Update on Natalee - Surgery

Quick Update....before trying to get some sleep.

Natalee had the barium enema this afternoon and the results came back. Everything is fine in her bowel and large intestines, so the doctors feel that the blockage(s) is right at the end of the small intestines. The large intestines look great and are all normal. The small intestine is still full of air and very dilated, so that's the reason they believe the blockage is right there.

Natalee will be having surgery tomorrow morning at 9am. She is getting a blood transfusion this evening to give her plenty of strenght for tomorrow. She is still on antibiotics and still has the tube down her throat to relieve some of the pressure and air. She has two IV's and is really uncomfortable. They have given her pain meds, thank goodness to let her rest. She's still pale and still has a big tummy.

She did open her eyes a few times and looked right at me. She was still screaming and crying when anyone touched her, so that's all a good sign. Much better than when she had NEC.

Speaking of NEC, the doctor said he does believe that this is from NEC. I had mentioned that when Natalee started eating she could have scarring in the intestines/bowel from healing NEC and that seems exactly what has happened. When she was in the NICU, she was eating such a small amount of food that it was still passing through but when she came home and started wanting more food, that's when it became worse, and that's why she was spitting up so much and in such a weird way. Food just wasn't moving as quickly as it should have, hence why she wasn't hungry after 3 hours either. Everything makes sense now.

So tomorrow, it will be exploratory surgery to see what is going on. We really won't know anything until they get in there and look. She will be cut right down her abdomen, makes me so sad. Such a huge scar she will have. My perfect little baby, with such a big scar. But whatever needs to be done, is fine. It could be something in the abdomen that is pushing on the small intestines making it narrow, or it could be inside. Most likely they will cut it out and sew the intestines back together, however there is a chance where they might have to bring the intestines to the surface of the skin and therefore put a colostomy bag on. That's I guess the worst scenario. But we just don't know.

We will see what tomorrow brings. Right now, I need to feed my babies and try to get some rest. My MIL will be staying with the girls while Tim and I go to the hospital bright and early. Please keep the prayers coming. I trust God will be keeping Natalee safe and give her comfort and strenght. I am so scared. More scared than I have ever been. Right now I can't even think about tomorrow. If I could take away every inch of pain she is feeling, I would. Lord, give me strenght to be strong, but watch over my little girl. Amen.