Another good report

We had another appointment at CHOP yesterday to check on Brigid's progress, and we're happy to report that she's looking even better now than she was a month ago.

In fact, from the obstetrical standpoint, we have been discharged from CHOP altogether. She is growing well, looking strong and healthy, and even the chorioamniotic separation seemed to be looking better - either closing or repairing - and doesn't seem to be a major issue anymore.

Only her heart is not 100% normal, and still it's looking better than it did at our last appointment. The valves are no longer leaking at all, and the ventricles seem to be functioning better. The only remaining issues are that the wall between the ventricles seems to be slightly weakened and the right ventricle appears a little "bulbous" in shape. Her heart is slightly enlarged still, but the hope is that all of these things would continue in their current trend and would heal over time. We will have one more appointment with fetal cardiology in a month, and if things are continuing to improve, that will likely be our last visit to CHOP altogether.

It was seven weeks ago today that we learned that our twins had TTTS. That has meant seven weeks of bed rest. Seven weeks of Patrick shouldering the majority of the childcare and housework, in addition to his job.

I've had two hospital stays - the first two of my life, besides the days following the birth of our boys. We have had good news, bad news, hopes answered, hopes dashed, reassurances and disappointments. We've cried through every doctor's appointment, good or bad, and are still not feeling one hundred percent confident that we'll be adding a healthy baby Brigid to our family in the next few months, though that confidence is growing more and more.

Patrick and I talked yesterday about how difficult this experience must be for people who do not have a faith in God. How sad to go through this with no hope for being reunited with little ones who have died, without trusting that there is a reason for this suffering - that it will make us stronger and bring us closer to each other and closer to the Lord. We have felt the prayers - of family, friends, and people we don't even know - carrying us through this difficult time. They bring us peace and comfort where we would otherwise feel overwhelmed and full of sorrow. Thank you for praying for us and for our baby girl! Thank you for doing our laundry, for cleaning our home, for mowing our lawn, for caring for our children, for sending us care packages, for bringing us meals, for checking in with us to see what we might need before you go out to do an errand. We are humbled, grateful, and so very blessed.

And we're pretty sure that we couldn't have gotten this far without your help.