One Year Ago Today....

One year ago today, we got news that Landon was going to have a heart defect.  A major defect that would likely entail three surgeries.  Suffice to say, it was the hardest day of our lives.  All the worry and anxiety and and the feeling of complete helplessness.  We knew we would have to wrestle God with this for 20 weeks before he was even born.  Seems like a blessing to know beforehand, but having to agonize over it for months before he was born was daunting.

Landon has spent approximately 39 days in the hospital.  Been to numerous other doctors appointments.  Had two surgeries and a catheterization.  Consumed bottles of medicine.  Fought acid reflux when he was trying to recover.  Had RSV.  He has dealt with a couple of other colds along the way.  Was on oxygen for three months at home, which brought many other challenges along with it. 

But you wouldn't know that he has been through any of this if you met him for the first time today. 

The other day he was playing in his exer-saucer and we realized some obvious cognitive development.  There is a little toy on there that makes different sounds when you push it.  If you push the same button four times in a row it begins to play music.  Landon likes the music so much that he will push the button as fast as possible to get to the music.  When he gets there he stops and listens to the music.  I love that he takes time to stop and listen to the music.   

Seems like a small thing, but to us it is awesome because this quells one of our biggest fears.  That he won't cognitively develop normally.  Little things like this make a huge difference.

I am so grateful for everyone who have been in his life these past 7 1/2 months.  He wouldn't be doing so well without all of the love and affection poured on him.  He laughs so much.  He laughs more in one day than I do in a year. 

Landon sleeps through the night now.  No coincidence that this started briefly after removing the oxygen at night.  The cord is quite annoying to have shoved up your nose.  He is also starting to make consonant sounds.  Every day is different, but better than the previous. 

Praise God for the miraculous start to his life.  

Gary

P.S. The bolded sentences are on purpose.  Go back and read them one more time to realize how amazing this journey has been for us.

Carseat Test #2!

Landon is in his car seat right now for the "challenge" they make him do before he can go home. He has to be in his car seat for an hour and a half hooked up to all his monitors and stuff to make sure none of his stats will go crazy from him being in the car seat. We did this in colorado springs too but when they transferred him it became a moot point. (Or a moo point, like a cow's opinion). He's doing well so far and sleeping so we hope he stays that way all the way through it! This is one of the many things we have to do before discharge. We're trying to do all of our video watching, pamphlet reading, etc to be ready for whenever they want to send us home!

We could go home as early as tomorrow, or it could be Monday, depending on what they think in the morning about his eating and weight change and if we can get the equipment we'll need to take home with us. He's eaten well so far today, 53ml and 42ml and they want him to be at least 40 so he's just got to maintain the pace! They are going to start fortifying his milk today so he gets more "bang for the buck" in his eating. It sounds like we'll go home with him on 3 meds that we'll have to give him by mouth through a syringe and a pulse oximeter which measures the oxygen saturation level in his blood. It's pretty cool, it just have to be strapped to his hand or foot, don't have to draw any blood. From what I understand we'll just have to take his sats daily, he won't have to be continuously hooked up to it like he is now.

That's all for now- everything else continues to look good- I think they are ordering an x-ray later today to check and make sure all his insides are doing well with the resumed feedings. If all continues to go like it is now we should be headed home soon!