Two weeks old

Pumpkin Seed we are in awe of you. God placed you perfectly in this world, and entrusted you to us, and we are so, so thankful for your life. We love you more than you will ever know. We look forward to each day. To see who you are and what you will become. You're going to be big time, girl. 

Pumpkin Seed

Apparently the pictures we've posted don't portray Pumpkin Seed's size. Everyone who comes to see her in "real life" is surprised at how small she is. She's tiny. Here are some "to scale" pictures. She weighed 4 pounds, 1O ounces at birth. At discharge she was 4 pounds, 5 ounces. On Monday we visited the pediatrician and she was 4 pounds, 7 ounces. Surprisingly, we don't think much about the pacemaker. It's become just a part of life. There is a large, hard bulge in her abdomen that can be felt when you change her diaper, but other than than, the pacemaker doesn't get much attention.  I'm just so thankful for it. We're much more concerned with making sure she's eating enough and gaining weight. Hiccups are a problem. She gets them several times a day and they are very painful. I guess because her breastbone is still healing. It's pitiful, but they don't ever last long. Tomorrow we return to Duke for a follow up with the heart surgeon to check her incision [which is a work of art by the way….you can hardly see it. I will be sure to compliment the surgeon!]. 

Happy beautiful Thursday. We're about to walk outside and enjoy this weather.

Much love,

Drew & Anna

 

What a long, strange trip its been. We're home!

Oh boy. We have a lot to share. I'll start by saying we're home. HOME. With Foster. She's healthy. Drew and I are processing this ordeal. The whole thing happened a whole lot faster than anyone, us and the doctors, could have expected. We were prepared for weeks, if not months, of an ICU situation trying to get Foster healthy enough to bring home. Healthy. Normal. It feels like a dream.

So, quick recap. Foster was born on Saturday morning. Within three hours she was in the operating room having open heart surgery. About four o'clock, the surgeon came in and said her pacemaker was in and everything went well. I still couldn't feel my legs from the C-Section. I did not see her in the ICU for another hour or so. By seven o'clock, they removed her ventilator tube. She never required morphine. They were able to control her pain with Tylenol. Tylenol. She had her breast bone opened and underwent heart surgery. Tough. 

The next day, Sunday, she remained in the ICU for monitoring. By the afternoon they were able to remove all of her internal tubes. She was eating from bottles. No feeding tubes. Weighting 4 and a half-pounds, within 48 hours of having open heart surgery, no pain medication, and eating from bottles. Resilient. 

Monday, less than 48 hours after the surgery, it was determined that there was no need to keep her in the ICU. She was laying there taking up space. That morning the doctor decided to move her to a "transitional nursery" to monitor feeding and oxygen. Drew and I went to get breakfast. Returned to a change of plans. She doesn't need a nursery. We're going to put her in a regular room. Unyielding. 

We moved to the pediatric cardiac floor about lunch time. There was a bed, a chair and a bassinet. We were able to camp out with her, requiring no Ronald McDonald House or Hotel. That was Monday. Foster was two days old. She had been through a premature birth, open heart surgery and the ICU. Beast. 

We hung out, rested, watched TV and snuggled with Foster the rest of Monday. Tuesday morning the doctors told us there was really not any reason for Foster to be in the hospital. Huh? From a cardiac standpoint, she was fine. There was nothing wrong with her. What? They were just monitoring her feedings. We could go home the next day. Mighty.

Wednesday morning we were ready to be discharged. Foster was packed up. Because she is a preemie, we were required to put her in a car seat so they could monitor her oxygen for ninety minutes. Within those ninety minutes, the bottom dropped out and the blizzard of 2O14 began. We watched the news, saw that there was a virtual Armageddon on the highways and started questioning what in the world to do. We decided it was not an option to travel home. The doctor came back in and and we told him the concern. He said that he thought we would be welcome to remain at the hospital, but that we could get a hotel close by. We had nowhere for her to sleep at a hotel. He suggested putting her in a dresser drawer. They've probably done over a hundred thousand dollars worth of medical intervention on this child and he wants us to put her in a dresser drawer. That is awesome. Turns out, we were cleared to remain another night so they could monitor her some more. So we settled in and snuggled and waited out the storm.

We think we're going home. Not.

Waiting it out.

Thursday morning we were cleared to go. I wasn't sure it was going to happen. Foster had dropped her weight down to 4 pounds, 5 ounces. I thought they would want to keep her to continue monitoring the feedings. But they said there's no reason not to go. The cardiologist said we have a normal baby. Take her home and treat her as a normal baby.

We're going to some place they call home. They tell me I'll like it. 

Now for the drive home. Wow-wee. I think it took years off Drew's life. We left around noon on Thursday. We made it with only one slip and slide. It was a slow go. Foster didn't mind. I was so happy to be going home, I didn't either. Drew held it together like a champ. Cars were piled up on the sides of the highway covered in snow where they had been abandoned the day before. Ice was still coming down. We made it home. I want to share more later, including pictures of our homecoming. Just wanted to update everyone that by the grace and love of our awesome God, we're home. With Foster.

