Baby Update - 77 days and Counting

I saw my OB yesterday afternoon and had my 1 hour glucose test done. W hen I get the results I will most likely just add them in the comments section. Since it was late afternoon, I had to take the kids with me. Fortunately everything went well and there were no problems with bringing them.

My doctor said everything is going great. The only note of concern she had (not really just something she mentioned) was that I'm measuring two weeks bigger than I should be. She already moved my due date a week earlier than the first date they gave me at the beginning of the pregnancy. One concern that I failed to mention (having the kids there kept me from thinking I guess) is that I'm having significant lower back pain almost constantly now. (77 days until the due date)

I've always suffered with lower back pain due to my scoliosis. However I've noticed that when I'm consistent with exercise I can usually manage my pain. When I'm not pregnant and I'm in a lot of pain I take 800 mg of Ibuprofen, use lots of heat, and wear my brace (none of which I can do now). Sometimes I have back pain that makes sense - when I make a bad decision thinking I can do something that I shouldn't do. Now, I think its from the extra weight that I'm carrying out in front. I'm in a lot of pain after sitting for a while or sleeping. The pregnancy belt I'm using offers minimal relief.

The doctor wants to see me again in two weeks and she said she will do a sonogram then because she wants to see how big the baby is. So pray that I can find ways to minimize the back pain.

On a positive note - I seem to be on the road to recovery from my sinus infection. I finished my antibiotic on Thursday and continue to flush using a Neti Pot - very odd and a bit gross, but quite helpful.

What My Children Want...

Exactly two years ago on May 31, 2006 this conversation took place between my children:

Daughter (6) was doing her school work and Son (3) was playing. My son came up to me and…

said..."After Sister is done with her school work can we go buy a baby."

Daughter said, "We can't buy a baby it has to come from heaven all the way down to the mom's tummy."

A couple minutes later...

Son said, "I want a baby brother."

Daughter said, "Too bad I think God is going to deliver a baby girl to our family."

Well, God didn’t deliver anything to our family…

until...

March 2008 I received one of these:







Then in April I got one of these:

















Then in May I got one of these – (three different poses – how’s a mother to choose)

And in December the whole family will get one of these:
















We are thrilled beyond measure. The kids are still hoping for a same sex sibling, but I know they will rejoice with either when it comes down to it. My intuition says it will be a girl, but just about everyone else that has ventured a guess thinks it will be a boy. We have decided to keep it a secret from all, but God and the sonogram technician until the delivery because I’ve always wanted the surprise. For our first two we had the technician write the sex on a piece of paper that we opened over a meal at a restaurant.

Because of my back issues (see this post for more info) and the rod in my back, an epidural isn’t an option for me. I made it through my first two deliveries just fine. The first was harder than the second, but I got bolder the second time around and was able to tell the medical professionals what I needed to do instead of allowing them to make decisions for me that made it more difficult for me to manage. Even with the back labor I had with my daughter, I still thought her delivery was easier than my back surgery. The pain was shorter and the reward was greater. God blessed me with short labors – the first was 6 hours (I went from 1 cm – 10 cm rather quickly - they told me they'd have to induce me in the morning because my water broke and nothing was happening, but my daughter didn't want to wait and she came many hours before the schedule induction) and the second labor took four hours. I’m hoping to do better this time, but not so good that I deliver on the highway or anything. I don’t want my 15 seconds of fame that bad… Regardless of how long it takes, I’m trusting God with the details and I will be overjoyed to hold my newest treasure in my arms.

Please keep the baby, this pregnancy, and me in your prayers.

Thanks!

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. ~ Psalm 139:13-16

My Journey with Scoliosis

The quick somewhat disorganized story of my back issues...

When I was in seventh grade nurses at my middle school did testing for scoliosis and I was one of the lucky ones who were given a clean bill of health. Shortly after I was sitting in my doctor's office for an unrelated issue and he looked at me quizzically and said that he thought I had scoliosis. I assured him that I didn't because I was just screened at school. He sent me for x-rays and then referred me to a specialist. The specialist told me that I needed to see a specialist/surgeon. What I thought?? I went to The Spine Center in Cleveland, Ohio because they dealt with many cases just like mine every day and was diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis. Three years later after wearing a lift in my shoe with no success my surgeon told me that I needed to have surgery or my curvature which continued to progress rapidly would cause my heart and lungs to collapse.

So the summer after my sophomore year when I was 15 years old I had a spinal fusion and a thoracoplasty (ribs were shaved from my right side and used to help fuse the rod to my spine). The surgery lasted for seven hours and I was in the hospital for a total of nine days. My surgeon fused a Harrington rod to fourteen vertebrae (Thoracic 1-12 on down to Lumbar 1-2). I had 77 staples and one stitch. I have two scars - a fourteen inch scar a little to the right of my spine and a nine inch scar on my right side.

