We made our trek to Elmo's Diner for an early lunch. Appointment was at 12:15 p.m. We got to Duke at 12:00 and were immediately taken back for height, weight, BP check, etc. Then, we went and had the EKG and Echo. Jacob did great with the echo! I was so relieved. We were done with all that in fairly short order and sent back to the waiting room.
Dr. Rhodes got behind and I believe we waited at least one hour in the waiting room. We were finally called back about 1:45 p.m.? Dr. Rhodes came in, explained what they would be looking for. He also mentioned that he likes to do a routine cath around 8-10 years old when all studies have been fine. He would do it earlier if there were any issues. No activity restrictions are anticipated at any time he said as long as we have no complications in the future. The echo & EKG looked great and they have no concerns at this point. We were told to come back in one year for an echo / EKG. All in all a wonderful visit!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tomorrow....
... we go back to Duke for a pediatric cardiology appointment and echo for the first time in 10.5 months. This will be our first unsedated echo too!
We last went in October 2007 when Jacob was 14 months old. At that time, the echo showed the surgical result was about as good as you could hope for.
We have no reason to expect anything but great news tomorrow. We are seeing a new doctor, Dr. Rhodes. We previously saw Dr. Delaney, but he has since left Duke. Both Dr. Delaney & Dr. Rhodes were there on Jacob's admission at about 3 hours old and both performed his catheterization / balloon septostomy an hour or so later.
Anyway, please keep us in your thoughts & prayers tomorrow!
We last went in October 2007 when Jacob was 14 months old. At that time, the echo showed the surgical result was about as good as you could hope for.
We have no reason to expect anything but great news tomorrow. We are seeing a new doctor, Dr. Rhodes. We previously saw Dr. Delaney, but he has since left Duke. Both Dr. Delaney & Dr. Rhodes were there on Jacob's admission at about 3 hours old and both performed his catheterization / balloon septostomy an hour or so later.
Anyway, please keep us in your thoughts & prayers tomorrow!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Arterial Switch Operation Anniversary
Two years ago today, at this moment, Jeff & I took turns holding our 6 day old baby boy. It was a quiet Monday morning. Around 1 p.m. the anesthesiologist came to wheel Jacob away. We walked with him all the way to the elevator that would take Jacob to the surgical suite. The tears streamed down our faces as they took him away.
Then, we said a prayer. Jeff & I then took the little Duke tram over to another part of the hospital to sort of "get away" and try to eat some lunch. We finally returned to the PICU waiting area and were joined by friends & family.
It was a long 3.5 hours before we got our first update at 4:30 p.m. that the ASO had been completed. The ASO, of course, reverses the pulmonary artery & aorta back to their anatomical position. I've heard that the heart of a newborn baby is about the size of a strawberry. Amazing work, Dr. Jaggers, simply amazing.
About 15 minutes later, they let us know he had come off the bypass and that his heart was pumping & his lungs oxygenating his blood. A while later, they wheeled him by quickly. Nearly an hour after that, perhaps 7 p.m., we finally got to go back & see him. We didn't take any pictures, which is something I sort of regret. At the same time, I can still see the image in my eye. He had tubes and wires everywhere, and a little forehead temperature thing.
I almost consider August 7 to be a kind of "birthday" for Jacob. It's the day his heart was fixed by the talented Dr. Jaggers, so that he could go on to live a long, happy, normal life.
Then, we said a prayer. Jeff & I then took the little Duke tram over to another part of the hospital to sort of "get away" and try to eat some lunch. We finally returned to the PICU waiting area and were joined by friends & family.
It was a long 3.5 hours before we got our first update at 4:30 p.m. that the ASO had been completed. The ASO, of course, reverses the pulmonary artery & aorta back to their anatomical position. I've heard that the heart of a newborn baby is about the size of a strawberry. Amazing work, Dr. Jaggers, simply amazing.
About 15 minutes later, they let us know he had come off the bypass and that his heart was pumping & his lungs oxygenating his blood. A while later, they wheeled him by quickly. Nearly an hour after that, perhaps 7 p.m., we finally got to go back & see him. We didn't take any pictures, which is something I sort of regret. At the same time, I can still see the image in my eye. He had tubes and wires everywhere, and a little forehead temperature thing.
