You know how you always tend to run into people you haven't seen in forever when look your worst? Today felt like one of those days. I didn't sleep too well last night so I slept in a bit while Joe took the 3 kids on a walk. I woke up at 8, rolled out of bed, put some clothes on and decided to bypass a shower and makeup so I could meet up with Joe and take the kids to see Stephen. Well instead of running into an old friend we had FOX News show up in our hospital room =0) It was pretty neat. They will be doing a short segment on Miracle babies and the nurses thought our family would be perfect. The aren't sharing our story or anything, they just took video of our family with Stephen. Michael was really into it. He was feeding Stephen and looking into the camera. The girls didn't have a clue what was going on...and of course I looked awesome =0)
Stephen is still doing great and we are eager to get home. I keep asking when that will be and they keep not giving me an answer. Going home is going to be strange. Taking Stephen home is not going to be the same as taking Michael, Lizzie or Audrey home. We are going to have to get used to a new normal. To some extent we have to keep him in a "bubble". Most people love babies. They love holding them and kissing them, etc. And while Stephen is a cuddle bear and loves kisses, people showering him with that kind of love will not be good for him. He isn't a "normal" baby right now and the doctors have already warned us that him getting a cold means most likely being admitted into the hospital. They know we can't shelter him completely but they have suggested no large crowds, no visitors who are sick or have been around someone who is sick in the past week, and a look not touch policy. The 80% survival rate we mentioned before lasts until his second surgery. 80% of kids make it to the next stage. He will be sent home on monitors and have regular appointments to make sure he doesn't outgrow his shunt and develop any clots or other complications. Remember he has only completed stage 1 of a 3 stage process to get his heart working more like normal heart. Whereas our oxygen saturations are 100% Stephen's are only about 75-85% after the first surgery, 85-90% after the second and finally 95-100% after the third. He truly does have a long road ahead of him but we are so very grateful for how far he has come already. Each day with him truly is a gift. He is a miracle baby and we are so thankful for what God has given us.
Needless to say we have entered a new normal and will continue to learn what our life will be like.
Thank you for your prayers and love.
Hopefully I will get a chance to post some more pictures tonight =0)
Much Love
The Russells
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