The Latest and Greatest

Today, I walked to CHOP. Slow. Contractions. Slower. More Contractions. By the time I got there, my hips felt icky and my feet ached. The midwife told me I am now 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced and -1 station. For those of you who don't know what that means, long story short, Zoe wants out! Active labor begins at 4 cm and 100% effacement, so we're nearing the finish - or starting line, depending on how you look at it.

The doctors are hoping I go into labor naturally, so they've moved the induction date to Tuesday, May 11. If I haven't gone into labor by then, I'm to report to CHOP at 7 a.m. on the 11th.

I've met some wonderfully supportive heart moms while out here at CHOP. Tomorrow we are meeting up as a group at the hospital. I am very much looking forward to meeting the moms who have and are currently walking my looming path. I admire and find strength in each one of them. The Today Show was at CHOP yesterday filming one of my fellow heart mom's story and her daughter Mia's surgery - performed by our surgeon, Dr. Spray. No air date has been announced, but I will update as soon as I find out. The segment will put HLHS and congenital heart defects in the public eye and help raise awareness for congenital heart defects. The program coordinator with the Fetal Heart Program is hoping that it will help other parents who are faced with the decision to terminate or continue their pregnancy, to be fully aware that their is HOPE for HLHS babies and children. CHOP's motto is "Hope lives here" and it really, truly does.

Over the last several weeks, I have been taking in the City of Philadelphia. I really do like it here. In reflection, I've jotted down a few of my favorite things:

MY TOP TEN PHILLY LIST:

10. Philly Car Share. You don't need a car, you just borrow one for a few hours for a nominal fee.

9. The "City of Brotherly Love." We've found that, for the most part, the City is filled with wonderful and polite individuals.

8. Shopping, groceries, parks and recreation - all within walking distance!

7. New restaurants to explore. Over the past few weeks, we've enjoyed exploring and trying a slew of new restaurants. Some of our favorites include Barclay Prime, Distrito, Marigold Kitchen, El Vez, Del Frisco's, White Dog Cafe and Bobby's Burger Palace (a Bobby Flay burger joint.) All delicious!

6. Spring time in the City! The weather is beautiful and the greenery and flowers are gorgeous. So very different than Phoenix, Arizona!

5. Diversity and Culture. Again, so very, very different than Arizona. I'd love to plop Gov. Brewer in the heart of Philly and watch her head spin!

4. Mass transit. I love being able to hop on a bus or trolley and get nearly anywhere in the City.

3. The Farmer's Markets. The market by our house occurs every Saturday and I always buy fresh cut flowers from the sweet Amish couple. Each time they hand me my flowers the say, "Smile, it's what it's all about." I love them (and their flowers!) The organic produce, homemade chocolates and Shoo-fly Pie doesn't hurt either.

2. Architecture and History. Center City, the heart of Philadelphia is amazing. We've visited many of the historical sites and gaze at the beautiful buildings.

1. The top-ranked, one and only, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (aka CHOP!) Did you know CHOP was the first pediatric hospital in our nation, opening its doors in 1855?

If you haven't been to Philly before, do visit. I suggest sometime during the month of May!

Next time you read the blog, you may just get an "I'M IN LABOR!" message.

Ready or Not, Here She Comes...

At my last prenatal appointment, I was given an induction date. Doctors will induce either the evening of May 9th (Mom's Day!) or the morning of May 10th. Being given the induction date felt both relieving and frightening. We're ready to meet Ms. Zoe, but know that the roller coaster ride begins immediately following her birth. Being in Philadelphia and at CHOP the last several weeks has given me much insight as to what my fellow heart moms go through each day. I thank them so much for being honest and candid about the journey. Even though I know what lies ahead, one can never be prepared for such a challenge. We'll take it one day at a time - and sometimes one hour, one minute at a time.

Hold onto your hats people, Zoe Madison will be here very soon!

In between work, doctor's appointments, etc., the Lihns have been enjoying Philadelphia. Steph and Paul, my sister and brother-in-law, came to visit this last week. It was great having them here and they were a HUGE help with Emerson. Caleb and I got to have two date nights this week!

Instead of writing about all our adventures, I thought you all would enjoy a photo montage of the week in review...

AUNT STEPHIE AND UNCLE PAUL ARRIVE



ADVENTURE AQUARIUM IN CAMDEN, NJ




OUT AND ABOUT IN PHILLY





SESAME PLACE








We've had a very busy week and a half. I have the swollen ankles to prove it! Several people at Sesame Place looked at me like I was a fool to be out and about at 39 weeks pregnant, in 90 degree heat. Perhaps I am a fool, but I live by a new mantra these days:

LIVE FOR TODAY, FOR TOMORROW IS PROMISED TO NO ONE

Settling in...sort of.

Well, we've been in Philly nearly a week now and are physically settled in. Emotionally, not quite there yet. It's been more difficult than I imagined.

