32 Week Update

I was 32 weeks pregnant last Monday, October 26. I realized I haven't shared any ultrasound photos or belly bump photos for a while, so I am writing a quick post to attach some photos.

I officially quit seeing patients in my dental practice last Friday, October 23. I have been spending a lot of time at home . . . doing a lot of nothing. I am bored. So, if anyone wants to come and hang out with me, just give me a call.

I am continuing to see my Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, Dr. Grant, and my OB, Dr. Morse, every Tuesday in Columbia. Dr. Grant completes a biophysical profile on the boys (a detailed ultrasound with fetal heart rate monitoring) weekly and then I see Dr. Morse. Everything is going well. Both boys have had a perfect score on every biophysical profile.

The only concern is that Baby B is a lot bigger than Baby A. It actually is not much of a concern because Baby A is in normal range for size. If Baby A were really small and Baby B were very large, it would definitely be more of a concern.

Baby A hasn't cooperated for good ultrasound pictures of his face during the last two sessions, so there are no great recent pictures of his face. We did get to see some hair on his head this week and last. The ultrasound tech says that probably means he is blond.

Baby A 30 Weeks 10/13/09

Baby A Hair 31 Weeks 10/21/09

Baby B 32 Weeks Sucking on his Cord 10/27/09

Baby B 32 Weeks 10/27/09

I thought I would post some comparison pictures of my pregnancy progress. I can't believe how much has changed!

14 Weeks 6/22/09

20 Weeks 8/3/09

26 Weeks 9/14/09

32 Weeks 10/26/09

OLEVA KICKED CANCER'S BUTT!!

On Saturday, October 17, twenty-one people gathered at Keith's Cafe in Memphis to celebrate a very momentous occasion. My mom, Oleva, finished all of her breast cancer treatments on Wednesday, October 14!

This all started with a mammogram in December 2008. She had a biopsy completed on January 27, 2009. She had another surgery on March 1, 2009 and we learned on March 10, 2009 that she was diagnosed with Stage III Metastatic Ductal Cell Carcinoma of the left breast. Her first chemo treatment was March 31, 2009 and her last radiation treatment was October 14, 2009. What a long journey. It was not an easy one, but she made it!!!

She had a follow-up appointment this past Tuesday, October 20, with her oncologist, Dr. Perry, at Ellis Fischel in Columbia. They did some blood work, checked out the blood clots and swelling in her leg, and examined the burns on her skin from the radiation. She will be taking Coumadin forever (unfortunately) and another medication that will be determined based on her blood work. This other medication will also be taken forever. It will be a hormone to help prevent the return of cancer. Because of her clotting disorders, it is apparently difficult to find the correct medication that will not increase the possibility of her getting future blood clots.

So far, everything is going great. She spent Wednesday afternoon and evening doing yard work - something she enjoys. She is already starting to feel better, but still frustrated with the swelling in her leg. Dr. Perry explained to her that it could take up to a year for the swelling to subside. She is also still having some pain from the radiation treatments. Dr. Perry said that she should be back to new in a month or so.

Mom sent a nice note to her supporters. I want to share it with you.

I'm a Breast Cancer Survivor

I thought I would forward a quick note to those that thought of me during my trials and tribulations.

The above says it all! Although I thought at times I would never get through this, as of October 14, 2009, I have completed all the chemo and radiation required to state that I am a survivor.

I cannot express enough gratitude to family, co-workers, friends and Dave. Even if it was just a phone call or you stopped by, I appreciated your concern.

I completed 20 weeks of chemotherapy and 30 sessions of radiation. Now, it is just a matter of wait and see. As far as we are concerned, I am considered cancer free. There will be blood tests, scans and more pills than I care to think about, but I think the hard part is behind us.

I have a great future planned with Dave and with the expected arrival of three new grandbabies within the next five months, God has blessed me. I intend to live life to the fullest!

Again, thank you and I hope you are all as blessed as I feel that I am.

-Oleva

Size Discrepancy

I just wanted to write a very quick post. I have a million things to blog about, but they will have to wait until later. One very exciting bit of news to share is that MY MOM IS FINISHED WITH ALL OF HER CANCER TREATMENTS!! She is doing well. I will follow up on this soon. Also, I am done seeing patients at work as of this upcoming Friday morning. I saw a few on Monday and will see just one on Friday and that is it!

I have been seeing my OB, Dr. Morse, weekly since September 29 for ultrasounds, fetal heart rate monitoring, etc. They call these appointments a biophysical profile. They do not measure the size of the babies at each of these appointments. They do that every third week. My over-achieving boys have scored a perfect score on all of their biophysical profiles.

Yesterday, there was a bit of concern. Baby B measured 4 pounds 5 ounces and Baby A measured 3 pounds 5 ounces. That put Baby B in the 77%ile and Baby A in the 32%ile for overall size. That is a bigger size discrepancy than my doctor was comfortable with, so she sent me back to see Dr. Grant, the maternal fetal medicine specialist.

