Our sweet baby arrived at 12:14 today weighing 4 pounds 2 ounces. She soon had surgery and did really well. The doctor was able to get all the bowel in with a primary closure (meaning no silo and less risk for infection). We feel so blessed and grateful.
The day has been exhausting, but we have been filled with peace and calmness through what could have been tremendously stressful. We are amazed at how well she is handling everything and we know she will continue to thrive and improve her condition. She has a long way to go but she is doing great. There is no official timeline for milestones with a baby with gastroschisis, so we kind of just work in a one goal at a time. Already she is improving her blood sugar regulation and temperature regulation. Our next major goal will be for her to be able to breathe independently and not need the ventilator. After she was born she was breathing 95 -100% on her own which is incredible. As expected, they intubate for surgery and will remain intubated due to pressure on her diaphram from the new addition to her abdomen and also the sedation. Hopefully within the next few days she will get back to breathing on her own at which time we will get to hold her for the first time. The anticipation of that moment is very tender to me now.
I really need to get to bed, but I thought I would fill everyone in. Thank you again and again for your thoughts and prayers. We know He hears!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Here we go...
All right, there are at least 7 of you who read this, so these updates are for you...
Well, it is after midnight, so today is the day. I'll be in the hospital in less than 6 hours where they will get me all hooked up to my IV and start that lovely Pitocin flowin through my veins. I think anxious would be the appropriate word. I am excited, but there is certainly some anxiety too (hence I am awake again).
It seems I have still failed to fill some people in on the situation so here is the I-need-to-get-back-to-bed-summary and you can fill in the holes with your own research or just wait for updates. (Please don't pay any attention to my grammar, I should be sleeping and so this is a mind spill not a refined document.)
At my 18 week ultrasound the doctor found that our sweet baby has a condition called gastroschisis. That means that in her development something went wrong with the formation of her abdominal wall and there is a defect site where it is not closed and some of her bowel is outside of her body. We are fortunate in that it is only small intestine out, but it seems that the quantity is increasing. To prevent damage to the bowel (resulting in loss of bowel and long term complications) I will be induced at 33 weeks. This little lady will have her first surgery within a couple of hours of birth and we will learn a lot more about the condition of her intestines after birth and that first surgery. Many babies have only that first surgery, but we are choosing to be prepared for more because I prefer pleasant surprises. She will head straight to the NICU after birth and then to surgery but hopefully we'll get a glimpse of her sweet face somewhere in the chaos before surgery...if not, we will have MANY hours in the NICU to come with ample opportunity to stare helplessly as we hope she progresses, grows and knows we love her. There is no timeframe for how long she will be in the NICU (so stop asking :o) it could be weeks or months and only time and progress will tell. We'll keep you posted with stats and hopefully you won't get sick of this one topic blog that will exist for a while.
So tomorrow is a big day. We are so grateful for prayer and knowing that we have a loving Heavenly Father who cares for us and our baby. We know she is in His hands and that that is the safest place to be. Thank you for all the prayers you have and will yet say in our behalf, we truly feel the power and peace that comes from those prayers and your great faith.
Well, it is after midnight, so today is the day. I'll be in the hospital in less than 6 hours where they will get me all hooked up to my IV and start that lovely Pitocin flowin through my veins. I think anxious would be the appropriate word. I am excited, but there is certainly some anxiety too (hence I am awake again).
It seems I have still failed to fill some people in on the situation so here is the I-need-to-get-back-to-bed-summary and you can fill in the holes with your own research or just wait for updates. (Please don't pay any attention to my grammar, I should be sleeping and so this is a mind spill not a refined document.)
At my 18 week ultrasound the doctor found that our sweet baby has a condition called gastroschisis. That means that in her development something went wrong with the formation of her abdominal wall and there is a defect site where it is not closed and some of her bowel is outside of her body. We are fortunate in that it is only small intestine out, but it seems that the quantity is increasing. To prevent damage to the bowel (resulting in loss of bowel and long term complications) I will be induced at 33 weeks. This little lady will have her first surgery within a couple of hours of birth and we will learn a lot more about the condition of her intestines after birth and that first surgery. Many babies have only that first surgery, but we are choosing to be prepared for more because I prefer pleasant surprises. She will head straight to the NICU after birth and then to surgery but hopefully we'll get a glimpse of her sweet face somewhere in the chaos before surgery...if not, we will have MANY hours in the NICU to come with ample opportunity to stare helplessly as we hope she progresses, grows and knows we love her. There is no timeframe for how long she will be in the NICU (so stop asking :o) it could be weeks or months and only time and progress will tell. We'll keep you posted with stats and hopefully you won't get sick of this one topic blog that will exist for a while.
