Madison's Surgery

Madison is 3 weeks old today! She is doing good...eating, sleeping and pooping! BUT her oxygen levels are continuing to go down. 3 weeks ago they were at 98% and today they are down to 80%. She has not had any blue spells (which usually happen when babies get really upset) but we never let her cry, so we wouldn't know!! (she is very spoiled!) She is pretty pink still but has a blue tint around her mouth. The doctors assured us that even though her oxygen is at 80% it is still getting to all the right places (brain, lungs etc.) The skin is just the last place it goes to, that is why she may look blue. SO...the doctors decided to move her surgery up AGAIN! It will be 2 weeks from today, Nov. 11th. She will be 5 weeks old. So for the next 2 weeks my goal is just to fatten her up and get her nice and healthy for her open heart surgery. She is so strong already (lifting her head and rolling to the side) so I know she will pull through with flying colors!

Madison is 2 weeks old today!

*Madison is 2 weeks old today and she is doing great! Yesterday we got pictures taken at Grandpas studio and they turned out so well! She likes to sleep all day long and stay up at night! Maybe one day mommy can figure out how to switch that around! She is such a good baby though! We have been at the doctors a lot these last two weeks because we are still checking her oxygen levels. So far they are staying pretty much the same (which is good). She is gaining weight and eating well (she is 7 lbs. 6 oz.) They did another echo on her heart today and found that the valve that we had hoped would grow as she grows has not been growing. They are suggesting that she gets the surgery the first week in december (she will be 2 months old). They need to do it earlier because as she grows the valve is pumping less oxygen to her lungs then she needs. Chris and I will be meeting with the surgeon at U of M for a second consult soon and should have more details on the surgery. In the mean time we are enjoying are beautiful happy baby!

Madison Nicole is here!

Madison Nicole

Kisses from Daddy at the NICU

Our Happy Family

Going home...YAY!

Our Beautiful Madison...Wide awake!

*Our baby girl, Madison Nicole is finally here! She joined our family on October 6, 2008 at 4:20 pm. She was 6 lbs 13 oz. 20 inches long. She came out screaming and pink!

*I went in for my routine non-stress test at the hospital on Monday the 6th. During the test her heart rate dipped down when I had a contraction. They were a little concerned so they admitted me to just watch her heart rate for a while. I was not nervous because this had happened twice already and they just kept me for a little but and then let me go. Well... not this time! Her rate kept dropping (not too low) so they called my doctor who was doing rounds at the hospital. She checked me and I was starting to dialate. Right after that I started to have regular contractions and her heart rate continued to dip slightly. So my doctor said that even though we had the c-section planned for friday the 10th, we are going to do it today. I had breakfast at 9:00 am that day though so they were going to make me wait untill 5 pm for the c-section. (it was only 11am!) So they got me a room and had me wait it out. A few hours later they came in and said that they were going to take me in NOW beause they didn't like what her heart was doing. I was suprisingly calm because I was so ready to not be pregnant anymore. My c-section was so easy! Seriously it was a breeze and I would do it all over again (but not for 2 years or so!). She came out nice and pink and LOUD! They didn't have to give her oxygen or put her in an incubator. They showed her to us, let Chris hold her and then took her to the NICU.

*She only had to stay at the NICU for 24 hours! They did a bunch of tests on her when she was first born and also the next day. There were no real suprises and she was doing suprisingly well. She was in our room the next day!

*We came home 3 days later (Thursday). We are doing great! We have had a lot of wonderful help that we very much needed because we were sooooooo tired from the hospital. Our moms have been unbelievably helpful. They are such wonderful Grandmas already, we are so blessed! We are pretty much settled now...of course we have no schedule (but babies make there own!) I am feeling really good, I am moving around like a champ! We even went for a walk yesterday! We are just really tired! She is such a good baby...eating well and sleeping all the time!

*We went to her first doctors appt. on Friday and she was perfect! We also went to her first appt with her ped. cardiologist, Dr. Cutler. She had another ultrasound echo, EKG and an oxygen check. Her echo said that her pulmonary stenosis was thinning a little more then they would like (but she is still okay). Also, her oxygen level was a little low. Now we have to go get her oxygen levels checked twice a week. They are hoping that it starts to level its self out. So...what does this mean? We just have to really watch her for "tet spells" (where she will turn blue) and if she has any spells her surgery will be moved up a bit. But we want to wait as long as we can so she gains some weight.

*We are so unbelievably blessed to have this miracle baby. She is beautiful and we love her more than we even knew was possible. Chris and I feel like we are the luckiest people on earth!

*THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone for your prayers, gifts, visits, hugs and kind words! There will be more pictures and updates to come.

I'm ready to POP!

37.5 weeks

I was pampered today by my moms friends and neighbor, Sarah. I got a wonderful pedicure! I choose "Chang-Ching Cherry" hot pink! It was so nice to get my sore feet rubbed! I also had my Nana color and cut my hair, so I am so ready for this c-section! I hope Madison waits untill the 10th so I can show up at the hospital with my hair done, make-up on and legs shaved!!

What is Tetralogy of Fallot?

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart disease that consist of 4 defects in the right side of the heart. Here is a picture of a Madisons heart...

Tetralogy of fallot heart...(in simple terms)

1-Thinning of the pulmonary valve, which pumps blood to the lungs

2-enlarged right side of the heart

3-Over riding aorta (which mixes the bloods)

4-VSD (hole)

To repair this they have to fix #1 (by opening up the valve) and #4 (by patching the hole) and this will fix #2 and #3.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1299

This blog thing is new to me...

Hello everyone...
I decided to start a blog to keep everyone updated on our baby-to-be, Madison. I have been through a lot in this pregnancy, but everything has finally settled down and we are just excited to meet our little girl! We have a scheduled c-section for Friday, October 10th (8 days away!).
As most know, Madison will be born with a congenital heart disease called Tetralogy of Fallot. We have been watching it closely for about 18 weeks now. In the process we have had many ecocardiograms on her heart and the doctors have found that she is on the mild side of the disease. So we are expecting a smooth delivery and a healthy baby. She will be watched closely in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for a couple of days, but she should be able to go home with us. She will have to get open heart surgery when she is between 3-6 months to repair her heart defects. We are going to U of M (mott's childrens) hospital for the surgery. We met with them last week and feel confident that they are the surgeons for us.
The doctors said that Madison will have a lower immune system then most babies. We will have to be very strict about visitors washing their hands before holding and touching her. This is going to be hard for me because I am so opposite of a "germ freak". If anyone is sick, been around someone sick, or thinking about getting sick.....don't visit Madison please! We would love to see you, but we will wait untill you're completly healthy. They said that if she even gets a simple cold or fever, it will be very bad for her. This is why I will try and and keep up with this blog so everyone can see pictures and have an update on our baby Madi.
Thank you so much for everyones support, kind words and prayers. Chris and I are so excited and anxious to meet our baby girl and to take her home and start our new life together!