We are blessed

Hi everyone. Tuesday, Grady had a procedure done called PDA-lectomy (I think). Something like that. He did wonderful! The doctor told us that the surgery went just like it was suppose to. Grady is recovering nicely. He is sleeping a lot right now, but they told us his recovery time should be about two days. There is a lot of information about this on the internet. Type in PDA Heart and it will bring up some good sites. It is an artery that stays open while the baby is in the womb. It is suppose to close after the baby is born. Grady's did not close. As he continued to have more breathing issues, his team of doctors decided they needed to go ahead and close it. Now, the internet will tell you that the baby will make a major turn around, but the doctors told us to give it time. Grady will need a little time to let his little body heal itself. (Of course, we know God will heal him.) Oh yeah, the team of doctors are all the NICU doctors that work with the pre-term and premature babies in the hospital. It is good to know that they all agree on these surgeries before they are done, unless it is very urgent. We found out that the doctors meet daily and discuss all the NICU babies.

The first picture is before his surgery and the second picture is the day after. You can tell that Grady was not showing any nervousness before his surgery. Not much rattles him as long as he is fed, dry and warm. Oh, and don't bump his incubator, like I did. That makes him jump. The second picture shows you that he has no worries about getting better. Grady is just laying there with his feet propped up, just like he likes it. Daddy says he is a 'little trooper' and I think Daddy is right.

Since his 'procedure', Grady has received 8 ml of formula. They want to see how well he tolerates the change in his food as well as having just had surgery. Then his feedings should return to normal for him. He did great with his first 8 ml. He was NPO all day before his procedure. Momma told me, he was smacking his lips and chewing on his tubing after he started waking up from the anesthesia. He was wanting his groceries, poor little fella.

His weight was up to 4 lbs and 7.4 ounces after the surgery, but we are waiting to see what it will be after his swelling goes down some. The nurse thinks Grady will drop some of that due to the fluids he was retaining. He has also gotten longer, but I don't remember what that was. I know it is over 16 and 1/2 inches long. I guess I was a little rattled even though Grady wasn't. Our little guy just lets us do all the worrying while he allows the nurses and his parents to see to his every whim. He is learning fast, isn't he! hehehe

OH, guess what!?!?! The ban was lifted and Emma got to meet her baby for the first time. And Grady got to meet the best big sister in the world! He opened his eyes when he heard her talk to him. I think he knows that voice. Emma can scrub up like any of the doctors in the hospital. She went in every time we went to the hospital or could go back and see our little man. I think I told you all that we have to 'scrub up' for three minutes before we can go into the NICU. Germs, you know! Now we are waiting for Petey's turn. Not really, calm down! I knew that would get you.

I can never tell you enough how much your prayers and love mean to all of us. You give us strength knowing you are there. God has blessed us with YOU! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Talk soon,

JoJo