Danni's Last Day by Daddy

We had debated, the night before, about going over to the NICU early to be with her when she was transported to the CVCC. In the end we decided that we would sleep in a bit and then head to the CVCC when we got up and spend the entire day over there. So we slept in. Sarah says she was awake early enough that she was going to get me up to go to the NICU, but she let me sleep. I was out cold. When I finally got up, we decided to eat breakfast, shower, and get ready to go. I showered while Sarah ordered breakfast and then she showered. While she was in the shower I received a phone call from the CVCC saying that they didn’t like how low her heart rate was and that they were going to put in an external pacemaker. They said not to worry and that they would call us if anything went wrong. Sarah got out of the shower and our food came, so we ate and waited for her next medication, after which we were going to head over there and spend as much time as we could. When we were all packed up and ready to go I got another phone call. The nurse on the other end told me that we needed to get to the CVCC now, the pacemaker hadn’t taken. I dumped Sarah in the wheelchair and proceeded to run with her to the CVCC.

When we got there the first thing we noticed was that there was about 20 people standing outside Danni’s room, watching something going on inside. I remember turning to Sarah and saying “That can’t be good.” Sure enough, it wasn’t. We walked up and the head nurse found us and brought us into the room.

The first thing I noticed was Danni herself. She already looked lifeless lying there on the hospital bed. She wasn’t moving, she wasn’t breathing, and her heart wasn’t beating by itself. Dr. Baker, the cardiologist, was doing chest compressions, and the other doctor was monitoring the screens and looking at x-rays. She wasn’t responding to anything that the doctors did so they ordered everyone out and did another x-ray. When we got back in they did compressions for another couple of minutes as Sarah and I watched, helpless to do anything. Eventually the head doctor turned to us and said they had been trying for 45 minutes with no response and that no change was likely even if they kept at it all day. He wanted our permission to stop and let her go. Not trusting myself to speak right then, I could only nod my head in assent. Most of the people left the room and we held her hand as the “life” left her. Her hand was already cold when we were able to hold it. Sarah and I agreed that she was gone long before we had gotten there.

We were led over to a couch to wait while some nurses and the chaplain prepared her for us to hold for the last time. Sarah and I couldn’t even speak, we just sat holding each other and crying. Eventually she was brought in and Sarah held her. We sat like that for probably an hour while the chaplain, who said she would give us privacy, kept coming in and talking to us and checking on us. I have never wanted to yell at someone so badly in my life, but I still couldn’t even speak let alone yell. I tried to mentally convey to her that we just wanted to be alone, but she didn’t seem to get the message. Finally, she asked if we wanted to get some hand and foot prints made and we nodded yes, so she busied herself getting that ready and left us in peace. We said our goodbyes and stood up and laid her on the bed; we just wanted to go back to Sarah’s room and have some privacy. We said our final goodbyes and left. That was the last time I saw my baby girl.

Danni's Stone

We went out to see Danni's stone today. Adam and I had both ended up calling Resurrection to see if they had put it in. Apparently they put it in after Adam had left on Thursday. Adam called me on his way home, and told me to meet him there. He got there before me, and said he had already brushed off some of the dirt that they left on it after digging it in. We both looked at it. Adam told me that he missed her, and we held each other. I know he misses her, but guys don't generally talk about emotions. So, for me, it was nice to hear him say it.

Feel free to visit her. She is at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, off of 110 and Lexington (just west of 35E). You'll have to stop at the main office to get directions to where she is from there. Let us know if you stop by, we would love to hear!

Danni's First Day by Daddy

I slept in the next morning. I hadn’t slept well because there had been nurses coming and going every few hours to check on Sarah and give her meds and other fun things. Plus the couch was ridiculously uncomfortable to sleep on. Eventually I got up and decided that I wanted breakfast while we waited for the nurse to come take out Sarah’s catheter so we could go to the NICU. I wandered down to the cafeteria and ate and then wandered back upstairs. The nurse came in and told us that we could expect the catheter out within the next hour, but she wanted to see Sarah eat some food. Sarah wasn’t too hungry but she asked me what I wanted and ordered it, so I ended up with a second breakfast. The nurse came in after a while and took out the catheter. We were all set to go but the nurse didn’t like it that Sarah got a little pale and woozy when she pulled the catheter out so we had to wait another 30 minutes. Eventually we were allowed to go see our daughter. I pushed Sarah over in the wheelchair and had to make a quick stop to get a security badge made, but soon we were over in the NICU.

The NICU nurse asked Sarah if she wanted to hold Danni, Sarah of course said yes and I helped her into the bedside chair. The cords that were hooked up to the monitors were pretty short, so we could really only hold her in that chair, and pretty much only facing the one direction. Sarah held our daughter and eventually she was able to do skin-to-skin contact. The nurse closed the curtain and Sarah held her on her bare chest. I was told that Danni tried to feed, which was a good sign (we were slightly worried because we were told that if babies don’t suckle within the first x amount of time they might not ever get to breast feed) but she couldn’t get anything out because Sarah had just pumped. Sarah held her for probably about an hour and a half that time, fighting to stay awake and marvel at our new baby.

