Scars scars scars

Our appointment went pretty well. We had the chest x-rays done first then the Echo. She was really good for the echo until they got to the under the neck part. (they put a towel under her shoulders so her head is leaning back.) looks kind of like it sounds, not very comfy. She was happy again once it was all over. We got to see how small the left side really is again, well again for me and the first for Sam. Its looks almost like a growth on the left side of the right side of the upper heart, mm yeah. does that make sense? It was neat to see her heart at work.

We weighed her before we saw Dr. Williams (Dr. Pulver was gone) and Bonnie. With a long sleeve onesie, a dry diaper, jeans, and socks she was 58kg... 12.13lbs for the rest of us, hehe. WAHOO talk about making every once count.

We took her o2 stats with o2 on and off. Sam and I think it might have been a bad reading (it was every where) With o2 she ended at 80 started at 85. Then with out it she was 75... I'm getting a monitor for the house. Just so I know what her normal is. We go back in next month so hopefully we can get off then.

Dr. Williams said her echo looked the same as last time. A little leaking in the errr sorry just for got where again. The pressure looks a little high still, and its not as good as they would like for it to be but it ok. So good and bad news. He also said they worry a little less about kids after they have their Glenn's. And she will most likely be on 2 of the 3 meds for a long time. But that's ok, they are helping her.

Dr. Clay came and took off the take thingys. Mariska didn't care for that to much, Then she gave her her a cute t-shirt.

We saw a few of the nurses, they all said Misky looked really good and was cute, which we already knew, hehe.

I also started to do some Digital scrap booking. Its fun but I have tons to learn with the programs.

Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

Love the Anderson's.

PICTURES!!

Here they are, Sorry theres so many and it took me a while to get them on here. Heres the update

Mariska just after her surgery 04-16-08Just after she was extubated!

Dr. Bonnie Clay and our nurse Lisa taking our the chest tubes. Misky tuckered our afterward.

She kept kicking off one sock.

Us with Mariska's Surgeon Dr. Hawkins.

Uncle Tyson and Sam

Bonnie and Mariska. We laugh later how Misky Doctor frog looked a lot like her. We love our Bonnie

Mariska chilin in the swing and her dad playing games. Mariska with her Canula on top of her nose. Shh dont tell the nurses. hehe.

On the "Floor" From Mariska's eyes. Shes looking at her new toy.

Playing with mom. All smiles.

My First wagon ride. We went almost every where. Mariska was really good and enjoyed seeing something new. Most of the time we keep her covered up when we go to the hospital.

Pretty normal stats for Mariska.

Mariska's silly face. Her playing with LEGOs. I cant believe how long shes getting. And her chillin with her buddies.

There you go. The last two we're just a few days ago. Shes such a funny kid.

Melynda

Follow up tomorrow at PCMC

Tomorrow we see Linda or Bonnie, not sure which, for our 2 week I think we'll get to finally see whats under the surcher strips (?) and get our first look at how Misky's scar really looks!! I'm nerves. No matter what it looks like we'll still love our little goofy girl.

So we're hoping to lose a few things tomorrow. Like Mariska's wonderful tail. hehe I'm keeping my fingers crossed and my prayers going that we can come off O2. Live will just be so strange with our the tank (Sam and I joke its like we had twins we have to take it every where, it has its own seat and seat belt in the car, and we are always carry it with us. Its like having a 2 year old hanging from your neck. blah) I think she will all so have the stitches taken out from the top and bottom of her scare and where some of the larger chest tubes where. YIPPY.

We have our appointment at 8:45am. Nice and early. We might stop and see some of our heart buddies at the hospital. I dont think we'll see many because Mariska is to young to go into most of the units. But our hearts and prayers are with those brave families. please keep them in your prayers also, they could all use a few more.

Melynda, Sam, and Mariska

Wish us luck!!

Things at home

I thought I would post something seeing how its been a while. Mariska is pretty much back to her normal self. A few things have changed.

