Avery needs prayers

As stated in the title, Avery needs prayers. Not only is she just maintaining her weight, but she is only taking in about half the milk she should be for her age and weight. She is still very sleepy and jaundiced and not producing poops like she should. Friday I took her to see Dr. Deutsch (Shelby's GI) and he had some concerns about her. Now, it could still be that Avery's system just needs to kick into gear, but he wants to investigate some things in the meantime. He did some blood and urine tests and Monday evening she will have an ultrasound on her brain. He wants to make sure that she didn't suffer any neurological damage during her birth. It was a bit traumatic on her. She came out really fast resulting in quite a bit of bruising and a fractured right clavicle. We are a bit shell shocked with all this coming at us, especially considering we have gone through so much with Shelby. Despite all these issues, Avery is perfect. Her little face is so precious.

Thanks to all those who are supporting Avery and me so much in keeping her a breastfed baby. While she is not nursing at the breast, I am still pumping away and providing my milk for her. This is very important to Scott & me. Please enjoy the pictures and send up many prayers for her.

Avery: Week 2

Avery update

Thanks to everyone for being so patient on Avery updates. We are having some sleep deprivation around here (wonder why?!?!). Avery weighed in at 7 lb. 4 oz. on Monday! Yea! All that hard work this weekend by her, Mommy & Daddy to get feeds in paid off as she put on 6 oz. Now we are struggling to maintain that weight. She is still a very sleepy baby and is having a tough time getting her latch right for breastfeeding. I am still pumping, but now we are finger feeding her as to not confuse her more with the bottle nipple. She is off the bili lights and as of Monday her bili was in the 13 range. Slowly, but surely, she is making progress. Please continue to hold her in your prayers. I'll try to post more pictures in the next few days.

We have our hands full

Sorry to not give more updates, but, as you see by the title of this post, we have our hands full. Avery's bili came down, but now is back up. Its been as high as 17.8 this week and as of today is at 16.2. She's been back on the bili lights here at home and having daily heel pricks to check her bili level. She also has been losing weight despite what I think has been pretty good nursing. As of today I am back to pumping and feeding her my expressed milk so we can measure what exactly is going in her. She's down about 3/4 of a lb. from her birth weight. She's as cute as ever though and loves to snuggle. I just wish we could get her on the right track. Please keep her in your prayers. Her next weight check is Monday. I pray that it moves in the right direction.

We're home!

We're home! Avery's bili fell low enough for us to bust out of RMH. Click on my Mom's blog link for more details. Tomorrow we see her pediatrician and are hoping that her bili continues to fall. Enjoy the pictures!

Avery: Birth Day

Avery: Tuesday

Avery: Welcome home Wednesday

Avery: Thursday & the "bili blanket"

Avery: Back in RMH for phototherapy

She's here!!!

I have to do this update quick. In a minute you'll see why. Miss Avery Elizabeth Martin arrived at 4:50 p.m. Monday April 9th. She weighed in @ 7 lbs. 10 oz. and was 19 3/4 in. long. Right in-between her sister's sizes. Riley was 7.11 and Shelby was 7.9. Anyway, Avery is beautiful. Labor and delivery were quick (just over 3 hours from the time the midwife broke my water she arrived). She did break her collarbone during delivery, but that will heal fine. She is jaundiced, though. So much that we were doing phototherapy here at home, but now her bili is up to 21.5. Good thing is that her direct bili is only .6. Now (literally) we are headed to the hospital for her to be admitted for phototherapy. This road seems all too familiar right now and a bit scary, but we are trying to remind ourselves that Shelby's disease is very rare and that Avery's jaundice is probably very "normal." The pediatrician is worried about her being dehydrated as she is too sleepy to eat much. That's all for now. I'll keep you updated as I can. Please check out my Mom's blog (see link on right side of page) for updates and Avery pictures.

Nothing new here

I would just like to ask for prayers for Annika, Moreena, Joerg, and Frankie. When you read her Mom's past few posts, you'll understand why.

