Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Today's Appointment
Deann had her appointment today in Columbia. The baby looked good and the cyst has not grown any. The doctor checked to see if Deann is dilated and she is dilated a little but not nearly enough to warrant keeping her. He wants her to come back next week and then he will schedule an induction for Monday April 13th. (if she makes it that long) Until then, we'll keep our bags packed and be ready to make a trip down to Columbia if she starts having regular contractions.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Different Pictures
Kaitlyn and Ryan enjoyed the cool whip bowl together.
Ryan with his new cast.
Ryan discovered the box and then the girls fixed it to fit him just right.
Ryan LOVES horses! He got this one from PaPa and Granny (Steptoe).There are a lot more picutures of our family on Rachel's blog. She and Michele were here for a week visit after Andy and Rosana's wedding. You can check out those pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/rachelleighgreene
As of Today (March 30)
The last post I did, didn't complete correctly so I was waiting to redo it and then post again. About a week later, so much has happened that I had to just post that one as is and do a new post.
The biggest event of the week is Ryan fractured his leg. It's his lower left leg and is so common among toddlers that they call it a "toddler's fracture". David and I had been hanging pictures in his and the girls' room and the girls were down in the basement playing. Ryan had been up with us but decided to join the girls. He goes up and down the stairs well enough, but this time he had on a pair of rubber boots. I heard a noise and then Kaitlyn came running to let us know Ryan fell down the stairs. He didn't tumble down the stairs, but rather fell off the side. He wasn't very high up, but it was such a fall or twist that was enough to fracture his bone. He's doing well, though he can't (or won't at this point) walk on it. We carry him everywhere but he mainly sits in the middle of the living room floor with toys all around him. Right now he's trying to get to another point of the floor so he army crawled there. I think he enjoys all the attention he's getting. Needless to say, I'm not getting much done around the house.
Our appointment is tomorrow in Columbia. During the last post, I'd been having a lot of contractions but after a few days, things slowed down and are back to normal. We're very curious what the Lord has in store! Technically, she could be born anytime from this week to three weeks from now. We still desire your prayers concerning the cyst, as well as the labor and delivery.
We should be able to have internet access whenever she's born and be able to keep everyone posted.
The biggest event of the week is Ryan fractured his leg. It's his lower left leg and is so common among toddlers that they call it a "toddler's fracture". David and I had been hanging pictures in his and the girls' room and the girls were down in the basement playing. Ryan had been up with us but decided to join the girls. He goes up and down the stairs well enough, but this time he had on a pair of rubber boots. I heard a noise and then Kaitlyn came running to let us know Ryan fell down the stairs. He didn't tumble down the stairs, but rather fell off the side. He wasn't very high up, but it was such a fall or twist that was enough to fracture his bone. He's doing well, though he can't (or won't at this point) walk on it. We carry him everywhere but he mainly sits in the middle of the living room floor with toys all around him. Right now he's trying to get to another point of the floor so he army crawled there. I think he enjoys all the attention he's getting. Needless to say, I'm not getting much done around the house.
Our appointment is tomorrow in Columbia. During the last post, I'd been having a lot of contractions but after a few days, things slowed down and are back to normal. We're very curious what the Lord has in store! Technically, she could be born anytime from this week to three weeks from now. We still desire your prayers concerning the cyst, as well as the labor and delivery.
We should be able to have internet access whenever she's born and be able to keep everyone posted.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Approaching 36 Weeks
We had a doctor's appointment on March 12, which was also Ryan's birthday. Baby Allison looked well... she's growing and the cyst continues to stay the same size. Our next appointment is March 31 and I will be one day shy of 37 weeks.
After the appointment, this time we took the whole family, including Grandpa Kelly, we went to Burger King for supper and to let the kids play on their big play place. Ryan really enjoyed going through all the tunnels (as well as Daddy and Amanda who took turns escorting him). After Burger King, we went to Bass Pro Shop so Ryan could see all the fish and animals. He did enjoy the sights and the rest of us enjoyed the "window" shopping. I thought the coolest part of the whole store was the bathroom! :) Seriously!! Then, on our way home, Grandpa treated us to ice cream. Yum! It was a fun day!
Since the appointment went well, I was able to help out at Andy and Rosana's wedding. The Lord helped tremendously! I was mostly on my feet from 9 am until about 6 pm and didn't have any contractions. What a blessing and privilege it was to be at their wedding!
