Brynn's Heart {a wonderful day}

Today we had the most wonderful day and made huge gains!  When the doctor made his rounds this morning, he told us that Brynn was ready to get her chest tubes out!  Yay!  They immediately prepped her for this.  The surgeon came in and went to work.  It was painful for both Brynn and her mommy and daddy when they removed the tubes and wires.  She cried and yelled owie over and over, we cried and tried reassuring her (and ourselves) that it would be over soon. 

 Before

 After

 She was a new girl after they took the tubes out.  She was actually content for the first time since her surgery and interested in the things in our room people have been bringing for her.

 Her brothers came up for their first visit today.  We have been waiting until she was doing better until we let them see her.  Today turned out to be the perfect day!  When Blake saw her, he got teary eyed and turned and walked away.  We brought him back and told him how good she was doing and we are so thankful that her heart is fixed now.  We explained her incisions to him and why they were there.  The nurse told us we could get her dressed and take her in the wagon down to the caterpillar room.  It helped for Blake to see her in her own pj's sitting in the wagon.

 We were so excited about getting to take she and the boys to play. 

 Everyone wanted a turn pulling her in the wagon. 

 We tried to get Brynn to walk around, but she wasn't ready.  She sat in my lap and watched the boys.

 Our family of 5 (3 days post-op)!

 My birthday was a couple days ago and we didn't feel like celebrating.  Brynn's health and comfort were way more important.  Since we were all together today and Brynn was having such a good day, they gave me my birthday present.  A new pair of tennis shoes!

 After the boys left we went back to the room for Brynn to rest after being out for the first time.  I love this picture of our girl.  A 100% improvement from yesterday!

 She took a good little afternoon nap.  When she woke she had visitors... and then the good news that we were leaving the ICU!!  Yipee!! 

Brynn's Beads of Courage have been hanging by her bed.  They mean so much more to us now than they did 4 days ago.  Every bead stands for something courageous that she has now conquered.  I can't even put into words how hard this has been and how much our girl has conquered.  I have kept our posts short, detailed, and to the point.  I have left out our true emotions as we have held our daughter's hand through this, as our focus has been on Brynn, not ourselves.  This has been one of the hardest things we have experienced.  She got 8 new beads when we left ICU for the extra things she had to overcome while in there.

 When we got to our room our new nurse made sure PingPing matched Brynn with her heart monitor leads.

 We have sat back and marveled at how well our girl is doing.  Yesterday we would have never believed that she would be doing this well today.  We are in awe!

 Complete awe!!!

 Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow they will check her blood because her counts have still been a little low.  They need to make sure she won't need another transfusion before they can let us go home.  They will also x-ray her lungs to make sure they are still clear.  We are about 24-48 hrs. away from going home!

Thank you so much for your prayers!

Brynn's Heart {A Bump)

We had a slight bump in the road to recovery today when Brynn's morning x-ray showed fluid on her right lung.  It was enough fluid that the doctor wanted to put a new drain tub in and let it drain.  He explained the procedure to us, both the benefits and the risks, we signed the agreement, and then kissed our girl goodbye.  They sedated her and went to work putting the new drain tube in.  It provided immediate results and all the blood drained out through the tube.  The new x-ray showed her lung to be almost clear.  They are leaving it in and measuring her output, hoping they can remove it tomorrow.  She still has her chest tube in also, as it is still putting out blood.  She was in pain after she woke up from the procedure, so we had an afternoon of trying to console her until she fell asleep for a nap.  This morning she also had to get more blood because her numbers were too low.  She has been having constipation issues this evening, which have made for a very tough time.  She is in so much pain, and now has potty issues adding to her discomfort.  She wanted me to hold her tonight, but when we got her up and in my lap she screamed out in pain so we had to put her back in her bed.  The nurse wanted her to try to walk before she went to sleep for the night, so we all helped her with that.  She cried the whole time and wanted me to pick her up.  It is very hard when she begs for me to hold her, but the nurse insists that she keep trying to walk:(  She didn't make it as far tonight before she planted her feet in the ground and started shivering in pain.  We carried her back to bed, sponged her off, and she fell asleep watching Care Bears.

She has been showered with love, visitors, gifts, and balloons.  She has yet to smile since her surgery, but I know she feels very loved and special!

Please continue to pray for her comfort.  She is still in a considerable amount of pain.  Pray that she will drink!  Her numbers are too low, she needs to take in more fluids.  Pray for her lungs to stay clear.  Pray for her chest tube output.  Pray that it will slow down.  Please shower our daughter with prayers!!

Brynn's Heart {Day 1 Post-Op}

When Brynn woke this morning, she was in pain and thirsty.  Since pain medicine doesn't seem to do much for her, that didn't help... but her first drink did!  She was so happy to FINALLY get a drink... after begging for one all night long.

 We had to take it nice and easy so it didn't come back up.

 She was fussy and uncomfortable most of the morning.  She wanted mommy to hold her, so the nurse made sure it happened!

