Sunday, June 13, 2010

Dear Friends and Family:

It has been a very long and tiring week, but we are settling in.  The boys were able to enjoy VBS at church this week, which was a huge help to both Claude and I because we both had appointments in the mornings all week.  The week started off really rough due to no sleep because we were following the schedule that the NICU nurses sent us home with regarding meds and feedings.  Round about Wednesday or Thursday, we changed both schedules on our own.  After going to the cardiologist and pediatrician on Friday, we came to realize that our "parental gut instinct" to do that was just fine.

The cardiologist appoitment was good.  He was pleased with Emory's weight gain.  He told us what to be feeding Emory each day and Emory has already well exceeded that on a daily basis.  They did an EKG and Echocardiogram on Emory and things were pretty much the same with the exception of them finding two holes in his heart rather than one.  They said that all of this was repairable and we should look at having surgery when Emory is about 6 months old.  More than likely, we will see the cardiologist every two weeks.  He changed Emory's medications somewhat as well.

We also saw the pediatrician for the first time and checked everything out there.  He gave us a prescription for reflux and made some suggestions on some changes to make with his eating to help with the spitting up.  We will go back to see him in a week for the first round of shots for Emory.

You know, it's funny how things all fall together.  Mind you, we don't know what tomorrow holds and where we will all be.  However, when Claude and I moved here 3 years ago, it was with the sole intent of Claude going to seminary.  We only knew one family that lived in the area, had no jobs, had not even seen our apartment, etc.  All we knew was that Claude started classes 3 days after we moved.  Here we are, 3 years, 2 masters degrees, and 2 extra children later, and it amazes me how God places us right where we need to be.  I say all of that because we never thought in a million years that we would have an infant born with a heart condition and chromosomal abnormality.  But, we are in an area where the children's hospital (CHOA) is ranked 3rd in the nation.  In addition to that, it is ranked 3rd or 5th (respectively) in cardiology, neonatal, orthopedic, cancer, and pulmonary issues.  Also, the doctor that Emory will see in July (I can't remember his exact specialized title) is the only one in this area and is one of less than 50 of that kind of doctor nationwide.  While at the cardiologist office on Friday, we came to realize all of this information. 

Here's another couple of interesting facts (at least, they are to me)......
About half way through my pregnancy, I was diagnosed with polyhydramnios (basically carrying a ton of extra fluid) and as a result was having trouble breathing.  Due to that, my ob sent me to a cardiologist and I had an EKG and echocardiogram.  Of course, everything was fine with my heart.  Following that visit, I also had ultrasounds every week.  In all of those tests, not once did anything show up when they looked at Emory's heart.  For this mommy, it's very interesting that I had the same tests run that will become a routine thing for Emory's life.  Also interesting to me is that when we decided on his name being Emory, we did so because it was the only E name that we could agree upon.  Little did we know that we would end up spending time at Emory hospital here in Atlanta! 

Well, that's my tidbit of information for today.  Emory is crying and wanting to be fed right now.  He is now 5 weeks old, weighs right at 9 pounds, and has gained 2 inches in length.  Those are all signs of improvement that the doctors want to see.....praise the Lord!  We will attempt our first outing tomorrow morning to church.....Lord willing, we can all get out the door dressed, clean, in one piece, etc.  Will post again tomorrow and will try to put up some pics as well.

Have a blessed day,

Twila

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