Ahhhhh - whenever I've been away too long it's almost guaranteed I have been super busy. I so wish I could have maintained my blog better and sooner. If that makes any sense. I wish I didn't have to back track (although I remember EVERY SINGLE day clearly) and just focus on now!! But I'll get to that soon enough.
I was on pins and needles the day of the surgery. Everything and everybody got on my nerves. I tried to smile and I probably did but I didn't feel like it. Of course watching Alejandro play as if there was nothing wrong did bring a real smile to my face. As always, he was my "pain medicine". I hope that when he's older he understands what a HUGE help he was to me.
The surgery didn't take as long as I expected and when they told us it was over, it freaked me out! I immediately thought something wrong had happened. I texted my friend Christina who is a NICU nurse in Austin and asked what could possibly have made the surgery so short. She calmed me down and assured me that it was probably a good thing. And it was!!!
When the surgeons came looking for Paul and I, I literally jumped over everyone's legs to get to them. I looked at their faces and waited for the news. He did great, they said and they were wheeling him to recovery...what a freaking relief!!!! Paul, who had looked pretty good the whole day, almost fainted. I finally took a breath and smiled a real smile.
When we finally went to go see him we thought he looked fabulous!! Which is really funny when you think about it. I mean the poor kid had tubes, wires and a chest that had been opened!! But we thought he looked GREAT!!! He was there and alive and that was all that mattered to us.
Every single day after that was great. Each day when we went to see him in the morning, one more tube was gone or one more machine had been removed from his bedside. Everyday was a gift from God. Then we started to really hold him. Which was really weird holding a baby with tubes and all...hey, but we loved every minute of it. He had such a weak little cry. Eventually, he finally had the opportunity to have real food!!!! Whoo hoo!
Luckily that happened the day before Paul had to go back to work. So, being the good wife that I am, I let him feed him. It was a little tricky because some heart babies have trouble feeding because they get so tired. Well, little Joaquin sure did take a little while to learn. He spilled all over the place because he was tired and didn't know how to latch on to the bottle. One of his wonderful nurses, Trish, taught us how to feed him. He started to do better. Then Paul had to go home. I know that was extremely hard for him but he had no choice. He left all three of us in Corpus to start a new position with Pepsi and move into our new home.
Luckily my mom was still there was with us...but not for long!! Shortly after Paul left they gave us the old heave-ho!! Which was a good thing. Joaquin was doing so good that we were moved up to the 8th floor and given a private room. But since he was released from PICU, that meant no more hospital guest room which meant that mom and Alejandro had to go back to Brownsville.
That was bittersweet. I was thrilled but my mom was leaving me. The last of my support system!! What was I going to do??? After dad came to pick up mom and Alejandro I was left with Joaquin in our room. It was actually kinda cool. And weird. It was the first time since July 9th that we were ALL ALONE. Bonding. We needed it. Being up on the 8th floor made me count my blessings too. We were on the floor where there were mainly oncology patients and boy it made me soooooo sad to see these little children walking around with IV's and no hair. But yet they were smiling. Their parents were smiling too but their smiles were different. Theirs were like mine the day of the surgery. There was pain behind their smiles. But not the kiddos...theirs were pure. Gifts from God.
I swear we only spent two days on the 8th floor!! Before I knew it, Joaquin's surgeon came in and told me, "Let's this guy released before he catches an infection in this hospital!". Yes!! We were going home the next day!!!
It took FOREVER to get released. I had to take a CPR class and Joaquin had to pass his carseat test!! Basically they asked me how long the drive was and that was how long Joaquin had to sit in his car seat while being observed. They needed to see if he would stop breathing at anytime. He didn't. And he passed. And I passed my CPR class and that was it!! The nurse came in and gave me all his follow up appointments and his prescriptions and then all we had to do was wait for Paul, mom and Ale.
It was great when they finally arrived. Ale finally got to hold his baby brother and he LOVED it. We packed up our stuff, put Joaquin in his car seat, said good-bye to the staff and we were gone. Off to begin our crazy new life...
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
On a Faith Alone
I couldn't see straight anymore. I felt like I had constant tears in my eyes. The only thing that would make me smile was Alejandro and his silly ways. After all, he had no idea what his brother was about to go through.
The surgeon that spoke to us mentioned several procedures and all I clearly remembered hearing was "heart transplant". I swear I almost lost it. But then the doctor said that wasn't really necessary. So it instead they chose to perform a Hybrid procedure. It would be "open chest" and they didn't know when they would do it. "Open chest". That hurt me so much. I would cry those deep cries that hurt your chest after a while. I kept thinking the worst. I was terrified. What scared me the most...I was losing my faith.
