Good news! I went to the Houston doctor on Wednesday and things are looking even better. There is so much I don't understand about all of this, but I do know that the measurements and dopplars (measures of blood flow) from this week indicate that the little baby is making progress. He is not only growing, but his blood flow looked a lot better. The doctor's exact words were, "it looks like this thing just might be turning around on us." He seemed pretty surprised. While he mentioned this as a possibility in the beginning, he didn't make it seem realistic. That doesn't mean that we haven't been praying for it though. Along with many others, it has been our constant prayer that God watch over our boys and help them through this. While we certainly aren't in the clear yet, it is so comforting to know that my little one is making progress instead of getting worse. So, thank you all for your prayers and please continue to pray with us for these babies. God is so good!
The other good news is that I don't have to go back until June 23rd, giving me 12 whole days that I don't have to see a doctor. The first thing I did was drive to Snyder to be with Dustin. Even though I have only spent two nights there and even though 90% of our stuff is still in boxes and nothing at all is familiar about it, when I walk into that house, I know I'm home and it feels so good. I can imagine bringing my babies home and cooking for my family and spending holidays there and I love the way that feels. Then I open my eyes and I see the mound of boxes and the terrible paint on the walls and all of the things that need work and I get overwhelmed, so I just close them again :) It will definitely be a work in progress and it might be five years before my terribly long to do list for the house gets accomplished, but as we finish one room at a time, I can just sit back, drink my sweet tea, and bask in the wonderfullness of it all, being ever so thankful for my patient and talented husband who puts up with me.
Next on the agenda is camp! I am so excited that I get to go. Nothing compares to a week away from the evil of the world, TV, cell phones, and work to be spent with family, friends, good food, and Bible study. I have loved the last four years of being a counselor, but I wasn't able to commit to that this year not knowing if I would even be able to go, so this year I can just enjoy my time with no agenda or schedule. So we'll leave tonight or in the morning to head down there and I will be away until next Monday when I return to civilization again. I hope you all have as wonderful of a week as I plan to!
Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement! We appreciate you all so much.
Until next week...
The Grigsbys
Friday, June 13, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
This is my life
I'm sorry for taking so long to update. Last Friday was the last day of school and I had to turn over my laptop, so I've been sort of disconnected this past week.
I went back to the Houston doctor Monday and he says everything looks about the same. That is a good thing because we really need to get past the next couple of weeks so that it will be safer to do the surgery. I am at 15 weeks right now and he mentioned the time frame of 20 weeks, but he really can't predict when exactly things will get to the point of needing the surgery.
This morning, I went to see my doctor and had another ultrasound. Over the past week, the little baby has gained a centimeter of fluid, which means we're moving in a positive direction instead of getting worse and we are very thankful for that! God truly answers prayers and He is taking care of us. The sweet sonographer made Dustin a DVD of the babies for me to take to him so he isn't missing out on everything. She just had twins herself 7 months ago and she treats us so well! I know that I am not the first woman to ever experience pregnancy, but it is new to me and it is such an amazing experience. To see them each week and watch them develop before my eyes is just indescribable. To look at their pictures and think about how they are growing inside of me is overwhelming. It makes me amazed that anyone could doubt the presence of God.
I got to go see Dustin last week which was good for the heart! It was a lot of driving and a short visit, but much needed. Hopefully we'll manage to see each other on the weekends somehow and not have to spend more than a week apart at a time. The people at the church there in Snyder have been wonderful- praying for us, inviting Dustin over, offering to unpack our boxes, taking us out to eat... I'm so thankful he has met such nice people to spend time with - I hate to think of him there by himself.
As far as I go, I finished up the school year and between doctor's visits and driving, I've gotten a lot of rest, eaten a lot of good food, watched several movies, and done a little shopping. Sounds rough, right? I'm trying to just take care of myself and keep somewhat busy to keep my mind off of everything. Without a house to unpack/decorate and a husband to cook for and take care of and without a job or hobby to speak of, it might make for a long few months. I've been really lucky to have a best friend who not only is letting me live with her, but has been to every appointment with me and spends all her days hanging out with me. I know it will be short lived as she probably needs to get on with her own life, but it sure has been nice! Thanks, Eva!
This has truly been a humbling experience so far and I want to thank all of you for the emails, phone calls, words of encouragement, success stories, offers to help, and especially the prayers. It means more to us than you may ever know that so many are willing to share in this with us and help us along. We are so blessed.
We continue to pray for strength, understanding, and God's careful watch over our babies.
My next appointment is next Wednesday in Houston and I will try to not be so long in posting.
Until next week...
Amy, Dustin, & the boys
I went back to the Houston doctor Monday and he says everything looks about the same. That is a good thing because we really need to get past the next couple of weeks so that it will be safer to do the surgery. I am at 15 weeks right now and he mentioned the time frame of 20 weeks, but he really can't predict when exactly things will get to the point of needing the surgery.
