A Journal Update

This blog has become my journal. So please bear with me as I fill in some blanks for posterity.
Severin is doing great. He has ate his way through peas,green beans,carrots, sweet potatoes,squash,rice cereal,bananas,applesauce,pears,and apple-blueberry. Sweet potatoes are a fav. Thom gave him some tiny bits of hotdog. I said he isn't suppose to have meats until 8 months and even then I don't think a hotdog qualifies as a meat. So I gave Severin a cheese puff. He loves both and I'm afraid we have tanted his plalate for life. Everyday he eats cereal,fruit, and veggie. His OT just introduced him to Mum mums, puffy snacks, and biter biscuts, he is munching on those whenever possible. He also takes fortified breastmilk in a bottle 2-3 times a day. So I pump and pump. But I can nurse him at night. This makes for not too much sleep, but I am willing because it is a time when I can feel like a mom. That brings me to sleeping. I still sleep in the daybed (or morning bed as Johnathen calls it) in Severins room. I put Severin to sleep in his bed. When he wakes up to eat I just put him in bed with me to nurse. I know, I know I'm creating a terrible habit. I even ratted myself out to the Pedatrician. I said the people who wrote those books did not have a heart baby. He agreed and didn't seem too concerned. Maybe he was just treading lightly around the crazy mom, but I took it as validation. And who cares really I'm still waiting for Johnathen and Neleh to sleep through the night!
Severin has discovered the JOY of the Jumperoo. He jumps and jumps until he falls asleep, and then if you startle him awake he starts jumping again. Thom caught that on video it is pretty funny. The exersaucer adds another form entertainment, although he still tries to make that jump too. He is so very close to sitting up on his own. He would rather be sitting on his own or in his Bumbo then laying down. He is not a fan of tummy time. He will do it for maybe 5 mins. The OT isn't worried she said we can work on it after he is good at sitting up.
He is a good baby. Happy and snuggly.He is quick to smile, and gives great loves. If he is fussing he is hungry or tired. We are truly enjoying every moment with him.

Cardiology Appointment Jan. 24

Severin weighs 15.2 and is 27 inches- not bad for a heart kiddo. Dr. Su thinks he is doing very well. He decreased his lasix to one time a day. Enalapril for blood pressure and baby asprin stayed the same. Severin will need oxygen whenever he gets any respiratory bugs. But he should get better with the altitude. Then Dr Su said lets see him in 6 -I thought he'd say weeks but he said MONTHS!!!! I am glad and scared all at the same time. Severin will be ONE before he goes back. This means he is doing very well.

Visual Emotions

I had to start scrapbooking Severin. I didn't want to wait my standard YEAR, because I didn't want to forget anything. With this has come some unexpected emotions. I see the picture of Thom and I in the labor/delivery room. My heart aches for those two people. Their smiling faces are worn down with worry. Their eyes show they have been crying. They have the unknown looming over them, heavily pressing down. I see relief that they have made it to this point, knowing there is so much more to go. All the months of preparation have led up to that day. Commited to eachother and to seeing this through.
I see my sweet baby, fresh and new. No scars. Crying and then content. Then I watch through the pictures as his suffering begins. IVs, blood draws, monitors, the ventillator. I remember taking some not knowing if they were going to be the only pictures I will have. I wanted Thom to stay with him and be my eyes. I didn't want to miss a moment. Surgery day comes and goes. Healing begins, for all. I remember how I felt as each little mommy indulgence is recorded. The fear and relief to be home. The tubes come out, his eyes are bright. Smiles and enjoying the moment. One more surgery, and a little time he is oxygen free.
Now as I type, I hold my 6 month old. I try to keep him from "typing". He thinks the laptop is cool. I am so grateful for the past six months. Thom and I say we are not the same people we were a year ago. We look different. We have learned. And yet we are still learning more...
My Thanks to You who follow this blog, it is your faith that has carried us through the past six months.
I wish for many more!

A Sunday update

While Thom and the kids are at church I thought I would post some updates. Two weeks ago when it was my "turn" to go to church, I was hyperventilating. People were sneezing, snorting , and coughing all around me- to no fault of their own it's just the season. I sat in Sunday School, taking shallow breaths, and praying for a way to escape without disrupting the class or being rude to our wonderful teacher-I do love her lessons. The door cracks open and there is my Neleh, she needed to go potty. HALLELUJAH! Thank- you Heavenly Father for answering my prayer! I hopped right up and took Neleh potty, and then went to Nursery with her. She was the only kid awake in there ( there are only 2 kids). So Neleh and I enjoyed some 1 on 1 playtime. And for now I will not be going to church...

A trip to Grandma Sue and Grandpa Freds

Hey Grandpa! What have you been doing? Some "serious" boy talk
Severin LOVES sweet potatoes. He had to be back on O2 while we were there-due to altitude. He kept getting his food in his nasal cannula, so I stuck it on his forehead to keep it out of the way.
We love going to Grandma Sue and Grandpa Freds. I really hope Severin will heal so he will not need the oxygen always when we are there. I will bring his 50 foot O2 tubing and he can run around in a 50 foot circle. But he will not be able to roast his own mallo or hot dog in the fire pit. Silly explosive oxygen. But by the time I drove about a mile down the mountain his sats were normal again. So there IS hope. It was a wonderful change of scenery. Johnathen and Neleh played outside, inside, downstairs, watched too much TV, hammered wood, "made" things, played games, put together puzzles- which Neleh is really good at, legos, babies. We even had a 7:30 AM shoot out between Grandpa and Johnathen. Johnathen made Grandpa get up to play with him. I don't know if it is the 1:1 ratio adults to kids or just grandma & pas house but we were all sad to go home.

A True Warrior

We KNOW where the Wild Things are...

How do you know you see your Kids Pediatrician too much?

He notices when you color your hair... I don't think Thom would have even noticed If I didn't tell him where I had been.

Updated picture

Because I know most who follow this blog will only get to see Severin grow through pictures I thought I should post the most recent. He looks like such a big boy.

Pediatrician Appointment Jan 3, 2011

Severin weighs 14.8! Thats 3 oz more then pre-surgery! He had lost 1.3 pounds after surgery. He did NOT love his shots. He is sating 80-83% on room air. That leaves him still a bit blue. He is eating 4 oz every 3 hours, and nurses at night. He is eating rice cereal, and LOVES it! He is finding his eating, sleeping, happy baby groove. Life is good.

An Oxygen update

For the past 3 days Severin has been 1/32 liter (.03). This was the amount he came home on when he was 3 weeks. Then his need gradually increased. As of today he has been oxygen free!!! He has maintained his sats around 83-85%. Even when he cries he only drops to 70-72%. That is great compared to 58% he has done in the past. And he pops back up to the 80s. He has a Pediatrician appointment tomorrow so lets hope for some good weight gain, and continued O2 freedom!