Friday, August 7, 2015
Update 1
We just got word that Stockton isn't in surgery yet. They are still preparing him. They have placed iv's, his catheter and they are in the process of placing his central line in his neck.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Pre-Op
Stockton was cleared for surgery this morning. He had a rough time when they started drawing labs. It was hard. Surgery starts at 8:15am tomorrow and we will be there at 7am. We had a pre-op appointment today at TCH. We arrived at 8am this morning. Stockton has been in good spirits but still wants to go home. We had a good nights sleep and our plane ride was smooth. Stockton had to have blood work, a chest x-ray, an EKG, 4 blood pressures and a normal exam. We were seen by anesthesia, cardiology, child life, the lab and a medical assistant that performed his EKG and vitals. His ears looked good, his throat looks well, his labs and urine looked great and his heart looks and sounds good. We are just praying that nothing pops up in the next 18 hours so we can go ahead with surgery. We just ate lunch and took a two hour nap. We were suppose to be at the hospital all day but they were able to get us out at 11:30am. Stockton is still sleeping after a very crazy morning. He hard a really hard time when they drew his labs this morning. Seth had to hold him tight while I made him stare into my eyes so that he wouldn't move and I could calm him down. He just screamed and cried. It broke our hearts. Seth and I are feeling good. We facetimed with the kids last night and Stockton just loved it. Tylee was making funny faces and Merrick just kept saying Hi. We are going to soak up all of Stockton's love and affection tonight as we head in to tomorrow. Please keep praying that he will be strong and feel comfort. Please pray that Seth and I will be calm and feel the love of Christ. Please pray that our surgeon and medical team are prepared and make smart decisions. Lastly, please pray that Stockton's body remains healthy and that his body cooperates with the new circulation he will have. Thanks again for your prayers. We feel them and we are comforted by them. Don't forget to wear RED tomorrow! #SuperStockton
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Where has the time gone?
Our bags are packed, our flights are booked, we are healthy (crossing my fingers), we have prayed, we have fasted, Seth is half way to Texas and the Fontan is in 3 days. We have been waiting for this moment since the day he was born. We have prayed about this moment since his last surgery on December 29, 2011. I think Stockton is ready, we are ready and I think God knows that he is ready. How is my boy 4 years old?
The anxiety has been a constant in my life this summer. We have battled a lot of things to make it this far. I am so grateful that my work allowed me to take this time off work and how everyone in our lives has surrounded us with letters, gifts, prayers and kind words. We couldn't have made it the last four years without so many people.
I just put Merrick to sleep for the last time until we get back. We sang the song, Tomorrow, like we do every night. I cried as I rocked him to sleep because I don't know how long it will be until I can do that again. We can't do anything that is outside of the home so I played Sega with Tylee, we made bracelets, ate Oreo cake and washed her hair. The kids bags are packed with diapers, wipes, toothbrushes and clothes for about 10 days. I also packed Tylee's new school clothes as we are not going to be able to be here for her first day of second grade. In her prayers last night she begged Heavenly Father to make sure we are home on her first day of school. It broke my heart. I am going to miss so many things with them in the next couple weeks but they know their brother needs me so much more. The struggle is real when you have a sibling with a health concern. These two kids are great companions for Stockton. Tylee has a sincere heart and comforts him in times of need. Merrick is the perfect playmate. (As I sit here Tylee came and gave me a Starburst. I gave this to her earlier because she was being so good. I asked her why she gave it back and she said that she wants me to have it because she loves me.)
We are trying to make Stockton feel at home in the hospital and so much of his room is packed. It feels empty. I want him to come home. I want him to come back and sleep in his Spiderman bed. I want to wake up each morning with train tracks all over the floor because he likes to build them over and over. I want to hear him singing Christmas songs is the basement when he finds old decor. I want to see Merrick wrestling Stockton in front of our tv. I want him to come home. I want him to come home fast. I want him here.
My heart is filled with gratitude. My heart is filled with peace. My heart hurts for him because he doesn't know the extent of what is going to happen on Friday. I have done everything to prepare him. I have done everything I could do to prepare myself and my family. I can't believe that we have come so far. I can't believe that yesterday, August 3rd, was his first open heart surgery in 2011. We are forever grateful to have Stockton in our lives. He is bold, he is strong and he is a fighter. We love him and we hope to return back to Utah very soon.
The anxiety has been a constant in my life this summer. We have battled a lot of things to make it this far. I am so grateful that my work allowed me to take this time off work and how everyone in our lives has surrounded us with letters, gifts, prayers and kind words. We couldn't have made it the last four years without so many people.
I just put Merrick to sleep for the last time until we get back. We sang the song, Tomorrow, like we do every night. I cried as I rocked him to sleep because I don't know how long it will be until I can do that again. We can't do anything that is outside of the home so I played Sega with Tylee, we made bracelets, ate Oreo cake and washed her hair. The kids bags are packed with diapers, wipes, toothbrushes and clothes for about 10 days. I also packed Tylee's new school clothes as we are not going to be able to be here for her first day of second grade. In her prayers last night she begged Heavenly Father to make sure we are home on her first day of school. It broke my heart. I am going to miss so many things with them in the next couple weeks but they know their brother needs me so much more. The struggle is real when you have a sibling with a health concern. These two kids are great companions for Stockton. Tylee has a sincere heart and comforts him in times of need. Merrick is the perfect playmate. (As I sit here Tylee came and gave me a Starburst. I gave this to her earlier because she was being so good. I asked her why she gave it back and she said that she wants me to have it because she loves me.)
We are trying to make Stockton feel at home in the hospital and so much of his room is packed. It feels empty. I want him to come home. I want him to come back and sleep in his Spiderman bed. I want to wake up each morning with train tracks all over the floor because he likes to build them over and over. I want to hear him singing Christmas songs is the basement when he finds old decor. I want to see Merrick wrestling Stockton in front of our tv. I want him to come home. I want him to come home fast. I want him here.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Fundraiser
In the last few months we have taken quite a hit financially with all of Stockton's procedures with flights, eating out, hotels, rental cars and time off work. My family is very aware of how much we sacrifice so that Stockton can have the best care. My wonderful Mom set up a fundraiser booth in American Fork and sold cotton candy, #superstockton bracelets, cookies, candy and 200 cupcakes. She was surprised at the generosity in our community and we are so so grateful for the money that was donated. All of my siblings played a big role in helping her. Thanks to Les Schwab for allowing my Mom to use your parking lot. We are forever grateful to the kind strangers that made this upcoming surgery a little more bareable.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
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