Austin, it's time to eat...

Austin had another follow up appointment with his heart doctor yesterday. He continues to do well and is apporaching time for the second surgery. He will have one more appointment in mid April then they'll discuss when to do the second surgery. So we're guessing his surgery will be sometime in May. Pray that Austin will remain strong between now and then and pray for Andy & Heather as they prepare to relive the journey of surgery and hospital stays. It's been so nice to have Austin at home and it's hard to look ahead knowing what is coming. Join me in praying for them!

Also, join us in praying for Austin's appetite. He isn't eating as well as he has been before, and we really want him to be gaining weight and eating better. Pray that his appetite will increase and he'll be our little piggie, eating all the time! Smile.

Thank you for joining us for this journey. It's definitely been an amazing ride and we're excited to see where God takes us next!

Growing!

Austin had a good weekend last weekend at grandma and grandpa's house. These pictures were taken there. Enjoy!

Austin is growing so much!!! It brings tears to my eyes! Such a blessing! Words can't describe what a blessing Austin has been to so many people! I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see all that God will do with his life.

Keep praying!

No news... is GOOD news!

Austin continues to well! I know I say that a lot lately, but that's exactly what we want to hear!

Austin spends most of his time smiling, eating, pooping, sleeping, playing with Mommy & Daddy, and hanging out at home. He's loving it!

Join me in continuing to pray for little Austin, for Andy, and for Heather. Pray that God will continue to strengthen them for this journey. Pray that God would give them guidance as they face Austin's second surgery in the coming months. Pray that all in Austin's life would continue to sense God's presence and blessing as God continues to use Austin's life in a very powerful way all across the globe!

I'm gonna get you!

Growing and growing!

Austin continues to do well! He's had a GREAT week! He's eating well and almost sleeping through the night! He only wakes up one time to eat, then goes back to sleep! We're so proud of him!

He's visiting with grandparents this weekend, and I'm sure he'll be spoiled! But hey, thats what grandparents are for! Smile. Pray that he'll do well on his first road trip, we know he will.

New pictures are coming soon... be sure to check them out! They're cute!

2 months old today!

Austin is 2 months old today! Happy Birthday Austin! We're so proud of you! You're a strong little guy! You've come so far! We praise God for you each and every day!

Happy!

"Happy!"... Dr. Colvin said he was very happy with Austin's checkup today. He continues to be very pleased with his progress. And we're just as pleased! Austin is doing well.

Austin will head back to Dr. Colvin's for another check up in three weeks. Pray that he'll continue to do well.

Also join us in praying that Austin will continue to eat and grow. He's not been very interested in eating the last few days, he's only been eating half the ammount that he normally eats, and he lost a few ounces. This afternoon his appetite seems to be back to normal. Pray that this will continue. We need him to eat well... pray that he'll do this.

Continue praying for Andy & Heather. Pray that they will rest well and have the strength needed to care for Austin as well as carry out their normal routine.

3 weeks

Austin has now been at home for 3 weeks, and continues to do very well! He enjoys all the normal baby things: eating, sleeping, and pooping. Smile. He also enjoys smiling at his Mommy & Daddy, playing on his play mat, and swinging.

Austin has an appointment with his heart doctor this week. Pray that all will be well and he'll continue to make good progress.

handsome Austin

Austin's kidney tests were done yesterday. We don't have the official results back yet, but the nurse who did the test said she didn't see anything wrong. Pray that this will be true and we'll get a good report from the doctor.

Here are a few new pictures of Austin for you to enjoy!

Austin's kidney test...

Pray for Austin today. He's having some tests done on his kidneys. They're trying to find the cause of his Urinary Tract Infection that he had last week and make sure there aren't any other problems with his kidneys. Pray that the doctors will find nothing wrong. Pray that Austin will do well through the tests. Pray for Andy & Heather as they go through the day today.

Austin is doing so well!

Austin has had a GREAT week! It's been so good for him to actually be home, get into a routine, and enjoy his Mommy & Daddy 24 hours a day, with no nurses poking around him. Smile.

