Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Great Cardiologist Appointment Today!
First of all Graham weighed 8lbs 11oz today! He gained a pound in 10 days! Thanks for your prayers for nursing to go well. Graham's blood oxygen levels were back in the low 90s, which is a good thing. They did another echo (ultrasound of the heart) to see how the blood is moving in and out of the heart. The doc decided to put Graham on a medicine, Propranolol, which adults use for high blood pressure. This should help his heart allow more blood to flow to his lungs for oxygen. He has to take it 3 times a day. He has taken gas drops and vitamins well so hopefully he will take this medicine well too. Today the doc seemed to consider the possibility that Graham could hold out for the full corrective surgery if he continues to do this well. Previously he seemed to think that we would have to do a temporary surgery before he was big enough for the full surgery. We are encouraged and praising God for the good report! We don't have to go back to the cardiologist for two and a half weeks. Thank you for your continued prayers, they are working!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Cardiologist Appointment and First Dinner Out
Graham had a cardiologist visit on Friday. His blood oxygen levels have fallen into the high 80s. They were in the mid to high 90s in the hospital and low 90s at our last cardiologist appointment. The cardiologist seems to still think we will have to do something temporary soon before Graham is big enough for the full corrective surgery. He has mentioned 3 possibilities: (1) putting in a shunt that allows more blood to flow to the lungs (2) medication that will help the muscle constricting the opening to the pulmonary artery to relax (3) procedure to stretch pulmonary artery a little bigger. We go back Oct. 30 and will see if his blood oxygen levels are continuing to drop. It is a wait and see game. We are just thankful Graham is continuing to eat well and grow. He weighed 7lbs 11oz, almost back to his birth weight of 7lbs 12oz. We are trusting the Lord with His plan and timing.
On a side note... our first outing as a family of three was a success. We went to Andy's for dinner and Graham slept in his car seat the whole time, despite being fussy most of the afternoon. Yay!
On a side note... our first outing as a family of three was a success. We went to Andy's for dinner and Graham slept in his car seat the whole time, despite being fussy most of the afternoon. Yay!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Psalm 139
Being a huge proponent of the sanctity of human life, I have always loved Psalm 139. I even framed Graham's ultrasound picture with this scripture and hung it in the nursery.
Psalm 139
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.
A dear sweet prayer warrior from my home town told me that she had been praying through these verses over Graham. As I read over them again, I suddenly had a whole new insight. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" is often used to encourage teenage girls to not hate their bodies because God made them that way. Well, that is a fair application, but there is so much more. Graham's body and little heart were knit together by God himself in my womb. Graham is fearfully and wonderfully made. God didn't make a mistake with Graham's heart and the heart problem didn't happen outside of God's will. All the days, the doctor's appointments, the surgery, everything we are about to face, God has already ordained and recorded. We can rest in God's sovereign plan for our family, knowing that He is in control and He is good. His thoughts of Graham outnumber the sand! Praise be to God! Oh I pray that one day Graham will know what the Lord has done for Him and will serve Him faithfully!
The Birth Story
My water broke at 4:45am October 2, nine days before my due date. They say that you won't actually experience a gushing of fluid like you see in the movies... well I did. Gross. I called the doctor and woke up Matt. We didn't have a bag packed or anything. So we begin gathering things and ate some breakfast. An hour passed and I hadn't gotten a call back from the doctor. So I called again. Finally the doctor called back, she had been in a c-section, and she said to make our way to the hospital. I was in no hurry to get to the hospital because I was dreading what was about to happen, but Matt was anxious to get there. We straightened up the house a little, knowing we would return home with visitors, and eventually left for the hospital.
We got there at about 7am and when they checked me in triage I was already 4cm dilated, having felt no contractions! I was admitted to the hospital after getting my IV, during which Matt and I both almost passed out as blood spewed all over the bed and floor. The doctor wanted to start me on Pitocin to get contractions going. I asked to wait a while and Matt and I walked around for a while to try and get things going naturally.
Two hours later, about 12 noon, I was still at 4cm so I agreed to start Pitocin. Then the pain began as contractions started. After 2 hours of contractions I was at 7cm and an hour later I was at 10cm. Thank God things moved quickly. I did not get an epidural because things were moving quickly and I was tolerating the pain. I did get an injection of some pain medication in my IV that helped for about 2 contractions. I pushed for 2 hours and at 5:38pm Graham was born! He came out face up, which contributed to the lengthy pushing time.
Matt was a great labor partner. When Graham was finally here, Matt was very emotional. I wasn't really, I think I was just still in shock of what just happened to my body! We also had a student nurse who attended the birth and she was great. Since she had no official duty she handed me water, held my left leg, and took pictures! I am so thankful to God that labor went quickly and without complications! An answer to prayer.
We got there at about 7am and when they checked me in triage I was already 4cm dilated, having felt no contractions! I was admitted to the hospital after getting my IV, during which Matt and I both almost passed out as blood spewed all over the bed and floor. The doctor wanted to start me on Pitocin to get contractions going. I asked to wait a while and Matt and I walked around for a while to try and get things going naturally.