Eventually Dr. Baker, the cardiologist, came in and wanted to talk to us about her heart. He had the echoes and some drawings and went through them with me (Sarah couldn’t stay awake) and told me exactly what we could expect with the first surgery. He said that the heart was slightly different than had been thought before, but it was better and the way it was formed would make the first surgery a lot easier. He wasn’t so thrilled about the second surgery, but that was months off so we didn’t have to worry yet. He ran down the list of problems her heart had, most of them acronyms that I didn’t understand. Eventually he said that her surgery was scheduled for Thursday morning.

After he left, Sarah finally let me hold Danielle. I sat in the chair and tried my best to hold her “the right way” and not let her choke or be uncomfortable. She was tiny! It was unbelievable that even wrapped up in multiple blankets she was so little. I almost thought that I was going to crush her if I moved wrong.

At one point the nurse came in and we talked about what was going to happen the next day with the move to the CVCC. We were told that she would be moved in the early morning and that we could be there, or we could wait and just go to the CVCC when we got up. She told us that we could expect that they would have to put in an external pacemaker and that they may even have to intibate her that morning. If she were to be intibated we wouldn’t be able to hold her until a few days after her surgery when they could take out the tube. But the nurse told us that it was all up to the doctors and nurses in the CVCC what would happen. We decided to take a quick trip up one floor and talk to the nurses there. We were given a tour and told what we could expect, when the surgery would be, where we would be waiting, that kind of thing. They told us that they would have to wait and see what condition she was in, but they promised that they would give us a phone call if they had to intibate. Satisfied, we left and headed back to Sarah’s room.

I talked on the phone with Denise, who said she was headed over to the NICU to see her granddaughter, and I had some hospital admin errands to run over there, so I told her I was going to meet her over there. Sarah wanted to rest a bit so I left her there and went over to admin where I had to change our daughter’s name from Baby Girl to Danielle Joann. After that Jon called and I stood outside the NICU (phones weren’t allowed to be on in the NICU) and talked to him and he said he would swing by after work to see his newest niece.

When I got to Danni’s room, Denise was standing at her bedside taking pictures at a rate of about 100/minute. I asked why she wasn’t holding her and was told that I had to give verbal permission to the staff in order for that to happen. That was an easy fix. Denise held her for a while and I got a few pictures of grandmother and granddaughter and we chatted. We went back to Sarah’s room, but she was resting so Denise and I decided to walk over to Global Market to get something to eat and just get out for a bit. The trip took us an hour or two and when we came back Sarah was up and moving again and so we visited and waited for Jon to arrive.

Once Jon showed up we all headed over to the NICU for a visit. When we got there Sarah immediately jumped into the holding chair and was given Danni to hold. We got a few pictures and the nurse came in and drew blood and eventually they needed to take blood pressure, so Sarah had to put her back in bed. After the vitals were recorded, we let Jon hold her. He has had 7 children, and I think that all of them dwarfed Danni. He made some comments about how small she was (his last son, Miles, was over 10 pounds) and how redneck her name sounded, and so on and so on. Eventually nine o’clock came and visiting hours were over. Jon put her back in bed and we told her we loved her and I gave her a kiss (Sarah couldn’t reach) and we headed out. Jon and Denise left right from the NICU and Sarah and I headed back to our room.

I wanted to go home that night. My plan was to go home, get a good night’s sleep, return in the morning and spend the next night (pre surgery night) at the hospital. Sarah didn’t want me to go and we talked about it and eventually decided that I would stay just to be near her. We got ready for bed and Sarah decided she was up for a shower. While she was in the shower I got a phone call on her room phone saying that Danni’s blood pressure was a little lower than they liked and so they were putting her on meds. They said not to worry, that they would call if anything changed for the worse. So Sarah and I took a few laps around the maternity ward and headed for bed.

Danni's First Day in the World (by Mommy)

I don’t seem to remember much from the few hours that I did get to spend with Danielle on her first day. I was on pain killers from the surgery the day before, and they made me very tired. But this is what I do remember…

When we woke up in the morning I was very anxious to get over to the NICU to be able to hold our baby girl for the first time. But I had to wait for the nurse to come and help me stand, so she could take out the catheter, and take the few shuffle-steps to the wheel chair that Adam would push me over in. So while we waited I ordered breakfast. I could order so much food, that I ordered Adam breakfast too.

Finally we could go see Danni! Adam pushed me through the hallway to the elevator to bring us to the tunnel, where I quickly found out that hitting the bumps was not fun. We got up to the NICU and Danni’s “room,” and I asked the nurse right away if I was able to hold her today. She said yes. So Adam helped me get to the chair that was next to her incubator (all the lines that she was attached to weren’t very long, so it was really the only place you could sit with her).