This morning. Six days old. Look how good my boo-boo looks. I like this place they call home.

Much love,
Drew & Anna

Overachievers Find Themselves in Ice Storms

Today has been excellent. Foster is three days old. She is within one ounce of being back to her birth weight. From a cardiology standpoint, she is ready to be discharged. They did WHAT to her three days ago and are letting her go WHERE?! Today we have snuggled all day long. We are in her room and it is very, uhm, cozy. Actually, we are learning to be European. In case we ever let her travel within 60 miles of an electrophysiologist. Our stuff is expertly stowed all over the room and we are snuggling in all cozy and watching TV all day long. It's a precious time. When will it ever be the three of us like this again? I miss Joseph and Maggie terribly. But this is joyous and peaceful.

At the doctors' rounds this morning, they told us that the only thing that's keeping us here is making sure she is eating enough and her blood sugar is stable. Her blood sugar has been great all day so they stopped monitoring it. She's eating exactly what they said she needs to be eating. So, based on that, I guess we will be going home very soon if she continues. WE'RE GOING WHERE? We had a long meeting with the pacemaker specialists today. Nothing we can't handle. It's really about as straightforward as it gets.

Now, the weather. I have no idea. Surely they won't keep us out if we can't get home. Ice storm is supposed to be "historic." Drew is at Babies R Us right now buying a car seat [can't get to Sanford to get ours], bottles, and formula. This is a strange dilemma. We just wait and see what the weather does, whether we can get home, and if Foster is actually going to get discharged in the middle of the storm. I really don't feel comfortable bringing her an hour away from Duke having just had heart surgery and being premature with the possibility that the weather will make travel impossible.

I found these pictures of Joseph to compare. Double take. She makes his 7 pound body look enormous.

Foster 3 Days Old

Joseph Two Days Old

Joy

It's the middle of the night. I am snuggled in bed and snuggled next to me is this extraordinary miracle child. It was supposed to take weeks for this to be possible. Our God is so, so good.

The Best Thing I Ever Saw...

Was in a plastic box. In front of a window of the Duke Hospital Pediatric Cardiac ICU. While it was snowing outside. We ate breakfast and came back to the ICU this morning. On the way in, the nurse said, "I got her all packed up to go." Awesome, I thought. Awesome. Foster overachieved with her feedings to the point where they decided they could bypass the transitional nursery and send her straight to her own room.

I was not prepared for what I felt when I walked in an saw her. No tubes, no oxygen. All of the machines had been removed from her station. She looked just like a normal baby in a normal baby bassinet. I wish I had the words to describe it. I turned into a blubbering idiot. The emotion was more powerful than hearing her first cries in the operating room when she was born. I. We get to take her home. We get to love her. Thank You, thank You, thank You. 

We are now in Foster's room. She's eating well and doing great. I still blubber like an idiot from time to time when I look at her. She needs to eat every two hours and get regular checks from the nurses so we are prepared for no sleep at all. But it's so good.

Please pray for Foster's roommate in the ICU, a four month old baby girl who was not doing well. She's been on my mind much of the day.

Much love,
Drew & Anna

It's So Good

Hospitals are like time warps. You sort of forget how long you've been here, what day it is, etc. Foster just turned 48 hours old. True to form, open heart surgery did not seem to phase her. When we went to the ICU for her doctors' rounds this morning, the nurse updated us on her progress overnight. She ate like a champ and fussed at them for more food. A Lucas, no doubt. Its unusual for a 35 week old baby to take to eating like she did last night, much less one that just had heart surgery. She is really something else. 

She came off the ventilator just a few hours after surgery. Yesterday afternoon, just a little over 24 hours after her surgery, they were able to remove all of the invasive tubes. Now she just has a IV line and the wires that hook up to the monitoring machines. She looks amazing. So healthy. Thank you, God. Thank you. 

There is no reason for her to remain in the ICU. They are moving her into a transitional nursery today. We are somewhat nervous because in the ICU she is monitored so closely and has her own nurse. The nursery they will move her to today is like a normal nursery. Have I mentioned how darn cute she is? 

Drew and I are doing so well too. The C-Section recovery has been no problem. [Procedure…not so fun for a claustrophobic chick.] Its definitely sore, but I wouldn't call it "pain" unless Drew runs the wheelchair into something. Our nurse thinks I'm a freak because I haven't had any pain meds. Another blessing. Last night we both got some rest.  

We are about to head back down to see Foster. I get so excited creeping down that hall. Thank you. Thank you. 

 Daddy holding her for the very first time yesterday afternoon. One day old.

 After she got all those tubes removed yesterday.

Feeding her for this first time this morning. You can actually tell in this picture how tiny she is. 