Matt was a great labor partner. When Graham was finally here, Matt was very emotional. I wasn't really, I think I was just still in shock of what just happened to my body! We also had a student nurse who attended the birth and she was great. Since she had no official duty she handed me water, held my left leg, and took pictures! I am so thankful to God that labor went quickly and without complications! An answer to prayer.
Welcome to the world, Graham Wilson Laney!!!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
My Grace is Sufficient for You
2 Corinthians 12
7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
During my pregnancy I had this eerie feeling about the baby and his health although I had a perfectly normal pregnancy. Matt and I have lived very blessed lives. In the 5 years we have been married, and really our whole lives, we have not faced great trial or tragedy. As Christians we pray that the Lord would increase our faith and draw us closer to him. The Bible tells us that one way that the Lord grows our faith is through trial and so I have felt like there was a trial around the corner for us. As I pondered all this I prayed that the Lord would not give a trial involving the baby and his health. "Please Lord give us a different trial... let the house burn down, or Matt lose his job... but not the baby." Now this may not have been the most faithful prayer I have prayed but that is what I asked.
The day after Graham was born they took him for a routine pediatric check up and he was gone for a long time. Finally we were told that a murmur was detected when listening to Graham's heart and they wanted to do an echo to make sure everything was ok. Well I didn't worry. I was sure it was nothing. It wasn't nothing. When the doctor from the NICU came to tell me what they had found I was in the room by myself, all the family had gone to get lunch. He explained that Graham had Tetralogy of Fallot and that he needed surgery. When he left the room the tears came. I immediately thought of Paul who asked the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh and the Lord said "no." I asked the Lord to spare us a trial with Graham's health and He said "no, my grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness."
The news was difficult, but I know that God's grace is sufficient to see us through this trial. We are trusting the Lord with Graham's heart and are so thankful for the many ways he has provided for us so far. We got to come home from the hospital only 2 days after his birth and he is eating and growing well. Praise the Lord for his provision and grace in the midst of trial! Thank you all for your prayers. Thank you, God, that you are a God who hears and answers the prayers of his people!
7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
During my pregnancy I had this eerie feeling about the baby and his health although I had a perfectly normal pregnancy. Matt and I have lived very blessed lives. In the 5 years we have been married, and really our whole lives, we have not faced great trial or tragedy. As Christians we pray that the Lord would increase our faith and draw us closer to him. The Bible tells us that one way that the Lord grows our faith is through trial and so I have felt like there was a trial around the corner for us. As I pondered all this I prayed that the Lord would not give a trial involving the baby and his health. "Please Lord give us a different trial... let the house burn down, or Matt lose his job... but not the baby." Now this may not have been the most faithful prayer I have prayed but that is what I asked.
The day after Graham was born they took him for a routine pediatric check up and he was gone for a long time. Finally we were told that a murmur was detected when listening to Graham's heart and they wanted to do an echo to make sure everything was ok. Well I didn't worry. I was sure it was nothing. It wasn't nothing. When the doctor from the NICU came to tell me what they had found I was in the room by myself, all the family had gone to get lunch. He explained that Graham had Tetralogy of Fallot and that he needed surgery. When he left the room the tears came. I immediately thought of Paul who asked the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh and the Lord said "no." I asked the Lord to spare us a trial with Graham's health and He said "no, my grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness."
The news was difficult, but I know that God's grace is sufficient to see us through this trial. We are trusting the Lord with Graham's heart and are so thankful for the many ways he has provided for us so far. We got to come home from the hospital only 2 days after his birth and he is eating and growing well. Praise the Lord for his provision and grace in the midst of trial! Thank you all for your prayers. Thank you, God, that you are a God who hears and answers the prayers of his people!
What is Tetralogy of Fallot?
Well it took me two days to figure out how to pronounce it. (teh-tral-uh-je ov fuh-LOE) I have learned a lot about the heart in the last week and I am still working on mastering all the terms. There are four interconnected problems with the heart: (1) a hole between the bottom 2 chambers (2) a narrowing under the pulmonary valve (3) an enlargement of the bottom right side of the heart (4) the aorta is lined up just over the hole between the bottom 2 chambers. This picture might help.
This all means that not enough oxygen is in the blood that circulates through the body. All this can be fixed with surgery. Ideally Graham would not have surgery until he is a few months old and is bigger and stronger. Graham's blood oxygen levels are high right now but his pulmonary artery is very small and so he may need surgery sooner rather than later. If he has surgery soon it will be a temporary fix and he will have the full corrective surgery later.
Isn't the human body amazing?! What a mighty Creator we have. We go to the cardiologist weekly for them to monitor Graham's blood oxygen levels and that will tell us when it is time for surgery. Our prayer is that Graham will continue to eat well and grow and that his blood oxygen levels will remain high so that he can wait for the full surgery.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Welcome to our Blog!
Hello everyone. Our son, Graham Wilson Laney, was born October 2, 2012 at 5:28pm, weighing 7lbs 12oz and 21.5 inches long. The day after he was born we discovered that he has a congenital heart problem called Tetralogy of Fallot. We are so grateful for the prayers and support we have received from friends and family. We have created this blog to keep you updated on Graham's health. I plan to add posts about the delivery, the heart condition, and what the Lord is teaching us already!
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