9 Hours and Counting.....

*Ugh! No pictures tonight. Computer not cooperating!*

Oh my, what a day!! 6 1/2 hours of preop!! Oh yes!!

But first, I have to tell you this. Hubby, Celia and I were hanging out waiting for yet another nurse. Or doctor. Or somebody. There were some big windows in our room that overlooked some sort of atrium. Celia and I decided to look out for a bit just to people watch. I noticed a room called "The Voice Provided by the Ryan Seacrest Foundation" where lots of people were hanging out. And lots of flashbulbs were going off. Cool. Then a nurse walked in to go over a few more things. I handed C to hubby for a bit then started looking out the windows again. Wait. "Honey, that looks like Casey from American Idol." Weird. Oh wait! "That looks like Lauren...and Scotty....and Paul!" Yep, the top 11 American Idol Contestants were here for a "meet the kids and cheer them up" session! Celia ALMOST had her picture taken with the top 11 American Idol Contestants, but we had to wait too long for the next professional to see us. Can't you just see it- our precious 11 pound (yes, she's 11 pounds now!!! Woohoo!!) peanut smooshed in between all those singers. Lauren was hugging everyone- what a sweet girl she seems to be.

Okay, more about the day. Can you say LLLLLOOOONNNNGGG?!?! What a trooper Miss C is, though. Unless you are trying to perform a pre-surgery echo. Evidently, she has grown out of her love for those tests. Or she just wasn't too fond of the tech today. She screamed and screamed!!! They ordered a sedative (ugh!! Can't stand them!!) because there didn't seem to be any way to complete the test on a screaming octopus! While we were waiting for it to arrive, she fell asleep and slept without drugs through the rest of the echo. Thank you, Jesus!

After the echo, labs and xrays, we headed back to our preop room, dropped off all additional paperwork and headed out to find some lunch. Yes, lunch at 3:30. We have since landed at our beloved Ronald McDonald House in preparation for a good nights sleep.

Tomorrow. We have to be at the hospital by 6:15, and they will take Celia back around 8:15. Surgery should last until after noon, and I will be updating often throughout the day. Specific prayer requests-

1. Celia's strength both tomorrow and during the entire healing process. She will have to be on a heart/lung bypass machine for a good portion of the surgery. For those of you wondering, she has a total AV Canal Defect (2 ASDs and 1 VSD) as well as a PDA that will not close on its own. Also, both her tricuspid and mitral valves are compromised because of the AV Canal.

2. Feeding. Celia still suffers from severe reflux and still aspirates. We spoke to the team today at length about how to keep it at bay during and after surgery. And the conclusion? Take it as it comes. Hmmm....not what I wanted to hear exactly but I have faith in HIM who holds our daughter always!!

3. No infection!! No infection!! No infection!!

4. Dr. Kirshbom, our heart surgeon, and the entire medical staff assisting. Dr. Kirshbom is the same surgeon who performed Charlie's surgery, and we have such respect for him and the gifts God has given him. It is such a blessing and answer to prayers for us that he is the one God has chosen to help heal our girl's heart.

5. Our kids back at home and those caring for them. We could be away from home for a week or so and pray for each of our kiddos to feel loved while we are gone.

And please, pray for us as we prepare to hand our precious girl over to hands we are sure our Lord is guiding!! I stand strong in that truth tonight and cannot wait for her heart to be whole!!!

In Him,

E