3.2.23
Gabriella Hope Schultz decided to make her early arrival on 3.2.23 at 6:36 A.M. weighing 7lbs 5oz, 19.5”. We are so incredibly grateful to finally meet her and witness the power of prayer. She is our perfect miracle and loved beyond measure.
She was a rockstar, her two hour echocardiogram went really well and nothing new popped up. I was able to hold her majority of the day and was encouraged by doctors and nurses to breast feed her as much as possible! She was a champ at her first few feeding sessions. It’s very normal for heart babies, but unfortunately the medicine they have her on makes her pretty sleepy so feeding progression has stalled. They had some trouble putting her PICC line in today in her right arm and failed and had to switch to the left. She’s pretty tuckered out, but has proven to be a strong little warrior already! The next days will be spent snuggling her as much as we can and letting her know how insanely loved she is. Surgery day is still to be determined.
Thank you for all the continued prayers and kind messages! God is so good!!
3.6.23
Tomorrow our precious Gabriella will have her first open heart surgery. Even though my own heart has felt heavy, we have had a lot of positives and god winks that have found a way to fill the worrisome past days with light. It started the night my water broke, my nurses name was Marissa. (My best friends Angel sisters name .) I had the OB I originally wished for. I was able to hold her after birth before they whisked her away. She hasn’t needed oxygen so we have gotten so many snuggles and bonding time over the past five days. We’ve been surrounded by the people we love most who have provided a sense of security, distraction and laughter. All the messages from home and far away mean more than anyone will ever know. We went to mass yesterday morning and were reminded , “God is love” “He brings us “hope” and hope brings us gifts and surprises.”
I could stare at her little chest pump up and down all day and night, you’d never know underneath everything she has half a heart. It doesn’t seem fair that a perfectly angelic baby has to endure this tough journey. When I look at her I feel like my own heart itself could cry tears, it’s an ache I’m not sure you can prepare yourself for. I wish nothing more than to be able to trade places with her. I’m reminded unfortunately those worries are out of my control and focusing on them does us no good. At this point we have to put our faith and trust 100 % in God, our brilliant surgeon and his teams hands.
It’s hard to imagine what we would “normally” be doing if we were at home, but instead we take turns holding the sleepy little angel babe and celebrate all the tiny victories of the day. I know she’s only a couple days old but I’m so proud of her resilience so far and how tough she’s been. When she has enough energy she will nurse a little, I pray muscle memory takes over in the recovery process. They told us she slept and went to town on her paci during most of her PICC line placement which I’m certain didn’t feel great. She makes the sweetest little noises throughout the day and sometimes flashes us her darling little dimple in her cheek. She furrows her little brow and gives me glimpses of Della, but definitely has Daisy’s easy going temperament. I think being so in love with the little light she already is makes this all the more scary.
In closing on a long update I just wanted to share what my Dad sent me…
“Prayer request for Gabby:
Dear Lord may you give the surgeon and the entire medical team a steady hand and the wisdom and care needed to bring Gabby safely thru this first surgery.
Dear God please give Gabby her mothers TOUGHNESS and her father’s FOCUS on the task at hand , please give her Corey and Kayleen’s TENACITY and I’M NOT GOING TO FAIL attitudes .
I’m am sure if the good Lord grants these wishes to our sweet Gabby she will come thru this with flying colors!”
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