Heart Cath Results

The days leading up to Jack's heart cath were long. I was really nervous and started breaking out in hives. I've never done that before so I decided to go to the doctor. I went to After Hours and got a couple of shots and they put me on Prednisone. It has helped me keep it under control for the past week and I am going to see Tiffany's allergy specialist tomorrow morning to hopefully get a more permanent solution.


The night before was tricky. We couldn't give Jack any breast milk after 3am and we had to be there at 6. I was really worried about timing it out right so that he wouldn't be starving that morning. Needless to say we got no sleep that night between trying to work out the timing and stressing over the procedure. We we're up at 2:15 giving Jack his bottle and then I was in the shower by three. We had packed enough for one night just in case we had to stay but were hoping they'd let us go. We pulled out at 4:45 and Jack watched Spongebob on the IPAD in the car until he fell back asleep.


When we got there we were put into a regular room and started the wait. They told us that Dr. Law would be by in a little while to talk to us before they took him back. They brought in the tiniest little hospital gown for us to put on him and let me tell you.. Nobody can make a hospital gown look cute like my boy. :)

Dr. Law came by around 8 and talked us through what they would do. He said they would put him under with a mask and then start his IV. He wouldn't be back there long at all before he was put under which made me feel a little bit better. I didn't want him to feel scared when we weren't back there with him. Then after they were ready he would go in through a tiny incision in his groin and then go into his heart where they would measure pressures and take pictures. He explained the risks but let us know that Jack was in a low risk category and he felt certain that it would be an easy procedure. He said he would call the phone in the room when they were done to let us know how it went. It should take him about three hours once anesthesia was done with their part.


After that Josh and I walked with the nurses down to the floor that he would be on and we walked him to the door of the OR. We kissed him a thousand times and then a few times more before I handed him to a very sweet nurse in brown scrubs. She promised to take good care of him. We watched until the rounded the corner and then I cried all the way back up to our room while people looked at me and wondered what was wrong with the crazy sobbing lady. Haha


When we got back we just had to settle in for a few hours of nervous waiting. I hated the thought that he was down there without me but I knew he was in good hands and was sound asleep. It was also really comforting to have a lot of family around to talk to and joke with. It make time pass really quickly. After about 3 and a half hours the phone rang.


Dr. Law told me that the procedure went well. He said Jack did fine and was resting now and we could see him soon. He said they had one episode during the procedure where his heart rate went up for about 15 minutes but then it balanced back out on its own. Other than that it all went well and there was no damage done to his veins. He told me that he had to make some rounds and would come by our room later that day to give us the details.


Then Josh and I got to go meet Jack in recovery. We practically ran. When we got there he was in his tiny little bed still hooked up to monitors. They had removed the tape from his face but the sticky residue still marked his sweet cheeks. He was still so out of it that he couldn't keep his little eyes open. He tried so hard to open them and look at us but they would just roll back into his little head. We kissed all over him and petted him while we waited for his recovery time to be over. When that time had passed we walked next to his little bed while they rolled him back to his room where our family anxiously waited for him to round the corner. They were so happy to see him and he was finally starting to come around more and open his eyes good.

When we got settled back in the nurse said I could try to feed him. The poor baby hadn't eaten in so long. We got wrapped up in blankets and settled into a chair and he went to town on his bottle. Over half way through his 5 ounces he started throwing it all back up. It wast he most he had ever thrown up at one time and it scared me and him both. We got him sat up and he got it all out and then we wrapped him in some different blankets and let him settle in for a nap in the MaMaRoo swing that they had brought in for us to use.


His little leg was still hurting from his incision plus he was really sick from the anesthesia so he didn't sleep well at all that day. He would roll around and moan like he was hurting and sick. It was so hard as a mommy to know he wasn't feeling good and I couldn't do anything about it. As far as that goes it was a really long day and an even longer night. We had to spend the night because his reaction to the anesthesia was rare for a baby and the doctors and nurses didn't really seem to know what to do for him. We just basically had to wait it out. We tried over and over to feed him, first breast milk and then Peidalyte and he just couldn't keep anything down. He eventually emptied his tummy out and started to dry heave. That was just pitiful. We finally convinced them to start a new IV and start getting some fluids into him. We were really worried.


When he got his IV for the procedure they had stuck him 16 times. There were bruises and stick marks all over my poor baby's body. We were outraged to tell you the truth. They had even stuck him in his sweet head. We just felt that was completely unnecessary. When it was time to stick him again you can bet Josh and I were going to be in there. Even if they made it clear that they didn't like that. They took him to a different room and three nurses worked to find a good spot. Thankfully, they got a good one on the first try in his little hand and they wrapped it well so that it wouldn't get messed up like the last one had. He had been through enough. This needed to be his last stick for the day.


When we got back to the room Dr. Law was waiting there for us. He explained exactly what he had found in the cath and the steps we would take from there. Here's what he told us.


