May 13th- 6 Weeks Old

So we are just so very blessed. Samantha was able to get her new shunt placed last Friday. It was a little bit of a rocky road because her surgery got bumped for an emergency so she went without eating for over 10 hours. This was not fun for a little thing her size. She came through great and they were able to place the shunt in the same place as the first shunt. On Saturday morning she went for her shunt series scan and her MRI. They were going to let us come home Saturday but decided not to after seeing the MRI images. They knew she had some bleeding because blood had been coming out in her external drain but they saw more blood than they had expected to find. The main problem that this could cause is a failed shunt due to a blockage. The doctors also told us that she is at a higher risk of a shunt infection because she has already had one infection. A failed shunt or an infection usually show up one to two weeks after a shunt has been placed. So we are watching our little miracle like a hawk these days. They did tell us that if we can get past two months without problems our chances for infection and problems go way down. We were able to bring her home on Mother's Day... what a blessing that was and she has been doing great since. Gwen has really enjoyed having her back at home and is reading to her constantly. There has been so many times this week where I just have to smile. I think of where we have been and where God has taken us....BLESSINGS are all I can see. It is amazing to me that she is already 6 weeks old. I was listening to my iPod the other day and the song Don't Blink by Kenny Chesney came on....it really does go by quickly. We have an appointment with our neurosurgery doctor on Monday afternoon and an appointment with Physical Therapy at the end of the month. We will also be seeing a genetics and neurology (for the seizures) this summer. We are so very thankful for all the wonderful staff on the 6th floor Intermediate at Brenner Children's Hospital for three weeks of wonderful care. We also thank you all for your continued support, love and prayers. You are all so amazing! We are just asking Samantha's prayer army to say a prayer that this shunt has no problems so we don't have to go through this all over again anytime soon!