A year ago we were finishing up our stay in Guatemala, at the end of "The Grand Adventure" - or so we thought! In those last weeks we had learned that I was pregnant; and added to the sickness from the food, I was also very weak and struggling with morning sickness. I was at the point in my pregnancy that I had lost our first baby that spring, and was of course extremely nervous about the baby that I was carrying. More than anything, I just wanted to be home. We flew back to Denver on Halloween - I remember that a few of the airlines in the Guatemala City airport had decorated for the occasion!
Well, those of you who are parents or those of you who know someone who is a parent (...?) will attest to the fact that in fact, our adventure was far from over.
Today little Ada is peacefully napping in the next room, giving me a chance to connect with you all this afternoon. Some people would say that they can't remember what life was like before their kids. Well, I do. I remember it, and it had its benefits. But of course I wouldn't want that life back now. Ada is a little special treasure, and I am not saying that "tongue in cheek". Her current favorites include: scraping off her socks on the floor or the changing table, looking at her mirror buddy, smiling and high-pitched "talking", and now most recently... staring at the fire in the fireplace. What a life! I can't say that I know much of her personality yet, but it is clear that she loves time with mommy and daddy, and that she is a bit more hesitant about hanging out with anyone else yet (pretty sure that is normal!). Also, she really does seem like a joyful little girl. If she is well rested and fed, why, she's a charmer! Super smiley and talkative! It is so much fun!
Time has flown by since the day we were rushing up University to get to the hospital as I was in labor. Ada is now 4.5 months old, and that means that it is Time.
(Summoning up courage now...)
Wednesday of this coming week, we head in to Children's Hospital for a heart catheterisation. It is a one day procedure where Ada will be put under general anesthesia and a cardiologist will go in through an artery in Ada's groin and snake a thin tube up to her heart in order to measure pressures and get accurate pictures of her heart so that there are no surprises for surgery. A sedated echocardiogram will also happen, as well as a meeting with the surgeon who will be doing the surgery.
Surgery has been set for Monday, November 14th. We don't know all of the details of the surgery, but wanted to at least let people know the timeline for when it will be occurring. It will likely be about 4 hours of actual surgery with an hour on either side when we will not have contact with Ada. We are thankful that we live so close to such a great hospital, and the surgeon who will be performing the operation is one who comes highly recommended from multiple sources.
Nick and I plan to use this blog as the primary way of communicating throughout the process. If we change our minds, we will post that here, to direct anyone to wherever we might choose to use. There are a number of you who have asked how you can help us in these days. It is difficult to know, to be honest. We've never been through anything similar to this before, thank the Lord. Encouraging notes, calls, etc. are always appreciated. Food at the hospital is not a bad idea, as we will be there for likely a week, more or less. As we become ready for visitors at the hospital, we will post that as well, for those of you in the Denver area. After the surgery we will likely have more of a clue what will be both possible and helpful for our family.
Nick and I are hanging in there, some moments "on a shoestring". We try to think of the the things to be thankful for: that this surgery is even possible so that our daughter's life can be saved, that we have health insurance, that Ada has done so well these last months as we have waited so that she is bigger and stronger, etc. Yet if I could choose to not go through this difficult time in life, I'd jump at the chance. I know that often times people can look back at the tough times in life and realize that it helped to make them the person they are today... I'm not there right now. I'd like to opt out of open heart surgery on my daughter, please. No, I'd like to opt out of the NEED for my daughter to have open heart surgery. But life is not fair, and none of us will journey through this life without a taste of difficult days.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and I trust Him these days. That is all I have at times, and I know that Nick would say the same. Jesus conquered death and decay, once and for all. Below I have posted a video of sweet Ada talking, and then a video of me playing and singing a Sandra McCracken song, Feast or Fallow. This song has been so special to me for the last year and a half... I know I've mentioned it here before. The song speaks of the seasons of life... some of them times of feasting, some of them dry and barren, "fallow" seasons. We'll endure this hardship by clinging to our Rock. Please think of us and pray for us as we do.
Grateful, love for you all.