The nurse asked if I wanted to do Kangaroo Care (hold her skin-to-skin), and I eagerly said yes. So she brought me a robe-like hospital gown, and I pulled down the one I was wearing. Since I was told that I wasn’t supposed to nurse her, I held her upright against my chest. She was partially awake and rooting, and the nurse told me I could nurse her if I wanted, that she wasn’t going to get much anyway. I told her I had just pumped before we came over, so there wasn’t much left in there even if she did get something.

I first got her to open her mouth really big, as I had read and watched videos about. I remember thinking that her mouth was much smaller than I thought it would be when I imagined breast feeding her when I was still pregnant. Then, I got her latched onto my right breast. But, it kind of hurt, so I took her off, just as I had seen, and switched her to the left side. I was doing everything as best I could remember from the videos and books I had read, but it still was sore. I left her suckle anyway for a couple minutes, until she fell asleep. I figured I would ask a lactation consultant to help me later when I could feed her.

The nurse told us that the doctor was going to come talk to us about her surgery that had been scheduled for Thursday. Plus, the room was only “semi-private,” so people from other rooms that walked by could see right in, so I wrapped the robe around me, and the nurse brought some blankets over and covered up Danielle.

I was getting so tired, and it was difficult to keep my eyes open. But when Dr. Baker came in I perked up for just about a minute. He started describing her heart, telling us that it was pretty much like Dr. Gremmels had stated. I wanted so bad to be able to focus on what he was telling us, because I knew it was important. He said that the way her heart was set up, it made the first surgery a lot easier, but the second surgery trickier. That’s all I really caught of what he said, because my eyes were slamming. Though I do remember at one point he asked if I was alright. I told him that the drugs were making me tired, and he continued talking to Adam, while I held our sleeping baby girl.

I don’t remember when we switched, but Adam took a turn holding her, and the nurse took a couple family photos for us. I loved watching Adam look at our daughter, and of course, watching our baby girl sleep so soundly. I don’t remember a whole lot about Adam holding her though. But I know the nurse needed to take her vitals again, so Adam put her back in her bed, and helped me back to the wheelchair.

I remember that I got up to see her again before we left, and stood over her bed while the nurse took her blood pressure. She did not like it one bit. They would take her blood pressure on each of her limbs, and she really did not like it on her arms. So I held her little green nuk (that was sent home with us later) in her mouth and talked to her. She calmed down when the nurse did her legs. Then we said goodbye. Adam tells me that we both told her we loved her, but I don’t really remember it. I remember him kissing her forehead before we left.

We went back to my room. I had to pump again, and get more drugs. Sitting completely upright in the chair by Danni’s bed, and leaning over it from the couch while Adam held her had made me sore. I think we ate lunch. And I know my mom called to say she was coming, but she went straight to Danni’s room. I guess they wouldn’t let her hold her until Adam or I got there and said it was okay, so she was completely content snapping pictures of Danni Jo’s every movement, and poking or tickling her to try to get her to wake up. I think Adam went over at some point to let the nurse know that it was okay for mom to hold her, and get some paper turned in, so that “Baby Girl Gibson” had a name in their computer system.

I think mom eventually came over to our room, then we waited for Jon, Adam’s brother, to come, and we all headed back to Danielle’s room. When we got there, I was the first to hold her. The nurse bundled her up in two fleece blankets and put her in my arms. At one point another nurse came in to draw some blood. They said I could hold her while she did. It was like a finger prick, but in her heel. I unwrapped her foot (I think it was her right foot), and the nurse swabbed it, then I stuck it back under the blanket while she got the needle ready. I pulled her foot back out, and got ready for Danni to start screaming. She didn’t even flinch, just kept right on sleeping. I laughed, because I thought it was so strange (though I suppose in her first day in our world, she’d been poked more times than I would like to think). I told Danielle that I would get her blood pressure taken, and she could get my blood draws, then we’d both be happy.

I think the nurse needed to take her vitals again or something, because I had to put her back into her bed. Then Jon washed his hands, and Adam asked him if he wanted to hold her. Jon, of course, gave him a wise-guy comment, about that’s why he’d washed. Danielle woke up and Jon held her. I was sitting on the couch next to the chair, but Jon was holding Danni facing the other way, so I couldn’t see her. I remember wanting to hold her since she was awake, but I didn’t want to take the chance away from Jon. I also remember thinking that I should ask him to switch her around, so I could see her. But, I knew it was difficult to turn her around with all the wires and lines running out of her blankets, so I didn’t.

Nine o’clock finally rolled around, and Jon and mom had to leave. Adam and I decided to go back to our room. I don’t remember if Jon and mom came with us or not. I know when we got back Adam and I discussed whether or not he should go home to sleep (he didn’t sleep well on the pull out couch in my room, and wanted to go and get a good night’s sleep, but I wanted him to stay). At first I was under the impression that the nurses wanted me to get up in the middle of the night to walk, but we found out later that wasn’t true, they just wanted me up and walking. So we talked about him possibly staying the night in Danni’s room. But he ended up staying in my room. Adam later told me he’s so glad I made him stay.

