Saturday Morning update

I'm sitting here in the "Family Room" with my mommy. We were blessed to run into our sweet CICU nurse Nicole when we got here yesterday and she got us this room for the night. It is free, and is right outside the CICU (literally 10 or so steps). We got some pretty good rest last night once we finally got back to the room (around midnight). I woke up a few times because the phone rang, but it was always a wrong number. At 8:40 this morning I jumped out of the bed and looked at my watch and was horrified -visiting hours started at 8:30! I was still groggy from the little bit of sleep medicine I had taken last night but I put on a bra, brushed my hair and ran out the door to the CICU. I'm sure I was a sight, but I was greeted by the sweet smiling face of our daytime nurse, Wendy. She is not a nurse we have had before, but I immediately knew my little girl had been in good hands since the shift change. She had also had a wonderful nurse last night who had told me she would call me if she cried for me during the night. Thank you Lord for these precious, caring hands that have been with my girl.

Anyways...I know you really want to hear about YouYou. The most important thing is she is in good hands and she is going to be fine. She will probably be moved to a regular room today and hopefully we will only be here for a few days. They are going to give her iv antibiotics (possibly already have) to treat her for pneumonia. I don't think they are positive that this is what she has but they want to go ahead and start the antibiotics because her chest x-ray looks worse this morning. They had considered putting her chest tube back in because she also has some excess fluid in her chest area but they don't think there is enough to warrant that. I guess I'd rather have her with an iv again than a chest tube again, but really I just want her to feel better. I can't even describe the defeat I felt when Dr. Romp said he wanted to have her admitted again. I wanted to crumple into the floor (yes, I know that sounds dramatic). YouYou was sooooo glad to be home and her little spirit was starting to return, and I know she thinks this must be a never ending nightmare. I keep telling her she is here so that she can feel better and we can go home again, but I wonder if she believes me :)

My mom went to check on YouYou while I was typing and got an update...she is still sleeping and they just gave her the first round of antibiotics. The nurse said they have to keep her for about an hour afterwards and then she can be moved to a regular room (we'll be in room 520).

I wanted to let you all know that I have gotten several emails from people that want to read our family blog and I will definitely respond to each of you as soon as I can. I haven't posted anything to that blog since before YouYou's surgery so you aren't missing anything :) I would love to have you read about the amazing journey we have been on the past few years...may God receive all the Glory.

Some of you have called too, and I'm so sorry I haven't returned your calls yet. It hurts so bad to talk right now that I'm trying to just save my talking for YouYou and the doctors. I know the antibiotic I am on has to start helping soon. I am thankful at least that I am not running a fever so far today.

Specific prayer requests:

- That YouYou's body will respond to the antibiotics quickly
- That the nurses and doctors will have wisdom as they treat YouYou
- That YouYou will be in good spirits and will cointinue to eat and drink
- That I will feel better so that I can be fully attentive to YouYou's needs
- That His light will shine through us

I'll try to post again soon...

Update - CICU

This is still Melisa - I just talked to my mom (AKA Neesie). They spent some time in the B'ham doctor's office this afternoon and YouYou has now been admitted to CICU. The doctor was optimistic about her being able to go to a regular room by tomorrow or Sunday.

Erica is with her in CICU now. They are cuddling in the rocking chair and YouYou is happy right now. Thanks for all your prayers so far. They have already received blessings from your prayers. Please continue to pray.

Emily or I will keep you updated as we learn more.

Thanks for all your sweet comments so far. I know that they are VERY uplifting to Erica.

Please Pray

This is Melisa.

Erica asked me to let everyone know YouYou's current status. They visited the local pediatrician this morning. She took x-rays and spoke to the radiologist in Birmingham. They are pretty sure that YouYou has pneumonia and want her back in Birmingham today. Erica and Neesie are packing a few things and heading to UAB now.

Please pray for them.

Erica is taking medicine, but is still not feeling well. Please pray for strength for her, safety for their trip and healing for YouYou. Please also remember Aaron, Carter and Jackson during this time.

Thank you so much for your support and prayers.

