Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Surgery and Discharge planning

Today was yet another surgery day. Rachel had her g-tube and fundo done today around 2:00pm by Dr. Robert Bloss. Dr. Bloss is so amazing at what he does, of course he has been doing it for over 30 years. The surgery went well according to him. Not only did he come and speak with us after her surgery he sent us a text immediately after he was done stating, "Surgery went well. She is as cute on the inside as the outside." He is so personable and we appreciate him taking good care of Rachel and keeping us informed. She lost very little blood, in fact they didn't have to give her any blood at all. She is still recovering and probably will be until tomorrow after the anesthesia completely wears off. We hope this will do the trick for Rachel and we hope this will get her home much sooner than if she didn't have it done. Plus we felt strongly this will protect her from micro aspirating into her tiny lungs and thus causing more damage than what is already there. She is a little trooper and will get through this and hopefully be on the road to home sooner than later.

Rachel the day before her surgery






Tomorrow is a big day for Haley, mom and dad! Haley is scheduled to go home tomorrow in the late afternoon around 5pm. This has been a long awaited day. We are extremely excited, but yet nervous simply because of her history and all that she has been through. She is going to have to pass her car seat test first before they will even allow her out of the hospital. She failed it last night and they were doing it again tonight. She has to sit in her car seat for an hour without having any desaturations (below 85%) in her oxygen. This evening Haley got her RSV vaccine. This will help protect her from RSV. We will still be very diligent in keeping her away a lot of people during this cold and flu season. We definitely want to keep her healthy and out of the hospital. We met with her pediatrician (Dr. Farrior) this afternoon. He is very nice and seems to really care. Haley will be seeing him a couple of days after getting out of the hospital.

Haley sleeping away in Mommy's arms






Thomas and I are so grateful to our Heavenly Father and His Holy Son Jesus Christ for all that they have done to help our little girls. Without their help I know we would not have our two girls with us today on the earth. We owe everything to them for all they have done and continue to do in Haley and Rachel's behalf. We are also eternally grateful to the nurses and to the doctors at both Texas Woman's and Texas Children's Hospital. We are just so excited to finally be able to have at least one of our precious girls home with us.

23 comments:

  1. I'e been a long time follower of your blog, and I just wanted to say Congratulations on the pending arrival home of Haley!! I hope Rachel has a speedy recovery and will be reunited with Haley at home real soon!!

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  2. Thanks so much for the updates. I am beyond excited for you all to bring your precious Haley home. Its going to be such a rewarding experience. I know you guys will be washing your hands so often, using antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer. My hubby and I did that all the time when we brought our preemie home. I really appreciate that you take so much time to be thorough in your blog. I feel like I am a part of your family even though you don't know me. I am from Rosemead, CA. If you need to email any questions re: preemie stuff. Let me know. Take care and Jesus is and will always be watching over you all.

    Nicole

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  3. NEVER feel bad about protecting the girls from germs!! If people wanted to visit (grandparents were the only ones allowed at first!) they had to get a flu shot and scrub in when they got there just like at the hospital! I had hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE!! I washed my hands so much my skin would flake off!! But it was all worth it and everyone understood! So excited for you! Can't wait until you no longer have to make the drive to the hospital everyday...I bet you are too!

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  4. Oh my goodness! I hope everything goes smoothly today and that tonight you and your sweet Haley enjoy being home together!! I also hope Rachel recovers well from her surgery. Good luck!

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  5. Glad to hear things went well with Rachel in her surgery. I pray for a quick recovery and she will be joining her lovely parents and sister Haley at home soon. I pray things go well for Haley in her car seat test so she can go home this evening with her Mommy & Daddy. What a blessed day for your family. Sherri

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  6. I'm so happy for you guys! It's going to be so wonderful to have Haley's sweet spirit in your home. I hope she does well on her carseat test!
    Dr. Farrior will take great care of her once she's home, he's wonderful!
    Little Rachel is such a trooper! I'm glad to hear that her surgery went well. I hope this can be the last one she needs and that she'll be joining Haley at home soon.
    My thoughts will be with yall today, I hope everything goes according to plan.


