Trying to keep the glass 1\2 full...

 

We had our rescheduled hospital tour Monday night (10\28.) Knowing what I know now I wish it couldn't have been rescheduled.  The tour is obviously geared for couples whose baby isn't going to be snatched from them immediately after birth and teleported via secret hospital tunnels to the NICU for massive cardiac intervention.

 

The following phrases are what almost brought me to hysterical tears in a room full of 1\2 pregnant complete strangers. (The only thing that kept me composed was the thought of how mortified Bry would be if I actually had a complete and utter meltdown.)

 

• "Skin to skin is the best thing for you and your baby after birth."

 

• "Breastfeeding is ideal so we always attempt to start that within an hour of birth - even with a c-section we try to get baby fed within 90 minutes. "

 

• "You and your baby will stay right in this room for the 2 hours following labor and delivery - you can even participate in the first bath if you feel up to it."

 

• "We do have a nursery for babies, but it's most common, and best for the baby to be by mom during the hospital stay."

 

Baby and Mama Oosting will not enjoy any of the above things that most new parents take for granted.  Sadness.

 

 

I keep trying to tell myself it is such a huge blessing that we know about this baby's heart ahead of time and we don't have to go through what Bennet and Charlie's families did.  Can you imagine the terror of not knowing why your baby is turning blue and crashing in the hours after birth??  Ignorance is not bliss people!!  Knowledge is power!! This is something I repeat to myself on a daily basis. 

 

If I were to list all of the amazing "God" things that have transpired as a result of the TGA (transposition of the great arteries) diagnosis - the list would go on for days.

 

Example:

 

We had our 35-week visit and growth scan on Thursday.  To say I was nervous about the growth scan would be a gross understatement.  We haven't exactly received the best news from ultrasounds so you can understand my apprehension.  As it turns out our ultrasound lady (Rhonda, you were my angel that day!!) has a 22-year old daughter with a heart defect. (Heart moms are a special breed of people I've come to decide, and they band together like Ninja's!!)  She told us everything she was measuring and estimated the weight for us right then and there.  Thanks to my trusty "What To Expect When You're Expecting" phone app I knew the baby should be about 6 pounds. How big did Rhonda say our little nugget was... 5# 14oz!!!!  Doesn't get much closer to 6 pounds than that!!! Praise the Lord!!  Heart was even pounding away at a solid 145.  Dr. Dood said he doesn't need to see me for another 2 weeks, which was music to my ears -- It made me feel so normal!!

 

 

Getting back to that band of Ninja's - I have been taken in by more heart moms than I can almost count!!  Thank you Dana, Nicole, Jodi, Rachel, Jana, Kim and Stacey.  I'm having coffee tonight night with my 7th grade homeroom teacher. She was quick to welcome me to "the mom heart club" and give me so much hope and encouragement.  On a side note - am I allowed after 16 years to call her by her first name or do I have to call her Mrs?

God's timing is so amazing and this example proves it!!  For a couple of weeks I had been hoping one particular heart mom would call the office to schedule a flu shot or a check-up for one of her kids.  No call, but who do I run into in the Spectrum Health parking lot while on my way to visit this handsome new bundle of joy??

Yup, none other than Stacey!!  I was practically speechless but, at the same time, had so much to ask her. She was so gracious with her time - we chatted for well over 30 minutes. (After a 12-hour shift, don't most RN's just want to get home??) Her Ryan doesn't have what our baby has - but the emotions and experience are similar.  What are the odds her shift would be ending and she'd be leaving at the exact moment I was walking into the hospital? 

How great is our God?!?

I could go on and on about how our cup continues to runneth over despite this initially devastating news. 

The lyrics to Laura Story's "Blessings" hit me hard recently...

 

"Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise."

 

 

 

LET THE PRAYERS RISE!!