Home, safe and sound

We finally made it home at 9:00 pm tonight. I cannot even go into the hassles and struggles that we had to go through to finally leave that hospital. It all had to do with BCBS and one of the medicines that had been prescribed for YouYou...we could not leave without it and the insurance company was not being at all helpful. There were tears from me and even tears from Emily (who doesn't shed a tear very often), and then finally a very kind person at the UAB pharmacy worked out a temporary solution for us. Thank you God for being there with me even through the tough part of the day. I'll have to have Emily give you a play by play in a way that only Em could. And Em, I don't know how to thank you enough for sticking with me today. You stayed strong for me!

Oh the joy on my little boys faces when we walked in their room tonight! They were pretending to be asleep to surprise me and YouYou. They were so sweet and gentle with her...again, the tears came to my eyes (I think I'm just a big o'le crybaby now). YouYou was just as happy to see them. She has been walking ALL over the house (and I could hardly put her down today while were at the hospital - she was refusing to walk). She has eaten an entire waffle and part of a boiled egg. She has also been drinking. I am so thankful for the healing that is occuring in her body. Only God could do this.

We have to visit our local pediatrician on Friday and then we have 2 follow up appointments with heart doctors next week and then the following Monday. I promise to keep you all posted on her progress. We are praying that despite the remaining problems with her heart that we will not have to endure another surgery for many many years. My God is big, and I know He can do this if it is in His plan. Right now, I just want to love on my little girl. People keep saying YouYou is so lucky. And I know this will sound cliche but it is so true so I just have to say it...WE ARE THE LUCKY ONES. This whole adoption has been one miracle after another. We couldn't love her more! Only God could knit together this kind of love in my heart. We are so honored that we were chosen to be her parent's. If any of you reading this have ever considered adoption as a way to add to your family, let me just urge you to pursue it! There are so many children that just need a mommy and a daddy.

We have a private family blog if any of you are interested in reading more about our whole family, the adoption, etc. Just email me at ericaterryhammond@hotmail.com and I'll send you a login. I can't promise to be funny or wise...but I can promise some pretty darn cute pictures of my YouYou and her brothers!

Prayer Requests and Praises:

- I have come down with something again and am running a fever. Please pray for healing for me and that no one else in our family would be infected. It's especially important for YouYou to stay healthy.

- Continued healing for YouYou. We do have some medicine for her mouth today (thank you Lord) , along with several other medications (some which she will only have for a few weeks). Prayers are needed for healing of her scar, healing in her lungs, and healing in her valves. Please also pray that the medicine she is taking will begin to help decrease the pressure in her valves.

- I give Praise to the Lord for putting the right person in front of me at the UAB pharmacy today so that we could finally go home.

- Praises to the King for blessing me with a wonderful extended family and friends. Thank God for the food in my refrigerator tonight. I thank Him for the comments I have received from you, I read every single one and they were a great encouragement to me.

- I Praise Him for sending us great nurses and doctors who helped us during our stay.

- And most of all, tonight, I Praise Him that I can hold YouYou without tubes and wires attached and that even though her heart is not in perfect text book condition...it is in better shape than it has ever been.

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WE ARE COMING HOME!!!

Good morning everyone. It is Emily updating again. Our never ending slumber party finally came to an end around 2 a.m. Little YouYou, for whatever reason, didn't want to go to sleep even though we could tell she was exhausted. And I was pretty tired and Erica was exhausted both physically and mentally. I don't know how she was still standing at that point. So we had to do the tough love, turn off the lights and tell her it was night night time which sent her into hysterics. She cried for about 30 minutes straight. Her cry sounds like an infant's cry - it is just pitiful! Erica loved on her and just had to let her cry it out until she finally gave in. She is actually still asleep right now at 10 a.m. which is great.

Erica talked to the Dr. in the hallway around 7:30 and they did a chest x-ray in the room which YouYou slept through. About 9:30 we got word that we are cleared to leave!!! So we are working on cleaning up the room and packing everything while little Miss is still asleep. Her IV will need to come out and I am sure there will be many instructions and paperwork handed Erica's way. But she is so ready to take her little girl home to be with their family. We hope to be on our way by lunchtime or early afternoon! Thank you so so much for all your prayers, words of support, meals, gifts, and love you have poured out on this precious family.

Good, Bad then Good again...

Hey everyone - it is Emily.

