Christmas and Answered Prayers!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year and hope everyone else did as well!! It was so much fun celebrating sweet baby Jesus’ birthday with our own little miracle! Tripp received waaay TOO MANY gifts and we had a hard time finding space for them….Levi got me a gun so I can go hunting with him and I got him a gun as well. It was kind of funny exchanging the same gifts with each other and we can’t wait to have a chance to go try them out! Here are some pictures of Tripp’s first Christmas…

This is what Tripp did most of his holiday and Daddy decided he would just join him

Sleeping...again...but with an adoable smile this time!

The HAPPY family!

On top of all the holiday excitement we had doctor appointments Tuesday morning. We saw the pediatrician first and got a great report…Tripp had grown almost an inch and gained 1lb. 4oz. in just over a week!! Dr. Landry was very pleased with his growth but wants us to keep the monitor for a little longer. The monitor’s main purpose has always been to serve as a precaution for Tripp’s SIDS risk because he has a hard time breathing in certain positions, sometimes gets too relaxed when he sleeps and does not take enough breaths, and was on oxygen for several hours after birth. The monitor does give us valuable information about his heart’s activity but is not primarily for his heart. Some people have had questions about his monitor and why his SIDS risk is so high…we cannot explain why because SIDS is still something no one understands but everyone should be cautious about with any baby. The monitor and other precautions help lower the risk considerably. We were so happy when we left the pediatrician’s office and our next appointment was with the cardiologist to see if Tripp’s heart had progressed. They ran another EKG while we were there and…ALL OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!!!! He has made awesome progress and the results are looking normal! He will not have to be on medication or have any procedures! Glory goes to the good Lord! We feel so blessed with this news and will be forever grateful to everyone for all the prayers. We truly believe that faith and prayers are what has turned things around for our sweet boy…who turned 3 weeks old today…by the way! Now more pictures…

All dressed up for our first time to church with Tripp

Just enjoying some play time

3 Weeks Old Today!!!

Oops!

Read the "Faith" post before the "Gifts from Above" one for everything to make sense. I posted them at the same time but it will help if you read the second one before the other. Thanks!

Gifts from Above

I just wanted to post some good news the pediatrician gave us Thursday afternoon! We went and had Tripp weighed and he has gained back 3 oz. in 2 days! Mommy was very proud because we have been strictly nursing and so everything must be working right! The most exciting thing was that she said the cardiologist called and said he is thinking Tripp's Long QT syndrome may be something he will grow out of!!! They were both a little suprised by his progress because they say most babies who are diagnosed with this do not progress this quickly or grow out of it. We will continue praying and hopefully this will turn into a wonderful miracle for our little boy. If he does not keep up the progress they will begin considering medication as he gets older and either way he will be fine and we will deal with whatever comes our way. The pediatrician also made Mommy's day by letting Tripp be off the monitor during feedings and times he is alert or being "admired" by others. He must be on all times he is sleeping, in the car seat, or we are in and out of the room he is in but he will get a break every once in a while. The monitor has only gone off one time when he was in his swing because he was not taking enough breaths.....so no more swing until he gets bigger. Other than that he gets more adorable each day and makes the funniest faces! Here is a picture of him at ONE WEEK OLD! We are so proud. :)

