it farther than than 50% of the moms who have Fetal Surgery!  Woo hoo, I've been a little competitive about making it to the 34 week mark.  I've been considering my rehab from Fetal Surgery as a race and I need to beat at least half of the moms.  I really want to make it to 37 weeks as only 30% of the moms make it to their scheduled c - section but I am so anxious to be back home. This weeks appointment included my final two consults before delivery, lactation and the director of the Neonatal Unit.  The lactation consultant told me my jobs after birth are to rest, eat and nurse.  She gave me a list of jobs for Jeff, see below.  Ten steps for working a hospital grade breast pump.  Lets hope he can figure it out!

Things are looking good, I've been instructed to start chugging water as my amniotic fluid levels are on the low side of normal.  If my levels get too low I'll probably be admitted and given an IV.  I really don't want to hang out in the hospital for the next 2.5 weeks so I'll be chugging water like its my job.  Plus Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I'm guessing the Ronald McDonald House does it up right.

My consult with the Neonatal Director went over all of the tests that will be done on our baby before discharge.  If the baby is stable post-op I will be able to try nursing in the OR.  If not the baby gets shipped down to the NICU on the second floor.  Since we are at a Children's Hospital there isn't a nursery for healthy babies and this is one of the only Children's Hospital that has a delivery unit for mothers.  At least we will be in the same hospital, just four floors apart.  The NICU will be doing daily ultrasounds on the bladder, kidneys & brain.  The baby will have an MRI, a consult with Orthopedics, Neuro, Urology & Physical Therapy.  I've heard that CHOP is very cautious to discharge so if we make it to 37 weeks we are anticipating a 5-7 day stay afterwards if everything goes well.  If the baby has any apnea or bradychardia events then we will be here longer (lets hope that doesn't happen!)

Hope everyone in Michigan is surviving the wind storm.  I'm guessing a few of our sandbox toys are now in our neighbors yard along with a few shingles.

Choosing Joy from Philly,
Shawna