Birth Story (By Daddy)

We slept in on the morning of Danni’s birth. Sarah couldn’t eat or drink for 8 hours before the surgery, scheduled for 1:30 that afternoon. We decided to try to sleep through as much of those 8 hours as possible, and so went to bed late and got up late. After my shower I, being a last minute packer, threw a bunch of clothes, books, and toiletries into my bag. I ate a large breakfast because I knew I wouldn’t get to eat again until dinner. Sarah was upset because I ate and she couldn’t. When we were ready to go we picked up Denise and proceeded to the hospital.

At the hospital parking was a nightmare. We ended up having to park all the way up on the roof of the parking ramp. Denise and I grabbed all the bags and the three of us took the long walk to the maternal assessment center (MAC). We got checked in at the MAC and proceeded to wait. And wait. And wait. Sarah was in a big recliner while Denise and I alternated sitting in the one other chair. Nurses occasionally came in to take blood and put in the IV and some other things. I, being a restless sort, took frequent walks down to the nursery and back to kill time. Eventually, almost 3 hours later, they said they were ready. By this time I was in scrubs and Sarah was prepped and ready to go. They took Sarah to the OR while Denise and I waited in the waiting room. Denise made a few phone calls, one to Jack and one to Father Joe, to see where they were and when they would get there. It turns out that Father Joe and my parents were down the hall in the other waiting room, waiting for us to show up there. They came down the hall and joined us and about 10 minutes later the nurse came and brought me back to the OR.

I walked into the OR and Sarah was lying on a table with about 6 people around her. Off to the side I could see nurses from the NICU waiting to take the baby into the little side room to perform some tests and attach some lines. I sat down in the provided chair next to Sarah’s head. There was a sanitary sheet up about boob level, so we couldn’t see what was going on down at her stomach. Within a minute or two the doctor announced that he was beginning cutting. After that Sarah and I just sat and talked for what seemed like an hour. In reality it was a few minutes later when the doc said that he was at the uterus and the nurses could begin to push. The anesthesiologist told me that I could stand up and look over the sheet; that I wouldn’t see anything gross. I wasn’t going to but then I heard several murmurs and exclamations of excitement, and then a baby started crying. Hearing my baby cry made the decision for me and I had to see her right then. I tentatively peeked up over the sheet to get my first look at my baby girl.

She was a small thing, small and grey. Still covered in the amniotic fluid, she was mostly grey and her hair was matted to her head. I could still tell she had a ton of dark hair. The doctor lifter her above the sheet so Sarah could see her, and at that point I couldn’t stop the one or two tears from coming. All too soon the NICU nurses had to take her into their little side room. Sarah and I sat and talked about what we had noticed about her all the while trying to sneak peeks through the door’s window. She was hard to see because of all the nurses in there, but we managed to get a few more glimpses of her. The whole time we could hear her crying too. She managed to be heard by us even through a soundproof door and walls. I imagine she wasn’t too thrilled about being pulled from her cozy, dark, warm place and brought into the open air and the light. I felt like we should have been there to comfort her and make her transition easier, but I knew there was nothing we could do at that point. Eventually the nurses finished and I got to go in and see her. They wrapped her up in a blanket and put a hat on her and let me take her into the OR to see her mom for the first time.

During the whole 12 foot walk to Sarah’s bedside I couldn’t take my eyes off of Danielle. I am actually kind of surprised that I didn’t trip or stumble or anything. I walked up to the side of Sarah’s head, set Danielle down where Sarah could see her, and introduced Danielle to her mom. Sarah was enthralled. She couldn’t take her eyes off of her. The nurses and I took several pictures of Sarah and Danni, and then the nurse took a few of the three of us. Before we knew it the NICU nurses came and said it was time to go. I kissed Sarah goodbye and watched as they put Danni into a plastic covered cart. I followed as they wheeled the cart down past the waiting room towards the elevators.

At the waiting room everyone was ready to see the baby. We stopped there for a minute or two as my parents and Sarah’s parents peeked through the covered cart at their new granddaughter. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. When the nurses said we had to go, Jack and Denise opted to stay with Sarah in the recovery room, and my parents came on the long walk with me.

The walk was about 10 minutes through a tunnel that went under the street and over to the other hospital. During that time I couldn’t take my eyes off of Danni. She was mostly obstructed by the clear plastic covering, but I could see her face, if a little distorted. By this time she was done crying and just content with lying on the bed and looking out the little peephole. I don’t think she knew what to make of her new surroundings, but I think she was content to sit and wait until she figured it out. I spent a good portion of the walk talking with my mom, mostly about babies and in particular me and my siblings; nothing new or earth shattering, but just idle conversation to pass the time. At the end of our journey we arrived at the NICU and were led to Danni’s new room.

