My sister set up my email account a couple years ago (she's my older sis what can I say) using, therathe5...She forgot we actually had 6 in our family! My husband said well we just need to have a baby and then it can mean the rathe 5 as in 5 kids. Well that time is now...our little Mia makes 5. So thanks sis for spuring us on to have this little darling;) What a blessing she is.
I have been at the hospital with her since Thursday morning and so many nurses and doctors tell me how blessed we are to have her. I agree. She is amazing and stronger than I could be. On Tuesday she will have her 2nd surgery the Glenn Procedure. The docs discovered that her bt shunt is narrowing at one end and slightly in other places in her heart. Instead of doing an invasive stint or ballon they are going ahead with stage 2. We were preparing for that to be at 4-6 months and she will be 3 months on the day of. Her lung pressures look good and everything shows she should be okay doing it so early. She needs it. So we wait at the hospital for the week to pass so we can get through the next hurdle. During this hard time for our family I see so much goodness and mercy. So many kind hearted people are reaching out to us AND Mia has been a pure delight. Especially since she has started cooing and smiling at everyone that walks in the door. The nurses love her and so do we! Please keep us in your prayers. We will update soon.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
June 10th, 2010 Mia is out of the hospital
John 17: 1-5
After Jesus said this he looked toward heaven and prayed, " Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may Glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
What a powerful passage in John. I am reminded of Jesus love and sacrifice.
I am also very aware that for me, my family and this little one inside me, the time has also come....to begin this next season in life. In just a few short hours or days I will be meeting our daughter who we have been anxiously planning our life around the last few months. And I wonder, am I ready to meet this trial in life? I worry about labor, the baby, my 4 kids, everything! Then I remember this passage and know that God is with me and knows my every worry and will get me through.I think I am beginning to understand the sacrifice that was made for me.
It has been 5 weeks! since I wrote that above. We have our beautiful daughter after she decided to come 2 days before induction, May 3rd. The delivery was what we prayed about. I was so thankful not to be induced. When she was born I saw a glimpse of her before the team of doctors walked away with her. After they stabilized her I was able to hold her for 3 minutes and kiss her all over and look at her tiny feet. Then she was off to Children's Hospital, next door.
The first 2 days of her life went smoothly, I was able to nurse and all the family got to hold her many times. On the 3rd day she started showing signs of distress and the doctor said, "She just needs her heart fixed"
She had surgery at 4 days old. Everything went as planned except for one thing. She had come off the heart lung machine and her oxygen levels were too low. So she had to go back on the heart lung machine and had a bigger shunt put in her tiny heart. You can imagine how we felt when we were told she was done and doing okay and then to be told wait, the surgeon is going back in for a bigger shunt. It was a day of waiting and acceptance for us. We were thankful for the many prayers said that day.
We were overjoyed when Mia came through the surgery and we were able to see her and pray over her fragile little body. She did very well the next week, having her chest closed, showing no signs of distress. We did have to tackle the problem of too much fluid on her lungs because of the big shunt.
Jumping ahead to NOW, the doctors were able to control the fluid with medicine and although she still has fluid around her lungs, she is doing well. As of Friday she has been released to the hotel we are staying at until we head back to New Mexico.
Next week the doctor will look at her heart and do a chest x ray to determine if we are able to leave the area. We are hopeful she will do great and we can get back to our casa in NM! On Tuesday Mia had a repeat swallow study, chest x ray, and general check up and things went wonderful. The damage to her vocal chord during surgery is doing much better and she is now able to breast feed. We are overjoyed at that news!
We are so thankful for the people who have prayed and thought about our family during this time. I am thankful I was able to update on facebook because each time I started a new post, here, my time ran out! So I am glad I could post short updates.
We have been through quite a journey and are so glad we have been able to stay together as a family! Everyone has had their moments, who wouldn't living in a hotel for 2 months:) but we are stronger and forever changed for the better.
The 3 big sisters are enjoying changing the baby and loving on her and mama is liking the help! Big brother is in love with his baby sister and things are light hearted at the Rathe house. We will update again in a couple days on a time frame when we can leave the area. Please pray for Mia's next appointments to go well.
Praise God for all the blessings we have received. Especially the cards, prayers, visits, everything. We are overwhelmed by the out poring of LOVE.
After Jesus said this he looked toward heaven and prayed, " Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may Glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
What a powerful passage in John. I am reminded of Jesus love and sacrifice.
