So they say no news is good news, whoever "they" are! We do not have any further updates on Riley this morning. Her pressures seem stable, however, they do want to replace her ventilator. She sounds like she is squeaking and the tube may have come a little loose in the throat. Other than that it is a hurry up and wait kinda day. Dad stayed with Riley last night and kept the doctors and nurses on their toes. Parents are considered the best advocates for their children and Dad has been very attentive to Riley's needs. Mom got to go home and be on duty with Eric, Madeleine, Christian, and Lily. Everything is good on the home-front!
Happy Birthday to Eric! He will spend an exciting birthday here at U of M hospital with Riley and Mom. Little E goes on vacation with Uncle Bob and Aunt Amy tomorrow to Mexico. (I wish we could all go with him!) Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!
In HIS grip!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Much More Stable
Today the doctors did a CT scan on Riley's lungs and they did not find any obvious lung disease or any findings that concerned them. This is good and bad because this still does not lead us to where the problem is. Once Riley was settled in after the CT scan, in her new private room, she became very stable. The nurses bathed her, changed her bedding, and placed her on her tummy in a pronate position. Because she is holding on to so much excess fluid, shifting her in different positions should help loosen up the fluid. Riley has lost more fluid today and seems less swollen than even this morning.
Tomorrow is a new day and our hope is that Riley continues to get rid of the fluid in her chest, lungs, and abdomen on her own! A new assessment will be made by the doctors in the morning. Every time we seem to get to an extreme situation with Riley she turns the corner and makes some progress. God's grace is endless and so is his mercy. Our prayers (and begging) have been answered yet again. May we begin tomorrow moving forward and not backwards!
Thank you for your prayers and support...keep up the good work!
In HIS grip!
Tomorrow is a new day and our hope is that Riley continues to get rid of the fluid in her chest, lungs, and abdomen on her own! A new assessment will be made by the doctors in the morning. Every time we seem to get to an extreme situation with Riley she turns the corner and makes some progress. God's grace is endless and so is his mercy. Our prayers (and begging) have been answered yet again. May we begin tomorrow moving forward and not backwards!
Thank you for your prayers and support...keep up the good work!
In HIS grip!
Please Pray for Riley
Riley is having a CT scan done of her lungs today. Doctors are not sure why she is unable to get rid of fluid in lungs and chest cavity. Her pulmonary problems have not gotten any better and doctors are now to the point where they want to start looking for answers as to why she is not improving. Riley had a good week overall, but into the weekend she has gotten worse. By keeping her on maximum medical therapy (medications) we are not helping her. Doctors were hopeful that by now she would have had enough time to improve, and she still may just need more time.
A lung biopsy is also a possibility to help diagnose the problem going on. We also met with a Nephrologist, who wants to do an ultrasound of the kidneys. It may be possible to put Riley on dialysis to help her get rid of the excess fluid. Doctors are searching for a reason why her body is not processing the fluid. We just pray this is another hurdle Riley has to get over and that the doctors can determine what is wrong with Riley and learn how they want to proceed.
Please keep Riley in your constant prayers!
In HIS grip!
A lung biopsy is also a possibility to help diagnose the problem going on. We also met with a Nephrologist, who wants to do an ultrasound of the kidneys. It may be possible to put Riley on dialysis to help her get rid of the excess fluid. Doctors are searching for a reason why her body is not processing the fluid. We just pray this is another hurdle Riley has to get over and that the doctors can determine what is wrong with Riley and learn how they want to proceed.
Please keep Riley in your constant prayers!
In HIS grip!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Listen To Me
Riley had a very stable 24 hours and is doing well. On Saturday her blood pressure lowered and her pulmonary pressures were high. The doctors were weening Riley of many medications and lowering her nitric oxide on her ventilator quite aggressively. Her body decided that enough was enough and she needed to slow down. Once the doctors increased some of her meds and the nitric oxide she became stable. In talking with one of Riley's nurses she explained that medicine is thought of as an exact science, but when in practice it is more of an art. Each patient responds differently to medications and support, and it is the responsibility of the doctors and nurses to find that perfect balance for each patient! A little more of this, a little less of that, slow down this, speed up that!
