It looks like we'll be discharged tomorrow. We had planned to stay until Sunday, so this is a nice surprise! Mason turned a corner this morning, and he's been a new 'man' ever since. When we wet for his echo cardiogram this morning, he realized that he was completely unhooked and could walk around. He does still have the monitor wires on his chest, but they gave him a little portable monitor to wear around his neck. He immediately announced that he was going to the gift shop to spend his money. He earned a dollar for each small procedure (x-rays, blood work, echos, etc.) and $20 for the surgery. His echo tech thought that was funny when he saw us give Mason a dollar on Monday after his echo, so he had a dollar waiting on Mason's pillow in the exam room when we went in for the echo this morning. So nice!
I forgot to say yesterday that Mason told me the doctors and nurses were trying to kill him. They kept taking off the dressing over his chest tube hole, and he didn't think they needed to do that anymore. When the nurse left, he told me that the doctors and nurses thought they knew what they were doing, but they really didn't. When I told him that they were trying to help him, he said very emphatically, "They're NOT trying to help me, they're trying to kill me." He wasn't very happy with me when I laughed. He's been very friendly and talkative with everyone today, though, although he thinks they should just let us go home today if we're going home tomorrow anyway. I know he's back to normal when he's being bossy and opinionated. Gotta' go - people waiting for a computer in this lab.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Long Day, Longer Night, Better Now
It may have only been 2 days since we checked into Children's for Mason's surgery, but it feels like it was a week ago. He was very nervous the night before and wanted me to read him the "Kate's Heart Operation" coloring book that the hospital sent. We dragged him out of bed about 6:00 Tuesday morning and he went in the operating room about 8:00. The surgery went well, but the surgeon said Mason's valve was more abnormal than he thought it would be. He did the repair and took him off of the bypass machine, but then realized that the valve was too tight. So they put him back on the machine and "revised" it with a different technique. The whole thing took about 5 hours. It was such a blessing to have our families here, and our friends who took time out of their week to spend a day in Dallas with us.
The worst part of the day was when Mason woke up with the breathing tube still in and freaked out. I was a nervous wreck until they got that out. Actually the very worst part of the day, and night, was the fact that Mason couldn't have anything to drink or eat for 4 hours after surgery - even though he was terribly thirsty and asked for a drink every 30 seconds. When he did finally get some sips of water and ice chips, he threw up. So we had to wait until morning to try again. Even this morning, when he was supposed to be able to drink and eat, we had to wait for the nurses to take out his wires and tubes before they would let him have anything. It was so sad to see his poor little, pitiful expression when he asked for the ten thousandth time if he could have a drink.
The good news is that he is now able to eat and drink without throwing up, and he has all of his lines and tubes out - except his main IV. He's in a regular room - out of the noisy ICU. We had a small issue with his chest tube "hole" - it was bleeding really badly for awhile. But the surgeon came right away and helped us get it under control. Everyone here is unbelievably kind and attentive. We feel very blessed! Thanks so much to everyone who has sent us prayers, and support - we appreciate it more than you'll ever know!!
The worst part of the day was when Mason woke up with the breathing tube still in and freaked out. I was a nervous wreck until they got that out. Actually the very worst part of the day, and night, was the fact that Mason couldn't have anything to drink or eat for 4 hours after surgery - even though he was terribly thirsty and asked for a drink every 30 seconds. When he did finally get some sips of water and ice chips, he threw up. So we had to wait until morning to try again. Even this morning, when he was supposed to be able to drink and eat, we had to wait for the nurses to take out his wires and tubes before they would let him have anything. It was so sad to see his poor little, pitiful expression when he asked for the ten thousandth time if he could have a drink.
The good news is that he is now able to eat and drink without throwing up, and he has all of his lines and tubes out - except his main IV. He's in a regular room - out of the noisy ICU. We had a small issue with his chest tube "hole" - it was bleeding really badly for awhile. But the surgeon came right away and helped us get it under control. Everyone here is unbelievably kind and attentive. We feel very blessed! Thanks so much to everyone who has sent us prayers, and support - we appreciate it more than you'll ever know!!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Early Morning Whistle Stop
We had a great time at Carter's Diego party #2. He actually had a cake this time! Then we woke up early to get Mason and Mimi to the Norman Train Depot on time. They're riding to Dallas on the Amtrak Heartland Flyer. Did anyone notice the irony (heart surgery/Heartland flyer)? Anyway, Mason was playing it cool on the way there. He acted like I was totally nuts for getting so excited about the train. But when the train came barreling down the track, whistle blaring, he just about jumped out of his skin. His eyes were as big as saucers - he was so excited he could hardly stand it. He called from the train about 30 minutes later to tell me that he had seen a "yucky river and some cows." Maybe the scenery will improve in Texas :-) Still no word from the ICU about availability. I'm going to call them right now.
Okay - I just called, and the nurse to to go ahead and go to Dallas. The ICU situation is still "tight," but Dr. Leonard wants to do Mason's pre-op tomorrow morning as planned.
Okay - I just called, and the nurse to to go ahead and go to Dallas. The ICU situation is still "tight," but Dr. Leonard wants to do Mason's pre-op tomorrow morning as planned.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Another Midnight Post
I'm going to be tired tomorrow, but I thought I'd post a quick blog entry while I'm already at the computer - even if it is after midnight. I feel so much better today than I have all week. I completely lost my voice Tuesday. I really hate when that happens. You don't realize how much you use your voice until it's gone. Reprimanding kids is almost impossible - the "mom" look is a poor substitute for the "mom" tone of voice. Ordering at Sonic is totally impossible - I tried it and had to leave empty-handed. Talking on the phone...well, obviously not an option. Jas was probably glad for the peace and quiet, but he missed out on some very interesting stories that I started to whisper, but didn't have the energy to finish.
Speaking of Jas, it's his birthday today. Or...yesterday, I guess, now that it's after midnight. He's getting a Go, Diego, Go pizza party this weekend with Carter in Norman. I can't believe it's already this particular weekend. We leave for Dallas from Norman on Sunday, and Mason's surgery is Tuesday. How did the time go so fast?
There is actually a chance we'll have to postpone the surgery. Mason's illness/fever carried over into the "10-day window" before the surgery that he's supposed to be completely healthy. He went for a blood test and checkup today, and everything looks good so far. The doctors in Dallas will be the final judges of the prognosis, though. Also, the ICU at Children's is full, and we have to postpone Mason's surgery if it's still full by Sunday. Should be interesting.
Speaking of Jas, it's his birthday today. Or...yesterday, I guess, now that it's after midnight. He's getting a Go, Diego, Go pizza party this weekend with Carter in Norman. I can't believe it's already this particular weekend. We leave for Dallas from Norman on Sunday, and Mason's surgery is Tuesday. How did the time go so fast?
There is actually a chance we'll have to postpone the surgery. Mason's illness/fever carried over into the "10-day window" before the surgery that he's supposed to be completely healthy. He went for a blood test and checkup today, and everything looks good so far. The doctors in Dallas will be the final judges of the prognosis, though. Also, the ICU at Children's is full, and we have to postpone Mason's surgery if it's still full by Sunday. Should be interesting.
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