Rockin' the G's
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Happy Birthday, Amelia Bedelia!
Being stuck inside is a little more enjoyable when you have something fun to do... We we found something pretty fun!
Today is Amelia Bedelia's 50th Birthday! So, We had a party! Look how much fun we had!
1st We made Bonnets
Then we Dressed the Chickens
Then we finished up with Cupcakes, of course!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMELIA BEDELIA!!!
Getting out
It is so nice to Get Out!!!
5 weeks down...
We've made it 5 weeks post-op! I am amazed by Jake healing. We would never had made it with out all the help we have received! Meals, Grocery Runs, and Pam and Ron play time, and our Moms... we are blessed! It really is because of everyone else that we are surviving quarantine! ... Only one week to go! 
We're out!
(Lila and Ryder, taken from Lila's Heart Journey: https://m.facebook.com/lilasheartjourney?__user=1446237177 )
2 of Jake's best buddies at the Hospital got discharged this week! It is so good to see all these kiddos getting better! These families have been such a support to us. I know they will be life long friends of ours. I am so greatful to have met them and pray them through their heart journey. Here's to my Heart Mamas, may God continue to give you strength!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Angel Mommy
My heart tonight goes out to all the Angel Moms who were not as lucky as I. I know how hard this experience has been. And I know the fear of loosing a child. I have such a different perspective on loss. I hope I never understand the feeling of truly saying good bye. I told my self "good bye" was simply temporary, I can't imagine where I would be had Jacob not come through those doors, or woken up after surgery. Through it all I could always say he is still here and we are blessed. Every minute, every cry, every breath, and especially EVERY HEART BEAT is a gift.
To those who have lost their angel, may you carry them in your heart.
What could have been
I notice now, after it all, how truly awful Jacob's circumstance really was. I knew threw it all the possibilities ahead. I had faith in his promised outcome. However, my security in his survival was unquestionably skewed.
At the cardiologist I was told go straight to the hospital. If you can make it in 2 hrs or less go. Get in the car and go now. Go in through the ER, have them page your Dr, they should admit you immediately. I remember asking the Dr, "What are the chances he doesn't make it to the Hospital?" The Dr's response, "He has been here 3 weeks. It would be really bad timing if he died in the next 2 hours." What did I hear through this conversation? "There is something wrong with Jake's heart. He's going to need to go to the hospital. Stanford's a good place to go and they can take care of him. Don't worry he'll be fine, you'll make it no problem." Don't get me wrong, I was still shaken up. I had still found out my 3 week old had to go to the hospital and was going to need a surgery. How serious though, I had no idea!
As we learned the severity of his condition I felt I was always one step behind the Drs. It wasn't until after he had been recess orated that we learned he had stopped breathing. We had this idea that he was doing great and would continue as long as he got his surgery in time.
Surgery came 2 days early, that was good. Except, looking back, that ment out of all of the babies in the cardio NICU our was the worst. Critical enough to warrant a Sunday surgery (the only surgery that day). On weekdays the hospital does between 2 and 4 surgeries, weekends only maybe 1 per day if necessary. We were told our surgeon preferred Sunday procedures, so we though we were lucky to get the Sunday slot... Really, Jacob was just in a really critical place.
I heard 93-98% survival, rather than 2-7% death rate. Even going to arguably the best surgeon in the world every 50 surgeries at least one of those babies passes. And Jake was a high risk case. If you were told you had a 1/50 chance of that you wouldn't make it, and if you make it 3/50 chance of serious injury, would you feel confident? NO! Thank goodness we did not see it that way.
We pretty much bet he would come back with the open chest. How crazy! We were relieved when we saw him wheel by us in the hall with nothing but a piece of mesh and plastic wrap separating us from his beating heart.
I sat there with 2 doctors, a nurse, and respiratory therapist all watching Jakes recovery the first day. I though it was that we were just at a good hospital. Yes. We were at a great hospital, but that was proof of how serious the situation really was. When look back on pictures I see 9 different medication lines. At the time I saw 3 had been turned off.
Even still I find that I have a different view of normal. When I see Jake's scar I think of how great it looks. When I get him dressed I'm grateful he is beginning to grow out of his preemie sizes (at 7 weeks old).
He is growing bigger. He is getting stronger. I am so happy to be where we are, especially considering where we could be. So much could have happened. Jacob life was hanging on by a thread for so much of this journey. We shouldn't have our little man home with us, in our arms, snuggling in close. But, we are here. God was on our side. Denial was our protection.
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