Sorry.

Little Miss Caroline had her post Glenn check up at our new cardiologist's office on the 20th of July. We were forced to wait as long as we did because Tricare is so on top of their game. Before this appointment, we were introduced to our new pediatrician (and PCM) who I have deemed unfit for all. She is a whole new story...and I won't be sidetracked again. So Dr. Carr, the cardiologist. I arrived at the appointment overly prepared, defensive, and on edge. My full intention was to ask for a referral out to the Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters. He turned out very knowledgeable, straightforward, and a bit intense. Just how I like em'. The visit went smoothly, with Parker playing with toys and enjoying young intern conversations. Caroline was in an incredibly good mood (which means she'll scream like a lunatic next time), and even the echo went over without so much as a fuss. We left on a single dose of aspirin daily...and that's it. She really rocked the Glenn. I am so happy that we were fortunate to have a positive outcome. She is blessed. No, we are blessed. Each day is a blessing, and I try really hard to slow down often and kiss on her and just say thank you. Now, here is my chance to apologize for not updating sooner. We have been traveling, sans Dada. Not really the best excuse, because I didn't update when I was at home either. The new house is becoming "home", and Matthew is getting settled into the new job. So, I'm sorry. There. I said it. Now that my head is firmly re-attached to my body, it won't be so long in between posts. Plus, we have so much to catch up on.

Home!

Caroline was released from Children's this morning and is on her way home! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and thank you Uncle Harold and Aunt Wynn for taking care of Parker while we were away.

Love,
Matthew and Lauren

Getting settled in

We tried weaning Caroline completely off the oxygen today with no luck.  She really hates the canula, but her sats sit about mid 60's when she's not on it.  Maybe she needs just a little more time.  Of course, she is on diuretics to pull the excess fluid off her lungs.  The problem with that is she's not eating enough to keep her electrolites up.  After all this time, we're playing feeding games again.  Her pain seems to be controlled by tylenol, but we have ready access to narcotics if she needs them.  
Mama is extra sleepy, and the nurse tonight needs to be watched.  I'll post more tomorrow when my brain is functioning a little better.

HKU bound...already?!

When we were here a few weeks ago for Caroline's cath., we spent more time in the CICU than we did for open heart surgery.  Does anyone else think that's just crazy?  They pulled all of her lines this morning in preparation of sending us to the floor, including her chest tubes.  She is still on a tiny bit of oxygen that should be weaned by the end of the day.  Want some bad news?  We're in the smallest HKU room there is, and since they're fielding a lot of CICU kids in the near future, we'll probably have a roomate.  We are on the "A" side, which means we don't have direct access to the bathroom, window, or table.  Even if we were on the "B" side, the room is too small for a couch that I'm used to sleeping on.  Hopefully we won't need to be here long.  Hopefully.

Chunky Monkey

Caroline finally got to eat about an hour ago.  We had to stop her (of course) from eating the whole bottle for fear that she would make herself sick.  Other than that, everything is the same and we are playing the waiting game.  Post Glenn babies usually have a hard time from a bit of swelling and headaches.  She is puffy and her lungs are a little "wet" from all the medicines and from being on bypass.  This causes her to be more oxygen dependant.  She is still on 2 liters of 60% oxygen.  The few extra lasix doses will hopefully help this so we can take that nasal canula off...or she'll do it herself.  She has only needed one half of a dose of morphine a while ago (before she was allowed to eat) to calm her because she was so upset that her sats were bottoming out.  She is sleeping a lot.  I am not complaining because it seems that she is dealing with the trauma this way.  Keep up the prayers that she will continue to progress.

Post Glenn

I listened in this morning for rounds, as always.  It is so nice to be considered "post Glenn".  Caroline was extubated around 8 this morning, and has been pretty grumpy.  I'm not sure that she is even in a lot of pain (who wouldn't be after open heart surgery?) but I know for a fact that she is starving.  No milk until 2 pm, so keep her in your thoughts as she waits it out.  They also took out one of her lines that went directly into her heart, we call it an RA line.  The other one will have to come out and her central arterial line before we can move to the HKU.  Not that I am in a hurry...I hate that place.  

Glenn...check.

We just got into the CICU to see Caroline.  It's scary seeing her hooked up to all that stuff, again.  She'll start waking up in a few hours.  Please pray that she can be successfully extubated soon so she can start eating.