In Danni’s new room the nurses had things to do, so I was content to just wait and watch and talk to my parents. The nurses took her weight and length measurements, which I wrote down so I could remember to tell Sarah, and attached some lines into her belly button. I was able to sneak in for some pictures and got a few good ones of her crying. She didn’t like what they were doing to her, and really who could blame her. Almost as soon as the nurses were done she settled down and just watched her surroundings again. I talked to her and got a few more pictures so I could bring the camera back to Sarah, and then my parents told me they had to go, they had a dinner with my grandpa to get to. I spent about five more minutes trying to get good pictures of Danni’s toes because Sarah really wanted to know if her second toes were longer than her big toes like mine, or if she had normal toes like her. The NICU nurse came and updated me and told me that they had to echo her heart, and that the process would take about 45 minutes or so, during which I could be in the room if I wanted, or I could go back and check on mom. I opted for the latter.

The walk back was a lot quicker than the walk there had been. I went into Sarah’s room and found her sitting up feasting on ice chips. I shared Danni’s weight and height, and then handed over the camera and let her look at the pictures. I talked with Sarah’s nurse and was told that we could all go over to the NICU in about 45 minutes, if Sarah was up to it, which coincided exactly with the heart echo being finished. I passed the time sharing pictures and info with Jack, Denise, and Father Joe. The 45 minutes dragged on and on forever. I was really excited and anxious to get back over to the NICU to see Danni. I could tell that everyone else was as well, but we had to wait on Sarah’s recovery. Finally the moment came when the nurse said that Sarah was ready to travel, and so we made the journey over to the NICU to get Danni baptized.

Jeff was waiting for us over in the NICU. He couldn’t get in to see Danni, so he was waiting at the front desk. We all piled into Danni’s room to visit with her and baptize her. It was crowded in there with 7 people, one on a hospital bed. With everyone present we proceeded to baptize and confirm Danielle Joann Theresa Gibson. The ceremony was nice, if a little awkward. We couldn’t hold her so we had to do everything with her lying on the bed, which was fine, just a little hard to do with so many people and so little bed space.

After the ceremony I had to use the bathroom. When I came back all the men were standing outside of the curtain to Danni’s room. My first thought was of her safety; that something had happened to her and they were kicked out to let the nurses work. I approached Father Joe, who was nearest, and he told me that everything was okay, Sarah had just thrown up. Well, she had been sucking down ice chips on an empty stomach right after major abdominal surgery. She ate too much too fast and ended up throwing up. Her nurse took her back to her room to change and rest while the rest of us decided to go to dinner. Father Joe had to leave, but Jack, Denise, Jeff, and I all decided to walk back to Abbott outside instead of through the tunnel. We were going to head to the cafeteria, but on the way we passed the McDonald’s. We just decided to eat there because it was there and easy. After dinner we went back up to Sarah’s room where we sat and visited for a little longer. Eventually Jack, Denise, and Jeff all left and Sarah and I crashed. The couch wasn’t too comfortable, and nurses kept coming in to do tests and check on Sarah, but I was tired from a long day and so fell right to sleep.

Danni's Birth Story as told by Mommy

Two weeks before Danielle's birthday, Adam and I scheduled a c-section. I really did not want to have a c-section, but there were less risks for Danni. And if I could make her life easier when she came into the world, I figured I could get through it. The closer May 17 came, the more excited I got to meet her (and to be done being pregnant... since I was having pelvic girdle pain, I was ready to be done!). But the more nervous I became. I was afraid that Adam wouldn't be able to be in the room when they gave me the spinal, and that's probably when I would need him the most.

Since it was scheduled for 1:30 in the afternoon, and I couldn't eat or drink anything (including water) for eight hours before, Adam and I decided to sleep in as late as we could so that it didn't seem as long. We got up about 9am, and showered and finished packing our bags. We had the car seat in the car and Danni's bag packed as well. Then we headed to my mom's house to pick her up.

When we got there, we went into the MAC, and they brought us to a room to wait for different doctors and nurses to prep us (well, mostly me) for surgery. I got dressed in the lovely hospital gown, and they brought in scrubs for Adam. The anesthesiologist and her nurse came in, other nurses came in, and Dr. Wothe (who was doing the c-section) came in to meet with us, and answer any questions we had. I got hooked up to an IV (but first gave me a local anesthetic, so that I couldn't feel it go into my vein), blood-typed, and shaved.

Since Dr. Fairbanks had mentioned to them that I needed to have Adam in with me when they did the spinal, they told me very quickly that he would not be allowed into the room, because the area needed to be kept sterilized, but he could come in once the drape was hung. Of course, I was rather upset and more nervous, but I tried not to think about it while we were waiting. The anesthesiologist told me that they would give me a local anesthetic before the spinal and that I should hold as still as I can. I told her that whenever I get blood drawn, I can hold my arm still, but I always arch my back.

