So thankful for ....(summary of Dahlia's last 2 weeks in the hospital)

This baby has been making remarkable progress!! Here are some highlights from the week of Nov. 7-12, Dahlia's last week on the 4th floor NICU.



sweet smile for Mama



visit from Aunt Emily



no more feeding tube!!!

  

more smiles for Mama

safe in Daddy's arms

On Monday, Nov. 14, Dahlia was doing so well, that she was moved to a regular room on the 15th floor. What a luxury compared to NICU -- a room with a view, it's own bathroom with shower, and a place to sleep. We had been spoiled by NICU nurses taking care of Dahlia at night, while we went to Jessica's apartment to sleep. Here we were in charge of baby care around the clock, 24/7.  Back to reality with feedings every 3 hours, along with sleep deprivation. From our perspective, however, it's something not  ever to complain about!




During this past week on the 15th floor, another huge step ahead!  On Wed., Nov. 16 , the pic line through which the intraveneous heart medicine was given, was taken out of her arm.  We were now free to carry the baby anywhere in the room. Dahlia had met all the requirements for going home -- being able to feed by mouth, gain weight, and be able to take all medications by mouth.

This Friday, Nov. 18, we recieved the joyous news that the baby is doing so well that she'll be able to come home tomorrow, Monday! They are putting the idea of heart transplant way back on the back burner.

These past 6 weeks have been a journey we would wish upon no one. But what a journey it has been. We have seen direct answers to prayer and have witnessed the power of the Lord, which has worked along with the miracles of modern medicine. She was dying, yellow with a failing liver and other organs when first brought to the emergency room. When she was transported to Hermann, the doctors were amazed she was still alive. Since that day, we have witnessed one miracle after another. Doctors were fearful she might never come off the ventilator, her lungs were in such bad shape. 

so very thankful! for everything -- for every single prayer said by every single person, for a loving Heavenly Father and the great healing power of our Savior, and for the restored gospel and the priesthood that is upon the earth today. I am filled with gratitude that this sweet baby is still here upon the earth and for the many lessons that she has taught and will continue to teach us.



review of 3rd week in ICU (Oct. 31-Nov. 6)

When Emily and I walked into the ICU at Texas Children's on Monday, Dahlia was being rocked by her favorite nurse (and her very first "boyfriend"), Jimmy. He's just a young single guy who happens to be one of the best pediatric intensive care nurses around. Does he ever have a way with the babies! He has some mean baby swaddling skills and knows just how to comfort a baby. We sure missed him when we had to leave the 18th floor ICU to move to the NICU on the 4th floor. Since Dahlia is now considered stable, her space was needed by a baby who was in a more critical condition. (There are a bunch of other really awesome nurses here too, but we'll especially remember Jimmy.)

Also, on  Monday, Dahlia took another step ahead and was able to take her first nourishment by mouth. Considering this was the first time she ever had a bottle, she caught on real quickly and was so content after. She still was also on continuous feeding through the tube going into her nose and down to her tummy. (the gloved hand belongs to the occupational therapist who helped with that first bottle feeding.)

"I'm so interested in that rattle Momma got me."

"But I'm even more interested in looking at my Momma."

Wednesday was another good day in the ICU, and even better when Grandmother Gwen (Nana) came and had the joy of holding her sweet little one for the first time since the hospitalization. Between us two Grammies, there have been enough prayers said to move a mountain, besides enough tears to fill a lake.

Everyday this week, Dahlia has remained stable and has been making baby steps ahead. On Friday, the bottle feeds were increased so she needed only intermittant feeds through the tube, and finally she got a little break from that tube.



"What does a girl have to do around here to get a make-over?"

Sunday (Nov.6) End of 3rd week in ICU. Dahlia is now 6 weeks old. To me, each day has brought answers to prayers. This week she made much progress with her feeding, and is starting to finally gain weight. When Brian and Emily got home from the ICU tonight, they said, starting today, Dahlia is now being bottle fed every 3 hours -- no more tube feeding! (they will still keep the tube in her nose for a little while, just in case)  She has also tolerated the gradual weaning down of the intravaneous heart medicine -- replacing it with one that can be taken orally. They are going to continue to do so. We are praying that her heart function gains the strength it needs so she can survive without a heart transplant. She needs to be able to feed well by mouth (check), and to survive with the heart med. taken  by mouth to be able to come home. Thank you dear family and friends for all your prayers that help give this little baby and her family the strength needed during this difficult time.

sweetness in our sorrow

Sweet baby Dahlia, now 5 weeks old, has made many baby steps ahead since last Monday. She has been transferred to Texas Children's Hospital, where she has the best of care. She is off all supplemental oxygen, and is stable. It will be a rocky road ahead, as they wean her off one heart med. and onto another one that she can take orally.  Prayers have been answered to get her to this point, and she is need of many more prayers and miracles, as we take each day at a time, putting our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Our God is a God of miracles.





Dahlia is so happy to be in her Momma's arms.



Richard G. Scott, an apostle of the Lord, has said,"I wonder if we can ever really fathom the immense power of prayer until we encounter an overpowering, urgent problem and realize that we are powerless to resolve it.  Then we will turn to our Father in humble recognition of our total dependence on Him."  Thank you for all your prayers!