A Short Update

     I don't have much to report today, but there are a few small updates from our two doctor's visits this week. Tuesday, we saw Dr. BK (the maternal-fetal specialist), and had another ultrasound. It's been four weeks since we had one, so I was missing seeing our little girl. I had almost forgotten that she had any kind of heart or brain abnormality. However, I was quickly reminded of that when they started the ultrasound. The good news is that everything is stable. The left side of the heart is still smaller, and the brain still has a fluid-filled cyst; but, nothing is getting worse. The ultrasound tech measured the ventricles in Breckin's brain and they are normal and not dilated. She said this was a good sign, because it means the cyst is not getting worse. 

     The tech then began doing measurements after she had checked her heart and brain. Breckin is measuring exactly where she should be. She is growing and developing right on track, and for this we are very thankful! However, I have too much amniotic fluid. I first thought, oh well this is good because too little is bad right? Well too much can be bad also. It puts me at a higher risk of pre-term labor causing early contractions or the amniotic sac could rupture which would also cause premature delivery of the baby. These are two things we definitely do not want to happen! So, I have been put on modified activity meaning no heavy housework, no long walks, and no big grocery trips! The nurse practitioner I saw also said this extra fluid could be a sign of gestational diabetes :(

     My visit today was with my regular OB and she did my glucose test. I won't know if I passed until sometime next week. I am really hoping I do not have gestational diabetes. I'd hate to have to give up my beloved sweets for three months! She also measured me today and my belly is measuring at 28 weeks instead of the 25 weeks that I am. She said this is due to all the extra fluid I have. This explains why I've been feeling so uncomfortable lately!

     I am grateful that Breckin is doing well and everything is stable with her. For all those prayer warriors out there, please continue to pray for continued healing and improvement in her little body. Also pray for me that the fluid will decrease to a normal level, and there will be no hint of any preterm labor. This week at Bible Study, I was reminded of this verse from Matthew: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt. 6:34) I have to remember this daily; to take each day at a time, and not worry about what the future holds.

Love,

Brooke

Nothing is Too Hard

     Yesterday was our appointment with our pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Joshi. We first had an ultrasound and the ultrasound tech took all types of measurements and pictures of Breckin's heart. Our baby girl was not cooperating, however, and moving all over the place! The US tech said she wins the award for most uncooperative baby. She had to fight Breckin for every picture and measurement. I know the lady was probably very frustrated, but I am just thankful that she is a little fighter. I'm praying that she will be that much of a fighter outside the womb as well. Dr. Joshi came in soon after, and asked for a few more measurements, and then sent us to a new room to discuss everything.
     The first thing he did was explain exactly what type of condition Breckin has. The technical term would be hypoplastic left heart syndrome, but her heart isn't exactly like a typical hypoplastic left heart. In typical HLHS, the left ventricle is much smaller than the right, and there is usually hardly any blood flow from the left side to the aorta. Also, the mitral and aortic valves are usually stenotic (closed), and aren't working properly. In Breckin's heart, she does have a much smaller ventricle, but her heart is still able to pump blood from the left side into the aorta. Her aortic blood flow is good, and her valves are open and working; they are just small. Dr. Joshi said everything on the left side is about 50% smaller than it should be which means it's doing about 50% of the work.
     She will still need surgical treatment, but depending on how well she tolerates her decreased blood flow after birth, will depend on the urgency of the treatments. Once she is born, she will be taken to LeBonheur Hospital here in Memphis and evaluated for how well her heart is working. If she's tolerating the decreased flow on her left side, she may just need to be observed for awhile. However, she will eventually start a three-step surgery. The first surgery, the Norwood procedure, usually occurs within the first few days of life, the second, the Glenn procedure, at four months old, and the third, the Fontan procedure, at four years old. Medicine has come a long way since these surgeries were first performed. The first Norwood was done in the 1980s, with a small success rate. Now, the success rate is much higher, and LeBonheur has one of the highest success rates in the country!
     I asked a bunch of questions, and my last few pertained to the actual technicalities of the delivery, and how her Dandy-Walker would complicate things. I will deliver by C-section at Methodist Germantown, and then a few hours later, Breckin will be transported to Lebonheur Hospital. After they evaluate everything, including her brain, they will then come up with a treatment plan. Dr. Joshi said as long as she does not have hydrocephalus or seizures, the cardio team will proceed with treating the heart. As of now, her Dandy-Walker has remained stable and has not progressed to hydrocephalus. Please pray that it continues to stabilize or even shrink!
     Dr. Joshi seemed very positive and hopeful about everything, and I felt blessed after our appointment. I am so thankful that Breckin's heart is not as severe as it could be, that we live so close to one of the best hospitals for HLHS treatment, that our cardiologist is a caring, Christian man, and that Breckin is already a little fighter! God led me to this verse this week in my quiet time: "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17. Later on in this same chapter, God says, "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" (verse 26). This is definitely a verse I will be turning to in the coming months. When things get hard, I need to remember that nothing is too hard for God. If he can create the heavens and the earth with his hands, he can certainly heal Breckin's heart through whatever means he chooses, and he can bring her and us through the difficult surgeries.