We did manage to make it to the Farmers Market on Saturday and found a few goodies. Emmy bought a kiddie bouquet of flowers and I found Zoe some awesome silk-screened bird photos laid on top of antique wallpaper. I'm going to frame and put them in her nursery when we get home. She'll be able to have a little Philly in her room at all times.


(Emmy and mommy at the Farmers Market in Clark Park.)


(The goods we found for Zoe's room and Emmy's kiddie bouquet.)

My BFF, Brian, came to visit and brought some lovin' and comfort. He and Emmy had fun playing and being goofballs. Emmy named Brian "Boy" and was excited to have a visitor. So much so, that she screamed and refused to nap all day.


(Emmy and "Boy" playing at the Carriage House.)

Next weekend Steph and Paul (my sister and brother-in-law) are coming to visit. We plan to hit Sesame Place, a Phillies game and see the Independence play (Philly's women's professional soccer team). Perhaps Caleb and I can take advantage of some babysitting time and catch a movie at night and escape from reality for a few hours?!

Our appointment at CHOP is Thursday afternoon. According to the cardiologist, we don't need to see her again since Zoe's test results have been stable and positive. From here on out, just OB appointments until Zoe decides its time to meet Mommy, Daddy and her big sis. From the looks of things, she may come sooner than May 12. She's been head down for weeks now and lying "low!"


This one is for you Papa. I miss you and can't wait to see you and show you around Philly! Love Emmy.


Stay tuned...

Welcome to Philadelphia...

Well, we made it here in one piece. We may have forgotten a few items (Emerson's pajamas, charger for the portable DVD player, etc) but we're here. Emerson did quite well on the plane. Mommy prepared her and told her we were going on a plane ride. At the airport, she ran down the jetway - like she knew what was going on.


We boarded the plane and upon take off, she yelled, "Weeeeeeeeee!" and clapped her hands. And here I was, worried her ears would hurt and she'd scream for hours. Don't get me wrong, she had her moments, but overall she did great. [Note to self: always pack an extra pair of clothing for a long plane ride in case of accidents!]

We arrived late to Philly and passed out at our new home away from home, the Carriage House. The house is just a mile from CHOP.


My birthday, yesterday, was a bit rough being away from home. I didn't think I'd be homesick, but I was. I definitely missed the comforts of home.

Today we took the trolley (yes, we're figuring out mass transit) to CHOP for my appointments. We had an ultrasound, met with the OB, midwife, lactation consultant, had a fetal echo and cardiology consult. Most importantly, Zoe's heart is looking good. No further complications seen and we're planning for a normal delivery. Zoe's estimated weight is 5 pounds, 8 ounces. She needs to continue to grow as HLHS babies lose weight after birth/surgery from poor eating habits. The bad news for me is that I'm getting PUPPP again. I suffered through it with Emerson and was hoping to avoid it with Zoe. No such luck. The OB told me (as I'd suspected) that it was starting. I'm hoping it doesn't get too bad and I can manage the symptoms. If not, I may be a miserable mess for the next several weeks.

While at CHOP today, we met baby Jacob - a fellow HLHS fighter and his mommy. He is such a cutie and an inspiration to us. Jacob's mommy let us see his surgical scars and explained a lot about life in the hospital. It will be a challenge, but we're prepared - as much as possible anyway.

Philly weather treated us well thus far, but will take a rainy turn this weekend. Too bad as I was looking forward to Saturday's farmers market down the street and taking Emmy to the Philly Zoo :(

We're still attempting to adjust to the time change. Haven't nailed that down yet.

Our next appointment at CHOP is Thursday, April 22. Be on the lookout for more updates and pictures of the Lihns enjoying Philadelphia!

The Final Countdown

Relocation day for the Lihns will be here in the blink of an eye. How did that happen?

I got to see Zoe again yesterday. She's adorable.


I think she looks like her big sister! She's growing (even though doctors tell me her "growth parameters are within lower normal range.") Hello docs, have you seen her mother lately? Not a ginormous baby making machine. They do want her as big as possible. Big = strong and healthy. Again, doctors obviously don't know Zoe's mom real well.

All is looking good with Zoe. We'll have weekly testing at CHOP until Zoe's arrival. Please pray and send happy thoughts that Zoe continues to grow and that no complications arise. We're staying uber positive and have heard nothing but fantastic news from other CHD moms who are currently at CHOP. These little babies are such fighters and Zoe will soon join her own special team of warriors.

Now...our current dilemma involves getting everything packed, arriving to the airport on time, coaxing Emerson onto an airplane for the first time and NOT getting kicked off the plane for her actions. (Okay, more prayers needed for this task.)

This weekend will be hectic as we pack, pack, pack. Then, we're off!

Thanks for all of your support, thoughts and prayers.

We love you Zoe Madison and we'll see you soon.

Love,
Mommy, Daddy and Emerson

Zoe the "Model"

We made it to Philly and back in 55 hours; arriving at 8 p.m. ET and needing to be at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at 7:15 a.m. the next morning. Very little sleep was had Thursday night. Too much anxiety and the time change didn't help.

