4.07.2011

Olivia's Birthday Party

Our very dear friends Ryan and Erica had their daughter's 2nd birthday tonight at Pizza Inn. I was worried that Stratton would be a handful, but surprisingly he was so well behaved (I guess he just saves the fits for home and church?). We had a great time!

DSC_0132

[Pizza face]

DSC_0135

[Erica, Olivia and big brother Carson]

DSC_0144

[all the kiddos]

DSC_0149

[Erica and Stratton]

DSC_0152

[Livy giving Stratton a hug!]

DSC_0155

[Stratton and Jarrod going through the goody bag, and notice Olivia sneaking some COKE!]

DSC_0156

["Cool!"- That's what he says when he puts on sunglasses]

6 months later

When I went to see my OB/GYN about a month ago, I told her about everything that had been going on in the last year and she feels strongly that I should have the lipoma in my colon removed before we try to have another baby. In her opinion my past of preterm labor puts me at high risk for that to happen again (I will have to get a weekly shot of progesterone which could lower my risk by up to 50%) without any other factors, but add into that my past of gestational diabetes, and a lipoma that could cause another intussusception at any time. . . and it just all seems like a lot of risks. Not necessarily for me, but if I was pregnant and had another intussusception like I had last year the baby could be in a lot of danger. I lost 15 lbs, couldn’t keep food down and was overall really sick and my body was in a lot of stress. If that was to happen when I was pregnant I was probably have to be hospitalized and the stress could lead to preterm labor.

So, I decided to go back the the surgeon and see what he had to say about it and we decided to do another scan to just check and see what the lipoma was doing now, 6 months later. I had a PT E scan done last Wednesday and I got the results back yesterday. Turns out it’s still there and has gotten a little bigger. I haven’t met with the Dr. yet, I have an appointment next Thursday, so I am curious how much “a little bigger” is.  I have some time to figure out what we want to do. If I end up having surgery it won’t be till in the the fall. We have already planned a trip in May to D.C to see the Grahams, and then I get super busy at work till the end of September.

It’s so hard to think about putting myself and my family through a serious surgery and lengthy recovery to correct something that isn’t even an problem right now. . .just a possible risk in the future.  I can’t say I’m not worried about all the potential risks involved with another pregnancy, I’m terrified that I might put my unborn child in danger. . . However, I have probably had the lipoma for years and years and it never bothered me before and the Dr. says it may never bother me again. It’s not thought to have been a factor in my problems with my first pregnancy. From what my OB/GYN can tell they are totally unrelated issues.  Right now we are a little overwhelmed. I am so thankful for our many, many blessings! The Lord has been so good to us.  Jarrod and I are both happy and healthy and  we are so blessed with Stratton and how strong and healthy he is and even though we feel like he deserves a sibling to grow up with, maybe it’s not worth the risk right now? Its so hard to know what the right thing is to do.  Please keep Jarrod and myself in your prayers, as we deal with the realization that what we envisioned for our family’s future may not be God’s plan for us.  We have a lot to think about and some big decisions to make in the next couple of months, please pray for God to give us the wisdom we need to make the right decisions.