Mommy's first visit; transfer to Johns Hopkins

Thank you all for coming together last night and lifting Sophia up in prayer! Quick update: the air around her heart has begun to go away as shown in several X-rays. The docs are hoping the pneumoparacardium solves itself without having to operate. Nothing much has changed except that she's developed jaundice and the docs increased her oxygen over night to 100%. She will be treated for at least 10 days for pneumonia, and then we'll take it day by day.

Sophia truly completes the lives of Haleigh and me, in a way we could never describe. When the transport nurse practioner explained to us she would have to operate on Sophia during transit if her heart got worse, she used the words, "because at that point it's the only thing that will save her life." We could barely manage our emotional distress when presented with the gravity of that scenario, and of course the crying was immensely painful on Haleigh's abdomen. So please understand the reason I requested that no one contact Haleigh. She is feeling better now though.

The following pics are from Haleigh's first visit with Sophia, 2 days after the c-section. It was a heart-warming moment, and the icing on the cake was that Sophia started moving immediately after hearing Mommy's voice. :)

Look at that head of hair!

Then, the sad part. The Neonatalogist at Howard County General discovered pneumoparacardium (the wall of air around Sophia's heart) and ordered a transfer to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. This pic is just before the team began prepping her for transport (by ambulance).

The nurse practitioner on the team was very nice and reminded me of my Aunt Kathy. The team didn't allow me to follow, but I made it clear to them that while Sophia was just another baby to them, she was my daughter, and they were transporting the future first female president of the United States.

Upon arrival to Johns Hopkins, the new doctor replaced the ventilator with one more gentle. They took X-rays and already saw a decrease in the air built up around the heart. Thanks be to God!

Here she is at the new NICU. I showed up about an hour after they admitted her. She fussed a little so I had the doctor tear down the hideous wallpaper and make the lighting softer on the walls. I could tell that's what her problem was...

In conclusion, Haleigh's OB saw her this morning and after learning about Sophia's transfer offered to discharge Haleigh early. Since it is the third-and-a-half day after the c-section, the Dr. thought it was no problem to release her. We will be leaving Howard County within the hours and take Haleigh home. Our house is closer to Baltimore so as I continue commuting between the two loves of my life, it will be easier on all of us. Melissa, Haleigh's mom who chose "Grammy" as her grandparent title, will be here tomorrow to help us at the house. This will be extremely helpful!

Thanks again everyone. Please continue to pray for our little girl. And for that matter remember Ashlie and Brad Cook's little one, Bradie, who has spent way too much of her precious life inside a hospital. Also, of course most of you know Trey Sutton and his family, and we continue to pray for God to heal him as well.

Peace be with you all!