Happy Birthday Lyla Mae

The day has arrived! (and it's not Oct 1, as planned). Lyla decided she just couldn't wait any longer, and shortly after getting ready for bed on Tuesday night, Sheena started to have contractions. Just as with Parker & Mabel, she had to endure through labor pains until an emergency c-section slot opened.  It was a crazy night at Sutter Memorial Hospital too. The nurses tried to delay labor as long as they could, because it was so busy, and by the end of the night the total delivery count  reached 14 babies in the night shift alone!!!

As expected Lyla was born with Trisomy 21, and a congenital heart defect named Atrial Ventricular Septal Defect. We knew from her activity in the womb that Lyla is a real fighter. She had trouble breathing immediately after Sheena's surgery, but after a little coaxing and circulatory stimulation she got her color and was transported to the NICU. Her resilience was very funny, the nurses would joke about it because they couldn't keep her oxygen tubes in place. It was funny at first, but then Lyla would persistently fight the tube and pull it away. Throughout today she has improved dramatically going from "bubbles" and a 60% percent oxygen mix, to no bubbles and only a 50 percent mix. She had dipped down to 40% for a few hours to be weened off, but the doctor though otherwise when it was found she has pulmonary hypertension.

She is an angel to behold, and is so lucky to have such excited siblings & cousins. Sheena is doing extremely well, and is expected to recover from her surgery by Friday. We love Lyla very much, and can't wait to see her grow throughout her recovery!

Also, thank you to everyone who has given us so much help, and offered to help with dinners & babysitting. I've created a calendar as a way to reserve a night if you would like to provide a dinner. I feel shameless by posting this, but there are several people who have insisted on making us a dinner and this is the best way I know to corrdinate. Please email me the date you're offering to bring some dinner by so we know who to expect at gtjohnson13@gmail.com - THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY TO OUR FAMILY.

Love,
The Johnsons

CHECK NIGHTS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE DINNERS HERE: