Leap Day!

Ryder's morning is starting off well - he was put on bili lights last night but the numbers have stabilized so he is back off for now, WIDE awake and checking out his home away from home...

His oxygen numbers are still on the high side but so far blood gas #s look good, so he is still breathing room air, leaving him accessible for hand-holding and little noggin-petting :)  Chest xray today looked clear so no medications except his prostaglandins and heparin. 

So far we don't have a definitive surgery date yet, but possibly next Tuesday for his Norwood.   That's all for now - what a great morning!!!

More pictures!

So far, so good!  Ryder is still holding oxygen sats in the mid-80s (the goal) and is peacefully snoozing in the NICU.  He will have daily labs and CXR and decision on the cath will be made based on the results of these.  He still may have to switch to an oxygen/nitrogen combo if his oxygen saturations go to high to lessen some of the blood flow to his lungs, but so far he is perfect! 

Thank you all a gazillion million for all of the kind wishes and the prayers. 

Happy Birthday!

Ryder James Newman was born at 0752.  7lbs 2oz.  19.6 inches.  Doing great!  APGAR's 8, 8, 9.  O2 sats in the 80's.  No breathing trouble.  About 20 people attended his birthday party.  The three cardiologists all decided his echo looked good and since he was doing so well he doesn't need a cath procedure today.  The plan (right now) is to see how he's doing over this week, possibly have a cath later in the week and then off to the OR next week. 

Jessi is doing great.  Thankful that Ryder is doing well and thankful that she was able to hold him before sending him off to the NICU. 

We could not be more grateful to meet Ryder today.

Thanks for all the prayers!

24 hours...

We are so excited to meet our little warrior in 24 hours...

C-section is planned for 7:30 am 2/28 (tomorrow!) - baby Newman will be examined and get IVs started in the OR next door; followed by an ECHO and decision based on that and his vital signs whether to go for heart cath immediately (to enlarge the septal hole) or be admitted to the NICU for monitoring first.  That is all we know for right now...

We can't thank everyone enough for all of your support and kind words, please pray for baby Newman's safe transition into the world tomorrow morning and we will keep you updated on his status.

To our baby boy,
We are so excited to see your face and hold your precious hands!

I want you to know that we are so sorry you had to fly across the country and that we let someone poke through your chest in an attempt to create a hole through your tiny heart.

I am sorry that I let them try again 2 more times to get the hole made.  I hope you were still fast asleep and didn't feel any pain.

I am sorry for any fleeting moments when I doubted you were made perfectly, I am certain now that you are perfect and I couldn't have hoped to have any person except you enter my life.

I am sorry I complained about all the OB appointments.  In the end, it was the best part of my day to count your kicks and watch your heart race on that monitor...

I am sorry for all the unpredictable elbows and body slams - that was your big sister!

And on that note, sorry in advance for the first time we turn our backs for a minute and she tries to change your diaper by herself or tries to feed you a play-doh hotdog she made for you... 

Finally, we are so sorry that tomorrow is going to be a scary day for you - cold, bright lights, needles and monitors- but please know always that from the moment we heard your heart beating you have been so loved, and we will love you each moment we have with you with all of our hearts...
Know that we will do anything we can to protect you and keep you feeling safe and loved.

I don't know why we were chosen to be your parents, but we couldn't be more thankful for this gift we have been given.

"You are mine for a moment, but you are His, forever His, and in this life I am holding you, but in His arms you live..."
--Matt Hammitt

My prayer for today:

BE AT PEACE

Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life;
rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise,
God, whose very own you are,
will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will carry you in His arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same understanding Father who cares for
you today will take care of you then and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace,
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

--Saint Francis De Sales

Thank you, friend :)

No labor!!

The 39th week is going well so far!  Rescheduled grandparents, uncles and aunts' visits, explained to OB why I showed up for 2 more appointments after scheduled csection and made it through 4 more days of work - so thankful!!

Today's nonstress test looked good and no signs I would have ever gone into labor anyway, so we are still on for a Tuesday birthday.