The good news is that he's eating very well the past few days! This is huge! We're so proud of him! Pray that he'll continue to eat well and stay healthy. Pray for Andy & Heather as they enjoy every moment they have with Austin. Pray for their ease of mind as they continue to give Austin all of his medicines, check his heart rate, oxygen levels, and etcetra. Pray that God will continue to give Andy, Heather, and Austin all the strength they need.

As I've said before, Thank you for all your continued prayers and support. It definitely makes life a lot easier knowing that we have all of you praying for us. Thank you!

Loving it at home!

Austin looks so cozy in his warm giraffe outfit! And he even got a little tummy time yesterday. It's such a blessing to finally have him home!

Couldn't ask for any better!

"I couldn't ask for any better!"... these were the doctor's exact words today. The doctor was very please with Austin's progress and how his heart looked today! Yay... he's a fighter! He's doing well!

Keep praying!

at home...and loving it!

Austin is loving being at home, and his Mommy & Daddy are loving it even more!

Austin continues to do well. Keep praying for him, and for Andy & Heather.

Austin has a routine doctor's appointment tomorrow morning with his cardiologist. Pray that all will be well. We're trusting that it will.

Thank you for your continued prayer and encouragement!

Home Sweet Home, Part 2

Austin is home! Austin was discharged from UAB this morning, and is doing well at home this afternoon! Andy & Heather are thrilled to have him home! And Austin is enjoying being at home as well! Pray that they'll have an uneventful week and things will continue to go well.

Austin has a few doctor's appointments this week, pray that they'll all go well and doctors will be pleased with his progress. Also, please remember to be praying for his kidneys and the test being done on his kidneys this week.

Going Home (Again) Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the magic day! Austin will be discharged tomorrow morning. He'll go home on antibiotics to continue treating his urinary tract infection (UTI) and to help make sure he gets well. His appetite seems to be better now, and he looks great. The sore on his arm is still healing, but looks a lot better than a week ago.

We have a huge praise to share! Austin's paralysis in his face is improving!!! He is now responding to touch when we touch that side of his face, and he's able to move his left eye more than before. This tells us that the damaged nerve is healing and he's doing well! It isn't healed completely, but it's showing improvement, keep praying!

In relation to Austin's UTI, one of his kidneys seems to be larger than the other. This could be temporary and caused by the UTI, but doctors aren't sure. Austin will go this week for a test at the doctor's office that will help us know more about exactly whats going on with his kidneys. Let's pray that when Austin goes to the doctor they find nothing wrong with his kidneys. Let's even pray that the UTI is gone and they can't see any difference between his two kidneys. God, we know you can do this! We trust you!

Continue praying for Andy & Heather. Especially, let's be praying for Heather. She ended up in the ER this week with an infection and very high temperature. This is a very stressful time right now for them with Austin in and out of the hospital; life is very stressful right now. This is taking it's toll on Andy & Heather. They're both doing amazingly well, and it's because of your prayers. Don't stop, keep lifting them up before the throne of grace.

We look forward to the day in a few years when we can look back at this journey and see all that God is bringing us through. It is our desire and prayer that God receive all the glory for everything He is doing in and through Austin's life.

We hope to be back at home this weekend

Austin continues to do well, and Andy & Heather are also doing better. There is light at the end of the tunnel and this is encouraging for us all.

Austin is responding to antibiotics and seems to be doing well. His appetite is lower than usual due to the medications, but he's still eating and gaining weight, this is good!

The goal for tomorrow is that his IV will come out and hopefully he can go home this weekend. The sore on his arm is healing some, it's still an open sore, but the redness is gone, this is a good sign of healing. The doctors have found an urinary tract infection which is also being treated by antibiotics, and should be gone soon.

Thank you for praying! The little guy is hanging in there!

Hanging in there...

Austin is still at UAB, but he continues to do well. Doctors still aren't sure exactly what's going on with his right arm, but they're treating him with antibiotics and keeping a close eye on him. As of right now, the doctors believe they'll be able to send him home in a few days.

Pray that Austin will stay strong and his arm will start to heal.

Austin is back in the hospital

Austin was discharged on Sunday and spent some precious time at home with his Mommy & Daddy on Sunday afternoon and Sunday night. Then on Monday his sore on his right arm got worse, and his stats dropped some. They visited the doctor, and ended up in the ER late Monday afternoon. Austin was transported from Shelby Hospital and ended up back at UAB.

