"I don't think so"

Week 33

Markana has come in contact with several friends and colleagues in the past few days that have greeted her with smiles and a quick, "So, how much longer?" When she replies, "About seven weeks," they all say, "uh...I don't think so."

And that would be fine with us. We're ready.

I'm using my daughter as an excuse to buy new toys (a true Dad already), the first of which is an off-camera flash for my digital camera. The excuse is that it'll make our Stella photos better, and my defense against M's suspicions is, "Do you want to be the one to explain to Stella why we have no good pictures of her?" Heh heh.

So far, my subjects aren't much help and my training is slow-going. Markana went to bed after about 7 head shots. Jack won't look at me if I pick up the camera.

So I had to find a willing participant that wouldn't tire under the demands of an amateur photo shoot.



Really captures his pensive side, huh?

Vanderbilt Hospital

Chip and I took a tour of Vanderbilt Hospital last night. This is the place that we have chosen to have Stella - mainly because this hospital has the program with the midwives. We were given a tour of Labor & Delivery, as well as, the Postpartum rooms that both provide modest accommodations. The instructor did answer all of our questions and concerns and again we feel at ease that we have made the right decision.

My Dad has been spending some time at Vanderbilt Hospital these days as well. I have not shared through this blog that on March 25 my Dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. It was found during a routine physical, so we are hopeful that it was caught in good time. He met with a specialist at Vanderbilt hospital and will have surgery on June 3. This is why it is so important for men and women to get an annual physical.

The specialist did run some additional tests that brought attention to some spots on his lungs. Dad then sees a lung specialist at Vanderbilt and a series of other tests were given and eventually a PET Scan to see if there was anything anywhere else in his body. They did find spots on his pelvic bone and sinus region. The doctor has chosen not to do anything at this time and has asked for another PET Scan in three months. I have tossed this around in my head a hundred times and really not sure what it all means. We were hopeful that he would call and say that there was nothing to worry about and to carry on, but it makes me nervous that they want to revisit the situation in a few months. Routine, maybe.

When all of this started to unfold, I kind of fell apart with it. How could all of this be happening to my sweet dad. The man is a model for good health and happiness (with the exception of a lifestyle of good ole southern cooking that I adore as well). Even through my initial tears and heartbreak, he has remained confident that everything will be just fine. If you know my dad at all, this is exactly what you would expect him to say. I did sense that he was strained by the pain his family was experiencing, so I made a conscious decision to keep my tears private and just be there for him.

So, in the midst of our grief and personal despair, our girl Stella is a star after all. I know that the thought of meeting her brings a bright spot to all of our lives. Though many of our experiences unfortunate, maybe it all has happened in the time that it should.