Phew what a busy couple of months, oh who the heck are we kidding. YEAR. Busy Year. Unforgettable Year for more reasons than I could ever put into words. But I'm going to write down what I remember so years down the road I can read through and remind us that we can get through anything with Jesus on our side. 

This is the first time I sat down and put everything "on paper" so to speak... kinda like a journal so brace yourself or log off and come back tomorrow  for today's SB Clinic update 😆. 

Mother's Intuition is the real deal !

I KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING of my pregnancy SOMETHING wasn't typical and continued to be told everything looks good, finally mid November 2022 after blood work and an ultrasound said everything was lowest risk and they told me to go home enjoy the holidays and this pregnancy and I did.... until..

the Anatomy Scan... Friday the 13th (Jan 2023) I like to Call "D Day" *Diagnosis Day* at 20weeks 4days... Easily one of the worst days of my life 😭...

The 19 days till Surgery were spent with phone calls between insurance companies and Fetal Surgery Centers in Washington, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Denver and Chicago, all while trying to keep our curious 2 Year Old, distracted from Typical Toddler Shenanigans.

IE: { Removing Live Plants from the Fish Tank to dumping boxes of cereal down each of the recliners for the dogs to have a snack buffet all while  removing DVDs from their cases and other mayhem complete with crawling out back through the dog door while I'm on these detail oriented phone calls.}

Time was Ticking and FAST! 

Fetal Surgery has to be completed anytime between 23Weeks - 25weeks 6days. 

Feb 1st Fly into Denver & Check into Ronald McDonald House.
Feb 2nd Fetal Surgery Consult @22 weeks 3 days
Feb. 6th Fetal Surgery in Colorado @ 23 Weeks (Dominic made these surgeons work extra hard-he was the hardest MMC repair to date.)

Feb 6th-10th Admitted into ICU at Colorado Children's
Feb. 21st Check Out of Ronald McDonald House & Fly Home! 
Feb.22nd Reunited with Roman (First time ever away from me longer than 1 night) que the expected separation anxiety {hardest 3 weeks of my life}

March 2nd Admitted into Antepartum
March 24th Dominic is Born at 29weeks 4days (3lbs 8oz)
March 26th Dominic is Baptized before going into his 1st surgery
March 27th  (1st & 2nd Surgery at 3 and 5days old ) Brain Reservoir Placed (to help Hydrocephalus)& Spine Closed Using own Skin (rather than the patch placed in Utero)
April & May he had surgeries 4,5&6, 🧠 surgeries for 2 different type shunts then 3 hernias repaired and his VP Shunt Placed May 31st.

June 6th Dominic Comes HOME after 75days!
June 28th ER visit for Mom that ended up with a Gallbladder Removal and overnight stay.
July 9th ER Visit for Concern of Shunt Infection (Culture-Negative) 
July 11th ER Visit for continued Concern of Shunt Infection (Culture -Negative)
Aug 1st First Spina Bifida Clinic 
Aug 11th ER Visit- Admitted for Shunt Site Infection 
Aug 12th Surgery #7 to remove part of scalp infected area sent to lab for culture (Negative) 
Aug 30. Begin Intermittent Cathing 
Sept. 25th Nuerosurgery Office Visit for concern of Infection (still) antibiotics continued
Oct. 3rd Spina Bifida Clinic then Fly to California
Oct 11th Nuerosurgery Office Visit
Oct. 18th Surgery #8 VP Shunt Removal (Culture on skin, shunt reservoir and tubing and Fluid sent to lab)
External Shunt Placed and 9 day stay in PICU 
October 27th Surgery #9 New Shunt Placed and moved to General Peds Floor 
October 28th Discharged and confirmed colonized Staph infection throughout the shunt reservoir but by the grace of God we avoided meningitis!
Nov. 2nd First serial cast placed 
Nov. 14th "Dissolvable" Stitches Removed
November 16th NICU Follow Up Clinic
Nov 17th Remaining Hiding Stitches Removed in office with equipment used in surgery after being embedded under skin and not dissolving from October 18th Surgery (Awful to watch🤕)
Dec 7th last cast removed and Orthotics Fitted. 
Dec 28th Orthotic Check in and Determined custom braces are needed.
Jan. 2nd Spina Bifida Clinic update tomorrow! All good though!