Faith

This post will be a long one because some of you know what has been going on in our lives but have many questions so I am giving an update on what all has gone on and an explanation of Tripp's condition.....
We were packed and ready to go home Sunday morning when we received news that Tripp failed a car seat challenge in the nursery and was being given additional tests before going home. These tests results gave his pediatrician some concerns about his heart rate. She contacted a pediatric cardiologist to run more tests to see if her concerns were something that needed further evaluation. The cardiologist did find abnormalities in his tiny heart and admitted him to the NICU to be monitored. Tripp spent three days in NICU on monitors and constant care. Each day, he was given several EKGs and other tests on his heart to determine what was going on, if it was something he would grow out of or permanent, and what steps to take in treating him. His doctors finally determined that Tripp has Bradycardia and Long QT Syndrome.
Bradycardia is a slower than average heart rate. Most newborns resting heart rate is somewhere around 120 or a little higher. Tripp’s usually does not go above the 90s and sometimes falls into the 60s. This can be a problem because it means oxygen-rich blood is not pumping to through the body fast enough. Long QT Syndrome is a heart rhythm disorder in which the heart beat may beat erratically and takes longer to “recharge” between beats. Both of these things are electrical problems in the heart. His heart is physically correct, however; the wiring that controls it is not. Both of these “conditions” put Tripp at a 75% or higher risk for SIDS. This is an extremely scary thing so he was sent home on a monitor that helps us know when his heart rate and breathing need stimulation. Tripp’s cardiologist and pediatrician are still trying to determine whether this will be transitional or permanent for him. He will continue to have EKGs and follow ups with the cardiologist and possibly be on the monitor for at least 3 months if it is transitional. If it looks like it will be permanent his doctors will consider medication and other treatment. As far as his SIDS risk, all we can do is pray, have faith, and let time tell. His risk is highest until about 3 months and may be almost gone by 6 to 7 months, but worst case senario, his risk could also never go away. The monitor’s purpose is to reduce this risk considerably. Something we hope everyone will understand is that Tripp is not sick or abnormal and his monitor is nothing to be hesitant about. He has “problems” with his heart that will take extra care and attention but otherwise he eats, sleeps, poops like any newborn and is just adorable!
Now for the hard stuff….three days is not long compared to many other sweet babies that are there for weeks or months but I cannot describe how difficult and emotional those three days were for Levi and me. It has been the happiest and most trying times in our lives but we feel blessed that we went through it together instead of coming home and going through something worse. It was such a shock to think our precious son was going home and then within hours told there are serious concerns about his health. As hard as it may be to believe, after the shock we felt a sense of relief that could have only come from the Lord. HE is always in control and saved us from going home not knowing and likely losing our baby. We have always had faith but this has and will continue to test that in ways we never expected and we are so glad to have God with and around us. We know that with Him at our sides everything will be just fine and we will make it through anything.
Levi and I cannot think of the words or a way to thank all our family, friends, community, and the hospital staff/doctors enough for the support and prayers. Just know your being there means and has helped us more than y’all will ever realize. Please continue to pray for sweet Tripp’s progress.

Here's a few pics!

Daddy holding Tripp in NICU

Tripp's NICU space

Finally ready to go home!!!

Just the monitor...Daddy thinks it's funny that it is smaller than Mommy's purses!

Tripp Ray Roberts

Finally a name and his sweet face are revealed!!! Tripp Ray Roberts was delivered by C-section at 7:53am on December 10th. He weighed 6 lbs. 5 oz., 20 in. long, beautiful blue eyes, and....reddish-blonde hair!!! Mommy and Daddy think he is absolutely perfect and cannot find words to describe the work the Lord has done! We never dreamed we would love something so small so VERY much. Now for what everyone really wants...pictures!!!!

We will post more later as he grows and when we have more energy! :) Love you all and thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers, and visits! God is glorious!

Delivery and Nursery

We are so excited to let everyone know our little boy will be arriving by C-Section on Thursday, December 10th....if he doesn't try to come before! We had a doctor appointment last week...everything looked great and he was very healthy but....we were told we could try to have a natural delivery but many risks were involved. My pelvis is not a shape and size that accomodates delivering and my pelvic bone is about three times thicker than most women's. Bones don't stretch or move easily....which would cause the doctor to have to use forceps(if you have ever seen those things...YIKES!) and possibly break our baby's collar bone to get him out. I was very upset to hear we would not be able to experience a "normal" birth but I am so relieved and feel blessed that we know what would have happened and can prevent our child from getting any injuries. Pregnancy has been such a wonderful experience and Levi and I have enjoyed every minute of this time in our lives! God has blessed us so much with the health and development of our baby and we have made so many precious memories over the last 9 months. We can't wait to meet our son and certainly can't imagine loving him more than we already do!

Below I have posted some pics of the nursery! I have cleaned, washed, folded/hung, and organized my heart out and Levi has been so sweet about all the "honey-dos" I give him so we are all set to bring our bundle of joy home. Sometime next Friday, I will try to have someone put a post with pictures of......you just thought I was going to give in and tell the name!!! Hahaha so check back to see him and his name will finally be revealed! Love you all!

The Time is Near!

Well we had another doctor appointment last Thursday and everything was wonderful! His heart beat was great, he's growing and moving, my blood pressure is getting higher but that is very normal, I was actually hydrated this time, aaannnddd gained 4 pounds!!!! The baby has been getting lower the last two weeks and we are getting very excited! Dr. Burkholder also said that he thinks I will probably have him by the second week in December...not going to make it to the 16th...and we have another ultrasound and appointment this week to see how big he is, make sure he is "head down", and see if I am dilating yet. Levi is getting very anxious and I am just nesting like crazy lately! Here are some pictures at 36 weeks and yes...I am "giving in" and posting one of my bare belly! I am not so excited for everyone to see it but I am doing it for those who have live too far or are just dying to see...notice I have a look that says, "Take the picture...I'm exhausted".... :)





Check back next week for possible ultrasound pics and an update on when we may expect this precious boy!