Anybody that knows me well enough will tell you that I have a very strong faith in our Lord. But something was happening to me and I couldn't put my finger on it. I kept on telling Paul that I couldn't do it, I couldn't be strong. I held on to my mom as if I were a baby myself. I didn't know where to turn. Where was my faith when I needed it the most? Without my faith I was losing myself.
The turning point came when one doctor gave me another scare. I really can't tell you word for word what he said to me but he was basically telling me that my baby could die. I just stared at him blankly, nodding, staying "strong"...and then my mom and I walked out. On our way back to my room...I lost it. I cried...cried so much that I almost fell to my knees. My angel, my mom, picked me right back up and told me what I needed to hear. It wasn't time for me to give up and be scared. But I told her that the thing that scared me more than losing Joaquin was losing my faith. I felt like God was going to be angry at me for losing my faith in him. Mom told me that he wasn't but I needed to put my faith back in him 100%! I collected myself and went back to our room.
Later that day, I went back to see Joaquin. But before I did, I stopped by the chapel. My visits to the chapel prior to this one consisted mainly of begging, pleading and crying. This visit was different. I walked in to the small chapel and got on my knees. I took a deep breath and cleared my mind. And the words just came out. "I will not accept evil in my life". When I said it, things became clearer...my faith was back. Because when you think about it, that's exactly what was going in my life. There was a war between good and evil and I had to step up and accept God once again into my life. I said no to evil and good won.
I'm not saying I wasn't scared when they wheeled my baby into surgery at seven days old or when I waited in that waiting room for what seemed like hours. Or when they told me he had a fever after surgery...but all that time...my faith was back and I knew, with my heart of hearts, that whatever the turnout, I would be ok.
The surgeon that spoke to us mentioned several procedures and all I clearly remembered hearing was "heart transplant". I swear I almost lost it. But then the doctor said that wasn't really necessary. So it instead they chose to perform a Hybrid procedure. It would be "open chest" and they didn't know when they would do it. "Open chest". That hurt me so much. I would cry those deep cries that hurt your chest after a while. I kept thinking the worst. I was terrified. What scared me the most...I was losing my faith.
Anybody that knows me well enough will tell you that I have a very strong faith in our Lord. But something was happening to me and I couldn't put my finger on it. I kept on telling Paul that I couldn't do it, I couldn't be strong. I held on to my mom as if I were a baby myself. I didn't know where to turn. Where was my faith when I needed it the most? Without my faith I was losing myself.
The turning point came when one doctor gave me another scare. I really can't tell you word for word what he said to me but he was basically telling me that my baby could die. I just stared at him blankly, nodding, staying "strong"...and then my mom and I walked out. On our way back to my room...I lost it. I cried...cried so much that I almost fell to my knees. My angel, my mom, picked me right back up and told me what I needed to hear. It wasn't time for me to give up and be scared. But I told her that the thing that scared me more than losing Joaquin was losing my faith. I felt like God was going to be angry at me for losing my faith in him. Mom told me that he wasn't but I needed to put my faith back in him 100%! I collected myself and went back to our room.
Later that day, I went back to see Joaquin. But before I did, I stopped by the chapel. My visits to the chapel prior to this one consisted mainly of begging, pleading and crying. This visit was different. I walked in to the small chapel and got on my knees. I took a deep breath and cleared my mind. And the words just came out. "I will not accept evil in my life". When I said it, things became clearer...my faith was back. Because when you think about it, that's exactly what was going in my life. There was a war between good and evil and I had to step up and accept God once again into my life. I said no to evil and good won.
I'm not saying I wasn't scared when they wheeled my baby into surgery at seven days old or when I waited in that waiting room for what seemed like hours. Or when they told me he had a fever after surgery...but all that time...my faith was back and I knew, with my heart of hearts, that whatever the turnout, I would be ok.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Roller Coaster, Baby!
It was pretty darn scary to have all those people in the delivery room with us. Once I dilated to a 9, it's as if they completley forgot about me and focused on the baby. Ok - well my Ob, Paul, my mom and my mother-in-law were concerned about me but everybody else that was there was there for him. I think, total, there were 14 people in the room. My Ob, an Ob resident, a med student, a neonatoligist, one RT, two or three nurses for me, nurses for the baby and a tech. Forget a little modesty at this point.
