Pictures!

Daddy saying "see ya later"

Walking to the surgery wing

first night post Glenn :(

second night post Glenn :)

first drain tub getting pulled :(

third day post Glenn, on the recovery floor!

Third day post Glenn snuggles :)

third day post Glenn smile :)

Daddy is still her hero third day post Glenn!

happy to be feeling better!

just as cute as ever!!

"Thank you Jesus!"

Sunday update

Ella is improving everyday, she is still in much pain as you might imagine 3 days after having open heart surgery! She is resting now, and this morning they pulled her pacing wires, and her last drain tube (hooray!) She is still not eating well, the doctors are pushing for her to eat more, and have briefly mentioned "feeding tube" if she doesn't start eating better soon. I however am not the least bit concerned yet, she hasn't thrown up all through the night or this morning, and she is taking about 1 to 2 ounces every four hours. She is smiling more today and kicking and playing with her hands! She reaches for Jon and I's faces when we talk to her, I can't tell you how good it is to see her feeling a little better! Please continue to pray that her right diaphragm that is elevated will get better on it's own soon, please pray that she will be as pain and headache free as possible, please pray that she will have a good appetite, and that she continues to stay healthy and infection free!!

Good night's sleep and Prayer requests

The night was good-they all 3 slept all night!  This morning they took out one drain tube and the ART (neck) line.  They will be moving her out of ICU as soon as a room is available.  Thank you Lord for your mercies and Ella's recovery so far!

Prayer Requests:
-They had to give her morphine to take out the drain tube and it is making her tummy upset.  She is spitting up quite a bit.  Pray she will begin eating better-so far she isn't eating too well today.

-She is still on 100% oxygen and 3 liters of pressure.  Pray for her to be weaned off that.

-She finishes her antibiotic this afternoon.  Pray against infection after that.  She will be out of ICU on the regular floor, so she will be exposed to more germs.  It is still very important that she not get sick!

-Her right diaphragm is elevated.  This should take care of itself-pray it will!

-She is still on a lot of lasix to help empty her bladder.  Pray they can begin reducing that.

-They are stopping another pain medicine today so she will only be on Tylenol for the pain.  Pray that Tylenol will do the job.

Again, our family thanks you all so much for your prayers, God is hearing them and answering them!  Praise the Lord!  We appreciate you praying for these requests for sweet Ella today. 

~Aunt Kristina

post straight from Ella's ICU room 9:30pm

This is Ella's mommy I have a quick update that is important enough for me to take the time to tell you. Ready?... SHE SMILED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jon and I both got to see her beautiful smile we have come to cherish over the last 5 months! This was her first real smile since her surgery! It wasn't quite as big as the one in the picture, but it was just as beautiful, she is so strong, oh how I love her! I saw a glimpse of her sunshine and I had to post!!!! We love you Ella Dawn!!!!! We can not thank everyone enough for the prayers and support, please keep them coming, God is working!!!

Post-op pictures

Here a couple post-op pictures of sweet little Ella.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers, especially her pain levels.  Thank you!

Some pre-op pictures

Here a few pictures that were taken yesterday morning just before they took Ella back for surgery. The latest update this afternoon, they were able to remove Ella's cardiac lines, Amy fed her a couple ounces of breastmilk, and Ella was finally getting some rest!

Quick update

Amy just passed on this quick update to me....

"They are preping to pull her cardiac lines, they might be pulling her catheter too, and I think they are going to seperate the drainage that is coming from the drain tubes to see if they can pull one. Also they will be pulling out her neck line soon and they are going to let us feed her MY MILK!!! No yucky pediasure or formula!!! This will be painful and she will also have to endure CPT (vibrations) to help with the partially collapsed lungs. She will NOT like that, lots of turning and movement."

 

Thanks everyone, for continuing to pray!

 

~Aunt Kristina

Morning after Surgery

It's a new day and we have some new reports and prayer requests for Ella!  The night was long, as expected, but there were no major complications.  And they were able to take her off the vent!

