Family Pics

Our sweet neighbor who is a photographer took us out and took some pictures of the family and my growing belly.  She and her sweet family have been an inspiration to us thru this whole journey.  They have been a mentor to Jim and me.  They have always made themselves available night or day to us when we just need to chat or need a welcomed distraction.  So thank you Jeannie…the pictures will be treasured forever and ever.  She is also going to accompany us in the delivery to capture pictures of Jasper if it works out ok.  Trying to get all the Driskell’s looking in the same direction at the same time had to be a challenge that I am not sure I would have been up for…lol  When we started out she took us to a tire shop and right beside the tire shop was a huge drainage ditch that was filled with water and mud.  Jim says sewage but I choose to believe water and mud and you will see why in a second.  So the first thing Jude does is run and stand on top of the silver drainage pipe staring eagerly down at the new adventure that awaits him.  We all yell to get back and he assures us that there is something down there he needs to get….so as I scowl at him and put on my serious face to tell him to “NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT” he slowly backs away from the ditch.  Might I add he is wearing a solid white tank top (which I bought a 6 pack of and brought the other 5 with us…just in case).  So we take a couple of shots and he is just itching to go back to that drainage ditch and ask Jeannie if we were done.  I explained that we have not really started yet.  So I get an AWHHH Man!!  So Jeannie comes over to pose Jim and I for a photo and for some reason I look over at that drainage ditch or maybe Chayse yelled “Look at Jude”  regardless we look over (Jude has been out of my reach for a matter of seconds…but he is quick) and Jude has jumped in the ditch and mud has engulfed his blue converse tennis shoes.  He is frozen and looking up at all of us because I believe he was not expecting to sink so fast into the gray mud.  So we all yell to him “DO NOT MOVE” while Jeannie snaps pictures of him in the mud.  Jeannie has 3 boys…and her youngest is a lot like Jude so of course she gets a huge kick out of this.  So after Jim fishes him out of the ditch trying to not get any mud on his jeans and tank, we all kick our shoes off for shoeless pictures…for the rest of the shoot.  After the tire shop she took us to the most beautiful sunflower field.  I have honestly never seen anything more beautiful.  The kids had a great time running as far as they could run. 

Thanks Jeannie!!!  We love you and your sweet family!!

http://www.jeannienaumannphotography.com/

32 wks and better news

We met with Dr. Albert our specialist this morning and to me we got some encouraging news this time.  I had mentioned before that we were really concerned about all the extra amniotic fluid I was taking on.  It carries some risk to mine and Jasper's health.  Dr. Albert assured us that I am still at the moderate range.  He said he has seen women that have carried more.  He said it looks like my uterus and placenta are doing great and that my body is handling the stress of the extra fluid really well.  So to us that is GREAT news.  We will still monitor it as we go forward and if it gets out of control we can always drain a couple of liters off but he would rather not do this…but can.  He also is hoping it will taper off here in the next few weeks.  Now an update on our little guy…...  His head is now 10 wks behind…still has the same fluid around his head, heart, and lungs.  I had mentioned in a previous post that at the last appointment Dr. Albert was really concerned with the difficulty of the delivery because Jasper was starting to carry fluid under his skin….well good news is that most of that fluid is gone and is very mild.  So that is better news.  The best news is that he thinks Jasper will have a live birth and we will get to spend a few minutes or hours with him….so we are ecstatic about this.  No one thought he would make it this far and we would deliver a stillbirth.  So to think we may actually get to spend some time with him is wonderful.  To put the icing on the cake he also thinks since Jasper will not be as swollen that he will look pretty normal in his face and body (he will still have a really small crown) but other than that look like a "normal baby".  So now we are hoping Chayse and Jude will get to meet their little brother as well.  So we are hopeful and we know that things change really quickly but all we can go by is today and right now…and that is how we will carry this news.  This is great and a blessing from God.  So we are happy campers this weekend!!!   He is still moving and kicking and acting like any other sweet little baby!!  He is a fighter and so are we!! J  So keep up the prayers….and thanks to everyone for embarking on this journey with us. 

