Monday, October 29, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Finally Home
Dear Friends and Family,
As most of you know, we finally brought Lyon Tehanana'ia Foster home this past Thursday. Ariki flew up to Oahu the night before to sign the Discharge paperwork from the hospital. We hardly slept Wednesday night, thinking of all the things we needed to do before leaving Oahu and in disbelief that the day had finally arrived.
Thursday morning we headed over to the hospital. Our new and dear friends, Ted and Sarah, had offered to drive us to the airport. Ted and Sarah had become a daily fixture in my last weeks in the NICU as their daughter Payton was born at only 2.2 lbs and was often placed next to Lyon in every room he moved to. He was making friends already! As we arrived at Lyon's room we could not stop smiling. The day that we had been waiting for had finally come. Think about it this way:
88 days in the hospital
88 days separated from Ariki and my family
Over $120,000 in hospital bills (don't worry its covered)
Over 176 hours spent sitting with Lyon in the hospital
Numerous surgeries, blood transfusions, tubes, wires, machines, nurses, doctors, specialists, sleepless nights and most of all, prayers.
There he was lying in his crib in his little red outfit, ready to go home. We signed the final discharge papers. The nurse took out the last of all his wires connecting him to his monitors and machines. It was so weird to see him completely on his own after so many months attached to machines. We loaded him in his carseat, said our goodbyes and thankyous and started out journey home.
The first day home was a happy blur somewhere between reality and a dream. We were finally back together as a family. Lyon slept peacefully in his bed as we went about arranging the house. Every couple minutes we looked over at him in disbelief-he was here, he was home with us. It seemed as if it were just yesterday he came so quickly and unannounced into this world. It seemed like a really bad dream that we had to go through this whole ordeal. A bad dream that finally ended and we woke up to see Lyon home from the hospital as he should have been as if everything had been normal.
We can't say enough times how forever grateful we are to all our friends and family that have stepped up to help us through this experience. From those who sent money, dinners, did "check up" phone calls, lent us cars, laptops and everything in between. Please know your help and generosity did not go unnoticed and we hope one day to return the love to you. It was really hard to go through this but never once did we question God's plan in all of this. We just knew we needed to trust Him and know that He wouldn't give us more than we could handle. From the critical life-threatening moments in the ER during his birth, to the surgeries he went throught at 1 week old, to his blood infection that caused him to stop breathing many times...there was this peace over us that is really hard to explain but we know where it came from.
We ask that everyone who reads this posting please send your mailing address to:
marielegacy@hotmail.com
Forever Thankful and Always Grateful,
Ariki, Marie and Lyon Foster
As most of you know, we finally brought Lyon Tehanana'ia Foster home this past Thursday. Ariki flew up to Oahu the night before to sign the Discharge paperwork from the hospital. We hardly slept Wednesday night, thinking of all the things we needed to do before leaving Oahu and in disbelief that the day had finally arrived.
Thursday morning we headed over to the hospital. Our new and dear friends, Ted and Sarah, had offered to drive us to the airport. Ted and Sarah had become a daily fixture in my last weeks in the NICU as their daughter Payton was born at only 2.2 lbs and was often placed next to Lyon in every room he moved to. He was making friends already! As we arrived at Lyon's room we could not stop smiling. The day that we had been waiting for had finally come. Think about it this way:
88 days in the hospital
88 days separated from Ariki and my family
Over $120,000 in hospital bills (don't worry its covered)
Over 176 hours spent sitting with Lyon in the hospital
Numerous surgeries, blood transfusions, tubes, wires, machines, nurses, doctors, specialists, sleepless nights and most of all, prayers.
There he was lying in his crib in his little red outfit, ready to go home. We signed the final discharge papers. The nurse took out the last of all his wires connecting him to his monitors and machines. It was so weird to see him completely on his own after so many months attached to machines. We loaded him in his carseat, said our goodbyes and thankyous and started out journey home.
The first day home was a happy blur somewhere between reality and a dream. We were finally back together as a family. Lyon slept peacefully in his bed as we went about arranging the house. Every couple minutes we looked over at him in disbelief-he was here, he was home with us. It seemed as if it were just yesterday he came so quickly and unannounced into this world. It seemed like a really bad dream that we had to go through this whole ordeal. A bad dream that finally ended and we woke up to see Lyon home from the hospital as he should have been as if everything had been normal.
We can't say enough times how forever grateful we are to all our friends and family that have stepped up to help us through this experience. From those who sent money, dinners, did "check up" phone calls, lent us cars, laptops and everything in between. Please know your help and generosity did not go unnoticed and we hope one day to return the love to you. It was really hard to go through this but never once did we question God's plan in all of this. We just knew we needed to trust Him and know that He wouldn't give us more than we could handle. From the critical life-threatening moments in the ER during his birth, to the surgeries he went throught at 1 week old, to his blood infection that caused him to stop breathing many times...there was this peace over us that is really hard to explain but we know where it came from.
We ask that everyone who reads this posting please send your mailing address to:
marielegacy@hotmail.com
Forever Thankful and Always Grateful,
Ariki, Marie and Lyon Foster
LOVING LYON
I am so grateful to have Lyon out of the hospital and home with us. He is getting stronger every day, and Marie just told me that he can roll over on his side now.
Friday, October 19, 2007
A LANDMARK!
