I was going to have to let loose the wrath of Leta if the doctors and surgeons did not move forward with the pulmonary artery (PA) band, which was scheduled for tomorrow. Due to a urinary tract infection, that was going to be delayed. Today, we were told that it will indeed happen tomorrow morning - we are to be at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. to discuss with the doctors, sign consent forms, etc. Please pray for Katelynn that she will pull through. Thanks for all of your love and prayers you have put forth for her thus far. We feel good about this surgery, and know it is necessary for her progress to coming home.

BEST MOTHERS DAY EVER! Got to have all of my children together! They moved Katelynn to a hospice room and we got to spend two hours as a family, it was beautiful, amazing and made this mommy cry. Katelynn is forty days old and this is the first time her brother and sister have gotten to meet her.

I just approved another spinal tap, this will be Katelynn's fourth. She has an elevated temperature and may need to go back on antibiotics, which she has been off of for just two days, this could postpone the surgery. She is such a tough little girl, takes all the poking so well. I look forward to being with her this afternoon, I am thankful to Nathan and how hard he works that provides the resources, so that I can daily spend hours with Katelynn.

The surgery will be on Tuesday. It feels good to have a plan for Katelynn's treatment. We know that all the prayers have helped to move things forward. They are going to let the kids meet Katelynn in a special room away from the NICU. They are so excited, Ailsa can't wait to hold her sister and Nathaniel said, "for real?!" Pictures just are not as good as the real thing; sorry for all of you who haven't met her but for those that have, you will agree!

The Cinco de Mayo has brought us one step closer to bringing our precious girl home. After much delay on the part of the cardiologist team (what emergency?), we were informed right before we had to leave the NICU this evening that they recommend a pulmonary artery (PA) band. Because of her double outlet, right ventricle condition, the blood pumped by the heart is taking the path of least resistance: to the lungs. Her lungs are becoming overfilled, and thus stiff, with blood while the heart is insufficiently pumping to the body, which is contributing to bad kidney function. The AP band should increase pressure of blood flow to the lungs, thereby increasing blood flow to the body. The surgery is much less risky then opening her heart up to repair the defects therein, and will be an interim solution to get her off the ventilator and allow us to take her home to fatten her up. In the future, assuming she grows and improves, she could qualify for the full heart surgery that would require the heart and lung machine. We are encouraged and look forward to doing what we can so that she can progress. We want to take her home to feel more like a normal family and allow the kids to get to know her.

The Hands of God

New to us, She holds my finger
Kisses on her forehead, her palm.
Whispered tender words of love
Gently arranged in her place.

Turning to leave, not the nursery
Prepared in anticipation for birth,
This is a place of healing, a hospital,
Not my home—not her room…

A piece of me remains behind..
Hands that have been blessed
Tend to my delicate, tender angel,
Her needs attended by another.

Absences keenly felt, grinds my heart.
He who holds me in grief, fear, pain
Must hold her in our separation.
Imagining her held by Him, soothes.

Thoughts of life, possible death…
Leaving her now a foreshadowing?
God’s Hands—my hands, my home?
Or His? Trust mingles with hope.

God’s Hands holds each, if we allow.
Picture in my mind sees her, my angel,
Here on earth, pain free, home.
Holding images of us, all, forever.

By Leta Greene