Steroids

Great News!

When I play music, particularly Garth Brooks, for my belly, Nora dances her heart out. 

Good girl, Nora. 

It's almost unreal how much she moves around in there. It's very uncomfortable at times. Sometimes I can't focus on other things when it's happening. And, it's happening at all times, it seems. When I go to sleep, when I wake up, when I teach reading groups. When I walk the dogs. When I write. It's always happening. 

How wonderful is that!? It keeps me knowing she is just fine! And quite feisty! Good- we need a fighter! Not only will her entrance to the world require some umpf, but if Nora is going to make it in a house with Kev and I, she needs to be able to hold her own. :)

Despite the many doctor visits and appointments all seems pretty much the same right now. 

Except one thing. 

Those steroid shots I mentioned in the last post- they already happened! Initially, I thought the doctor was describing treatment for Nora after she is born with steroids, which is one way they treat these lung masses of sorts. But, I received a call from the doctor last week at school. 

"Hi Deidre. This is Doctor Schneider, give me a call back when you get a chance. I want to talk to you about some things I've found on the ultrasound from earlier in the week."

Messages like that should not be allowed to be left on my cell phone while I am attempting to teach children! I obviously left them reading a book for a few minutes while I took care of business. 

What did he find? He thinks the mass on Nora's right lung may have grown a bit from the previous ultrasound. 

WHAT DO YOU MEAN GREW? HOW BIG? SHOULD I BE WORRIED? YOU SAID THAT GROWTH COULD MEAN FETAL DEATH DUE TO RESTRUCTURING OF THE ORGANS- IS THAT HAPPENING!?!?!

"No, no," he says. 

He adds, "We are talking millimeters. Nothing to be too concerned about."

Yeah, ok. Riiiggghhhht.

But, I let him continue. 

He prescribed two shots of steroids for me last weekend. One, then 24 hours later, another. The steroids are typically used when mother's are at risk for preterm labor and their baby might need a little lung boost. The steroids help the lungs develop. Then, when baby comes early the lungs, typically the trickiest part of preterm delivery, are ready for action. 

In our case, it's used a bit differently. It's a new therapy. Seemingly experimental- but not supposed to do any harm, and can only do good. In some cases, when the masses (unknown for us at this point) are CCAM (or CPAM) steroid treatments have helped to reduce their size and impact on baby upon arrival. If it is the alternative to these said cysts (some other form of mass, lung tissue, etc. that would need to be removed), nothing will happen. Except, Nora will have some rockin' lungs. 

So, I went to the hospital. I waited around for an hour. They stuck a needle in my bum and I went on my merry way. Then, I did it again the next day. The shot wasn't that bad, despite my apprehension to doing it. It was no big deal, really. 

I was hoping for some Wonder Woman side effects- like maybe I would be able to do all things with steroids in my body! I wasn't. In fact, I was TIRED. This is mostly because I did not really sleep for the next few nights. At one point I was grading papers, checking items for Christmas, and getting caught up on emails at all hours of the night, for multiple nights. I also had some nice late night snacks.

I seem to have regained control of my sleep schedule. A vital piece of my well-being. Those that know me, know how precious sleep is for me- and for those around me. Have no fear, I'm back on track!

So, as I continue to check items off of my to-do list, we are praying. Praying that steroids are having an impact on Nora's lungs! I know that it is sort of a long shot that this can correct the lung problems, and she can potentially be lung surgery free with this treatment, BUT, I gotta have hope right? At one point it seemed like a long shot that we would ever even get to meet Miss Nora. Now, it seems like we for sure will! And that she'll live a long, happy life with us. 

That being said, I also am not putting lung surgery off of the table. I've learned to prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and pray! 

Join me, will you!?