Now, I have been having a lot of contractions and signs of pre-term labor and am wondering how long it will be before we have to rush to the hospital.
After the appointment, this time we took the whole family, including Grandpa Kelly, we went to Burger King for supper and to let the kids play on their big play place. Ryan really enjoyed going through all the tunnels (as well as Daddy and Amanda who took turns escorting him). After Burger King, we went to Bass Pro Shop so Ryan could see all the fish and animals. He did enjoy the sights and the rest of us enjoyed the "window" shopping. I thought the coolest part of the whole store was the bathroom! :) Seriously!! Then, on our way home, Grandpa treated us to ice cream. Yum! It was a fun day!
Since the appointment went well, I was able to help out at Andy and Rosana's wedding. The Lord helped tremendously! I was mostly on my feet from 9 am until about 6 pm and didn't have any contractions. What a blessing and privilege it was to be at their wedding!
Now, I have been having a lot of contractions and signs of pre-term labor and am wondering how long it will be before we have to rush to the hospital.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
32 Weeks
After not seeing the doctor for three weeks, David and I met with the pediatric surgeon and then the OB doctor last Thursday. The surgeon was very upbeat about the whole thing. From his experience, either the cyst will go away on its own within the first year, or they'll have to do surgery at about 6 months to a year of Allison's age. If she does require surgery and they can wait that long, it will only require 3 small holes in the left side of her chest.
Afterward we met with the OB doctor to check on Allison. She's growing well and the cyst isn't growing; it actually measured a bit smaller than last time. We're praising God for His kindness!
Once we were done with that appointment, we headed up the elevator to see our new little nephew, Daniel. He was born at 35 weeks but has had no problems breathing, just slow going on nursing. He is absolutely adorable! For those of you who know Robert and Melissa, they have a link with pictures at http://randmelectric.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/
Afterward we met with the OB doctor to check on Allison. She's growing well and the cyst isn't growing; it actually measured a bit smaller than last time. We're praising God for His kindness!
Once we were done with that appointment, we headed up the elevator to see our new little nephew, Daniel. He was born at 35 weeks but has had no problems breathing, just slow going on nursing. He is absolutely adorable! For those of you who know Robert and Melissa, they have a link with pictures at http://randmelectric.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
31 Weeks
Well, I'm obviously not as diligent about keeping this up as I used to be, but I did want to share the news from my last appointment and what's been going on since.
David and I went to the doctor on the 30th of last month and they had discovered that the cyst had grown a little bit. Because she had grown as well, it still is not causing any harm. She appears to be doing well physically. The doctor did want us to set up a consult with the pediatric surgeon there in Columbia so if he did have to do surgery, we'd be familiar with him. That appointment is next Thursday.
Since that appointment, I had started having some contractions, pretty regularly and since I was in the hospital while pregnant with Ryan due to pre-term contractions, I thought I should go ahead and call the doctor. We made a trip to Columbia that day (Feb 4) and thankfully my body showed no signs of progressing into labor, though Allison's head was very low. The doctor did want to start seeing me weekly though. The next day I felt great but then the contractions picked up again. On Sunday, one of our elders gave a message titled "All things are possible with God". It was such an encouragement!! (if you'd like to hear it, you can click on our favorite links on the left titled "Lake Road Sermons") That night, while having contractions 3 minutes apart, I remembered the message "Is anything too difficult for Me?"; God, who made the heavens and the earth by His great power and by His outstretched arm... God who is over all flesh... (Jeremiah 32:17,27) NO! So, I asked God to take the contractions away. God, my Father, in His great kindness answered and since that night, I have had no regular contractions, only occassional ones that is normal at this point in the pregnancy, even after being on my feet for over 5 hours straight one day and then being up most of that night with a sick child (all things that would easily set me off before). Oh what a privilege to be His child!!
I had to cancel my weekly appointment for last week due to a sick child again and David was gone to a Bible conference in Bentley LA (another thing that wouldn't have worked out if I had continued to have contractions). Then, this week, the doctor is out, so I won't be seeing him again until next Thursday, the 26th. It's been wonderful just resting in His arms knowing that it's not the doctor, ultimately, that's taking care of me and baby Allison, but it's my heavenly Father.
