Baby Maverick

This blog was created to keep family and friends updated on what's going on with the pregnancy, birth, and surgical plan for Maverick. We'll also be able to keep everyone updated during his surgery and recovery and hopefully be able to show you some cute pictures of him, Maddie, Carter and Chloe along the way.

This was the original intent; however, when we started this blog we had no idea the twists and turns our lives would take. Our sweet baby Maverick was born September 12, 2008 with Transposition of the Great Arteries, ASD, and VSD. We expected to have a baby boy to bring home three to four weeks after his surgery. He had numerous complications after his arterial switch and fought through many that would have taken the life from an adult. He passed away February 24, 2009 - without ever coming home.

This blog is now a place I share my feelings, work through the grief, remember Maverick, and try to make sense out of our life without him. I hope in doing so I am giving a name and a face to babies everywhere born with congenital heart defects.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Catching up

I haven't blogged in several days, so I'm catching up today. I stayed around the house until yesterday. We got out for a little while yesterday evening. I've felt good, my groin area is just a bit sore. Nothing ibuprofen won't fix. I just can't imagine what little Mav must have felt, though. They poked so many times the last time they tried to do the heart cath to create an ASD. And I know that pain was nothing compared to his two open heart surgeries and other procedures and operations. He was truly a tough little guy.

We all went to church today. The sermon was great. It was on James 3:13-16 and was about wisdom. Here's one thing Todd said, "Wisdom is not understanding all that is going on. Wisdom is making good decisions as life is thrown at you." I've been trying to understand the why's of everything that has happened. I still can't make sense of it. I know that I need to just continue on and focus on making good decisions now. Sometimes it's hard though. His sermon gave me some things to ponder and implement.

I can't tell you how palpable the relief is in this house. Things were so tense and uncertain before the procedure. We weren't sure if it would work or if we would be looking at an open heart surgery sometime in the near future. And there are always risks with any procedure. The kids were pretty wound up about it, especially Maddie. Greg was very concerned. It's just been so nice to have this issue behind us, and I've been feeling better emotionally since it's over. Greg has, too.

One thing I'm going to miss are the amazing meals my friends cooked, though. I can't, in good conscious, "milk" this anymore... sigh. My children are going to have higher expectations of me this week. Every night at the table, the kids had nice compliments to say about the food and the person/people who prepared it. My favorite/funny comment was from the Chlo, of course. She said, "Ms. Gaynell is da best cook in da evah." We got a bunch of groceries at the big W. Maybe I can win them back over with my "famous" spaghetti. That's the dish they all like the best of mine. My secret? Prego from a jar - pour into 1 pound cooked hamburger meat. I don't know what happened in my family. The good-cook gene was passed on to my brother instead of me. That is so not fair.

Thanks for all your prayers. Love you all, jc

4 comments:

Christian Burge Photography said...

I don't think that I have ever been so moved by someones life as I am urs....I think ur baby lives on and is still touching peoples hearts like mine...

Angela Jones said...

Juli -

I am so glad the procedure was successful and that you are recovering so well. I know you are all relieved.
I love reading about your coupon deals. I am a coupon lover too! In fact, I went to the doctor a few months ago thinking that I had arthritis in my thumb from clipping so many coupons. My doctor suggested that I get a pair of Black & Decker electric scissors. They are wonderful! No more pain in my thumb joint, and I can clip coupons as much as I want!
Angela

Anonymous said...

So thankful the procedure is over and successful and your kids and family and of course all of us can praise God:)
A thought about Mav's marker...A plane from his blog post maybe etched in clouds that fit the rectangular space for it. I know whatever you choose will be amazing and special:) In the fall we used to plant bulbs all over our daddy's grave and in the spring they would bloom before the first mowing of the season. I looked so alive. One year we made cross and heart designs with the bulb planter. They came back for a few years...but the ground is not the best.

Juli said...

Christian, Thanks for your sweet words. I hope Mav continues to live on and touch lives for many years to come.

Angela, That is so funny. I may have to get some of those scissors.

Anon, We're working on Mav's marker. The airplane is meaningful to us, but I'm debating on what to put on the marker. He loved his mobile and his monkey. I saw another marker that had a baby's mobile etched on it along with the baby's picture.