Miracles

I've really struggled with posting this photo. Every time I look at it (it's sitting on our dresser in a frame) I burst into tears and then automatically praise God for how far he has brought June Claire. This picture was taken the day she was born. The NICU transport team that traveled to the hospital we delivered in took it and gave it to me, because they did not really know if I would ever see her alive again. As you can see in this picture, she looks absolutely terrible. So, so sick. But still beautiful to me. :) This is visual proof of her progress -- she has gone from THIS:





to THIS:



Isn't she so beautiful with her eyes open? She has such big eyes, just like Sara. She still has a bit of growing to do, though, to catch up to those huge peepers. :)

I apologize for the lack of activity the psat week or so -- there's just not been a whole lot to update on, and I've been struggling emotionally...so while I've read blogs and lurked online, I haven't done a lot of communicating. Things just seem to be catching up to me this week. I have been here six weeks and I'm ready to get back home...in my own bed...washing my own dishes...doing laundry...dusting...decorating...complaining about the dog on the furniture and how many times I have to pick Michael's glass up off the desk. I will never take those things for granted again. Now, I'm not saying that staying in the RMH is horrible -- it's been a HUGE blessing and the people here are wonderful!

I have a few prayer request for you. My cousin, Britni, had her first child, adorable Hadlei Grace, last week. Hadlei was diagnosed in the womb with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. HLFS is basically where the heart is more towards the right part of the chest versus the left, and it only developed halfway. Well, when she was born, they found out she did not have HLHS but instead has Heterotaxy Syndrome. Not familiar with it? I wasn't either. Heterotaxy Syndrome only affects 4 in 1 million babies, and each case is different -- there are no two the same, EVER. Hadlei is in very serious, critical condition. Her heart did indeed only develop halfway, but it also produced too many veins, and the doctors cannot tell where they are going. She was born with her small intestine twisted upside down, her liver is on the opposite side of her body, and she is missing her spleen. Missing a spleen is something extremely serious -- it means you have no immune system. She is scheduled for her first open heart surgery on Tuesday morning at 8:00 AM. PLEASE, please pray for Hadlei as much as you can and spread the word to any other prayer warriors you know of. Britni is a single mama, she'll be 24 this month and this is her very first little one. Think about how ya'll would feel if it were your baby. This surgery on Tuesday will be to attempt to fix the two PDA's (her body produced two, there is usually just one -- and if you remember, June Claire was born with hers open and we needed it to close; they needed Hadlei's to stay open) because something about the veins were not fused. This is a very big, very serious, very delicate surgery. They will be leaving her "open", in that they'll just be using some type of glue on her chest instead of staples, so they don't have to completely re-open her for the next surgery.



Part of what makes Hadlei's condition so devestating is that she is the perfect picture of beauty and health on the outside, but her organs on the inside are so sad. :( But you know what -- God creates each and every one of us perfectly PERFECT, according to His will! Each way that her organs are turned wrong, or developed wrong, etc....He did it ALL with his own hands. He placed them just so!

There is NO doubt WHATSOEVER in my mind that God blessed my family with these two situations at the same time. NO DOUBT. He is preparing our hearts for a great and mighty move and I can't WAIT to see what's in store!

(If I explained Hadlei's condition wrong; someone in my family please feel free to correct me. My little ole Southern brain has a hard time digesting all that info!)