Joaquin's birth was by far different than Alejandro's. For one, when I had Alejandro I did not have 14 people in the room. Not for a long shot. I was in labor for 16 hours with Alejandro and I pushed for two hours. With Joaquin I was in labor for maybe 10 hours and I pushed for 45 minutes or less.
When he came out they quickly took him to the warming table and I was anxious to hear him cry. I finally breathed when I heard his weak cry (I would later on learn that a weak cry is a clear sign of a heart problem). The neonatologist brought him to my side for a quick kiss and he was gone. And so was everybody else. The room went from 14 people to four. My Ob was teaching her student and I listented along. Well hey, since she was teaching I figured I would ask to see the placenta. So that's what it looks like...interesting, I told her. Once they were done, I was left all alone to wonder what was going on with Joaquin.
Paul came back to tell me that he was fine and that he was being worked on in the nursery. They finally moved me to a recovery room and by 9:30PM, Joaquin was wheeled by me in an incubator by the Driscoll transport team. I must have been on some adrenaline rush because I jumped out of the bed so quickly to see him that I felt no pain. Alejandro got to see him through a little window and I stuck my hand in there to touch him. He was alseep and buckled in...ready for the ride.
Paul followed the ambulance over to Driscoll and was given a guest room by social services. I remember calling him several times to see if he had heard anything. Paul said they kept on running tests on him but that everything was ok. Ok...so I fell asleep. Alone. No husband, no baby...alone.
The next morning I was bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to go see my baby. My Ob came in and asked if I was ok. I was so cheery that I think I freaked her out. She told me to relax and she discharged me 12 hours after having Joaquin. And off I went.
Discoll Children's Hospital is something else. Such a cheery and hopeful place. Later on I learned that most parents there were clinging on to just that - hope. As I got my band, I headed up to the second floor...PICU, bed three. My cutie looked perfect and pink! Wow... I told myself. I was glad I was prepared because this seemed like a piece of cake. Until she came in.
She was Dr. Goya. She had maroon scrubs on and she looked a mess. Her accent told me she was from Spain. And her words told me what I didn't want to hear. She looked so sad and concerned and I kept wondering why. And then I learned why. Dr. Goya was somehow trying to tell me that our son did not just have Tricuspid Atresia as we were told when I was pregnant but he also had Transpotition of the Great Arteries, Type B and an Interrupted Aortic Arch. I'm sorry - what???
I didn't hear any of that. And it took me while to finally understand what all that meant (I'll explain in detail in a later post). All I kept hearing was complex and complicated. Those words are now like nails on a chalkboard. What parent wants to hear that her baby's heart is "complicated". I could not stop crying. My whole world came crashing down on me. Joaquin's heart was complicated and mine was broken...
Joaquin's birth was by far different than Alejandro's. For one, when I had Alejandro I did not have 14 people in the room. Not for a long shot. I was in labor for 16 hours with Alejandro and I pushed for two hours. With Joaquin I was in labor for maybe 10 hours and I pushed for 45 minutes or less.
When he came out they quickly took him to the warming table and I was anxious to hear him cry. I finally breathed when I heard his weak cry (I would later on learn that a weak cry is a clear sign of a heart problem). The neonatologist brought him to my side for a quick kiss and he was gone. And so was everybody else. The room went from 14 people to four. My Ob was teaching her student and I listented along. Well hey, since she was teaching I figured I would ask to see the placenta. So that's what it looks like...interesting, I told her. Once they were done, I was left all alone to wonder what was going on with Joaquin.
Paul came back to tell me that he was fine and that he was being worked on in the nursery. They finally moved me to a recovery room and by 9:30PM, Joaquin was wheeled by me in an incubator by the Driscoll transport team. I must have been on some adrenaline rush because I jumped out of the bed so quickly to see him that I felt no pain. Alejandro got to see him through a little window and I stuck my hand in there to touch him. He was alseep and buckled in...ready for the ride.
Paul followed the ambulance over to Driscoll and was given a guest room by social services. I remember calling him several times to see if he had heard anything. Paul said they kept on running tests on him but that everything was ok. Ok...so I fell asleep. Alone. No husband, no baby...alone.
The next morning I was bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to go see my baby. My Ob came in and asked if I was ok. I was so cheery that I think I freaked her out. She told me to relax and she discharged me 12 hours after having Joaquin. And off I went.
