LPS

So Miss Ava had her lung perfusion scan last Friday at the hospital. We were set up with a 2:30 appt, 1:30 check in time. Ava was all sorts of smiles and happiness on our way there, even once there she was cool. Alert and guarded, but not nervous like in previous visits last year when she started crying the moment we entered the hospital. Thank goodness. She was also VERY hungry, though, and slept most of the wait.

There was only one moment where mommy lost her cool and got upset with people not doing their jobs. What do I mean? Anesthesiology comes in at about 3:30(keep in mind they were supposed to START at 2:30 and diva girl hadn't had anything to eat since dinner time the night prior), to let us know that the correct medicine for the scan had not been ordered, and someone is on their way no to deliver the proper meds from their midtown location. Okay, midtown isn't far from where we were at, at all, but I think anyone who has experience with this hospital knows better than to actually believe when they give you a time("by 4pm")for when the medicine will be on campus. Case in point, our scan was supposed to start at 2:30! It was an hour later and they were just NOW realizing they didn't have the right medicine?!!! Absolutely ridiculous. They are lucky she was asleep and "comfortable" because had she been awake and miserably hungry, we would of left.

Anyhow, the medicine ACTUALLY arrived on time, in fact it was a little early(I'd like to think my playing mama bear helped expedite things along a bit). So as soon as it was physically at the hospital they brought us back to the recovery area to a bed and got ava some anti-anxiety meds. Not only to help with the sleepy mask time, but for afterwards when she would be waking up to a bunch of mean doctors in her face. I know from past experience, this does not work much on my girlie, but, as long as it helps her fear even slightly, it's good. So then it is time to walk her to the scan room and hold her as they get the sleepy meds mask ready. As soon as Ava saw that mask she covered her mouth and nose with her hands and burrowed her little face into my shoulder. So much for the meds helping the children not remember that day's events. :/

Once she was asleep and secure, we were escorted yet another waiting area. I kept busy texting updates to friends and family and posting updates on facebook. :P Husband kept busy playing video games. :)

After about an hour and a half wait, someone came and let us know Ava was out and doing well, and that they were taking her up to the 2nd floor surgery recovery. WOAH. A place in that building I haven't ever been. I have been to the peds surgery recovery on the first floor, MANY many times. As well as the cath lab recovery, etc. It was pretty darn chaotic up there for so late in the evening! And Ava was out to the WORLD. For some reason, they gave her another dose of profolol right before they brought her back up, which knocked her out COLD. So we just waited, and waited...and waited. Finally little miss came to and we got the flip OUT of there! :)

There is always a strong feeling of accomplishment every time we leave the hospital, even for an outpatient procedure like that day's lung scan. It's a great feeling, though I wish we didn't really ever have to take her in.

So anyways, now we wait. We have a followup with Ava's cardio on Friday, he SHOULD have the results by then. I say should, because it will have been a week later and that is the whole purpose of this visit. I also say should though because I know how things go...So let's hope for some great results from the great placement of her stent and no more intervention for a LONG while. PLEASE please, please! I will update after Friday.

In the waiting room, sleepy and HUNGRY.

In recovery, very sleepy mama.

Day after, having fun at the park with our friends, the Weaver's! <3


Strike a pose, sista!

The week ahead...

Here is why I am hoping beyond hope that this week goes by slowly. We have to make a trip to UCD this Thursday for yet ANOTHER lung perfusion scan. Standard check to make sure everything is functioning well after the last heart catheter/stent placement.

Here's why this one is making me nervous. Well, more so than usual. Ava is going to be unconscious for this one. At this age this is, I am told, standard because do YOU know of a 3.5yr old who would be happy to sit perfectly still for at least 20minutes(seems more like an hour PLUS) on a cold bed w/machinery surrounding her? Yeah, me either.

