From Molly....
"Thank you to everyone who prayed for us and checked in on us today. I am having a really hard time getting back to everyone, but please know it's appreciated. Simon is doing ok, but he is in very serious condition. We ask that visits be limited to family for the time being. He has an open wound and is being kept paralyzed... His immune system isn't fully developed yet and he cannot get exposed to anything. Thanks for understanding."




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In case you have not heard, the surgery was unable to be completed.  This means Simon, as stated above is in need of some prayers.  Plan B is to try again in 10 days while the surgeons did something to allow the esophagus to stretch itself in order to be repaired.  I remember Molly telling me about this particular procedure.  She was dreading it knowing that Simon would be in the condition he is in right now for 7-10 days.  However, I recall her saying this procedure, if successful, has an amazing long term success rate!!  So, me being the positive on, although easier said that done in the last 24 hours, would like to believe all of this pain and struggle will make way for better results in the very near future.


Thanks for your prayers and thoughts for Simon and his family.  I will try and update as much as I can from Molly over the next few days as I know she is overwhelmed with keeping everyone updated.  However, your care, prayers, and love mean everything to everyone right now.  Thank you!
--Beth

So Much news

Sorry, end of the school year is forcing me to neglect the adventures in Simon's life.

Well, tomorrow is the big day!  Surgery Day!  We all can't agree more that Simon looks stronger than ever and has grown to over 7 pounds.  Molly and Clint are so busy with things so I may stand corrected on some of the info which I will share.  Tomorrow the surgeons will perform the surgery about 10:45am.  The 1st step is to remove the surgically placed feeding tube in his abdomen.  This will allow the stomach to "float" more freely and hopefully move even closer to the connection with the esophagus.  What is not connected will be surgically repaired.  This, as you can imagine, is a very delicate surgery will take several hours.

Simon will return to his newly private room where he will not be able to eat for 7-10 days as the connection will need to be checked for leakage, etc.  From there, stay tuned as I am not sure what happens.  It appears a month stay in the hospital is next after the surgery.  This could be shortly after 4th of July that Simon will be home.
Last night Molly and Clint held a baptism for baby Simon.  A priest from St. Francis DeSales met everyone at the hospital.  Simon was wheeled out of the NICU into a beautiful room at the family center.  He only needed his g-tube and a portable monitor.  He did great!  He had lots of friends there!  His God Parents Aunt Shannon,  Aunt Beth & Uncle Mark.  His grandparents were there and his Aunty Nancy and Aunt Mary Ellen too!  It was a beautiful night.  I will upload pics later.  Here is just one...

I love that the family has now moved to "arguing" over who will hold Simon and play with him etc.  I think this means we can finally see the light at the end of this.  Not to down play the importance of tomorrow or the struggles and challenges ahead, but I think peace was the theme last night and we all know Simon is going to be okay and his strength, all of our prayers will win out in the end.

We will post surgery updates tomorrow.

Please, please pray for Simon!  Please pray for the surgical team.  May they have their best day on the job EVER!  May they be guided to fix our little guy and make him all better!  Pray for Molly and Clint and the grandparents as they wait tomorrow, as we will all wait tomorrow, for the long surgery to come to an end.

THANK YOU!!

The luck continues...

Molly and Clint learned today that the surgery will take place on the morning of June 8th!!!  WOW, that was fast!!  Prayers for the surgeon and his team, may they do their BEST work ever!  Prayers for little Simon may his strong little body do great and the attachment take place with no issues!!

Thanks!

The news we've been waiting for...

Sorry to keep you waiting!  Between taking the weekend off the computer and in complete over joy and full of prayers of thanks...on behalf of Clint and Molly, I am proud to announce the procedure on Friday was a complete success!  Simon will be scheduled for the esophagus repair/connection in the coming weeks.  He is ready right now but getting OR time for the surgeon, assembling the team in which he wants to be there, etc. will take a little bit of time!  Patience for our little patient is the key right now.  The upside of waiting is likely the gap will be even better by the time they go in and repair everything.

They measure the distance between the esophagus and the stomach by vertebrae. He is 3.5 vertebrae away from closing the gap. The surgeon was hoping for 3, but once the feeding tube is disconnected from his belly it will allow his stomach to move around, whereas right now it is tethered to the outside wall of this abdomen.  This combined with the weeks of waiting should make for a smaller distance for making the connection.  Also, not to mention 3 vertebrae on 6# 9oz Simon is about the distance of 1 of our vertebrae on our backs.

                                  Simon is praying for all of you and says thanks for your prayers!

Thank you for all the prayers for Simon!  Hopefully the next couple of weeks is full of growth on Simon's behalf and Clint and Molly preparing for his late summer arrival to his home.  Hopefully Molly will see the Dr. this week and get an idea of the date of surgery.

Prayers Needed

Molly had whirlwind morning in the NICU as she was told that TOMORROW, May 25th is the "explore" surgery to see if the gap between his esophagus and stomach has decreased. It is a very simple procedure using dye for the surgeon to visualize the gap.  The complicated part is the result and knowing if and when the big "connection" surgery can take place.  


He has grown from 4# 1oz to 6# 3 oz...and likely gaining more as I write!  Growing on the outside is not a problem and he looks amazingly strong.  Now we have to learn if the inside is growing and growing as well!


Please say a prayer for Baby Simon.  Please let the surgeons bring good news to Clint & Molly who so deserve it!  The days in the NICU are LONG and TIRING, and poor Baby Simon so wants to come home.  Don't get me wrong, he looks so comfy and is in love with a few extra special nurses.  Actually, I think they are in love too!  I can't blame them, we all are, he is the best!!  But it is time for all of this to be resolved and for this brand new little family to get home!


Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  The surgery takes place at about 9:45 am on Friday.

Here is a pic of Simon from this week, clothes are his new thing!  He looks like a baby now and less of a preemie!

 The glare was bad, but last night I stopped by the NICU for a little Simon time.  He as resting

so nicely.  He was dressed in this little football outfit, the light was too bright to get a good shot.  

Just when I thought I had Simon all to myself, Molly and Clint came back from a nice, well-deserved dinner out at House of Hunan!  Molly has been craving that since she was on bed rest.  It was so nice to see Clint, I never visit in the evening when he is there.  He is the positive and upbeat one, keeps everyone else that way!  He is the best!

Big Week!

Simon had his first photo shoot by Molly's photographer friend, Amanda from MC Life Portraits!  She has quite the gift for photos and did Molly & Clint's "Ohio" reception last July.  Ask Molly about her if you need photos, she does amazing work!


 Take a look, he is quite the ham.

 Yawn, you ladies love me!!

Look at me....no tube for just a minute!
(Thanks Photoshop and the talented Amanda!)

Last week Molly & Clint were told Simon could sit in the swing!  He also wore his first outfit.

Over the weekend Simon hit the 6 pound Mark.  The Doctor's are very pleased with his growth and hope all of this will mean good things and that the surgery can take place in June!  Please pray!

Mother's Day 2012

Molly celebrated her first Mother's Day with Baby Simon!  She learned being born in April has its advantages...DIAMONDS!  Clint surprised her with a little something sparkly for being mom to the most adorable little baby around!

Here is Simon on April 14th the day of his birth.....  4# 1oz.

Look at him now...

Simon is up to 5# 11.5oz and is 20" long!  

The goal is to grow and he is on it!!

**Have to verify that weight will Molly and will update...I am sure he grew more since Sunday, I am behind in blogging! :)