Monday, April 6, 2009

Henry's Heart

We had a crazy, busy weekend…my mom threw me a SUPER cute baby shower on Saturday (which I will blog about later) and we did a lot of hanging out with friends and family in L.A. Henry had a heart doctor appointment at 8:30 Monday morning (today), so we just left L.A. at 5:30 a.m. and did it on the way home.

Well, everyone…it is here.

We have surgery scheduled at UCLA Children’s Hospital on May 21st. We have to be there at 6:30 a.m. and his surgery will be sometime after that. He won’t be able to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before, so hopefully he won’t be too crabby that morning since he’s used to having breakfast RIGHT away. The surgery is expected to last 2-4 hours (is it just me or does that seem like a HUGE window???), and he will have to stay overnight for monitoring…so we can go home sometime on Friday. Recovery is pretty easy (so they say), so I’m hoping it isn’t too hard on him. Should be interesting to see how well I’ll sleep in a hospital chair…32 weeks pregnant with twins. But there is just NO WAY I’ll be leaving my little guy’s side. Big belly or not.

He did pretty well at this appointment and didn't cry very much. He only cried when they pulled the little EKG stickers off of him...they were really sticky and pulled his skin..."owie! owie! owie" Poor guy...I tried to tell him that he should be glad he doesn't have chest hair yet, but I don't think he understood.


It’s weird. About 90% of me is relieved. Relieved that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Relieved that I won’t have that nagging wonder in the back of my head about how well his heart is functioning. Relieved that the surgery will be done and over with when I still only have one child to devote my attention to.

But there’s that 10% of me that is so….sad. Sad that my sweet little boy needs heart surgery. Sad that he even has to deal with this at all. Sad that it is real and true and didn’t just go away.


We’ve known he was going to need surgery since he was about 3 months old, so this is certainly no surprise. Just a milestone in Henry’s little life. Like the first day of school or moving out of the house…stuff that I know will happen someday, but I’ll cry when it does anyway.


In the meantime I have to keep him healthy...no runny nose, ear infection, cough...they won't put him under full anaesthesia if he's even the least bit sick. No pressure mom!

12 comments:

Rachel Slagle said...

i'm sure that you will feel so much better having closure. i will be praying that henry stays healthy so all can go acording to the plan. let me know if i can do ANYTHING while you guys are down here for the surgery - even if you just need someone to come sit with you :)

joy said...

i'm so glad for you that it will be before the girls come. but, we will pray for henry and the whole procedure.

Kristen Borland said...

oh wow. we'll pray for him. it's good that you don't have to wonder anymore.

jenny said...

Ahhh... my heart hurts for you just reading what he (& you) have to go through. I know all too well the feelings of putting your child in another's hands, waiting and waiting for surgery to be finished, anxiously anticipating the recovery process. Although my child has not had to undergo the seriousness of a heart surgery, I feel many of the feelings you may be feeling. I will be in thought and prayer for you.

Leah Scott said...

I will pray for your precious little boy and your family.

Priscilla Rynning said...

praying for you all and healthy recovery for Henry! Praise God for doctors who can do this so Henry can live a long, healthy life. Praying for energy for you too!

Serenity Now said...

I can imagine how torn your emotions are. I'm happy there is now a definate date and that it's before the girls arrive - but I'm nervous for you and bummed that the little man has to go through this at all. I will definately say many prayers for you all, strength to get through those hours of waiting and for his recovery to go smoothly!

Brianna Heldt said...

praying for you guys! henry is so darn cute and we miss him (and you!) bunches and bunches!

CandB said...

What a tough little dude. I can't wait until he's 15 and volunteer to drop him off at school. Like the scene in Uncle Buck... I'll be the uncle who likes to put him in embarrassing situations. :) Only with the parents approval, of course.

Lisa Leonard said...

praying it will be smooth and uneventful. xo

summer... said...

i am praying for your little guy. and for you. let us know if there is anything we can do!

Sarah said...

What a trooper...will be thinking about you and your little guy all day today!