The Night Watches

After a wonderfully long day, I am so happy to say that the surgery on Addison was a success! She responded great to everything that was done and is in recovery. The Dr. told us that the next 24 hours are critical to monitor her, and see how her heart responds to all that was done today, but they also will be monitoring her extremely close during this time. When we went back to see her, the Dr. and nurses were all there, with many encouraging things to say and answer all of our questions . Lotte and Wes are pretty exhausted at this point(So is everyone I think!), so they hopefully will be getting some rest over the next few days. We were given the range of Addison being able to come home from 8 days to 8 months- depending on the results of the surgery. Right now, we are hopeful for the 8 days. Here are a few pictures of Addison after surgery. I am heading back to MD tomorrow, and so there will not be any more pictures from me for a few weeks, until I can come back down again and vis...

Just a quick update that things are going well so far. There have been no complications, and it sounds like all the actual stiching up and repairs have been completed. We are now waiting to hear the results of a echogram, to see that everything is flowing well. We actually just got word that within the next two hours, she will be in recovery and Lotte and Wes will be able to go back and be with her. God os so good!

Today we were able to see Addison!!! Lotte was discharged today around 11:30 am and came home to meet me and gather a few things, before we all headed to Chapel Hill in time to meet the Cardiologist. By the time we got to the hospital is was 1:45. We were able to go straight into Addison's room and be with her, and to our great surprise and delight, she was not enclosed in a "box" but totally open and we were able to touch her and love on her immediately. It was a very emotional reunion, but touching and wonderful to behold. After a little while we were able to meet with the surgeon who will be performing the operation on Addison tomorrow. He actually spent 45 minutes with us answering questions, drawing diagrams, and just helping us to understand what will be happening tomorrow. He was very encouraging. He told us that in cases like Addison, the mortality rate is as low as 3%, which is very good to hear. Right now, the surgery is scheduled for 7:30 am and we were told w...

My little niece was born today! Addison Kennedy Abernethy , born at 11:12 am. Once again, I had the privilege and honor to be my sister labor coach and witness her birth. This was a fast one too- she went from 6 cm to 10 in 1 hour and pushed through 2 contractions! Addison was quick to join us, although she was 4 days past her due date! As quick as she was to join us, she was also, just a quickly swept away by the NICU Dr.'s and staff. Her coloring was very purple and blue and they were concerned about the condition of her heart. So, unfortunately , Lotte only got to hold her baby for moments, before she was taken away for many many tests. The results of those tests proved to be vital and difficult for us all to hear. As it turns out Addison has a heart defect known as Transposition of the great vessels . It is a congenital heart defect in which the two major vessels that carry blood away from the heart -- the aorta and the pulmonary artery -- are switched (transposed). Addi...

Tonight, the Lord graciously allowed me to see the tenderness and softening of heart he is doing in my little boys life. We were out for a little bit this evening, and Tyler and Jack were in bed sleeping for the night. When we came home, I saw his bedroom door open, but he was sleeping soundly in his bed. Upon further attention to the details of our little home, I noticed a little box that was once home to some gummy candies. Tyler, at some point, gotten out of bed and helped himself to a little bedtime snack. Thankfully, this box was not full! So, this is where the evidence of a tender heart is seen... a few minutes after 10, after he had been in bed for some time, he came out of his room, bleary eyed and sleepy, but clearly upset. He walked right into my arms, and with soft tears told me he was sad, he told me he had disobeyed and had gotten out of bed and ate the candy. He sniffed out a " please forgive me for disobeying" and snuggled me closer. What a tender soul to be un...