Summary

Well, we have decided to do one last post - kind of an overview of the journey we have taken:

Diagnosis:
Group A Streptococcus Pyogenes resulting in septic shock (organ failure due to an infection of the blood stream). This is sometimes called Toxic Shock Like Syndrome which differs slightly from the Toxic Shock Syndrome which occurs with excessive tampon use (Strep aureus strand).

Timeline:
May 23 5:55am - Marika was born.
May 24 10am - Julia and Marika were discharged.
May 28 7:30pm - Julia sent to the hospital by ambulance. Though she didn't have much of a fever, she had extreme abdominal pain, didn't eat much all day, and could barely walk. She was admitted into the ER, given an Ultrasound and CT scan, sent up to the Intensive Care unit for pre-op prep, and then to a surgery room for the D&C to clean out her uterus.
May 29 - June 9 - In the ICU fighting off the septic shock.
June 9 - 16 - In post-op recovery wing.
June 16 - Discharged but returned back to emerg 4 hours later due to a high temperature.
June 16 - June 24 - In post-op recovery wing.

Counts:
Number of days in the hospital: 30
Number of hospital rooms: 11
Max. number of IV pumps/meds at one time: 16
Amount of fluid Julia gained while her kidneys didn't work: 11 liters.
Number of IV attempts: too many!



Julia continues to improve and is probably at about 80-85% of her normal strength. Julia's mom and dad left this morning so today was our first time home without some help so we thought that was a good enough step to warrant our last post.

There are so many things that we are so thankful for that is hard to know where to begin, and where to end for that matter. I have been told that this blog has been very helpful and a blessing to a lot of people, but it has probably benefited me the most since it gave me chance to work through a lot of things. It was also really nice for Julia once she was conscious since I was printing it off each day and bringing it in for her to read.

We still don't know what the road ahead looks like. As Julia continues to get stronger the fear of having to return to the hospital has passed. However, some of the long term implications are still unknown so more then likely there will be some appointments in the future with an infection disease specialist.

We can't say thank-you enough to the many people that have prayed for us over the last two months. Your comments here have been a blessing to both of us, but especially to Julia. In some sense, her journey started later then mine and she is still working through all that has happened. However, I am overjoyed to be able to see her with Marika on a daily basis for the last three weeks. Marika continues to grow under the watchful eye of her mother, father, and Oma. She is so interactive with people and will take anyone on in a staring contest. Well what better way to sign off but with a few pictures:

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:5

July 1, 2007

This is a couple of days late in coming since we did have a full weekend and visits from family. However, we are so thankful to God that we can even write that we had a full weekend. It was approriate that we were able to celebrate Marika's baptism and Julia's first time back to church on the same day. Both signify God's grace, His covenant promises, and the gift of life.

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We have been so blessed to have wonderful support from our families and our church family here in Ottawa. Both our parents were here, along with one of Matt's sisters and her family, one of Matt's brothers, and one of Julia's sisters and her husband. One blessing through out this whole ordeal has kind of been the mingling of two of our worlds. It has been kind of neat to see our family get to know some of our friends more closely and vice versa.

As we start to reflect more on the last month, the beginning of Romans 5 becomes more in focus:

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

That path from suffering, to perseverance, to character and to hope is very true. However, we can jokingly say that we feel like we have enough character for the time being.

Julia continues to gain strength each day. Last night we even took a walked down to the park. In her first week home, she really had to force herself to eat, but foods are finally starting to taste good and her appetite is starting to improve. She is also continuing to lose a lot of the excess fluid she had gained. In the course of the last 3 weeks she has lost 25 lbs.

Marika is also doing well and is really starting to "talk" more and is starting to smile more often. It has been a real blessing to have Julia interact with her on a much more regular basis.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for strength and healing.