Ugh...

So I've got my call out to Boston...now I just sit here, stare at my phone and wait for it to ring. Today? Tomorrow? Who knows. But the lady did tell me that once these things are set up, they tend to happen fast! It was almost like she was warning me. Little does she know that "fast" to me would have been about a week ago!

COME ON ALREADY!!!!

Boston Bound?

Its been a pretty eventful week here in the Ritchie house...

During my HOURS and HOURS of internet searching after we found out about Little Miss Ritchie's heart condition, I came across an article about a procedure that they can actually do in some HRHS babies before they are even born. We asked the cardiologist about this and for some reason, I'm not sure why, he didn't think that we would be candidates. As much as I respect his opinion, I asked that he get in touch with Boston Children's Hospital (the "pioneers" of this surgery) and at least have them take a look at our case. Four weeks later, I had pretty much come to the conclusion that the physicians there had agreed and that we weren't ideal candidates. THEN, last Tuesday I got a phone call from our cardiologist saying that he received a letter from Boston and that they felt surgery might be an option!!!

So we went to the cardiologist today for another echo and afterwards Dr. Sami was going to get in touch with Boston to check their availability. At some point in the next few weeks we'll be flying to Boston for a full evaluation by their specialists. There is no guarantee that once we get there we will be candidates, so we're trying not to get our hopes up too high. However, if we ARE candidates, they will do the procedure while we are there to avoid multiple trips. Plus, they would ideally do this before 29 weeks and I'm already 26.

Basically, they would go through my stomach with a needle, enter the baby's chest and heart, and proceed to balloon open the valve that is not open (and causing the small right ventricle). By doing this, hopes are that blood flow through the valve would increase and stimulate the right side of the heart to grow over the remainder of my pregnancy. The ultimate goal? A 2 sided heart versus the surgeries that would leave her with just 1 side. I'm continually amazed by modern medicine! Her heart is about the size of a walnut and now they are telling us that they can go in and open up a teeny tiny valve???!?!?

SOOOO....check back in the next couple of days. Hopefully we'll have a better idea of when we'll be heading out. Until then, keep us all in your prayers. It looks like they have been heard thus far!

Mr. & Mrs. Ritchie

HAPPY 1st ANNIVERSARY TO US!

I can't believe that it has already been a year since our wedding!

And what an exciting year it was...

We finished our basement

Put in a swimming pool

Ate A LOT of bones (well...some of us did...)

FINALLY became Wangerball champions

Hosted and finished second place in the 1st Annual Ritchie Bag-Masters Classic

(We'll keep you posted on the 2nd annual. Don't miss it!)

Found out we're a Mommy and Daddy-to-be!!!!

Just to name a few!

As eventful as things were when it was just us and the puppies, I can't imagine what is in store for us once we have another addition to the family! It has been such a wonderful year and we are so excited to face the future together. I LOVE YOU MATTY!

Jamaican me CrAzY!

Ahhhhhh....as I sit back an think about my life 1 year ago today, I'm filled with mixed emotions. On one hand, we were FINALLY in Jamaica for a week of sunshine and relaxation (oh yeah, and to get married) . On the other hand, it makes me a little depressed to drive up to our mailbox every day and be right next to a snow pile that is taller than my car!! I've got an official South Dakota winter tan (blending perfectly with the above mentioned snow pile) and am OVERDUE for a vacation. Below is the view from our room....sigh....

On the baby front, I demonstrated pure impatience today. The thought of another 4 weeks of waiting to see the cardiologist was driving me crazy, so I called and got things bumped up a week. I will now go see him on March 8th instead of the 16th. Crazy how a week feels like a world of difference!

OB Visit

As always, my visit to my OB was pretty uneventful today! Things seem to be progressing just like they should be.

Blood pressure = good

Belly measurement = "right on track"

Fetal heart rate = 150s

Weight gain = good (tell my pants that)

After the doctors appointments that we have had lately, this 4 week check felt like a cake walk! On one hand my OB visits are kind of ho hum and routine; not focusing on our biggest issue. On the other hand, its nice to go to the doctor, hear a pounding little heart on the doppler and not get bad news! It makes me feel...well..."normal".

Its hard to believe that its only been 1 month since we found out that we are going to heart parents. As Matt put it, the first week felt like a month in itself. Now we have to wait another month for the next round of appointments. As of now, I see the perinatologist on March 15 and the cardiologist on the 16th. I sometimes find myself thinking that we're going to go to these appointments and they will tell us that her little heart has fixed itself. I don't know if that makes me naive or just an optimist and firm believer in miracles! I like to think that its the latter.

On another note...It was almost exactly 1 year ago that Matt and I (and many of you!) headed off to Jamaica for the big wedding. Can you believe that we'll hit our 1 year mark on Saturday?! Who is ready for a reunion trip?!?!?!?!

24 weeks

Nothing new and exciting to update on, but I thought that I would share a quick picture for those of you that I don't get to see on a regular basis. Matt was gone for 10 days and when he came back he said "wow, Babe, you are bigger!" The first picture is at 20 weeks and the second at 24 weeks. I'm not huge, but definitely starting to round out a little more...in other words, I feel more pregnant than just chubby!

I have an OB appointment on Monday and then will go back to the cardiologist and perinatologist in another 3-4 weeks. We've got a list of questions that just keeps growing so hopefully we can feel a little more "informed".

On another note...February 7-14 is Congenital Heart Disease awareness week. Congenital heart defects affect nearly 1 in every 100 babies born. This week if you say a little prayer for us, please include all of those other little kiddos (and their families) out there who are faced with similar heart issues!!

Kristen

Is it Sunday yet?

I'm never one to wish away a weekend, but there are LESS THAN 24 HOURS UNTIL MATT GETS BACK FROM AZ! I didn't realize how long 10 days would feel. I miss him, the dogs miss him....we're just ready to get back to normal!

We got a special delivery in the mail the other day...

Thank you VERY much Aubrey! You are such a big girl and so generous for sharing!

(From the looks of it, the Rockows got their money's worth! HAHA)