This morning, I went to see my doctor and had another ultrasound. Over the past week, the little baby has gained a centimeter of fluid, which means we're moving in a positive direction instead of getting worse and we are very thankful for that! God truly answers prayers and He is taking care of us. The sweet sonographer made Dustin a DVD of the babies for me to take to him so he isn't missing out on everything. She just had twins herself 7 months ago and she treats us so well! I know that I am not the first woman to ever experience pregnancy, but it is new to me and it is such an amazing experience. To see them each week and watch them develop before my eyes is just indescribable. To look at their pictures and think about how they are growing inside of me is overwhelming. It makes me amazed that anyone could doubt the presence of God.
I got to go see Dustin last week which was good for the heart! It was a lot of driving and a short visit, but much needed. Hopefully we'll manage to see each other on the weekends somehow and not have to spend more than a week apart at a time. The people at the church there in Snyder have been wonderful- praying for us, inviting Dustin over, offering to unpack our boxes, taking us out to eat... I'm so thankful he has met such nice people to spend time with - I hate to think of him there by himself.
As far as I go, I finished up the school year and between doctor's visits and driving, I've gotten a lot of rest, eaten a lot of good food, watched several movies, and done a little shopping. Sounds rough, right? I'm trying to just take care of myself and keep somewhat busy to keep my mind off of everything. Without a house to unpack/decorate and a husband to cook for and take care of and without a job or hobby to speak of, it might make for a long few months. I've been really lucky to have a best friend who not only is letting me live with her, but has been to every appointment with me and spends all her days hanging out with me. I know it will be short lived as she probably needs to get on with her own life, but it sure has been nice! Thanks, Eva!
This has truly been a humbling experience so far and I want to thank all of you for the emails, phone calls, words of encouragement, success stories, offers to help, and especially the prayers. It means more to us than you may ever know that so many are willing to share in this with us and help us along. We are so blessed.
We continue to pray for strength, understanding, and God's careful watch over our babies.
My next appointment is next Wednesday in Houston and I will try to not be so long in posting.
Until next week...
Amy, Dustin, & the boys
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome
These last couple of days have sort of been a whirlwind and after talking to thirty different people on the phone in one day, I decided I need to have a central place to keep friends and family updated on our boys.
By the way....we're having BOYS!!!
Some of the best words I have ever heard (after I got past the shock) was the news that there were two babies. I felt blessed to have one and twice as blessed to have two! Fast forward 6 weeks to yesterday and the scariest words I have now heard are that my babies might have a rare and serious disease.
Sparing too many details, I went to the doctor yesterday a little worried that something was wrong. What I was worried about turned out to be nothing, but from the ultrasound, my doctor could tell that one baby was growing quite a bit more than the other and had a significant amount more fluid in his sac than the other. Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) has been mentioned from the beginning as something that they would be watching for and these things were the first indicators that it might be developing. I was scheduled to see a specialist in Houston this morning and after the long emotional appointment, this is what we now know:
*I have the very best team of doctors in the nation. This alone gives me confidence in the road ahead.
* I do not have TTTS....yet. My doctor feels fairly certain that it will develop at some point in time, but I do not yet fit the criteria for it. The time frame is very uncertain. I could go weeks, months, or it could develop overnight. It was mentioned that he has seen this problem "fix" itself, but he didn't really entertain that as a realistic possibility.
* Once it develops, I will have a procedure where they cauterize the blood vessels that are being shared by the babies so that each baby is independent of each other. After the surgery, there is a 50 - 60% chance that I can take home two healthy babies and that is everyone's goal.
*For more information about this disease, visit this website.
*Most importantly...I know that we need prayers. Please pray that our babies will come home healthy when this is all over. Please pray for wisdom as we make decisions in the coming weeks. Please pray for me and Dustin as we will be separated throughout most of this as we have just moved to Snyder where Dustin is working, but I need to stay close to Houston to be closely monitored.
You can tell me all the statistics in the world about this disease, but none of them matter too much because God is in control and taking care of us.
I go back Monday afternoon and I will try to keep updates posted on here.
Thank you for your prayers,
Amy, Dustin & the boys :)
By the way....we're having BOYS!!!
Some of the best words I have ever heard (after I got past the shock) was the news that there were two babies. I felt blessed to have one and twice as blessed to have two! Fast forward 6 weeks to yesterday and the scariest words I have now heard are that my babies might have a rare and serious disease.
Sparing too many details, I went to the doctor yesterday a little worried that something was wrong. What I was worried about turned out to be nothing, but from the ultrasound, my doctor could tell that one baby was growing quite a bit more than the other and had a significant amount more fluid in his sac than the other. Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) has been mentioned from the beginning as something that they would be watching for and these things were the first indicators that it might be developing. I was scheduled to see a specialist in Houston this morning and after the long emotional appointment, this is what we now know:
*I have the very best team of doctors in the nation. This alone gives me confidence in the road ahead.