When we met with one of the cardiologists today he explained that he is not focused on Riley's stats on an hourly basis or even a daily basis. But rather, he is focusing on how she trends over 5 days or even a week. If you look at the big picture Riley has made many major improvements, which day to day do seem small.
Our prayer for Riley tonight is for the doctors and nurses to listen to her and to hear what she needs. We naturally want this process to happen quickly, but Riley will heal in her own time. Slow and Steady!
In HIS grip!
When we met with one of the cardiologists today he explained that he is not focused on Riley's stats on an hourly basis or even a daily basis. But rather, he is focusing on how she trends over 5 days or even a week. If you look at the big picture Riley has made many major improvements, which day to day do seem small.
Our prayer for Riley tonight is for the doctors and nurses to listen to her and to hear what she needs. We naturally want this process to happen quickly, but Riley will heal in her own time. Slow and Steady!
In HIS grip!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Two Steps Back
Riley had a rough day today! She decided that her body was not going to adjust to all the changes the doctors were making. In the last 30 plus hours Riley was riding the wave of stability, responding very well to being weened from many medications. She was feeding well and she accepted lower levels of oxygen and nitric oxygen on the ventilator. Today her blood pressure went below the normal range and her pulmonary pressures were above the normal range. The doctors increased her support through medication to get her systems stable. Riley responded to the changes and is doing much better tonight. For every step forward, there may be two steps back. Tomorrow we hope for another step forward for Riley Faith Rule!
Mom and Dad are staying tonight to oversee Riley's care! We are hoping and praying for Riley to continue to be healthy and strong! Big brother Eric and big sister Madeleine came today to visit their little sister. While Madeleine was next to Riley's bedside she watched a nurse draw blood from one of her lines. This was too much for Madeleine to take, she almost passed out! We had to take Madeleine out in waiting room, where she used a damp cloth and orange sherbert to recover. Don't worry Madeleine, your dad and I have felt the same way many times while sitting at Riley's beside!
In HIS grip!
Mom and Dad are staying tonight to oversee Riley's care! We are hoping and praying for Riley to continue to be healthy and strong! Big brother Eric and big sister Madeleine came today to visit their little sister. While Madeleine was next to Riley's bedside she watched a nurse draw blood from one of her lines. This was too much for Madeleine to take, she almost passed out! We had to take Madeleine out in waiting room, where she used a damp cloth and orange sherbert to recover. Don't worry Madeleine, your dad and I have felt the same way many times while sitting at Riley's beside!
In HIS grip!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Reasons To Be Thankful
As we sit by Riley's bedside we are realizing how much we are thankful for today! Riley has stopped taking the vasil-pressor and epinephrine medications, two down, 8 more to go! She has weened down on the ventilator and the nitric oxide that flows through the vent. The short term goal is to get her completely off the ventilator and once this happens she can move to a step down unit!! Riley is responding very well to her feeding tube. She is digesting about 96mls of mommy's milk each day, which will help her each day grow stronger. Riley will probably need a few more weeks in the hospital to adjust to her meds and grow!!!
We are thankful that Riley's birth was so amazing! We are thankful we were able to hold her before surgery for an hour each. We are thankful that her left ventricle grew enough to allow her to use both ventricles. We are thankful her surgery was such a success and very thankful that is is over! We are thankful for each and every doctor, nurse, technician, and staff member at U of M hospital, they are truly dedicated people. We are thankful Riley is responding so well to her medications. We are thankful for how strong Riley has been. We are thankful for our family, who has taken care of us and our other children. We are thankful for our wonderful friends, who have all given us much needed support. We are thankful God has given four other children who are healthy and strong, so easy to take for granted! We are thankful to have experienced God's presence and peace as he continues to show himself through Riley's recovery! (Ok that may have sounded like Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Reid's house!)
