Smiles

Our little chunky monkey has gained 1.03 pounds since coming home now we are up to 8 pounds 4 ounces only 2 ounces away from our birth weight, so we are on the right track.

Sorry for everyone who has called and emailed and I haven't had a chance to get back to.

Those who have children know why, someone keeps me pretty busy and on my toes.
Colt loves to be held and he is trying to get caught up from the 3 weeks we could not hold him.

Everything is going really great, we are still being very cautious and limiting to where we take him, since his immune system is still weak and he doesn't get his immunization shots for another 2 1/2 weeks.

I am so overwhelmed at how so many people knowing us or not has reached out to us to lend their love, prayers, and support. If I mentioned names the list would be a mile long, but each of you know who you are. Sending hugs your way.

Many thanks to our friends, neighbors, and especially my family Mom, Dad, Shane, Stacy, & Lindsey.

Not to mention the awesome staff at UK Hospital: the talented surgeon Dr. Plunkett, his sweet & caring nurse Corinne, and all the nurses who took care of our little boy.

There is something else I would like to ask for all of those who are reading, please put Devon Watson in your prayers. While we were at the hospital we were so lucky to meet his parents Mark and April, Devon was born with 2 major congenital heart defect twice as complex as Colt's case and they did not catch these defects in utero. He is just a little older than Colt and also when through open heart surgery, unlike Colt's condition where Colt will only have to undergo 2 more surgeries, Devon will require surgery for the rest of his life. Colt and Devon both got their chest's closed up and then taken off the ventilator on the same day. Devon had to be put back on a few days later. Mark and April need to be lifted up the same as we did.

You know when I am holding Colt and he looks past me at something else and just has this most amazing smile, I could swear he sees angels, I have asked him a few times

Do you see Papaw Swayne (my mom's dad) and he just keeps smiling, I know that Papaw is still one of those angels watching over us and helping us move right along to get to the next surgery.

Love from the Hardy's
Bradley, Miss, & Colt

1 Month Old

We have been so busy since getting him home. We have been to the cardiologist, seen his surgeon, and the pediatrician twice. Colt is doing really great, we are still working on getting him on a schedule and trying to get him to eat more, he has gained 6 ounces since we have been home so now he is up to 7 pounds 7 ounces. Not quite what he was a birth, but we will get there.
All the doctors have been pleased with his process and other than a few restrictions:
He is not allowed to be around any kids for 60 days since his immune system is suppressed and he does not get his immunization shots for another month or anyone who is sick or has been sick in the past 2 weeks.

To see him dream, to see him smile, to see him look right at you in wonder and to feel his heart beat is a blessing.

Going Home

Much to our surprise we all got to come home Monday as a family for the first time.
Colt was discharged from the Children’s hospital Monday - July 7, 2008 @ 3:30 pm.

Colt has not only amazed Bradley and me but he amazed the doctor. They never wanted to say just how good he was doing. I had told the surgeon all along that my boy was tough like his daddy and he proved it, but we all know that none of this would not have been possible without God carrying us through. What an awesome God he is!

I can not thank everyone enough for the warm and encouraging guestbook comments, prayers, and for asking other to pray. Every single one of your prayers helped not only Colt but they helped Bradley and me to stay strong and never let our faith fall.

So hard to believe by looking at Colt that just 2 weeks ago he underwent such an invasive open heart surgery. What a miracle!

Bradley and I are loving every minute of being parents, trying to learn all the new tricks to calming and pacifying him. Each day gets easier. We follow-up tomorrow with our pediatric cardiologist and pediatrician going to be a busy day.

Praises to god and thanks to everyone.

Love & God Bless to all!

Miss, Bradley, & Colt Samuel

Doing GREAT!!!

WOW! Things are going so good. Thanks and Praises to God!

Colt...well he is the most amazing little boy ever! He has proven his amazing strength time and time again and he's done it again!

Last time I updated, we thought it would be a couple of days before he had his chest tubes out and the art line out and so on. On that next day his chest tubes came out! YAY!

On Friday, every line except for ART line and one IV line came out. Missy and Bradley got to hold their precious bundle of joy for the first time since he was born. Also, they got to change his diaper for the first time since before surgery.

On Saturday, his ART line came out. One more IV line to go and that will come out very soon. Since Colt is doing so good, they might get to come home sometime this week. WOW! YAY! :].

All the doctors are so pleased on how well he is doing. They have told Missy and Bradley that he is truly living up to his name he is a real "Hardy Boy". We knew our little Colt was a strong willed determined boy. He has truly showed all the doctors his strength.

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers and for the future prayers and thoughts. The power of prayer is truly amazing, its the best gift to give and recieve. Colt has proven that with God and the amazing power of prayer miracles do happen. God has so greatly blessed us and the greatest of all is Colt Samuel Hardy. What an amazing little boy he is and the strength he has proven to have!

Taking it Out

July 2, 2008. I have wonderful news!

Colt is doing GREAT! He is completely off the ventilator and they took out his NG feeding tube. Amazing! By the end of the week they hope to take out his chest tubes. And today they plan on taking out his cathader.

How amazing is that! God is so amazing in his works. And all praises go up to him!
Colt is an amazing strong little boy as I have said many times before!

Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts and for the future ones to come! God Bless You All!

Closing Up

July 1, 2008 Dr. Plunkett decided it was time to close up Colt's chest. All of the swelling had went down and he looked to be back to normal size. He has lost a little weight going from 8 lbs. 6oz. to a little over 7 lbs. but they have assured us that when he gets back to breast milk he'll gain his weight back.

Before they came in to close him up, we got to go back and see him. They had lowered his oxygen percentage so he had a little blue tint, but they told us that it was normal. He looked so small and so full of pure innocent but at the same time I saw this child of God who had so much strength and determination that he would not give up on anything and know that he is just two weeks old completely amazes me. Seeing Colt is seeing a true blessing and he is such a picture to prove how amazing God's work and power really is.

We went to the waiting room as they began to prepare for the closing of his chest. After waiting for a couple of hours Dr. Plunkett's nurse came in with an update. Her news was good, all was going very good. They got a later thought then what they wanted but they were almost done. She told us that in about 30 minutes Dr. Plunkett would be finished and in about an hour Missy and Bradley would get to go back and see their strong amazing little boy.

The time came and Missy and Bradley went back to see Colt. God answered another prayer and gave us another blessing with all going good with Colt getting stitched up. Missy and Bradley Came back and Bradley took My mom (Kim) and his mom (Bonnie) back to see him. They returned saying wonderful things about how he looked so great and how his color came back. Then I went back to visit him. He looked great his color really had came back, he was still sleeping but again as I looked at that precious little boy I saw God's amazing work and the greatest form of strength in a little baby boy.

They told Missy and Bradley that within the next few days they would be weening him off of his ventilator, feeding tube, chest drainage tubes, and medicines. And hopefully in about two weeks our greatest blessing from God would get to come home with his mommy and daddy.