The Beginning

At 1am, I'm wide awake thinking about the challenges God has given my little family. Sometimes, it's hard, but I know that this too shall pass.

We are very thankful for the support we have received from our family and friends.

We have experienced so much since the birth of our son Caleb Josiah Viernes. We have so many friends and family to update about our life here in Texas and I thought why not begin a blog? So, I will quickly summarize our roller coaster life thus far.

• June 2008- Found out we were pregnant, estimated date of delivery will be February 5, 2009
• July 2008- It's a boy!! Paul named him Caleb Josiah
• September 2008- OB/Sonogram visit revealed heart beat irregularity
• October 2008- Met with the Perinatal Specialist, diagnosed Caleb with Premature Atrial Contractions-nothing major, but needs follow-ups
• November 2008- Perinatologist found fluid in Caleb's stomach (Fetal Ascites) and he had Supra Ventricular Tachycardia, I was admitted to St. David's Labor & Delivery Floor for 48 hour observation and possible delivery- I was given steroid shots, but after 48 hours, I was discharged
• December 2008- Diagnosed with Polyhydramnios, OB/Perinatology visits increased to 3 times a week
• January 19, 2009- Baby boy Caleb Josiah Viernes was born via scheduled C-section. He was 10 lbs. 4 oz. He was only 37 weeks. He went straight to the NICU at St. David's

3 days into his NICU stay, his heart condition was diagnosed as Chaotic Atrial Tachycardia. He was and is still on several cardiac meds. Also, he had feeding and reflux issues. February, he underwent a surgical procedure called Nissen Fundoplication and Gastrostomy.

March, we were set to be discharged, but Caleb experienced multiple desaturations. A pulmonologist and an ENT doctor evaluated him and recommended a tracheostomy. Paul and I were devastated. We didn't want him to have another surgery. W e opted to wait it out- maybe if we allow him to grow a bit more, his floppy epiglottis will mature and will not obstruct his airway.

In April, Paul and I both decided, with the help of the doctors that the trach was the best and safest option for Caleb. April 5, we left St. David's NICU to go to Dell Children's Hospital's NICU to get the procedure done.

April 7 at 10:45am Caleb had a muscle biopsy done as was ordered by the neurologist and the molecular geneticist, as well as the tracheostomy surgery.