Moving Day

This morning we were told that we were going to move to the 'floor'. To the nurses in the CICU, the 'floor' refers to the Children's Surgical Unit (CSU), or where the kids go to recover from surgery. The big momentum swing came with the removal of the ventilator. It was just a matter of time till he came upstairs. The CICU is on the 2nd floor and the CSU is on the 3rd.

Our nurse, Crystal, thought we would be upstairs by early afternoon. At 10:30 we got the transfer orders and we would be upstairs at 11:15! Again, the progress he was making is incredible. How sweet that was to know we shouldn't be back for years, maybe 4-5, but years! It was a good feeling to know that the countdown to come home was now rolling fast downhill.

We got to our new room, which has a window, Isaac just rolled right over and got comfortable. Nothing like snuggling up with a hospital blanket and taking a nap. My excitement grew because now Eli and Emily could come and meet him. That was going to be fun.

When the rest of the family got here, Isaac was getting his post-op echo. The cardiologists wanted to make sure his heart was working the way the repairs intended it to. We haven't heard how it went, but if there was something amiss, chances are we would have heard about it by now. Lisa and the kids got here during the echo, so the kids' first glimpse of their little brother was in dad's arms walking down the hall to take Isaac back to his room. Emily's first response was, "Oooo, he's cute." I believe she is correct.

We got to Isaac's room and both kids climbed into the chair as fast as they could to get a better view.

 Thanks to Aunt Marcie and Uncle Duane for helping him look good here in the hospital. Not to mention comfortable too, this blanket is amazingly soft.

Eli was very interested in Isaac. He got sad when he cried. Not real sure yet what to do, he came over occasionally to inspect, but blew kisses to him when he left.

Emily loved him too. She tried to hold him while mom help him, but with so many wires still attached, they decided they might wait for a better time. Plus, Lisa wants to hold him too. 

It was so great to have us all together again. It felt like months we were apart, with so much big stuff happening, but it hasn't even been an entire week. The real world is just a dream right now. Our windshield has been filled with hospital. How grateful we are for the many prayers that are now being answered and for a loving Heavenly Father that has helped us through this experience and strengthened us to be able to endure it. Thank you!

The Next Phase- Sat, Sun & Mon

Before I even begin this post, I need to say how incredibly comforting and happy we are to be together as a family again in Isaac's room.

These 3 days seem to all blend into one. His progress was steady and really good. Saturday seemed to be his rest day. He was still trying to bounce back from 2 surgeries in 2 days. Nothing really of note happened this day.

Sunday came and he was in for some good baby-steps towards moving out of the CICU. He still had his pacer wires in. These are in place, just in case, they needed to get his heart back up and moving again. He also had two arterial lines, like IV lines, that went directly into his heart. These were placed during his big by-pass surgery. Lastly, he had his chest tube, that helped to drain any fluid or blood that accumulated as a result of his surgery.

All these lines made their way out between Saturday night and Sunday evening. The pacer wires and arterial lines came out first. The chest tube was kept in place for a while longer, just in case of bleeding that was caused by pulling out the other pieces. No bleeding, no worries, which meant no chest tube, and it came out too.

Isaac a lot more comfortable with a few less "connections".

Sunday afternoon was also a very difficult time. Lisa had been discharged from the hospital and we were planning to go home to see Emily and Isaac. It was a tough trip, especially leaving the parking garage. So sad leaving Isaac, even though he would be getting excellent care, but also wanting to go home too. Being torn between two places is incredibly tough.

Once we got home, we were making calls to Isaac's bed every hour or two to check up on him. Our night got a bit easier and even exciting when at the 8:30 call we were told his ventilator came out. He was breathing on his own! Wow, the incredible progress he was making. It was sad we weren't there to hear his crying after it came out, but I will admit that I slept better knowing he was still making great progress even when we were gone.

Isaac's owie! 

Mom loving her son from a distance.

Will you take a bottle?

