With the help of Wi-Fi Internet, a laptop and lots of pillows, I am able to blog while on bed-rest. Well, Stephen and I (and the twins, of course) are off to Cincinnati tomorrow morning. We’ll be taking our time while driving up, stopping for my many pee breaks, and to stretch out and get the blood flowing (on doctor’s orders so that I don’t form any blood clots). It’s about 7 and a 1/2 hours without stops, so that shouldn’t be too bad.

Our “adventure” at the Fetal Care Center begins on Monday at 7:30 a.m. and ends with an appointment scheduled for 11:30 p.m. The day consists of another ultrasound and echo-cardiogram, individual and then family consultation, a team meeting with the surgical staff, and then an oh-so-fun MRI. Our hope is that our fetoscopic laser surgery will be fast-tracked for Tuesday due to what the findings were at our Friday ultrasound here with the local maternal fetal care specialists. Similar to the findings of my last ultrasound on Wednesday, things weren’t horrible, but the amnio-reduction really only bought us some extra time. In short, Zeke still wasn’t “stuck” nor was he exhibiting signs of distress — his sac had some fluid, he moved around a bit, his heart rate was strong, and he and Gabriel’s condition was still somewhere between a stage 1 and 2 — but the equalizing we had hoped for just hadn’t occurred. We knew the chances of that happening were slim, so this didn’t really come as a shock. Dr. Joy informed us that another amnio wouldn’t be necessary (music to my ears!), since the first outcome wasn’t that effective overall. Moreover, it could possibly hold us up from our Cincy plans, should I have to be readmitted to the hospital for observations post-amnio. Therefore, we’re taking the bull by the horns and going for the laser surgery — the closest thing to a cure that exists for TTTS.

Here’s the gist of the surgery: since the twins have an unequal sharing of blood to their separate sacs via their one placenta, the doctors will locate the vascular connections that are creating these “miscommunications” (presumably via the MRI) and “photocoagulate” (or destroy) them with the laser. This will even out the amniotic fluid in each baby’s sac, and in turn, create a more stable environment for normal physical, mental and physiological growth, while also greatly reducing the chances of an extremely premature birth.

Sure, there are innate risks with such an invasive surgery. But with the way my TTTS is progressing, the chances of one or both twins dying before they’re even viable for emergency c-section at 24 weeks, or at the very least, developing severe physical and/or neurological defects should they miraculously survive beyond that point are both likely if nothing more is done. So, we see this as a no-brainer. We’ll be sure to keep y’all posted from Cincy when we can. Keep up those prayers and just know that spirits are high with Clan Dillingham!

A quickie Houston update … we’ve been trying to keep his routine as uninterrupted as possible. While Gramsey was here, she took Houston on two play dates: one with Dixie and one with Gracie, his two best home girls. And then today, Granny took him to the birthday party of Mason, my old co-worker’s two-year-old boy. Plus, Houston has had plenty of people to take him on his walks and play with him outside, not to mention the fact that he has just been digging the extra time with Daddy, Granny, Grumps, Gramsey and Papa. He’s loving it!