We are home!!

I'm sure most of you have seen by now, but surgery is obviously done and it was very successful! The hospital was blocking blogger so I couldn't get on to update you. I could get on to facebook, but I realize not all of you follow me on there.

On Thursday morning, I woke myself and Xiomara up early in order for her last feeding at 6:00 a.m. She had to be done eating breastmilk by 6:15 a.m. and then between 6:15 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. she could have some Pedialyte. I waited as long as I could and at 8:00 a.m. I had Chris feed her the bottle. I don't think she liked it, but it was something for her. She didn't eat again until 3:00 p.m. that day. Nine long hours for her, but much longer for mommy.

Xiomara, my dad, and I had to be at the hospital at 10:15 a.m. I was so thankful for my dad! The hospital was a mess! It's under construction and with me being emotional and nervous, I had no idea what I would have done without him. I definitely felt all your prayers because in our long wait until surgery was to be at 11:45 (which really ended up being about 1 p.m.), Xiomara rarely cried. Instead, she snuggled in to me and slept, or just stared at me like this

The staff at the hospital were truly wonderful and when it came time to hand her over for surgery, I handed a sleeping (non-hysterical) baby girl over and calmly walked away. We then waited! It seemed forever before the doctor came to the waiting room and told me all went well and that Xiomara had done great.

She did have two hernias (one on each side) and so we were very thankful that we had him explore the left side too even though that hernia had not presented itself yet. She also had several cysts on her ovaries that the doctor proceeded to pop. He said, that her ovaries should sustain no damage from the hernias and that her recovery should be smooth. While in the hospital, she was very sleepy

Then, right before we left, she was charming not only me, but also the nurses with her sweet little joy-filled smile

Chris and the girls had a great time of bonding, and playing at the hotel. Meridian did nap really well, but had a hard time at night sleeping as she kept calling for mommy and pointing at the door. Zoelle on the other hand slept 12 hours straight, so I think daddy wore her out! Needless to say, both girls were relieved to have both mom and sister back.

Yesterday, we left the hospital and went to a local zoo for the afternoon before heading home. Overall, I am so glad we got it done now when she is too young to remember, and while her body is able to heal quicker and faster. Thank you friends and family for praying!! It gave me so much peace each time I started to panic, knowing I had others praying for all of us!

The day has arrived

The day I hoped somehow would never come, has come. Xiomara is sleeping peacefully in my lap after her last feeding and here I am wide awake blogging knowing I could never fall asleep again as my baby is getting surgery.

Would you all please pray. My heart is breaking for her. In two hours, she is going to be extremely hungry and surgery isn't until 11:45 a.m. I'm also just sick of the thought of handing over a hysterical baby to be put under. Would you all just pray that she is peaceful?

My dad will be coming with me to the surgery. Chris will be staying back at the hotel with the girls. Please pray it goes well for them. Meridian had an extremely tough night of sleeping last night (maybe she felt my nerves?) and I am praying she goes right down tonight and stays sleeping for Chris with no problems. This is my first time away from her and her first time going a whole day without nursing. Just pray for Chris to have a fun time with the girls and for them both to be ok without mom for a day and night (Zoelle is pretty nervous about Xiomara having surgery).

Overall, I'm nervous yet know God is with us and that you all will be praying! Thanks so much and we will keep you updated!

One week from today...

My beautiful baby girl will be getting surgery. After doing lots of research, talking with various friends who are in the medical field, and praying, we felt as if we should do the surgery sooner rather than later. To be honest, I'm not thrilled about it. I'm worried and I'm fairly certain that on the 16th I am going to be a nervous wreck. It's just that I love her so, so much. She is every bit a part of me as the older girls are.

I don't want to see her go under, I don't want to have her cry out in hunger because she can only eat one last time 4 hours before check-in for surgery. I plain old don't want to do surgery! But we have to. Her hernia appears to be getting larger and for the sake of long-term circumstances, we will get surgery.

Please be in prayer for us on that day. Our plan right now is to go down together as a family the night before. We will stay in a hotel that evening and then early Thursday morning, my dad will drive down to meet us. He will be coming with Xiomara and I to the surgery (thank you dad). We decided it will be best to have Chris stay with the older girls and make it as "normal" of a day as possible. They will swim, shop, and hopefully have fun.

I will be spending the night in the hospital with Xiomara. Please pray that Chris and the girls do well without me. Meridian is used to having me tuck her in and nurse her before bed. She is typically NOT happy when I am not there. Pray she is ok without me the whole day, ok?

Pray the surgery is successful and that Xiomara is ok going into it (read: not hysterical before I leave her). Oh and pray I'm not hysterical either.

Thank you all and we will be updating as we go along that day.