3 weeks later...

It is quite hard to believe that it has been 3 weeks since Caleb had his heart surgery! Yet, on another hand, it feels like it has been months...

Caleb is doing really well, despite all that he went through those first 9 days after surgery. He was on SO many medications, many drugs to keep him sedated, etc. It is amazing he is not on ANY medications now for his heart! He does not last long without any Tylenol or ibuprofen in his system, but hopefully those will be done soon too! Our biggest struggle right now is SLEEP. We are not sure if Caleb is really uncomfortable when he is trying to sleep or whether he is having some kind of anxiety from his hospital stay?! It is really hard to tell but at least he is easily consoled when we pick him up...but that is not helping him get the much needed rest that his body (and ours!) so desperately needs! He is not even sleeping well at night anymore...we at least had that a week ago. :( Here's hoping whatever is plaguing him in his sleep will pass soon...

Caleb has had several appts. since he left the hospital. First stop was with the pediatrician for them to see him after his release from the hospital and he thought he looked great! Next stop last week was a check-up/post op visit with the cardiologist. He is very pleased with Caleb's progress and how well he is doing...besides the sleep part. They did another echo cardiogram (sonogram of the heart) and it looks just like it did after surgery when they did a couple of them in the hospital. The heart doctors are all so happy about his repair and how well it all looks. There are a couple leaky spots, but with how much work they did, a little leak is superb. He basically said that most with this big of a repair have a lot more leakage at the valves then Caleb does. So that is wonderful news!

Yesterday he had his 12 month check up with the pediatrician he usually sees and he was certainly thrilled with how well Caleb is doing and certainly happy the surgery is behind him! He now weighs 19 lbs. 4 oz and is 30.5" long. He has gained a pound just since we got home from the hospital...told you he has been eating really well since we got home! I think he is making up for all those calories he was burning with his heart the way it was. :) Now if we could just get him to make up in the sleep department...

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support during this time! He is certainly an amazing little one...I have seen shirts that say "tough guy" on them...he really needs one!! :)

Joanna