I almost consider August 7 to be a kind of "birthday" for Jacob. It's the day his heart was fixed by the talented Dr. Jaggers, so that he could go on to live a long, happy, normal life.
Friday, August 1, 2008
My Baby is 2 Today....
Where have the months gone? The days & weeks seem to go by so quickly and all of a sudden, our baby boy is 2.
I woke up at 5:30 this morning to the sound of our little man sort of screaming (he's usually pretty patient in the mornings, but not this one, I suppose.) Jeff turned to me and said, it's Jacob's birthday. I said, "yep, two years ago at this time, he was being life-flighted." And, so it begins that I try to remember the first 24 hours of his life. The first 3-4 hours are pretty clear, but the remaining hours of his first full day are a blur. We are certainly thankful and grateful to God that Jacob is such an energetic, full of life two year old. But on his birthday, it's hard to not remember those early hours and days.
Today Jacob also completes his first full week of childcare in a center. He was with Ms. Chrissy before, who kept him in her home, from the time he was about 2.5 months old until just a few weeks ago. We thought it sounded like a good idea to put him in a regular childcare center now that he is 2 for various reasons. It's been a rough transition so far. Rough on Jacob and rough on his mama too. I cried Monday, and managed not to cry Tues, Wed, or Thurs, but I think I've already cried about 4 times today. I picked him up on Tues & Thurs this week. I'd peek in on him before going into the room, and he'd just be sitting at the little tables they have, sort of slumped down, coloring or playing with a puzzle. Today, when I dropped him off, I had to take his bag to another room, so I went back to look in on him before I left. Five other kids were happily clapping, singing & stomping around to a CD. He stood in the middle, sort of looking at the floor. It was so depressing.
He is such a tough little guy. I think they think he is doing well because he's not crying all day, but he's just being tough. At the same time, he's not himself, because he is a happy, outgoing child who has never met a stranger. Yet, this week, one of his teachers told me she thought he is shy. He's never been described that way. I'm hoping that this is just a transitional phase. At the same time, I think he is going through a little bit of separation anxiety being away from us.
I can't wait to pick him up today and tomorrow we'll celebrate his birthday with family & friends.
I woke up at 5:30 this morning to the sound of our little man sort of screaming (he's usually pretty patient in the mornings, but not this one, I suppose.) Jeff turned to me and said, it's Jacob's birthday. I said, "yep, two years ago at this time, he was being life-flighted." And, so it begins that I try to remember the first 24 hours of his life. The first 3-4 hours are pretty clear, but the remaining hours of his first full day are a blur. We are certainly thankful and grateful to God that Jacob is such an energetic, full of life two year old. But on his birthday, it's hard to not remember those early hours and days.
Today Jacob also completes his first full week of childcare in a center. He was with Ms. Chrissy before, who kept him in her home, from the time he was about 2.5 months old until just a few weeks ago. We thought it sounded like a good idea to put him in a regular childcare center now that he is 2 for various reasons. It's been a rough transition so far. Rough on Jacob and rough on his mama too. I cried Monday, and managed not to cry Tues, Wed, or Thurs, but I think I've already cried about 4 times today. I picked him up on Tues & Thurs this week. I'd peek in on him before going into the room, and he'd just be sitting at the little tables they have, sort of slumped down, coloring or playing with a puzzle. Today, when I dropped him off, I had to take his bag to another room, so I went back to look in on him before I left. Five other kids were happily clapping, singing & stomping around to a CD. He stood in the middle, sort of looking at the floor. It was so depressing.
He is such a tough little guy. I think they think he is doing well because he's not crying all day, but he's just being tough. At the same time, he's not himself, because he is a happy, outgoing child who has never met a stranger. Yet, this week, one of his teachers told me she thought he is shy. He's never been described that way. I'm hoping that this is just a transitional phase. At the same time, I think he is going through a little bit of separation anxiety being away from us.
I can't wait to pick him up today and tomorrow we'll celebrate his birthday with family & friends.
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