Post surgery - my back was broken out from the adhesive that held my bandages - the little double dots along side of my insisons are the staple holes.

After surgery I had to wear a brace for six months to stabilize my back and protect my fusion. For some reason I was never given follow-up care regarding what exercises to do to strengthen my back, so I just went about my life the best I could.

Brace Side view


Back view of my brace

Two months post surgery wearing back brace - 15 year old Robin in nurses aid uniform for first day of junior year in HS.

A few years ago after enduring lower back pain ever since my surgery I decided to attempt an exercise program at a local gym. Ever since starting to exercise I have better been able to control my pain although it still comes with regularity its just not constantly severe. It is severe at times, but I work through the pain most of the time using heat, cold, stretching, exercising and sometimes ibuprofen. People most likely wouldn't know I had anything wrong with my back unless I was wearing a form-fitting top (which I don't) or baring my back which I don't except for a few occasions in bridesmaid dresses. Even though my surgeon removed (thoracoplasty) my rib hump it grew back in a very similar pattern to the previous rib hump. My surgery was done long before the information shared in the link above. Sitting against hard surfaces is uncomfortable and I often sit sideways to avoid putting pressure on the right side of my back.

Before I had my daughter I spoke with an anesthesiologist who told me that an epidural wasn't an option for me because of my rod, but God has blessed me with quick labors. My first was born in six hours, but with back labor (sunny side up) and my second came quicker in about four hours. When I had my daughter I didn't realize that I could tell the doctors what I wanted and I just obeyed their orders, but with my son when they gave me orders during labor and delivery I told them their plans didn't work for me and did what I needed to in order to manage my pain.

I've been told by doctors in the years since my surgery that I will have back pain the rest of my life because of my lengthy fusion. All of my spinal flexibility is from Lumbar 3-5 and I have some degeneration between Lumbar 4-5 which also causes pain. I think I manage quite well in spite of the limitations - I don't attempt back bends and have to modify exercises in classes that require back extensions. I feel stronger and healthier now than ever.

I continue to cling to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 for many parts of my life. Since 100% healing hasn't happened for me I look for opportunities to comfort others in their pain. Sometimes it helps to just know that someone else understands and has been there - knowing you are not alone can really help for one who is dealing with chronic pain.

Healing

Most of us have read the Biblical account of the healing at the pool of Bethesda. I’ve always been puzzled as to why Jesus would ask the man if he wanted to be well. My initial thought was of course he wants to be healed who wouldn’t?

I experience back pain on a regular basis and have been told to expect it for the rest of my life because of scoliosis, a rib hump, and some problems between Lumbar 4 and 5. I had corrective surgery the summer after my sophomore year in high school. The surgeon shaved ribs from my right side and then used those shavings to fuse a stainless steel rod to fourteen vertebrae in my back. I didn’t have physical therapy after my surgery and wasn’t instructed on how to improve my back strength. I finally took matters into my own hands and started exercising at a local gym a little over three years ago. I noticed some improvement from being active; however the pain (ranging from mild to severe) continues often times without my understanding it’s cause.

One day when I was in a lot of pain, I sent an email to an online friend, Jerri asking her to pray for my back. Jerri replied that she would pray that my rod would dissolve and my immediate reaction was NO! I NEED MY ROD! Then it dawned on me that Jesus had good reason to ask if the man at the pool wanted to get well. He lived with his problem for 38 years and didn’t know how to live differently. Many times in life we become accustomed to our illnesses or problems. After my surgery, I was dependent on a back brace for six months. When I was cleared medically to quit wearing my brace, I was scared without it’s security. Time passed and I became comfortable with my limitations and life without my brace. Most people wouldn’t know I had anything wrong with me unless they saw my scars, which is unlikely because they are usually covered or if I wore tight fit clothing (I don’t). When Jerri suggested that God would dissolve my rod, I was hesitant because I’m used to having the rod and the limited flexibility. I’ve had a rod in my back over half my life, I can hardly remember what it was like not to have it. If God wanted to heal me by dissolving my rod and straightening my spine, HE could, but He’d also have to heal my mind. I don’t know what God’s will is, but I’m now open to whatever HE wants for me. I’ve always believed that my back issues were a “cross” I had to bear after all, even Paul had to live with his thorn. I want to bring glory to God regardless of whether it is through living with a “thorn” or proclaiming HIS healing power.

Think about limitations in your life and ask yourself, do you want to be well?

The Healing at the Pool

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

~ John 5:1-9