Mikalyn Nancy Marx

March 20th, 2013 on the first day of spring, at 1:18 pm weighing in at 7 lbs 15 oz, and 19 inches long, Mikalyn was born! No amount of words we could say will ever explain the feeling of hearing those first cries.  Jeremy and I were both feeling like we were in a dream the day before her birthday.  There we were, after 9 months of uncertainty we were about to meet her in person.  God had answered our prayers, (and yours!).   Personally I still felt like I had a guard up.  Even though I was ready, with all clothes washed and folded, diaper bag packed, my bag packed, Caden excited to meet his baby sister, family lined up to watch him while we were in the hospital, freezer meals prepared for when we got home.  I knew anything could happen.  The "what ifs" snuck into my thoughts even as I knew and trusted that God had her in his hands.  I couldn't help it!

But he gave her to us. He knit her together in my womb and we praise him because she is fearfully and wonderfully made. His works are wonderful!  He already knew and saw her life and now we get the chance to know and love her. 

 

Daddy holding Mikalyn first!

 

I got to see her and kiss her face before they took her to the NICU.

 

 

After she was born they immediately took her to the NICU to be monitored and put on the bili lights since she was jaundiced.  This was somewhat expected.  I knew she would be in the NICU soon after being born, but had hoped to be able to hold her and feed her before.  I wasn't able to go to the NICU until the next morning.  They agreed to let me hold her with the light blanket for about 10 minutes before she needed to go back under the lights. 

 

 

Finally.  I get to hold her.  When I first came into the NICU the nurse was drawing blood to check her levels so I had to wait a few minutes before she was finished.  To hear the nurses talk about her and how sweet she is and calm and chill, it was like a stab in the heart to hear others talk about my daughter in such a way that they knew her more than I did.  It was different hearing it from Jeremy since he spent a lot of time in there with her.  He's her dad and I loved hearing him tell me about her.  But hearing it from anyone else was hard.  I'm so thankful for such caring nurses though.  Just jealous new mom emotions!  They were right, she is so calm and content. 

 

 

 

After 3 days under the lights the doctors decided to take her off the lights to see how well she would do.  If her levels stayed stable then she would have the chance at coming home with us!  Because she could be off the lights I was allowed to get her dressed!

 

 

She looked so sweet in her first little outfit :) And not being on the lights allowed us to hold her as much as we wanted in the NICU.  So we took turns going back and forth from my room to the NICU, Jeremy taking me up in a wheelchair until I was able to walk.  After a couple more blood tests it was decided on Saturday she was stable enough to be released from the NICU and come to our room!  What a huge surprise that was considering Caden was in the NICU for 9 days.  We were so excited!  And especially excited for Caden to finally be able to see and hold his sister! Every time he came to my room he would ask where baby sister was. 

 

 

 

He's such a great big brother already.  :)

 

They did another blood draw to test her levels and because her bilirubin was remaining stable she was able to go home with us on Sunday!

 

Happy Daddy :)

 

 

I just love this squishy face!!

 

 

 

Such a proud big brother!

 

Now I did say home, but not Georgia home.  We're still in Houston, and will remain here until her body starts making her own blood! Because of all the transfusions she received, her body did not need to make it's own blood.  She was getting blood that was typed like mine so my antibodies would not attack it!  Now we have to wait for her body to kick in and start making her own blood again.  We will be closely monitored by weekly blood tests.  She will most likely need another transfusion before she starts making her own.  The doctors expect it take about 6 weeks for her to make her own.  How long until she needs another transfusion we don't know.  I would imagine soon because in the womb she was getting transfusions every 2 weeks.  It's already been 3 weeks since her last one!  So it is purely God's hand that her numbers are still good.  So we have to monitor that, and make sure she doesn't get sick.  Because she's not making her own white blood cells yet to attack anything she's exposed to. 

 

So for now we are just praising God and loving every second of her life.  She is such a good baby.  She hardly ever cries (which is sometimes a little scary because she's so quiet!) , is content to sleep everywhere especially daddy's chest, and when she's awake she's just so peaceful gazing around making little squeaks when she gets the hiccups :) 

 

 

God's provision through all of this has been and I know will continue to be amazing.  Look at this life that we were told could not happen, and that we should not try again for!  She's here and absolutely perfect.

 

 

I also want to share something that Jeremy wrote the day before we had her.  Laying out the numbers of everything so far:

 

Cost of three 8-12 hour days of Plasmapheresis and 10 weeks of IVIG therapy (twice/week for Mom):

· estimated $200,000.00

Cost of 7 intrauterine blood transfusions (for You, and plenty of Valium for Mom!):

· estimated $7,000 (just for blood-not including Doctor, anesthesia, and OR fees)

Number of 5 inch needles inserted into your Mom’s abdomen:

· 12

Number of needles inserted into your abdomen in the womb:

· 5

Number of Dad’s Sleepless Nights (for both of You!):

· Too many to count

Number of Doctor’s Appointments:

· 46

Number of people praying for you: Uncountable

 

Number of days in the NICU:

· 3

Number of hours under the Bilirubin lights:

· 72hrs

Total monetary, emotional, and physical cost:

· Incalculable

Bringing home a baby girl, which every Doctor said was nearly impossible to have except one:

Divinely Priceless.

Thank you Lord, Jesus Christ, for this miracle of a baby girl. Who else but you, could be the reason behind the creation of life. We Praise you while recognizing your hands God, and thank you for the blessings you have given to us.

 

Mikalyn Nancy Marx.

· Born 20 March 2013.
· Weight: 7 lbs. 15 oz 
· Length: 19 inches