He is currently in the NICU at UAB, and doctors want to keep him for a few more days. They're trying to treat his arm and figure out if it's infected or just scar tissue from where an IV was in his arm during surgery.

Pray that Andy & Heather, pray for their strength! Pray for little Austin, pray he'll remain strong. He is doing very well right now, except for his arm, so pray he'll continue to do well. Pray for doctors as they try to figure out exactly what is going on with his arm.

Home Sweet Home!

It's official! Austin was discharged from UAB today! He's home! Pray that he'll adjust to being at home and settle in. It'll be very different for him being at home from being in the NICU at UAB. Pray for Andy & Heather that they'll be able to treasure every miniute! Pray that Austin will remain healthy and continue to recover from his surgery.

Stay tuned for more updates!

One more day...

One more day, and Austin should be at home with his Mommy & Daddy! We're so excited! Pray that he'll have a great night tonight and everything will go smooth tomorrow. I'll update tomorrow afternoon once Austin is home safe and sound.

Keep praying... your prayers are felt here!

Pray for Sunday

No more IV!!! Austin had his IV removed today and is doing very well! He has had a great day! And he's enjoyed getting to have more milk and enjoy his Mommy and Daddy without so many wires hooked up to him. Smile. The magic day is Sunday, as of right now Austin will be discharged from the hosptial on Sunday. For the first time in his little precious life, he'll be able to leave the hospital and head home sweet home with his Mommy & Daddy.

Pray that no more complications will arise, and that Austin can be discharged on Sunday. Andy & Heather are afraid to get their hopes up, incase Austin can't go home on Sunday. Let's join them in praying that they can take their sweet baby boy home Sunday!

Please remember once they're home we still need to be very careful about visitors. (See the note below about visitors)

Austin LOVES his milk!

Austin is doing so well taking his bottle! Yay! They're still only giving him a little milk at a time, but he always wants more! Our goal today is that he can come back off the IV and have more milk!

A funny story to share...as of 10 p.m. last night Austin hadn't pooped in almost 24 hours and the nurse told us that when the doctors came around they'd probably give him a supository to help his bowels move. The doctors were checking on the baby beside us and all of the sudden Austin pooped in his diaper! We all laughed saying that Austin heard the doctors coming and didn't want the supository so he pooped in his diaper! It gave us all a good laugh!

Continue to pray that Austin will improve. Pray that he can come off the IV fluids today and increase his bottle feedings. Pray that he won't have any more blood in his poo-poo, and if it does continue, pray that they can find the cause. Also, remember to continue praying for Andy & Heather.

God is using Austin in a mighty way, he is already such a blessing to us all. Thank you for being a part of his life through prayer!

Happy Birthday Andy!

It's Andy's birthday! Austin says, Happy Birthday Daddy!

Austin is having a pretty good day today. He was finally able to have a bottle today, it was only a little bit of milk, but its helping build his stomach back up. Pray that he'll be able to tolerate the milk and continue to be able to have more as he builds his strength. Pray that Andy & Heather are able to relax and enjoy today.

We've had a stable day so far...

So far today Austin is doing well. He's still in the incubator and they're still trying to stabilize his medicines. But hopefully in a couple of days he can go back to the crib and will be stable enough to think about going home soon.

Andy & Heather were finally able to hold Austin again today! This is healing for everyone: Daddy, Mommy, and Austin! Smile.

Visiting Austin

Andy & Heather have asked that I share a few things regarding Austin having visitors. Right now while he is in the hospital he isn't really able to have many visitors other than Mommy & Daddy, smile.

But once he goes home we need to be extra careful about visitors. Austin must stay well so he can have the second surgery on time. This means that Andy & Heather must protect their home and keep it a healthy clean environment. I ask that you please respect them and do not visit unless Andy & Heather say it's okay.

Austin cannot have any sick visitors, even a small minor cold could make Austin very sick, so please please be sure that you are germ free. Also, we have to be very careful with Austin being exposed to cigarette smoke. We don't want to mess up anything to do with his heart, making him weak, or postpoining his second surgery. Please please respect this. I know it is hard, we all want to visit baby Austin and love on him, but we must respect his health right now.

