"My hearts all better!"
We have come full circle! Retta was discharged home a full eight days after undergoing open heart surgery! IT IS BEHIND HER! Our little fighter pulled through once again - this time involved kicking and screaming (literally), but all for a good reason! Retta was transferred to an intermediate care floor just after three days in the PICU. For a while we felt we were never going to go home. Retta's oxygen sats waivered for days on end in the upper 80's - lower 90's. Everyday the nurses and physicians attempted to ween Retta off the oxygen with little success. Finally after days of watching the monitor and cheering Retta on in exhaustion - the cardiologist came in and said,"she looks so comfortable," and just like that - gave us the OK to take her home contingent that (1) we would call and/or bring her directly to the ER with any concerns and (2) we would follow up with him in the office that Friday.
...Little did the cardiologist know - we had already dressed Retta in her going home outfit after her bath that morning. WE WERE GOING HOME!
Here is Retta back at the hospital for Post-Op lab work the following Friday. Cheeks still healing from the tape that held her nasal cannula in place for eight days straight.
And one week later, back at the office - the cardiologist was thrilled (as so were we) to see Retta's heart transformation via echo. No longer was there a frantic tornado of swirling blue and red on the monitor. Now a clear picture of a little heart (that even I could recognize was a heart) with four distinct chambers comfortably pumping away! Dr. Milhoan pointed out a few very, very small leaks in the repair (which was expected). However, he was surprised to see how insignificant they were compared to how things looked at the end of surgery. He described the leaks to be "smaller than a human hair." Which means that at this point, the odds are against Retta needing an additional repair later in life. Thank goodness! We followed with the cardiologist closely and recently graduated out to three month follow up visits! And the best part is - we have discontinued ALL of Retta's cardiac medications!
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As soon as Retta got off the pain medication. She hit the ground running! (not literally - but at this rate...it will be very soon!). OT, PT & Speech therapy all resumed 1x week. Her endurance rapidly increased upon coming home while her strength followed a bit more slowly. She is now gaining strength in her core and is getting better at sitting with a little support. She also was able to resume solids and seems to actually be swallowing some of her food now. So far her solid diet consists of rice cereal, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, peas, carrots, apples, pears, bananas and mangos. I'm making my own baby food and having a lot of fun with it. (Szymon wanted to make sure i didn't put any breastmilk in the mango...so he could throw a cube or two into a margarita! Go figure). And weight gain is no longer a problem! Retta has averaged a 1/2 pound weight gain per week after surgery. Which means we are pushing 14 pounds and already wearing 6 to 9 month clothing! BIG GIRL!
"Are you serious Mom..that bowl is huge!"
RRRRrrrrrr!
Laughing while eating can be dangerous!
Snacking before bed.
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Retta's social life has also picked up! We are no longer forced to be home bodies. Retta now goes to the grocery store, out to eat, to happy hour, to lunch, to get a pedicure (me not her), out on shopping trips, to graduation parties and baby showers just to name a few...all in addition to her ongoing doctors appointments!
Happy hour with the girls.
"Are you my Momma?" No, it's Aunt Nicole!
Peeking out from the car seat cover at HEB.
Breakfast at Twin Sisters Cafe with Dad.
Crashed out at Central Market.
& Lunch with Aunt Angie and Miss Reese in Austin!
(Yes that is spit up flying out of Retta's mouth)
And speaking of spit-up...it returned with revenge as soon as feeds were resumed at the hospital. After numerous appointments to address this ongoing issue; the best theory anyone can come up with is that Retta's body is having to adjust to her new eating abilities. She is now taking in 2 to 3x more milk a day at a much faster pace and with increased force. The girl likes to eat! There seems to be nothing we can do to cure her from this plague until she grows out of it. So in the mean time, BIBS, BIBS, BIBS! We have invested in bibs that are super absorbent and easily go through a dozen a day!
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Trying to catch up on my posts... more to come on moving and Retta's new accessory!