Some things we could do without include sleeping away from home, trying to find a parking place, hospital food, missing our other kids, and trying to find a lounge where we can actually sit down. We have been taking turns where one of us stays at the hospital, while the other parent goes home to be with the kids. We are not sure which is harder, but it seems we are leaning toward home being harder (-:
Thank you all for your comments on the blog! It is so incredible how many of you are praying for Riley and our family!
In HIS grip!
We are thankful that Riley's birth was so amazing! We are thankful we were able to hold her before surgery for an hour each. We are thankful that her left ventricle grew enough to allow her to use both ventricles. We are thankful her surgery was such a success and very thankful that is is over! We are thankful for each and every doctor, nurse, technician, and staff member at U of M hospital, they are truly dedicated people. We are thankful Riley is responding so well to her medications. We are thankful for how strong Riley has been. We are thankful for our family, who has taken care of us and our other children. We are thankful for our wonderful friends, who have all given us much needed support. We are thankful God has given four other children who are healthy and strong, so easy to take for granted! We are thankful to have experienced God's presence and peace as he continues to show himself through Riley's recovery! (Ok that may have sounded like Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Reid's house!)
Some things we could do without include sleeping away from home, trying to find a parking place, hospital food, missing our other kids, and trying to find a lounge where we can actually sit down. We have been taking turns where one of us stays at the hospital, while the other parent goes home to be with the kids. We are not sure which is harder, but it seems we are leaning toward home being harder (-:
Thank you all for your comments on the blog! It is so incredible how many of you are praying for Riley and our family!
In HIS grip!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Slow and Steady
Riley is still adjusting to her chest being closed now, with her blood pressure and pulmonary pressures fluctuating just a bit. Overall she is pretty stable. The doctors did an echo-cardiogram of her heart and said everything looks very good. Last night they had to add another IV because she lost her cathater line. With much a bit of a struggle they finally got a new IV in her hand!
Today Riley was very awake. She is still sedated, but can mover her arms and legs and open her eyes. She actually cried today (minus real tears) and this was very sad for me! Doctors say all of this movement, including the crying, is a good indication of neurological function. Her eyes are tracking, which also is shows positive brain activity.
Please pray for Marihya and Nolan. These are two VERY sick children in Riley's room, who are both on Heart/Lung Bypass machines. Riley was only 5 minutes away from being placed on the heart/lung bypass machine herself on Saturday. We feel very blessed she was able to stay stable and not have to endure the risks of that whole process.
Thank you for all your prayers!
In HIS grip!
Today Riley was very awake. She is still sedated, but can mover her arms and legs and open her eyes. She actually cried today (minus real tears) and this was very sad for me! Doctors say all of this movement, including the crying, is a good indication of neurological function. Her eyes are tracking, which also is shows positive brain activity.
Please pray for Marihya and Nolan. These are two VERY sick children in Riley's room, who are both on Heart/Lung Bypass machines. Riley was only 5 minutes away from being placed on the heart/lung bypass machine herself on Saturday. We feel very blessed she was able to stay stable and not have to endure the risks of that whole process.
Thank you for all your prayers!
In HIS grip!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Road to Recovery
Since we last posted Riley has made huge progress! Today the doctors closed her chest and she responded very well! Her blood pressure and pulmonary pressures stayed in a stable range. She also is on a feeding tube getting Mommy's milk! Hooray! Slowly but surely Riley is reaching many milestone in her recovery. As we sit and watch other babies come into the NICU we realize just how far Riley has come since day one.
Dr. Oyhe tried to prepare us before surgery, about how there will be many ups and downs after surgery. He told us to expect for every step forward she may take two steps back. Saturday Riley definitely took some steps back and now today she is taking many steps forward. We are so grateful for how well she is doing! The only reason she made it through Saturday is because God loves her so much and he carried her that day!