Prayer Requests

-Please pray for Ella's oxygen levels to stay up where they need to be!  Right now her right lung is partially collapsed, and possibly the left as well.  They need her to cry some to help open up the lungs again.  The problem is, when she is awake, she cries too much, so her oxygen levels drop too low (in the 60's).  If this continues, they will have to either put her on the CPAP (the machine that forces air into the lungs) or even back on the ventilator.  Please pray that this would NOT be necessary!

-Today they plan to take out her cardiac and neck lines.  We are praying that this is successful because Ella is really hungry, and when they take these lines out, they will be able to give her some clear liquids.  They still need to leave the drain tubes in for now because there is still drainage, but that is normal.

-Pray for relief for Ella from her headache.  It is very obvious that this is bothering her because with the littlest noises, she cries.

-And last, but certainly not least, please pray for Jon & Amy.  They did not sleep at all last night, so they are exhausted, and they are showing some physical signs of the stress.  Pray for God to give them the grace and strength they need to get through this time.  Ella is so blessed to have them for parents, they are both so strong for her!

We thank you all so much for your prayers.  Let's continue to lift Jon, Amy, & Ella up to our heavenly Father, who knows our needs even before we ask.

Let's pray this verse especially over them today!   ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10  

Gratefully,

Aunt Kristina

Long Night Ahead

Ella is still in a lot of pain and the surgeon did not want to give her anything because they are trying to get her off the ventilator as soon as possible. The pain is so intense right now she is really getting worked up. The surgeon finally decided to give her a half dose of morphine to help calm her down. It is a vicious cycle because if she is to calm she won't breathe so they can't take her off the vent, but if she gets to worked up she isn't breathing right so they can't take her off the vent either. She has a lot of pressure going to her head that wasn't there before the surgery and the vent is adding even more pressure so she has a very bad headache. The sooner they can get her off the better because that will relieve some of the pressure.
The nurse said the first night after the Glenn is horrific because they are trying to get the ventilator out and get all of the medications balanced out and the baby is in a lot of pain. It is very difficult for Jon and Amy to watch her in so much pain and not be able to do anything about it. We are so proud to be their parents because they are right by her side comforting her, praying for her, and loving on her. They are taking such good care of her!

Please pray

• This half dose of morphine will be the right balance to get her calmed down and off the vent
• Her pain would be minimal
• Peace and strength for Amy and Jon
• Rest for all 3 of them tonight
• Wisdom for Amy, Jon and the doctors

Very Grateful to All of You,
Grandaddy and Nana

New Prayer Request

I just talked with my mom on the phone and Amy wanted me to post a couple special prayer requests for Ella.  Jon & Amy are with her now, and even though she is still sedated, she is showing signs of being in a lot of pain.  Also, with the slightest noise or movement, she begins to cry.  Right now they are being very quiet in the room, keeping the lights off, etc.  Please pray that this pain would go away quickly, as these next 24-48 hours she will be weaned quickly off pain medications.  Also, please pray that she will be able to come off the vent easily.  At this time, she is still not breathing above the vent at all, but that is normal while under sedation.  The prayer is that as she begins to wake up, she will also begin taking breaths on her own.  We thank you for all your prayers so far, and ask that you please continue, as these next 24 hours will be very crucial in Ella's healing & recovery process.

Thank you!
~Aunt Kristina

Surgery is OVER!!!!

The surgeon said all went well!  Amy and Jon will get to see her go down the hall into ICU shortly, and then it will be about an hour and a half before they get to be with her in her room.  They hope to get her off the vent in 6-12 hours.  We are SO grateful to God for his mercy & grace!  Thank you God, for allowing us to have more time with Ella!  Praise and Glory to your name!  Amen!!!

Surgery update #3 More Good News!!!!!

Ella is off the bypass machine now and they are finishing up the procedure!  They they will start the closing up process.  They will give another update in about an hour, and the surgeon will probably come out and talk to Amy and Jon in about an hour and a half.  They probably still won't get to see her for 2-3 hours, but we are very relieved the bypass part is over!  Praise the Lord!!!!  Everything is going so well!!! 

Please continue to pray!