Much love, 

Drew & Anna

We Have a Pacemaker!

Foster went into surgery at three hours old and was able to have the permanent pacemaker placed. Praise God! The surgery went off without a hitch. Here are some pictures post-surgery. She is still asleep from the anesthesia and has a ventilator tube. There is also a drainage tube at the incision site and lines leading to her umbilical cord to deliver fluid and medicine if she needs it. The respiratory therapist says she is doing very well. The pacemaker was set at 9O beats per minute. They will increase the rate slowly over the next several days. She is so tiny. She looks exactly like Joseph.

The doctor said she could be out of ICU within 48 hours if things continue to go well. Wow. WOW! We really are in disbelief. We love her so much. It's about 7:OO now and she should be waking up soon. They think the ventilator tube can be removed tonight. We should be able to hold her her some time tonight after the ventilator tube is removed. We pray that things continue to go well. There is no doubt that today we have received a very special little girl.

OUR BABY GIRL!

Wanted to give a quick update. She's here. She's perfect. She weighs four pounds, 1O ounces and arrived at 1O:19 this morning. She is in pacemaker surgery as I write. It should be done soon. She was amazing. She screamed her head off. She was pink and breathing well on her own. We actually got to see her right after birth because she was doing so well. Her heart rate was 42 so waiting on the pacemaker was not an option. We are thrilled. I can't explain how huge it was to be able to see her after she was born. Drew got to see her for a couple of minutes right before the surgery. Please pray for no problems in the surgery. They just called and said so far so good. We are eagerly waiting. Will post more later. God is so big.

Waiting….

We have arrived at the hospital. They told us to be here at 7:OO. So, as Lucases, we were here at 6:4O.  We are sitting in the waiting room ready to get this show on the road. Nervous. Very excited to meet our baby girl. She's wiggling around in there packing up her things. The check-in staff said the C-Section was scheduled for 1O. Drew is working on the ancient art of Haiku to describe the experience. Me? I'm starving. We are peaceful and optimistic this morning.

It's Time

Today the cardiologist said its time for this train to stop at the station. Foster "Danger is My Middle Name" Lucas will be arriving tomorrow morning. Saturday, February 8 at 35.5 weeks. She weighed in today at 4 pounds, 8 ounces. The heart was still pumping strong. Her heart had just dropped to 44 BPM and there was a "small rim" of fluid around it and its just too risky to leave her in there any longer. She is smaller than they would prefer. However, she may very well be big enough for the permanent pacemaker.  The surgeon will make that determination tomorrow. If not, there is always the option of pacing her heart with the temporary pacemaker. The team has been assembled for a delivery around 9:oo tomorrow morning. We are praying for a smooth delivery, to hear the sound of her cry, and for her heart to be so strong and to sustain her on the outside for the doctors provide her with the intervention she needs. So, here we go.

Tonight I pray:

Dear Heavenly Father: 

Thank you for the gift of this child. Thank you for her strong little heart. Thank you for the miracle of it sustaining her for this long. Thank you for your grace and love. Thank you for the peace you have given us throughout. Thank you for this opportunity to trust You and for what You have revealed to us through this. Please put Your hands around Foster's little heart tomorrow as she is born. Please protect her and keep her safe. Please guide the surgeon's hand. Please fill us with your peace. 

Please help us to raise her as a testament to your Glory. 

In Jesus Name, 
Amen.

So, tomorrow we're gonna rock on down to electric avenue. (And all of you who got that bad 198o's pop music reference are now singing, "And then we'll take it higher!")

Check back here tomorrow. Hopefully we will be able to post updates. Please pray for our sweet, strong little girl. Love to you all.

Drew & Anna

Snow Days and Anticipation

Two wild monkeys were home for four days last due to the snow storm, which produced a whopping 2 inches and basically shut down life for most of the week. Snow ain't my thang, ya'll. Thanks be to best dad/husband ever for taking over snow playing responsibilities.

Maggie, Joseph, and Olaf.


We returned to Duke on Friday (January 31st) and got a good report in that Foster's heart function remains the same even with the decreased heart rate. Her heart was still at 47 BPM. All of the other numbers (how the blood is flowing through the umbilical cord, fetal movements, fluid levels) were actually improved over last Tuesday. The doctors are saying that they could make the decision at any time to deliver.  Suitcase is packed and comes to Durham every time. It's a delicate dance right now between delivering her and not risking her heart function deteriorating and letting her try to grow big enough for the permanent pacemaker. We pray for wisdom for the doctors as they make these decisions. I cannot believe that we watched the Super Bowl last with Foster still wiggling around in my belly. I am in disbelief that we have gotten this far and we are so, so thankful for the grace of God and for all your prayers. We return tomorrow (Tuesday) to check her status at the fetal medicine clinic. Then we are scheduled to go to the cardiologist on Friday. This is really close and I think we are ready to meet this extraordinary little girl.