In the meantime, Addy is enjoying being spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa who came to visit since they just happened to have the week off - how lucky is that! 

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts and prayers!

1 more week (Do-over)

In a rather frustrating turn of events Friday night baby Newman's birthday has changed from 2/21 to 2/28.  So we are re-doing the 1 more week thing.  There are some really good things about this delay - he gets to grow a little bigger, he gets the cardiac surgeon we were hoping for originally, and we get another week at home to spoil our princess...who incidentally has had at least 8 tantrums today and it is only 7:42.  So hard to be 2 :)

Just so nobody has to speculate though...here are the top 10 reasons we did NOT delay the csection:

10) I have too much energy to stop doing consults this week.
9) We heard Ron Paul was still in town (we didn't want Jake to overstay his welcome).
8) Let's face it, waddling just looks good.
7) It is really easy for 7 people to move all of their travel/work plans to come the following Tuesday.
6) I hate wine, sushi, all soft cheeses and wine.
5) We needed another week to stock up on breastpump batteries from costco.
4) I really like the sense of the unknown...will I go into labor before next Tuesday?  What are we going to do with Addy if that happens?  Can you stock a normally [near] empty OB department at a Children's hospital on a Sunday night?  Sounds like fun!
3) I am going to miss wearing Jill's maternity coat (you'll have to give me a head's up if you ever need a replacement--it now has lining only attached at one sleeve, you know, due to the high quality in general of all maternity wear).
2) 2/28 is Grandpa Jim #1's birthday (you got #1 because you are older - don't get so excited). 
And FYI I have already come up with a great rebuttal to your lies to your future grandson: 
GJ (Grandpa Jim): Did you know that you should feel special because I let you share my birthday? 
Me: Actually, that's not true, Grandpa Jim's birthday used to be Febuary 21st. 
GJ: Oh really? 
Me: Yes, but he asked daddy if he could change it to February 28 instead so he could be special like you. 
GJ: Oh I did? 
Me: Yep, we told him that that would be ok, but only if every year on your birthday he agreed to order pizza from Carbones instead of Savoy's.  Then you, Addy, Blake and Kelsey all get to sprinkle red pepper flakes on it for him because he likes spicy food so much.  And THEN he has to give you his piece of birthday cake too.

---Imagine the stories I can come up with by the time he is old enough to listen to such nonsense!!!

1) Finally the last reason we did NOT delay the csection:  we are not excited to meet our little warrier!

Have a great week and please send a prayer and/or hold a rabbit's foot and make a wish that there is no labor this week!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I can't believe it is already [almost] Valentine's Day...and cold...and grey...and snowy - just reminding me of our last 2 lovely and warm Valentine's Days - a perfect cure for any seasonal affective disorder!!

My 2 Valentines in 2010 (Jamaica)!

My 2 Valentines in 2011 (Mexico - Amanda's Wedding)!

Though snow can be fun too...

Baby Newman's last fetal ECHO was today - still looking like no heart failure, and the atrial septal defect is still open but probably not a big enough hole for the first week so tentatively he will go to the cath lab his first day and get a bigger hole made.  Everything looked good enough, though, that this shouldn't have to be emergent, so overall great news!!

Hoping that everyone has a great Valentine's Day with the ones you love.  We can't wait to meet our newest little Valentine in ONE WEEK! 

Matt Hammitt: All of Me (written for his son Bowen, born with HLHS)

http://bowensheart.com/



2 weeks to go...

Not easy to get a 3D picture at 37 weeks (not enough fluid) but here's to our US tech for the effort! 

(Pouty lips and arm trying to knock away US probe)

Cute little nose!

Met with OB today who will be doing my c-section.  No new problems on the ultrasound so still a go for 2/21!

3 weeks to go...

This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy ate roast beef and this little piggy had none, and these little piggies I can't wait to kiss!!!

All we can hope for is to hear a cry, to see a pink face, to kiss a little nose, and to hold a baby boy before we hand him over and have faith that the Healer of hearts will be guiding the hands of those mending his...