3 days old!

Maddie will be 3 days old at 3:16PM today.  Really carzy for us - we feel like we've already been here weeks.

Just a quick update - she had a stable night and they were able to move the vent from her left side to her right side.  We will get to see the left side of her face today but more importantly, the doctors now have access to her left side to perform the surgery.

Still looking like the surgery may happen this afternoon although that can change at any second.  They will perform the surgery right in the NICU bay (which is pretty amazing).  This is great because now we dont have to worry about transporting her to/from the OR which can be dangerous.  The draw back is she is no longer a candidate for a scope surgery.  She will get a 4-6 inch incision and a really cool scar to go with it.  We will find out more specifics of hte surgery later today when teh surgeons come by to talk to us.  luke is taking very detailed notes which i hope to post at a later date for other expectant CDH families (side note - if you are an expectatant CDH family following this blog, let me know if you have questions.  I'm so glad i did the research I did before we got here.  Between the vicadin, sleep depreviation and all of the new things we are learning, my memory is almost zero).

Prayers:
- God's hand to led us into surgery at exactly the right moment for Maddie.  This means her health and strength but also the team taking care of her.
- An easy surgery and no repair patch necessary.  No further complications or defects present to find during the surgery (we really want confirmation that she is isolated CDH).
- Quick healing, following by huge gains in her body's ability to govern itself. 
- Housing for Luke and me.  Right now we have no idea where we are sleeping after we are discharged tomorrow. The social workers are figuring this out right now but there is no plan as of yet.

They keep reminding us that although she is stable, she is a very sick little girl - much sicker then they expected her to be based on her pre-birth prognosis.  I"m anxious about the surgery - its our first major milestone toward bringing her home - but it comes with a lot of unknowns and risks.

Pslams 18:6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help; From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

He hears us when we call out to him.  Please call out to Him on behalf of Maddie urgently today and as she recovers from surgery.  I'll update again when i can but still having a hard time getting constant Wi-Fi.