June 17, 2012: Post surgery appointment

Resilient.  It is amazing to us that just 2 weeks ago Caden had open heart surgery and now he is running.  Truly amazing.  He had his follow-up appointment yesterday and everything went GREAT! His chest x-ray indicated no fluids in the chest cavity, his sodium was up to 136, and his heart function sounded good to Dr. Frommelt.  His oxygen saturation's are now in the low 90's.  Wow…what great numbers to see.  Caden's sats were in the mid-upper 70's before surgery.  Now that his red blood and blue blood are no longer mixing we see a rise in his oxygen sat numbers as well as Caden feeling better (not as fatigued, better color, etc…)

Caden had some redness around his entire incision site it seems it was just a reaction to the steri-strips as it was confined to the space like a ruler down his chest that was bright red.  Unfortunately you can't put anything on it so then he started scratching it so bad a few spots started to break open and bleed.  In time this will get better and look better I'm sure.  His stitches were taken out as well.  

We go back for weekly checks for his coumidin levels but now can resort to a finger prick test instead a blood draw in his arm.  We went to a outpatient clinic near our house last week (after I called to confirm they do pediatric blood draws)  after we got there the gentleman told me he didn't feel confident with his small veins and they didn't carry butterfly needles (which are smaller).  So for those heart families about to embark on this…….ask if they have butterfly needles, and small tubes, and someone trained to do pediatric, hard to find veins. What I was happy about what his honesty.  He didn't attempt, just sent us up to Good Shepard Hospital in Barrington where we had a great experience (as good as it can go) with 3 adults holding him down.  

The other thing we are adjusting to is his diet.  So far we have found some foods he will eat……

Chesse quesadillas with low fat cheese (that doesn't melt)- ekkk, and turkey crumbles that we brown up with taco seasoning.  

Low-fat baked lays chips

Pretzels

Fruit

Grilled cheese with low-fat cheese and Pam cooking spray no butter

Skinny Cow ice cream

Soy Chicken Nuggets 

We are only a few days into this, trying and experimenting, so far we are doing ok.  With an already picker eater we are happy we have had success with these so far.  We have found that "dipping" stuff also helps….BBQ sauce, Ketchup, and Mustard have also become some favorites for him.  After this six week period his body should be able to handle fat easier.  This diet is something that Children's in Wisconsin is doing as they have found it cuts down on the amount of kiddo's developing chyllous post surgery.

Today we celebrate fathers day to my husband, my friend, my rock, and to the best father to our boys Caden and Griffin.  I look forward to the day when I can see David's hard work,  attitude,  values, loyalty, and kind heart in our own boys are they grow older.  Thanks David for all you do!  To all the fathers out there……..thanks for being who you are, what you sacrifice for your families, and how you make a difference in our world today.  Enjoy the day.  You deserve it.

Lots of love - Melissa

 

 Doing great post surgery -Caden 6/17/12 

  

Happy Father's Day (picture taken at hospital before our discharge)

 

  Griffin 16 mo. loving having his brother home.  Playing with dad in the trees.