A Little Setback

Mahaela has had a day of difficulty breathing. It is one of the expected complications with the type of surgery that was done. M. has fluid in her lungs. Her lungs have to get used to this extra fluid load with her new re-route of circulation to her lungs. They are trying some diuretics to get the fluid off. She is on high flow oxygen to keep her oxygen level up. They will put in more drainage tubes tomorrow if the meds don't get rid of the extra fluid.
On a good note...she did sit up in the chair this am. She ate a great breakfast and was in a good mood. The doctors were playing jokes on people with a "fart" machine that is remote control. They hid it under her sheets when they saw daddy coming and then it tooted when he walked in the room. He was so happy congratulating M. for good toots. M. was blaming them on daddy. It went back and forth for 3-4 toots while we were all laughing and M. and daddy kept blaming each other...and it's not even April Fool's day yet!

By lunch M. was feeling lousy and we even made her walk in the hall. It was torture, she hated it, and cried the whole time. I bet she totally can't understand why she had to walk to nowhere and daddy wouldn't even pick her up. She was up much of the day and has been napping off and on since 3pm. She just looks depressed!
In spite of it all, she is being so sweet, giving smiles to visitors, and of course a few "I'm gonna getcha's" to the staff and family.

We keep praying for small improvements throughout the next day and beyond.

(By the way, she wants MOMMY to lay with her and she wants to be covered with the BLANKIE that I crocheted for her--this might be the turning point for me.)

The Lord's MERCIES are new every morning...I'm counting on it!

A Good Start to Mahaela's Recovery

Snuggle Bug

I really need to make this quick so I can get some rest. I wanted to post that Mahaela is recovering so well without any complications. She got some really good rest for most of the day, with a few fits sprinkled in. Bill snuggled with her a bit today...her favorite thing. This evening, I got to do the same, and loved it. She sucks her thumb and with her pinkie of the same hand, she likes to hook it around my pinkie--our little pinkie promise. So face to face we get a little sweet bonding time. We know she is doing good, but she looked "bad" today. Just the typical post-op swelling that makes you not looks your best. She did wake up a bit tonight...the most she has since the surgery, and was her chatty, cute self.

Below is a video of her beautiful HEART (view with discretion). It's a pretty unique thing to see your child's actual beating heart. We think this is pretty cool, I'm sure she will agree someday.

Thank you for continued prayers for a smooth recovery. Our kids at home are getting taken care of and that is such a relief for me. So thankful for family and friends. God has blessed us crazy good!

Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow!

Mahaela is resting, peaceful, perfect!

What an amazing day of answered prayers. I know hundreds of people were praying for our little girl and God was merciful to us. She has done so well. I know so many have bumps in their recovery, but everything is going crazy well for Mahaela today. I just wanted to give that update...details later. Pray for her as she wakes up...that is the tough part. Right now she is very comfortable and sedated. As she wakes up, she does not appear to have pain, but just irritation--especially because she is just so thirsty. She has "come to" just long enough to ask for a drink, suck on some swabs, get really mad and hold her breath because she just wants to gulp down a drink. Each episode brings with it breath holding and a big dip in her oxygen levels. At one point she hit the bed with her fist (the nurse said)...her personality and spunk just shine through. I am thankful tonight for her fight...and her simple need of just a drink of water! Tomorrow lines and drains will start to be removed...and she will get up to WALK. Oh my! That should produce some ATTITUDE!! Thanks for praying for our sweet girl. As Bill said, "What a journey this has been!"

It's a Go

Mahaela will have her surgery in the morning--8:30 start time. We saw the surgeon this afternoon so that he could clear her. We really felt like it could go either way. She still has an enlarged lymph node. We feel assured that her illness was bacterial -ear/throat. She did a course of the right antibiotic and has really not been ill lately. She just would complain of her neck and I believe possibly her throat hurting, but not since a day or two into the antibiotic. The thing with lymph nodes is that once they are that swollen, it can take several weeks to months to return to the normal size. The surgeon said he is much more concerned with upper respiratory viruses that can cause lung problems after surgery. He felt good about doing her case tomorrow and that's what we wanted to hear. Mahaela then went for her EKG and chest xray. She is familiar with the hospital as we have been several times now, but she has no clue of what tomorrow will bring. Ignorance is bliss. But I feel like we are tricking her...I would hate to wake up to...well...what she will wake up to! As I write this, she is riding her trike in the driveway as the boys and dad play catch. It's cold, but the sun is shining. We are hoping to be home in 5-7 days. Wouldn't it be nice to have some warm, sunny days for Mahaela to enjoy while she is recovering! Thank you in advance for your prayers. Bill told Dr. Fortuna that many will be praying for him tomorrow. We are happy to just get on with it, but now...my sweet little girl...

