WELCOME Levi Aaron Verhagen!

Levi holding his pacifier

Levi Aaron Verhagen

It was too chaotic of a day to get this out yesterday. But yesterday, March 2nd (his due date), I woke up with contractions at 5:00 in the morning. We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 am and I delivered the baby at 8:36 am! His birthday has great significance that I will explain in the next post.

Ready for Transport
to Primary Children's Hospital

He was 7 lbs 6 oz and 20.5 inches long. Although this following word is usually not used for describing labor and delivery, it was amazing! We had a great team of nurses and doctors who were kind and knowledgeable. One of the resident doctors was coming over to meet me when he heard I was ready to push. Our prayers and those praying for us were answered because I did not have to be induced, labor and delivery was quick and all natural, no stitches for tearing, and I was able to be well rested before I went into labor. It relieved so much of the stress! We know Heavenly Father answered our prayers according to our desires so that we could focus on the baby when he was born.

After he was born, he was passed through the window to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where they held him for about 30 minutes until the Primary Children's transport team came to transfer him over to their Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). Sam went with the transport team while the nurses prepped me to be transferred to my room. 

Once at Primary Children's, the cardiologists said his hole (VSD) between his lower chambers is so large that he does not need to be on any medications or have any temporary procedures before his surgery. One of the resident cardiologists took about 150 images of his heart that took several hours. During this time, Sam came back to get me and wheeled me over to see the baby. By the looks of him, you wouldn't even know anything is wrong. He is beautiful and has good pink coloring. Another blessing that he does not need medication or any temporary procedures before his surgery.

Room Setup

The anticipated surgery is scheduled for Friday and they will discuss the plan for the surgery at the meeting with all the doctors on Wednesday. They also want to see his PDA (a duct that all babies are born with that closes within 7 days after birth) close so they can properly determine if there will be narrowing in the major arteries, which would change the technique of his surgery. Once it is closed, they will take more images of his heart with the ultrasound and have a proper plan for his surgery. The doctors and nurses are amazing here and constantly studying. When they are not working with the patient, they are sitting down at a desk, looking through books to study the patient's case. After the doctors had the images of Levi's heart, they sat at the desk in front of his room, studying the pictures of his heart and how to plan for his surgery. It is so comforting to be here with such knowledgeable doctors and nurses who inform us of everything that is happening, as well as involve us in the decision making process.

Thanks to all of those helping us watch the kids, Grandpa, Aunt Sherin, and the Bangerters and their whole family! Thanks also for all of our friends and family who have come to visit and for all the prayers and fasting! We love you!

Family Picture!