I thought it was appropriate to tell our story and keep everyone updated with a blog. I'm so glad to have this finally up (to say the least). Took some work since I'm not too savvy with this setup. 

Harper Dee Rich was born April 28, 2012 in Provo, Utah. He was 9.3 lbs and 23 inches.

We were loving on this precious boy for 12 hours when he started to show signs that he wasn't getting enough oxygen. Doctors did x-rays and it showed a lining of air between his ribs and lungs. Doctors released the air bubble and he was still having a hard time breathing. Before the procedure, Andrew wanted to give our little boy a blessing. We had to decide between the two names we were debating on for his blessing. Andrew chose Harper Dee Rich. Fits him perfectly. Sunday night the doctor called me and they thought he might have Pneumonia. 

Early that morning the doctor called Andrew. We knew something was wrong. The doctor was normally calling my cell phone. 

The doctor informed us they had found a defect in his little heart and he was being flown to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City for surgery. 

Andrew and I were broken. How could our little boy that we loved so much be so broken? We didn't know what was in store for us. We packed a few things and raced to the hospital. It was the longest drive to SLC in all my life. 

We were so uneducated about the heart. We didn't know what was in store for us once we reached him at the hospital. We were shocked to say the least.

Harper had a safe and successful ride in the helicopter. He was hooked to all kinds of tubes and machines when we reached him. We were thinking they were taking him right into surgery. Doctors then told us they would all meet on Wednesday and review his case, but his surgery would most likely be on Friday. Wednesday couldn't come soon enough. 

Harper's diagnosis is Transposition of the Greater Arteries (main arteries are switched) and a VSD (hole between his lower to chambers).

Normal Heart

Harper's switched arteries and VSD

Wednesday the doctors discussed his case, Harper's hole is too big to patch. Since the hole is too big to patch, they can't switch the arteries. They planned to put a band around the pulmonary artery that takes the blood to the lungs. This way the heart wouldn't pump so much blood to his lungs and would force it to reach the rest of his little body. 

Friday the surgery was performed. Harper did great through the surgery. The doctors were confident that they were successful. 

About a week later Harper had an e.Coli infection in his bowels which set us back from coming home another 2 weeks.

 As you can tell, Harper was SO excited to finally go home. We were thrilled to introduce him to Lucy and his new home. 

About a month later, Harper was still having a hard time breathing and he was working too hard. Doctors were concerned. They figured the band around his artery wasn't doing its job. They ran a catheter up his vein to test the pressures in his little heart and everything looked okay, meaning they wouldn't need to do surgery right away. There they decided to wait until he is 4 months old to proceed with the surgery.

Since the hospital we have been so happy to hold and have Harper in our home. I love him more than I thought I could ever love anything or anyone in the world. He is so precious and so happy I couldn't be a luckier mom. I am so blessed and I thank my Father in Heaven every day to have this sweet little boy in my life. I love being a mom and he makes every bit of it worthwhile. 

I love his little big feet.

First Shots

Blessing Day

He loves Mr. Lion

Fun bath-time. Squeaky clean

Yep. That's how he keeps his binky in

Big boy