Finally it was time to head to the OR, a nurse pushed my IV rack down the hall, and Adam and mom walked behind me. I kept looking back at Adam, and finally he came up to hold my hand. I was scared, and didn't want to walk into the OR without him. But, at 1:59pm, I did. I got up onto the table, and sat on the edge. The anesthesiologist was behind me, prepping my back, and her nurse was in front of me. I tried to put my head on her shoulder, but she said, "Oh just rest your head on my breasts." The anesthesiologist laughed at her and said, "What breasts, Anne?" We all kind of chuckled, and I made a comment about how mine are quite small too.

Then the anesthesiologist gave me a warning that she was going to do the local, and to hold as still as I could. I jumped and cried, and apparently the needle came out, but she told me later that she stuck me again, and I didn't notice. She said, "You were right, you do jump." (I learned a long time ago, that if you move your arm when they're sticking you, it hurts more, so I trained myself to keep my arm completely still, and only arch my back. So that's precisely what I did.)

Then she gave me the spinal, I was still crying a little, but I couldn't feel it. Then they quickly had me lay down. The nurse moved my feet up to the table, as I was already loosing feeling. They tilted the table slightly so that my left side and my feet were slightly lower. The drape was hung, and the nurse gave me oxygen (which I asked her to take off after a minute or so). They put a blood pressure cuff on my right arm, and tried to put a blanket on my left arm. I wasn't feeling well, and I think they thought I was going to throw up, because they put a little bucket right next to my head. It made me feel claustrophobic, so I asked her to move it.

Finally, Adam came in and held my hand. I started to feel a little more relaxed and closed my eyes to let my head settle down. Adam wasn't sure if I was feeling alright since I had closed my eyes , but I was starting to feel better, so I opened them back up. And soon after, the nurse, who we had given one of our cameras to, to take pictures of Danielle's birth, said that they were starting to pull her out. I couldn't really feel any pressure of them pushing down on my stomach to get her out, like they said I would. But, at 2:35pm, I heard her wail! Not for very long though, just enough to get some air into her lungs.

It seemed like forever before Dr. Wothe held her up over the drape for Adam and I to see. But there she finally was, beautiful, and not so happy, with a head full of dark hair! I cried at the sight of our beautiful baby girl, I couldn't believe she was finally here and so perfect. Dr. Wothe passed her off to the Children's doctors to put lines into her umbilical cord. They brought her to another room, through a door in the OR that I was in, and Adam and I could watch her through the window in the door. I could see a drape that they put around her umbilical cord, that covered her face. Every once in a while when it was quite in my OR, we could hear a wail from her in the other room. I wished Adam could have been in there with her, but just like they wouldn't let him in when they gave me the spinal, they wouldn't let him in with her (which is not what we were originally told).

Finally they were done working on her (and at that point, almost done stitching me back up as well), so Adam was allowed to go in. They wrapped her in a blanket and handed her to him. He carried her in to me, and as I watched him, he did not take his eyes off her. I had never seen him look so proud! He rested her on my arm, and I brought my other arm over to touch her. One of the nurses came and turned her more onto her side so that I could see her face. She was awake, and content. She stuck out her tongue a couple times, then opened her left eye to look at me, as I was talking to her. (I think it was so bright in the OR that she was squinting with her right eye).

They wouldn't let her stay for long though, but they were almost done with me also. Adam left with her, and on the way to the NICU, she was met by both of our parents and Fr. Joe. Adam's parents went with Adam & Danni to the NICU, and my parents stayed to wait for me.

It didn't seem like much more than 5 minutes, and I was being un-draped, and pushed down the hall to a recovery room. As we went down the hall, I saw mom and dad and waved to them. But they wouldn't let her in the room right away. As they got me settled, I could hear her out in the hallway. And soon they allowed her to come in, and she told me she got to see Danni Jo on the way to the NICU.

While I was in the recovery room, the nurse asked if I wanted some ice chips. Did I ever! So she brought in a cup with a spoon, and I started sucking on some, but quickly changed to chewing on them. Soon Adam came back and reported that they were doing the echo on Danielle's heart.

After about an hour of getting asked if I could move my toes, the nurse allowed me to go see my daughter, even though I still couldn't. So, with Adam, my parents, and Fr. Joe in tow, I was pushed to the elevators, down through the tunnels, and up into the NICU at Children's (across the street from Abbott).

When we got into her semi-private room, a nurse was working on her. I asked if I could hold her, but she said no. I couldn't sit up on my bed-cart, so I could barely see her. But when she finished working on her, she sat her up so I could see her. Danielle was a little fussy, and the nurse held a nuk in her mouth, and I stroked her cheek, and wiped away her tear. She laid her back down and she and my nurse stood "outside" Danni's semi-private room.

