Much to learn.

Since we launched earlier this week, I have been so encouraged and blessed by the outpouring of love, support and prayers by our amazing friends and family. We are so lucky to have you all in our lives. THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart!

The more time passes and the stronger Tate grows, the more I am aware of how totally "in over our heads" we are. I have laughingly wondered aloud if God is really sure that we can handle this. I know He picked us to be Tate's parents and His grace is made perfect in our weaknesses but sometimes I wonder if there isn't someone else out there who might have been better for the job :) Either way, as totally unprepared as we are, I am still so excited and looking forward to the day we get to meet this little guy! And we are determined to rise to the occasion and make sure Tate gets the absolute best care and support available.

The logistics of Tate's birth and subsequent care are very much touch and go. So much of "the plan" can't actually be planned until right before he comes, which is a temptation to stress for a planner/list-maker like me. 

The reason for this is because as Tate grows, his intestines will continue to grow out of his abdomen more and more. A big determining factor in how things will go as far as his birth is concerned is whether or not his liver also comes out. We won't know the extent of inside vs. outside until basically a week or so before he is born, unless it comes out before then. Once something has come out, it's extremely unlikely it will go back in during gestation. 

Another big factor in Tate's care after his birth will be his lungs. Because his intestines are outside the abdomen during his development, his lungs will most likely develop longer and skinnier than normal. How well he does with breathing on his own will definitely affect when he will be able to have surgery, eat, go home from the NICU, etc.

Here is what we do know about his birth right now: Tate will be born via scheduled c-section at Medical Center of Plano. Right now, the plan is to take him at 38 weeks, which would be June 3rd. That could easily change based on what we see on ultrasounds, or if he decides to come early like many omphalocele babies do.  He will be in the NICU at the very least until his breathing is stabilized and he is able to at least have a feeding tube, because he will be nourished by IV fluids until we can verify that his intestines are working and digesting by doing a test run of breastmilk.

We have our anatomy ultrasound coming up on January 21st, and that will give us much more information about where his liver is, how his heart is doing, how much more has come out since the last ultrasound, etc. We will also hopefully verify that we will stay at Med Plano as planned, and get referrals to our neonatal surgeon and the rest of our team of doctors outside of Dr. Zink and my OB-GYN Dr. Downey. I'm looking forward to seeing his sweet little face again! :)