I am also very aware that for me, my family and this little one inside me, the time has also come....to begin this next season in life. In just a few short hours or days I will be meeting our daughter who we have been anxiously planning our life around the last few months. And I wonder, am I ready to meet this trial in life? I worry about labor, the baby, my 4 kids, everything! Then I remember this passage and know that God is with me and knows my every worry and will get me through.I think I am beginning to understand the sacrifice that was made for me.
It has been 5 weeks! since I wrote that above. We have our beautiful daughter after she decided to come 2 days before induction, May 3rd. The delivery was what we prayed about. I was so thankful not to be induced. When she was born I saw a glimpse of her before the team of doctors walked away with her. After they stabilized her I was able to hold her for 3 minutes and kiss her all over and look at her tiny feet. Then she was off to Children's Hospital, next door.
The first 2 days of her life went smoothly, I was able to nurse and all the family got to hold her many times. On the 3rd day she started showing signs of distress and the doctor said, "She just needs her heart fixed"
She had surgery at 4 days old. Everything went as planned except for one thing. She had come off the heart lung machine and her oxygen levels were too low. So she had to go back on the heart lung machine and had a bigger shunt put in her tiny heart. You can imagine how we felt when we were told she was done and doing okay and then to be told wait, the surgeon is going back in for a bigger shunt. It was a day of waiting and acceptance for us. We were thankful for the many prayers said that day.
We were overjoyed when Mia came through the surgery and we were able to see her and pray over her fragile little body. She did very well the next week, having her chest closed, showing no signs of distress. We did have to tackle the problem of too much fluid on her lungs because of the big shunt.
Jumping ahead to NOW, the doctors were able to control the fluid with medicine and although she still has fluid around her lungs, she is doing well. As of Friday she has been released to the hotel we are staying at until we head back to New Mexico.
Next week the doctor will look at her heart and do a chest x ray to determine if we are able to leave the area. We are hopeful she will do great and we can get back to our casa in NM! On Tuesday Mia had a repeat swallow study, chest x ray, and general check up and things went wonderful. The damage to her vocal chord during surgery is doing much better and she is now able to breast feed. We are overjoyed at that news!
We are so thankful for the people who have prayed and thought about our family during this time. I am thankful I was able to update on facebook because each time I started a new post, here, my time ran out! So I am glad I could post short updates.
We have been through quite a journey and are so glad we have been able to stay together as a family! Everyone has had their moments, who wouldn't living in a hotel for 2 months:) but we are stronger and forever changed for the better.
The 3 big sisters are enjoying changing the baby and loving on her and mama is liking the help! Big brother is in love with his baby sister and things are light hearted at the Rathe house. We will update again in a couple days on a time frame when we can leave the area. Please pray for Mia's next appointments to go well.
Praise God for all the blessings we have received. Especially the cards, prayers, visits, everything. We are overwhelmed by the out poring of LOVE.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Surgery Day
At 7:15 this morning our precious daughter Iilyah Mia Hope went with several nurses and doctors to have surgery. In the moments before surgery, my wife and I were able to spend some time with our little princess. Since her birth it has been a whirlwind. When I first saw her little face all I wanted to do was hold her and give her to my wife. Standing by and watching the nurses get her breathing after her birth and then seeing them insert several tubes and IV into her just broke my heart. Still, I had to let them do their work in order for God to the work in her that he is doing now. Since little we found out about our little Mia's heart defect I have felt helpless in many ways. A Father only wants to protect His own and keep them safe from anything that might harm her. Strange as it seems the only way I can protect her now is to let her go and be cared for by strangers.
Our Father also had to let his child go. Jesus had to be cared by strangers in order for his purpose to be fulfilled. I trust God that his purposes for my little Mia will be fulfilled. God is already performing a great work in her. Still this Daddy wants to hold and protect her. Right now the only way to protect her is to let her go so she can be helped.
"Dear Father, Please guide the hands of the surgeons and protect my little Mia through this surgery."
It is 11:48 and we are likely half way through the surgery. God is Good!
Our Father also had to let his child go. Jesus had to be cared by strangers in order for his purpose to be fulfilled. I trust God that his purposes for my little Mia will be fulfilled. God is already performing a great work in her. Still this Daddy wants to hold and protect her. Right now the only way to protect her is to let her go so she can be helped.
"Dear Father, Please guide the hands of the surgeons and protect my little Mia through this surgery."
It is 11:48 and we are likely half way through the surgery. God is Good!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Mia Hope
John 17: 1-5
After Jesus said this he looked toward heaven and prayed, " Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may Glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
What a powerful passage in John. I am reminded of Jesus love and sacrifice.