I saw Dr. Grant today and he completed another biophysical profile with an ultrasound and both of the boys scored perfectly again. The size discrepancy was very similar to yesterday. There is a 19% difference in there size. He says he gets concerned when there is a 20% or more difference in their size. Dr. Grant also checked the blood flow through the umbilical cord of both babies and that looked good. That was actually a relief, because there was a little concern on Dr. Morse's part that there could have been some clotting in Baby A's cord (or maybe it was placenta?) affecting his growth.

Dr. Grant thinks that we just have one really big baby and one slightly small baby. He wants to keep a close watch on them, so I will be seeing him weekly as well as Dr. Morse weekly. I will continue with weekly ultrasounds, biophysical profiles with Dr. Grant and then Dr. Morse will look over the results. My next appointment is Tuesday, October 27.

Just a side note: we got to see hair on Baby A's head. It was so sweet.

Oh My Goodness . . . So Much To Do

I am starting to enter the "freak out zone". I don't exactly know what the "freak out zone" is, but it is making me a little anxious - I mean a LOT anxious. I am officially 29 weeks pregnant today. Yeay! I am so torn between desperately wanting to meet my baby boys and being completely terrified that I am not ready for them to get here.

Here is a short list of my worries:

1. I have no idea how to nurse two babies. How are we going to work out that schedule?
2. I so desperately want them to be healthy with limited or no time in the NICU. I want them to stay in my belly as long as possible.
3. Where are they going to sleep when they come home? Our nursery furniture is not here yet.
4. How do I know what they want, need? Are they eating enough? Can we keep them alive?
5. Will I ever sleep again?
6. When should I stop working? Am I doing too much (physically) right now?
7. Perhaps this should be at the top of the list. Will I be a good mom?
8. I haven't decided on a name yet. Dave has his ready to go.

Here is a short list of the reasons I can't wait to get them here:

1. I can't wait to see their beautiful faces. What do they look like?
2. What will their personalities be like? Will one be like me (Type A, perfectionist) and one be like Dave (laid back, an intellectual book worm)?
3. I have been waiting so long to meet them. It is painful that I have to wait another day. Time moves the slowest during pregnancy.
4. I can't wait to shower them with love, kisses, cuddles. I have so much that I want to teach them.
5. Have you seen my belly? It is HUGE! How could it possibly get bigger? Is it possible that I could actually get more uncomfortable than I am right now? Wait a minute . . . how am I still working?

Saturday, Dave and I attended an all-day child birth class. It contributed to both of the above lists. On the way home Saturday and once we got home, I was having several Braxton Hicks contractions. Dave frantically threw together my hospital bag. We both realized that if we had to rush to Columbia in a hurry that we are not ready. So, now my bag is somewhat packed.

I debated whether or not to share this on the blog, but I had some testing completed by a maternal fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Grant, a couple of weeks ago and I got some bad news. In addition to testing positive for a Prothrombin Gene Mutation (Factor II), I also have two additional blood clotting disorders: Factor V Leiden mutation and elevated Plasminogen Activator Inhibitors (PAI).

I know - it is all Greek to me, too. To simplify, these disorders are referred to as thrombophilias. It means that I have a very elevated risk at developing a blood clot at any time. Blood clots, of course, may lead to severe pregnancy complications, stroke, pulmonary embolism . . . It is fairly rare to have one of these disorders. I think it is pretty much unheard of to have three. Who knows how I got so special.

Dr. Grant also informed me that my levels of C Reactive Protein were through the roof. To summarize this, it means that I have a lot of inflammation in my body. This can lead to heart disease, breast cancer, diabetes, periodontal disease and the list goes on. Dr. Grant has doubled my dosage of daily heparin. He also added Vitamin D to my daily regimen of prenatal vitamins, folic acid, fish oil, and baby aspirin. I am currently having weekly OB appointments with ultrasounds and non-stress tests.

Despite all of this, I have had no serious pregnancy complications. Everything seems to be going great. The boys got a perfect score on the non-stress test last week. I want things to stay that way.

OLEVA REPORT

This is long overdue. Mom was supposed to be finished with radiation today, but she was having some serious pain, peeling of her skin, and bleeding. So, last week, her radiologist decided that she should take a week off from the radiation. She stayed home from work and any place public all last week. She started radiation again today. She will do radiation today, tomorrow and Wednesday and then again Monday - Wednesday next week and then it will all be done!!!

The radiation is causing some severe pain, bleeding, burning of her skin. She is also extremely fatigued following her treatments. It is difficult for her to stay awake on her car ride home following radiation. So, today, she had lunch at my house and then rested for a while before going home. I know that she can't wait for this to be done and I am so excited that it is almost over. I can't even imagine what she is going through right now.