What is Ahead...

Malachi is getting so big! I can't believe he is going to be 7 months old on June 2nd! That is also the day they have scheduled for his Cath. They will be going in to check his Pulmonary Artery to see if there is enough blood flow getting to his lungs. If there is not enough, they will either inflate a balloon or put in a stent. The procedure is scheduled for 10:30 am on June 2nd. If all goes well he could go home the day after the Cath. We are praying that of course! Here are some great pics we took when Malachi turned 6 months old. I do not mind saying he is such a cutie!

Malachi's First Haircut!

Aunt Amy came over on Sunday, April 20th, and cut Malachi's hair. Some strands were 1/2 an inch long! He is going on 6 months and was really needing the cut! He looks so cute with it cut! As sad as it was, I am glad we cut it!

The Journey of Malachi's Life... Warning Some Pictures Might be Hard to Look at...

November 2, 2007, 3:04 p.m., 5 lbs 2 oz, 19 3/4 inches long:

Life in the CICU:

First Surgery to Remove Tracheal Webbing from Throat, November 9, 2007:

First Heart Surgery, November 13, 2007:
Life on 7th South:

Back in CICU after Cath Lab Atrial Septostomy, December 17, 2007:

Home for a Month, December 22, 2007 - January 22, 2008:

Waiting for the Next Surgery in Pittsburgh, January 22, 2008 - February 22, 2008:

Second Heart Surgery, February 22, 2008:

Home for a Week and a Half, March 1, 2008 - March 12, 2008:

Back to Pittsburgh March 12, 2008:

Transfer to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, March 19, 2008:

After G-Tube Surgery, March 31, 2008:

Going Home, April 4, 2008:

We Are HOME!!!!

Malachi was ready to get of the hospital. He cracks me up with his "talking." We are now home and so thankful to be. Philip is liking his new job and we are settling in here in Ohio. We miss friends and family in Erie, but it is nice for me to be here close to my family. We love you and appreciate all your faithful prayers for Malachi. When we left this afternoon it was the first time we left the hospital feeling like Malachi was doing really well. He is so content and happy. It is so great!

The New Malachi!!!

Look at ME! NO TUBE!!!!!

Thanks for the Prayers...

Thank you to all for your faithful prayers for our son. He is doing well other than some hunger and surgery pains. We will take some better photos once he is feeling a lot better. I wanted to show everyone what he actually looks like without a feeding tube in his nose! He was cute before but now WOW! Cutie pie! The surgery went very well. Malachi was extubated immediately after surgery. He was in post-op for just 30 minutes and they brought him back to the room promptly. He is in some pain from the surgery, but they are treating it with pain meds. We hope to have him eating again tomorrow evening. Hopefully fully recovered and home by Friday! Thanks again and again for all the prayers and support! We love you all.

Love,
April (for all three)

2 Cor. 12:10

Quick Update...

Malachi is scheduled for his G-Tube surgery on Monday, March 31st. It should be a pretty simple surgery, but always nothing to take lightly. He should be all recovered and out of the hospital by the end of next week, unless something unforeseen happens. (Which we pray doesn't!)

His CT Scan went okay. He stopped breathing during it and the anesthesiologist had to quickly getting him some oxygen, but he was fine once he gave him some. The results showed that Malachi's Pulmonary branch is starting to narrow and separate. The decision was made to have Malachi go in for a Cath to put a balloon in and inflate the artery, or put in a stent (similar to tubing) in the artery. He is not needing the Cath right away. They feel he is fine to go home for a couple of months after his G-Tube and come back in May for the Cath. It was a little sad to hear that this portion of the journey is not quite finished, but glad that there is a solution to help him out.

Thank you all for your prayers, visits, and phone calls. It means so much to us! We love you all!

Love,
April (for all three!)

I read this the other day when we had the unexpected news come up. It was perfect for what I needed! God is so good and so personal! Paul wrote this after asking the Lord THREE TIMES to take away his "thorn in the flesh," his "trial." May the Lord be glorified through our lives:

"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." 2 Corinthians 12:9