I am also very aware that for me, my family and this little one inside me, the time has also come....to begin this next season in life. In just a few short hours or days I will be meeting our daughter who we have been anxiously planning our life around the last few months. And I wonder, am I ready to meet this trial in life? I worry about labor, the baby, my 4 kids, everything! Then I remember this passage and know that God is with me and knows my every worry and will get me through.I think I am beginning to understand the sacrifice that was made for me.
It has been 5 weeks! since I wrote that above. We have our beautiful daughter after she decided to come 2 days before induction, May 3rd. The delivery was what we prayed about. I was so thankful not to be induced. When she was born I saw a glimpse of her before the team of doctors walked away with her. After they stabilized her I was able to hold her for 3 minutes and kiss her all over and look at her tiny feet. Then she was off to Children's Hospital, next door.
The first 2 days of her life went smoothly, I was able to nurse and all the family got to hold her many times. On the 3rd day she started showing signs of distress and the doctor said, "She just needs her heart fixed"
She had surgery at 4 days old. Everything went as planned except for one thing. She had come off the heart lung machine and her oxygen levels were too low. So she had to go back on the heart lung machine and had a bigger shunt put in her tiny heart. You can imagine how we felt when we were told she was done and doing okay and then to be told wait, the surgeon is going back in for a bigger shunt. It was a day of waiting and acceptance for us. We were thankful for the many prayers said that day.
We were overjoyed when Mia came through the surgery and we were able to see her and pray over her fragile little body. She did very well the next week, having her chest closed, showing no signs of distress. We did have to tackle the problem of too much fluid on her lungs because of the big shunt.
Jumping ahead to NOW, the doctors were able to control the fluid with medicine and although she still has fluid around her lungs, she is doing well. As of Friday she has been released to the hotel we are staying at until we head back to New Mexico.
Next week the doctor will look at her heart and do a chest x ray to determine if we are able to leave the area. We are hopeful she will do great and we can get back to our casa in NM! On Tuesday Mia had a repeat swallow study, chest x ray, and general check up and things went wonderful. The damage to her vocal chord during surgery is doing much better and she is now able to breast feed. We are overjoyed at that news!
We are so thankful for the people who have prayed and thought about our family during this time. I am thankful I was able to update on facebook because each time I started a new post, here, my time ran out! So I am glad I could post short updates.
We have been through quite a journey and are so glad we have been able to stay together as a family! Everyone has had their moments, who wouldn't living in a hotel for 2 months:) but we are stronger and forever changed for the better.
The 3 big sisters are enjoying changing the baby and loving on her and mama is liking the help! Big brother is in love with his baby sister and things are light hearted at the Rathe house. We will update again in a couple days on a time frame when we can leave the area. Please pray for Mia's next appointments to go well.
Praise God for all the blessings we have received. Especially the cards, prayers, visits, everything. We are overwhelmed by the out poring of LOVE.
After Jesus said this he looked toward heaven and prayed, " Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may Glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
What a powerful passage in John. I am reminded of Jesus love and sacrifice.
I am also very aware that for me, my family and this little one inside me, the time has also come....to begin this next season in life. In just a few short hours or days I will be meeting our daughter who we have been anxiously planning our life around the last few months. And I wonder, am I ready to meet this trial in life? I worry about labor, the baby, my 4 kids, everything! Then I remember this passage and know that God is with me and knows my every worry and will get me through.I think I am beginning to understand the sacrifice that was made for me.
It has been 5 weeks! since I wrote that above. We have our beautiful daughter after she decided to come 2 days before induction, May 3rd. The delivery was what we prayed about. I was so thankful not to be induced. When she was born I saw a glimpse of her before the team of doctors walked away with her. After they stabilized her I was able to hold her for 3 minutes and kiss her all over and look at her tiny feet. Then she was off to Children's Hospital, next door.
The first 2 days of her life went smoothly, I was able to nurse and all the family got to hold her many times. On the 3rd day she started showing signs of distress and the doctor said, "She just needs her heart fixed"
She had surgery at 4 days old. Everything went as planned except for one thing. She had come off the heart lung machine and her oxygen levels were too low. So she had to go back on the heart lung machine and had a bigger shunt put in her tiny heart. You can imagine how we felt when we were told she was done and doing okay and then to be told wait, the surgeon is going back in for a bigger shunt. It was a day of waiting and acceptance for us. We were thankful for the many prayers said that day.
