Friday, October 31, 2008

Worries

I'm worried sick about my mom. I am hoping and praying with every fiber of my being that the chemo is working. She will have a scan in a few weeks and I will be a nervous wreck waiting for the results.

I wish I could focus more on the baby coming, but honestly her health weighs heavily on my mind.

I just wish a cure could be found so people do not have to suffer from this horrible disease.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

another update on my mom

As per her Radiologist the chest scan looked good. I am not sure what that means, but if there was any new growth I would assume it would come back "looking bad".

My mom had another blood test done, she is still anemic with the shots she had, she'll have to get another test before her next chemo which is slated to start the weekend following this one. I just hope they can get her white blood cells regulated so she does not end up feeling so tired and crappy.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

update on my mom

Well my mom is hanging in there, she just had her 2nd round of chemo the weekend before this last one. She becomes anemic from the chemo and had to have 7 days following the chemo of a white blood cell booster shots.

She was very tired and weak, not eating as much as she should and drinking enough fluids. She had to get an iv bag of fluids on Friday after I left work early on Thursday to take her in to get her shot and she was really not feeling well.

I'm glad to say she is feeling better now that she had her booster shots. I asked the nurse to get her oncologist to see her on Thursday because I was worried about her. The Dr. ordered her to have some labs (blood work) done, the iv for the next day and a chest x-ray for the next day. We are waiting for the results back still.

I just am praying with all that I have that the chemo is working at shrinking the tumors down and slowing any potential re-growth.

28 weeks - start of 3rd trimester!



Here is a new picture taken tonight

















According to Babycenter.com:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

27 week belly shots



































According to Babycenter.com:

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Fan use linked to lower risk of sudden baby death

Fan use linked to lower risk of sudden baby death

By CARLA K. JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 19 minutes ago


CHICAGO - Using a fan to circulate air seemed to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in a study of nearly 500 babies, researchers reported Monday.

Placing babies on their backs to sleep is the best advice for preventing SIDS, a still mysterious cause of death. Experts also recommend a firm mattress, removing toys and pillows from cribs, and keeping infants from getting too warm.
Such practices helped slash U.S. SIDS deaths by more than half over a decade to about 2,100 in 2003. But SIDS remains the leading cause of death in infants ages 1 month to 1 year.
"The baby's sleeping environment really matters," said study senior author Dr. De-Kun Li of the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif. "This seems to suggest that by improving room ventilation we can further reduce risk."
SIDS is the sudden death of an otherwise healthy infant that can't be attributed to any other cause. These babies may have brain abnormalities that prevent them from gasping and waking when they don't get enough oxygen.
The new study, published in October's Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, offers another way to make sure babies get enough air.
More research is needed, said Dr. Fern Hauck of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, but she said that because fan use is in line with theories, it may be worth considering.
"This is the first study that we know of that has looked at this issue," said Hauck, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics SIDS task force.
Researchers interviewed mothers of 185 infants who died from SIDS and mothers of 312 infants of similar race and age. Moms answered dozens of questions about their baby's sleeping environment.
Researchers took into account other risk factors and found that fan use was associated with a 72 percent lower risk of SIDS. Only 3 percent of the babies who died had a fan on in the room during their last sleep, the mothers reported. That compared to 12 percent of the babies who lived.
Using a fan reduced risk most for babies in poor sleeping environments.
The study involved infants in 11 California counties. It was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.
___
On the Net:
Archives: http://www.archpediatrics.com

Interesting article, I will use a fan to do one more thing I can to prevent SIDS. I am also going to get a breathable bumper and use it instead of the one that comes with our bedding set.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

24 week photo

Sorry I have slacked off on taking a weekly photo, but I am re-committed to keeping it up for the remainder of the pregnancy so I can enjoy them later.

I keep getting told I am looking bigger and bigger, I even got "You look like you have a mini basketball".

I am soaking it all up and enjoying it. I have been loving the kicking I can feel. D saw a kick from the outside the other day, it looked like a ripple of my belly, not a huge movement like I've heard about.

RCIA

My Mom and I are converting to the Roman Catholic religion. D is already Catholic and we are going to raise baby B Catholic too. We have classes every Wednesday night from 7:30-9 from about 3 weeks ago until mid May of next year.

So far the classes have been very uplifting for both of us. The people in the class are very warm and welcoming. My Mom and I's sponsers are both very nice people.

Feeling blue

I have been a wreak this week, I have woken up every night with bad thoughts popping into my mind. I lay awake and try to convince myself to calm down and go back to bed. I had to take an anti anxiety pill one night to settle down. I hope that this does not hurt the baby - all the stress I am enduring now. I can only pray that this will not harm his development.

I had my Mom over for dinner last night and made a huge dinner so she could take home at least hald the leftovers. I know she has not been cooking as much as she used to with energy lacking. I made a yummy Shepard's Pie, which is a wonderful comfort food for my Mom and I.