With me pulled up on my bed-cart next to her, stroking her knee (as it was the only part of her I could reach) and my parents, Adam, and Jeff gathered around, Fr. Joe, Baptized and Confirmed her. My parents were her proxy Godparents (but ended up being her Godparents in the end). We all made a cross on her forehead, and Fr. Joe poured water over her head. She didn't let out a peep, but just kept sleeping. When Fr. Joe asked if she had a saint to be confirmed, my mom suggested St. Theresa of the Roses, which is my grandma's (on my dad's side), my mom's and my confirmation saint. We agreed.

We stood (well everyone else stood, I was still trying to feel my legs) around at her crib-side for a while talking. I had been laying in the same position for a while and was starting to get uncomfortable (plus I was starting to get a little feeling back, so I could feel the uncomfortableness). I tried to shift my dead weight around, and actually moved a little. But I think that's what did it. My dad asked me a question, I couldn't even tell you what he wanted, but I told him to tell my nurse I needed a bucket. Unfortunately, it wasn't quick enough. I threw up all (well, not quite all) the ice chips that I had chowed down only a little while ago.

My nurse wheeled me out and took me back to my room that I would be staying in for the next couple of days. When we got there another nurse, from that floor, came in and helped me and the first nurse. They wanted me to move myself over to the bed from the bed-cart. I really didn't want to move myself, and told them that the movement is what made me throw up. The new nurse, wanted me to do it by myself without any help. But the other nurse commented about how I was small enough, and helped me by herself. And then helped me with a new gown. I sat/laid in bed for a minute, and the new nurse could tell I was going to throw up, so she held the bucket for me. Sure enough, I did again, but at least this time it was all in the bucket and not on my lovely new gown.

After Adam, my parents, and Jeff ate dinner, they came back up to my room. My parents and Jeff, just came back to say goodbye, and left shortly after the arrived. Adam wrote an email sharing the news that our baby girl was here. Then, I forwarded it onto the people on my account. But, we had had such a day that we soon went to bed.

Please feel free to leave us comments, if you wish! :)

Danielle's Funeral Information

Danielle Joann Gibson
5/17/10 – 5/19/10

Celebration Mass of Christian Burial
Monday 5/24/10
Visitation 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Funeral Mass 10:00 am

Holy Trinity Catholic Church
749 6th Avenue South
South St. Paul, MN 55075

Luncheon immediately following Mass
Lorraine Park Pavilion
756 3rd Avenue South
South St. Paul, MN 55075

Private Interment following mass
Resurrection Cemetery

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&hq&hnear=Inver+Grove+Heights%2C+Dakota%2C+Minnesota+55076&msa=0&msid=100214073968739970202.0004872f4b5babde03de6&ll=44.880323%2C-93.04862&spn=0.01709%2C0.038581&z=15

Info About Danni's Surgery

Hello again. Update:

Danielle is doing well in the NICU. We spoke with the cardiologist today who told us everything that is wrong with her heart and everything they are doing to fix it. If you want to look it up, it is any and all of the following (and maybe a few more):

-DILV

-L-TGA

-Mitral Atresia

-Interrupted IVC

-Bilateral SVC

I found some info just googling those....

She is being moved from NICU to the cardiovascular care center (CVCC) tomorrow (5-19) morning (same building as the NICU (Childern's), 4th floor. Still have to get badged on 2nd floor welcome center before getting in). She will spend the day getting prepped for surgery which will happen (as of now) on Thursday (5-20) morning at 8:30. The surgery is expected to take up to 6 hours. Recovery time is unknown, expected is around 10 days.

Sarah and I will be in the family waiting area during the surgery, which is located in the CVCC. All are welcome to come hang out with us, we could use the support. We will probably bring games and there is a big TV to watch.....

Danielle's survival chance for this first surgery is around 80-85%, so prayers and well wishes are still needed!

Don't know all the rules of the CVCC yet. We do know that after she is intibated some time tomorrow (until 2 days after surgery or so) that there can only be 2 people in her room, including parents, at any given time. I would expect that she could have visitors tomorrow afternoon and evening, but no holding her at that point.

As always, I will update more as I learn it.

Our Newest Family Member!

Danni Jo is here! Born May 17, 2010 at 2:35pm, weighing 6 pounds 13 ounces, 19.25 inches long.

Her heart rate is where it has been at about 50 bpm, but holding steady. They could not get the tubes in her belly button (which they said often happens when there are only two vessels in the umbilical cord), so she has two IV's in her left arm. But, she likes to suck on her left fingers, and can't do that now, so I'm hoping that she soon finds her right hand. (Adam thinks she's going to be a lefty like him!)

Because of her condition and her surgery, we had her Baptized and Confirmed right away by Fr. Joe Gallatin (the priest who did our wedding mass). He came to the hospital and spent most of the day there with our parents, and then baptized her in the evening when I could be there too. My parents were her proxy Godparents (Adam and I still have to decide who will be her Godparents). Her Baptismal name is Joann (after St. John of God - the patron saint of heart patients), and her Confirmation saint is St. Theresa of the Roses (who is my, my mom's, and my grandma Eleanor's patron saint).

