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!

Derek's sister Ashlee and her family (Chad, Collier and Brennan) came to town this weekend! So we had a very fun filled and eventful weekend. It started off on Friday when we went swimming at the Mulberry pool and went on a train ride at the Fort Collins city park. The next day we went to the Denver Zoo and saw Ethan's favorite animal the peacock. Afterwards we went to a wonderful Italian buffet called Cinzetti's (I think). While we were there Derek took both boys to the bathroom where he taught them to use the urinal!! They both came out bubbling with pride saying "I'm a big boy now, I used the big potty." When we got back to Gma and Gpa's house Ethan needed to use the potty so he stood up and peed in the dog water that was in the bathroom!! We had to have a big talk with daddy about that.

That night Derek and I were able to go to the adult session of our stake conference where Elder Richard G. Scott was visiting. It was great to listen to him. When we got back Ethan, Isaac and their cousin Collier were running around Gma's house in their underwear having the best time.

Sunday was Grandma and Aunt Megan's birthday, so we went to Stake conference and then to Gma's again for some BBQ and birthday cake. What a weekend we barely were home.

On Monday we went to the Rodeo with Derek's family!! The boy’s favorite part was that there were 5 bobcats, a front loader and backhoe that they were able to sit in. They also liked the popcorn and the bull riding but it started past their bedtime so they weren't as interested as they could have been. They were however very interested in the bobcat that was moving on a small ad screen above the arena.

Due to the popular demand. I am actually posting my most recent belly picture. Derek only took two and this is the first time this whole pregnancy. I wanted to compare it to my pregnancy with the twins but I kept forgetting. The first two pictures (I am wearing black) are this pregnancy and it was taken Sunday, so I was almost 35 weeks. When I was pregnant with the boys one was taken at 30 weeks and I am wearing white, the other is 37 weeks and I am wearing grey.

I thought I would share some cute pictures of Max. He is already 4 months old and he is a hair ball. I can barely type this without him biting my face or attacking my hands. Dexter still wants to attack him so he lives in the basement. He does get along very well with Dee Dee; in fact Dee Dee is more scared of Max than he is of her.

Derek calls this stage of my pregnancy nesting and that it is. We finally moved all of the office things into the office in the basement and I decided on a theme. My sister Tammy and I went to the fabric store and found some really pretty brown embroidered fabric the best part was that we got 3 yards for around $5. She helped me (she pretty much did it) make the crib skirt and we are going to make curtains with the remainder. Then I found some $5 paint that was a take back at the store and it was the perfect pink. The butterflies I painted on both sides of the wall and the trail was dots but I decided I didn't want them and painted over them and put dashes that look like the fabric's stitching. Hopefully nesting phase will be complete soon.

Today at the Dr.'s I got a complimentary 3D Ultrasound!! It was so cool. They also gave me a CD of the pictures in color. When we had to have one with the boys to see if they had Down syndrome they gave us two B/W pictures and this time I got about 20. You could actually see her face. Her nose seems a little squashed because she was up against the placenta, but she looks so cute, and look how cubby she is! She was even posing with her hand under her chin at the end. I still have 10 weeks left, but that's not that much time! I can't wait to hold her!!

We had a low key birthday party for the boys this year. I made ice cream cake with their favorite shows; (AFV, America’s funniest home videos, for Isaac and Hi-5 for Ethan) on it and they played with their presents. Their favorite present was a 8 week old kitten from their Aunt Caylee. They named him Max. He is a very loveable kitten that is very playful!!! The only member of the family not to welcome Max is Dexter who is bred to hunt small animals like rabbits so he thinks Max is something to hunt. We have to keep Max in the basement away from Dexter until he gets bigger.