Today Marie and Ariki took Lyon to the doctor on Kauai for his first checkup since coming home yesterday. He has passed the 5 lb mark, now at 5 lbs 2 oz. This is GREAT news! Marie also shared that Lyon's ROP (Retinopathy Of Prematurity) has improved to a stage 2.
Mahalo Ke Akua, Thanks Be To God, Gracias a Dios.
Mahalo Ke Akua, Thanks Be To God, Gracias a Dios.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
HE IS HOME - Komo mai e 'ai
Nieto querido, Bienvenidos a tu casa y que Dios te bendiga!
con mucho amor,
Tu abuelo Tomas.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
So touched by this Song
Right after speaking with Marie today and learning about Lyon coming home this coming Thursday I heard this song by John Lennon on the radio, sung by Ben Harper. It touched me very deeply. It's called A Beautiful Boy.
Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
'Cause it's a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it's a long way to go
But in the meantime
Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Darling, darling, darling
Darling Sean
-------
With sincerest and Aloha and deep gratitude to all of you for all your kindness, prayers and good energy.
I pray that Lyon's Grandpa John, Grandma Tua and Aunty Esther can come meet Lyon. I know they love him dearly.
Aloha,
Grandpa Tom
Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
'Cause it's a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it's a long way to go
But in the meantime
Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Darling, darling, darling
Darling Sean
-------
With sincerest and Aloha and deep gratitude to all of you for all your kindness, prayers and good energy.
I pray that Lyon's Grandpa John, Grandma Tua and Aunty Esther can come meet Lyon. I know they love him dearly.
Aloha,
Grandpa Tom
Finally!
Lyon is now 4lbs 12oz (2kg roughly), completely breathing on his own, eating on his own and if his eye exam goes well this Wednesday, then HE IS COMING HOME THURSDAY!!!! What a long road this has been so far. We can't tell you how excited we are to move into the next chapter of life and have him home with us. We promise to keep everyone updated on the eye exam results this Wednesday.
With love and gratitude,
Marie & Ariki
With love and gratitude,
Marie & Ariki
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Eye Exam Results!
Good news! Lyon's eyes have improved!! He was down-graded to "mild" grade 3 ROP. Doctors seemed optimistic about it and he will have another eye exam next Wednesday. If you haven't already read the previous blog before this one, do so. Really good news!!
Light at the end of the Tunnel!
Hi Everyone,
As of today, Lyon is 4lbs 9oz(2.08Kg) and doing very well with this breathing and feedings. Around 3pm he is going to have his next eye exam to see if his ROP has become better or worse. If it becomes worse, then they will be doing laser eye surgery probably tomorrow. If it remains the same, then they will just keep monitoring him weekly.
Other great news is that we might be going home very soon! The Doctor said we are aiming for October 18th which is next Thursday! Amazing considering how long and far we have come here. Although we would like to bring Lyon out to meet everyone, the Doctor also advised us to keep him home for a couple months and out of contact with crowds. The reason is because Lyon is coming home in the start of flu season. What could be a cold to us could possibly end up being a severe respitory infection for Lyon due to his preemie background. So please be patient with us in your calls and inquiries to come over and see him. He will make his debut soon and in the meantime we will keep this blog updated with pictures.
Mahalo ke Akua,
Ariki & Marie
As of today, Lyon is 4lbs 9oz(2.08Kg) and doing very well with this breathing and feedings. Around 3pm he is going to have his next eye exam to see if his ROP has become better or worse. If it becomes worse, then they will be doing laser eye surgery probably tomorrow. If it remains the same, then they will just keep monitoring him weekly.
Other great news is that we might be going home very soon! The Doctor said we are aiming for October 18th which is next Thursday! Amazing considering how long and far we have come here. Although we would like to bring Lyon out to meet everyone, the Doctor also advised us to keep him home for a couple months and out of contact with crowds. The reason is because Lyon is coming home in the start of flu season. What could be a cold to us could possibly end up being a severe respitory infection for Lyon due to his preemie background. So please be patient with us in your calls and inquiries to come over and see him. He will make his debut soon and in the meantime we will keep this blog updated with pictures.
Mahalo ke Akua,
Ariki & Marie
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Just Breathe!
As of today 10-4-07 Lyon is finally breathing completely on his own! No machines! The last hurdle we need to jump before he can come home is his eating. He needs to be able to finish all the milk in his bottle for every feeding for 8 feedings in a row.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Follow-Up Eye Exam
Lyon had his eye exam today. Dr. Wong said that his eyes have not advanced into Plus disease so they are going to just monitor them again next week. There is no need for surgery at this point. I will post another update on his eyes next week. Thank you for praying for his eyes!!
The breath of life
The hongi is the traditional Maori greeting where noses are pressed and there is the exchange of the Ha, or breath of life. As one breathes out, the other breathes in and then the gesture is reciprocated.
Mastering the binky...
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
And we're live!
Some clips from Ariki's phone of our little fighter.
(The movie clips don't start by themselves...you have to hit the "play" arrow)
If you can't see these clips, you need to download the latest version of quicktime.
Go here: www.apple.com/quicktime/download
(The movie clips don't start by themselves...you have to hit the "play" arrow)
If you can't see these clips, you need to download the latest version of quicktime.
Go here: www.apple.com/quicktime/download
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