Ninth Anniversary!

 We had the BEST anniversary this year!  

I think it just gets better and better each year.  Lulu spoiled Mark and I this year.  The week before our anniversary Lulu asked us if we could help her get some things from the grocery store.  The night before she asked us if she could get up early to "do something."  So the morning of our anniversary we woke up to a very special breakfast in bed.  We had toast with butter, jam and banana on it (interesting taste but not terrible), a plate of fruit and coffee.  Lulu even add a battery operated candle on the fruit plate.   

Video of Our Hospital Stay

Silas' Recovery from Kimmy Tersieff on Vimeo.

Post Op Visit

 One week later!  Silas is doing great and we thank God for the quick recovery.  We also thank God for the power of a praying church, praying family, friends and people we don't even know who we heard were praying for Silas.  Thank you all!  We have been so touched and humbled by all the people praying.  

 One last hospital picture!! 

 Today Silas got some stitches taken out and his final check up.  He's a healthy boy! 

Our Hospital Stay

 Here we are wheeling Silas from the CICU to the normal floor.  This was a fun walk and just meant we were getting that much closer to going home.  

 Silas says "hi"....waving is his new trick.  He loves to wave. 

 Here's his sweet little scar. 

 Getting weighed.  Not very fun. 

Each night Mark came over and brought me dinner and spent time with us.  My parents were such a blessing because they watched and cared for our kids.  

 Once we were in our new room Mark brought the kids to visit.  They were so exceed to see us.  They toured the hospital and had lunch in the cafeteria.  They thought that was pretty cool since they could pick out what food they wanted.  

 My parents and Mark's mom were also able to visit.  Here is my mom hold Silas so I could take a shower!!! 

 Each morning around 4:45am we had to wake up and do chest X-rays.  Silas did so well but didn't enjoy it. 

 He got his drain tube taken out!  Another step closer to going home!

 Here is one of the cardiologist doing a checkup to see if Silas can go home.  

 Silas started eating real food.  He had lasagna, green beans and sherbet.  

 Happy Boy....he's going home!!!!

Once we got the ok to be discharged Mark headed back to my parents and picked up everyone and drove them back.  This was a family event.  My parents came too!

We watched them find a parking spot.  

Good bye Seattle Children's!!  We were discharged on Friday, May 9th, 2014.  Only 4 days in the hospital.  What an answer to pryer.  

After Surgery in the CICU

Around 1pm on 5/6/14 we finally got to see Silas for the first time in his CICU (cardiac intensive care unit).  I was so excited to just see him.  We had just talked to his surgeon and knew he had done well.  He was sleeping but started stirring and crying when he heard me.  Silas even knew I was standing there.  He wanted mommy!  So I actually had to sit away from him.  It was bitter sweet because I wanted to touch him and talk to him yet I wanted him to rest.  The nurses were great so I actually felt good leaving because he was in great hands.    

 I had to touch him and love him and pray over him.  

 Mark is the best dad and was able to calm Silas down.  I could see Silas literally calm when Mark talked to him and touched him.  

 He came out of the OR with a slight temp so that's why he had the cloth on his head.  But it came down while we were there with him. 

Here is his CICU room. 

Here I am talking on the phone updating our loved ones. 

 Silas and I stayed our first night in the CICU.  It was better then I expected.  He did great.  

Here's where I slept!  Mark made my bed for me before he left the night before.  He's so good to me. 

 Silas took some pedialight at first.  This was an exciting step in his recovery.  

 Then he was ready for breast milk!!  I'm so glad I had pumped for a few weeks before surgery and froze the milk.  I also pumped while he was in surgery and during recovery.  It was JUST enough.  This little guy was hungry.  When we were down to 6oz of pumped milk God answered my prayer to actually breast feed Silas.  He was struggling with it for the 1st 24hrs and finally he did! 

 One of the goals we had before leaving the CICU was to get me to actually hold Silas.  We did that on day 2 and that was the BEST feeling.  

I was so excited to hold him.  I tried to breastfeed him but he still didn't want to.  I was a bit emotional about that but everyone kept telling me it was normal.  But like I said he eventually did and hasn't needed a bottle since! 

Goodbye CICU!