We were overjoyed when Mia came through the surgery and we were able to see her and pray over her fragile little body. She did very well the next week, having her chest closed, showing no signs of distress. We did have to tackle the problem of too much fluid on her lungs because of the big shunt.
Jumping ahead to NOW, the doctors were able to control the fluid with medicine and although she still has fluid around her lungs, she is doing well. As of Friday she has been released to the hotel we are staying at until we head back to New Mexico.
Next week the doctor will look at her heart and do a chest x ray to determine if we are able to leave the area. We are hopeful she will do great and we can get back to our casa in NM! On Tuesday Mia had a repeat swallow study, chest x ray, and general check up and things went wonderful. The damage to her vocal chord during surgery is doing much better and she is now able to breast feed. We are overjoyed at that news!
We are so thankful for the people who have prayed and thought about our family during this time. I am thankful I was able to update on facebook because each time I started a new post, here, my time ran out! So I am glad I could post short updates.
We have been through quite a journey and are so glad we have been able to stay together as a family! Everyone has had their moments, who wouldn't living in a hotel for 2 months:) but we are stronger and forever changed for the better.
The 3 big sisters are enjoying changing the baby and loving on her and mama is liking the help! Big brother is in love with his baby sister and things are light hearted at the Rathe house. We will update again in a couple days on a time frame when we can leave the area. Please pray for Mia's next appointments to go well.
Praise God for all the blessings we have received. Especially the cards, prayers, visits, everything. We are overwhelmed by the out poring of LOVE.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Weathering The Storm
"THY MERCY, O LORD, IS IN THE HEAVENS, AND THY FAITHFULNESS REACHETH UNTO THE CLOUDS"
PSALM 36:5
We had another appointment with the doctors at Children's and University. Our baby is growing right on track and doing well in the womb. She is weighing almost 5 pounds and very active. Sometimes congenital heart defects can change or worsen in the womb and so far everything looks the same. Her heart is growing right along with her body, which is great! Praise God for those important details. Everything is going as planned...she will have the surgery a couple days after birth. We have to relocate to Denver in a few days to be sure I am there when she is born. At birth, her team of pediatric doctors will administer the prostaglandin through her umbilical cord for her little heart valve to sustain her. The valve that normally closes on healthy babies, at birth, needs to stay open for to live. I will be able to hold her for a short time before they take her to the NICU. After they stabilize her, she gets transported next door to Children's-to the CICU. Clark said, "It's going to be hard to leave you after the baby is born but sorry babe, I am going to Children's to be with Mia!" You go Daddy! She needs you. There is nothing like a daddy's love.
It has been a whirlwind of emotions and activities in our home the past few weeks. I have been so busy making plans to relocate that I have been preoccupied. Now that we have been told to go to Denver sooner, it is sinking in. Our life is about to change drastically. Some days I think, how will I ever handle all this! Our daughter will need continuous care through the next few months. Doctors visits regularly and another surgery in a couple months...a lot to think about.
We were met with bad weather again on our ride home from Denver. During the last appointment everyone was rushing around trying to get information on the storm coming so they could get us out in time. It was so helpful and loving. I am overwhelmed by the caring people at the hospital and so thankful. We chose to leave a day earlier to beat the storm but unfortunately we did not make it! We ran into the blizzard at nightfall..that was pretty scary. We only had 30 miles to our destination but we couldn't see anything. We thought about turning back but the storm was right behind us. I started praying with FERVOR for God to direct our path and be our guiding light. I prayed the entire hour that we drove. We came upon a truck in front of us that had a white light on the back. I prayed that it would not turn off and we could follow it. It did not turn off and we were able to make it to the town safely. I know God led us and protected us. An amazing thing happened while praying, I realized that we needed to PRAY more about our baby and the next "STORM" we are about to go through. And that if God is not at the center we will never make it! Sounds simple enough but it's easy to get stressed about things instead of leaning on God and turning to HIM. It was a wake up call to both of us that God is going to weather this storm in front of our family and we need to turn to Him and FOCUS on His faithfulness. During the most intense time on the road, my babies(5 and 7 now!) were eagerly watching and listening to me pray. Then they said, Mom, you know there are angels all around us right now. And they leaned back and put in a movie. Enough of this worry for them! Don't I wish I had faith like a child. It made me realize even more to turn my worry over to the Lord and have peace. About everything! I felt like God was telling us, He could get us through WHATEVER storm we were facing in life and to LEAN ON HIM. Isn't it amazing that even when we don't know the right words to pray, God knows us, he knows our needs. He knew what I needed, a boost in the confidence direction! Our life is just (and has already) about to get a bit more complicated. I will remember this snowy ride of faith in the future when we are weathering the next stage of life.
