Making Memories

I couldn't help but be COMPLETELY overwhelmed by emotion yesterday.  I was looking for a phone number that someone texted me months ago, and I ran across "Laney Updates." 

One read..."This is absolutley the hardest thing we've ever been through.  Just keep praying!"

 Another said, "They've started her on an anitbiotic & steroid & dr. said she sounded GREAT this morning.  Her lungs are all clear & all is good!  Hopefully she will continue to improve!  And they've started feeding her through a feeding tube...she's a happy girl!" 

On Feb. 27, "Her upper gi was good today.  So, wednesday they are going to put her to sleep to do a bronchoscopy to check for fistula.  If they see a fistula, they will fix it at that time...if they don't see one, then they know its severe reflux, and they will do the reflux surgery.  Keep praying!" 

Feb. 29th 8:14 am, "It was just a fistula.  Praise God!!  So they have to do an incision on the right side of her neck to repair it!!  Yaay!!  No reflux surgery!!" 

March 3rd, "Little Laney is just cruising through the weekend, healing from surgery.  She is still on continuous feeds through her feeding tube, still off oxygen :), and not having any problems!  Monday will be another milestone.  They will do a "swallow test" to make sure there is no connection anymore between the trachea & esophagus, and make sure she can still swallow properly.  That test is at 9am. If all is well, the feeding tube will be removed & she will be able to try to eat from a bottle!!  Yaay!!  They will monitor her a few days, then, hopefully, we will head home on Wednesday. Thank you for all of your prayers!  God is so good!!"

Even typing this blog now, I am fighting back tears!  Wow!  Where we have been, the way the Lord worked through the doctors, nurses & our friends & family, the way He revealed Himself to Donny & me...I can't even describe it!  I've always believed in the power of prayer, but I'm blessed beyond words to be able to share Laney's story with others.  I'm so thankful for the experience now & I'm beeming with my refreshed faith!

This was Laney in the recovery room after surgery on Leap day. 

These were her poor little feet...

As the story goes...we were able to leave the hospital on March 6th...which, ironically was her original due date.  We were welcomed home with this from the Elysian Fields Volunteer Fire Department & Robert Bryan...Soooo sweet!  I teared up everytime I drove by for at least a month!!  :)

The next day, we had newborn pictures taken with Kristin Mosura.  She captured some truely remarkable moments of Laney. 

I love this first one!

She is our Angel!!

Laney is 10 weeks old today!  She is pushing about 10 pounds now...we will know for sure next Friday when we go for a check up.  She brings more joy to my life than I could have ever imagined!!  Donny said tonight, "Babe I can't believe she's 10 weeks old today.  Thats 2 & 1/2 months...she's going to be turning one "tomorrow!"  Not literally tomorrow...but time is going to fly by!  We are enjoying every single day with her!  She is such a tough cookie!  I can't wait to see what a precious little lady she turns out to be!


Thank you, Jesus, for Laney.  Thank you for the hard times we go through in order to be drawn closer to you.  Bless this baby girl!  Thank you for your promise...James 5:15...The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. Amen.

Laney Jewel

Little Laney is 16 days old now! And what an emotional 16 days it has been... Here is her story.

Laney was born on Feburary 17th @ 12:38pm. She weighed 6lbs 15 oz & was 18 1/2 in. long. After 17 looooong hours of labor, (with no pain meds or epidural) she was introduced to this crazy world by c-section...the greatest invention ever...after the spinal block, of coarse. Donny was very interested & watched almost all of the surgery. He was taking pictures of our beautiful baby girl & describing...in detail...what my insides looked like. Leave it to Donny!! :)

After the pediatrician saw her for the first time, he suctioned 17ml of mucous out of her throat. They took an X-ray to check her lungs, which was all clear, and decided the excessive mucous was from being a c-section baby. The next day, it was still there, but there was still no reason to worry. He gave us a few ideas of what could be the problem, but the most common was reflux.

We left the hospital on Sunday ready to begin our new life as a new family!

Monday & Tuesday we were at the doctors office for check ups. Still no need for concern.

Tuesday night my world stopped dead in its tracks. I was feeding Laney & she turned blue & couldn't catch her breath. We rushed her to the emergency room here at Sutton Children's Hospital on February 21st & have been here ever since. The doctors were puzzled by what they saw. A seemingly healthy baby with a little rattle in her chest, no big deal. They decided to do a sonogram to check certain parts of her brain, X-rays to check her lungs, milk studies to see how the milk was going down...all kinds of things.

We met with an excellent team of Pediatric Surgeons who were convinced she was suffering from severe reflux, the worst they'd ever seen. They were prepared to do a surgery on her that would keep her from Refluxing, but it would also keep her from burping, too. They would put an appliance on the outside of her belly that goes directly into her stomach, called a Mickey appliance, to burp. They also call it a button. You attach a syringe to it, and pull the air out. That totally freaked me out!

The only other possibility that it could be was called a fistula. A fistula is an opening...this could be in her trachea or esophagus, but they were certain there was no connection in her airway.

Donny & I prayed...& prayed...& begged people for prayers that our little girl would have a fistula. God answered our prayers on Feburary 29th when they took her back for surgery. Like i said, the surgeons we're prepared to do a bronchoscopy to check for a fistula, but then do the reflux surgery. Around 8:00am, the surgeons called us in the waiting room & were completely in shock. They did find a fistula, & it was connecting her trachea to her esophagus. In other words, every time she drank, the milk would "go down the wrong pipe." this caused her to choke.

Fun fact: fistulas are only seen in 1:4,000. Of those 1:4,000 The type she had, is only seen 1:400. It's extremely rare!

