The 2nd Surgery

We are definitely scheduled for November 30th to have Stockton's second open heart surgery. We will enter the hospital on the 29th and he will have a few tests done. We are full of so many different emotions and it makes us really nervous. Please keep our Stocky boy in your prayers.

THE GLENN....

We are tentatively scheduled to have Stockton's second open heart surgery on November 30th. Yes, this is right around the corner and yes, every night since we found out I have cried in a corner. I just feel terrible for him. I feel terrible that he has no choice. My heart breaks for him and the struggle that he is about to go through. He literally got out of the hospital two months ago and now we have to go back. This process is going to kill me. There have been so many wonderful moments in these last few months that I really try to hold onto them. It is so hard to go through this and I am just having one of those down days. It is so hard.

Heart Cath

I can't believe I am blogging from home. We only had to stay one night. That is seriously a miracle. Dr. Petit promised me that Stockton would only have to stay one night, if nothing went wrong of course. Stockton went in for the procedure at 9am and they were done by 10:30am. We were so glad that things went smoothly. Stockton had to be intubated for the procedure so his voice is a little raspy. Dr. Petit showed us some pictures of Stockton's heart and explained a few things. Stockton has moderate regurgitation between in right atrium and right ventricle. This means when the blood is pumped about 30% of the blood pools then finally leaves the heart. This puts some pressure on his heart and makes it work harder. They want pressure levels in that area to be about a 6 and Stockton's are measuring between 10 & 12. They were also were about his aorta narrowing. We are happy to say that it is not. Dr. Petit also told us that having Stockton wait until he is 6 months to have his 2nd surgery is not the best case for him. He said that there is no benefit in waiting. The pressures in Stockton's heart will either remain the same or get worse, they never get better. With the second surgery they usually don't have to open up the actual heart itself like they did with the first one. However, since Stockton has these high pressures they probably will cut out some more tissue to make the pressures go down.  Even though December is a busy month of holidays it is really good for our schedule. Continue praying for our little. He is such a trooper.

Here is the updated total on our insurance bill: $514,287.63
One of the pharmacies we get Stockton's prescriptions from called me today to tell me that I owed $24 for his upcoming re-fill. She tried to tell me that we had not hit our deductible. It was rude but I totally laughed at her. :)

Our Halloween

Was spent in the TCH hospital. I know! Well, on the 30th Stockton started sweating while he was eating to I got nervous. We took him to the ER after calling the cardiologist because this is a sign of heart failure. 4 days later we are home and Stockton is doing great. Everything went well and nothing was wrong. I would rather be safe then sorry. On Monday Stocky is scheduled for a heart cath so please keep him in your prayers.

10-18-2011

Stockton had an echo early this morning and he had to be sedated for it. I was so glad that they had oral sedation because I didn't want them searching for a vein. He has the smallest veins and they always have a really hard time getting IVs in him. The appointment went well and there were no changes to his medications. Stockton has been gaining about 23 grams a day, which is good, but they want him around 30 per day.  Stockton is scheduled for a cardiac cath on November 7th and the procedure with take about 3-4 hours. Usually, this procedure is a cake walk but you never know with HLHS babies. Please pray that all goes well. If the doctor need to place a shunt in his aorta then we will need to stay at the hospital over night. We pray all goes smoothly and that we come home when the time is right. This past Wednesday we also had had his vaccinations scheduled and he was such a trooper. However, the last three days he has been throwing up a lot. We changed his bottle nipples back to slow flow and that seems to be working. He is not happy about it because he has to work harder.

I can't believe he is almost 3 months old. I can't help but cry as I write this post. Stockton has become such a good baby. My only complaint is that I wish he would sleep a little more during the day. He loves to be in the action and loves getting attention. Yesterday morning he was on the verge of giggling. He is so close. Stockton just loves his big sister, Tylee. Anytime she looks at him he gives her a smile. Our little guy hit 11 pounds this week, YEAH! We are so happy. We want him to get even bigger. The bigger the better! I have been brave enough to take Stockton to the park a couple of times. He loves being outside. I walk him around in the stroller and he just falls right asleep. We love having this little man in our home and we continually gain strength from him.

Announcement

2nd Single Ventricle Visit & A Bearing Of Testimony

The appointment went smoothly and was on time. That is saying a lot considering our first visit a few weeks ago. Stockton's current medication schedule is like this: 12am Propanolol (P), Mylicon (M), 6am (P) & (M), 9am Prevacid (Pr) and Aspirin (A), 12pm (P) & (M), and finally 9pm (Pr) and (M). As of today we added one medication and we can now give the Mylicon "as needed." (Which is for gas relief.) Our new schedule is a bit better. We added Enalapril, which is a heart medication that will help his high blood pressure. The Propanolol was not doing the job so we have to give him both now. New schedule: 1am (P), 9am Enalapril (E), (P) and (Pr), 5pm (A) & (P), 9pm (E) & (Pr). The stretch between 9am and 5pm is so nice. If we have any doctor appointments or errands I don't have to carry his meds. IT IS SO NICE because some of them need to be refrigerated. 

P.S. I usually bear my testimony once a year during Sacrament services. I often feel that the Lord gives you these amazing experiences because he wants you to share them with others. I often feel that if you don't share those experiences with others that you are taking something away from them. You know that feeling that you get when you know you are suppose to go up and something is just tugging at your heart and pulling your legs to just get up to the stand? Well, that means that the Lord knows you have something to say and that something could be just what another person needs to hear that day. Last Sunday I shared with the congregation what a struggle the last year has been. The last year has been physically, spiritually and emotionally draining for me. Life as come so easy to me and all of a sudden I have hit this brick wall and trials just keep coming and coming. Most of which have been about Stockton. I shared stories where I have these casual conversations with God and I talk to him as if he was right there. It often starts when I am having a hard time or experiencing a lot of emotion. I say, "Seriously, this is happening to me now. Haven't I been through enough? Please help me." I have said this exact sentence numerous times out loud and many times during my prayers. It was probably one of the most emotional testimonies I have ever given. I continue to pull strength from those around me and I know that God only gives you what you can handle. I am hoping that God doesn't think that I can handle very much more. :) I need everyone to know that through these experiences I have become stronger, I have become a better mother, I have become a better friend and I have become more in tune with the spirit. The Lord is with you always and he continues to be by your side. I know that this experience with Stockton is a crucial part of my life and it will be forever. If I can get through this then I can get through anything, so can you. Christ knows us personally.Mosiah 4:9 "Believe in God, believe that He is, believe that He has all wisdom and all power, both in heaven and in earth." In the name of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.