Feb 28 2007
Update: It’s a Boy! (Jennifer Report)
Hi Everyone, I know many of you know Jennifer of Welcome to my Shoe and the difficulty she has gone through during her pregnancy. She recently sent me an update and I wanted to pass it along to you. I’ll just let Jennifer tell you in her own words, below:
Birth Announcement
I am aware that many of you already know the news, so please be patient with this first mass mailing. 
For those of you that haven’t heard, I apologize that it is so late, but I know you all love us and will make allowances.
Sean Ezekiel Winter officially arrived in this world on February 20, 2007 at 5:31 pm. He was a little ahead of schedule, but thanks to all his gaurdian angels, he is so far doing well and staying stable. The Doctors saw that he was in distress during his regular U/S in Edmonton and an emergency c-section was immediently ordered. I am healing well, and thanks to the incredible timing, Sean is with us today.
Thank you all for your prayers, concern, support and well wishes. We will do our best to keep you informed of his and our progess. My time has run out, so i will try to send more information another day.
Hugs and love to all,
Jennifer
All About Sean
As promised, a little more information, including some quick background for those who need to be brought up to speed.
Sean has been one surprise after another. First of all the pregnancy itself was not planned, and it was a much different one for me than all the others. Then, at 21 weeks pregnant, a heart abnormality was detected during a regular ultrasound. After the specialists in Edmonton checked on it, we were told that it was quite rare and very severe. In fact, he is a first for the ped. cardiologists here in Edmonton. We were originally told that he would not survive the pregnancy, and our research confirmed this. We also found out that while some babies have survied this condition, none have been near as severe as Sean.
But then Sean has angels working overtime, I’m convinced of it. Not only did he survive longer in-utero than he was expected to, the timing of his delivery and his condition since confirms it. If our appointments in Edmonton had been a few days earlier, it is unlikely that any problems would have been seen as they were quite subtle. The c-section was ordered not because they were absolutely sure there was a problem, but because they thought it was “likely” and he was close enough to term to risk it. A day later, and he probably would not have survived. Even without the stress of labour, there was meconium in the fluids, attesting to just how stressed he really was.
It took the transport team between an hour and a half to an hour and forty-five minutes to stabilize him enough transport to the U of A hospital. I was able to see and touch his head for a few minutes before they took him away. I was released from the Royal Alex three days later, but I would get day passes from my Dr and Gavin would take me to the NICU in a wheel chair to see my baby. I got to hold him for the first time when he was two days old, and Gavin held him two more days later. We have held him some since as well, but as it takes three nurses to move him from bed to arms and then back again, it is a real treat each and every time.
Sean is very stable right now, and we are waiting for some changes to take place in the heart and lungs before any big decisions are made. The mantra at the NICU seems to be “wait and see” as it is common theme heard when talking with other parents.
As I mentioned earlier, Sean has been full of surprises every step of the way, and I can only hope that they keep being good ones. The Dr’s all agree that he is doing better than they ever expected. They are all very pleased.
oh and me? I’m sore and I would never, ever, ever choose a section over natural labour! However, the drugs are good and I’m doing well. Holding Sean and having him with us is the best therapy in the world.
Again, thankyou all for your prayers, thoughts and love
Blessings to you,
Jennifer
If I hear more information, I will pass it along. If anyone wants to email me privately about this, feel free. My contact email is on my About Me page. I am encouraged that the Angels are helping out Sean and Jennifer now - and hope they continue to do so. As I am sure you are.
Sarah
No responses yet
Sarah,
thanks for passing on the promising news. I’ll follow up with a personal e-mail.
He’s come so far….. what a fighter….
spaz, he really is a fighter, isn’t he? i’m sure that jennifer would be happy to hear from you. i hope we can keep up the prayers and that their little miracles keep coming. he has come so far.
sarah
WOW
what an unbelievable story of which miracles are forged.
no idea who this lady is but what an absolute inspiration
it is an incredible story and she is an inspiration - if you want to know more about it - there is a guest post called Unwrapped Gifts, in my archives (done in December ) and/or you could visit her website Winterland (on my sidebar under ‘where i go to read’) to get the whole story. i hope you’ll say a prayer for sean and jennifer - they can use any extra you may have laying about. thanks, luv.
sarah
Thanks for the update, Sarah.
i’m happy to do it - following is her latest update about baby Sean:
March 02, 2007 at 08:15 PM MST
Well, today was interesting. When we first got there, they were having trouble with Sean’s blood pressure being way too low. They tried a few things and then when they went to draw some blood it all suddenly fixed itself! Go figure! Anyhow, the neonatologists have been finding it harder and harder to keep him stable and everything balanced, so they went to the cardiologists and asked them to please do another echo to check on the pulmonary valve. If the valve was opened, great! They could make the necessary adjustments. If not, they wanted something done soon because it was becoming so difficult to keep him balanced. When they did the echo, the valve was still closed, so Dr Tham went to talk the situation over with all her colleagues. And low and behold! They made a decision! lol
If Sean can remain stable, they will open the valve with a catheter on Wednesday. However, if they have to do it earlier, if Sean can’t stay strong and stable, they will do it as an emergency procedure. Naturally, it would be better to do as an ‘elective’ procedure on Wed, so we have all our fingers and toes crossed that he can hold out until then without giving his Dr’s and nurses too much grief. he’s going to get a reputation as a trouble maker if he keeps this up!
Lynett, the social worker, came to me today with an important suggestion. (she is such a great lady!!) She suggested that it is Friday night and Gavin and I needed a date night. Gavin immediately piped up and told me about the cute guy in the hall and that if I ran I might be able to catch him. I missed out on that, but Gavin is back at the hospital tonight, playing with the night nurses, so hopefully he’ll have better luck than me.
I met a wonderful friend at the NICU this past week. Kathy has a delightful little girl that had heart surgery three weeks ago. They will be leaving to go back to Saskatoon NICU on Monday. At least that is the second plan! lol Anyhow, I do hope you will all take a few minutes to send them a warm thought and good wishes for Melina’s continued recovery. Even though I am so happy for them, I know I’m sure going to miss them when they are gone at the same time. Blessings, Kathy, to you, Lee and especially Melina.
Hugs and love,
Jennifer
i’ll try to update the updates as i get them.
sarah
Wow, how amazing. God can truly be magnificent at times. Babies are just one example of this. I am sending a quick prayer her way, even though I don’t know her. Yes, please keep us updated. ~Kim
i know the prayer is much appreciated and if you knew jennifer you would love her. i just posted a little poem for the baby. maybe someday he’ll read it. i hope so.
sarah
ps: the catheter event is still on schedule for wednesday, so keep your fingers crossed everyone that it happens. anything that will assist our little friend.
sarah