So this Thursday, 1:30pm, we report to a place we know all too well in a building we know even better. It sucks. That whole hospital(parking garage included) gives me serious anxiety. I know it's this mental block I need to get over and on with, easier said than done though when you have seen your daughter go through even a fraction of what little miss had to go through in the first few months of her life before she even came home, and how much of a struggle it was to GET home.

Anyhow, enough of this Negative Nancy shtick. Ava is a strong, brave, resilient little girl. And I am somewhat relieved the she doesn't have to sit there awake for this stupid procedure this time, it breaks my heart seeing her strapped to that stupid bed terrified and the genius people in charge think offering her a lollipop and constantly reminding me that it would be best if she were calm, are helping. Wow, I sort of totally jumped ship from Negative Nancy to Bitter Betty right there. :)

Please keep Ava in your thoughts and prayers, that she has no adverse reaction to the dye or to her sleepy meds, and that her pulmonary arteries are behaving themselves, PLEASE be behaving yourselves, PA's. Thanks all! Will update after Thursday!

Oh, and on a much more positive, not to mention totally cute, note, Ava starts pre-ballet this Wednesday! She's super mega excited. YAY!

Heart Hugs always,
Jen

Please excuse the dust...

Still working on Ava's blog layout. I am making the background and header myself in photoshop, and I only semi-halfway know what I am doing. If anyone knows how to make those nifty photo buttons for your blog, please let me know! STAT! :)

Ho Ho HO!

Kind of late. But our Christmas was a good one. A super one. A magical one. Just like they should be!

The kiddos had their own Advent Calendars, of the 99 cent Trader Joe's variety! Don't judge me. One of these years(only been saying that for 9 now) I will fill up one of those super cute fancy ones with a super cute fun activity to do each day and seal it with loooove. Pfft. Like when I have grandchildren, maybe. Sorry offspring, but until then you're just going to have to settle for a piece of chocolate and a hug during the 24day countdown to Christmas. :)

We made(the kids made) a lovely Gingerbread House, and didn't kill each other in the process. Photographic proof...









We attended the Kelly Karnival at Greg's school. The kids had super fun noshing on pancakes and other breakfast fare. Followed by some fun crafts, but you can definitely tell G probably won't be asking to attend next year. Plus he said my pancakes were way "tighter" than the ones at the school. OOoh, score one for THIS betterthanschool's pancake-makin mama!



Caught!



And then trying to act innocent...



Again!




Can you tell the decorate your own cookie table was a big hit with my kiddos? I swear I feed them regularly at home...




My lovies.


We made our annual trip to Sloughhouse and picked out a rather plump tree. Then the kiddos helped decorate. And, of course, willingly posed next to the tree while doing so. Promises of m & m's played no part, swear...













And inbetween all the madness, gifts were wrapped, lights were seen, homemade hot cocoa w/marshmallows was consumed, MANY many times(by the kids, of course), baked goodies were made and delivered, and so on. Finally, it arrived. Christmas Eve. Which also happens to be my most wonderful hubba hubby's birthday! I won't disclose his age, men at his stage of the game really don't appreciate such acts. So we traveled out to Lincoln to visit Greg's side of the family and celebrate the birthday's(it is also Greg''s stepfather's birthday on Christmas Eve) We ate a most delicious dinner made by Carol, visited, played games. Then the time came for the mini's to put out cookies for Santa and his reindeer and get their shut eye on! I didn't stay up that much longer, just long enough to help Santa fill the stockings and put out the Santa Gifts. In the morning we woke up, Mama Carol made a very yummy breakfast, hubby came back from work(he's on the graveyard shift, total lameness :() and we all opened gifts. The kids made out like bandits, like they always do, and were so happy and thankful for each gift they opened. Greg and I also received some very nice and thoughtful gifts.































Later that day we came home and had the second and third round of gifts. These kids are SPOILED! :) All in all it was a really great Christmas, the ONLY thing that would of made it better would of been husband not having to work and the whole time. But this is what he does for his family, and I am forever thankful to him for ALL that he does. I am one very lucky wifey/mama. :)

And just a few more photos, for those still with me on this one...