Another Update

I want to start off by thanking everyone for all of their support and prayers for our baby girl. They mean so much to us and as I have mentioned before, have given us a lot of peace throughout this time.

I wanted to add a quick update on our baby. We have been continually going into the city every two weeks for ultrasounds, fetal echos and prenatal appointments. On August 10th, we had a video conference meeting at the Children's hospital in Edmonton. Our doctor in Bonnyville was on one TV, our doctors and nurses from the Royal Alexandra hospital were on another TV, and we were at the Children's hospital with the neonatal specialist, a pediatric surgeon, and a social worker. This meeting was to make sure everyone was updated and on the same page with our baby. It was also a time for us to get a lot of our questions asked and to prepare us for what would be happening after our baby was born. We were very grateful to be apart of the meeting and all the effort they put into it. The main thing we learned was that everything is still up in the air until she is actually born and they can do a proper diagnosis of the tumor and what it's affecting. We do know that she will need an MRI after she is born for the surgeons to have a better idea of what will all need to be removed. She will also need her tailbone removed as this is where most of the mass is. If they don't remove the tailbone, the tumor has a better chance of returning. After the meeting, the social worker gave us a tour of the children's hospital and the NICU. It was very overwhelming to walk into a room filled with babies knowing ours would be one of them soon. But it is nice to be prepared and have a picture in our mind of where our baby will be recovering.

At our last appointment on Wednesday, our doctor decided he wanted me in the city right away as he thinks I'll be delivering early. Our next appointment is this Thursday so Liam and I are moving into the city tomorrow. Our good friends Ryan and Leah just moved to Edmonton this summer and are letting me stay with them until the baby is born. We are so grateful for Ryan and Leah and the hospitality they have shown to us. They have been such a blessing! Josh will stay in Bonnyville to work until the baby is born and then we will move into the Ronald McDonald house as it is closer to the Children's hospital.

Our doctor is still wanting me to deliver naturally and go full term, if this baby lets me :) I am currently at 35 weeks and I praise God for every week that she is continually inside me. We want her to be well developed and healthy so she can endure the surgery. She is measuring in the 95th percentile of weight which is also very encouraging. At our last ultrasound they estimated her weight at 6lbs 8oz.

As I've mentioned, I will try to keep this blog updated as I'm in Edmonton. Again, we appreciate all your prayers and support!

Here is a belly picture of me at 35 weeks: