Kelsey and the UP Family

Happy Birthday Kelsey!!! Kelsey at 5 months old...she has the cutest little face and eyes!!!

Kelsey sleeping with her new blanket and wormy she got from Grandpa Sully for Christmas. At the moment, Kelsey has 12 "wires" attached to her little body monitoring everything and two hand restraints making sure they stay in place. Tomorrow after the surgery she will have even more.

Santa made a special delivery Christmas morning to Kelsey and Keeton at the hospital.

Kelsey with her Santa's little helper hat. (She hates this ventilator in her nose.)

Kelsey before Christmas....because of the virus we had to always wear gloves, gown and mask...here Kelsey is on the si-pap which she hated, too.
Keeton's first time to visit Kelsey in the hospital....because of Christmas the doctors let Keeton come visit his baby sister.
Momma, Keeton and Nana waiting for Santa to come visit Kelsey on Christmas morning. Keeton helped his baby sister open all her presents.

Momma, Daddy and Keeton early Christmas morning.
Kelsey and Daddy in front of a Christmas Tree after one of Kelsey doctor's appointments...this was during the time she was at home.
Keeton's first Snowman on Christmas Day.

The day after Christmas we went to Waco to visit family and Keeton got to go to the ranch with his cousins. He had so much fun "fishing" and "hunting" with his cousins.
Sam, Ben and Jon with their BB guns. Maybe next year (or the next) Keeton will get a BB gun from Santa.

The Surgery is WEDNESDAY

They say Kelsey's surgery will be Wednesday for sure. Don't know if it's the morning one or afternoon one but they are sure it will be Wednesday.

Kelsey is always adding a little drama to the mix. Now, she's got her pic-line wiggled out a little so tomorrow they are going to try and squeeze her in to radiology to fix it. She can't have anything to eat right before so she's going to be a little hungry in the morning.

Patti

NO RSV

The big answered prayer, Kelsey does not have RSV!!!! At the moment they are saying her surgery will be either tomorrow or Wednesday. They are pushing for tomorrow afternoon before anything else comes up. They said all her liver tests are still good and she is doing well at the moment and they want to jump on this opportunity.

Today Kelsey is 5 months old. God has blessed us with this beautiful baby girl that we love more than we ever thought we could. It's been an amazing and challenging journey. God has taught us so much about trusting Him and having faith that He is always in control, especially when it doesn't seem like anyone knows what going on.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELSEY GIRL!!!

I will let you know when the surgery will be as soon as I know.

Thanks for the prayers

Patti

At This Point We're Saying No Surgery

They would be doing a lot to get Kelsey ready if she was having surgery in the morning, so we sure it's not happening first thing in the morning. They will be doing a lot of testing in the morning (starting around 3:00am) so pray that gives the doctors lots of answers and direction about Kelsey's next step. Andy and I are praying her surgery will still be this week, the sooner the better for Kelsey's sake. She looked good tonight, no fever and not a lot of congestion. Her belly is getting bigger again, which is very discouraging, but we are very confident God is in control and working out everything for our sweet Kelsey girl.

Patti

This is another song that has meant a lot to me lately.

"Bring the Rain" by Mercy Me

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain

So I pray
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Is the Lord God Almighty

Still No News about the RSV or Surgery

We STILL don't know any news about the RSV test and we are thinking Kelsey won't have surgery tomorrow morning. We guess there is still a very small chance she might but we don't know. I'm heading up there for a few hours tonight so maybe they will know something. If I find out, I'll let you know. Even if she is negative for RSV we thinking she might just have surgery later in the week.

Also, Kelsey's ascites is coming back. They haven't talk to much about it. Everyone has been more concerned with this RSV, so we don't know what their thoughts are on the ascites. They are only checking liver counts on Mondays and Thursdays and this pasted Thursday they were the best they have ever been. We'll see tomorrow. Most of the test and x-rays they do are around 4:00am in the morning so they will have the results by the time they start rounds. So, some answers about the ascites should be found out very early tomorrow.


Sorry nothing to report yet.

Patti

Pray it's not really RSV or NO Heart Surgery

They were testing Kelsey for viruses again and she came back negative (both the 24 hr and 48 hr tests) the first time but you have to have two negatives in a row to be cleared. When they tested her the second time the first 24 hour test came back negative but the test that takes 48 came back POSITIVE for RSV. They are hoping it's just a contaminant and not really RSV, since the first 24 hour test came back negative. They are testing again so PLEASE PRAY Kelsey is negative or her heart surgery will be postponed again for TWO more weeks at least. Kelsey isn't showing any signs of RSV because she doesn't have a lot of congestion like she used to, and with RSV there is a lot of congestion. Pray it's a false positive or Kelsey (and momma and daddy) is back to a very long two weeks of waiting.

Thanks for all the encouragement!!!

Patti

Heart Surgery Monday Morning!!!

Kelsey is officially on the schedule for Open Heart Surgery first thing Monday morning!!!! We have to be up there at 6:30 am to hold her before she goes to get ready around 7:30. The actual surgery will start around 9:30 and last till around 12:00. All of these times are an estimate but kind of gives you an idea of what will be going on. When Andy told me we had to be up there to hold her at 6:30am, I started crying thinking it could be the last time I hold her. I know that's not thinking positive or having faith but it's the part of me that's scared about Kelsey having open heart surgery. I know they have come a long way with heart surgery like this but Kelsey's surgery is not typical. She has lots of other issues besides her heart that will make this very complicated, and the surgeon reminded us all about them. They really don't know how her liver will respond to this surgery, being on the the heart-lung pump and how well it will do in the recovery process. I will give you more details and what to specifically pray for as soon as I know more. Monday will be a big day for the Up Family.

I love listening to Christian music and during the last several months it has been a huge encouragement for me. At the moment one of my favorite songs is "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless. The whole song is full of encouragement for me, here's what the chorus says: "I've seen dreams that move the mountains, hope that doesn't ever end, even when the sky is falling. I've seen miracles just happen, silent prayers get answered, broken hearts become bran new. That's what faith can do." I know my God is a God of miracles every time I look at my little baby girl. She has come a long way in 5 months (Monday is her 5 month birthday) and she's a fighter (just ask the nurses). Every time that ugly old scary feeling that Kelsey could died during or after surgery rears it's ugly head I just need to think of all the things God has helped us over come so far and know He is and will always be with Kelsey and me. I know this in my head, my heart just needs to be remind every now and then (and sometimes, it's the other way around).

Thanks for all the prayers

Patti