Good day at the Doctors

Whenever I schedule an appointment for Tyler at Primary Children's I just never know how it is going to go. He surprises us all the time. He hadn't seen his Neurosurgeon in over a year so I decided I really needed to get him an appointment. I already had an appointment scheduled for me at the U of U so I put his back to back with mine and we spent the day together. (the two hospitals are connected so that makes it a lot easier). I had my first ultrasound scheduled as well as a clinic appointment. I wasn't nervous at all until I laid down on the table and all the flood of emotions came rushing back when I realized it was in the room next door that I found out about Tyler. I could possibly find out that there was something wrong with this baby and Brock wasn't with me. The Tech asked me a bunch of questions about Ty and what we found out about him from ultrasounds before he was born. She first looked at the baby's brain and saw that there was no extra fluid in the head. Then she checked everything else including all of the baby's STRAIGHT limbs so I felt such a relief. I haven't felt like there will be any challenges with this baby, but you never can be too sure with all that we have been through with Ty. She said everything looked good so far and that she didn't see anything that stood out to her. I silently laid there and thanked my Heavenly Father for his comfort and for a good ultrasound. The Tech also asked if we wanted to find out what we are having. We did of course but with Brock not being there I asked her to seal a piece of paper in an envelope, saying what we were having, that I could take home and Brock and I could open together. My doctor came in after and talked to me about the ultrasound and said again that everything looked good so far but that it was a little too early to see if there were any major problems (I am only 16 1/2 weeks along). I still felt relieved that everything had gone good. My doctor said we will do an ultrasound again the next two appointments and if both of those look good I should be clear for any problems. After my appointment Tyler and I went and grabbed some lunch and then we were off to his appointments. He started with a CT scan. He slept through the whole thing and the tech said he was her favorite for the day! Then we went right over to his doctor. They got us back in record speed and Dr. Brockmeyer said that Tyler's left ventricle actually looked a lot better and the fluid had gone down in it. He said his shunts were working great! Then I asked about his skull reconstruction surgery. (Brock and I talked earlier that day and made the decision to do it and get it over with as soon as possible before our baby arrives). To my surprise the doc said he didn't think that Ty needed surgery anymore. I was SHOCKED! He called in a colleague and told him about Ty and got his opinion....no surgery. Then he called over a plastic surgeon from the U of U. He came within 10 minutes. The Dr's discussed Ty and surgery, he came in a looked at Ty's head and then concluded with...no surgery. Wow.. again silent prayers were sent to my Heavenly Father! We got three opinions that stated Ty did NOT need surgery. Dr. Brockmeyer said that it was absolutely necessary he had this surgery last summer, but his shunts are working great now so he doesn't suggest doing it. The only reason they would do it would be for cosmetic reasons to help the shape of Ty's head. I told him I didn't care about that and if I didn't have to put Ty through all that pain and suffering I wouldn't. The Dr. thought that if we did do surgery it would open a can of worms with possibilities of infection and shunt problems and we have worked so hard to get his shunts this far why touch them (they would have to take out both shunts for the surgery and then put two new ones in when they were done). I was hopping and skipping out of that office. I was so excited and so grateful I had been prompted to wait on his surgery. Tyler and I both had a great day at the Dr.s. I was nice to spend a little one on one with him even if it was sitting in the hospital. We really have so much to be thankful for.

So now I am sure all of you are wondering what we are having?? We opened up the envelope that night as a family and the Tech had put a picture of our baby in there with a little note that said we are having a baby GIRL!!! We couldn't be more excited...and a little nervous. I will need a lot of tips on what to do with a girl!

(This picture is a little scary but I wanted to capture the excitement!!)