Deacon Wayne is the chaplain for the hospital and has met with us several times at Riley's bedside. One day last week, before Riley's surgery, he told us something amazing. He said that sometimes we need to be totally empty of ourselves in order to have room to fill ourselves up with God! On Saturday this is exactly what happened to us and we are so grateful for Deacon Wayne's kind words to remind us of that!
In HIS grip!
Dr. Oyhe tried to prepare us before surgery, about how there will be many ups and downs after surgery. He told us to expect for every step forward she may take two steps back. Saturday Riley definitely took some steps back and now today she is taking many steps forward. We are so grateful for how well she is doing! The only reason she made it through Saturday is because God loves her so much and he carried her that day!
Deacon Wayne is the chaplain for the hospital and has met with us several times at Riley's bedside. One day last week, before Riley's surgery, he told us something amazing. He said that sometimes we need to be totally empty of ourselves in order to have room to fill ourselves up with God! On Saturday this is exactly what happened to us and we are so grateful for Deacon Wayne's kind words to remind us of that!
In HIS grip!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Ups and Downs
Over the weekend we experienced many ups and downs with Riley. Saturday was a very scary day! Riley's blood pressure dropped in the 30's and her Pulmonary Pressures were too high. Many options were discussed, but in the end the doctors decided to re-open Riley's chest to relieve the pressure. This helped immensely! One option was to put Riley on a heart/lung bypass machine. This did not become necessary and we are so grateful she had a positive response to the surgical procedure.
Throughout any experience Eric and I can remember, we have never been more devastated. But once again the Lord intervened and carried Riley through. We have never prayed so hard (on our knees) for God's strength!
Sunday morning the doctors were amazed at Riley's improvements! The attending physician said "She is 100 times better that she was just 24hrs ago, must have been some magic!" As we all know there was no magic involved, just God's grace! I prayed with a friend last night who said something strange to me. She told me I was one of the luckiest people she knew! I said what are you crazy, why? And she said that I should rejoice knowing that I am totally reliant upon God and the closest to him I could possibly be. She also said that I needed to turn Riley over to God and let him heal her! We know she belongs to HIM first, but I felt I needed to profess this to him. Each time we give God the glory he amazes us!!!
As of now Riley is stable. The goal now is to ween her from her medications (most of which were at the maximum dosages) and try to lower her Pulmonary Pressures. Small changes. Small steps. Slow progress. We need to be patient and wait for her body to adjust to the new structures of her heart!
Thank you all for your comments! Your prayers are so precious to us!
In HIS grip!
Throughout any experience Eric and I can remember, we have never been more devastated. But once again the Lord intervened and carried Riley through. We have never prayed so hard (on our knees) for God's strength!
Sunday morning the doctors were amazed at Riley's improvements! The attending physician said "She is 100 times better that she was just 24hrs ago, must have been some magic!" As we all know there was no magic involved, just God's grace! I prayed with a friend last night who said something strange to me. She told me I was one of the luckiest people she knew! I said what are you crazy, why? And she said that I should rejoice knowing that I am totally reliant upon God and the closest to him I could possibly be. She also said that I needed to turn Riley over to God and let him heal her! We know she belongs to HIM first, but I felt I needed to profess this to him. Each time we give God the glory he amazes us!!!
As of now Riley is stable. The goal now is to ween her from her medications (most of which were at the maximum dosages) and try to lower her Pulmonary Pressures. Small changes. Small steps. Slow progress. We need to be patient and wait for her body to adjust to the new structures of her heart!
Thank you all for your comments! Your prayers are so precious to us!
In HIS grip!
Friday, March 19, 2010
The Waiting Game
Today we were with RIley and learned that her lungs are giving her trouble. They are still wet from fluid and she has pulmonary hypertension in her arteries that are pumping the blood from her heart to her lungs. Her heart is having to work 4 times as hard to pump the blood thru the lungs and the doctors say she is very sick. They are trying another medication (Pulmonary Vasal Dilator) to help with the hypertension and will watch her closely throughout the weekend. We are hoping and praying that Riley will get better, her progress has been very slow.
