Dana Farber Update

Last Thursday (Jan. 7) we visited with Dr. Mark Kieran at Dana-Farber. We went with the intention of learning more about their Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytoma Program. Luckily, Owen does even qualify for their program because he's not receiving treatment - hopefully he will never qualify! We did visit with Dr. Kieran just about one year ago when Owen was first diagnosed. He does not know much more now then he did then... perhaps he knows even less about Owen's condition... and for the first time in my life I'm thrilled with not knowing!


Let me explain... as long as the "tumor" does not grow, we will not know what type of "tumor" it is because in order to know the type of tumor a biopsy would need to be performed. We don't know the size of the tumor either because the tumor cells are intertwined with his healthy brain cells. We don't know if the tumor is done growing but I'm faithful that it is.

Unlike the opinion that we received from Yale, Dr. Kieran is not convinced that the brain tumor caused the hydrocephalus - perhaps the tumor was just discovered because Owen had the hydrocephalus, which is a common condition in pediatrics. He also said it may not be a "tumor" but rather a collection of cells that "copied" wrong during the multiplying process and then stopped growing at 3 months when the brain stops growing. On the other hand, Yale is convinced that the tumor grew and caused the hydrocephalus.

Regardless, we may never know what Owen has exactly - and that is the hope. We do know that Owen is a strong little boy who is supported in continued prayer. Please know that Owen doesn't just receive prayers either - he's praying too! We pray for family and friends each night before bed as well as read prayers from his favorite prayer books. He now simply says, "God, Amen" and perhaps at times that's all we need to say.

Happy, Healthy New Year!

We celebrated Hanakkuh at Mimi & Papa's house...

Cute cousins!

Owen "O's" face... his truly surprised look!

The Dubois family... the RI bunch... missing about 15 others...

Merry Christmas from the Bernheims!

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy New Year! Last night we rang in the New Year with friends, Christa, Jay, and Addie (who is Owen's age). It was great to watch them interact together (as Addie so kindly shared and Owen pulled toys away from her). Amazingly we (not the kids) all made it to midnight and beyond... but Eric and I are a bit overtired today... we're getting old!

This holiday season was a joyous one. We enjoyed spending the holidays with our families and friends. We also celebrated Eric's birthday (he's a Christmas baby). December was a whirlwind of a month, which is why I'm just getting some photos online. I have a resolution to get back to blogging regularly... I'm hopeful anyway... not sure how it will be having two kids! I would also like to encourage more dialogue on my blog... so if you're visiting feel free to leave a comment of vote (I'm going to add some voting polls).

Here are just a few holiday photos... more will be available on our new photo site... The Bernheim Bunch. Please let me know if you need the web address.

Do you have any new year's resolution's for your family? I'm hopeful that I can eat Owen to eat more vegetables, which means I have to eat more veges too? Any helpful hints on getting toddlers to eat veges? He's a fruit addict but not crazy about veges.

Ultrasound

Yesterday we had a level II ultrasound... where everything can be seen. The technology is truly amazing. We saw the baby's brain and its healthy ventricles - no swelling. We saw the four chambers of the heart beating so nicely. We also saw the kidneys and the "practice breathing." And no, we did not see what we were having. We still want it to be a surprise... just 21 more weeks to go! Hard to believe that next Thursday I will be 1/2 through the second pregnancy. It's going much quicker then the first. We will have another level II ultrasound toward the end of March... again, they'll check the brain and make sure everything else is working properly. I began to feel the baby kicking this week... it was about 3am on Tuesday morning... the same time Owen was up crying - will I ever sleep through the night again?!

Thankful for Stability

As you may have heard Owen's MRI went well last week. We received the best possible news, which is that Owen's tumor is stable. We still send his MRI to Dana Farber for a second opinion.

What does it mean when a tumor is stable? The following is from the Lahey clinic website, When a tumor is referred to as "stable," it means that the tumor cells are in a phase in which they have stopped growing or multiplying. Such stability may be temporary or permanent. When the tumor has actually been destroyed, and the area it occupied in the brain is composed only of dead tissue (necrosis), no new growth will occur. However, if tumor cells remain, it is possible that they will begin growing again at a later date.

The actual sedation process went very well. We were in the very capable and caring hands of Jeff, the nurse practitioner that I previously mentioned. He inserted Owen's IV with just one try - thank goodness... and then Owen was off to sleep. After the MRI he slept for an hour and then we took him home where the challenge of the recovery began. We were told that the effects of the sedation could last the entire day... and they did! He could not walk unassisted, which made him pretty mad! He tried to help him or sit with him but he was not having it... needless to say it was a long day but knowing that sedation is safer than anesthesia makes it bearable.

We have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and everyday! Owen is doing well and we have another bundle of joy on the way...

MRI Tomorrow - Pray for Owen

Hard to believe that it's been three months since Owen's last MRI... his next MRI is tomorrow. For each previous MRI Owen has been put under anesthesia. Tomorrow he will have sedation instead of anesthesia, which means that they will give him an IV while he's awake (in the past they've given the IV when he's sleeping). Sedation appears to be "safer" than anesthesia.

I spoke with the nurse practitioner today who will be administering the sedation. He said that the only thing he has done at Yale for the past 7 years is pediatric sedation so we're hopeful that he'll take good care of Owen. In the past we have not been able to stay with Owen during the test, but this time Eric will stay with him (I can't since I'm pregnant). Please pray for Owen that his test results are just as favorable as they have been in the past and pray for a steady hand of the nurse practitioner.

What's in mommy's belly?

Owen has some news to share! He's going to be a big brother. Although he's happy, he's really hoping that he doesn't have to share his birthday as Baby Bernheim #2 is due on May 27th... just three days after his birthday! Hence the reason I haven't been a great blogger - I've had morning sickness at night and have been exhausted. Owen has been putting me to bed at 8pm!

I just passed the 12 week mark this past Thursday and I am really feeling so much better! We had our first trimester screening and ultrasound this past Friday and everything looks great. We ask for your prayers as we grow our family. I think Owen will really enjoy a new brother or sister... and nope, we're not finding out the gender.... 28 more weeks until we know (but who's counting?!)

Trip to VT

Last weekend we headed to Vermont to spend time with Mimi and Papa (Eric's parents) and Dylan and Riley (Owen's cousins, and their parents Aunt Amy and Uncle Ken). We went to OctoberFest at Mt. Snow... it was much colder (and more rainy) than we anticipated! Here are a few photos of us bundled up - and it's only October! Despite the cold weather we had a fun time together.

Owen bundled up but missing gloves!

Owen giving kisses to cousin Riley.

Family photo