Shes getting bigger. YIPPY! I think every time I look at her she changes, or she does something new that cracks us up. A couple nights ago she we hear her first real laugh, She has a sweet little laugh.

She hasn't been a very good little sleeper at night time, its starting to show on me that I'm getting up every two hours to give her a bottle, ugh. Shes good for the first 3-4 hours when shes first laid down for the night but after that she wants to eat every 2 hours all night long. Last night she was a better sleeper only woke up 3 times it was nice to sleep and not take naps all night. I hope tonight will be better.

Today she helped me clean, I had her in the front carrier, she was a great helper until I drop something then she groans when I pick it up. haha. We went out side for a little fresh air sat there for a while she did pretty good at doing nothing.

I fed her some baby food for the 3rd time. Bananas again. She ate the whole thing, only a little on her bib, hands, high chair, tubing.... haha. She would put her hands in her mouth, I pull them out then feed her a spoon full when she wants more in go her hands, then her hands help paint everything with bananas. I was surprised how much she ate, 2 servings. I was talking to my brother her uncle Tyler he said shes a little pig. I'm happy with that if it means she'll pack on some more pounds. I'll give it a few more days of just bananas and see how her body handles it. then we'll try prunes. They have the most calories. So she'll be getting them for a while.

I gave her her first real bath since the Glenn. Sponge baths just doesnt get her smelling supers nice and clean. She loves her bath, we didn't get any of her stitches or tape stuff wet. Now I know I can give her a bath and keep everything dry shes going to smell a lot better. :)

Looks like shes awake, hmm I wonder how this nights going to be, she slept for 3 hours.

Melynda

First Night Home

So last night was kind of rough. Mariska would wake around the same times people would make her cry all week!! She didn't eat very well either. I cleaned out her nose and now shes doing a lot better.

She only ate two full bottles the rest she just nibbled on. 1/2 to 1 oz. A little frustrating. She gets a little fussy when its time for her Tylenol but other then that shes been pretty happy and back to being a little stinker. It's surprising how well shes acting and playing so soon after surgery. It blows my mind.

Hurray for poop. Sorry. I think Mariska was saving allll of it for us here at home. lol. I'm happy her little system is getting back to normal.

Mariska had three really nice and long naps. We were glad she was finally getting some much needed rest. Rest little Misky Rest...

Sorry it took me so long to post an update. Things were very busy.

Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers. We have felt them.

Love,

Mariska, Melynda, and Sam

HOME!

We got home yesterday around 11 am. So Sam and I still think we were there for two days just waiting on someone to come and pull the pacer wires.... So in the morning Bonnie and a hand full of med students came in, not sure if they we're there to see the wires come out or if they were just doing normal rounds. I was in the restroom when they all came in, I came back just after they pulled the wires out. Bonnie said they probably just got stuck on the closer wires on the chest or from the scar tissue. They just needed an extra hard tug to get them out.

Bonnie said we didn't need another ECHO, but did want us to hand around for an hour just to make sure the wires didn't cause any trouble. Every thing went fine. Bonnie them came back talked to us a for a little while got us our meds -the same ones just a little bigger doses. We did our discharge paper work and we were out of there.

We did plan on visiting some friends at PCMC, but we just want to get home, I'm sure they understand.

I think I might have forgotten the day before we left we took Mariska for a wagon ride for a nice hour or more. We wandered the halls. Had a few rides on the elevators and Let Mariska drive. Is was nice to get out of the room, and I think Mariska thought so too. We told her for her next surgery shes going to have to pull us up and down the halls.

Yesterday early morning. We had the IV team come and take her blood. I will never let any one else take her blood. They left the lights off, which was nice. The girl took a light lite, put it under her hand marked where the best place would be. left for a sec, when I came back she had the needle with an open end and let the blood drop into the viles. Mariska didn't even cry the whole time it was so nice.

After that we went and got an chest x-ray. The tech who took was was funny. Was crazy in a good way. She was trying to clear the halls by moving the crib every where, hahah no worries no one got hit.