Next step

Dr. Boyd (OBGYN) June 28^th

Dr. Albert (specialist) July 19^th

Delivery Aug 13^th

31 wks

Not much has changed since my last update.  I started seeing my OB every two wks so we had an appointment last Thursday.  Jasper’s heart rate was steady at 146…I was glad to see it was up a little.  It had been running in the 120’s.  I can only believe that it is still beating because of the grace of God.  If you saw all the fluid surrounding it and his lungs…you would be amazed as well.  That is a miracle to me in itself.  He’s a little fighter.  I don’t think the doctors thought he would make it this long but they too will say that there is always another factor GOD.  His movements are strong and often so it is a nice comfort to me as we are getting closer to the date of his arrival.  I am getting really anxious and emotional.  I think as time wines down I will become an emotional mess.  I am still gaining a ton of amniotic fluid.  I was 30 calendar wks last week but measuring 36 wks.  I am gaining a month in measurement every 2 calendar wks.  At this rate I will be measuring 54 wks prego at our Csection date of Aug 13^th.  My OB said there is not a lot she can do about the fluid…but at this point I am feeling really good.  My blood pressure is great and I feel really well.  I did not ask a ton of questions about all the extra fluid because it kind of depressed me and I really did not want to hear the answer at that point.  Plus Jim was not with me at the appointment and he is usually the question asker. Lol   Sometimes I think ignorance is bliss.  I was having an emotional week and I really did not want to deal with anything else or think about all that amniotic fluid.  So when we go to our specialist this Friday we will dive a little deeper into risk and complications.  We had a great father’s day.  We traveled to Austin and stayed the weekend at Barton Springs Resort for father’s day.  Jim passed his CPA exam so he had his swearing in ceremony on Saturday morning.  The weather was wonderful and the kids really enjoyed hanging with their cousins and grandparents.  Please continue to pray for Jasper’s health and that the amniotic fluid I am carrying will taper off.  Thanks again for all the love, prayers, and support!!!! 

Next step

Friday June 22 Dr. Albert (specialist)

Thursday June 28th Dr. Boyd (OBGYN)

Monday August 13th (delivery)

Continued prayers

29th wk update

So last week we saw our specialist Dr. Albert on Tuesday and our OB Dr. Boyd on Thursday.  Not too much has changed with Jasper.  His head is now measuring 7 wks behind, he is starting to take on more fluid under his skin, and we can confirm that he has a hole in his left ventricle.  Dr. Albert warned us that with Jasper’s condition it would be a difficult delivery even with a c-section.  He explained to us that with Jasper having fetal hydrops his skin would be bloated and hard as a rock (kind of like my stomach is while I am pregnant).  He said that most babies would bend and move and be flexible but Jasper will be tight and nonflexible.  He also explained that I am now carrying too much amniotic fluid which goes hand and hand with a chromosome abnormality and fetal hydrops.  I was 28 wks last week and when we went to Dr. Boyd she measured me and I am measuring 32 weeks.  So in a month I went from measuring 24wks to 32wks.  Now the plan is to keep close tabs on Jaspers weight (bc he can triple his body weight with fluid and the larger he gets the more risky and difficult the delivery will be).  We are also monitoring my amniotic fluid/growth because if I keep growing at this rate it will cause more risk to my health and puts stress on my uterus and can cause complications with the preterm labor and the delivery.  We are still in good shape as of now but as we get farther along we will kind of play it by ear on when we should deliver.  The family seems to be doing well.  We are in pretty good spirits and taking everything in stride.  Chayse and Jude are doing great.  We finished up school and just about to wrap up our spring sports.  Chayse’s softball team went undefeated 10-0 this season.  They are now in the post season tournament.  Jude had a blast with tball and ready to play in the fall. I do have a funny story to tell.  Jude was getting picked on a little bit at school by an older child and I told Chayse that she needed to take up for her brother…and she looked at me and said…I am not about to ruin my clean record.  This comment coming from a 7 year old in summer care.  She explained that she had a pink dot which was the highest dot you could attain.  I explained to her that she was not trying to get into Harvard just yet and she could stand to take a little slide on her perfect record to help her brother out.  Jude is our little firecracker and his record stays a little tarnished…lol  Jim and I had a flash forward to when they both attend college and Jude possibly ends up in the slammer one night (God help us) and Chayse refusing to go down to bail him out because of it tarnishing her record.  Stinker!!