He talked a little bit about his VSD which we already knew he had but he also told us about some narrowing at his ASD which will need to be made bigger. There is also some narrowing at his Pulmonary Valve which restricts some blood flow to his lungs. The pressures there are not dangerously elevated but are a little bit on the higher side and they will need to be mindful of that when doing his surgery. His VSD is a little bit on the small side and causes some pressure drop which again is something they needed to know about when moving forward.


Dr. Law then said that he has decided to move forward with his surgery in the next month. There is also a little bit more surgery in addition to the Glenn that will need to be done at the same time. One thing that will need to be done is an atrial septectomy which will make that hole (ASD) bigger. Also a Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure which will bring the pulmonary artery over to the aorta. This allows the blood to go out both pathways so that the pressure in the ventricle is not higher than the pressure outside of it. They will also do the Glenn at the same time.


He feels that Jack has grown really well and is a nice size for this procedure and he feels that the benefits of going ahead with the procedure far outweigh the added risks. Basically, its time and we're going for it.


He said we should be made aware of a couple of things going into the surgery. Many times when they do the Glenn there will be an improvement in the saturation. But Jack's saturation is already good so there will be an improvement in his blood flow but ultimately we might not see much change in his saturations. He said they might even be lower after surgery because of all of the changes his heart will go through but there will be a nice physiological improvement for his heart for the long term. Which is really where it counts anyway.


We are still looking to do the Fontan procedure at around 2-3 years of age. So after this procedure next month his long term plan is still the same. The only changes in his overall plan are the additions he has added to the Glenn surgery. After that we'll continue on our original course of action.


He did add that Jack's heart function is really good and the valves work really well. He said that his function is fine and the problem he has is with the plumbing. He said overall he thinks everything still looks favorable and he has a really positive outlook on how everything is going to go.


From there we discussed surgeons and scheduling. He has a surgeon that he has chosen and scheduling will call us within the next couple of weeks to hammer out a specific date.


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After a long night for our sweet boy, he finally started taking small amounts of breast milk the next morning and by that afternoon had successfully kept down four ounces. We finally got discharged at around 2:30 and came home. It still has taken a couple of days for him to bounce back but he thankfully woke up happy this morning and has had a great day. He has also gone back to his regular 4-5 ounces today which was a big relief for us. There is just SO much comfort in being at home with our boy. When we're at home it doesn't feel like there is anything to be afraid of.


Now we just have a month of anxious waiting ahead of us. Josh and I have decided to focus on our spiritual preparation. There is no amount of emotional or physical preparation that we can undergo that will ever render us ready to hand our son over to surgeons in a months time. We have decided to spend this month in the Word and in prayer because God is the only preparation that we truly need. We are praying for His hand on our sweet boy. That he will guide the hands of the surgeons, doctors, and nurses that work on Jack. That He will provide complete healing in our son and allow this surgery to be the means by which that healing comes. We know He has a purpose for this and we intend to be used to the greatest extent that we can be.


We are also praying for God's comfort and peace to be upon us during this time. As we find out more information about the surgery we grow more nervous and anxious. We are praying that God will just be with us and allow us to get through this with as much strength as possible. We know that God's plan is moving right now and we are just doing our best to have faith and trust in His plan. He is our Lord and we trust Him.


Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."


Our God is able to do immeasurably more than anything I can ask him to do or imagine he could do for me or for Jack. He will provide healing and peace for my son and my family. I am standing on the Word of my sweet savior. Please stand and pray with me. <3

Easter and a Heart Cath

Tomorrow is Baby Jack's three months birthday! Happy birthday Baby Jack! <3

Thinking back to just three short months ago...I was getting ready to become a mommy. I had no idea what God had in store for me. The next day would be the happiest and scariest day of my life. Since that day my life has changed so much. My whole little world shifted on its axis the day my Jack came into my life. I've never been more thankful than I am right now for the blessings of my God. Just look at that sweet little face. Every little thing he does is magic.<3

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This weekend we spent our first holiday with our precious boy. And what more wonderful holiday is there to celebrate with our sweet son than the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We will spend our lives and dedicate our mission as parents to teaching our son the magnitude of what God did for us when he sent his son to die on OUR cross. We are literally eternally grateful for his sacrifice. Thank you Lord.

Jack had a great time at his first family get-togethers. He got to meet new aunts, uncles, and cousins. He got to hunt Easter eggs and even went to church for the first time with his mom and dad. Everyone was so glad to see him. It was a great weekend.

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Now that Easter is over, its time to start focusing on Jack's heart catheteriation that is going to take place next Wednesday, April 18th. We got the call today with all of the information that we need and now we're in major prayer mode. We're praying for a BIG miracle that day.