When Eric and I met with Deacon Wayne he told us the story of Paul from 2 Corinthians 7-10. Paul prayed to God 3 times to help him remove the thorn from his side, he pleaded with God to take it away. God's response was "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." God wanted to teach Peter that no matter his trials God's grace is vast. The passage goes on to say "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Deacon Wayne also reminded us that the more we empty ourselves of us, we have more room to be filled up with God!
We are keeping this passage close to our hearts, because today we are weak and know that HE is strong!
In HIS grip!
When Eric and I met with Deacon Wayne he told us the story of Paul from 2 Corinthians 7-10. Paul prayed to God 3 times to help him remove the thorn from his side, he pleaded with God to take it away. God's response was "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." God wanted to teach Peter that no matter his trials God's grace is vast. The passage goes on to say "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Deacon Wayne also reminded us that the more we empty ourselves of us, we have more room to be filled up with God!
We are keeping this passage close to our hearts, because today we are weak and know that HE is strong!
In HIS grip!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Day One After Surgery
Riley did very well after surgery and through the night! The doctors were very concerned that her blood pressure not go too low, so we sat for hours staring at the monitor. She has made it over many hurdles the first 12 hours after surgery, which have been told is the most crucial time! They are weening her oxygen intake from the ventilator and use of nitric oxide little by little today. Otherwise, there will be no major changes today. She is on 17 different pumps with lines that either provide her medication or measure pressure levels in her lungs and her right & left ventricle. Add to that the ventilator, nitric oxide, catheter, and glucose monitor, Riley is very busy getting better!
We are in awe of her strength through surgery and recovery. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for her!!!! Keep up the good work!
In HIS grip!
We are in awe of her strength through surgery and recovery. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for her!!!! Keep up the good work!
In HIS grip!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Surgery Day!
Riley did fantastic today during surgery! Dr. Oyhe (our amazing surgeon) did not need to perform the Norwood Procedure after all. During surgery we were updated several times how things were going. Within the first hour we were told that Dr. Oyhe closed the VSD (hole between upper and lower chambers), created the aortal arch, and closed the ductus. The next step during surgery was to test the blood-flow through the Mitral-valve, testing the strength of the valve and the left ventricle to see if Riley could handle it. Dr. Oyhe concluded that she was strong enough to handle the bloodflow and ended the surgery. Surgery lasted around 3 hours, including prep and post time she was gone for a total of 7 hours.
We were very excited to see Riley after surgery and were so glad to see she looked great! They were able to close her chest after surgery, for which we were very thankful. Originally the plan was to leave the chest cavity open for several days to allow the swelling to go down. This plan was changed when the doctors discovered Riley responded so well to the surgery and the procedure was not as invasive as they anticipated. Now we just need to focus on her recovery. The next 72 hours are crucial for her to heal. The doctors want her to "cruise on auto-pilot" through sedation and the ventilator allowing her body time to get acclimated to the structural changes that have been made.
We can not tell you how many staff members, whether they are nurses or physicians, who are AMAZED by Riley's change in surgery. These people work with cardiac patients and NEVER see this type of outcome. Dr. Oyhe also expressed how pleased he was with the surgery, commenting that everything went as the best case scenario possible.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! God got the message that so many people think she is special and loved and he will be glorified through this whole process! On this St. Patrick's Day we remember St. Patrick who spread the word of God, symbolically using the shamrock because of it's 3 leaves. He taught people about the Holy Trinity, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. We can Praise God for the luck of the Irish Riley had today! What a blessed day!
In HIS grip!
