Scavenger Hunt

It's  been a while since I could post.   My "hot spot" of internet isn't working quite the way I hoped.   I can read and respond to emails, but can't upload pictures to the blog.   Anyway, I am going to compile a few posts into one ... while Cooper walks across the balance beam at gymnastics (very cute, by the way).  He is LOVING it.

Cynthia was here for the week, and we took alot of walks to get some fresh air.    We couldn't do the playground with Jackson - so we tried to make walking a bit more exciting by having a scavenger hunt.   Turns out, on our first outing, we didn't see much of anything.    Had to rethink our list for the next walk : )    So glad we've had such nice weather and weren't stuck inside all week. 

 

 

 Cooper - showing me the list.

 

 Finally we spotted something - a bug!

A dead one, but still, we got to check it off our list!

 

 Not posed.

Very sweet.

 Cooper gave Charlie a hand getting in (or out) of the wagon ... over and over and over ....

Voila - our scavenger hunt completed.

In other news, Charlie's ear tubes went well.   Have I posted about that yet?   He had them put in on Thursday.   No problems.   Seems to be louder (if possible) now.

Here's hoping we're not on antibiotics anytime in the near future.

Jackson's follow up with the cardiologist was yesterday (Monday).   It went well.   They did an ecg as well as a thorough echo.   The cardiologist said that his hole is repaired.   His left ventricle has returned to normal size.   He does still have a "trivial" leak in the aortic valve ... but explained that it wasn't enough that should cause any symptoms or problems.   Between three people, one probably has the same amount of leakage and will never know it.   Hopefully it won't get any worse - which it really shouldn't, now that the hole isn't causing that valve to prolapse.   

Jackson does have some remaining fluid under his heart.   The cardiologist wants us to continue with the Lasix (which helps remove extra water) and Ibuprofen (3 times a day to also help reduce any inflammation).   His hope is that in two weeks that fluid will be gone - or going away.   If it were to build up, it would cause pressure and strain on the heart.   That would mean that they would be checking us back into the hospital and getting another chest tube (NO!!!) into the pericardium to help remove the fluid.    But, Jackson's not at the point, and has a SMALL chance of that happening.   He is hopeful that the medicine will help eliminate all the fluid and we will get a clean bill of health on the 20th.    It isn't typical to still have fluid after a surgery ... but sometimes kids are more "sensitive" to the pericardium being cut.   We're hoping that is what is going on with Jackson.   His skin itself is pretty sensitive - prone to excema and easily breaks out.   So it would make sense that when they cut into the pericardium to get to his heart, that his reaction was just more heightened than the "typcial" kid.

So, please pray that the fluid is gone by the 20th.   We don't want him to have to go through any more.   And we want to fully exhale and move forward.  

This past Saturday some great friends threw a baby shower for me (and Maggie).
Had a wonderful time ... I'll post pictures one day.

Gymnastics is over.

Time for bed!