Good News!

We are going home!!! 

They took her pacer wires out and she has to stay for observation until 5:30pm, and then we are FREE TO GO!!!

Harlie is SO over this hospital stay.  She is fighting everything - even suctioning, something she deals with all the time, all of a sudden is too much.  I think she is just trying to regain some control over her life.  Who could blame her? 

And she's had another rough day.  They removed her chest tube dressings and removed the sutures.  They said that the spots heal better without the sutures in there (not dissolvable ones).  And one of hers was already looking angry and red.  But, in just starting to remove the dressing, the nurse practitioner had to call in for reinforcements.  Harlie was fighting - and HARD! 

After that she took out the pacer wires.  Earlier she had the Holter monitor removed.  All the stickers everywhere have thoroughly pissed her off!!!  She hates those things! 

Then came the removing of her IV.  They had so much tape around it, that was agony!  But, once it was out, she felt so much better. 

Last night she made me a bit nervous (only in that I thought maybe our discharge today could have been threatened).  Her nurse didn't like her high blood pressures and her high respiratory rate.  So, she called the resident and after going over some things she guessed that she was probably just in pain.  Which really made total sense.  Duh.  So, they gave her some Tylenol and took her blood pressure a little while later, and it was fine.  Whew! 

I think she realizes she's going home.  Tom took the train up this morning and checked us out of the Ronald McDonald House.  When he came back up to her room she saw the stroller.  We haven't gotten her dressed yet, but that is going to happen as soon as I get back to her room after finishing this post.

I will have to go into more detail later, but the Holter monitor showed that she is staying in Junctional Rythm.  They said that right now it is fine and that she could possibly stay that way from here on out.  Or it could resolve itself in time.  Or her heart rate could start to slow down and then action would have to be taken.  I think a pacemaker would have to be hooked up if that's the case, but don't hold me to that.  This is new to her.  It began after surgery.  So, we will follow-up with her home cardiologist in the next few weeks and do another 24 hours on the Holter monitor.  Then I think she will have to go back for regular tests and exams until they determine what (if anything) needs to be done. 

Wow.  Post-op day 9!  I can't even begin to explain how I'm feeling right now.  The thought of going home and having the Fontan behind us is surreal.  And it brings tears to my eyes.  It is a relief I just can't put into words.  We made it and she is amazing. 

Okay, gotta go home!!!!  I can't wait to see her mood change!

Thank you again for all your wonderful prayers, comments, and support!  Being up here can feel so isolating.  Your comments and messages are so wonderful to receive.  Please know I am so, so grateful!!!

Much love,
Christy