Since my child decided to stop growing, my doctor decided that we might as well deliver her into this world a few weeks early so she would have a better opportunity to grow and get big. Here is the story of the birth of my sweet Lexi.
When you are prepping to deliver a baby that has any type of ‘special needs’ or ‘abnormal issues’ the delivery room gets really crowded with extra nurses, specialists, and NICU staff. I was amazed at how many people came to see me have a baby! It was exciting.
Lexi was delivered by C-Section- an amazing and crazy experience. Soon after she was born she became the STAR of the room. She was swept away from the doctor and placed on an examination table where 4-5 doctors looked her over. She was small, 4 pounds and 12 ounces. She had 10 fingers and 10 toes, 2 arms and 2 legs but as the doctors were examining her they realized she was missing something.
As I was in the recovery room, high as a kite, family came in to inform me that our new baby girl was missing a butt. I was very confused at these words. How can someone be missing a butt. Then it was explained to me that she was missing her ‘bottom hole’. Yes, my child not only was born with a congenital heart defect, she was born with an imperforated anus. In my mind I thought how crazy that sounded but after it sunk in I asked if it was fixable and I was told that it was. Since it was fixable, I chose not to stress out about it.
Day 2 of Lexi’s life she went in for an operation to have a colostomy so she could poop. This was a new experience for us that required much training and practice on the removal, cleaning and replacement of one. It was amazing, however, not to have to change a dirty diaper for around the first 8 months of her life.
Lexi had to stay in the PICU/NICU for two weeks. They kept her in the hospital in hopes that she would gain weight. Since her heart was not as strong as a normal heart, she got really tired when she would eat, therefore not getting as many calories as she needed to gain weight. Finally after hanging out at the hospital waiting for her ‘feed times’ each day, the doctors decided to let her go home to try and gain weight.
Wow! What a great story! I am so glad that I stopped by and read this! I really needed to see this and read a story of triumph and will to survive!! Thank you, thank you!! #SITSblogging
What a little trooper Lexi was and I am sure still is. I’m so glad that the things that happened were all things that could be “fixed”. She is adorable. I love the tag-line of your blog. It made me smile. 🙂 Visiting from #sitsblogging
Your daughter, Ma’am, is just ten kinds of hardcore.
An amazing kid indeed! God gave her to you for a reason. Cherish that! Stopping by from SITS. Your blog is beautiful! #SITSblogging.
So good to see her smiling and healthy after all she went through as an infant. Thanks for sharing her story. What an inspiration. #SitsBlogging
Amazing story but its so heart warming to know she is a healthy 7 year old!!
Amanda // Happily Ever After
What a struggle. My sister was born with a birth defect and had many surgeries as well. It is so hard on the parents to watch your little one go through that and know you can’t just make it all better yourself. What a strong, amazing little girl! #SITSBlogging
What an heart warming story! 🙂 Thank you for sharing this 🙂
http://neatly-packaged.blogspot.com/
What an amazing story!! I am a respiratory therapist in the NICU and it’s amazing to see success stories!! Way to go Lexi!!
Awesome Girl!! Awesome Mom!!
What a spunky and awesome kid you have!
Thanks for sharing your story! Lexi is one strong girl!
Commenting from SITS!
Alessia – The Styled Child
http://www.thestyledchild.com and http://thestyledchildshop.storenvy.com
What a warrior! #SITSBlogging
@MommyPowers