I'm still pregnant. Benadryl has become a bit of a life-saver for me. I can sleep somewhat better when I take some. Otherwise I'm just gigantic with baby parts poking out of me everywhere. Monday I'm to have an ultrasound (again) to see how big Avery is (again). I hope to not make it to my appointment Monday. I'd much rather be sitting in a hospital bed with this little (or not so little) beauty in my arms.

Happy Easter everyone!

I didn't have enough brain power...

to remember everything about Shelby's tests! My Mom reminded me that I didn't tell you the results of her DEXA scan and other x-rays to check on her osteoporosis. Duh! Well, the DEXA scan did show that she has a bit of osteoporosis still so she'll continue on the Fosamax at least until the fall when she sees Dr. Langman again. Also, the x-ray of her spine showed something called spondylolisthesis. From what I understand, its no big deal, but she does need to be seen by the orthopedic doctor in Chicago in April to follow up on it.

As for me, I had my 36-week check-up this morning. I am dilated to 3 cm!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited?!?!? I want to have this baby this week. I measured at...ready for this...44 weeks!!!! Today I saw one of the doctors that I haven't met before. He asked how big my other 2 were and Scott said 7 1/2 lbs. at 37 weeks. Then the doctor said "Well, this baby is already bigger than that!" YIKES!!!

Watch for updates....

I think I have enough brain power...

to give you the update on Shelby's ultrasound results. The cyst(s?) have grown since the fall. I spoke directly with her surgeon in Chicago about these results and he's not quite sure if its 1 cyst or 3, but either way, its larger than last time. He said its very unusual for someone with Biliary Atresia to have something like this, but still feels very confident that they are the result of dilated bile ducts and not tumors. He is very pleased that she is doing so well and not having complications from them. I asked how could that be and he said that the other parts of her liver are taking over most of the function right now and essentially this "bad" part is sort-of shut-down. He does not want to try to drain the cysts or fix the obstruction right now because any of the possibilities would be invasive and could possibly lead to her needing an external bile drain if the surgery did not work. So...as long as she's doing good meaning no infections or pain from them, then they are just going to watch them closely. He said they could get large enough to put pressure on veins and arteries that are essential for transplant. If that happens then he would have to do something to preserve those structures even if she isn't having any complications from them. As long as nothing pops up between now and June she'll have another ultrasound in Chicago to assess them at that time. Does all that make sense? She just had her 5-year-old check-up at the pediatricians on Monday and now weighs 50 lbs. and is 43 inches tall. We had labs run on her and all looked pretty good. Other than her not wanting to go to sleep at night and exerting a bit of 5-year-old attitude (most likely from a lack of sleep), she is doing great!

Riley is doing awesome, too. She devours book by book by book......She is very excited about this new baby sister and getting to be quite grown up for 7 years old. Where did my fat little baby go?

As for me, I saw the midwife on Monday and have been told to moderate my activity. If I'm having contractions, then I am to rest. Well, that happens about every time I get up. Yesterday I stayed on the couch until 1:30 in the afternoon and by 4:00 p.m. my legs were swollen really bad. Today I had the luxury to stay in bed until Noon as my Mom kept the girls overnight. Let's hope this baby comes soon. I'm thinking next Tuesday or Wednesday. Anyone else have any dates in mind?

Bed rest for the weekend, anyone?

Come on, join me in my boredom. Friday I came down with some type of stomach ailment and ended up spending the afternoon at Rockford Memorial getting fluids. They recorded contractions about every 5-7 minutes, but I'm not dilated, so I was sent home on bed rest for the weekend. If I'm good, then I can go to Shelby's birthday party Sunday night. I'm to call the doctor's office on Monday and get seen this week rather than waiting until my regular appointment April 2nd. Just thought I would keep everyone updated. I have the results of Shelby's ultrasound, but that will take a while to explain so I'll leave it for another day. Take care!

