Meal Plan Monday

Monday
Sandwiches/Something Light - since we have Trunk or Treat at church at 6:30

Tuesday
Italian Beef Sandwiches (didn't have this last week)

Wednesday
Salmon Cakes

Thursday
Spaghetti & Meatballs

Friday
Crispy Cheddar Chicken

Saturday
Asian Pork Chops - love this recipe!

Meal Plan Monday

Monday
Will be coming home or just getting home from TN, so probably grabbing some fast food.

Tuesday
Popcorn Fish
Roasted Potato Wedges

Wednesday
Outback Steakhouse (w/ coupon for free steak dinner)

Thursday
Creamy Chicken Taquitos (had this last week, but have ingredients leftover, so having it again!)
Chips & Salsa

Friday
Italian Beef Sandwiches

Saturday
Frito Chili Pie (maybe-- we may be going to a send-off party for Ian & Heidi Fry, some missionary friends who are leaving for Zimbabwe soon, it will depend on Anthony's work load this weekend)

Meal Plan Monday

Monday
Breakfast Bagels
Breakfast Potatoes

Tuesday
Creamy Chicken Taquitos
Chips w/ Salsa & Guacamole

Wednesday
Cinnamon Baked French Toast

Thursday
Girls Night Out/RCS Night @ CFA

Friday
Laura's Rehearsal Dinner

Saturday
Laura's Wedding!!!

Meal Plan Monday

Monday
Bacon & Eggs

Tuesday
Spaghetti & Meatballs

Wednesday
Pork Loin
Twice Baked Potatoes

Thursday
Marlboro Man Sandwich

Friday
Taco Soup & Garlic Cheese Biscuits

Saturday
Anthony's parents here for a visit - not sure what we'll be doing for dinner yet

Meal Plan Monday

Monday
Ground Beef Stroganoff (didn't have this last week)

Tuesday
Macaroni & Beef w/ Cheese (didn't have this last week)

Wednesday
Dinner @ volleyball game

Thursday
Spaghetti & Meatballs

Friday
Ribs

Saturday
Dinner @ a wedding!

Declan's Birth - Uterine Rupture

I shared in Declan's birth story post that I had a partial uterine rupture during labor. In the eight weeks since his birth I've become more educated on the subject through talking with my amazing doctor, Dr. Thompson, as well as reading some journal articles that he sent me.

A week or so after Declan was born, Dr. Thompson sent me the pathology report from my placenta which said that the placenta showed acute inflammation and unevenly accelerated villous maturation (more information on that on page 2 of this article). The report also said that "the consequences of this abnormality are increased risk of neonatal death, stillbirth and neurologic abnormalities at age 7". Freaked out much? It was just really upsetting for me to learn "what could have been" because of this abnormality.

I was planning on asking Dr. Thompson to explain more about this to me at my 2 week incision check with him, but he ended up being on call that day and had to go to the hospital so I saw Dr. Bendfelt instead. I'm sure I could have asked him my questions, but I really wanted to ask Dr. Thompson since he was the one who was there. So I had to wait until my 6 week check-up, which was actually at 7 weeks post-delivery because he is so busy and in-demand!

So finally, after kind of worrying over what all that meant, Dr. Thompson eased my worries about the placenta issues, but also made me realize what a miracle Declan's delivery was and how involved God was in the good outcome.

He started by drawing me a picture of my uterus to show me where the tear was. Mine was a partial or incomplete rupture, so the myometrial wall (which is the thick wall of the uterus) was torn, but not the peritoneum (the membrane lining of the uterus). I guess I didn't realize what a HUGE deal a uterine rupture could be.... Wikipedia calls it a "potentially catastrophic event" and a "life-threatening event for mother and baby"; Dr. Thompson said if the lining had torn, it could have been a catastrophe.

So like I said in Declan's birth story, his heart rate was dropping after contractions, but then it would come back up again. He explained that the main sign of a uterine rupture is if the baby's heart rate significantly drops and does not come back up, but that is not what happened to us, so we had no signs that my uterus was torn.

But because his heart rate continuously dropped, Dr. Thompson decided on a c-section. He told me that this drop was most likely a result of the placenta issues that were discovered in pathology. The placenta wasn't providing Declan with enough oxygen to keep his heart rate up under the stress of contractions.

So here's the good part, the part where I clearly see God's hand in all this: had we waited much longer for a c-section, the lining could have also torn, which could have been so bad, possibly leading to death for Declan and/or me. But because of the heart rate drops - because of my placenta's insufficiencies - a disaster was avoided since the c-section was done before it was a complete uterine rupture. Dr. Thompson actually called it a Godsend.

Amazing, right??!! While the letter and pathology report upset me so much at first, it turned out that these problems are really what God used to keep us safe. I love the way God works and am so thankful to Him for my health and safety as well as my precious miracle baby.

Dr. Thompson also did some research on the implications of a uterine rupture for future pregnancies and found that the prognosis is good, but I'll definitely need a repeat c-section, probably around 37 weeks. Once again, thankful to God for preserving my ability to have more children.

Meal Plan Monday

A lot of repeats this week since last week was kind of crazy and we did some unplanned stuff...


Monday

Meatballs w/ Cream of Mushroom
Egg Noodles

Tuesday

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

Wednesday
Pork Loin

Thursday
Ground Beef Stroganoff

Friday
Loaded Potato Soup

Saturday
Macaroni & Beef with Cheese