April 4 is D-Day

Yesterday found us at Sick Kids from 7:45am until shortly after 3 in the afternoon.  It was another busy day jam packed with appointments and meeting different specialists.  We also discovered a 24 hour Tim Hortons within the hospital :)  Our day started on 4B with a fetal echocardiogram, and a meeting with the fetal cardiologist who has been following Jacob since January.  There is no significant change in the DILV condition, and while the Complete Heart Block (CHB) is a relatively new development we were told repeatedly that they expect the heart rate to stay stable in the 80-90 range it has been for the past month.  As best as they can predict, Jacob should be relatively stable at birth which means that the two surgeries can become one surgery and will not be necessary as soon as he is born.  Jacob should have a few days to grow stronger before undergoing surgery.  The CHB condition does mean further surgeries for Jacob other than the 3 for DILV.  His pacemaker will need new batteries every 3-5 years, and the pacemaker itself will have to be changed as he grows.  I feel like I can deal with just about anything as long as we have Jacob and he is developing and growing.  After that we met with the single ventricle care team who will be guiding us through the process after Jacob is born. 

 From there I had an ultrasound with the Obstetrician who will be delivering Jacob on April 4 when I am scheduled for a section.  Jacob is now in the 75th percentile for size.  We even filled out all the c-section paperwork so we are good to go! I felt devastated all over again when it was explained to me that I will not get to hold Jacob at birth, but may possibly be able to see him 1-2 hours after, depending on his condition and mine.  I knew that was the reality before the words came out of her mouth - but I'm still feeling unprepared - and quickly became a crying idiot in the doctor's office.  How do I prepare for that? I don't think I can.  When I pulled myself together we met with the paediatrician at Mt. Sinai who will be responsible for starting Jacob on the prostaglandin medicine to keep the hole in his heart open, stabilizing him and then transferring him to Sick Kids.

Jon and I then faced 3:00 traffic on the Don Valley Parkway to get home...that was fun :) After such a stressful day we were running on fumes by the time we got to Kelsey's to have supper.  We are both trying as hard as we can not to let the stress affect our relationship, but sometimes we just snap at each other.  Then we get over it and start again.  God give us the strength to be patient and kind with each other even when we feel we have no patience or kindness left.  We need each other now more than ever.

Georgia is doing fantastically well with my parents...She woke up this morning with pink eye but even that is not getting her down.  Thanks Mom and Dad for taking that huge burden off of our shoulders.  I can't wait to see you all next week!