On Monday they wanted to see how Isaac would do taking a bottle. With everything that goes on, it is typical for these little ones to forget how to suck and swallow. Isaac was no different. He knew how to suck, but couldn't figure out the swallow thing. He was gagging himself with the formula and spitting it back out. He will have some help from the speech therapist and we can try again. He just needs to get a little bit stronger in his mouth and throat.

Isaac is the superstar of the CICU. As the doctors, nurses, fellows, or anybody came around, he was introduced as the superstar. I have to agree, he is pretty amazing.

RANDOM PICS

His very first photo after birth.

All dressed up, ready for Isaac to come.

The life-flight nurses taking Isaac to Primary Children's

Another Big Day

Friday, Feb. 24-

Isaac has been doing really well and making good progress. Not amazingly fast improvements but not without progress either. When we got to his bedside early this morning, Dr. Gruber, the surgeon who fixed his heart, scheduled his chest closure surgery at 3 PM this afternoon. AMAZING! He isn't 3 days old and he was going to be looking back at some of the biggest obstacles in his path.

In comparison with his bypass surgery, this closure surgery is pretty simple. But it also comes with worries and concerns, too. It is still surgery and he will be coming off medication that immobilizes and puts him out. There is also the need to adjust all the machines and medicines again with the changes with a closed chest now. Post-operation, no matter the operation, is always a sticky situation.

Mom and Dad by Isaac's beside, waiting for surgery

Grandma and Grandpa Norman and Gilmore were able to come see Isaac before surgery, and they also brought mom and dad a treat--- Emily and Eli. How great it was to see them and be with them. How grateful we are to have 2 healthy kids and that Lisa's family is so willing to take care of them while we are here.

We spent some great time with them. We had lunch together in the cafeteria and went to Primary's Forever Young Zone to let the kids experience the positives of being in the hospital. The best part was just being together. The 3 days apart have felt like weeks with everything that has already taken place.

At 3:42 we got the call that Isaac was out of surgery and things went well. He didn't miss a beat as they closed chest. They actually bring the OR right to his bedside in the CICU, so we waited in Lisa's room. By 4:15 we were able to go in and see and check on him.

Isaac looking good with his chest closed.

It wasn't the end. He got his feeding tube to begin the process of getting back to normal. He will start with tiny amounts to get his stomach to wake up and work their way to a normal size feeding for a newborn.

Feeding tube in place

Isaac also had 2 x-rays today. One to check the surgery and make sure things were looking okay. The second one was to check the placement of his feeding tube, to ensure it was were it needed to be.

He had a big day again, but has responded well and is doing his part in helping with his recovery. How thankful we are for those involved with his care, they do amazing things!

Surgery Day

The Cardio ICU felt packed with kids of all ages, it was amazing they had time to operate on Isaac at 1 day old. Dr. Gruber was his surgeon and said this is the biggest surgery Isaac will have. 

We made the most of the time we had pre-surgery, knowing it would be awhile before we could hold him again.

Grandma and grandpa came just in time to see him off. We were able to walk with him back to the operating  area. It felt like a very long slow walk. Emotions were mixed from gratitude to fear.
 

We waited together for 5 hours before we could see Isaac again. Grandpa loves Google Earth, that is how he passed some good time, checking out the farm. Thank goodness for the snacks Lisa's siblings sent with us, they came in handy during this time. She keeps saying that is the best gift she has ever received. (I need to step up my game a little).

Dr. Gruber came in around 5:30 PM and gave us an account of surgery and what he did. He felt really good about what happened and how things were looking. He wasn't able to close the chest, but will in the next day or so. Isaac had very little bleeding and everything was looking great.

Nothing can prepare you for seeing your own child in such a precarious state. We are grateful to have so many wonderful doctors, nurses, surgeons, and staff looking after his every need. Knowing this moment was coming didn't make it any easier, but it has actually been more precious of an opportunity than anything. How special this time has been, how tender and sweet this experience. We love our little guy and know he is on his way to many great and wonderful things.

