Month: September 2016

Today was our final pre-Evanna hospital day of appointments. And while they’ve been pleasant visits, I can’t say that I’ll miss them. But it was one step closer to having her with us, so in that way, they’ve been worth it. She passed the non-stress test and the biophysical profile without issue, so there are…

This just showed up in my Facebook timeline.   With having only 9 days to go (assuming Evanna sticks to our timeline…), the reality is really starting to hit in a major way.   And this could be part of that reality…one of the many medical things that we cannot know until after she is born.…

The current question, and I believe it’s a sincere one, is: How are you (or you guys) doing? The answer, also a sincere one, is that we are doing ok overall. Really. Main thing now is working on the logistics of everything: when the kids are coming up, when they get to see JoAnn beforehand,…

From the onset of the news of something being wrong and through the weeks that followed until we had an actual diagnosis, I never had the near-stereotypical breaking down and pleading with God for a particular outcome. There was no wailing, no begging, no attempted deal-making with the Creator. And I don’t mean that to…

  This is a great illustration I came across from Cincinnati Children’s on two of Evanna’s conditions: the spina bifida and the expected hydrocephalus (and as I’ll explain below, also indirectly illustrates the Chiari II malformation).   Normally-developed baby on left; baby with both conditions on the right.   For Evanna’s spina bifida, her lesion…

We’re nearing the date, and if I’m going to be honest, I’m a mix of emotions in the lead up to it. Note that I didn’t write that I’m a mess; I don’t think I am. But there sure is a range of emotions. I’m really excited that she’s almost here. I’m humbled and amazed…

Wednesday this week will be a very busy, busy day…and will give us insight on what Evanna’s clinic days may be like in the future when she goes up to Seattle Children’s. The schedule will be something like this: 10:30am – Leave house; drive to Seattle 12:15pm – check in for ultrasound 1:30pm – walk…