Our wake up call came in at 5:30 a.m. (2:30 AZ Time) Friday morning. We had a good breakfast, knowing it would be a long day and made it to CHOP on time - without getting lost. First test: level 2 ultrasound lasting 1.5 hours. Zoe passed with flying colors with the exception of her known heart abnormalities. We saw 10 little fingers, 10 little toes, plump lips and one button noes. It's hard to fathom that such a seemingly well developed little girl has just one underdeveloped organ causing all of her troubles. She is still quite tiny, but doctors aren't concerned at this point, she continues to grow at her own pace - just like Emerson.

After the ultrasound, we met with one of CHOP's midwives and OBGYN. All systems are go for a normal delivery at the Special Delivery Unit (SDU).

Once Zoe is born, they'll pass her through a window from our labor and delivery room to run immediate testing. I won't get to hold her right away, but after they've done a thorough check, they'll place her on my stomach for a short few minutes before taking her for pre-surgical testing. She'll also receive a prostiglandin injection to keep her patent ductus arteriosis open until surgery. The prostiglandin is Zoe's lifeline. Assuming all of Zoe's tests show she is healthy and ready for surgery, she'll undergo her first open heart surgery (the Norwood procedure) at 3-5 days old. Dr. Spray is our surgeon and known as one of the best in the world.

Next on our itinerary at CHOP was the dreaded fetal ECHO and oxygenation testing. I worry each time we go for the echocardiogram, since they are closely monitoring Zoe's heart for restriction of the atrial septum. Restriction has been a concern to doctors for the past several months and if this complication arises, Zoe's survival rates can drop to nearly 50%. The ECHO was performed first without oxygen to check her heart. I was then placed on oxygen so the sonographer could measure the levels of oxygen Zoe is receiving in her lungs. Caleb and I couldn't resist and I told him to snap a photo on his phone of silly me on oxygen.

Then, I tried to anticipate the results by watching the color doppler - not an easy task. I thought things were going well...but what do I know? Apparently, more than I give myself credit for. My educated guess was accurate. When we sat down with our fetal cardiologist, Dr. Szwast, she had a big smile on her face and said, "Zoe is the model patient." She continued on to say that thing are looking very good. She sees absolutely no signs of restriction. Her HLHS is textbook with no complicating factors. A huge sigh of relief!

They forewent the fetal MRI since we received such positive results. I will have to do the MRI, however, when we relocate at 36 weeks. And yes, "Houston, we have a relocation date." April 13.

After meeting with the program coordinator (whom I adore), the social worker and billing department manager (saved the best for last), we were set free.

The weather in Philly was fabulous - 71 degrees. We made reservations at Rouge and sat on the patio people watching while we ate. Caleb got to enjoy a few lagers and I asked the server for a "fun, fancy virgin drink." He brought me a muddled berry lemonade in a brandy wine glass. I was really happy, almost as happy as if it'd actually been wine in the glass. After dinner we walked up and down Walnut street window shopping. Philadelphia is home to the first Anthropologie which is now located in a 4-story mansion.

After shopping (and dessert of course), I finally got some much needed sleep. Saturday morning, a massage helped me relax even more. We couldn't go to the airport just yet...not without consuming a Philly Cheesesteak. Caleb had done his research and had his heart set on "Wit or Witout", Philly's newest and best-rated of 2009. We were so impressed with ourselves for finding the restaurant and making it to the airport to return the rental car on time.

I got to pre-board as a big ol' pregnant lady and off we were to pick up Emerson at my parents. Thanks mom and dad for watching Ms. Emmy while we were in Philly!

Now, for the next few weeks, I need to work a ton, go to more doctor's appointments and pack for April 13 when the second half of the Lihn Adventure begins. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Momma Lihn

Nervous Nelly

With another trip to Philadelphia on the horizon, Nervous Nelly emerges. We have a full day of testing at CHOP on Friday including meetings with maternal-medicine physicians, fetal cardiology for Zoe's echocardiogram and oxygenation testing, fetal MRI, a midwife and program coordinator. Most importantly, we'll learn our Philadelphia "relocation" date. It'll be sometime shortly after Easter. Wow, Easter sure is fast approaching. I feel like this pregnancy has flown by; Caleb feels like it has lasted 20 years.

Emmy will stay with Grandma and Grandpa while we're in Philly for testing. She sure loves her "Papa!" They are BFFs.

We have a lot to do before we pack and relocate to Philly. I'd like to put the finishing touches on Zoe's room, even though when she comes home, she'll be sleeping in our room for quite some time. I thought I was nervous about bringing Emerson home...

Until my next update (post-CHOP visit), enjoy some pictures of our Sunday Brunch with Granny, Papa and Great-Grandma.


(Emmy loving springtime flowers in AZ. Too bad she has allergies already.)




(Granny and Emmy smelling the flowers pre-brunch.)


(Papa, Granny and Emmy being goofballs!)


(Four generations - Mom, Emmy, Me, Zoe and Grandma Olney.)


(The Lihns - all four of us...)