Meet our handsome boy...

Yesterday was a long day, but worth every moment!  We fought crazy Nashville traffic to arrive at Vanderbilt for induction 30 minutes late.  It was a VERY slow start and I never made it past 3.5 cm.  Although I was contracting good and things were moving along at a slow but steady pace, Ty was not enjoying the process.  His heart rate was steady, but indicated he was tired and didn't fluctuate enough!  We rubbed on his head to "wake him up" a few times and each time his response was less enthusiastic.  The result, given his little heart already has plenty of challenges, was to go ahead a do a c-section just to keep us out of any trouble.  So, at 7:00 we started getting ready at 7:24 we met our precious baby boy!

Ty arrived crying loud and clear and pinked up pretty quick with the help of a little oxygen.  He weighed in at 8lb 7oz and measured 20.5 inches long.

Ty's NICU team did a quick clean up and started his IV right there in the operating room and then I got in a quick kiss before Chris and Ty's very talented team of doctors sped over to the Children's hospital so start his full evaluation.

It was all hands on deck in the OR and I was ever so thankful for each and every wonderful doctor and nurse who helped get Ty here safely!  

About 10:30 last night I got to go to the NICU to see Ty for the first time out of the operating room.  He is such a sweet and handsome little guy!  I felt blessed to get to touch his soft cheeks and tell him how much I loved him before we headed back to rest up.  He had a big night of rest himself and a preliminary echo cardiogram to see how things were looking.

Chris and I got up bright and early this morning and headed straight to the NICU to be there in time for rounds.  While we waited for his medical team to make their way to us, his nurse asked Chris if he would like to change Ty's diaper!  We were pretty stoked at the opportunity to help care for him!

After he had a nice clean diaper on, they asked if I would like to help wash his hair!  It was so fun giving him his first shampoo.  Well, at least mommy thought it was fun, Ty didn't enjoy it quite as much.

 We put on a nice clean and dry hat on that freshly washed head and then it was time for rounds!  The doctors has news for us after reviewing his echo.  First of all, he is doing VERY well and his stats look great!  His pulse is a little weak in his lower limbs, but they aren't yet sure if that is because of his coarctation (narrow portion of his aorta) or if that's just Ty being Ty.  Tests from today will let us know and we'll find out at rounds tomorrow morning.  

They said his coarcatation is a pretty big segment of his aorta, and they are debating whether or not they can do a thoracotomy (go in from the side for the repair) or if they will need to open his whole chest ("open heart" surgery approach). Ultimately that will be up to his surgeon and we may know that tomorrow as well.

 The great news of the day was that his AVSD is looking much better!  The hole in the lower chambers is almost completely gone and his valve is functioning well!  This means surgery #2 that will be open heart for sure may be postponed for a year or two! 

He had a few other tests today - they scanned his head and kidneys just to make sure everything looked good and he passed with flying colors again.  We will find out more detail about his second echo at rounds in the morning!

 This afternoon Daddy got to change another diaper and we got to give him lots of love and kisses!

 As you can imagine, we are already deeply in love with this little guy and we are dying to get him in our arms!

 Because of his condition, he gets all of his nutrition through a central line in his umbilical cord.  Babies with heart conditions usually aren't allowed to eat the traditional way until fully recovered from surgery.  However, the medical team thought that he was doing so well that they might let him try a little bit of breast milk to see how he does.  This is an area we need prayers for as I have not been able to produce any milk yet.  This was major motivation for me, however, and I am pumping away and doing all the tips and tricks I know to see if I can produce enough for him to try!

 Another area we request you pray for tonight is the coarc repair!  If they are able to go in from the side it is less invasive with a shorter recovery period.  For that reason, our prayer tonight is that his coarctation is able to be repaired from the side instead of through the middle of his chest!

 Most of all we are praising God for this beautiful boy.  We are thankful for a safe delivery and we are praying for healing and recovery for me and Ty both!

One last note on today...

My Mom and Dad, who are in town keeping Ava Grace, brought her to visit today.  It was such a bright spot in our day.  I had been having a lot of severe muscular pain in my shoulders and back and when Ava Grace and I snuggled up together, my pain literally melted away.

There is no gift more precious than a child.  No matter how big or small, they are certainly God's biggest blessings.