 Isaac after surgery with his ventilator, all the lines into his circulatory system, drain lines, monitors, etc.

His CICU bed and everything he is connected to.

Happy Birthday, Isaac

No change in plans after all. According to the ultrasound, his growth had dropped off the chart. It was more risky to wait. So it was still on, he was on schedule to come Feb. 22, 2012. I hope he likes the #2.

Lisa walked back to the OR to begin the surgery. Everything was counted and preped. The needle in her back to inject numbing medicine. Then an urgent "HOLD" was called. An emergency for another mother took priority and Lisa was walked back to the waiting room!

An hour or so later, it was like "deja vu"  Lisa was taken back to the OR. Isaac James was born at 11:37 AM weighing an even 5 pounds and measuring 19 inches long. He disappeared through the window and I felt like it was too long before we got to see him. He was amazing the ICU the nurses said. His APGAR scores (scale of 1-10) were 8 at 1 minute and at 5 minutes. His IV went in really easily and was breathing on his own, doing fabulous. I don't know what more we could have asked for.

 Admire that clean chest! The bellybutton is left open to use as an IV line.

Stopped by to meet his mom for 5 minutes before the walk to Primary's.

Grandpa and I followed life flight. Isaac got himself a coveted "life flight" t-shirt, even thought he never flew, just got the "life walk." Once over at Primary's, he was reassessed and nestled in.

Pictures to come


We had doctors and cardiologists in and out all day. Too many people and too many names to remember. He also had an 80 minute echocardiogram to take a direct look at his heart. The results showed he had Truncus Arteriosis, Type II. There was an opening for surgery the next day and the staff took it. We had been told it would be days later, but we felt this was a blessing.

Echo on Isaac himself.

Isaac was amazing. He was a kicker, really active, good color, and made many different faces. The anesthesiologist, Dr. Clark, was amazed at how well he acted and looked. He didn't look like a heart baby. This was the message we got from many of the staff members. He might be small, but he was strong and active. Going into surgery so strong is definitely a benefit for him.

What a support Lisa's family has been. The kids are on vacation at the Saunders' house. The kids have been having so much fun, they don't even want to talk to us. We are interfering with their play time. Also, having grandma and grandpa here was heaven sent. Grandpa sat in the ICU with me through the echo and all the informal meetings while grandma waited in the room with Lisa. Here is Lisa's mom meeting her 30th grandchild. 

                                          Out of all the grandkids, Grandma loves each one the most.

Change in plans.....maybe?

Time waits for no man. The last 3 weeks have been filled with preparations and appointments and cleaning.  Lisa has been in nesting mode, wanting clean and organize every space in our house. Isaac is lucky to have a clean and organized place to come home to.

Emily and mom made a countdown chain to announce the arrival of Isaac. Emily has loved counting down the days to his birthday. Lately, in her prayers, she has been praying that Isaac will come in "4" days or "3" days. It is amazing how sweet and thoughtful she is. She rarely forgets to bless Isaac's heart or that his surgery will go good. I love how she says 'surgery', it is said correctly, but just so cute. She just sounds so much more grown-up and thoughtful than her age is. That's the mark of a great mother.

The faith of the kids is what keeps us moving forward. Their faith is so pure, so innocent, so true. I can feel and see the love of God in Eli and Emily. How excited they are to welcome their little brother! They have as much love for him as we do as his parents. We are so thankful for their sweet spirits, happy countenances and faith in our home and family. Being a dad and husband is something special.

The plan is to welcome baby Isaac on Wednesday, but this might possibly change. Dr. Manuck called Lisa on Friday and scheduled a set of appointments for Tuesday. There was a meeting with the OBs, the cardiologists, and surgeons. When they got to us, there was some concern about Isaac's size. So as of right now, we are still scheduled for the 22nd. If there is anything of concern or worry after Tuesday's appointments, this date could be changed. So stay tuned.