Even though it has been a long couple of months and an inconvenience to travel so far for all these appointments, I am thankful we have made it. God has prepared us in many ways on these trips to endure all that is needed for the health of our baby. We have made it this far and we are pressing on in FAITH, HOPE, and PERSEVERANCE. We will be leaving for Denver in about a week and are thankful for all the prayers on our behalf. We are praying for you too.
PSALM 36:5
We had another appointment with the doctors at Children's and University. Our baby is growing right on track and doing well in the womb. She is weighing almost 5 pounds and very active. Sometimes congenital heart defects can change or worsen in the womb and so far everything looks the same. Her heart is growing right along with her body, which is great! Praise God for those important details. Everything is going as planned...she will have the surgery a couple days after birth. We have to relocate to Denver in a few days to be sure I am there when she is born. At birth, her team of pediatric doctors will administer the prostaglandin through her umbilical cord for her little heart valve to sustain her. The valve that normally closes on healthy babies, at birth, needs to stay open for to live. I will be able to hold her for a short time before they take her to the NICU. After they stabilize her, she gets transported next door to Children's-to the CICU. Clark said, "It's going to be hard to leave you after the baby is born but sorry babe, I am going to Children's to be with Mia!" You go Daddy! She needs you. There is nothing like a daddy's love.
It has been a whirlwind of emotions and activities in our home the past few weeks. I have been so busy making plans to relocate that I have been preoccupied. Now that we have been told to go to Denver sooner, it is sinking in. Our life is about to change drastically. Some days I think, how will I ever handle all this! Our daughter will need continuous care through the next few months. Doctors visits regularly and another surgery in a couple months...a lot to think about.
We were met with bad weather again on our ride home from Denver. During the last appointment everyone was rushing around trying to get information on the storm coming so they could get us out in time. It was so helpful and loving. I am overwhelmed by the caring people at the hospital and so thankful. We chose to leave a day earlier to beat the storm but unfortunately we did not make it! We ran into the blizzard at nightfall..that was pretty scary. We only had 30 miles to our destination but we couldn't see anything. We thought about turning back but the storm was right behind us. I started praying with FERVOR for God to direct our path and be our guiding light. I prayed the entire hour that we drove. We came upon a truck in front of us that had a white light on the back. I prayed that it would not turn off and we could follow it. It did not turn off and we were able to make it to the town safely. I know God led us and protected us. An amazing thing happened while praying, I realized that we needed to PRAY more about our baby and the next "STORM" we are about to go through. And that if God is not at the center we will never make it! Sounds simple enough but it's easy to get stressed about things instead of leaning on God and turning to HIM. It was a wake up call to both of us that God is going to weather this storm in front of our family and we need to turn to Him and FOCUS on His faithfulness. During the most intense time on the road, my babies(5 and 7 now!) were eagerly watching and listening to me pray. Then they said, Mom, you know there are angels all around us right now. And they leaned back and put in a movie. Enough of this worry for them! Don't I wish I had faith like a child. It made me realize even more to turn my worry over to the Lord and have peace. About everything! I felt like God was telling us, He could get us through WHATEVER storm we were facing in life and to LEAN ON HIM. Isn't it amazing that even when we don't know the right words to pray, God knows us, he knows our needs. He knew what I needed, a boost in the confidence direction! Our life is just (and has already) about to get a bit more complicated. I will remember this snowy ride of faith in the future when we are weathering the next stage of life.
Even though it has been a long couple of months and an inconvenience to travel so far for all these appointments, I am thankful we have made it. God has prepared us in many ways on these trips to endure all that is needed for the health of our baby. We have made it this far and we are pressing on in FAITH, HOPE, and PERSEVERANCE. We will be leaving for Denver in about a week and are thankful for all the prayers on our behalf. We are praying for you too.
Monday, March 1, 2010
I've got confidence...
It's been a busy time for us at the Rathe house. Home educating, doctors visits, dealing with the sickies, making preparations for our baby's delivery..Whew! I finally have a moment to blog!
