Our Unofficial Official Plan...

Here's our plan, which we've learned by now, could change at anytime!

*After talking with the Peoria doctors and our Champaign doctors (and God!), we've decided to deliver in Champaign.


*Kai's delivery date (as long as he's patient enough) will be January 31st.  =)

*We will be having a c-section. Our doctor ultimately left the decision in our hands, but recommended c-section as the safest way to deliver Kai without putting too much stress on his heart.

*We plan to have all of our family, including our kids, at the hospital when it's time to deliver.  We want our family to meet Kai and be able to enjoy what time we do have with him.  Our doctor is working out plans with the neonatologist and the nursing staff so that everyone can be with him as soon as possible.

*Once delivered, Kai will be stabilized (hopefully), and taken immediately to the NICU for an evaluation and an echo cardiogram. By the time I am in recovery, we should be able to hold Kai and spend time with him.

*If the echo cardiogram would show us any signs of hope for successful surgery, we would be transferred to Peoria within the first few days of Kai's life.  

*We have so many generous friends and family that have offered to help in so many different ways!  Some are making personalized keepsakes for Kai, some dear friends that are professional photographers are going to be there at his birth to take pictures of our family with him, and some have offered to help with the kids before, during, and after his birth. I know it's hard to make exact plans (especially as far as the kids go), but it is so comforting to know that we have so much love and support. We appreciate them offering help with such generosity. It truly does make this situation easier. God has put some amazing people with us on this journey!
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So, on a side note, we had a really sweet sonographer in Peoria. At the end of the sonogram, she pulled out the 3D sono machine and offered to try to get some pictures of Kai. We really had no idea what to expect, some trisomy babies can be severely deformed, albeit absolutely beautiful. Mr. Kai was so shy at first, with his little hands up over his face, so we checked out his tiny little body. We loved seeing his long legs and precious little feet. Dave and I sat there with tears in our eyes, just totally amazed... this was our first 3D sono and it was just a perfect experience.  He would move his little arms and hands around, but kept them up over his face most of the time. The sonographer was so patient, thank goodness!  His little hands were so adorable, with his little overlapped fingers, a common trait among trisomy babies that I think is absolutely adorable!  Finally for a brief second, he moved his hands long enough to get a picture of part of his face.  Awww... we just felt like we could burst with love for this little boy!  We have disc full of pictures, but she did print out a couple of his little face that we would love to share with you. The quality isn't the best because our scanner isn't working, so I had to just take a picture...

Lamentations 3:22 - 25
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is they faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul: therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.