Remember, please please contact Andy & Heather before you visit them, and make sure it's a good time to visit. This applies to when they're in the hospital, and even when they go home. We have to be very careful!!! Also, when you visit, be prepared to wash your hands very good. We want to keep Austin as healthy as possible, so he can be strong and ready to face surgery #2 in a few months.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding! It means a lot! Thank you!

Austin had a few small setbacks...

Once again, it's been an up an down weekend... originally the doctors said Austin would get to go home on Sunday (today), but then some things changed, and now they're waiting to see how he will improve.

Austin is back in an incubator and had some blood in his bowels over the weekend, they believe it is being caused by an infection. And they're treating him for the infection. He also still has an irregular heartbeat. Dr. Knott-Craig came by and saw Austin yesterday, he has changed some of his meds and we're hoping this will make a difference.

Andy and Heather are so ready to be settled at home. This constant up and down roller coaster is taking its toll on them, continue to pray for Andy & Heather, and especially for Austin. We want him healthy, but would also love to have him home!

Keep praying!!!

No news is good news!

Austin is the same... he's doing really well. He enjoys looking around in his crib, checking out his toys. And especially enjoys looking around at people. He's very alert and aware of those around him, it's so cute! Doctors continue to adjust his medications and regulate his stats. Hopefully he'll be home in a few days.

Keep praying! Austin is doing well!

Austin in his crib

Austin continues to do well. He's had a good day today. This picture was taken tonight, he looks so cute in his crib!

Austin is almost home...

Austin's nurse told us today, that they're hoping to be able to send Austin home at the end of this week. We're so excited! Join us in praying that Austin will continue to improve. Pray that he'll be able to go home sometime at the end of this week.

He's officially in a crib in NICU, instead of the incubator, and he is doing well. He's taking his bottle just like he should, and he is doing very well! We're so encouraged by his progress.

Note, even after Austin goes home, this website will continue to be updated on his growth and journey. His journey isn't ending by him going home, it's only beginning. He has two more surgeries ahead of him, and a long road ahead. Keep praying.

Stay tuned for more Austin updates this week!

Paralysis in Austin's face...

Andy & Heather have asked that I share this news with you, so that you can join us in praying that Austin's facial paralysis will heal...

A few days ago, we started to become concerned about what appeared to be paralysis in Austin's face. The left side of his face looks normal most of the time, it only looks different when he is crying or drinking his bottle. We asked Dr. Carlo, and he checked it out, he was also concerned. Our fears were right, Austin has partial paralysis on the left side of his face. It is only in his face, and is caused by some nerve damage, but they're unsure how it happened. It could have been caused by one of the IVs in his head, or some swelling prior to surgery. Austin is scheduled to have a MRI later this week, the MRI should show us where the nerve damage is, and how serious it is. The doctors say usually this type of paralysis is temporary and will go away as the nerve heals.

Pray that Austin's nerve damage isn't permanent, and pray that the nerve will heal sooner and not later. We know God can heal Austin of this... join us in praying!

Austin had an up & down weekend, but is doing well!

Austin is doing well today. He had an up and down weekend, but is doing better today. Over the course of the weekend his feeding tube had to be put back in, and he went back to a warmer bed (which was a step back down from the isolette bed). He also now has an infection on his left arm that caused some concern yesterday. Doctors were afraid that it had spread to his heart, but after some tests, the results came back that his heart was okay. Everything appeared to be working the way they want it to be in his heart, and they're now treating the infection in his arm with antibiotics. He also had a very fussy afternoon yesterday, and finally fell asleep on Heather, while she was holding him. And he slept on her for several hours. It was so sweet! And was great bonding time for Heather and Austin, this was the longest ammount of time she has ever held him, she loved it!

Today Austin's feeding tube came out, and they've also stopped all of his IV fluids. He's getting enough milk and eating well enough that they decided he can do without the IV! Yay!!! He is also doing well maintaining his own body temperature, so they're talking about moving him to a "crib."