We had another visit with the pediatric cardiologist in Denver. Things are looking the same. The technician was able to get more great pictures of Mia's heart. She cooperated well. She is growing right on schedule and the doctors are going along with the initial plans for surgery. The warmth and support from people at Children's has been very encouraging and a huge burden lifter! I was reminded by a family member, we as Christians don't have to worry because we have FAITH. It is so hard sometimes not to worry about the what ifs but it is so wonderful we can pray and lean on God! And God is providing us many angels throughout this journey. We are so thankful.
The trip to Denver was long and snowy. We were driving along in clear skies and then drove directly into a blizzard on the mountain pass. Not so fun! We turned around and tried a different way but that was just as bad. We asked at a gas station if there were any roads we could take and we eventually were directed to a clear one! We did run into some snow and ice closer to Denver...we were driving very carefully noticing a couple cars in the ditch. I was getting nervous! I hear this little voice from the back seat..Mama, Can we sing that one song that gets quieter and louder?? My 5 year old used to ask for that song all the time...It was a request I had not heard for quite sometime. How appropriate at this time I thought! The song starts out softly with clapping one finger together then 2 then 3 etc. It ends with "zero" when you mouth the words. The words..."I've got confidence, my Lord is gonna see me through, no matter what the case may be I know My Lord is gonna fix it for me because..I've got confidence....." It goes on and on. I realized that I was worrying for nothing on the icy roads.God was in control. And my husband was driving soo carefully! We had been praying all day! Why would my spirit not yield to the peace God provides? I am human..Fleshy...Anxious! The song put me in my place and was certainly a little nudge from God. So we continued our trip with a bit more peace and trust! I am sure my husband was glad I did not ever give in to my fears
out loud:)
Now we are home SAFE and ready for whatever awaits around the corner. As we get closer to the time of Mia's arrival, I am aware of God's awesome presence and power.I know that He is in control and that whatever happens, He will be holding our family. We will travel back to Denver March 23rd for another check up and then in mid April to stay for the birth, surgery, recovery.. Could be a while! God is good. We are so thankful to my husband's employer. He can keep his job until we return! Praise God! The staff is willing to make things work until we return. What a blessing and wonderful support for my husband.
I am trying to take it easy as the doctor told me to, it is nice to have 4 helpers!
This pregnancy has been HARD compared to the others! I have a lot more pain and mini contractions! and at times I get annoyed with my physical body because I just want to clean my house!!! But I am reminded that it is only for a short while longer and I cherish my big tummy and all the joys of pregnancy. Even though my tummy is a boxing ring sometimes. She is a fighter for sure!
Galatians 6:9"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunities, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
What a great reminder to press on and have a joyful spirit through this trying time. I am thankful for the Word.
We had another visit with the pediatric cardiologist in Denver. Things are looking the same. The technician was able to get more great pictures of Mia's heart. She cooperated well. She is growing right on schedule and the doctors are going along with the initial plans for surgery. The warmth and support from people at Children's has been very encouraging and a huge burden lifter! I was reminded by a family member, we as Christians don't have to worry because we have FAITH. It is so hard sometimes not to worry about the what ifs but it is so wonderful we can pray and lean on God! And God is providing us many angels throughout this journey. We are so thankful.
The trip to Denver was long and snowy. We were driving along in clear skies and then drove directly into a blizzard on the mountain pass. Not so fun! We turned around and tried a different way but that was just as bad. We asked at a gas station if there were any roads we could take and we eventually were directed to a clear one! We did run into some snow and ice closer to Denver...we were driving very carefully noticing a couple cars in the ditch. I was getting nervous! I hear this little voice from the back seat..Mama, Can we sing that one song that gets quieter and louder?? My 5 year old used to ask for that song all the time...It was a request I had not heard for quite sometime. How appropriate at this time I thought! The song starts out softly with clapping one finger together then 2 then 3 etc. It ends with "zero" when you mouth the words. The words..."I've got confidence, my Lord is gonna see me through, no matter what the case may be I know My Lord is gonna fix it for me because..I've got confidence....." It goes on and on. I realized that I was worrying for nothing on the icy roads.God was in control. And my husband was driving soo carefully! We had been praying all day! Why would my spirit not yield to the peace God provides? I am human..Fleshy...Anxious! The song put me in my place and was certainly a little nudge from God. So we continued our trip with a bit more peace and trust! I am sure my husband was glad I did not ever give in to my fears
out loud:)
Now we are home SAFE and ready for whatever awaits around the corner. As we get closer to the time of Mia's arrival, I am aware of God's awesome presence and power.I know that He is in control and that whatever happens, He will be holding our family. We will travel back to Denver March 23rd for another check up and then in mid April to stay for the birth, surgery, recovery.. Could be a while! God is good. We are so thankful to my husband's employer. He can keep his job until we return! Praise God! The staff is willing to make things work until we return. What a blessing and wonderful support for my husband.
