Catching Up...

I didn't get around to blogging after Friday's appointment so I'll start there with a quick update.  The mass measured about the same size, but the ratio was 1.3.  Remember, the ratio involves the head circumference and the size of the mass.  She's growing more rapidly so that helps the ratio go down.

At today's appointment we received similar news.  We hadn't seen Dr. Nyholm for a few weeks.  She said she could really tell a difference in size since the last time she had seen it.  She continued to see regression in the area that surrounded the heart.  That was all good news.  The ratio today was 1.12, the lowest we've had since we started this journey.  More good news!  Because the ratio has measured below 1.6 consistently for the last few appointments, the danger of hydrops is much lower and we're able to go down to once a week appointments.  Super good news!

At both ultrasounds, Baby Zins took a few practice breathes.  We could see her diaphragm going up and down.  A perk to having so many ultrasounds is seeing these developments.

Our next appointments are a week from today.  We're going to the University of Minnesota to have an ultrasound, an OB appointment, and meet with a pediatric surgeon.  Hopefully, we'll get a better idea about possible scenarios for removing the mass.

Wishing you a blessed Easter,

Scott & Sarah

It's all about the heart...

Okay, not entirely, the lungs are also a concern.  However, she doesn't need her lungs yet so the main concern has been about the heart and possible failure due to the mass pushing against it.  The mass had gotten so large that it had pushed the heart all the way over to the right side of the chest cavity where it was being squished. (If you're not familiar with anatomy, the heart should be on the left side of the chest cavity, closer to the midline of the body.) Even our untrained eyes could tell during the ultrasound today that we could see more of the heart.  The doctor confirmed this and even said that the heart wasn't being squished against the right side of the chest cavity and had moved slightly towards the midline. (Huge relief!)  Hopefully, this continues.  Then, the lung on that side can have some room to grow, too.  The CRV ratio was at 1.6 today.  This was higher than Friday. Again, the mass is hard to measure because they're finding a volume and the shape of the mass is irregular. Depending on baby's position and measurements taken there is that margin of error.

They also did growth measurements today and Baby Zins weighed in at 2 pounds 7 ounces.  The doctor was very pleased with her growth and said that everything else was developing appropriately for her gestational age.

Overall, we had a good day at the doctor!  : )  I thought the picture above was appropriate.  Her heart must be super strong to handle all of the stress the mass has been putting on it.  We'll keep praying that it gets some relief and is able to move back to it's correct place because the CCAM is shrinking.

Thanks for praying with us,

Scott & Sarah

A Quick Update

It has only been 2 days since our last appointment so we weren't expecting to see much change today.  Things were similar to Wednesday.  The ratio measured at 1.4 today so it was nice to see it in the same range. 

We also set up an appointment to tour the NICU and meet with a pediatric surgeon in early April.  We'll be about 30 weeks along when we meet so it certainly won't be a definite plan, but will at least give us a better idea of what to expect on the day of her arrival.  

Enjoy the weekend!  We're (okay...Scott) is hoping to paint the baby's room.

We're back to Tuesday and Friday appointments next week.

Until then,

Scott & Sarah

Remaining Strong at 27 Weeks

I had to include a few pictures from our trip to San Francisco.  We had a great time exploring the sites and eating at local restaurants.  Scott's high school friend, Ajay, was our tour guide one day.  We saw many great views of the city and bay that we never would have found on our own.  It was great to get away for a while and to have some FUN.

Scott enjoying seafood cioppino at Taddich's Grill, one of the oldest restaurants in San Francisco.

A vista point overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.  What a view!

This morning we were back at the doctor.  Today, marks 27 weeks and we're still remaining strong.  Dr. Nyholm (also known as the optimistic one!) thought things were looking good today.  The mass wraps around the heart and today it looked like that area had regressed some.  The ratio measured at 1.46 (compared to 1.9 on Friday).  The difficult part about the ratio is that different people are performing the ultrasounds and may not always use the exact same points to measure so there is an error margin.  Hopefully, we'll continue to see numbers around this (or lower!)

This picture is a cute shot of her arm and hand.  She's always awake when we have 8 am ultrasounds and moves around a lot.  She makes the technicians work to get good pictures of her.  This morning, she had the hiccups so now I know what that feels like, too.

As always, thanks for reading, thinking and praying for our little girl.  God has certainly made her a tough little one and she's blessed to have so many people in her corner.

Much love,

Scott & Sarah

Thankful for Another Week...

Today left us with more of the same, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Every appointment that goes by with no hydrops is a good one. The doctors think the mass has plateaued. We are hoping that it will shrink and allow some room for her lungs to grow, but it will take some time. As we go forward, we will make plans with the prenatal doctors and surgeons at the U of M on what needs to be done for Baby Z when she is born. There are so many variables though we holding off until we know more. For now, every week she stays where she is a blessing as she gets bigger and stronger.

If everything goes well on Friday's appointment we are heading to San Francisco for a little relaxation. Hopefully this will be the last post until next Wednesday's appointment.

Thanks to all for reading and sending prayers and good karma our way, it means the world to us!

-S & S

- 0.16

Our little girl has to be one of the most photographed babies in utero.  Her little hands are always up by her face.  She's starting to get more fat on her so she looks more like a baby each time and less like an alien.  : )

We had more good news on Friday.  The CRV ratio was at 1.97 on Tuesday and measured 1.81 on Friday.  A difference of 0.16 in three days!  We're hoping to continue seeing the decline next week.  It would be great if it would decrease enough to hit below the 1.6 mark.  Once we get below that mark the chances of hydrops forming is minimal. (I think it would also mean going back to once a week ultrasounds!)

We're thankful for your prayers.  Eighty percent of CCAM cases that have a CRV ratio above 1.6 have hydrops form.  So far we're feeling very thankful to be in the 20% that do not have hydrops form and hopefully, very soon, we can officially be part of that 20%.

Until Tuesday....

Scott & Sarah