Home Sweet Home!

We are home! I have never been so happy to be back. Ava and I made the big break out thanks to my Aunt Angie, who happened to be in Boston at the time and drove us out of the city, and my Dad who met us outside the city and brought us the rest of the way home. And Aunt Lynn who coordinated! We made it back around 10:30 pm last night. It felt so good to be back home! When I put Ava in her crib she rolled around laughing and giggling and was obviously just as happy as I was. We both got a full night's sleep and she is feeling great!

A shout out to home!

Here is a video of a little cuteness from a sweet pea today and a shout out to the fam back home. Don't mistake that grimace at the end as pain. That was her, "OK I'm annoyed- turn the TV back on" look. We have been moved to the floor today and she is doing fabulous. One step closer to home.
She is doing everything they want her to do. When we got here the recovery room doctor accused the ICU of keeping her so long because she was so cute. That would explain why every time I left I would return to find three nurses doting on her and playing with her... hmm... ;-) Not to mention she is extremely compliant with all of the stuff they have to do with her. She's a rock star! They say we could be going home on Saturday. Fingers crossed! We miss you!

We are making progress

While we are still in the ICU it looks like we will be first, making a move to a real room in the ICU. NICE! And second, Ava's heart has started to beat regularly without the pacemaker! It was disconnected around 11 am. So that means that if she continues to do well without it we can finally move to the floor 24 hours after that disconnection. I'll just be happy to have a real room with a real door, not just curtains. And a bathroom in it too! Luxury I tell ya! Ava started to smile at me today and interact rather than giving me the "eye".... Oops! She just woke up and is asking for food. More later!

Still in ICU...

Well we haven't been moved to a room yet unfortunately. Ava is currently on a pacemaker because the two sides of the heart aren't working cooperatively yet. This is common when you interrupt the function and it has to relearn how to create that electrical connection.  So we can't leave the ICU until she is off the pacemaker. Her spirits are better than they were. She has eaten and peed in the potty a couple of times now so everyone is really happy with her progress. She looks great!

This morning chowing down on some breakfast.

This afternoon coloring and watching TV.

The next morning

All continues to go well. Ava lost some of her tubes last night because either they were going to do it or she was going to do it for them! She's a strong little bugger that's for sure. They extubated her last night around 6 pm and she looks great. Her vital signs are all strong and the tests are all good. They pulled in a bed for her and I to sleep together. She wasn't really happy unless I was at the side of her bed with my arm stuck under her head so they thought it was best that they pull in the bed so I might be able to get some "sleep". That's a relative term in an ICU that is bright and bustling throughout the night. We got the bed all set up and wouldn't you know it, she tried to push me out! She has not been happy with me, nor the nurses for that matter. Obviously she is uncomfortable and more than a little angry at us. I don't blame her, poor baby. I remember reading on some adoption forum that surgery was a great bonding time. So far I've been wishing Aaron had stayed and been the bad guy. I'm sure she will be better, and ahem, nicer, once we get these various bandages, tubes, and boxes pinned to her nightie off her. I think these annoy her more than the pain. For a kid that can't stand food on her fingers, marker on her or even a sticker on her to now have something on every part of her body is a lot to handle. We move to a room today!

She's doing great!

Ava's surgery went very well according to the doctor. We are in the ICU now and she is still sleeping, and has the breathing tube and all kinds of other tubes hooked up. Which does take you by surprise no matter how prepared you think you are. I was also surprised that her color looks so good and she's not that puffy. The nurse thinks they may be able to take her off the breathing tube tonight! She may even wake up which would be great to see so soon. I get to sleep right here next to her and we'll move to the regular room tomorrow. Aaron has headed home so it's just her and I now.

She's back to doing it herself!

Her lungs are working and her heart is beating on her own! Apparently she works much faster than the doctor expected. That's my girl! The doctor will be meeting with us in a bit to talk about how the surgery went. Based on what the doctor said on Friday she still won't be awake for 24-48 hours- that's when they will extubate the air tube so she can breathe on her own. Thanks for the support everyone! It's been a nice distraction emailing and talking to you all! I'll continue to keep you posted.

Surgery is Complete!

The nurse just updated us that the surgery has been completed. They are now rewarming her blood so that she can be taken off of the bypass. This should take about an hour and a half. On the homestretch now!

Surgery Update

10:00 am update-
All is well, she is on heart bypass and a machine is now doing her breathing and heart function for her. We will hear more about her progress at 11:30 a.m.

When do smiles cause the heart sadness?

When they are from your little girl induced by medicine they gave her before they wheeled her in the surgery room. This was so sad to me. I just can't get over the fact that she has just learned to trust us unconditionally and when she comes back she will be hurting. I just received notice at 9 am they made the incision to her heart. I already miss her and I wonder how long it will be before she bounces back to her old self and when we will see that smile again.