She had her surgery to close it, and is recovering very well!!! We've been here for 12 days, and have seen 100% improvement in little Laney. Tomorrow they will do another test to make sure there are no "leaks" & the milk is flowing properly down her esophagus. We are very certain that the Lord will have Laney I his hands again tomorrow, and it will come back perfect!!

Through this whole experience, Donny & I have learned to rely fully on Him. My faith has been renewed in a way that I never thought possible. I've always loved the Lord, and trusted him, but I have realized you have to surrender it ALL to Him! We have never been more fulfilled than we are now! We know that prayer is the most powerful tool in the world!!

We couldn't have made it through all this without our wonderful friends that prayed, brought us snacks, money, clothes, everything essential to camping out in a hospital. The staff has been great and caring! Despite actually being here, we have had a good experience!

So, keep us in your prayers tomorrow, and hopefully we will be heading home Tuesday or Wednesday!!

The LOVE of my LIFE!

Well, the time is NEAR...like REALLY, REALLY NEAR!!  We have a full term baby, turned 37 weeks last Saturday.  I have all my appointments on Tuesdays, which ment I saw her on Valentines Day, which is also our 3rd anniversary!  I'm sad to say that this is the first year Donny & I didn't take a picture together...kinda sad!

But, we did get some news yesterday.  My blood pressure is up, and I have excessive swelling in my feet, ankles & legs.  I'm no longer allowed to work. She said I need to rest....rest....rest. I am dilated to a 2.  whoo hoo. This is kinda graphic, but I have to save my urine for 24 hours, then take it back to the lab.  They are testing for protien, which is an indicator for preeclampsia.  She never actually came out & said it...she knows a freaked out new mom when she sees one!  :)  They put me on a fetal monitor to make sure Laney was doing ok.  Dr. Dean said she was great!  She is one tough cookie!  They should have all the results by Friday, so I go back then.  They are also going to do a sonogram to get an estimate on her weight.  We will know more details on Friday...like if they are going to go ahead & induce or let me ride this out.  Eeeeekkk!!!

Like I said, yesterday was our 3rd anniversary.  Donny made us reservations at Ernests Orleans in Shreveport & my dr said to enjoy our night...So we did! 

Today is my first day at home...and Donny has been such a great support person!  He went grocery shopping this morning, stopped by the pharmacy & brought home a ton of stuff for easy cooking!  He's so great!! 

I will try to keep everyone posted on any new developments!!  :)

These are a few of my favorite things!

When I was driving home from work today, I couldn't keep my mind still.  I mean, it was one of those days when my mind was racing ninety to nothing.  I was thinking of how my life used to be, how it is now, and how its all about to change! 

As for now, I wanted to jot down a few of my favorite things....(In no particular order!!) :)

*My husband...I know, kinda cheesey, but its true!   He's so excited about Laney's arrival, and that makes me giggle!  Example..last week Donny packed his hospital bag, bought her an iPod, and this week he installed the extra car seat base in his truck!  haha...He's so sweet! 
*This person, the size of a pineapple, thats still growing... little Laney
*Lola & Chico!
*Family
*My awesome Sunday School class!
*Water with lemon
*Gain laundry detergent, the tropical fruit kind
*The smell of Dreft
*Facials
*Chocolate milk
*Chocolate icecream..yuuummm
*The sound of laughter
*The smell of rain
*Nephews & nieces...Ty steals my heart, Brie has my attitude, Zach is hilarious, Grayson makes me giggle, Rylie is too cute, & Easton is developing his little personality!
*Alexia sweet potatoe fries
*Peaches
*Best friends (you know who you are!!)
*New friends (you also know who you are!!)
*Manicures & pedicures
*A nice, long, relaxing, warm bath
*Laundry straight out of the dryer
*Cool walks after work
*The ability to have an "able to do list" instead of a "to do list"

Thank you, Lord, for all my favorite things!!

Bring it 2012!!

Happy New Year!

I think its so funny that I started this blog last January & titled it "New Year, New Adventure."  Who knew what this past year would have held!

 Donny & I surely were thrown into a new adventure on June 29th, when we realized that we were expecting. Then, it became more of a reality...adventure, on July 12th, when that was confirmed by our doctor.  Oh man, our lives have changed...and little Laney isn't even here yet.  I can't even imagine how much more its going to change in 2012. 

We will be celebrating our 3rd anniversary this Feburary, also.  I'm so excited & can't believe its already been 3 years.  I know its so cliche, but I really do love him more with each passing year!  Eeek!!

Speaking of Golden..he was gone this year for New Years Eve.  He was in South Texas with some friends for a hunting trip.  I celebrated with some of our closest friends, and my goodness....I slept until 11 this morning.  I'm waaaay to old to stay up that late! I told him I felt like I had been run over by a mack truck.  hahaha...I can't wait for him to come home...I kinda miss telling him what to do...I mean...I kinda miss him being here!!  :) 

Resolutions...do you make them?  I usually say, "This year I'm going to be healthier.  I'm not going to try to loose weight...just get healthier....and the weightloss will come along with that."  Well, this year...like I've already said, things are different.  I have seen too many mom's take out their insecurities on their daughters....and I don't want to be one of "those."  So, with a ton of prayer, I know that I can make it!

I came across this on Pintrest...and I AM going to apply this to my life:
Less sugar,
More fruit.

Less meat,
More vegetables.

Less soda,
More water.

Less driving,
More walking.

Less worry,
More sleep.

LESS WORDS,
MORE ACTION.

Isn't that fun? 

I also love this from Anita Renfroe. My resolution for 2012: Eliminate the word "try" from my thinking and vocabulary. "Trying" to pick up a chair is pointless. Just pick up the chair. "Trying" is a continual state of non-doing. In the words of Yoda: "Do or no do. There is no try." Or in the immortal words of Nike: "Just do it."

So...Bring it 2012! I'm ready!!