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon thee,
As thy beauty fills my soul,
For by thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of thy loving heart.
O how great thy lovingkindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O how marvelous thy goodness
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is thine,
Know thy certainty of promise
And have made it mine.
Simply trusting thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold thee as thou art,
And thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed.
Ever lift thy face upon me
As I work and wait for thee;
Resting 'neath thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with thy grace.
David and I went to the doctor on the 30th of last month and they had discovered that the cyst had grown a little bit. Because she had grown as well, it still is not causing any harm. She appears to be doing well physically. The doctor did want us to set up a consult with the pediatric surgeon there in Columbia so if he did have to do surgery, we'd be familiar with him. That appointment is next Thursday.
Since that appointment, I had started having some contractions, pretty regularly and since I was in the hospital while pregnant with Ryan due to pre-term contractions, I thought I should go ahead and call the doctor. We made a trip to Columbia that day (Feb 4) and thankfully my body showed no signs of progressing into labor, though Allison's head was very low. The doctor did want to start seeing me weekly though. The next day I felt great but then the contractions picked up again. On Sunday, one of our elders gave a message titled "All things are possible with God". It was such an encouragement!! (if you'd like to hear it, you can click on our favorite links on the left titled "Lake Road Sermons") That night, while having contractions 3 minutes apart, I remembered the message "Is anything too difficult for Me?"; God, who made the heavens and the earth by His great power and by His outstretched arm... God who is over all flesh... (Jeremiah 32:17,27) NO! So, I asked God to take the contractions away. God, my Father, in His great kindness answered and since that night, I have had no regular contractions, only occassional ones that is normal at this point in the pregnancy, even after being on my feet for over 5 hours straight one day and then being up most of that night with a sick child (all things that would easily set me off before). Oh what a privilege to be His child!!
I had to cancel my weekly appointment for last week due to a sick child again and David was gone to a Bible conference in Bentley LA (another thing that wouldn't have worked out if I had continued to have contractions). Then, this week, the doctor is out, so I won't be seeing him again until next Thursday, the 26th. It's been wonderful just resting in His arms knowing that it's not the doctor, ultimately, that's taking care of me and baby Allison, but it's my heavenly Father.
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon thee,
As thy beauty fills my soul,
For by thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of thy loving heart.
O how great thy lovingkindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O how marvelous thy goodness
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is thine,
Know thy certainty of promise
And have made it mine.
Simply trusting thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold thee as thou art,
And thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed.
Ever lift thy face upon me
As I work and wait for thee;
Resting 'neath thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with thy grace.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Update from last appointment
Well, we're slow in getting this out, but we wanted to let everyone know how our appointment on our last visit went. Baby Allison was fine; nothing has seemed to change. The doctor looked for quite a while at her; later he said he was looking closely at her lung tissue. It seems the cyst is taking up 1/3 to 1/2 of her left lung tissue. We won't know until she's born how she'll do, but given the circumstances and my tendancy to have quick labors, he wanted to go ahead and set up an induction date to assure the baby will be born in Columbia where there are doctors and clinics that are better equiped for treating baby's with health conditions. After explaining my history 0f going into labor early, with the last two, he decided to just take it one week at a time as the due date approaches and then set up an induction date then. We have another appointment/ultrasound this Friday.
At home things have been pretty crazy. We decided to do some room shuffling, giving the three kids our very large room, Allison the girls' old room, and we took the smallest room in the middle. Because of this we needed some new furniture and the Lord was very kind to provide! It has been very fun and exciting for all of us to have new rooms, though we still have a little bit to go before we're completely settled. Until then, our house has been a mess!
This song was requested at our church when we first learned about Allison's condition and we sang it again today. It is so good! I hope it will be an encouragement for you as well!
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
William Cowper
At home things have been pretty crazy. We decided to do some room shuffling, giving the three kids our very large room, Allison the girls' old room, and we took the smallest room in the middle. Because of this we needed some new furniture and the Lord was very kind to provide! It has been very fun and exciting for all of us to have new rooms, though we still have a little bit to go before we're completely settled. Until then, our house has been a mess!
This song was requested at our church when we first learned about Allison's condition and we sang it again today. It is so good! I hope it will be an encouragement for you as well!
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
William Cowper
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