Two Months Post-op and Happy 1st Birthday!

Today is Field's two month cranioversary. I still am in disbelief at how quickly and smoothly his recovery process has been and praise God for His unfailing love and mercy!!! Field has not missed a beat..he is climbing and crawling everywhere, pulling up, walking behind his push toys and getting into EVERYTHING. He loves climbing up the stairs, opening cabinets and pulling everything out, unrolling toilet paper off the roll, trying to put his toys in his dirty diaper pail, trying to lift up the toilet lid and drop things in, playing in the dog's food and water bowls, pressing all the buttons on the tv remote...he definitely keeps us on our toes, but we are just so grateful that he is happy and healthy and that his development is right on track!

Field also turned one last Saturday, and we had a wonderful weekend celebrating with friends and family. Since Field loved riding in the little red wagons at the hospital so much, we decided to have a red-wagon-themed birthday party. He LOVED his smash cake..I think he would have sat there and eaten the whole thing if we let him! He also loved tearing into the wrapping paper on his gifts and has had so much fun playing with his new toys this week. We've been going on wagon rides around the neighborhood everyday and swinging in his new swing on the back porch in the afternoons when daddy gets home from work.

I'll leave you with some pictures from his birthday weekend and Mother's Day. It's so hard to believe that last year on Mother's Day, we were just getting home from the hospital with our two-day-old son..little did we know how our lives would change in just one year. And it has been the best year yet!

1 Month Cranioversary!!!

Today marks one month since Field's surgery.  I honestly cannot believe that a month has already gone by.  It seems like just last week I was in his PICU room, standing over him, admiring his new forehead, waiting for his eyes to swell shut, watching his every breath, and staring at the monitor wondering if his vitals were okay..my chest tightening at each beeping sound that it made.  Those few days in the hospital were so draining and so emotional, but when I think back about our experience, it could not have gone any smoother.  Field's team of doctors and nurses at Medical City Dallas were incredible and took such good care of him. We were surrounded by so much love and support from all of you, our family and friends, and even complete strangers who have never even met us. You reached out to us and offered your prayers and words of encouragement that lifted our spirits and helped to remind us that God was, and always is, in control and that He would carry us through those difficult days.

Field has been such a fighter.  He came through this surgery with flying colors and has recovered and healed so beautifully!  Other than his incision, you would never know by looking at him today that he had major skull surgery just one month ago.  I wanted to share some day-by-day pictures of his recovery.  Notice how quickly his swelling and bruising went down.  Our hats go off to Dr. Fearon and his wonderful team for their amazing and skillful work!

Days 1-6.  

The first picture is right after surgery as soon as we were able to go back and see him.  He was still coming off the anesthesia so his eyes were not fully open, but the swelling hadn't set in yet.

Days 7-12.  

He is almost back to his spunky little self!

After being back home in Tupelo for just one week, Field had recovered so well that we decided to go down to the beach for a relaxing week with Mimi and Big Daddy (Kirk's parents) while Kirk was at furniture market.  If you had asked me before the surgery, I would have never dreamed we would be able to do that!  It was so nice to get away and do absolutely nothing, plus have help with Field!  He loved crawling in the sand, playing in the condo with Mimi and Big Daddy, and falling asleep on the balcony listening to the ocean.  We had a great time!

Napping with Big Daddy :)

My sweet friend Alison and her baby, Markey, drove over from Gulf Shores to see us one day.  Field and Markey had the best time playing together!!!

We could not be more relieved and thankful to have Field's surgery behind us. God has blessed us and proven his faithfulness to us in so many ways throughout this experience, and our journey with Field's craniosynostosis will forever be a huge part of our lives and testimony!

One Week

It is hard to believe that exactly one week ago at this same time, we were sitting in the waiting room of Medical City Children's Hospital with our family anxiously awaiting to hear from the nurse letting us know that Field's surgery was going well. It was the most nerve wracking, anxious, and surreal feeling I have ever had. Kissing him goodbye and handing him over to the nurse to take him back to the OR was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Kirk and I were confident that we had made the right decision to follow through with surgery and that we had chosen the best team of doctors to perform the surgery. But there was still this empty, uneasy feeling of worry and doubt that we just could not shake. 

The only way we got through those agonizing 4 and a half hours of waiting was by handing over everything to God..all of our fears, doubts, worries, concerns..we had to let go of them all and place our full trust in God to take care of our baby. And I believe that it was through all of your prayers that God gave us the strength to do this..the strength to trust in Him alone and fully place our faith in Him. Over and over, I just kept picturing in my mind God's hands cradling Field as the surgeons worked on him. It gave me such comfort to know that God was in that operating room holding Field and guiding each movement of the surgeons' hands. I also felt His presence in the waiting room with Kirk and me and our families..sitting there beside us with His arms wrapped around us.

Field is recovering faster than we ever imagined. Just four days ago, his eyes were still swollen shut, but today, his swelling and bruising have gone down so much that, aside from his incision, you can barely even tell he had surgery. He is back to crawling all over the place, pulling up, and playing like his old self...but his sleeping is still not great. Sometimes I wonder if he is scared to let himself fall asleep for fear that he may not be able to see when he wakes up.  But Dr. Fearon told us that it could take a few weeks for him to get back on his normal sleeping and eating schedule, so I guess we just need to be patient. After all, he did have major skull surgery just one week ago!