34 week check-up

Today we had the estimated fetal weight ultrasound done. It has been confirmed for the 3rd time (for my reassurance) that we are having a girl. Also, her weight is estimated at 6 lbs. So, that's not so scary. If I go to my due date that would put her at around 8 1/2 lbs. My midwife still believes that I'll go about 3 weeks early like I did with Avery's sisters. I now measure at 38 weeks. I'm just measuring big because I am. No other reason. Everything looks great. Of course, I'm turning into a beached whale (those are my words). I'm tired, but can't sleep and really have nothing good to say about being pregnant right now...so, seems time to have her! Don't listen to me. This little miracle in me is so precious I don't mean to complain (but I will). I'm just so ready for her to be in my arms. We got awesome 3D pictures of her today, too. What chubby cheeks she has! I'll have to sweet talk her Uncle Chris into scanning them for me like he did the last ones.Oh yea, and today...let's see, what could today be?!?!?! Shelby is 5!!!!! I can't believe she's 5!!!!!!

32 week check-up

Today I had my 32 week check-up. Drum roll, please...now I measure at 37 weeks!!! The midwife said "you measure full-term!" "Yikes!!!!!" (that's what I said.) She feels the baby is about 5 1/2 pounds by now, head down, butt up, all that good stuff. In 2 weeks they are going to do an ultrasound to get an estimated fetal weight. If she's really big, like they think, they'll just watch me. I think their hope is that I go 3 weeks early on my own like I did with Riley & Shelby. When I asked what would be done if Avery measures really big I was told that if they think she is going to be 10 or 11 pounds they'll offer me a c-section! Yikes again! Well, here I am big and miserable...











30 weeks



32 weeks

O.k., it doesn't look like much change in the pictures, but trust me, I got bigger.

Last Friday Shelby had an abdominal ultrasound done here in Rockford to check on the size of the cyst in her liver. The only thing we know yet is that the radiologist wasn't sure if it was the same or bigger so Dr. Superina (her surgeon in Chicago) needs to review those results and get back to us. Then on Monday she had some x-rays & a DEXA scan done in Chicago to see if her bones are "normal" yet. If so, she'll be able to discontinue taking Fosamax. I'll let you know when we hear on those results. We spent the rest of the day at Shedd Aquarium and had a great, but exhausting time. Waiting to see SpongeBob cartoon in 4D at Shedd Aquarium

Hangin' with SpongeBob

Oh, and Happy 31st Birthday to me last Friday. My Mom made me a chocolate pecan pie instead of cake, at my request, of course. Thanks Mom!

She's comin' soon

Does it look like I can go 10 more weeks?!?!?! Technically, I have 10 more weeks to go. I think I'll burst if I do. Actually, I saw my doctor on Monday and she measured me at 34 weeks, not 30 weeks. What does that mean? Well, we don't know exactly yet what that means, but they'll check me again in 2 weeks. If I still measure much bigger than I'm supposed to be then they'll do an ultrasound to check on the size of the baby. I had Riley & Shelby each at 37 weeks & they were 7 1/2 lbs. so I must grow them a bit big, but I've never measured this far off from my due date. No matter what, I'm feeling quite pregnant. We are all excited around here to meet this new little life!


Today the girls went outside after school with Daddy and made some snowmen (who will probably melt in the next few days). The weather here has been wonderful compared to what we endured earlier this month.
Shelby decided today that it was her beloved Minnie's birthday. Tonight we celebrated with chocolate chip pancakes, candles (pretend - can't you see them in the picture?) and a round of "Happy Birthday." What a doll - Shelby, not Minnie! One month from today she'll be 5 - wow!

Avery, up close & personal

This is a phenomenal 3-D ultrasound image of the "bun in my oven." Can you see it? Its her face! You can see her eyes, nose, and her mouth is open. That's the umbilical cord to the left of her face. Wow! Just wanted to share...big thanks to Uncle Chris for using his super-scanning skills so I could post this image.

