The beginning of our Gianna journey....
2-20-09

It is hard to believe that Gianna has been here just over a month. In lieu of her beginning, her birth feels like a lifetime ago. Although this post is filled with Gianna's pictures, I wanted to take the time to tell the story of her beginning.

When we got pregnant with Gianna, she was a sweet surprise. We have always wanted to have four children, but due to serious pregnancy complications we originally decided to stop before we got pregnant with her in order to prevent any further risks to any children or myself. So, when we got pregnant with her, we decided to take every safety and health precaution possible and trust God with the child he had destined for our family.

When "delivery day" arrived we were so ecstatic going into the OR because this was the first pregnancy that was 100% normal with no complications! Thank the Lord! The operation went well, but we soon found out that Gianna was not transitioning to breathing on her own very well. They immediately took her (before I ever saw her) to put her on oxygen. Initially, we were told that this happens sometimes and within a few hours the babies typically start breathing fine on their own. After six hours, Gianna was still not breathing well enough on her own and she was transferred to the NICU.

Shortly after she entered the NICU, the nurses told us that she had Pneumonia and she was having "retractions". Essentially, this means that the baby is using their belly to breathe as opposed to their chest and this can be very hard on the heart. In the meantime, I was waiting for my anesthesia to wear off so that I could feel my legs enough to walk into the NICU to see my baby for myself. Thankfully, at this point Gary was able to go see her and speak with the nurses.

I was able to go in to see her for the first time 12 hours after her birth. By this time, she was doing much worse and she was now on a ventilator, feeding tube, IVs, etc. She was in an isolet and initially we could not even touch her because her heart rate would get too high if we did. During the first two days, the news was progressively worse each time.

By the end of the diagnoses, she was septic, showing signs of GBS, and had a hole in her heart (this part was common).

No one would even talk to us about the possibility of bringing her home at this point.

The first full day at the hospital, Gary started to notice that he had an abscess that was not healing. He had worked in the ER a few days prior and he knew there was a chance he was exposed to something while he was in there. Thus, he went to see the ER doc about the abscess and he found out that he had something that he had to take antibiotics for and it was contagious. The doctor told us, he was not to see the baby AT ALL until the meds were complete in ten days. In addition to this, Gary and I did not hold hands, kiss, anything in order to prevent him spreading the infection to me and possibly to her.

By the second day word of Gianna's health began to spread like wildfire and people started praying faithfully for her. In that first two days Gary and I counted and we knew of six separate churches praying on Gianna's behalf and ours. Within 24 hours of everyone finding out and praying, Gianna began to show significant progress. She was still on all the tubes, but almost each time I went in there was one more good report. During this time, I was thankful for each and every moment I had with my daughter... just seeing her. Gary and I made a conscious decision not to give way to our fears that we could loose our daughter, but instead to take this journey step by step and trust the Lord with the life of our precious baby girl. After 14 long, long days we were finally able to bring Gianna home.

Gary and I are incredibly thankful to all those who prayed because God heard the cries of His people and He moved on behalf of our daughter's life. Most importantly, we thank God for his compassion, mercy, faithfulness and blessing in our lives. There are SO many times, so many within just the last five years, that God has shown His mighty power and love in our lives. I am so happy to serve a God who is strong when I am weak.

Throughout our time in the hospital, I kept thinking of the story of the persistent widow in the Bible and I stood on this as I sought to walk this part of our journey out

with faith instead of fear.

Luke 18
The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Lord, let me be one found with faith.

***DISCLAIMER***

Please be aware that the first several pictures are from the NICU. Although some of them may be disturbing, they are part of Gianna's story and seeing her now in lieu of them is a testament to the power of Christ.

And finally...the pictures :)

Gary and I at the hospital just before I delivered.

Me, getting ready to be cut open. Anesthesia can be an amazing thing!