~Aunt Kristina

Surgery Update #2

Still going well!  They are still trying to cut through the scar tissue and sternum.  It is taking a little longer than expected, but no complications. :)  They should update again in another hour.  Please be praying especially for this next hour because she should go on the bypass machine and that is the most risky part of the surgery.  Thank you all SO much!

Surgery update!

Everything is going well.  They got in 2 IV's, an ART line, and a line in her neck without any problems.  They have now started actually cutting through the old scar tissue to make the incision - that will take about an hour.  They should call with another update in about an hour.  Thanks for praying!

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33



~Aunt Kristina

Surgery underway

Ella's surgery began about 8:30 this morning, and it is expected to last 4-6 hrs.  We should be getting reports throughout the operation.  Please pray for Ella to handle the operation well, for the doctors to have wisdom and for the Lord to guide their hands, and for Jon & Amy to feel peace during this time.  I will update as I recieve news!

Prayerfully,
Aunt Kristina

Doctor pre op visit

 I apologize I am just now getting to the update of today. I was so tired after today's events Ella and I took a long nap, then rather than updating right away I spent the evening loving on my girl, now she is sleeping I can update, ( have to have priorities). Just the same I know you are anxious so after a long day and lots of testing, and blood work :( , we are a go for the Glenn open heart procedure first case in the morning! When we met with the surgeon I made him assure me he would do his very best! I asked him if he would be extra extra careful, he said yes, I immediately stepped up to where he was sitting and told him to look in her eyes :) I am convinced that one look in her eyes and he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about her :) sneaky I know :) but a mom has got to do what a mom has got to do! We will be getting to the hospital around 5:30am - 6:00 am surgery will begin sometime around 7:00am. I really don't have much to say other than PLEASE PRAY for Ella tomorrow and the days ahead of recovery. Please spread the word, share the blog, etc. with all your friends that are willing to lift her up in prayer. This surgery is significantly less dangerous than the previous 3 surgeries, however it is still open heart surgery! They said they expect the surgery to last about 4 hours and we are supposed to have hourly updates. One piece of VERY good news is the hospital stay could be much less then we had previously understood it to be!!!! We had originally heard 2 weeks, but today they said if all goes well we are looking at 5 to 7 days in the hospital and then we will stick around in Dallas for a day or two for follow up, then HOME!!!!! We are nervous but optimistic, we thank you in advance for the hundreds of prayers that will be sent her way!

2 days to go...

We have arrived in Dallas and tomorrow it begins. Doctors appointments, x-rays, echo cardiograms, EKGs, blood work... tears. It will be a long day for Ella, and for Jon and I. Not sure I am quite ready to be back here in this place, but ready or not the time has come for Ella's next big step and I am scared yet so very proud of how brave and strong she has been. Knowing that in the past she has blown the doctors away with her progress helps me hope for the best, yet being a mom, and knowing the facts makes me still fear the worst. The plan for now is to have her third open heart surgery on Thursday, I don't know what time yet, but I know it will be God's time! She will have to be put on the ventilator, and the bypass machine, she will be in a hospital during the flu season, she will have lots of opportunities for infections... etc... any single one of these things could take her life, not to mention one small mistake from the surgeon or slip of his hand and the consequences could be fatal. Ella is full of smiles today, playful and sweet. She isn't in pain and she isn't scared of what lies ahead. I wish I could explain why I'm "allowing" the pain she will feel. I'm glad she isn't as anxious as I am. Somehow it seems cruel to smile at her one moment and then make her endure such pain the next, but it's what has to be done. I wonder if that is how God feels when he looks at us, He sees the pain we are about to endure and we have no idea it's coming and then BAM! It hits like a mighty ocean wave knocking us down and twisting us upside down. Sometimes we don't understand why, and sometimes God can't explain, but we know that we can trust Him that the pain is only temporary, and it's for our ultamite good. Sometimes when those times come it's hard to trust Him and sometimes we can get angry or our feelings get hurt thinking why did He allow "that". I only hope Ella won't be angry at me... maybe one day she will know just how very much I love her and that this hurts me so much. Please be praying for peace, strength, wisdom, comfort, and most importantly please pray that the Lord of miracles sees fit to save her life once more.