Hope for Surgery is Fading

I know it sounds completely selfish, but I really want Mahaela to have her surgery on Tuesday. It just felt like the best time. It is about the least disruptive week to have the surgery...of the whole year it feels like. I know, an exaggeration, but not a huge one. Anxiety builds for me when I have to consider how things will work out for the other kids. I just don't have any anxiety over next week. I'm concerned for Mahaela, but not anxious. I really just desire for her surgery to be in the past...not hanging over our heads. But our hopes are fading. Mahaela needs a miracle for her lymph node to recede/soften back to normal and even then, I feel as though they may cancel it just due to her having this recent infection. It's all for a reason.
If it is cancelled then it is a huge question mark of when we will reschedule it--2 weeks or 5 months??

On a happy note...she is a little dolly sleeping next to me as I type this. She is having fun with her cousins in Colorado. She has been sleeping with us a lot lately and always asks to sleep in our bed...Bill caves. We love just talking about her and loving on her while she sleeps so sweetly. She is a sweet blessing.

Praying for God's Timing

We have our timing and our timeline and then God does what He wills...which is Always BEST!
Mahaela had a "minor" ear infection and started amoxicillin a week ago. The problem is she had a very large lymph node on her right side neck, the same side as ear infection. It seemed to make sense, but it was so large that Bill said to have her pediatrician check it again. Last Thursday her doctor checked her and threw out his suspicion of Mono??!! So, Thursday, Mahaela had blood work drawn. Did I say already that it took 6 sticks? It was just awful.
Her first blood test came back Saturday morning and it was positive for mycoplasma pneumonia, which is the name of a common bacterial infection that causes ear infections. But amoxicillin does not cover this bacteria well, so we switched her to zythromax--once a day for 5 days--love it. We have been waiting for cytomegalovirus and epstein barr virus ( which causes mono). They both came back negative. We are thankful. So we are just treating the ear infection. The lymph node is just a result of the infection--drainage from the ear and throat--oh, yeah, she had tonsillitis, too. But the upshot is that this lymph node is large and impressive. We have arranged to see the surgeon the day before her surgery to have a final check and for him to clear her for surgery. He may cancel it on account of this large lymph node. It is smaller today, but it is so firm and solid that it seems it may take weeks for it to really go back to normal. There was some mix up with the surgeon's office and they called today to see if we were coming in. We are on vacation in Colorado this week. We intended for the appt. to be the day before her surgery. If he clears her she will then go to get an EKG and chest xray. Those would be a waste if he cancels her surgery. So, I believe we will still go next Monday to have a check. We feel he may very likely postpone her surgery. It seems so uncertain to not know until the afternoon before if it will really happen or not. We are praying she is remarkably recovered. Anything short of that, and we know it is best to postpone the surgery. Selfishly, I pray it still happens as it is one of the least disruptive times for our family to have it done.
We covet your prayers for wisdom for us and our physician.
In the meantime, we are enjoying time in Colorado with family and cousins. We are so thankful for these good times that we and our kids can enjoy.

Called2Care Orphan Event

Kelly Putty from Ordinary Hero Foundation (www.orndinaryhero.org) will be speaking at our church's orphan care ministry kick-off. Our new ministry is named Called to Care.
We can all make a difference. We can all do something--what will your "thing" be?? It just takes one to change the life of one! Who will be your one?
The kick-off event will be April 9th at 6 pm at Cornerstone Baptist in Morton, IL. All are welcome. You will be challenged to make a difference in your community, in the world, in the life of a child.

Start with a pair of shoes. Imagine what child will fill them. Pray for them.

go to http://www.cbcmorton.org/ and click on special events for more information.