We are having a "girls night out" here in YouYou's room. We are watching our shows (cartoons), eating fab food (corn chips), and sipping on some yummy refreshments (apple juice). YouYou has perked up in the past couple of hours and we are so happy to see her in this good mood, we are hanging with her and trying not to think about how late it is.

Aaron spent the night here last night. YouYou had a good breakfast of eggs dipped in syrup but wasn't drinking too much. She had a bath, went for a walk, and rode a toy bicycle. Erica's friend Elizabeth came by with her son Isaac and she played with him a little bit. The music therapist stopped by and played music with YouYou and Isaac. She took a 30 minute nap and that is when things started getting not so great on the "mood" front.

Aaron left about 3 and I did not get here until about 7. So while Erica was on her own, she experienced a couple discouraging moments. They had taken out her IV this morning but since she wasn't taking the liquids, they decided to put it back in. And while this was happening, the nurse informed Erica that the swab of YouYou's mouth that was supposed to go to the lab...was LOST. Never got there. So, they had to re-swab her and that meant it will be Wednesday night before they know what is causing her mouth sores. But that does not necessarily mean that YouYou can't go home tomorrow. We don't know that yet until Erica talks with the Dr. in the morning.

When I arrived, YouYou was still not feeling too happy. She wasn't talking, wouldn't eat, and wouldn't drink. Erica's friend Tina made a delicious chicken pot pie, a salad, and cute little St. Patrick's Day cookies. I worked my charm on YouYou while Erica ate some dinner. Yeah, I didn't get too far. YouYou started pointing and making noises. We finally figured out that she wanted the fork. So Erica gave her the fork and we thought she wanted to eat. Oh no, this precious little child wanted to feed Erica. She fed Erica her pot pie and salad and was happy as can be. She still wouldn't eat and still wouldn't drink.

Then I got my plate and she decided to feed me. I went back for salad and YouYou spotted the ranch dressing. Again, it took us a few tries to realize that is what she wanted. So we put pot pie drenched in ranch dressing on her plate and she let Erica feed her. That was a relief to see her finally put some yummy in her tummy. She still was resisting drinking anything.

We decided to go for a walk around the halls. YouYou rode in a stroller and we pushed her and her traveling IV. She was determined not to drink. She was really fighting Erica on this and it was frustrating b/c we knew that was one of the issues preventing her from leaving. She is a determined little thing and it took us both to get minimal liquid in her.

Then around 10:00 it was time for rounds of medicine. We really made her mad then! Finally Erica went to the recliner and I went to the fold out chair. We just did our own thing and let her "sort things out." She laid in the bed and let us know she needed some time to herself. So we gave her space and figured she was exhausted and would fall asleep. Well, she got things worked out and is the happiest she has been since this morning. Hence, the girls slumber party.

She has eaten lots of corn chips - like half a container. It doesn't really make sense that she would like a salty snack since she has those mouth sores. But her Baba taught her to just drink her juice if she had an owee in her mouth. And she has been sucking down that juice in between bites for the last 30 minutes. And she is being silly. Making faces, laughing, slapping her leg and throwing that head back. Best girls slumber party - EVER!

Monday night update

Last night was one of the hardest nights we have had so far (sorry Missa...but thank you for being here with us). YouYou cried so much, and when she wasn't crying the nurses were messing with her/doing their job and waking her up. There was also a LOT of crying this morning but then this afternoon we seemed to turn a corner!! Praise God!!! She ate some noodles and corn chips of all things, and she finally drank for the first time that day around 8:00 pm. Then right before she fell asleep guess what she did?????? She laughed and smiled at us (me and Aaron)!!! It felt like it did the first time I saw her sweet smile and heard her little laugh on January 12th!!!

Her mouth still looks horrible but it must have started feeling a little better. She was awake way more than she has been since surgery so I'm hoping she will sleep well tonight. Thank you to Carlton and Aimee for coming by today with your sweet little one. I think Lily really helped to distract YouYou, and I was encouraged by your presence.

We had a team of Dr.'s in to look at YouYou's mouth today and we should know a little more about what it might be tomorrow night when some test results come back.

She seems to have some blood in her urine (we just noticed it today), so hopefully we will hear something about that tomorrow as well.

They are letting her sleep without her oxygen tonight for the first time. So I will be anxious to see what her stat's are throughout the night.

Love to you all and Praises to the King!