Our Sweet "Heart": Packing Up

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Packing Up

Last night I wrapped up bottles of frozen breastmilk in newspaper and packed them into an insulated box.

We are taking that box on the airplane. I can't wait to see all the funny looks we get as we check a large box, labeled "human milk" on tape partially covering the word "blood" (the box is from the blood bank, but lactation uses it to ship milk as well). That in addition to our bag of medications, feeding pump and box containing an IV pole, should help people know where we've been the past few months.

Anyway, that's one more thing checked off the list. Now we just need Jeff to get here, Maddox to pass the car seat test, receive a month supply of medications from a delivering pharmacy, pack the rest of our belongings, and make it through one more day of instructions and we'll be set to leave. I can't believe we've made it to this point.
Now the real fun begins!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

8 comments:

Erin SDecember 20, 2009 at 7:57 PM
I'm so excited for you guys to get home! Hopefully the weather cooperates for you. I can only imagine the looks you will get carrying a box of breast milk through checking and security....I'm sure that doesn't happen very often! Love you guys! Merry Christmas!
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MerynthaDecember 21, 2009 at 7:12 AM
I am sooo excited for you guys. It's so comforting to know you will be home at last. Even if we can't get together yet. Welcome HOME little Man!!!
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SherwoodsDecember 21, 2009 at 9:20 AM
YAY for Maddox! Good luck traveling tomorrow. What a great Christmas present for you little family. It reminds everyone what the season is really about! You guys will do great. We will keep praying for you guys through your adjustment period!
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Jake and RachelleDecember 21, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Wow! That's a lot of milk. Looks like the milk bags in my freezer:) We sure hope the weather cooperates for you. Good luck with everything. I'm sure it's a little scary to be on your own. You will do great. There's nothing like being with our families at Christmas. What a wonderful blessing. Merry Christmas!
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MariaDecember 21, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Alissa this is great news!! And I'm guessing the storm has come and gone in Boston by now, what a blessing!! I'm so glad you guys will be able to be together as a family again especially at christmas! Love you and have a wonderful Christmas!!
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Kristen MDecember 21, 2009 at 8:59 PM
a.mazing. i can't believe you are so close to going home w/ Maddox. i can't even imagine how happy you will be to be with all of your children and hubby at the same time, FINALLY! good luck with the travelling and transitioning to taking care of Maddox at home. Love YOU.
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*K*R*I*S*T*Y*December 22, 2009 at 6:54 AM
You just made my day, my week, my christmas I've been really down about..all of it! I'm beyond happy for you guys and so excited you get your christmas wish :) You guys will do great, theres a reason this sweet little boy was put in your hands. Love you!
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Brita DietzelDecember 22, 2009 at 7:18 AM
Wishing you a beautiful and heart-warming Holidays with your family all together!!!
and safe travels!
Brita Dietzel
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Maddox Revere Dixon

Welcome to our story of modern day miracles. We have seen first hand the wonders of our Heavenly Father and have been joined with people all over in earnest prayer for a baby boy... our Miracle Maddox.

Maddox was diagnosed prenatally with Aortic Stenosis and Mitral Regurgitation. We found out at 27 weeks gestational age that he had a congenital heart defect. By 29 weeks he was in heart failure and had developed hydrops(fluid under the skin, in his abdomen, and around his heart). The plan was to deliver him at 30 weeks via c-section and after birth attempt to get him stable enough to try to open up his aortic valve. We were also given the option of doing nothing and delivering vaginally once he had passed away, which they thought would be soon. The doctors gave him a less than 1% chance of survival if we tried to intervene. We started planning his funeral. The week we were scheduled to have the c-section we were given the option of flying out to Boston to do a fetal intervention where they would essentially operate on Maddox in the womb. The doctors in Boston weren't even sure that Maddox would be alive once we got off the plane. Two days later we had the fetal intervention where they ballooned open the aortic valve, put a stent in the atrial septum as well as a hole above the stent, and removed some of the fluid in Maddox's belly. Maddox was the 9th baby with his unique heart condition to have undergone this type of intervention. It was successful, and Maddox was delivered at 37 weeks in Boston, where he underwent open heart surgery at 3 weeks of age. At two months of age Maddox came home to Texas. We are now trying to adjust to the new normal: multiple weekly doctors' visits, g-tube feeds, medications administered throughout the day, insurance claims, and including our three other children in the care of their amazing little brother. What an adventure. More surgery is in the Mad-man's future, but he has a future, and for that we will be forever grateful.