Friday, January 11, 2008

Our Day at MUSC

What a whirlwind day! We felt like we did the Charleston 500 in several hours yesterday and were home by dinner time. First, we had an appointment with the Maternal-Fetal Specialist (OB) for an ultrasound and consultation to confirm everything for delivery. We were greeted by our "camera crew" in the waiting room. Many of you do not know that our family has been asked to be followed by public relations at MUSC beginning yesterday until after Annabelle's surgery. Kathleen, who works for PR for MUSC, found our blog online and contacted Dr. Graham who then contacted me about allowing them to document our journey from before Annabelle's birth until after her surgery to highlight the amazing advances in treatment of congenital heart disease and as a resource for other families who are or will be going through something similiar to us. So, we have a cameraman/videographer and a photographer, along with Kathleen, joining us on Annabelle's journey. I am very excited about having all of this to share with our daughter once she gets older. Not many babies have their ultrasounds, births and heart surgeries on video! As exciting as it is for us to get to do this, our purpose is truly that other families find comfort and inspiration in our story as they experience the same. I do have to share something funny...Annabelle kept putting her hand up over her face like a true little drama queen! We were joking that she is already saying "OK, people! Enough already!" She did finally cooperate and we got some amazing pictures of her!
Wyatt took a little while, as usual, to open up to our new friends. Once they left, he kept asking where the camera guys were. You could tell he really did like them and wanted them to come back. He also took his camera that he got from Grandaddy for Christmas to take pictures. Of course, he was more interested in the ambulances than anything else. I am guessing we have at least 10 of those!
Anyways, we got a good report from the ultrasound and had a quick visit with the doctor to get all of our directions for the 28th! Our c-section is scheduled for 8:00am. Then, it was on to the hospital for lunch. They serve Chick-fil-a so we were right at home there. After lunch, we paged Max (the concierge of MUSC, or at least that's what I call him) and he gave us a grand tour. We really needed to be reminded of where everything is located to help us get around a little better. Plus, we really wanted for this to be a warm-up for Wyatt to better help him adjust to everything. He did really well and was again thrilled to see the ambulances when we left. All in all, it was a good day!
I am still on schedule to see my OB here every week for a checkup, ultrasound (biophysical profile) and non-stress test. Annabelle is very happy in there which is always wonderful news! I have such mixed emotions. I know that I have done everything that I can do for her and know that I have got hand this over to the very skilled and capable medical team in just 16 days. I gave Annabelle back to God on August 23rd when we first learned of her special heart. He has provided for her through me for so many months. It's still very scary to let her go physically. I know that she is ultimately in God's hands, she has been from the beginning and will continue to be. He will hold her when I can't and He will comfort us both.
Lord, please give me strength to handle this and discernment to see it as Your Divine Plan. I don't understand it and wouldn't want it for a second, but I accept it. It came through You to get to us and Your Word promises that You do not give us anything that we cannot handle without You. I need your help to not be anxious. I know that by making my requests known to You that You will guard my heart and my mind. Please guard them both every minute of every day. I thank you for using Annabelle's little heart to bring me and others closer to You. Lord Jesus, place Your Almighty Hand on her and let her know of Your great love for her. May You always be glorified. Amen.
"Bring the Rain" by MercyMe
I am Yours' regardless of the dark clouds that may loom above because You are much greater than my pain. You, who made a way for me by suffering Your destiny. So tell me, what's a little rain? So I pray...
Bring me joy, bring me peace, bring the chance to be free, bring me anything that brings You glory! And I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain, but if that's what it takes to praise You...Jesus, bring the rain.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!

5 comments:

Jessica said...

I'm so excited for you all as Annabelle's birth gets closer. That is really cool about the camera crew. It will be such a great preparatory tool for families facing this same thing.

I pray for you all and Annabelle every night. One verse that I'd known before Julianne's birth was Phillipians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." When I would begin to worry, or be scared or feel anxious this verse would always pop into my head, even in the darkest of moments. I truly felt that through everything we were going through God gave Kent and I an unexplainable peace (my dad even asked if they'd given me anti-anxiety drugs at the hospital). I've never been a great "scripture memorizer" but after going through everything with Julianne I've realized the importance of "hiding God's word in your heart." We did get scared and there were tears sometimes, but these verses would remind me of the peace that only God can provide. I know He will do the same for you all. :)

Still praying,
Jessica

Julie Miles said...

I totally agree with Jessica about the unexplainable peace that God gave me and Dan through Ethan's birth and surgery as well. My mom was much more anxious and nervous than either me or Dan combined. What a blessing to know we can rely on the God's peace to get us through it. Phillipians 4:6-7 was one of my main verses that I clung to as well during the surgery. We are having to cling to those verses again as we get ready for Ethan's 2nd heart surgery on 1/22.

We continue to pray for you all daily, especially this month with all that you have going on with the frequent checkups, now the camera crew, and of course birth and surgery. God will be with you through it all! We praise you Lord for all you have already done in Anabelle's life and also what you are about to do as she enters this big new world. Amen!

The Hardy Family said...

I am so amazed by you Rebecca. You are such a true testimony to so many people. God is being glorified through you. You will continue to be on my heart and in my prayers as Annabelle's birth approaches. I'm so glad that you are continuing to get great reports on her progress and now this camera crew. How neat! I will be praying for Wyatt, too, as he learns to adjust to some changes over the next few months and welcomes his baby sister into the world!
Love you, Lea

Anonymous said...

Hey Rebecca, I finally have your blog address and have so enjoyed reading your posts. You and your family have been in our prayers since we met at the first Saving Little Hearts of SC meeting at our home. I am so impressed by you and understand how hard this is. Our heart babies have definitely taken us down a different journey, one we never expected,but how wonderful our heart babies are!I know my Raleigh (TOF) is a blessing from God and so is his little sister Stevie, a former heart baby-her heart resolved it's bobo as Raleigh calls it!

I have the calendar marked for the 28th and will be checking often for updates and I love that you are doing the documentary I guess you call it. Is that something you would like to post on the SLHofSC yahoo board? Please let me know, I know other families would love to know you are doing this and know how much this is going to help other families.

Please give Scott, Wyatt and yourself our love and rub your belly to give sweet Annabelle our love too!

Sending many heart prayers,
Leslie Ballard
President
Saving Little Hearts of SC
leslie@savinglittlehearts.com

Jessica said...

Wow, its getting close! Praying, as always :), for you guys!