I Will Survive!

Check out Dad here!

Hi Friends, first I have to say thank you to the many, many of you who have been sending lots of love, energy and prayers for me and Mom and Dad the last few days. Your support has been so important and helpful for us during this time.

Wow, where to start! Well, two nights ago I knew something must be going on. Mom and Dad looked a little more concerned than normal. I thought maybe it was just because Dad was still worried about Mom. She got sick that morning and had to go to another hospital to get help. She still looked a little rough when she got here but I was just so happy to see her and Dad. She looks way better today, by the way.

Anyway, it turns out their concern wasn't about Mom but about me, which I realized when people in masks and colorful gowns came and wheeled me away from Mom and Dad. I was really scared at first, but then I saw them putting stuff in those plastic tubes and suddenly I was floating on clouds, seeing gumdrops and lollipops and didn't even realize I wasn't with Mom and Dad anymore.


I don't remember a lot about that night, but Dad said it was necessary for them put that balloon in my aorta and open up the lines before my big surgery yesterday. Oh my gosh and speaking of surgery... holy cow!

Pre-surgery. I LOVE sleep!

First, when I woke up yesterday (I slept late because I was up watching the lunar eclipse overnight - Mom had wheeled me over to the window to watch) and saw the worry in Mom's and Dad's eyes I had to take some deep breaths. They still looked at me like I was the most special thing in the world, but I could see the fear they were trying to hide from me. Babies know a lot more than big people think.

Again the colorfully gowned doctors and nurses came and rolled me away from Mom and Dad. Pretty soon I realized I couldn't kick and scream any more, which would have worried me except suddenly I was flying again. I flew for a long time. Then I was fishing with Dad. I've never been before but he's talked about it so much I could see it clearly. Then I was at our home with Mom and our dog Samson. I cannot WAIT to meet that guy! I had quite the adventure yesterday. I even spent some time visualizing and meditating on health and healing, and sending lots of energy to my heart to grow stronger for Mom and Dad, just like Aunt Jen said I should.

Well, Mom told me that between the energy healing and all the prayers and support from people all over, combined with the outstanding skill of Drs Baird and Brietbart, it worked! Mom and Dad looked positively radiant when I saw them again. I kept hearing Dad tell people on the phone: "Babies don't come out of the OR in better shape than Matthew!"

Tonight they are going to take me off this yucky medicine that prevents me from moving around like I want. I still have this tube going in my nose and into my chest for help breathing, but Dad said it might get to come out  by Christmas! I have to stay around all this equipment in this special care unit for a week or two. Oh wow, some nurses just came and took more lines out of my chest and belly button. Sweet! I must be rockin' the healing process!

After that Dad says they will move me to the "feeder/grower stage" where they'll just focus on "feeding" and "growing" me. Hey, wonder who thought of that clever name! I really like the sound of just eating and growing for a while. Really, the idea of eating sounds super cool right now.

I was really wondering how long it would be before I get to see my real home for the first time, and we can start doing all the cool stuff Mom and Dad have been talking about doing with me. I heard Dad tell Aunt Jen earlier that the minimum time is 3 weeks, but it could be as many as 6 weeks.

It's been awesome getting to have Grandpa Hall here with us. He flew up with Mom on Sunday to help her get up here okay, since she had just brought me into this world and all. Mom told me that Grandma Hall is coming on Christmas Day to be with us, and that a few days later my Aunt Addie and Uncle Jamie are coming. Then right after that Aunt Jen and my Mimi are coming to stay.

Man oh man, I cannot WAIT to meet more of my family. Mom and Dad are so cool I just KNOW the rest of our family is going to be totally awesome. Apparently I've already met several of them (Grandpa and Grandma Hall, Mimi, Uncle David, Aunt Addie and Uncle Jamie), but that was a few hours after I was born and just before I got on the plane to fly up here to Boston. I was on sensory overload (Mom tells me I have a great vocabulary) so I hope it doesn't bother them if I don't recognize them right off!

I'm going to stay here (well I can't move right now anyway) and keep talking to my little heart and tell it to keep healing so we can all go home!

Thanks to everyone for being there for Mom and Dad... I felt tons better knowing they had all of your support. And thanks to all of you other babies who have shared your stories with me. It really helps to know I'm not alone and that lots of other babies have been through the same thing and are doing great now.

I LOVE EVERYBODY!!  XOXOXO!!
Matthew