Lots going on here

Let's see..where to begin. Shelby came home from the hospital only to have an allergic reaction to her antibiotic the next night. Then the next morning I discovered that both the girls had head lice. Fun, fun, fun. We got those situations under control then I started having contractions on and off. I saw my midwife on Wednesday January 3rd and everything checked out o.k. I was just to take it easy. I'm sure sleeping in a hospital bed with a 4-year-old for 3 nights didn't help much. On Sunday my OB called to say that she was reviewing my non-stress test from that week and didn't like how the baby's heart rate dropped. She was very concerned and wanted me to have an ultrasound the next day to measure my amniotic fluid level and check the baby's growth. The next morning they saw me first thing. The ultrasound was perfect. The baby is 1lb. 8 oz. and the amniotic fluid level is good. Everything looks great with her. So then I started having stomach/intestinal cramping on Friday. I thought it was from an antibiotic that I am taking, but as the day went on I started feeling worse and worse. I spoke with my midwife and she said that if I was having that feeling more than 5 times an hour then I needed to get checked out. That was happening so we had to do some juggling as we weren't going to drag along the girls to the hospital with us. My Mom had some things going on but shuffled them around to help us out. We don 't have anyone else we can call on and have help us at the drop of a hat like my parents. Scott stayed home from work and took me to the hospital to get checked out. At that point I was hurting so much that I wasn't sure if I was having stomach cramps or contractions. We got there and they hooked me up to the monitor. I was having contractions but nothing regular like I was going into labor. My urine test came back showing I was dehydrated. They put in an IV and dumped 2 bags of fluid in me in about 45 minutes. They re-tested my urine and it showed my blood sugar was high. Like really high - over 1000. So they did a finger poke and it came back fine at 175. I was running a temp, too so they aren't sure if I had something viral or what. I am to see my doctor early this week. I'm just taking it easy and trying to drink and eat so I don't end up dehydrated again.

By the way, the baby has been given a name. Avery Elizabeth.

Christmas/hospital photos

We're home!

Shelby was discharged right around Noon today. Numbers are still a bit crazy and she's not eating much at all, but has been fever free for a while now. She's to do a week of Bactrim and see her GI for a follow-up. We're all tired and need to get settled with Christmas presents and laundry. Hopefully later today I will do a more detailed update and post some Christmas/hospital pictures.

Spending Christmas in Club RMH

Yep. Poor kid came down with a temp and pain in her tummy. She's was admitted last night to Rockford Memorial Hospital (thank God we're able to stay in Rockford and not have to be in Chicago). She's on Gentamyacin and Zosyn (2 "big gun" IV meds) at least until we hear back on blood and urine cultures. That won't be until Christmas night. So far this morning her fever is gone, but she's one tired kid as we didn't get settled in her room until about 12:30 a.m. All throughout the night she was very restless between her fever and nurses coming in to check vitals. Mommy's one tired girl, too. This is the first time she's been pregnant and shared a hospital bed with Shelby. Daddy's on duty now while I'm at home grabbing some stuff. Please keep her in your prayers that her liver stays happy. I'll update when I can.

Shelby starting new med

Hello all! Just wanted to let you all know that Shelby is starting a new med today for itching. The thought is that it is liver-related as she is not having trouble with dry skin. This can happen with liver disease. Her new medication is Rifampin. Please add in some prayers for her that it helps take away or decrease her itching. It has been bad enough to wake her at night and she scratches away while sleeping.

Yes, "The Martin Girls" will still work!

Yesterday I had my 20-week ultrasound. We found out that we are having a girl. She looked beautiful! We got some great face shots. (Thanks Mom for scanning them!) The girls are very excited at the idea of having a baby sister! Scott isn't quite sure what he's going to do in a house with 4 females, but he'll figure it out! Now on to picking a name...I hope you're good at looking at these because I don't know how to make little arrows to point things out. The first one is a great face profile and arm shot. The second one she's looking straight on at the camera. Her little mouth is open and those two little balls are her hands. Pretty cool!

I'm so lucky

No hiding it now. I'm really pregnant. 19 weeks and counting....

Aren't they just gorgeous?!?! I'm so lucky to be their Mommy!