Postop Day 1

Hudson is doing about as expected today.  He got to the CICU last night around 9 pm, and we finally got to see him around 11 pm.  God's peace was definitely with us...both Kelly and I thought we should be feeling more emotion than we were, but it all honestly seemed like a dream as we saw and touched our little boy.  The surgeon said the repair went well, and that the ventricular septal defect was a very difficult one to repair, but that he got the job done.  He said the coronary transfer was without issue, which is the most common postoperative complication.  We were very thankful that Dr. Pigula was able to close his chest (since it has to stay open in almost 1/2 of these cases for at least a couple of days).  Hudson will stay under anesthesia and muscle relaxer through tonight, and will start to wean anesthesia and possibly extubate tomorrow.  He is on some medicine now to keep his blood pressure up appropriately.  His blood pressure is a bit volatile, so please pray that this would stabilize soon.  He has three drains in place, and two that are still actively draining a moderate amount of blood.  Please pray that this bleeding would stop very soon.  His nurse today said that he is experiencing the "12 hour crash," which commonly occurs about 12 hours postop.  Please just pray that he would make much progress tonight, and be able to be extubated tomorrow.  We continue to be sustained beyond our understanding, and are very thankful for God's presence with us.  We know he is holding Hudson in his arms as well.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Hudson is Finishing Surgery

We just heard that Hudson is off of bypass now, and they are starting to close his chest.  Thank you so very much for everyone's prayers and support during this long day.  It's obviously not over, but let the recovery begin.

Psalm 23:4 ...your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

A Glimpse of the Last Two Days

Ok.  Hudson was taken from us by anesthesia 1.5 hours ago (seems like 4 hours ago), and skin incision was just made.  We owe everyone some pictures, so thought we would keep our minds occupied by making good on our promise.

One last belly shot before going to the hospital on Monday.

Kelly's 30 second moment with Hudson at delivery.

Daddy's first time holding Harper.

Hudson being evaluated in NICU soon after birth.

Harper on day 1

Tay and Will meet their little sister for the first time, cyber style.

The morning of surgery Hudson opened his eyes wider than ever before.  It was his gift to us to sustain us for the next 4 days.

Hudson was a lot more relaxed about going to surgery than we were about him going to surgery.

Mommy and daddy saying final goodbyes before surgery.

Hudson's Surgery Tomorrow

Hudson's surgery has been scheduled for tomorrow at 2 pm.  We are very thankful that there was an opening in the schedule so soon (because this morning it looked like they weren't going to be able to do it until possibly next week).  Dr. Pigula and his team will perform an arterial switch procedure with repair/closure of Hudson's VSD.  The surgical time averages around 6 hours.  Again, please pray for the team's endurance, concentration, and steadiness, and wisdom in their surgical decisions.  Obviously tomorrow will be a tough day for everyone, so please pray that we would all be able to trust God, receive patience from Him, and be filled with a spirit of peace.

Kelly woke up this morning feeling much better, fever gone, but she is still in a lot of pain.  She's being treated for endometritis.  However, despite this, it's been a good day with both babies.  Because they didn't think that the surgery would be until later, Hudson got to breastfeed for the first time, and did really well. That was good to see since he probably won't get to traditionally feed again for at least another 4 days after surgery, and has to be NPO after midnight.  Harper is also doing very well.

We'll try to keep the blog updated with new news as it arrives tomorrow.  Thanks for everyone's prayer and support!

Hudson and Harper are Here!!

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support today. We are very happy to welcome our little boy, Hudson Brett weighing 6 lbs 3 oz, 19 in, and our new baby girl, Harper Adeline weighing 6 lb 7 oz, 19 in.  Hudson was born with a vigorous cry, Apgars 8/8, and had no signs of low oxygen!  His oxygen saturation has not dropped below 94% since he was born!  This means that he did not need an atrial septostomy (which we were very thankful for!). He had his neonatal echocardiogram to further diagnose his heart defects soon after he was born, and the preliminary interpretation was double outlet right ventricle (instead of transposition of great arteries) with ventricular septal defect (VSD).  Therefore, he was able to stop prostaglandins tonight!  We will hear more word on a specific surgical plan tomorrow.  Harper has been doing great with several excellent feedings.

Amidst all of the many blessings, Kelly is exhausted, in much pain, and has a fever that followed postpartum hemorrhage during delivery.  Due to these setbacks, she has not been able to visit Hudson except for about 30 seconds in the OR right after delivery. Please pray for:
1) Kelly, that she could get some quality sleep tonight, that God would quickly heal her, and that she would be able to truly experience the joy of her babies.
2) Hudson's and Harper's support (Kel's mom, my parents, Kelly, and myself) that we would be able to coordinate an optimal system to give these babies the support they both need during the tough time ahead.
3) and praise to God because he has delivered his tender, loving mercies once again.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. 

So sorry, but due to my computer being at the other hospital, pics will have to be posted tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the day!

12 weeks

We are almost there!  I will be induced early tomorrow morning at Brigham and Women's Hospital and we are hoping the twins will arrive by mid-day.  I was told to be prepared for a large crowd for the delivery... between the different medical teams, there will be at least 15 people in the room!  It is comforting to know that we will be in good hands.  I had several doctor appointments this past week in Boston, and they are predicting Hudson to be around 6 pounds, 4 ounces and Harper to be 6 pounds, 10 ounces.  We are extremely thankful that we have made it this far and that they will hopefully be big and strong when they arrive!

I am also thankful that Brett will drive into Boston today and be by my side for the delivery (yay for not going into labor without him)!  My mom has been wonderful to have with me in Boston... she's been wheeling me around, carrying luggage, hailing taxi's, fetching food, and letting me just rest a bunch (which I'm sure has made her stir-crazy), all while sleeping in a 'bed' that's really a chair at night and not complaining!  She's a trooper.  We move into a furnished apartment today for a couple weeks, so I'm glad she will have a proper bed tonight! 

Please pray for a smooth delivery tomorrow.  Hudson will be delivered first and then they will perform a breech extraction to deliver Harper.  Please pray that goes smoothly.  We've been told we will hopefully get to hold Hudson long enough to take a quick picture and then he will immediately go to the NICU for IV prostaglandin and be closely monitored to ensure he does not need an immediate balloon septostomy (please pray he won't need this).  He will then be transferred likely within an hour to Boston Children's Cardiac ICU and have a full echocardiogram to ensure they know exactly what is going on.  Then, hopefully, we will schedule his heart surgery within a few days.  Thank you again everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  Obviously, this has been a journey for us and is far from over, but honestly, the Lord has sustained us, given us peace and comfort, and allowed us to be so thankful for what we have.

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me
Underneath me, all around me
Is the current of Your love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Your glorious rest above

Oh the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus 

Boston journey begins

Kelly and her mom went to Boston today to wait out these final days until delivery.  Last night was a tough one for Taylor and Kelly with lots of tears shed as they said their goodbyes to each other. Will took it pretty well.  Things were much brighter this morning.  At the bus stop Taylor assessed the situation for Kelly, and reassured her that our situation is a lot simpler than we thought.  She said "Mommy, you have four things to do.  Drive to Boston, deliver the babies, have the doctors figure out what's wrong with Hudson's heart, and drive home."  Isn't a child's perspective a beautiful thing?  
Matt. 11:25.