Just after she had her first dose of oxygen. (6 lbs 15.6 oz)

My doctor... he has done every surgery I have ever had and delivered all four of my babies. Obviously, I trust this man with my medical life.

Gianna, in the first hours before the NICU.

Gianna, the first time I saw her.

You can't imagine the urge to just hold them and love on them.

This was all I could see of her sweet little face.

Gary is the RN in our house and he could not see the baby or ask the medical questions. Thus, I had to take periodic pics (such as the above three) that showed all the tubes and leads so that he would know what was going on and he could instruct me on what to ask from there.

This was the vent, it was extremely disturbing the first time I went in and saw her on this.

This was a MUCH needed breather...my sweet boys came up to visit...

... and my wonderful daughter.

This is what had to be put on after scrubbing in each time I entered the NICU. So thankful people have to wear these in there (seriously).

Day six -- finally off the ventilator!!! Plus, I finally got to see her face!!!!

I realize it seems crazy to have a picture of milk. However, another NICU challenge was "nursing" for two weeks with no baby. For those who understand the "let down" reflex, it does not work the same without a baby. Thus, this tiny amount of milk was an incredible success especially when I knew how much more important it was going to be for her to have this as soon as she could eat as opposed to formula (she was fed via IV for the first several days).

I loved seeing this little bow in her hair after days of just tubes...

Oh yes, she had black hair in the beginning (it has already lightened up a little).

This was my first time to freely touch her with the lid of the isolet up as opposed to only putting my arm through the hole of the isolet. I was so happy.

Gianna says, "HOLY COW, this pacifier is half the size of my face!" See how the corner is cut out of the pacifier? One of the precious nurses found out she loved the paci and she cut the hole so Gianna could suck on it with the ventilator in!

This picture is reminiscent of her siblings.

I was constantly watching these monitors and checking the alarms to see which vital not right. This was the first day that ALL her vitals were fantastic!

Six days old - my very first time to hold her. This one still makes me cry. My appreciation for this moment is indescribable.

She loves holding hands.

Her dark hair again.

My kids playing in the park with my mom while I was inside with Gianna.

My mom and Pierce.

She got to move to the step down section of the NICU and her oxygen was taken out!!! YEAH!!!

Sweet sleepy...

Her first time on her tummy.

My very first "feeding" with her.

Daddy finally got to come in and we found out that we were getting to take her home!!!

Gianna was pretty happy too!

After fourteen days, Daddy's first pic with Gianna!

We left the hospital at 11PM so everyone was sleeping when we got home. This was Bella and Gianna's first time to meet.

Pierce was a little more focused on sleep.

Justus was happy to see his new sister.

One more sleepy baby to the mix!

We had her set up in her basinet, but once it was quiet and we turned off the lights, she was upset! She was used to the loud alarms going off constantly in the NICU as well as the bright lights. After three rough nights, we moved her to her room and her crib where we turned on some worship music and a little night light and we have had no issues since!

He wants to hug her each and every morning and he always tells me she is SO cute!

Gianna's first pizza and movie night.

She says, "What's up?"

I wanted to show her long, delicate fingers. She likes to twist them around very often.

There are Gary and I's trademarks... fat cheeks and little nose...

Those are 100% Daddy's ears.

I like to call this one "little booty".

Tummy time

Bella loves it when I let her hold Gianna for a moment (with mommy right there).

If you include me in this one... this is what it looked like in the beginning during nursing times.

Her smile and his unusual serious face here crack me up!

I wanted to show how HUGE Pierce looks now.

They love their Gianna!

Justus and Bella are loving, but careful. Pierce is loving...but like a loving Gorilla.

Another part of our days... :)

Pierce is always giving her gentle kisses on her head; it is the hugging we have problems with.

Little girl...

Always sleeping...

Her first bath...

It is so great that one of our babies had some hair and I love that her hair is different!

Vessel sinks make a gret newborn tub!

This is the pic I always look at now and go "how cute"... six months from now when they look completely different .. these pictures look a little different. :)