Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers

The Kelly Family is doing great! However, we want to keep you all informed of some huge events coming up in ourlives. This Friday, Feb. 8th we will have our ultrasound. My anxiety regarding this exam is soley focused around the health of this new baby. While I have no reason to expect any concerns to show up on the ultrasound, Dean and I will be overwhelmed enough by a typical healthy baby...the thoughts that come to the surface of my mind regarding the possiblity of a health issue cause moments of fear and worry. I must say for the most part we are peaceful and excited about baby #3...this being our last, we are savoring these special moments that only happen once (back pain, waking often at night from discomfort, over-tiredness...heehee, actually it is the flutters in the belly that are the most fun, and Addy patting my now emerging tummy and saying "baby", eventhough she has no clue there is really a baby in there.)

On another note, Maya has a HUGE day on March 19th. She will have a sleep study, where she will sleep all night with her trach plugged. We have done small trials at home for 30-45 minutes where she has done fabulously well, but 12 hours is a MUCH longer time. IF Maya passes the study and is able to tolerate the night with her trach plugged, the trach will come out...if NOT, who knows. My emotions ARE SO READY for her trach to come out, for her to graduate from needing nursing, and for our home to be occuppied with family (and of course visitors). However, there is the reality that she may have sleep apnea issues, or that her airway could collapse some. Also keep in mind that we are NOT allowed to let Maya sleep all night with her cap because it is dangerous. She is having to breathe with a tube blocking a portion or her airway, which means she has to push air around the tube to reach her nose and mouth. It will be MUCH easier for her to breath with the tube "out " of her airway. So this is a big deal. She needs to pass this study to get her trach out, and it is really hard to know if she will be successful.

Maya has NEVER been stronger or healthier. When her trach cap/plug is coughed off during the day, she tries to put it back on, as if she know she is supposed to breathe through her mouth and nose and NOT her trach. She is sick less frequently than Addy (who is also rarely sick). She has more energy to walk around and play than ever before. So I believe she is at her best...so we better give this a try. While I am not expecting her to pass with flying colors, I have never been more excited to have her trach out, and to figure out life without nursing. YES! It will have its challenges, and YES! we will have more work to do, BUT Maya WILL be a different kid without her trach, and we will have more freedom to go places with her, and she will have to learn some independence (as things have always been done for her)...AND honestly I believe it is time for some independence.

Please keep this Friday and March 19th in your thoughts and prayers. You are all such a source of strength for our family. I am SO grateful we do not have to journey our road of life without you all!