NICU Day 10: Hayden is Coming Home

Today is a very exciting day. Hayden will be going home. Thank you to all the amazing doctors' and nurses for taking such wonderful care of our son. The NICU at Dell Children's Hospital is beautiful place. You don't feel like you are in a hospital. The spirit felt their is very warm and friendly. Angels are present in this place.

Yesterday Hayden had his MRI to scan his brain and spine. We will get the results today. He received a diamond star award (I just made that award up) for the first baby that they did not have to sedate during the spinal scan. He slept through the entire MRI, which was about a hour.

Also Adrienne and I were both able to coach each other and successfully pass his catheter.

Blessings to all and we give gratitude every day to our Father in Heaven for this miracle and the continued blessings that we are receiving.

Hayden's 1 Week Old

I can't believe it has already been one week since Hayden was born. He is doing very well and expect to go home soon. The only thing that is keeping Hayden in the NICU right now is our parent training on cathing him. Today we had the Spina Bifida Clinic Coordinator come to help us cath him and teach us how to do it at home. Tomorrow both of us have to be proficient at it. This isn't that easy as every NICU nurse has had trouble with it as he has a small opening at the valve to his bladder. He hasn't lost much weight with his surgeries and has been a great strong eater, great sleeper and rarely cries. What a blessed time it has been to spend all of this one on one time holding him without distractions thanks to Grandma Mary taking care of Hanna.

So far our days go something like this. Wake up at 3 & 6. Go to hospital after getting ready, cleaning room and breakfast. Feed Hayden at 7:30, stay there all day meeting with doctors, nurses and many specialist as they make rounds, eat lunch, back to the room to cath and feed Hayden, more meetings with specialist and training, eat dinner and return to the Ronald McD House around 9 or 10 and try and sleep by 11 or 12. The NICU seems like a time warp.

While at the RMH we met another LDS family by chance while we sat next to them over dinner. They have been here for 6 months of their son's 1 year old life. Today was his 1st birthday and they learned that he will need another serious surgery tomorrow. My heart goes out to them. It is hard being here seeing so many kids that are suffering. God bless all of the people that work on these special little children. My heart couldn't take it.

Hayden's Neurosurgeon's

Hayden's Continued Success

Hayden is continuing to progress very well. The team of surgeons met with him today and stated that both his lesion incision along with his shunt are healing very well and performing as it intends to. He loves to eat, sleep and just look around the room when he is up. After a 1 hour feeding with mom, who is snorring away right now, he basically goes to sleep in 3-4 hour increments. I stand amazed, once again.

Today I was able to go get the oil changed in the car, get a car wash and run some other errands in the nearby area. I guess that want everything to be perfect for this little guys first journey home.

We also just met with the Urologist and he will help us test whether or not he needs a cath or not short term. As he said, we will get to know him quite a bit over the next year. Honestly at this point this is the least of our worries with all the miracles that have taken place so far.

Continued blessings to all.
Scott and Adrienne

Happy Parents, Happy Hayden, Happy Home

Hayden is Five Days Old

Last night Hayden was a little restless and really showed us his strength. He kept pulling out the binky as we tried to put him to sleep. Today he is feeding really well (~3oz per feeding). Adrienne right now is working with Debi, the lactation consultant, here at the NICU for techniques not to disturb his head or back. Hayden has a really strong jaw and and is nursing really well. Mom is doing a great job and all the work. Debi keeps saying he is such a strong guy and eater.

Dr. Lee, our Neurosurgeon, and the plastic surgeon visited us today and said that Hayden would probably get to go home in about 1-2 days. Far ahead of what we anticipated. He said that the brain scan looked good, his shunt was working well and the back incision was healing nicely. We will still need to meet with the urologist to see if we will need to cath him. Today was the first time that there was urine coming out of the catheter. Now we just need to see if that was a random time or if his bladder is not emptying fully on its own.

We think Hayden is ready to meet his big sister outside the incubator and be shown to the world. We are having trouble uploading pictures on the wireless connection, but he is looking great!

Today is a day we set aside to worship and praise our gracious Father in Heaven for sending his son Jesus to be our Savior. We have been so blessed. Hayden has proven what a special spirit he is, in that he started his mission of drawing people unto the Savior even before his birth. Hayden helped unite our friends and family in humble prayer in his behalf. In the 5 days since Hayden's arrival, we have been comforted by those prayers and witnessed His tender mercies.