Pray that they'll be able to move him to a crib and that he'll continue to maintain his own body temperature. Pray that he'll continue to eat well. And especially pray that the infection in his arm won't spread any where else in his body, especially not his heart.

Hopefully I can get some new pictures tonight, keep checking! Smile.

Austin had a good day! Yay!

Austin has had a good day today. His feeding tube is out, and he is officially taking a bottle! We're so proud of him! His heart rate has remained stable today, but he is also still on the medicine from last night.

Pray that he'll continue to do well and continue to improve. The next thing we're working towards is Austin maintaining/keeping his body temperature at a good temp. Once he can maintain his own body temp then they'll move him to a regular newborn "crib" in the NICU. This would be a huge step for Austin. Pray that over the next week he'll be able to do that. Also, pray for Austin's heart rate to remain stable, and hopefully he can come off the heart rate medication soon.

Heart rate went up again...

Tonight Austin's heart rate went above 200 again, and as of right now, we're unsure what caused it. This time its a little different than last week when it happened before surgery. The last time it happened, it went above 200 and we couldn't get it under 200, finally after several hours and medication it dropped below 200 and back to a normal rate. Then tonight it kept going above 200 but only for about 30 seconds, then would drop back to his normal 140s/150s, then about a minute or two later, it would go back up above 200. The doctors did several test to try and find the answer, and they're unsure at the moment, but are treating him with some medication. The medicine seems to be working...

Pray that Austin's heart rate would stay at a stable rate, and pray that the doctors can find what caused his high heart rate tonight, so that it doesn't happen again.

Also, remember to continue to pray for Andy & Heather. Pray that God would give them patience with this constant "roller coaster." Pray that they'll remain strong and encouraged for Austin's sake.

Good Night... I'll update once we know more about his heart rate, etc...

Infection??? Negative!!!

We got the spinal tap results back today... and NO INFECTION!!! Yay! Austin is doing really well!

Austin had a big day today, four HUGE things happend for Austin today...

1. His spinal tap test came back negative. Keep praying that he'll stay strong and not get an infection!

2. He was moved from his current bed to a different bed. There are different types of incubators for different needs. Austin was able to be moved from one bed to the other. This shows that he is improving.

3. He isn't depending on the oxygen to help him breathe. He is breathing completely on his own with no assistance! Pray that he'll be able to maintain his own oxygen levels without any help.

4. And he even took a bottle today! Go Austin!!! As I've mentioned before, this is usually very hard for babies like Austin. When a baby has a heart defect, this usually prevents them from being able to suck and swallow from a bottle... but guess what... Austin did it today! Pray that he'll continue to gain strength and continue to be able to eat from a bottle instead of the feeding tube. Pray that his sucking and swallowing of the bottle won't affect his heart rate, and he'll keep doing it!

Keep praying! You have no idea how much your love, support, encouragement, and especially your prayers have meant to Austin and his family. Thank you!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Austin is Chillin!

Austin looks like a big kid! Austin is definitely very relaxed while listening to his music. Hope you enjoy this picture as much as we do.

We still haven't heard any results from the spinal tap. They're still treating him with antibiotics, just to make sure he's protected. I'll update as soon as we know something about the infection.

Possible Infection...

Austin had some routine bloodwork done today, and one of the tests came back showing a possible infection... the doctor did a spinal tap this evening and we're awaiting the results. It is possible that there isn't an infection, and even if there is, its possible that its not serious.

Let's be praying that there is no infection. I'll keep you updated once we have the tests results.

We're back in NICU!!!

Austin made the trip today, from CICU back to the NICU at UAB. He's officially on the road to recovery. We're so proud of him! He looks great! He is only hooked up to one IV, a heart monitor, and some oxygen. This is a big difference from a few days ago when he was hooked up to many IVs, several monitors, and a ventilator. He looks GREAT! We walked into NICU this afternoon to see him and he had his hair in a mohawk, and was propped up listening to his CD player through headphones. He was SO cute! The doctors suggest that heart babies listen to music via headphones, it helps them relax and keep a stable heart rate. Austin loves it, and looks cute doing it.

