Surgery Update #3

Sarah continues to do well and recovering quicker than I could have imagined. It is amazing how much they can do with the heart and the resilience of kids. Today we found our that Sarah's heart function has decreased and they are starting her on an ACE inhibitator. Praying that everything goes well and we will be home soon. She was up and running around today, however I don't think she felt as good as Sat. She has not been eating and drinking as much so looking for a better day tomorrow!!

Surgery update # 2

Today has been a big day for Sarah!! This morning at rounds they said she had a good night and her urine catheter could be removed, the probes measuring her oxygen to the brain could be removed and her oxygen could be removed. Her oxygen had been in the 80's and they wanted to see if she could stay above 75 without oxygen. Well, this afternoon she was dipping into the 60's so she is back on some oxygen now. She still has 4 IV's, the biggest one to get removed will be the RA line that runs directly into her heart. We were just told that it would not come out until tomorrow along with the heart drainage tube. So, that means at least another night in ICU. She has 2 IV's in her right arm, one of those may be removed tonight. The other one and the one in her neck will have to stay. We are not able to hold her until the RA line is removed. That is the hardest part, she reaches for me and looks into my eyes, and I can't pick her up. So hard for mom!!

Mitchell was able to come up this afternoon, so good to see him and I know he was glad to see Sarah, even if she was asleep most of the time.   The highlight of my day was when I asked Sarah for a kiss and she puckered up and lifted her head!!! So super sweet she is!!  She did have about an hour of playfulness.  I got some really cute pictures, but for some reason they were not uploading correctly.  I am going to try and put them on facebook.

Overall she is doing really well and I think we are on track to go home Monday or Tuesday.  Thanks for all the prayers. What a Mighty God we serve!

Surgery Update

Happy to report that Sarah is out of surgery, everything went well. She will be in ICU for at least another day. They were able to take the tubes out around 4pm and has been sleeping pretty good since then. Hope to get some liquids in her tonight and food tomorrow. Her oxygen is in the 80's which is great (considering where she was). Her fingers and toes are pink, making mom and dad pretty happy.

Surgery Tomorrow

Sarah will go in for open heart surgery tomorrow morning. As I think back over the past 3 weeks I am AMAZED as how far she has come. I love watching her laugh and run through the house yelling "mama". We were well prepared going into the adoption for all of the "typical" issues seen in adopted children (especially that have been institutionalized for 2 years), but I tell you it has been SO good. I am not so naive to think that things cannot come up later, but she brightens up our day and I thank the Lord that he gave us such a precious gift.

Mitchell and Allie are bonding with her so very well. To see them push her in the little pink coupe car through the house, taking her outside and pulling the wagon, or them taking the initiative to make her a cup of juice or give her their things is just so sweet.

Sarah has finally decided that dad is not so bad!! I think Jerry about fell out of the chair on Sunday morning in church when she reached for him from my arms. He quickly scooped her up and took her out for some daddy - daughter time. He can make her laugh so much!! Sorry to be so mushy - but just reflecting on what a great family God has given me!!

As most of you know Sarah has single ventricle and several other heart issues.  The surgery tomorrow is called Glenn Shunt where they will redirect the top 1/3 of the body's blue blood directly to her lungs. There will need to be a second surgery about a year from now where they will address the blue blood from the bottom 2/3 of her body. While I am constantly concerned about her blood oxygen and anatomy of how her heart is developed, it is also amazing to think that God has known and formed her from the beginning and knows exactly what is needed for her to fulfill His plans for her life.

Here are some pictures of us preparing her for the surgery tomorrow, Sarah and I decided to perform open heart surgery on the baby doll (LOL!!).