Caroline Health Update

Well, I want to update you all, though unfortunately I do not really have any answers, just an update...

I had a FNA biopsy on Wednesday May 9th.  Truthfully, it was much more painful than I remember, but "successful."  They were looking at a lymph node on each side of my neck, just below my jaw.  In my past FNAs, they looked right in the center of my neck.  On Friday my doctor called with the results and now it makes sense why this FNA was a bit different than my others. As it turns out, what showed up in my ultrasound was two lymph nodes that do look larger than "normal"- but just barely!  By .3 cm if I understand correctly.   They did NOT find any thyroid cancer- Thank you Lord!  However, there are too many similar white blood cells in them- I think there are supposed to be lots of different kinds, but mine are only showing up as one kind.  SO, I was referred to an ENT doctor who thus far has been great.  This last Friday, the 18th, I had an amazingly simple CT scan and met with him again today.  There are no tumors in my lymph nodes, but they are slightly larger than "normal."  A biopsy/removal is recommended but first we are going to try an antibiotic to see if that shrinks the nodes at all.  I am under strict orders to see an ENT doctor as soon as we move- if you have any recommendations, please let me know! 

Basically I think they are looking for lymphoma- which is super scary to me, even though I don't really understand the disease, and many tears have been shed.  However, this doctor said he would bet money I do NOT have it...  We just need to track down a bit more what is going on in these nodes.

Please pray that we, especially me!, rest in God's arms and not my own.  I do okay when I am not thinking too much about it, but when the doctor calls, about anything, I get nervous again.  And please pray we find some great doctors in Amherst- again, recommendations greatly appreciated!!!

On a happier note, we had some amazing family photos taken a week ago- check them out here:

http://stephaniedee.wordpress.com/

We drive out of State College in 11 days!!!!

Isaac - Two Months

Isaac had his two month checkup on Wednesday and he was a champ.  The appointment included three shots!  He does not cry often so when he got the shots, his face was SO red and eventually he made a sound, but really it was all bottled up in his face!  Poor guy!  

However, he is NOT a little guy!  He weighed in at 13 pounds, 9 oz and measures 24 inches- around 80th percentile.  It was not until late last night though that I realized just how big he is when I looked in Olivia's baby book to find that she didnt weigh this much till she was PAST four months old!!!  I thought his clothes were getting a little tight, but now I know why!  He is a great eater and sleeper and I guess it is serving him well!!!  He is a happy happy baby and we are so grateful!!!

"Thyroid" Health Update

Last week I had a routine checkup with my endocrinologist about my "thyroid."  I wanted to get in one more meeting before we move this June.  We agreed I should have an ultrasound before I left to see if there has been any growth in my neck since my last ultrasound in December 2010.  I had this done last Friday.  I wasn't really nervous about it (I have had my share of ultrasounds!) until I was on the table and realized that they may actually find something- what if they did!?  BUT it was Friday and I knew I wouldn't hear an update till the next week so life went on and honestly I forgot about it.  Until...  I answered the phone and it was the nurse calling from my Docs office.  If you have ever had health problems you know that the doctor's office never calls with good news, only "bad."  So you don't want a call from the doctor!  So the nurse was very nice and explained that my two lymph nodes are a bit larger than they were in Dec 2010 and it is recommended I have a biopsy (FNA) done on them just to make sure they are OK.  The doctor doesn't suspect anything is wrong, but it would not be smart to not check. The FNA procedure is the morning of May 9th, thankfully here in State College, so at least that is more convenient than Hershey.

The procedure doesn't really make me nervous- I had them done I think three times before.  And what the nurse said is good news- nothing should be wrong.  HOWEVER, if you followed our story closely before, you know this is almost exactly what happened the first time.  The doctor kept saying, its probably nothing, but you should have it checked before you move- an ultrasound found a nodule, an FNA biopsy found cancer, and then we moved.  Boo.  BUT I had a healthy baby Olivia, an extremely successful surgery to remove my thyroid, and because I did not have the radiation treatment right away, I have a wonderful beautiful baby boy Isaac!  Praise God for all of that!!!  I am so thankful!!!

So, please keep us in your prayers.  We know God is Sovereign, faithful, and the ultimate healer.  HE can handle this (even though it feels like we can't).

Isaac and the Monkey

Isaac will be two months old on Wednesday.  Last Friday everyone I saw told me how much bigger he is- he is a great sleeper and eater!  AND he is a great Smiler!!!  He is quite the charmer in any crowd.  He also "plays" really well. He is totally entertained on his playmat with his monkey friend.  

And he is definitely 100% boy!  We love this little man so much!

ABCs and other songs

Olivia has started singing a lot of songs- it is so sweet and exciting!  Maybe a week ago she started singing her ABCs in full!  (well she skips a few letters in the middle if no one is singing along, but she has it from m-n-o-p...)  She will even play along on her piano while she sings!


Before bed we sing "Amazing Grace." A couple nights ago I heard her making noise while Nate was singing it and trying to put her to bed.  When he came out, he asked "Did you hear that?"  And I asked- "Was she singing along?"  And he said "YES!"  I think she melted her Daddy's heart with that- she sang along with most of Amazing Grace!  And then two nights ago she did the same with me- WOW!  She is listening!!!  What a sweet blessing to all of us.


Olivia also likes to sing/play "Ashes"- otherwise known as "Ring Around the Rosy"  So maybe a week ago I had finished feeding Isaac and he was sitting in my lap.  Olivia was next to us on the bed and took Isaac's  hand and mine and sang "ring around the rosy, pocket full of posy, ashes ashes, we all fall down." and proceeded to fall down!!!  She loves Isaac SO much and really wants to play with him as you can tell :)

Six Weeks

Isaac will be six weeks old tomorrow. He is a really wonderful baby. He sleeps:) He is content. He eats well. We are totally getting real smiles from him- they are the best! He bats at his toys when he is awake. Just this morning we found him with the rings around his wrist, he had gotten them on himself! When he cries, its super cute. Its this really kinda pathetic sad face followed by a sad little cry. He doesnt do it often. It is so sad and pitiful, I want to fix whatever I can for him right away. Olivia loves him- I think she would really like to play with him. She continues to try to hug and kiss him every chance she can. She asks "Are you awake?" and "What are you doing?" I wish I could record it for you cause the way she says it is just great!

Arachnid

When Olivia is sick (or Mommy needs some relief) she watches elmo and sesame street sketches online.  Often she just stares at the screen and I wonder if her brain is turning to mush.  There is a sketch with the guy from big bang theory where he teaches the word Arachnid.  Is that even how you spell it?  Anyways, yesterday we watched a brand new elmos world dvd and when the same spider puppet came on the screen, unprompted, Olivia says with a smile, "arachnid!". I am so impressed!