I am trying to take it easy as the doctor told me to, it is nice to have 4 helpers!
This pregnancy has been HARD compared to the others! I have a lot more pain and mini contractions! and at times I get annoyed with my physical body because I just want to clean my house!!! But I am reminded that it is only for a short while longer and I cherish my big tummy and all the joys of pregnancy. Even though my tummy is a boxing ring sometimes. She is a fighter for sure!
Galatians 6:9"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunities, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
What a great reminder to press on and have a joyful spirit through this trying time. I am thankful for the Word.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Mia Hope
We have returned from Denver with a prayer answered that we have been praying for. Our baby girl has a chance to live~with surgery being needed. We met with a pediatric cardiologist, surgeon, perinatologist, to name a few of the doctors! It was a big day for us and we learned valuable information about our baby's condition.
She was originally diagnosed with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome and then that diagnosis was changed to Heterotaxia. It turns out she does have Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome but it is more complex in the way they will treat her. When we got the diagnosis of heterotaxia the perinatoligost at that time gave us her opinion and that was..Our baby was inoperable and might live about an hour after I had her at term. Very dismal and heart wrenching. Things have changed now! We are hopeful and thankful the Lord has answered our prayers. Our daughter does in fact have a spleen,(one of the symptoms of heterotaxia is the absence of a spleen) and she has all her organs in the right place functioning properly. Except the heart of course. It is on the correct side of her chest but has many abnormalities. I will list them as the cardiologist did for us.
Transposition of the Great Arteries
Tricusped Atresia-in the most complex form-to quote the surgeon
Hypoplastic Right Ventricle
Hypoplastic Aortic Arch
The surgery is a little different than what they normally do for HRHS because her aorta is coming out of the LEFT side of her heart. Sooo, they treat it like Hypoplastic LEFT heart syndrome even thought that is not what she has. The left side of her heart IS of good size and functioning correctly. In HRLS the left side is underdeveloped.
She will have 3 surgeries to correct the defect and help her heart.
I am just going to list them in order.
Norwood Procedure-1st week of life
Glenn Procedure-4-5 months old
Fontan Procedure-3 years old
The first surgery is the most serious and very scary for us!! She will be in the OR for about 8 hours and after the surgery she will need to recover for about a month. We will continue to PRAY PRAY PRAY and trust God and be thankful for the blessing of this child. We named her Mia HOPE. She is our HOPE. There is always hope in Christ Jesus and we will never stop trusting and loving our Lord.
Our son also chose a name for her a long time ago and we will be putting that on her birth certificate as well. Her full name will be Eilyah Mia Hope Rathe.
During the first ultrasound (we had several!) in Denver, baby Mia was moving a lot! Like always. The doctor said that we were going to have a "wild child". This was after about an hour of being scanned by the sonographer. We were still uncertain as to the degree of the defect and Clark and I looked at each other with eyebrows raised and knew exactly what the other were thinking. Does this mean she might survive??? A feeling came over both of us at that point that just maybe we would get some better news...The 2 sonographers and the OB specialist hinted around that we would be hearing something different than what we were told in Alb. Then we met with a geneticist and were told Mia most likely was healthy genetically. SO far so good...
Then the Pediatric Cardiologist came in with a smile and a very outgoing personality! She explained the defects and surgeries our daughter would need. We told her that in at the last appointment we were told to be prepared for the worst and possibly starting on "comfort care" at the Farmington Hospital. She smiled and shook her head. Oh No, not here! We can do surgery! And we do it all the time!!!!
Then we went to Children's hospital and met with the coordinators and surgeon and cardiologist again. The surgeon sat down with us and drew us pictures of all the surgeries and defects. He was so informative and encouraging! He told us "the glass is more than half full" compared to what we were told in Alb. We were keeping our emotions under control and did pretty well until he started talking about the team of people assisting with the surgeries. I was overcome with gratitude towards all those who are helping our baby have life! Every time I started to tell him THANK YOU SO MUCH I couldn't speak because of the tears that would have flowed! The doctors just smiled and said you guys are doing real good. I was kinda glad I didn't burst into tears!!! Although I felt like it. I have never been so thankful towards others. Because of their expertise my baby will live!!!!!!God bless them.