We also got some good news today about some tests Austin had done right before surgery. All heart babies are tested for a syndrome called "DiGeorges Syndrome." This syndrome is related to their immune system and their bodies not being able to fight against common colds, etc... many heart babies have this syndrome. We got the results today, and Austin is negative for DiGeorges Syndrome!!! PTL! This was a huge relief for Andy & Heather!

Keep praying! We all see evidence of your continued prayers. Thank you!

Austin only has 1 IV in his arm!!!

Today they took most of Austin's IVs out! This is a huge step! They took some out over the weekend, then today took one out of his arm, and one out of his neck. He currently only has one left in his arm! Yay!

Andy & Heather were able to hold Austin some yesterday and again today. This morning Heather went in to see him and he was fussy, once the nurse put him in her arms, he stopped fussing. He knows his Mommy! This was very encouraging for Heather!

We're hoping and praying that he can be moved out of CICU and back to the NICU tomorrow. Dr. Knott-Craig also thinks we can start trying to give him a bottle tomorrow for the first time. Pray that he'll be strong enough to figure out how sucking and swallowing works. So far he's only had breast milk through his feeding tube, tomorrow may be the day he can have breast milk in a bottle. Pray that this will happen, once he is eating more, then he can gain his strength back quicker. Keep praying! Your prayers are being answered! Thank you!

New pictures!

They finally uploaded! Now you can see how well Austin is doing, and see how PRECIOUS he is! We're so in love with him!

Pictures are coming...

I'm trying to upload some new recent pictures of Austin, but the website seems to be having some trouble... hopefully it'll work soon. I'll keep trying, so be sure and keep checking the website for new pictures, they're coming soon.

We just got back from seeing Austin this afternoon. He's doing very well! The nurse had him relaxing in a bouncy seat. It was ADORABLE!!! He's doing very well with his breathing and heart rate! His blood circulation is also doing well. We're so proud of him! And he is finally getting some breast milk through a feeding tube, his stomach is digesting it, and he is having normal poopy diapers! This is very good. Go Austin!

Keep praying for him! We're hoping that they'll move him back to the other ICU tomorrow. Stay tuned for new pictures and more updates!

Austin is FANTASTIC!

Austin is doing very well! We went in to see him last night and he was wide awake! He looked around at Andy & Heather and even made cooing sounds at them. He's so cute! The nurse only had to give him a little medicine to help with pain and help him sleep last night. And he did well! Yay Austin! We're so proud of you!

The ventilator is OUT!!!

The ventilator is OUT!!! Go Austin! He's alert and was able to move around some and interact with Andy & Heather this evening! We're so excited! Pray that there won't be any more setbacks, and everything from here on out will show improvement. Pray that he'll be able to be transfered back to NICU soon, and out of CICU. CICU offers great care for Austin, but makes it very hard for Andy & Heather to visit. As long as he is in CICU, they can only visit 4 times a day for 20 miniutes each, this is hard. Once he is back in NICU they can pretty much visit as often as they want. Stay tuned for more updates.

Chest tubes are out and milk is in!

Yay! Today, Dr. Knott-Craig removed Austin's chest tubes. This means that the bleeding and drainage in his chest is minimal, and he is no longer depending on the tubes to drain for him. The doctor also believes he can come off the ventilator before the day is over. Let's pray hard that this will happen!

The other exciting part of Austin's recovery is that he can now have breast milk through a feeding tube. As a baby with a heart defect it has been very hard for his body to digest food (milk). So, he hasn't really had any food since he was born, due to a small appetite and heart defect. They gave him "sugar water" yesterday to see how his stomach would digest it, he did well, and they're now giving him breast milk through a feeding tube. This will help him gain his strength. Pray that he'll continue to be able to digest it well. The next big step will be for him to suck and swallow from a bottle. This is usually very hard for heart babies to do. Pray that this will not be a barrier for Austin.

Still on the ventilator, but doing well...

Austin is doing well. Everyone is please with his progress. When I saw him today, he looks as precious as ever! Such a fighter, he's hanging on! I'm so proud of him! He is still on the ventilator, but doing well, hopefully he can come off the ventilator sometime in the next day or so. Keep praying. Once he comes off the ventilator he'll need oxygen to help him breathe for a little while, but at least he won't be on the ventilator. He still has drainage tubes in his chest, but hopefully they'll come out sometime tomorrow. His vitals look good, and he is doing so well!

