cutest baby ever

Being home is rough business

We came home yesterday and Stella's schedule is all crazy. She didn't sleep all night and hasn't taken a nap until just now. Brit and I are definitely ready for some shut eye but it is way better being home.

I'm going home!!!

Well the doctors took a chest x-ray this morning and said "ok everything looks good you can go home today." We were a little shocked because they told us to count on staying 2 weeks and we only were there 6 days. I guess that just shows what can happen when so many have offered there thoughts and prayers in Stella's behalf. We are very thankful for all of you and hope to introduce you to Stella in person in about 6 weeks. She will definitely be worth the wait.

Blowing Bubbles

Stella was taking a bath and decided to blow bubbles. It was to cute so I grabbed my phone.

WAGON RIDE

We took Stella on a wagon ride all over the hospital. We took her outside to the garden too. She loved it and we will do it again tomorrow for sure.

Rollin'

Stella scared us half to death with this little maneuver. She was fine with it and decided she could just keep rolling over. I think she got a little dizzy and spit up a little.

HOSPITAL GOWN

Finally, no tubes or wires, I can put some clothes on!

HAPPY

The doctor removed the pacer wires that were connected to her heart. She is still on oxygen and will probably be sent home still on it. But she is smiling and moving around a lot.

No more tubes

The doctor came took out the last chest tube. Now she just has an IV for meds and two wires connected to her heart incase they need to pace it but she hasn't needed that. She is still pretty groggy but she is eating more and more.

Sunny Day

Madi drew this picture for stella.

THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE

Stella is now relaxing in her own room. They moved her off the Intensive Care Unit and now she is in the Surgical Unit. She has been more awake and looking around at all of us. She has all the nurses rapped around her finger even the people in the OR stop by to check on her.

SNUGGLE TIME

This morning they took out two chest tubes and the IV in her neck. Which is awesome. She looks very good today and hopefully they move her to her own room today. They are doing a post op echo right now and she is doing very well. The doctor will look at it and then come talk to us about what they see.

ALL TUCKED IN

We did end up getting to feed Stella today, but she just threw it right back up. We will try again tomorrow. For now she is snug as a bug in a rug. Snoring and everything. They are still just trying to manage her pain and keep her comfortable. We are hoping some chest tubes come out tomorrow and possibly the IV in her neck. The doctor said that if that happens it will make her much more comfortable and we will be able to hold her more.

Lunch Time

We gave stella some Pedialite. She drank it right up. If she can hold that down we are going to feed her some formula. She is waking up a little more. She is kicking her legs. She keeps trying talk, but it's a little raspy. But then she gets tired and closes her eyes and sleeps some more.

MOMMY

I'm peekin at you

Stella's breathing tube was taken out this morning with no problems. So, now she is breathing on her own and her heart is beating on its own. She is still very groggy but she opened her eyes for a minute so we hurried and snapped a picture. She is also trying to talk a little. The doctor said they probably won't take out the chest tubes until tomorrow but the drainage is tapering off. She is doing extremely well and she is almost off all of the heart drugs.

We are going to be able to hold her in a minute. So we are super stoked. Thanks again for all your support.

HOME SWEET HOME

We spend last night at Hotel McDonald at Primary Children's Medical Center. Thanks Steve and Maureen for letting use your trailer (what a life saver). We actually crashed hard knowing our baby was only a few minutes away.

HOME SWEET HOME

Sleepy time

Stella is all done and now is in the PICU. They have her heavily sedated. She is very sleepy. She is doing very well and hopefully they can take the breathing tube out tonight. She is hooked up to lots of stuff, but considering what she has been through today she looks wonderful. All the nurses and doctors keep stopping by and saying how beautiful her red hair is. She really is stunning.

We'll let you know as she progresses.

We will keep you posted on her progress. We thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

All done!!!! Yeah!!!!!

The nurse just came and told us that they are all done and the doctor will be in to talk to us soon and in about a half hour we can go and see her! They said everything is great and went as planned so now she needs to heal.

Good News

We just got another update. They are finished with the repairs and are watching her to make sure that they got all the bleeding. Her heart is beating on its own. The nurse said they would monitor her for an hour and then close her up if everything looks good.

We just got an update. The hole between her right and left ventricles. She is doing very well and they are going to start working on her pulmonary artery.

Here is Stella in her hospital jammies. She just smiled at the doctor and nurses as they got her ready to go. She is now in surgery, they said it would take a couple hours to get all the lines and machines hooked up. But she is already sleeping.

Stella's Surgery

Stella's surgery is July 14th (tomorrow). We decided to create this blog so all our friends and family could know what is going on and how Stella is doing. Stella had all her pre-op appointments today and she did great. She didn't even cry when they took her blood. She is very strong and very brave. The nurses taking her blood were very surprised as she smiled at them as they stuck her with the needle (twice).

We will try to update this blog as much as possible so you can know what is going on. We know you are all very concerned and have been praying for our little princess.