That first time out of bed was traumatic for all of us.  She cried and cried, yelled "owie" and "put me down" during the process.  When I asked her if she wanted back in bed she told me no she wanted me to hold her.  You can see her little face in this picture just after we got her in my lap is a sad one.  Once we got her wires all situated, some medicine in her, and she snuggled against mommy, she told me she wanted to go night night.  I told her that was ok with me.  So off to sleep she went for 2 solid hours.  And it was a good, deep sleep.  Daddy went to eat a quick lunch and then came for short nap, while mommy sat as still as she could for 2 solid hours.  It was so worth it to see our little girl resting so contently.

 When she woke up from her good nap, she was content for a little bit eating chicken broth and yogurt.  We got her out of bed and carried her around the ICU so she could have a change of scenery and be out of bed.  She soon became uncomfortable again and nothing soothed her.  She likes for me to lay on her bed with her and she snuggles as close as she can.

 She had rough evening just not being comfortable.  She cries, thrashes about, and isn't happy.  They gave her some anxiety medicine that seemed to help her relax a bit.  The nurse really wanted her to get up and try to walk a little bit.  This was so nerve wracking for us.  She cried and begged for me to hold her.

 After some convincing, she started to walk a little bit.  It was painful and she was slow and wobbly, but she did it.  The nurse gave her a Barbie as a special prize for her first walk.

 She gagged a little at first and we thought she was going to toss her cookies, which is why the nurse is carrying the bed pan.  Luckily she never did.

When we got done she asked to be put back in bed.  It didn't take long and she was sound asleep.  We had about 4 good hours today where she was content.  We are hoping for a good night's sleep and a few more good hours added to her record. We are also hoping she can get her chest tube out tomorrow. 

Please continue to pray for her comfort.  Medically she is healing at a good rate.  She is just so uncomfortable and pretty miserable day and night.  It is so hard to see her like this. 

Brynn's Heart {Surgery Day}

My post is going to be brief while Brynn is sleeping.

Here is our girl pre-surgery.

 The surgery took a few hours.  We were happy when the surgeon gave us a good report.  Her VSD was repaired successfully and she did great during surgery.  We got to see her as they wheeled her from the OR to ICU.

 Nothing ever prepares you for seeing your baby like this.

 They got her stabilized in ICU and then called us back to come see her.  They had prettied her up for us by putting a bow and pretty blanket on her.

 Our courageous girl.

 After the first attempt of taking the ventilator off and her not wanting to breathe on her own... they were finally able to get her off of it on the 2nd try.

 She had a very hard day and night.  She apparently has a high tolerance for narcotics, so nothing they are giving her is giving her the relief she needs.

 She cried and fought us through the night until she finally fell asleep at 3:30am.  Please pray for her comfort level.

This morning her red cell count is low and they might need to give her more blood.  Pray for the doctor's wisdom and the nurses who are caring for her.  Pray for smooth healing and less pain.

Brynn's Heart {Update 1}

Hey everyone, this is Shannon. Susan wanted me to post a quick update for tonight then she will give a more in depth post later.

Brynn's VSD repair was successful! Praise the Lord! But tonight she is in a lot of pain and they are having trouble controlling it. Please continue to pray that they get her pain under control and that Robert, Susan and Brynn get some sleep tonight.

Brynn's Heart {Pre- Op}

Today we spent the day at the hospital for Brynn's pre-op and consultation with the surgeon.

 She was such a little angel while they took blood and got her vitals.  They were so impressed with how cooperative she was.

 She was given her Beads of Courage (complete with hand-sewn Beads of Courage Bead Bag) while we were there.  The Beads of Courage is a program designed to honor the challenging journey that she, and other kids take while receiving care for cardiac conditions.  Her collection of Beads of Courage will symbolize her courage and serves to honor the milestones she will achieve along her treatment plan.

Today she was given the strand of beads that spell out her name.  Then, the colorful beads that visually represent the many challenges that she will overcome tomorrow were strung to tell her unique story of courage.  Each time she experiences anything, she will be given a bead to add to her collection.  Some of the beads on her necklace include: pink for Ventilator Support, red for blood transfusion, square heart for cardiac surgery, aqua for Tube insertions and Removal.  We have a very detailed Beads of Courage Tally Sheet so that we can tally each bead she is given and what it is for.  Her tally sheet started with 36 tallys... 36 beads representing what is standard for what she will endure in the coming days...  Oh our precious girl wearing her Beads of Courage so proudly today.  She certainly is courageous.

 Her pre-surgery chest.

 Her surgery will be December 28th at 7:30 a.m.  It is expected to take 3.5 hrs.  Please pray for our little girl.  Pray for the surgeon and his team.  Pray for God's peace while we wait.  I heard the song, Hold Me Jesus by Rich Mullins on the radio yesterday.  When it got to the chorus... I lost it. 
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
We are scared.  We are praying for God's peace to fill us, the doctors, and our little girl.


He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds.  Psalm  147:3

Christmas Day

Barrett was the first one awake at our house on Christmas morning.  He was so excited to see what Santa brought him.  The others were awake soon after him.

 They were all excited to see that Santa had brought them their top pick!

 

 Our day was very lazy!

 Daddy had to work on Christmas day, but we are so glad he got to come by and visit us! 

 There was lots of playing going on.

 And of course some afternoon napping. 

 When Daddy got off work, we went to Gram and Papa's for Christmas dinner.

A most wonderful Christmas 2011!