6 more weeks...

I missed posting an update last week.  (My Master class meets on Wednesdays.  I finished another class last week, but had a presentation to work on so I didn't get around to blogging.)  However, there wasn't much to report.  Our appointments have finally become pretty routine and uneventful (Thank God!).

For so many weeks, we were focused on the CRV number.  Now, the measurements aren't as important for several reasons.  One of the main reasons is due to the shrinking of the mass.  As the mass regressed, the shape changed so the points they had been measuring from are no longer in the same place.  It's hard to compare the current measurements with the old ones when the data points are different.  The main thing is they can tell it's getting a LITTLE smaller each week.  

As she continues to grow, the mass is getting harder to see and measure clearly and accurately.  Her ribs have gotten bigger and create shadows over the area.  She's also practicing breathing a lot.  To do this, she uses her diaphragm and as it goes up and down quickly it pushes against the mass.

Each week, they are checking to be sure she's not in distress and that she's doing all of the things that babies at her gestational age should be doing.  Everything has been looking great!

They did growth measurements again today and she's weighing in at 4 pounds 4 ounces.  The doctor did say that was smaller than most babies at this age, but that compared to her last measurements she was growing appropriately. It's looking like she'll be a little peanut unless she really starts packing on the pounds.  She's been pretty consistent at gaining 1 pound every 3 weeks.

CCAM on 3/19/13

As I was going through our medical records for her, I came across a CD that they made for us to take when we visited with the surgeon.  I hadn't looked at the images, but they were all of the mass.  This was from an ultrasound on March 19 (27 weeks gestation).

Can you tell what you're looking at!?! I'll do my best to explain. This is her chest cavity. The bright white on the left side is the mass.  It's marked with yellow lines that make an x across it.  This is how they measured it.  The black part to the right of the mass is the heart.

Weeks before this picture, it was even larger and the heart looked so small because it was crushed against the chest wall.  When we see images now, it looks like the rest of her organs fought it back and started to take over.  It doesn't look SO big and scary anymore.

Thanks for praying for us and our little girl.  Blessings have been raining down upon us.

Much love,

Scott & Sarah