Fr. Joe Baptising and Confirming Danni Jo

Danni with her Baptismal bonnet and cross
bracelet (around her ankle). Her poor little
left arm is wrapped up with IV's in it.

I am doing pretty well also. It took a while longer than they thought for the spinal to wear off, so I didn't walk at all yesterday. Hopefully soon this morning, my nurse will come in to help me get up and walk. Then I can get into a wheelchair and Adam can take me over to see her, and Danni's nurse said I should be able to hold her today too!

Adam said this Facebook link to her photo album should work even if you don't have Facebook. If you would like to see more pictures of her give it a shot!

Introducing Danielle Joann!

She's here & she's beautiful! Check out the pictures on Facebook or if you don't have an account, check out her blog...
http://danielle-joann.blogspot.com
We'll try to keep both updated with her progress & let everyone know when her surgery is!

Danielle Joann Gibson is here! Born 5-17-2010 at 2:35 pm. Weighing 6 pounds 13 ounces and measuring 19.25 inches in length. Mom is doing wonderfully, resting now. Danielle is doing about as expected, we are waiting for a chat with the cardiologist to determine when her surgery will be. As for now she is holding up well, vitals are good, heart rate is a bit low, as expected. She is over in the NICU.

Sarah will be in room 5475 until Thursday or Friday when they determine that she can leave. If you want to visit, her number is 612-863-2534. Over here in this part of the hospital we are allowed to have our cell phones, so if you need to call you could try any of those. If there is no answer, and cells go to voicemail, we are probably over in the NICU visiting Danielle.

Danielle is in room 70 in the NICU. THe phone number over there is 612-813-5334. That will probably be the best way to get ahold of us over there. Keep in mind that the phone doesn't ring, only blink, and it is in an awkward place, so may or may not be seen. I plan on bringing the laptop so could answer emails too, but phone may be a better bet. Please feel free to set up a visit.

Pictures are here! You should be able to see them by following the link, even if you aren't on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=168930&id=500454441&l=445dfbcc1e

Visiting Danielle in the NICU

We would love for you to come meet the newest member of our family!

Since cell phones are not allowed to be turned on in the NICU, Danielle has a room phone where you can call us (612-813-5334). Please call ahead of time to make sure that one of us is there when you come to visit, otherwise they won't let you in. If no one answers, you can call my room, as Adam may be visiting me in the other building (612-863-2534), but we would love to head over to her room to introduce you to our baby girl.

Getting to Children's Minneapolis:
Here is a link to Google maps.

Parking at Children's Minneapolis: (taken right from their website...)
The best way to enter Children’s - Minneapolis is through the skyway which connects the hospital to the parking ramp. The main entrance to the parking ramp is at 26th Street and Elliot Avenue. You also may enter the ramp through the medical office building parking lot, off Chicago Avenue. After parking, go to Level D and follow signs to the skyway entrance.

Parking fees are posted at the ramp entrance. State permits are required for designated handicapped accessible parking places. Valet services are available. A limited number of free and metered street spaces also are available on nearby streets.

The NICU Rules: (some of them are to help stop spreading infections... remember she has no spleen, so for her it's really important!)
-Visiting hours are from 9am until 9pm
-Two to four visitors at one time in the room (not counting Adam & I)
-Adam or I must be there
-Do not come if you have symptoms of illness
-May need to show ID
-No jewelry (rings, watches, bracelets)
-Must wash hands (up to elbows) for 2 minutes before coming in and use waterless hand sanitizer before handling Danielle
-No children under 5 (5-11 years old may be asked to wear a mask)
-Cell phones must be turned OFF - not silent (could interfere with all the stuff she's hooked up to)
-No plants, flowers, or latex balloons
-No artificial nails (strange, I know, but I guess they've linked it to the spread of some infection... they also had to include for Adam & I that we cannot sleep in her crib with her... kind of makes you wonder what kind of stories they have!)

What's in a name?

When Adam and I first found out that our baby had heart problems, we looked up the patron saint of hearts. We found that St. John of God was the patron saint of heart patients. Since we thought we were having a boy at first this worked out well, but once we found out we were having a girl, we found that Joann, Joanna, and Joan are female variations of the male name John, so we wanted to work that into her name somehow, but we didn't want to use it as a first name.

One evening, when I was about 7 months along, we were discussing names, trying to come up with a first name that we both liked, and that sounded good with Joann as a middle name. Adam threw out the name Danielle among others, but it was the only one that I liked. We tried saying it a couple times "Danielle Joann," "Danielle Joanna," "Danielle Joan." We liked the sound of Danielle Joann, so we started referring to her as Danielle or Danni instead of "Baby" which we had been doing for so long, just to try it out and see if we liked it. And the name stuck!

Danielle is Hebrew meaning "God is my judge" and Joann is English meaning "God is gracious."