We are now waiting on God to reveal his plan for Jasper and our family.  Patience is not one of mine or Jim’s strong points which I have mentioned before.  We both understand that we are not in charge in this situation and honestly I am kind of glad we are not.  We made funeral arrangements for Jasper over memorial weekend and found a place to lay him to rest.  We also picked out a headstone but still trying to figure out what to put on it.  We have gotten several beautiful gifts with Jaspers name monogrammed on them and they always make me weep so I cant imagine what we will do when we see it in stone.  Jim and I are from the same small town and the funeral home owners are great family friends that we have grown up with all our lives….so if you could call making arrangements for your child’s funeral easy…they made it easy on us.  Everything went really well.  We are so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful folks.  Thanks for the prayers and uplifting messages.  I think we are doing quite well considering our circumstances and I know that has to be because we have such a great loving support system. 

So for now we are just waiting not very patiently but waiting!!

Next Step

Dr. Boyd Thursday June 14^th

Dr. Albert Friday June 22^nd

Get out of bed and put one foot in front of the other and breathe in and out.

Jasper Wyatt Driskell Our Brave Little Soul

I came across this essay written by John Alessi and had to share.

The Brave Little Soul

John Alessi

Not too long ago in Heaven there was a little soul who took wonder in observing the world. He especially

enjoyed the love he saw there and often expressed this joy with God. One day however the little soul was

sad, for on this day he saw suffering in the world. He approached God and sadly asked, "Why do bad

things happen; why is there suffering in the world?"

God paused for a moment and replied, "Little soul, do not be sad, for the suffering you see, unlocks the

love in people's hearts." The little soul was confused. "What do you mean," he asked." God replied, "Have

you not noticed the goodness and love that is the offspring of that suffering? Look at how people come

together, drop their differences and show their love and compassion for those who suffer. All their other

motivations disappear and they become motivated by love alone."

The little soul began to understand and listened attentively as God continued, "The suffering soul unlocks

the love in people's hearts much like the sun and the rain unlock the flower within the seed. I created everyone

with endless love in their heart, but unfortunately most people keep it locked up and hardly share it

with anyone. They are afraid to let their love shine freely, because they are afraid of being hurt. But a suffering

soul unlocks that love. I tell you this—it is the greatest miracle of all. Many souls have bravely chosen

to go into the world and suffer—to unlock this love—to create this miracle—for the good of all humanity."

Just then the little soul got a wonderful idea and could hardly contain himself. With his wings fluttering,

bouncing up and down, the little soul excitedly replied, "I am brave; let me go! I would like to go into the

world and suffer so that I can unlock the goodness and love in people's hearts! I want to create that miracle!"

God smiled and said, "You are a brave soul I know, and thus I will grant your request. But even though

you are very brave you will not be able to do this alone. I have known since the beginning of time that you

would ask for this and so I have carefully selected many souls to care for you on your journey. Those

souls will help you create your miracle; however they will also share in your suffering. Two of these souls

are most special and will care for you, help you and suffer along with you, far beyond the others. They

have already chosen a name for you."

God and the brave little soul shared a smile, and then embraced. In parting, God said, "Do not forget little

soul that I will be with you always. Although you have agreed to bear the pain, you will do so through my

strength. And if the time should come when you feel that you have suffered enough, just say the word,

think the thought, and I will bring you home."

Thus at that moment the brave little soul was born into the world, and through his suffering and God's

strength, he unlocked the goodness and love in people's hearts. For so many people dropped their differences

and came together to show their love. Priorities became properly aligned. People gave from their

hearts. Those that were always too busy found time. Many began new spiritual journeys —some regained

lost faith— many came back to God. Parents hugged their children tighter. Friends and family grew closer.

Old friends got together and new friendships were made. Distant family reunited, and every family

spent more time together. Everyone prayed. Peace and love reigned. Lives changed forever. It was good.

The world was a better place. The miracle had happened. God was pleased.