The decision to have Isaac early was not an easy one. I wanted so badly to go into labor on my own and have a drug free, vaginal delivery, but unfortunately that was just not in the cards for us. After my blood clot had resolved, I thought we were in the clear, but of course not right? In and ultrasound we ended up finding that Isaac had an umbilical cord verix. This meant that his umbilical cord was dilated and enlarged. The concern with this is that there is a much greater chance of a blood clot developing in that vein, which could in turn cut off blood flow to the baby. This officially put us in the "high risk" department and had me in the doctor's office 3x a week from 32 weeks on. As we got closer to my due date, the decision was made that it would just be safest to take Mr. Isaac early.
Regardless of how he came into this world, I am very thankful to have happy and healthy baby boy. Recovery from the repeat C-section has been much easier. I was actually able to get up and shower on my own within 24 hours after having him and was able to go home just 48 hours after he was born. At just 3.5 weeks postpartum, I almost feel like my old self (minus the extra 12 pounds and the muffin top that I'm still lugging around).
Settling into our new life as a family of four has been pretty smooth. Jordyn did have some trouble for the first couple of days, but she seems to have gotten the hang of things. All of us are very thankful to have Scott home for the 6 weeks that we get him. I have no idea how I would be surviving with out him!!! Jordyn has really become a Daddy's girl, which Scott absolutely loves. I can't even begin to think about things after he leaves (it honestly gets hard to breathe), but I know that I'll find some inner strength and that we'll all survive.
It seems like these days my dad can't catch a freaking break. In March he was taken off the clinical trial drug because his white blood cells were measuring very low, and he needed to give his immune system a break. About 10 days later he went back on the drug. Unfortunately every time he goes off the drug he has to suffer with his body going through withdraws, and then every time he starts it back up again he has to go through all the initial harsher side effects (annoying, but okay, he can deal with this). He then developed pancreatitis (more than just annoying, scary and painful). To combat his pancreatitis, he was put on a clear liquid diet for 3 days and then a strict NO fat diet. Sometimes I swear it is just one thing after another for him. I hate Cancer!!! The pancreatitis caused him to lose quite a bit of weight and make him feel miserable and weak. Thankfully, he wasn't forced to cancel his trip to Hawaii with Maygan and the boys.
Just as he was starting to get back into a rhythm, he was hit with something new and much scarier. Sometime between very late on Sunday, April 22nd and very early Monday April 23rd, my dad suffered a stroke. He was taken to the ER very early Monday morning. When I arrived hours later to the ICU, my dad was unable to speak or move the right side of his body. All I could do is cry and pray and cry some more.
It seems as though God was listening to my prayers, because a week later he is on his way to recovery and making great strides. I never thought that seeing my dad walk could bring tears to my eyes, the same with watching him tie his shoe, or send a text message. He is still in the hospital, currently in the Intensive Therapy Unit, and working incredibly hard in getting back to his old self. I am absolutely amazed by his strength and determination through all of this. Most days while I'm visiting him in the hospital, he is making me laugh with his jokes, or in the way he loves to give the nurses a hard time. He is going to have a very long road to recovery, but I am thankful for his determination and good spirits. So far his biggest challenge in recovery has been regaining his speech. It is difficult for me to see him frustrated and I pray every day that things get easier for him.
Nighttime feedings with Isaac and daily commutes to the hospital have left me pretty exhausted these days so I'm going to end this post now. I ask that anyone who has taken the time to read all my sleepy babble, please take the time to pray for my father's health.