We were very excited to see Riley after surgery and were so glad to see she looked great! They were able to close her chest after surgery, for which we were very thankful. Originally the plan was to leave the chest cavity open for several days to allow the swelling to go down. This plan was changed when the doctors discovered Riley responded so well to the surgery and the procedure was not as invasive as they anticipated. Now we just need to focus on her recovery. The next 72 hours are crucial for her to heal. The doctors want her to "cruise on auto-pilot" through sedation and the ventilator allowing her body time to get acclimated to the structural changes that have been made.
We can not tell you how many staff members, whether they are nurses or physicians, who are AMAZED by Riley's change in surgery. These people work with cardiac patients and NEVER see this type of outcome. Dr. Oyhe also expressed how pleased he was with the surgery, commenting that everything went as the best case scenario possible.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! God got the message that so many people think she is special and loved and he will be glorified through this whole process! On this St. Patrick's Day we remember St. Patrick who spread the word of God, symbolically using the shamrock because of it's 3 leaves. He taught people about the Holy Trinity, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. We can Praise God for the luck of the Irish Riley had today! What a blessed day!
In HIS grip!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
March 16, 2010
Glorious news that Riley will not be undergoing the Norwood operation, but will instead see the surgeon fixing her aortal arch and closing up a hole between the upper and lower chambers of the heart. This hole, referred to as VSD, was probably what allowed Riley's left ventricle to develop enough to support her being a two-ventricle child (along with all the prayers on her behalf). The main concern that remains - along with any of the other concerns of major open hear surgery - is her Mitral Valve. It is a little underdeveloped. What they will do is make the repairs I listed above and then do an echo while still in surgery to see if her Mitral Valve can handle the blood flow and load. If not, they can still do a Norwood at that time.
It is very important to note that if (when) the surgery goes well, and she responds as hoped (expected), Riley will not have to have any other foreseeable surgeries - ever! Again, there is always a chance that with major open heart surgery problems could arise, but this diagnosis and surgical decision to have Riley be a two-ventricle child is miraculous, and will drastically change her life for the better.
She is still scheduled to be taken down for surgery at 7:30 am Wed. morning, with them actually starting the surgery around 8:30. The surgery is expected to take around 4-6 hours. We should start getting news around 1:30.
Keep those prayers a coming throughout tomorrow afternoon and beyond as recovery is also a very dangerous period for her.
In HIS Grip
It is very important to note that if (when) the surgery goes well, and she responds as hoped (expected), Riley will not have to have any other foreseeable surgeries - ever! Again, there is always a chance that with major open heart surgery problems could arise, but this diagnosis and surgical decision to have Riley be a two-ventricle child is miraculous, and will drastically change her life for the better.
She is still scheduled to be taken down for surgery at 7:30 am Wed. morning, with them actually starting the surgery around 8:30. The surgery is expected to take around 4-6 hours. We should start getting news around 1:30.
Keep those prayers a coming throughout tomorrow afternoon and beyond as recovery is also a very dangerous period for her.
In HIS Grip
Monday, March 15, 2010
March 15th
Riley had a very stable day, doing well on her meds and ventilator. The cardiologists did order another echo-cardiogram today to determine some new findings. Now that echo-cardiograms can be performed directly on Riley, and not in-utero, they are seeing things a bit more clearly. There is some belief that the left ventricle has actually grown and is functioning well. The doctors are considering that Riley may be able to use her left ventricle and so they are focusing on the productivity of the mitro-valve. If the valve proves to be large enough to handle blood flow between the right and left ventricle, assuming the left side can sustain the blood flow from the right side, placing a shunt may not be necessary. This would make the Norwood Procedure unnecessary. The cardiologists are meeting tonight to determine what the diagnosis should be and plan what surgery she should have. Riley does still have a hole between her right and left ventricle that needs repair, along with a procedure that would restructure her aortal arch. If she does not need the shunt the surgery could potentially be less serious and could allow Riley to be a two ventricle baby!