Keep praying that he'll remain strong and continue to improve. Pray for Andy & Heather, pray that God will give them the strength they need to support Austin and take care of themselves.

As I've said before, we can all sense this great community of support. Thank you! We couldn't do this alone, thank you!

Austin's chest is closed!

Today, around 12 noon, Dr. Knott-Craig was able to go in and close up Austin's chest. This shows the doctor was confident enough that Austin is doing well. He's a strong little boy. Keep praying that Austin will remain strong.

Surgery Update 3

Last night Andy & Heather got to spend some great quality time with Austin. He even opened his eyes for us some. It was precious! Then this morning they were back at the hospital at 6 a.m. and able to spend some time with him before he headed to surgery.

Andy, Heather, and 2 nurses escorted Austin to the Cardiac operating room area. Andy & Heather said their goodbyes and got ready for the long day ahead.

That day has come to an end. It's had its ups and downs, but as I type this, Austin is stable. They were able to successfully remove the blood clot behind his heart, and he has been stable since. He is on a ventilator and hooked up to several IVs and tubes. Some are very similar to the same ones he has been hooked up to for over a week now, and some of them are new. As he continues to improve he'll be able to come off the ventilator, etc.

Right now, we need you praying for Austin. He needs to remain strong through the night tonight. It's a very critical night for him. As long as he is stable tonight then Dr. Knott-Craig can close up his chest and Austin will be one more step closer to healing. His chest is currently still "open" to reduce the stress on his heart, and to provide easy access if they have to go back into his chest and check his heart. But as long as he is stable overnight, they'll close up his chest tomorrow. Pray pray pray tonight for Austin! Also, Pray for Andy & Heather, they're exhausted! It's been a long day, an emotional day. Pray they'll rest well tonight trusting and knowing that God is taking care of Austin tonight.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We all felt your prayers today. Thank you!

Surgery Update 2

Surgery is over and all was well. Dr. Knott-Craig came and talked to us around 1:45. He was very pleased with the surgery and said all was well. Andy & Heather got to see Austin for about 3 minutes then had to leave him for nurses to take care of him and let him rest. We went downstairs for lunch and when we came back up, a doctor informed us that Austin has a blood clot behind his heart. They are currently going back into his chest to remove the blood clot and make sure nothing else is wrong. We're waiting now to hear how things are going. I'll update later this afternoon.

Surgery Update 1

It is 12:20 p.m. and we just received an update. They began cutting into Austin at 8:45 a.m., and the word we just received was that surgery is going well! He is off the heart bypass machine and responding well. This tell us a lot! He's a strong little guy! Keep praying. I'll update later as I can.

Surgery is set!

Seven hours from now, Austin will be going to surgery. Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 7:30 Austin will be in surgery. The surgery will last at least 6 hours. Continue praying!!! I'll try to update as soon as I can tomorrow.

Pray for the doctors in the operating room, especially Dr. Knott-Craig.
Pray for baby Austin. Pray that he'll remain strong and make it through surgery. The statistics we were given today say 20% of babies/1 out of every 5 don't survive this surgery. But we know our God is an 100% God, and His will be done!
Pray for Andy & Heather, they're scared. Pray God would calm their fears and give them a peace that only He can give!

Interesting Links

Please note that I have added several links on this webpage. They take you to several very good internet sites that have lots of information on HLHS. Feel free to check them out and educate yourself on HLHS.

Austin continues to be stable today. Which is very good. The meeting with Dr. Knott-Craig did not happen today, but we will meet with him tomorrow. Keep praying!

