New Blog...

To view the new blog with updates about Katie's condition the site is: ktchild.blogspot.com.

With the highs of last week we found the lows this week. All of that stuff about I should have done a c-section again, I was wrong. A Vbac was the way that I needed to go. All that said here is what happened this week...
Tuesday I went to the lung doctor early because I couldn't breath well; especially while laying flat. I also had extended veins in my neck and I could hardly blow out air without coughing. Anyway, the doctor admitting me to the hospital (Medical center of the Rockies) for testing. That's not what I wanted to hear. But I went and had X-Rays, CAT scans, and several other tests. The next morning (Wednesday), Derek and I were awaken by an oncologist who let us know that a growth had formed behind my breastbone and was pressing against my lungs which caused the shortness of breath and other discomforts. She said that it was most likely cancerous and she wanted to do a biopsy. Later that afternoon, that happened. The surgeon who performed the biopsy said that from his experience and knowledge, he believes the growth to be cancerous. But until the biopsy has been completely analyzed, we won't know exactly which kind. They decided to start radiation treatments to start to shrink it to improve my breathing.
On Thursday, we took a very expensive taxi ride (an ambulance) to and from the Cancer Center of Mckee Hospital in Loveland for a radiation treatment before returning to MCR. Liability reasons wouldn't let us drive ourselves those 3-4 miles. That night, breathing seemed slightly better and doctors are very encouraged by that fact. Today, they discharged me and we went over to McKee again for a second treatment. That went better for me than the first day.
On Monday, we should hear results from the biopsy and make more plans for treatment. There will probably be both radiation as well as chemotherapy over several months with a possibility for a surgical procedure to get rid of it. Doctors are very optimistic that this is a curable cancer and that everything will be good in the end.
I'll be starting a new blog to document the cancer so that I can keep you informed as things progress. I'll post the new blog details soon. We would appreciate all your prayers as we work through this.

Welcome Lizzie

At 4:33 p.m. in Fort Collins Poudre Valley Hospital on Tuesday, September 4th Elizabeth Christine Child was born to our family.

I was in labor for 31 hours! I went to the hospital when the contractions were 5 minutes apart as the doctor told me to do and expected to be sent home because I was dilated at only 1 centimeter, but because it was a vbac they had me stay; so most of Labor Day I was laboring in the hospital. I was having very regular contractions that were close to 2 minutes apart but by 4 a.m. I was only dilated to a 3. By then I was so tired because they gave me nausea drugs that made me want to sleep yet I still threw up almost 10 times. At 4 they gave me an epidural so that I could sleep and rest before pushing. After the epidural the contractions stopped coming so frequently, but miraculously I was still progressing. At 7:00 a.m. I was dilated to a 5 and at 10:00 I was to a 7. By 9:00 I couldn't feel my right leg from the epidural but I could feel everything on the left so the needle was inserted wrong into my back the first time. So I had to have that epidural taken out and another one put in; so both of my legs were numb. It was after 1:00 p.m. before they told me that I could start pushing and it took 3 hours to push. By the end of the pushing the epidural was almost worn off and I could feel most of the contractions. Needless to say I was very happy when she finally was born. There were so many times the doctor was about to give up and make me have a c-section because it was taking so long. But thankfully it is all over, and of course she is worth it! Recovery has been about as hard, maybe a tiny bit easier than the c-section with the boys because I tore 4 inches and 2 layers during pushing and had to have an episiotomy also. Thank goodness she is a cute kid!