    Praying for you always,

    Christina McKinney

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  7. Praying for Haley to pass the carseat test and that all goes well. Praying for continued health for both girls as they both continue to grow and become stronger everyday.

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  8. I am so happy that you guys will finally be able to take one of your precious girls home tonight. And A speedy recovery for Rachel. God Bless Amanda and Thomas, you both are the most loving and strong parents. with everything you both have been through, you both deserve to bring these girls home so you can enjoy your daughters. Prayers for everything to run smoothly so you can enjoy your girls at home May God Bless all 4 of you.

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  9. I can't wait to read your post about bringing Haley home! Still praying for all of you! Hope Rachel can join you all at home SOON!

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  10. I'm so happy to hear the news! Rachel will be home very soon too. She is s trooper and will continue to thrive! Haley is finally going home! This sounds so good! I know you have been waiting for this moment and are very excited. Amanda and Thomas, you are excellent parents. I think Rachel and Haley are blessed to have you. They couldn't be in better hands. I can't wait to see both girls at home enjoying the family life and their loving parents. All of you are always in my prayers.
    Love, Claudia

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  11. Its so great that everything went well with the surgery. Oh...I remember anxiously waiting for my lil ones to pass the carseat test. My lil one failed her first one too, we actually had to get a different carseat and then she passed it. They think it was the angle of the carseat. GL!!!!

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  12. I am so happy for you all! I have been praying for your family. My daughter had a minor surgery about a year and a half ago and we used Dr. Bloss. I feel so blessed that we had him on something so minor since he is taking such great care of the girls! He is truly amazing!! Prayers for Haley's safe arrival at home and for Rachel's speedy recovery! You two are great parents!

    Niki

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  13. I am so excited for you!! I hope Haley does well with her carseat test! I also hope Rachel makes a very speedy recovery and that she can join you at home really soon.

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  14. I am so happy for yall. I hope that everything goes well and Haley goes home with Rachel to soon follow! I will keep yall in our prayers! "Through Christ, all things are possible"... :-)

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  15. I am so thrilled! I can't wait to see a photo of little Haley at home in her own crib! :-) CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK!

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  16. I'm a long time follower of your blog, but I have commented :-)! I just wanted to let you know you have two beautiful girls. I myself was born with a birth defect that was corrected soon after, requiring both a fundoplasty and a g-tube. I had my g-tube until I was 3 years old and it more than served it's purpose. It allowed me to stay strong and work on my feeding at my own pace. I am now a healthy 22 year old living the life God has set before me. There is light at the end of the tunnel! Stay strong, and may God continue to bless you and your beautiful family.

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  17. Dr. Bloss is awesome. I worked at TCH many years ago, and remember him walking the floors dressed as Barney for Halloween. He is so kind! Then in 2000, he did my son's circumcision of all things when we were ready to leave the NICU.

    I am very excited to see your precious girls doing so well. Soon Rachel will be headed home as well.

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  18. Ask the hospital if they will give you some hospital grade hand soap and sanitizer. We make people wash their hands with hosp grade when they come in and THEN sanitize before touching the babies. NEVER feel bad about staying away from sick folks or asking people to be extra careful.

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  19. you just can't be too careful~ it'll be hard to limit outside contact, but for a while it'll probably be best.
    i am so happy for Haley! she's passed a lot of tests so this one will go down too. i hope Rachel will have a quick recovery and soon be home too!
    oh how we love you and pray for you always...
    Erma, Midvale Utah

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  20. We brought our little ones home last Sept and Oct, and I well remember the mixture of excitement, anticipation, and nervousness. You will all do great! Praying for Rachel's quick recovery and for Haley's homecoming! Keep up the great work!

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  21. What an exciting day - you guys have had such a LONG road, I bet you thought this day would never come. I will be thinking of you guys this evening with your pretty princess at home with you - hope Rachel joins you all soon as well.

    (((Hugs)))
    Michele Wallace

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  22. I just cant wait to read that you get to take your girls home! I have following your blog since this summer and I am so thankful for all the updates. You have very strong and beautiful girls!

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  23. I remember how nervous we were the day we brought our first of the trio home! Nervous but so excited too! I'm so glad the surgery went well and wish you a wonderful day tomorrow!! Try to get some sleep tonight! : )

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