Saturday morning at Aunt Marcy's house in Madison:

Playing with cousin Walker:

So glad to finally be home strolling around the neighborhood and taking a bath in my own bathtub!

Sunday (5 days post op):

Monday (6 days post op):

Today (just one week after surgery!):

Open eyes!!!

First of all, I want to thank all of you for your prayers and outpouring of love and support over the past few days. This week has been so emotionally and physically draining for Kirk and me, as well as for our families, and I know the only way we have made it through is by the strength and courage God has given us through all of your prayers.  He has been so faithful to Field and to us through this experience, and we will be forever grateful for the doctors and nurses at Medical City Dallas, and for all of you who have reached out in so many ways to show us love and support.

Wednesday and Thursday were hard..almost harder than getting through the surgery itself.  We were so relieved that the surgery was over and was successful, but it was heartbreaking to see our baby so confused and helpless.  By early Wednesday morning, Field's eyes were completely swollen shut.  Swelling was beginning to increase around the rest of his head too..which is normal.  Dr. Fearon told us the swelling would probaby peak between 36 and 48 hours after surgery.  We were able to move out of PICU to a regular room by mid-morning Wednesday.  It was great to have more space and be able to have more family come back, and especially for Field not to be hooked up to all the monitors and IVs anymore.  But as his swelling increased, it was more difficult to keep him comfortable and content.  His head was so heavy with fluid that he could barely hold it up.  He wanted to be held constantly..and most of the time, I was the only one who could comfort him.    He did seem to love the wagon rides around the hallways and outside to the garden though.  

The doctors made their rounds Thursday morning and told us that everything looked good and we would be able to leave the hospital as soon as the nurse helped us bathe him and shampoo his head (which is the only care we have to for his incision).  We were so glad to be able to leave, but a little apprehensive of how Field would do back at our hotel.  To our surprise he fell asleep as soon as we put him in his carseat.  Back at the hotel, our moms took turns strolling him around the hallways and parking lot.  As long as he was moving, he seemed pretty content.  He would just get so frustrated and scared when we put him down to try to let him crawl or play with his toys, but we knew as soon as he could get his eyes cracked open the tiniest little bit, he would be happier.  He slept much better than we had expected last night, so when we woke up this morning, we decided to try and make our way back to Mississippi today.  

Dr. Fearon was kind enough to let us bring Field by his office at 12:30 to look at him and reassure us that everything was healing as it should and answer some final questions for us before we got on the road.  He told us that he thought we would see Field's eyes open a little by this afternoon or tonight.  We stopped in Shreveport around 4:00 to get some coffee.  As soon as I got Field out of the car and walked into Starbucks, Mrs. Marilyn noticed his right eye barely peep open..the tiniest slit, but it was the best feeling ever!!!  He immediately began to smile at us and reach for our keys and cell phones, and by the time we walked out of Starbucks, his left eye had barely peeped open too!  I've been sitting with him in the back seat smiling and playing peek-a-boo the rest of our drive home!  It's hard to tell from this picture, but in person you can barely see his little blue eyes peeping through!

The Red Wagon

Update 3/19/14 (via friend):

Words cannot express the strength of this sweet little boy! He is doing incredible and had so many great moments today. The love that fills his hospital room is truly overwheming with his dear parents and both sets of grandparents doting, kissing, and passing him off to each other. The peace of the Lord is so incredible to watch in Catherine and Kirk! Your prayers are working! Kirk and Catherine are absolutely overwhelmed by your love and support! People have loved in every way possible.

Summary of today:

*Field was moved out of the PICU to a nornal room which is much more comortable and can fit his whole support team:)

*the swelling has increased quite a bit but just as expected. It usually peaks from 48-72 hours and we are at 48. He is now unable to open his eyes due to swelling. All very normal for this surgery.

*He got to go outside on a wagon ride and loved it

*He is most comforted in mamas arms and responded to daddy today saying "bye,bye" several times and the tears of joy were flowing by all

*He continues to nurse well but did not keep down his last bottle tonight

*He got many of the wires, cords, and IVs out today which has made him more comfortable (I clearly do not know medical jargin)

*Kirk and Catherine were able to get out and grab some dinner tonight while the grandparents held down the fort. Field was comforted in their arms the whole time.

Prayers:

*Field would be able to rest tonight

*Swelling and discomfort would decrease quickly

*He would not have anymore nausea

*that his little raspy voice would clear up from the tubes during surgery

*that Kirk and Catherine would get some REST! They are completely spent both emotionally and physically

* that Field, Catherine and Kirk would experience the peace that surpasses all knowledge that only comes from Christ!

Oh Father in Heaven, You know the deepest parts of our hearts! We lay this precious little boy and family in your arms and pray you would meet them where they are with your surpernatural comfort and peace!

 

Pics from today:

 

 

We can breathe now!!!

Surgery is over and we are just waiting on them to bring Field up to the PICU. Dr. Fearon just came up and talked to us and said everything went "smooth as silk"! He didn't lose much blood at all, so no blood transfusion was necessary. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. We can't wait to go back and see our sweet boy!!! Thank you again for all of your prayers and support.

Everything going well..

We just talked to the nurse and she said neurosurgeon is finished removing the bone and Dr. Fearon is doing his work shaping Field's new forehead now. Everything going smoothly and Field is doing great! Will update again soon!

Also, Kirk and I appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers more than you will ever know. I wish I could respond to every single text, facebook message, comment, etc., but please know that we have read them all and they have given us so much peace and comfort today.