We are guardedly optimistic that Riley's diagnosis could change to something very different. We will not find out until tomorrow when we meet with the doctors. Our hope is that Riley could function with both ventricles and could only need only this surgery to repair her heart.
These changes could be answer to prayer! We are hopeful either way that God has his hand in every part of Riley's heart surgery, regardless of the diagnosis.
In HIS grip!
We are guardedly optimistic that Riley's diagnosis could change to something very different. We will not find out until tomorrow when we meet with the doctors. Our hope is that Riley could function with both ventricles and could only need only this surgery to repair her heart.
These changes could be answer to prayer! We are hopeful either way that God has his hand in every part of Riley's heart surgery, regardless of the diagnosis.
In HIS grip!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
March 14th
Over the weekend Riley was very busy! She met her siblings and had her picture taken with each one of them! Pooh and Punky brought the kids and Riley got to meet her Punky! Uncle TIm, Aunt Brooke, Claudia, Jack, and Ella visited on Saturday evening. Saturday Riley was visited by Uncle Bob, Aunt Amy, Bobby, and Big Brother Eric! Grandpa Reid came later in the day and got to see Riley.
On Saturday the doctors decided to put Riley on the ventilator to assist her breathing. She was laboring quite a bit and now she is resting much easier. She is now on sedatives to help her stay nice and calm, so she will not disrupt her ventilator. She is also on nutrition now, which includes lipids and TPN. A catheter was placed though her umbilical cord to send meds and nutrition straight to her heart. Among other antibiotics and fluids, Riley has many IVs. She seems very comfortable and we are feeling much better about her progress. Her surgery is still set for Wednesday.
We are so thankful to say that we had Riley Faith Rule baptized on Saturday. We prayed over her and were reminded how Jesus loves the little children and they all belong to him! Riley you are a child of God and he was so gracious enough to give you to us!
In HIS grip!
On Saturday the doctors decided to put Riley on the ventilator to assist her breathing. She was laboring quite a bit and now she is resting much easier. She is now on sedatives to help her stay nice and calm, so she will not disrupt her ventilator. She is also on nutrition now, which includes lipids and TPN. A catheter was placed though her umbilical cord to send meds and nutrition straight to her heart. Among other antibiotics and fluids, Riley has many IVs. She seems very comfortable and we are feeling much better about her progress. Her surgery is still set for Wednesday.
We are so thankful to say that we had Riley Faith Rule baptized on Saturday. We prayed over her and were reminded how Jesus loves the little children and they all belong to him! Riley you are a child of God and he was so gracious enough to give you to us!
In HIS grip!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Happy Birthday Riley!!!
Riley Faith Rule was born on March 12th, 2010 at 2:05pm. I was induced in the morning and waited impatiently for her to arrive. When she finally came it was a whirlwind. Riley came very suddenly and even the staff seemed a little bit frazzled. Her arrival was just like her sister Lily's, with one push and she was here! I was able to hold Riley right at birth for several minutes, she has strawberry blonde hair, weighed 6.5 pounds, and was 19.5 inches long. She is adorable and looks like her own little person. Dad was able to hold her also, then he followed her to an assessment room where she was examined.
Once Riley was settled in the NICU we were able to spend time with her. She was given an IV of prostaglandin (to keep airway open in her heart), potassium chloride, and 3 other anti-biotics. She was given oxygen to help her breathe, but otherwise is doing great! We can cuddle her, kiss her, and touch her all we want! Her surgery is set for Monday at this point. For now we are just spending our time staring at her adorable face!
In HIS Grip!
Posted by Mommy
Once Riley was settled in the NICU we were able to spend time with her. She was given an IV of prostaglandin (to keep airway open in her heart), potassium chloride, and 3 other anti-biotics. She was given oxygen to help her breathe, but otherwise is doing great! We can cuddle her, kiss her, and touch her all we want! Her surgery is set for Monday at this point. For now we are just spending our time staring at her adorable face!
In HIS Grip!
Posted by Mommy
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