Love,
Brooke
 

And of course, it wouldn't be a blog post without a new picture of Breckin :) This gives you an idea of the crazy position she was in when they were trying to look at her heart!

   
   

Continuing to Trust

     After posting my first blog entry the other day, I was so overwhelmed with the responses. So many friends and acquaintances reached out to me with a kind, encouraging word and just to say they are praying for us. Have I said before how blessed I am to have such wonderful people surrounding me during this time? Anyways, that evening with so much emotion going through my brain plus all the pregnancy hormones going through my body, I just broke down in tears with Josh. The great husband that he is, he listened and prayed with me. During his prayer, these words kept going through my head: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." The rest of this verse from Proverbs goes on to say, "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6). One of the benefits of staying in God's word is being reminded of these truths at just the time you need it. This was one of those times! I am definitely trusting in the Lord through  everything we are going through, but sometimes it's nice when the Holy Spirit reminds me to do so :)

     This brings me to the update on Breckin from our doctor's visit today. One of the benefits of having a baby with some type of issue is that I get to see her all the time! She was a little mover today and sitting her cute little booty right on my bladder (this explains the need to pee constantly!). The fluid in her brain measured the same which means it hasn't gotten worse. The left side of her heart which is the side that isn't working as well has some blood flow going through it which the nurse says is great! Apparently a lot of babies with HLHS have no blood flow going through that left side. She has no swelling around the heart or in the belly which would be a sign of her heart having to work too hard. Also, she has great blood flow going through her aorta. The nurse said this was great and that she was actually impressed by how great the blood flow is. I just looked at Josh and smiled because I wasn't surprised. I serve an Almighty God who created Breckin and allowed her to have an impressive blood flow! Josh and I were very pleased with this report and the doctor seemed pleased as well. Next week is the appointment with the pediatric cardiologist where we will know more about her heart. I am so excited to see what God is going to continue to unfold in His plan with our sweet baby girl!

Love,
Brooke

Here's another picture of Breckin. We think she looks just like Harper here

Just the Beginning

      I am by no means a writer or believe to possess any sort of wisdom, but here goes my attempt at blogging to the world. Truthfully I know that this blog will probably only be read by friends and family, but I want to get our story out there because I don't want anyone to miss what God is doing in our lives.
      My name is Brooke and I am married to Josh. We have a two and a half-year-old daughter, Harper, who is beautiful, energetic, creative, loving, and happy. I am 20 weeks pregnant with our second daughter, Breckin Elizabeth. Two weeks ago, we were all in the ultrasound room at my OB's office to find out that she was an active little girl! It wasn't until an hour later, talking to my doctor, that we learned there were some abnormalities found. With a very concerned tone, my doctor told us we were going to be seeing a maternal-fetal specialist the same week to have a more detailed ultrasound.
     Thankfully, the doctor was able to get us in the next morning. We had the longest, most detailed ultrasound and once every inch of our daughter was examined, we met with the doctor. He told us that our daughter did in fact have two major abnormalities: one is called Dandy-Walker malformation in the brain, and the other is called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. As soon as he said the last one, my heart sunk, and the tears began. Being a physician assistant, I know a little about HLHS, and knew it is one of the most serious congenital heart conditions. I then went down the hall to get an amniocentesis to check for any type of chromosomal or genetic abnormality that could have caused these problems. (We later found out that everything was normal with the amnio! Praise God that there are no further complications!)
    That evening, a thousand questions and thoughts went through my head. All the ideas and dreams I had of this pregnancy being normal and uneventful, and of our baby being normal and healthy, were shattered. All evening I struggled with my emotions and couldn't seem to stop the tears. I couldn't even enjoy being around Harper because I was so sad for her baby sister. I was so overwhelmed with my thoughts and all the information we had received that day. I just kept thinking, "Why does God think I have the strength to go through something like this?"
     Once I had somewhat digested our news, I started to tell our friends and family, and informed all the girls in my bible study. I wanted as many people as I knew to start praying for us and Breckin. After I spent a few hours worrying and freaking out, I began to feel the power of everyone's prayers. God filled me with a peace and a strength that only He can give. I am so blessed to have such encouraging, faithful, prayer warriors in my life. The next morning, I spent some much needed time with my Savior and he led me to this verse: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.
What amazing reassurance, that God will strengthen me, help me, and uphold me! I know that no matter what happens, God is going to give me the strength to get through each day.
   There's so much more that I am wanting to write, but so as not to make this blog post a mile long, I'll continue on other posts. I will try to post as much as I can especially when I have any new updates to give family and friends. We are so thankful for what God has already done in the life of our sweet Breckin, who is active, growing, and continuing to develop. Please continue your prayers as they are so powerful, and much appreciated!

Love,
Brooke

Breckin says, "Hi!"