12 week old babies!!! Unfortunately 12 is the magic number when leave ends and work returns. Daddy had to go in to the office today.

My first day home alone with the boys all day included a visit to the cardiologist at the children’s hospital. From 6am until we left the house at 9:30am, I was a blur of business trying to get everything organized and make sure all the timing was right on feeding the boys, pumping, getting all the supplies ready for travel, prepping for the day, etc. It was a serious challenge but I am very happy with how the boys behaved for me so that I was able to get things done. I even took a quick shower!

The doctor’s visit was big today. They determined that besides the dry-air symptoms in his nose, Brendan’s little cough sounded more like a reflux problem. He is starting some Zantac twice a day to try to help out and we will be more cautious about elevating his head while he is fed. After the first dose today, he already seems a bit more comfortable tonight.
We are getting rid of the two diuretic drugs in exchange for a different one that will still help him shed excess fluid but protect the minerals he needs to grow. He gets another echocardiogram in 2 weeks.

At the rate that he is growing, they estimate it will take about 4 more weeks or so for him to meet his 11lb goal for surgery. While the NP was telling us that they will just keep waiting and letting him grow before going in for surgery, the cardiologist said that there is no reason to keep waiting and that they should just get him fixed. So once he hits 11lbs, he will be scheduled for a heart catheterization, similar to when he had his septostomy. This will allow them to accurately measure the pressures in his arteries, veins, and lungs and get an idea of how well the surgery will work. If his pressures are ideal, he could be home within 4-5 days after the Glenn operation. If they are not, he could have a long recovery, need oxygen longer and possibly even stay ventilated for a while. During his last procedure, they liked the pressure readings, so we will hope that that has not changed. After the results of the cath, we will get a surgery date.

Brendan weighed 8lb 15oz on the doctor’s scale too today. With this increase in size, he gets an increase in food. Two whole ounces more have been added to his daily diet. In addition to this, we are allowed to work with him more on bottle feeding. During the day, we can offer him more of his milk from the bottle, and then just push what he doesn’t finish through his NG tube. I am excited tomorrow to see how he does. If the Zantac helps him tonight, he should be in a better mood in the morning. He is resting very well right now.

Trevor had a bad night, lots of crying with cramps and gas. Once we got through a major blowout diaper and a bottle, he settled right in to sleep too. He will take 5 ounces at a time now, and has gone 4hrs between some bottles today. It is nice not feeling like we are feeding him every other minute. He did so well today with Brendan’s appointment, he loves the car ride and pretty much slept through the whole event.

Brendan likes his car seat and sleeps in the car. It is a serious relief to me to make the 20 mile drive to the hospital.

It’s not easy being cheeky

Photo evidence – Bailey held a baby! Both boys seem to like her and Trevor even flashed her a smile.