We're Outa Here!

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ! Our boy's heart is fixed and we get to come home tonight! Sean is on his way now to pick us up. Doctor Hamel and his Nurse Practitioner had fun with me a littlle by telling me we could leave in the morning--but I didn't fall for it. Doctor Hamel couldn't keep a straight face when I told him "shut up" and laughed. I am so greatful to the wonderful medical team here. Austin is fortunate to be an American while quality healthcare is still available and not rationed as it was for him in China.

Day Four
Austin is not as weak today. He's walking a little and his breathing is not labored as it was before the surgery. They've removed all his tubing and bandages--no more oxygen strip on his nose. His echo and x-ray looked good. The cardiologis says Austin should stay another night--just to be safe. The surgeon hasn't given his opinion yet--and he's the one to give the orders for discharge. I'm hoping he says we can leave tonight and I've relayed that opinion to the surgeon's nurse practitioner. Now I'm just waiting to see what they say.

Day Three

This morning Austin was still very weak and sick to his stomach when eating solid foods.

He really wanted the oxygen tube off his face--but his oxygen readings were going down below 90 quite a few times this morning. The medical staff has asked that Austin get up and around today because he still has some fluid in the bottom of his left lung. We've been working on that between his naps today (he's very tired). By late afternoon--he was at the point where they could remove his oxygen tubing and that really freed him up to be held and walked around instead of pushed in a wagon. He especially liked the bare face and often presented it to me (mommy) for kisses. I'm crossing my fingers he'll be ready to go home tomorrow. Although this morning when they were making the rounds, they said it may be Friday :(

Gotta run--Mom and son are going to skype daddy and sister soon!

Out of ICU

Austin has been moved to a new floor--no longer in Intesive Care.

Day Two

Austin took his breathing tube out this morning at 4 AM so they left it out and are just giving him oxygen through his nose. They've removed a lot more from him today and so far he is adjusting well. He isn't whimpering as much now with the cathater removed. His breathing is a little shallow because of the chest pain.

He still has the restraints on since there are monitors attached to him for blood pressure and oxygen readings.

He had some water, juice, and half of a popcycle around noon.

This morning during rounds the doctors said a possible Thursday discharge date.

Update

Had a little bit of a complication at the hospital. As they were monitoring him after the surgery (but before they woke him up), they saw that his chest was filling up with fluid. It's apparently not uncommon after this type of procedure, but it will often stop on its own and Austin's wasn't stopping. They had to take him back down to surgery and reopen the incision on his chest to find what was bleeding.

It was apparently pretty easy to find when they opened him back up, though - it was bleeding pretty bad. They sutured up the aorta that was bleeding and made sure there wasn't anything additional going on before they closed him up again. He's back in the recovery room now, so we're going to try to get some sleep, too.

Been a long day for all of us.

At the Hospital

Well, we've been at the hospital since about 9:00 this morning. After all the tests and preparations, they took him into surgery at 1:00. That was about four and a half hours ago.

The nurse just came in and said they did the post-op echo, and they're happy with the way his repaired heart is functioning. So, they're starting to close him up. It'll probably take another hour or so to get everything sewed up, then they'll be ready to move him to the recovery room and we'll be able to get into see him.

Right now, things are looking good!