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On Tuesday afternoon, one week after open heart surgery, Stella came home!

The end.

Wishful thinking, but it did bring a certain amount of closure to this phase of our lives. Ever since she was diagnosed in-utero on August 17, 2015, we knew she would have a least 3 open heart surgeries and that they would happen at birth, around 4 months old and around 3 years old. And that kind of anticipation will mess with you. We know this isn't going to be the end of it - that sooner or later she'll need another surgery, another cath, a pace maker - who knows? But the most long lasting dread is behind us. Can I get an Amen?

The transition home has been fairly smooth - but perhaps a little more work than I bargained for. Stella is still pretty unsteady on her feet but finally able to walk from room to room on her own. She struggles to stand up since she can't push or pull up on anything, which means I'm pretty much glued to her hip. I've had worse gigs, but I probably could have mentally prepared a little better for her physical limitations at home. We are adjusting! We had to go back to a training potty since its impossible for her to get on and off a real one without major assistance, and she is sleeping in bed with me so I can help her stay comfortable and give her meds every 3 hours at night. Our biggest hurdle is still oral meds. Her favorite party trick is to make herself throw them up - which means we just have to dose her again. I can't totally blame her, one of her diuretics taste like sin. But you try telling a 3 year old to suck it up, buttercup.

When we were discharged Stella still had a decent amount of fluid in her right lung so we will head down to the hospital tomorrow for a chest X ray and blood-work to make sure that fluid hasn’t grown (maybe it will be gone!?) The worst thing that could still happen is that the fluid grows and she would need to have a chest tube put back in. So if you haven't had enough of our prayer requests, pray the fluid looks smaller or is non-existent!

We are pumped to be home for Easter so we can attend church (sans Stella, too soon for her to be out and about) and give thanks for the incredible way God has blessed our family over the years and especially the last few weeks. I still have a hard time processing what could have happened if Dr. E hadn't seen and repaired where the stent in her left pulmonary artery had begun to erode into her aortic wall. It not for this surgery, that complication would have gone undetected and it could have been catastrophic. Doctors are amazing, but talk about a healing Savior.

If you don't have a church home for Easter on Sunday, please join us! We will be worshiping with our church, The Gathering, at Stifel Theatre at 10:30 am. ALL are welcome and I'd be so honored to have you by my side. I love you all so much and hope that no matter where you celebrate this Sunday, you feel the power and presence of a God who sent his Son to save us from all the pain and suffering life on this earth can bring. Hallelujah, what a Savior.

Man of sorrows, what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim
Hallelujah! What Savior

Stand unclean, no one else could
In my place condemned He stood
Now his nearness is my good
Hallelujah! What a Savior

Hallelujah, praise to the one
Whose blood has pardoned me
Oh what a Savior, Redeemer and King
Your love has rescued me

Lifted up was He to die
"It is finished!" was His cry
Now in Heaven lifted high
Hallelujah! What a Savior

When He comes, our Glorious King
All his ransomed home to bring
Then anew this song we'll sing
Hallelujah! What a Savior
Hallelujah! What a Savior

Hallelujah, praise to the one
Whose blood has pardoned me
Oh what a Savior, Redeemer and King
Your love has rescued me

Hallelujah, praise to the one
Whose blood has pardoned me
Oh what a Savior, Redeemer and King
Your love has rescued me

Hallelujah, praise to the one
Whose blood has pardoned me
Oh what a Savior, Redeemer and King
Your love has rescued me