So tomorrow is a big day. We are so grateful for prayer and knowing that we have a loving Heavenly Father who cares for us and our baby. We know she is in His hands and that that is the safest place to be. Thank you for all the prayers you have and will yet say in our behalf, we truly feel the power and peace that comes from those prayers and your great faith.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Baby Updates
I am wondering if I should post baby updates here or on Facebook. I don't know if anyone reads this anymore so I don't want to waste time putting it here if FB would be more efficient. Cast your vote... if you read this.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Labor Day Weekend
Our weekend started perfectly with a fun although brief visit from our friends the Ogdens. Jenn was one of my BYU roommates, and luckily still a friend despite an almost complete lack of keeping in touch. I'm so lucky to have some of those kind of friends! Here is her cute Cade... if it is any indication of how long its been since we were together, he couldn't even roll over last time I saw them :o) Now there is another cute kid and I have 1 more and 1 almost here. Wow. Time flies!
Saturday morning we joined what appears to be every other resident of the city of Boise and headed to Ann Morrison park for the Annual Spirit of Boise Hot Air Balloon Celebration. It would seem I am teasing Boise because everyone goes, but it is legitimately cool. Hot air balloons are just amusing. We didn't make it in time for the morning take off, but we enjoyed seeing them in the distance and also the couple that were still at the park for show.
We also played at the park while there...
We headed back to the park early for good seats on the lawn for the evening "Glow". Our pictures are all pretty terrible (can't find my real camera so I was using a 9+ year old one-- not that they would have been any better with the real camera and my skills :o) Here we are early in the evening just after Mickey was inflated... the kids really liked him, this is just the enthusuastic look you get when you tell them to look away from the the thing that is so cool... funny how we think they'll still smile when it is behind them.
Shayne is learning/practicing his photo bombing skills young. I didn't even see he jumped into the picture until I downloaded the pictures :o)
Here's the glow... bad representation, but it really was beautiful.
We had a great time. Had a picnic, play football and Uno on the lawn and got to see amazing Hot Air Balloons. Gotta admit... Boise is a pretty all right place :o) Any place would be with the amazing fun family I have, but Boise is definately near the top of the list.
We're having fun. I think that was the point of this post. Oh, I guess I left out the rest of the weekend. We had the flu. fun. Maybe not. But overall, the weekend review is positive.
And thank you to every one who joined us in fasting on Sunday. We feel your love and support and faith. We are so thankful to have such a wonderful circle of friends we can call on. We love you.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Fasting this Sunday
I don't know if any of you are blog followers and not facebook friends, but I thought I would extend the same invitation here as I did to facebook friends:
Dear Friends and Family,
On Sunday September 2 my family will be fasting for the health and well being of our growing baby girl. To us, fasting is an opportunity to show our faith and ask for special blessings that we are in need of. By abstaining from food we show the Lord that our spiritual desires are stronger than our physical desire for food. We welcome anyone who would like to join us to do so, or to join us with your positive thoughts and prayers that day. Our baby is in an important period of development right now and also can use extra protection so we know she would benefit from the combined faith of many.
When we fast, we start with a prayer expressing our desires and the needs that we have and ask for the Lord's protection or guidance. We then abstain from food and water (my fast will be modified due to pregnancy) for the desired period of time (we have chosen breakfast and lunch, you are welcome to do it your own way). During that time we do our best to focus on more spiritual and faith promoting things and reflect on the things we have asked for. At the conclusion of our fast we end with a prayer.
Thank you to all of you who already have us in your thoughts and prayers. We feel sustained and our faith is strong. Our baby is doing well and we pray that will continue and no further complications will arise. She'll be here within four weeks so we hope these will be weeks of great lung development and intestine safety so that she is ready to thrive independently. Thank you so much for your concern, love and support.
Love, the Miller family
Dear Friends and Family,
On Sunday September 2 my family will be fasting for the health and well being of our growing baby girl. To us, fasting is an opportunity to show our faith and ask for special blessings that we are in need of. By abstaining from food we show the Lord that our spiritual desires are stronger than our physical desire for food. We welcome anyone who would like to join us to do so, or to join us with your positive thoughts and prayers that day. Our baby is in an important period of development right now and also can use extra protection so we know she would benefit from the combined faith of many.
When we fast, we start with a prayer expressing our desires and the needs that we have and ask for the Lord's protection or guidance. We then abstain from food and water (my fast will be modified due to pregnancy) for the desired period of time (we have chosen breakfast and lunch, you are welcome to do it your own way). During that time we do our best to focus on more spiritual and faith promoting things and reflect on the things we have asked for. At the conclusion of our fast we end with a prayer.
Thank you to all of you who already have us in your thoughts and prayers. We feel sustained and our faith is strong. Our baby is doing well and we pray that will continue and no further complications will arise. She'll be here within four weeks so we hope these will be weeks of great lung development and intestine safety so that she is ready to thrive independently. Thank you so much for your concern, love and support.
Love, the Miller family
As a side note, I have so many fun things to post about but can't find my camera... I promise a post soon!
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