A Rough Night

We had a pretty rough night last night, rough and long. Around 6 p.m. Austin's heart went into a state called STV. This means his heart rate shot up above 200 beats per minute, which is very dangerous for a baby with his condition. They used an ice pack to smother his face and cause his heart rate to come back down to a normal 150-160. The ice pack startled him and it worked and we thought everything was okay. Then around 8:30 his heart rate shot back up above 250. They tried the ice pack 6 times and it didn't help. Then they tried 4 doses of a medication they use to bring heart rates back down. And 4 doses didn't help, they became very concerned and tried a second type of medication. It took almost 4 hours and his heart rate was only down to 204. Finally around 1 this morning they tried 2 more doses of medication and it came down to 170. Whew. This was a very scary time for all of us. Because when Austin's heart beats that fast then he doesn't get enough oxygen to his body and lungs. And if they didn't get his heart rate down soon enough, his body could have started shutting down. But thankfully his heart rate came down and he is currently stable.

Continue praying that we won't have anymore set backs like we had last night. Pray that Austin will stay stable and the meeting with Dr. Knott-Craig will go well today.

Still Stable...

Austin continues to do well. We're so proud of him! Hopefully we'll get to meet with the heart surgeon sometime tomorrow or Monday. After we meet with him we'll know exactly what time his surgery is. Stay tuned...

Ronald McDonald House

Andy & Heather moved into the Ronald McDonald House today. This was such an answer to prayer! They no longer have to commute from Montevallo. Now they are only a few blocks away from UAB and can visit Austin as often as they like. Praise God for this answer to prayer! He is so good!

We can hold him!

We can hold him! Andy & Heather got to hold baby Austin yesterday for the first time since Sunday night. It was such a great moment! Even baby Austin was more calm in his Mommy's arms than laying in the incubator. He continues to be very stable and calm. We're still counting on surgery for Wednesday. Keep praying that he'll remain stable and strong enough for surgery. So far, he's doing fantastic! We're so proud of him!

Off the ventilator!

Austin came off the ventilator around 9:30 this morning, and is doing well so far. Keep praying!

Let me Introduce you to Austin!

Austin Carter Anderson, born January 7, 2007 at 7:44 a.m. to Andy & Heather Anderson. Weighing in at 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 20 inches long. A handsome baby with a grand welcome!

Andy & Heather are dear friends of mine and baby Austin has won my heart! I am starting this blog with the intentions of it being a place where you can stay updated on his journey and better pray for Andy, Heather, and especially for Austin.

Heather and Andy enjoyed several hours with their precious newborn in their room on Sunday evening before allowing him to go to the nursery for a good nights rest. Monday morning he was in NICU and our lives changed forever. By 12 noon on Monday, Austin had been diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and is facing an extensive series of surgeries.

You ask, what does all of this mean?

Austin's heart did not fully develop inutero and the left side of his heart is "small" and does not function. He has a heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart. Austin is currently in the Regional NICU at the University of Alabama Birmingham's hospital. He is on a ventilator which is helping him breathe, and on medication allowing his heart to function properly for the time being. He is awaiting sugery. The first of a series of three surgeries is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17th. This surgery is called the "Norwood Procedure." It is a very complex surgery that will rearrange the dynamics of his heart allowing the right side of his heart to function as both the right and left side should. The success of this surgery marks the road ahead for recovery and the two surgeries to follow. After surgery Austin is facing an appx. month stay in the hospital as he recovers. Once well enough, he will be able to go home for a few months before facing surgery #2. The second surgery is known as the "Glenn Procedure." This surgery will be done once Austin reaches 4 to 6 months of age. With the third, the "Fontan Procedure" being completed between 2-3 years of age.

How can we be praying right now?

1. Pray for Austin to be able to come off the ventilator at some point over the next several days. Coming off the ventilator will allow him to be more alert.

2. Pray for Austin to remian in stable condition. As long as he is stable, surgery will be performed a week from today.

3. Pray for Austin as he faces surgery, that he'll be strong, and especially pray for his doctors and nurses. Pray that Dr. Knott-Craig will remain confident and encouraging. Pray that he'll allow God to guide his every move as he touches Austin's heart.

4. Pray for Andy & Heather, pray as Heather is still recovering from childbirth, and pray for her as she is pumping her milk to provide the best nourishment possible for Austin. Pray for Andy as he supports his wife, and cares for himself. Andy & Heather need to stay well for baby Austin.

Remember to check this website frequently as it will be updated. Alson, feel free to post words of prayer and encouragement for Andy, Heather, and baby Austin. Thank you!