We have reached the summit!

It's been one heck of a day for Team Ferrell.  Traci and I were up at 6 am and at the hospital at 7.  We got to spend some time with Maizy, each of us hold her and telling her how much we loved her and that she was going to rock this surgery.

The surgical team came up just a bit after 8 and began prepping her for transport to the operating room.  We gave our kisses to Maizy and began our walk to the operating room.  Then we reached the point where mom and dad couldn't go any further.  That's when it all set in...our baby girl just barely a week old was going in for open heart surgery.  Needless to say it was tough...very tough.

We walked down to the waiting room and got all checked in and I went down to the cafeteria and picked us up some breakfast.  I only am telling you this particular part so that I may help someone in the future from making the same mistake I made.  While in the cafeteria I got traci a bagel and a small coffee, I got my usual bucket of coffee and proceeded to get the cholesterol free eggs, however calling them eggs is a bit of a stretch because there is no possible way in hell that any part of an egg had anything to do with creating this adomination.  It was horrendous, do not under any circumstances get the cholesterol free eggs from the cafeteria...unless you are making napalm or trying to set tires on fire.

Anyway I digress....

Traci's parents Dave and Rhonda had come up for the surgery and we gathered in the Ronald McDonald House family room at the hospital.  We were able to get a quiet room to ourselves where the nurse could come in an give us updates.  We settled in and got ready for the day.  Rhonda read a book, Traci worked on a crossword, and Dave and I attempted to understand the wonders of his Ipad.

The nurse visited us hourly, letting us know that they had got her on bypass, that she was doing well, etc.  Everytime we saw the nurse walking toward the room a lump in my stomach formed, but it was quickly dissipated when she had a smile on her face.  Finally she came to the room and said that Maizy was done, and successfully off bypass.  We had reached the summit, surgery was a success!!

The nurse said that the surgeon would be in to see us soon, and led us out into the main waiting room.  The surgeon came into see us and simply said "it went great, she did great."  I am standing there looking at the man who saved my little girls life, and it's just like another day for him.  This man's daily routine is saving children....wrap your head around that one kids!

Needless to say we were very eager to see Maizy, we had to wait about another hour before we were allowed to go back.  When it was time Traci and I took one of the most difficult walks we will ever have to make together, we walked into to see our little girl completely sedated, with a big bandage on her chest, and tubes and sensors coming out of her in all sorts of directions.  I would be a liar if I said it didn't completely break my heart, I will never forget that sight...never. 

The bandage was on her chest because they do not actually stitch her chest closed yet, they need to give room for swelling, etc.  So a patch is put over the incision, and later when swelling is down they will stitch her closed.  Seeing her heart beat through the bandages is a bit unsettling to say the least, but its also great to see because it means its working!
We have reached yet another milestone, she was out  of surgery. and she was okay.  We stayed with her while the doctors and nurses adjusted fluids, medicine and worked on getting all their readings where they wanted them to be.  It was scary and I wanted to ask every five seconds if everything was okay.  But as we were told this is standard protocol, they will be all over your child making sure everything is at levels and concentrations they want them to be. 

We got settled into the room a bit later and met our nurse who would be with us for a bit, and we just stayed by Maizy's side.  All in all it was a tough/terrifying/wonderful milestone reaching day.  Day by day as she improves she will be weaned off of stuff until we can finally take our baby girl home.

Piper is doing well she is staying with our dear friends in Concordia, she is doing great, but I am sure she misses her mommy, daddy and baby sister.  We will see you soon Princess!  I also need to take the time to thank our friends Kathy, Justin, Alyson and Aidan Poore for opening their home to Piper.  Along with the Stein family here in Kansas City who have done the same.  Were it not for Aunt Kathy and Aunt Robin things would be much more difficult.  They have allowed us to keep some semblance of normalcy for Piper and we love and appreciate them and their families for all they have done for us.  I would also like to thank Traci's parents Dave and Rhonda, I don't really ever say it to them...but I love them very much, their being their with us helped Traci and I immensely.

We will never be able to repay all of you for the kind words, offers of assistance, prayers, daily check-ins, and love you have shown our family, it is deeply humbling.

Well it's getting late and this day has been a whirlwind so with that I am signing off with the words I told Maizy right before she went back for surgery, it was the same thing I told her when we took her to the NICU right after she was born, "Daddy loves you so much, and you fight like hell."

We love you all, good night.