I will be traveling back to Denver every 4 weeks for more echos on the baby and be seen again by the doctors we met. Then I will need to stay there from 37 weeks on in case I deliver early. I guess the baby needs to stay in the womb and grow as much as possible to be strong and healthy for the first precarious surgery. I am supposed to eat a lot and rest. Not a problem:) We will be making plans to relocate temporarily to Denver with our 4 kids. Please continue to pray for the baby's growth, strength, and all the planning for the move to Denver.
We can't express enough gratitude to all those praying for us. We pray for you too.
She was originally diagnosed with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome and then that diagnosis was changed to Heterotaxia. It turns out she does have Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome but it is more complex in the way they will treat her. When we got the diagnosis of heterotaxia the perinatoligost at that time gave us her opinion and that was..Our baby was inoperable and might live about an hour after I had her at term. Very dismal and heart wrenching. Things have changed now! We are hopeful and thankful the Lord has answered our prayers. Our daughter does in fact have a spleen,(one of the symptoms of heterotaxia is the absence of a spleen) and she has all her organs in the right place functioning properly. Except the heart of course. It is on the correct side of her chest but has many abnormalities. I will list them as the cardiologist did for us.
Transposition of the Great Arteries
Tricusped Atresia-in the most complex form-to quote the surgeon
Hypoplastic Right Ventricle
Hypoplastic Aortic Arch
The surgery is a little different than what they normally do for HRHS because her aorta is coming out of the LEFT side of her heart. Sooo, they treat it like Hypoplastic LEFT heart syndrome even thought that is not what she has. The left side of her heart IS of good size and functioning correctly. In HRLS the left side is underdeveloped.
She will have 3 surgeries to correct the defect and help her heart.
I am just going to list them in order.
Norwood Procedure-1st week of life
Glenn Procedure-4-5 months old
Fontan Procedure-3 years old
The first surgery is the most serious and very scary for us!! She will be in the OR for about 8 hours and after the surgery she will need to recover for about a month. We will continue to PRAY PRAY PRAY and trust God and be thankful for the blessing of this child. We named her Mia HOPE. She is our HOPE. There is always hope in Christ Jesus and we will never stop trusting and loving our Lord.
Our son also chose a name for her a long time ago and we will be putting that on her birth certificate as well. Her full name will be Eilyah Mia Hope Rathe.
During the first ultrasound (we had several!) in Denver, baby Mia was moving a lot! Like always. The doctor said that we were going to have a "wild child". This was after about an hour of being scanned by the sonographer. We were still uncertain as to the degree of the defect and Clark and I looked at each other with eyebrows raised and knew exactly what the other were thinking. Does this mean she might survive??? A feeling came over both of us at that point that just maybe we would get some better news...The 2 sonographers and the OB specialist hinted around that we would be hearing something different than what we were told in Alb. Then we met with a geneticist and were told Mia most likely was healthy genetically. SO far so good...
Then the Pediatric Cardiologist came in with a smile and a very outgoing personality! She explained the defects and surgeries our daughter would need. We told her that in at the last appointment we were told to be prepared for the worst and possibly starting on "comfort care" at the Farmington Hospital. She smiled and shook her head. Oh No, not here! We can do surgery! And we do it all the time!!!!
Then we went to Children's hospital and met with the coordinators and surgeon and cardiologist again. The surgeon sat down with us and drew us pictures of all the surgeries and defects. He was so informative and encouraging! He told us "the glass is more than half full" compared to what we were told in Alb. We were keeping our emotions under control and did pretty well until he started talking about the team of people assisting with the surgeries. I was overcome with gratitude towards all those who are helping our baby have life! Every time I started to tell him THANK YOU SO MUCH I couldn't speak because of the tears that would have flowed! The doctors just smiled and said you guys are doing real good. I was kinda glad I didn't burst into tears!!! Although I felt like it. I have never been so thankful towards others. Because of their expertise my baby will live!!!!!!God bless them.
I will be traveling back to Denver every 4 weeks for more echos on the baby and be seen again by the doctors we met. Then I will need to stay there from 37 weeks on in case I deliver early. I guess the baby needs to stay in the womb and grow as much as possible to be strong and healthy for the first precarious surgery. I am supposed to eat a lot and rest. Not a problem:) We will be making plans to relocate temporarily to Denver with our 4 kids. Please continue to pray for the baby's growth, strength, and all the planning for the move to Denver.
We can't express enough gratitude to all those praying for us. We pray for you too.
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