Cath Day

Well, things are going as scheduled today.  Despite the fact that he can't seem to kick this runny nose and mild cough, the doctors don't feel that would be a hinderance today or a major risk for him.  Cath was scheduled for 12pm so he had to go all morning without any food and only clear liquids until 10am (nothing after that).  We were kind of dreading this because being 2 he can't understand why he can't eat.  He did suprisingly well with this though.  We kept him well supplied with apple juice this morning and he only asked to eat once because of all the distractions we supplied and unusual things going on.

He had to get an xray when we got to the hospital as part of pre-op stuff which he did not love. He was a little cranky here and there throughout the morning as he had to get blood pressure taken, nose swabbed (they want to get a viral culture before surgery on Wednesday), and probably 7-8 people wanting to listen to his heart and lungs but was overall friendly and agreeable.

He went back around 1pm (a little later than we expected) and we got to go with him at least until he was "brain asleep".  He was still moving some but it's just a reaction to the anesthesia and not any indicator he was still awake.  

I told Gary he must be really confused, being in this weird place in a weird bed and we let him watch as movies at he wanted today and Gary and I dressed up in the funny blue suits to go back with him.  Despite the odd circumstances though He did very well.  Depending on what they do during the cath (there could be "extra" vessels that have developed in his heart that they would essentially block up) it could take 45 minutes- 3 hours. Afterwards he'll have to lie flat for 2-4 hours also so we probably won't go back until he starts to wake up from anesthesia. The longer he sleeps during that mandatory lay flat time the better and we don't want to do anything to wake him up as long as he's sleeping peacfully.  

It's unlikely he'll be admitted after the Cath but it's possible.  Either way, we are planning to stay up here tonight and tomorrow night since surgery is early on Wednesday.  The plan is to move forward with surgery but we'll see what the results of the viral culture end up being and how he responds to the anesthesia today.  Then we'll see what the anesthesiologist and surgeon think.   They said today would be a good "trial run" to make sure he will tolerate surgery well. 

2:19pm We just got an update that things are going well so far and that he is doing good.  It sounds like they will be done soon but they still have to do an echocardiagram and draw pre-op labs.  These things will be much easier with him being asleep than him being awake.

We'll post more as we hear more later.  

Gary and I in our disguises". Landon thought they were funny.

Daddy and Landon in his special shirt

Playing with cars while waiting on xray