* I do not have TTTS....yet. My doctor feels fairly certain that it will develop at some point in time, but I do not yet fit the criteria for it. The time frame is very uncertain. I could go weeks, months, or it could develop overnight. It was mentioned that he has seen this problem "fix" itself, but he didn't really entertain that as a realistic possibility.
* Once it develops, I will have a procedure where they cauterize the blood vessels that are being shared by the babies so that each baby is independent of each other. After the surgery, there is a 50 - 60% chance that I can take home two healthy babies and that is everyone's goal.
*For more information about this disease, visit this website.
*Most importantly...I know that we need prayers. Please pray that our babies will come home healthy when this is all over. Please pray for wisdom as we make decisions in the coming weeks. Please pray for me and Dustin as we will be separated throughout most of this as we have just moved to Snyder where Dustin is working, but I need to stay close to Houston to be closely monitored.
You can tell me all the statistics in the world about this disease, but none of them matter too much because God is in control and taking care of us.
I go back Monday afternoon and I will try to keep updates posted on here.
Thank you for your prayers,
Amy, Dustin & the boys :)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
My Babies
I don't want to bore you all with endless pictures and ramblings of my babies, but as it turns out...it's pretty much all I think about :) After three weeks of praying, worrying, and wondering about their well-being, I went back to the doctor last Thursday and they are both growing and doing well. The risks are still high, but for now, our babies are well and I couldn't be more thankful. Here is their latest portrait. I think one inherited Dustin's nose on the back of it's head and it looks like I already have a thumb-sucker.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day
This time next year, I will have a whole new perspective on what this day truly means, but today I honor two women I am blessed to have in my life and call family.
There are a million things I could say about both of them, none of which could truly do them justice. They are selfless, loving, kind, and most importantly: God-fearing women. So as Dustin and I start our family, I have confidence in the fact that I learned from the best and will have them there to help me.
Happy Mother's Day!
There are a million things I could say about both of them, none of which could truly do them justice. They are selfless, loving, kind, and most importantly: God-fearing women. So as Dustin and I start our family, I have confidence in the fact that I learned from the best and will have them there to help me.
Happy Mother's Day!
Monday, April 21, 2008
This Old House
I wanted to post pictures of the house we are buying (or trying to). We are really excited!
The Living Room
The Dining Room
I LOVE the Kitchen!
Master Bedroom
Master Bath
Bedroom #2
Main Bathroom
There are also two small rooms that can be used as an office and craft room or storage. It has a nice big basement that has recently been redone. There is a huge backyard with a shop for Dustin. There are hardwood floors throughout and the man who owned it several years ago put in stained glass windows in the bedrooms which is pretty cool! Now we're just hoping that everything goes as planned and it's ours before our lease is up here. I can't believe I'm getting a house and two kids all in the next 6 months!
Friday, April 18, 2008
What A Week!!
We started this week off totally consumed with buying a house and all that entails. We found the perfect little house for us and made our offer and since Dustin is handling everything (thank goodness!), I am not exactly sure what's going on, but he says it's ours!! It's old. It's not much to look at on the outside. It needs a little freshening up. But...it will be our very own. No more temporary leases. No rental property. No storing boxes until the next move. This is it! And I think it will be the perfect little home as we start our family.
Speaking of starting our family...We found out Easter Sunday that we are expecting! We were planning on kids just a few months down the road, but God's timing is always better than ours and we feel so blessed! I had my suspicions that I was pregnant, but still nothing could prepare me for the excitement and overwhelming feelings when I saw that positive test.
I just thought I was excited and overwhelmed!
This past Wednesday, Dustin and I went to my first doctor's appointment and got the shocking news that we are expecting twins!! Excited and overwhelmed no longer comes close to describing what we are feeling right now. We are so blessed. I can't sum it up better than that.
As you bow your head and pray to our Heavenly Father, please say a special prayer for our family that both babies continue to grow strong and healthy. I appreciate so much all the love, support, and encouragement we have received from friends and family so far! We will not be able to do this without your love and help.
God is so good!
Love,
The Grigsby Four
Speaking of starting our family...We found out Easter Sunday that we are expecting! We were planning on kids just a few months down the road, but God's timing is always better than ours and we feel so blessed! I had my suspicions that I was pregnant, but still nothing could prepare me for the excitement and overwhelming feelings when I saw that positive test.
I just thought I was excited and overwhelmed!
This past Wednesday, Dustin and I went to my first doctor's appointment and got the shocking news that we are expecting twins!! Excited and overwhelmed no longer comes close to describing what we are feeling right now. We are so blessed. I can't sum it up better than that.
As you bow your head and pray to our Heavenly Father, please say a special prayer for our family that both babies continue to grow strong and healthy. I appreciate so much all the love, support, and encouragement we have received from friends and family so far! We will not be able to do this without your love and help.
God is so good!
Love,
The Grigsby Four
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