Surgery Schedule

Owen will be having the first of his heart surgeries on Tuesday, May 11th.
The plan is to go in on the 10th and get him all vitamined up. We also have an appointment on the 3rd for his pre-admission testing. We're glad we are glad he is getting it done. First we're hoping it helps his liver and his growth. Secondly, the older he gets the more he wants to move around and the less content he is being held.
The Doctors are still confused about Owen. His levels that show liver damage stay the same but, he still isn't absorbing his vitamins like he should be.

Random Photos from Owens first 6 months

We had an appointment with GI today. It wasn't the best of appointments. It was the first time they acted like Owen's liver isn't doing so well. I guess because his vitamin levels are so low. Which they don't have bloodwork since we got discharged last month so, hopefully the bloodwork they got today will show some improvement? The past couple of days he's been looking less yellow to us and that may be a good sign. In preparing for the worst {liver transplant} our cardiologist came in and talked to us. She said they don't think Owen is ready for a full repair of his heart but, to get his oxygen levels better they want to put a shunt in on his Aorta to his lung to help grow his pulmonary arteries. GI said that maybe the extra oxygen will help his liver function better. It's a shot in the dark but, so is Owen. Since Owen's vitamin D levels are so low{as of last month} they're worried about fracture with his ribcage when they go in to do the surgery. We will be scheduling his surgery next week and it should be within the next two months. Our cardiologist said she talked to the leading cardiologist at SIC in Toronto for a second opinion and he thinks it's the right plan for Owen. 
Phlebotomy was a nightmare. Right before they got the last vile of blood, the needle fell out. So they stuck Owen again and couldn't get anything, then again, and then again. Ashley was quite upset and expressed it and told them that's enough! This is on top of the vitamin K shot we gave him a half hour earlier.
 I'm going back to work on Monday which is perfect timing because I don't have anything to do next week.

Owen had his first day in the big city this past week. My cousin is moving his business to a new location in Manhattan. They were having a hard time getting an electrician so they called me to do a few things. Home Depot in Manhattan is quite the different! The lumber section was about 15 feet long.You can check out some of his amazing cakes at Mark Joseph Cakes Anyways I dropped Ashley and Owen off at a friends house in Brooklyn where they spent the day. Owen did really good on his first long car ride. He woke up right before a rest stop which was perfect so he could nurse. He slept the whole way home!                                             
                                                Here is Owen at his first NY dining experience

We got a call from CHOP yesterday and they said we didn't have to give him his vitamin K shot today! We're not sure why {they left a message} I think the last blood test he got might have shown his levels normal because it was right after he was given blood from his Cath.

Should we get this toy for Owen or should we hold out for a gas powered one?

We're awaiting our discharge papers and we are outta heeere. We might even be able to make it out with no traffic! They have a bad habit of releasing us at rush hour.

Owen is doing great! He is still sore around his legs but, he's smiling, happy, and trying to get his hands on anything he can reach. He slept better then ever last night. We'd like to think that it'll stay that way but, it's wishful thinking! GI wants some bloodwork drawn before we leave to check his vitamins again. Then we should be getting out of here. His one catheter spot was oozing a little bit of blood but, it looks like it stopped now.  Hopefully we can get out in the sunshine soon!

Owen woke up and nursed and is back to sleep.  I have a feeling another sleepless night is in order...  The plan is to discharge Owen tomorrow.  They want to observe him overnight due to his tendency to bleed. 

~Ashley