frustration

So many thoughts whirling in my head... where to start?

Doesn't matter, I'll type in circles anyway!!!

We've seen a total of 4 specialists... and now have 3 different theories. Yest (10/22) I had an amniocentesis done to check for chromosomal abnormalities (Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13 etc..). Then they used another needle and withdrew FORTY-FIVE mls of pee from his bladder. It had grown from 4 cm across on Tues (10/19) to 6.5 cm across yest. It is called a "Keyhole Bladder". They will test his urine to see how well his kidneys are still functioning, or if the back-up of urine destroyed them. If they are funtioning (which we are hopeful, since he was making more pee) he will have a stent placed in his bladder sometime in the next few days. Here's a helpful link: http://www.chop.edu/service/fetal-diagnosis-and-treatment/fetal-diagnoses/lower-urinary-tract-obstruction-luto.html  Jason kept asking if it was painful... just very nerve racking and it felt SO WEIRD!!!! I know I kept saying to him that it was VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. These tests will take 3 days for the preliminary results and atleast 10 days for the final results. This will be a long weekend!!!

The first Specialist (Dr Peisner, Maternal Fetal Medicine in Lancaster) read our initial ultrasound (Tues 10/19). The US tech told us that we had a boy but followed it up calmly that is bladder looked a little large and she wanted the Dr to check it before we left. We started texting everyone full of joy, when the Dr came in and dropped the bomb on us. He explained that the baldder/kidney issue was totally a fluke and that Jackson's thick nuchal buckle and the fluid around his heart were a result my virus last month. He felt that the babay was probably anemic and would need a blood transfusion. He wanted us to go to CHOPS the next day, but instead we spent the day fighting with our insurance!!!!! Our Geissinger Health Insurance decided it would be best for us to see a Maternal Fetal Medical Dr at Geissinger Medical Center first...

So Thurs (10/21) we met Dr Eric Smith at Geissinger's Maternal Fetal Medical Clinic. He made us feel confidant that we were receiving the best care and that we could trust him. He referred to himslef as "Uncle Eric" while doing our US. He took us step by step with the US machine showing us what was wrong and what was right... made us feel more optimistic. He measured Jackson's bladder at 5cm with no increase of hydronephrosis and felt comfortable with us waiting until Monday (10/15) to return and have a stent placed. He called us later that night saying that he spoke with his partners and felt more comfortable with us returning the next day to have the amniocentesis and have Jackson's bladder drained. Devine Intervention?!? I was crushed at first, thinking that he was now blowing off the idea of a stent and that they were giving up on my son. Jason was much more optimistic saying that he truely believed God had changed "Uncle Eric's" mind, and Jackson's kidneys may not have survived until Monday. The Drs believed that Jackson's problems were all related and were a chromosomal abnormality (more likely Down's). They did tests on the blood flow to his brain and ruled out the possibilty of anemia, so blood transfusion are now not part of the plan. Oh how things change sooo quickly!!!

Here's the US that shows his bladder is HUGE... the big black bubble in is abdomen...

Makes you wonder where in the world his other organs are, there seems to be no room!!

So, yest we returned to Geissinger and had the procedures done. Luckily it was done when it was... his bladder was even bigger and I truely believe that God has led us to the right Drs at the right time.

One thing everyone can agree on...
HE'S A BOY!!!

Luckily, Grandma Stringham is flying in tonight and the kids are ecstatic... their mind is off of their sick brother and focused on her arrival... yeah for them!!!

So now we wait...