It's who we are...It's what we do

We got out of the house today! Matt has been taking some time off work so that he could help me get back to normal and we could all re-group as a family. In true Matt and Amy Maiberger fashion, we took all 3 kids to Great Lakes Crossing on a whim. It was SUCH a fun afternoon. We were going to have dinner at the rainforest cafe, but one thunderstorm did poor Gabe in. Scared him to DEATH. So we promptly left and went to the hibachi restaurant down the hall. Gabe and Zoe were both FASCINATED with the drumming chef and all that the meal entailed. We also took the kids to Jeepers, an indoor amusement type place...like Chuck E Cheese but with more actual rides. Here is a video and a few pictures from our day:


Video Hosting - Upload Video - Photo Sharing

Matt, Gabe and Zoe riding the indoor rollercoaster



Gabe riding the "Yak Attack" all by himself!



Zoe on the flying bananas



The kids watching mr. habachi chef in amazement...



Beautiful three week old Rhegan just hanging out sleeping...

Fitting Lyrics

I wanted to post these lyrics. I've had this CD (Steven Curtis Chapman, All Things New, "Believe Me Now") forever but just really heard the words to this song loud and clear for the first time. They are so fitting to our last 3 weeks. So read on and let the love of the Lord and His peace speak to you...

I watch you looking out across the raging water
So sure your only hope lies on the other side
You hear the enemy that's closing in around you
And I know that you don't have the strength to fight
But do you have the faith to stand and...

Believe Me now
Believe Me here
Remember all the times I've told you loud and clear
I am with you and I am for you
So believe Me now
Believe Me now

I am the One who waved my hand and split the ocean
I am the One who spoke the words and raised the dead
And I've loved you long before I set the world in motion
I know all the fears you're feeling now
But do you remember who I am? Do you..

Believe Me now
Believe Me here
Remember all the times I've told you loud and clear
I am with you and I am for you

So believe Me now
Believe it's true
I never have, I never will abandon you
And the God that I have always been
I will forever be
So believe Me now

I am the God who never wastes a single hurt that you endure
My words are true, and all My promises are sure

So believe Me now
Oh, believe Me now

Happy Easter 2006!

Here's the promised picture...as you can see Rhegan was not all that thrilled with the idea :-) We'll work on that...

I am home

Wow. That's about all I can say is wow. This last week has been one of the toughest and craziest of my entire life. However, I have never been so grateful to just be alive and with my family at home.

There is much to update...I don't know even where to begin. Last Saturday, April 8th, I was admitted to U of M due to an infection in the soft tissues of my abdomen called cellulitis. The infection was growing multiple bacterias and was very very serious. Immediately I was put on antibiotics via an IV. They were pretty certain that I was going to start turning the corner soon but then I had a really bad allergic reaction to one of the antibiotics I was being given. So the next few days were spent trying to figure out the best combination of drugs that could 1) fight the bacteria and 2) be something I would not react to. Wednesday, April 12th was one of the worst days I was there. All in the course of a few hours I had three incredibly painful prcedures preformed. One of them was to drain a pocket of fluid that they found in the infected area on a CAT scan they had done the night before.

Anyway, long story short, by this last Thursday I was given permission to be discharged both by the infectious disease doctors that were following me and the OB docs that were officially in charge of me. They were able to transition me to all oral antibiotics. My discharge was pending based on getting these antibiotics at the pharmacy there at U of M. It is a really complicated story, but we were able to get the drugs before they closed. Since we don't have prescription coverage as part of our insurance, we had to pay out of pocket. Not wanting to be held hostage at the hospital just becuase we couldn't get the medication, we got the medication for $2100. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is $2100 for a two week course of three antibiotics. We are still trying to get in touch with some of the social work people at the hospital who may be able to figure out a way to be reimbursed. I am just so happy to be home.

I am hoping to take pictures of the whole family tomorrow so I will post them soon!! Rhegan, Zoe, Gabe, Matt and my mom are also doing well. Matt and my mom have been holding down the fort here at home. Please keep them in your prayers as they are very short on sleep!!

Many blessings from our family to yours. May you be able to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It truly is by His death and resurrection alone that has brought us healing and most importantly our salvation. THANK YOU LORD!!!!

One Week Old...

Here she is again...one week old and such a sleeping beauty!

Update

Hello everyone!! I wanted to get a quick update out there to everyone to let you know how things are here around the Maiberger house!!

I'll start with Rhegan...she is so amazing. Beautiful, wonderful, super cuddly and just so darn content!! What a blessing from the Lord she is! Our nights are going as well as we could expect. This little one loves to eat so some nights are a little more sleepless than others! And HUGE kudos to Matt who at the outset here has helped out tremendously at night since it's hard for me to move around and get out of bed. Anyway, Rhegan has already regained her birth weight as of yesterday and according to her pediatrician she is "100% perfect in every way." A mom's gotta brag, you know! :-)

On to Gabe and Zoe...they LOVE their little sister. Oh my goodness. Gabe is older this time around being a big brother so he gets to do a little more in helping. Zoe has taken to the "mommy" role and loves any chance she gets to help hold or feed or love on little Rhegan. It was so cute this morning...Zoe was helping Daddy hold her in the rocking chair and Matt was gently stroking Rhegan's head. Zoe immediately cries, "No Daddy!! You CAN NOT touch her head!!" At least we know she hears us...haha.

As far as myself, we had a bit of a snafu this morning. I was up early using the bathroom and much to my dismay noticed that I had started to bleed...a LOT! I wasn't sure where the blood was coming from, but it was gushing. So I called Matt in who was sound asleep and sure enough, my worst c-section fear...my incision had split open. We had to rush down to U of M and Matt's mom rushed over here to help my mom. Thankfully, there is still no infection, which is a HUGE plus, but they did have to reopen the entire incision and Matt will once again be packing me for the next 4 weeks. *sigh* I really feel worse for Matt...it was bad enough that he had to do it once. At least he has experience!! :-) Anyway, it seemed to the doctors as though I had had a hematoma under the surface of the incision. The incision itself looked GREAT and was nice and closed, but underneath, the tissue was not coming together and healing. Please keep me in your prayers. It's not a dire situation, but as it all heals, there is still a risk for infection which obviously we want to avoid!!

I promise more pictures soon! We have yet to take one of the 5 of us!!

We are home!