Josh and I will take Jack in to be admitted into UAB at 6am. We'll get a private room where we'll then go and wait for them to get ready for him. He's the youngest, so he's the first patient of the day. They'll let me and Josh walk him to the door of the cardiac unit, then we'll give him LOTS of hugs and kisses and say one more prayer for him, then we'll have to go back to his room for the hard part. The waiting.

Jack will be put under with general anesthesia. They'll then give him an IV and then put him on the ventilator. They'll go in through his groin and up the vein. Once they're in his heart they'll just measure pressures and take some pictures. They said it could take up to four hours depending on how difficult it is to maneuver though his small veins. Once they are done, Dr. Law (the cardiologist) will call me and Josh and let us know how it went. They'll take him off the ventilator and get him breathing good on his own again and then he'll go into recovery where Josh and I will meet him. At which point I will scoop him up and love him to pieces. <3 We'll be in recovery for around an hour and then we'll go back to his regular room for at least six hours and possibly the night.

That's the plan. We're praying that everything will go as smoothly as possibly and that it will be quick and easy for him and for us. The nurse who called me today said that it will be much harder on us than it will be on him. She said the incision is tiny and shouldn't be too sore. And they're going to wait until he's under to do his IV so he won't be in pain when mommy's not there to hold his hand.

Please pray with us. This is his first really invasive procedure. It's his first time to be put to sleep. His first incision. His first time to be on the ventiltor. His first time to be away from mommy when they're poking at him. It's very scary for me and Josh. We just pray that God will hold him in His almighty hands. Bring him comfort if he gets scared or upset. Be with the doctors and nurses while they do their work. Let this procedure go as smoothly as possible. Allow for a quick and easy recovery. And most importantly, AMAZING results.

We are trusting our God 100% for the results that we want to hear. We know that He has an amazing plan for Jack's life and we are believing in His will. He has brouht us this far and given us miracle after miracle with our sweet boy. How could we not trust Him?

Ephesians 3:20  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within.

Our God is MORE than able to do MORE than we could ever ask or imagine. Miracles ARE possible.

Ten things I LOVE about you

I love you in more ways than I could ever count or describe. The moment our eyes met for the first time I knew my life would never be the same. You instantly became my whole world. My love for you is infinite. Only God could ever love you more.


Now you're almost three months old and you change a little everyday. You're growing so fast and learning new things all the time. You love to explore the world and watch everything around you. You're the happiest baby. You love to smile. Your little gummy smile melts my heart. Me and your daddy will literally do anything to see that sweet smile.


Right now I just want to cherish every second of you being my tiny baby because you'll be grown into a little boy before too long. Here are ten of my very favorite things about you right now.


1. When you've been asleep and we pick you up for the first time you always curl your little legs up so tight and stretch your arms out. You love to stretch. You stretch out your little neck and sqeeze your eyes closed tight. It's one of my very favorite things you do.


2. I love the way that your little ears stick out just enough off the sides of you perfectly round little almost bald head. They make you who you are. Your own little person. My favorite little person.


3. I love the smell of your milky breath when you're falling asleep on my chest and you breathe into my face. I could literally live with you sleeping on my chest breathing into my face. It's heaven.


4. You make the most precious snoring sound when you're deep asleep. Daddy says you snore backwards like Mommy. I say I do NOT snore ;) but I love it when you do.


5. I love how you ALWAYS throw up on Daddy. That's always fun for Mommy. ;)


6. Sometimes when we pick you up when you've been sleping your little leg will shake like a dog. Its so adorable.


7. I love your baby feet. Your big toes are like a mile away from the rest of your toes at all times. Everyone jokes that they could drive a truck through there. You also keep your toes curled up all the time like your Daddy. Bless your heart if you have his feet. ;) And your toes are all really long. Your baby toe is every bit as long as the rest of them. AND your feet are really tiny. Even though you wear 3-6 months clothes now, the 0-3 months shoes are still too big. I just love those tiny feet.


8. You love your changing pad. You love to lie there and stare at your bright colored blanket on the wall. Sometimes you'll just smile so big at that big orange lion. You also love to stretch out on the changing pad. Probably cause its the only time during the day that Mommy lets you lie down. I can't help it though. You're too snuggly to put down if I don't have to.


9. Sometimes when we give you a bottle your little eyes will instantly roll back into your head like that milk is pure heaven. It's too funny. You also do that when you're falling asleep.


10. I love when you stretch out your tiny baby hands. Your sweet little fingers spread out and reach up and touch my face. Precious.


I love you Jack Aaron Odom. So much more than I could ever express and more than you'll ever know. Someday you're going to be an extraordinary man, but for now, just be Mommy's sweet baby boy for a while longer, ok? I'm nowhere near done soaking you up and breathing you in. All of your baby sounds and your baby smells and your baby skin and your baby kisses. Heaven.

I can't wait to watch you grow and see what God has in store for your life. I thank Him everyday for sending you to me. My precious boy.