Pediatric Cardiologist Visit

Here is a picture of Graysen ready to leave for his outing to the pediatric cardiologist. The doctor said that Graysen is doing great!

Graysen was not a happy camper at the doctor visit, but some sugar water (Sweeteaze) quickly helped the situation. He had an EKG and ECHO done and a stitch removed, so it was a long visit. Most of the discussion centered on Graysen's pulmonary artery. The blood flow to the lungs is still not 50/50. It is 60/40, with more blood going to the right lung. There is also more blood circulating through the lungs rather than it being a 50/50 split between lung and body. There is nothing that will be done at this point to correct the blood flow situation to the lungs.

The next decision point will be based on the results of his heart catherization on July 29th. The doctors will look at his shunt and pulmonary artery to determine their condition and when the next surgery needs to be performed. In the meantime, he will be watched carefully since these concerns add stress to his lungs. (They can become "flooded" and can lead to congestive heart failure.) His next PC visit is in two weeks at which time they will perform chest x-rays to further understand condition of the pulmonary circulatory system.

The doctor also stressed to us the importance of keeping Graysen at home. He cannot get sick and this is a bad time of year for flu and RSV. I am hoping that he will get the RSV vaccine next week when we go to the pediatrician. The doctor said that Graysen needs to stay at home until the end of RSV season, which is the end of March or April. Lee and I are diligent about washing our hands and we require that anyone that enters our apartment washes their hands. (I am writing this so that anyone that visits understands why I have become psycho about hand washing and germs. It is very bad news if Graysen gets sick.)

So, overall we are very happy with Graysen's recovery. He is doing great and seems to be a strong, happy, and healthy baby.

Wednesday

Lee picked up Graysen to comfort him, and he immediately fell asleep in daddy's arms.

Tuesday

Lee took a picture of me feeding the baby. Today was an uneventful day. I spent most of the day freaking out because Graysen hadn't had a poopy diaper in 24 hours. I called the doctor's office and they told me not to worry. Sure enough, the situation was resolved a few hours later.

Graysen's immune system is suppressed while he recovers from surgery. Thus, I do not take him anywhere which limits our daily activities. We plan to keep him at home until the end of March. He has an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist on Thursday which will be his first trip out in a week.

Monday

I am still getting used to having a newborn around. It is 11:40 AM and I am still in PJ's. My goal is to eat lunch and take a shower before Lee gets home at 5 PM. Graysen loves to eat and be held. He eats every two hours and fusses if he is not held constantly. He does not like to be in his crib or his swing. Thus, I do not get a lot done because I haven't figured out how to do things and hold him at the same time. (I have to be careful how I hold him because his breast bone will not be healed for four more weeks.)

Caleb will come home this Friday. Lee and I are looking forward to having our little boy back. We miss him a lot and his room feels so empty. My mom will stay the following week to help me adjust to having two kids.

Back at Home

We are back home with Graysen. The past 72 hours have been a whirlwind. We have been busy from the moment that we were discharged from the hospital. Today is our first somewhat relaxing day at home. (No day is completely relaxing with a newborn.) Lee and I forgot what it was like to have a newborn at home. We are not getting a lot of sleep. We will both be happy today if one of us can make it to the grocery store to buy food for the week. It would be a sign of progress.

Graysen is doing great. He is healthy and happy and doing normal newborn activities.

Graysen is out of the hospital!

The doctors decided this morning that Graysen was ready to go home! He was discharged this afternoon--we are thrilled to be out of the hospital. We will post pictures and more information once we get settled back home in Spartanburg.

"I want my feeds!!!"

Here are some pictures of daily life at MUSC. The days are somewhat monotonous. Lee does work in the mornings, Graysen gets upset if he doesn't get his "feeds," I spend time reading and playing with Graysen...

Graysen is doing great. He has taken two bottles now with an occupational therapist. He is allowed to take all of his food by bottle for the next 24 hours. They are talking about removing his feeding tube and IV today. I think that we may be getting close to going home!!! I know that we will be here at least all day today and all day tomorrow because they have talked about the plans for those two days. They haven't given us a discharge date, but I am hopeful that it will be soon. Graysen has been a little super star!!!