Discoll Children's Hospital is something else. Such a cheery and hopeful place. Later on I learned that most parents there were clinging on to just that - hope. As I got my band, I headed up to the second floor...PICU, bed three. My cutie looked perfect and pink! Wow... I told myself. I was glad I was prepared because this seemed like a piece of cake. Until she came in.
She was Dr. Goya. She had maroon scrubs on and she looked a mess. Her accent told me she was from Spain. And her words told me what I didn't want to hear. She looked so sad and concerned and I kept wondering why. And then I learned why. Dr. Goya was somehow trying to tell me that our son did not just have Tricuspid Atresia as we were told when I was pregnant but he also had Transpotition of the Great Arteries, Type B and an Interrupted Aortic Arch. I'm sorry - what???
I didn't hear any of that. And it took me while to finally understand what all that meant (I'll explain in detail in a later post). All I kept hearing was complex and complicated. Those words are now like nails on a chalkboard. What parent wants to hear that her baby's heart is "complicated". I could not stop crying. My whole world came crashing down on me. Joaquin's heart was complicated and mine was broken...
Friday, October 2, 2009
How About a Second Chance?
At the urging of my mentor I have decided to keep going with this little blog o' mine! Since the last post, our little angel - Joaquin Emilio Salazar arrived on July 9, 2009. I cannot even begin to write down my thoughts about his arrival but let's give a whirl...
It was the 1st day of July and I was told at my weekly ob visit that it was time. No, not time to start pushing but time to wait it out in Corpus. I hated hearing that. I was being selfish. I didn't want to use up my maternity leave, I didn't know what to do with pumpkin and hello - I wasn't even packed. But some fear kicked in and I thought, well heck...what if he is born in Brownsville and then he'll have to be airlifted to Corpus...so off we went.
It took two days before Paul and I sent for Alejandro. I missed him too much. So on the 4th of July Paul met my dad halfway and brought back pumpkin and my mom. What a relief. And what fun. I mean, that hotel room was already getting boring for Paul and myself. We busied ourselves with swimming in the pool and almost daily walks at the mall. And still no baby. I headed to the ER once and the doctor's office several times before but not for baby reasons. There's something about Corpus and my asthma...I thought I was going to die or at least deliver a lung alongside my baby.
The weeks and asthma came and went and before you know it, July 9th had arrived. In hindsight I am so glad the baby did not come before my induction date because the hospital was prepared to receieve our little man on the day of the induction.
We arrived at Corpus Christi Bay Area at 5 AM and within hours I was having contractions. I tried to be a martyr and suck up the pain but at 7cm dilated I began to BEG for an epidural. Soon after, I was a happy camper. I was able to see my pumpkin and all of our other visitors. Before I knew it I was dilated to a 9 and then the roller coaster began its uphill climb.
It was scary to say the least. Paul will claim he wasn't scared but his eyes said otherwise. Everything that we had been warned about was about to come true. I thought I was prepared, but I wasn't. Not by a long shot...
It was the 1st day of July and I was told at my weekly ob visit that it was time. No, not time to start pushing but time to wait it out in Corpus. I hated hearing that. I was being selfish. I didn't want to use up my maternity leave, I didn't know what to do with pumpkin and hello - I wasn't even packed. But some fear kicked in and I thought, well heck...what if he is born in Brownsville and then he'll have to be airlifted to Corpus...so off we went.
It took two days before Paul and I sent for Alejandro. I missed him too much. So on the 4th of July Paul met my dad halfway and brought back pumpkin and my mom. What a relief. And what fun. I mean, that hotel room was already getting boring for Paul and myself. We busied ourselves with swimming in the pool and almost daily walks at the mall. And still no baby. I headed to the ER once and the doctor's office several times before but not for baby reasons. There's something about Corpus and my asthma...I thought I was going to die or at least deliver a lung alongside my baby.
The weeks and asthma came and went and before you know it, July 9th had arrived. In hindsight I am so glad the baby did not come before my induction date because the hospital was prepared to receieve our little man on the day of the induction.
We arrived at Corpus Christi Bay Area at 5 AM and within hours I was having contractions. I tried to be a martyr and suck up the pain but at 7cm dilated I began to BEG for an epidural. Soon after, I was a happy camper. I was able to see my pumpkin and all of our other visitors. Before I knew it I was dilated to a 9 and then the roller coaster began its uphill climb.
It was scary to say the least. Paul will claim he wasn't scared but his eyes said otherwise. Everything that we had been warned about was about to come true. I thought I was prepared, but I wasn't. Not by a long shot...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Pumpkin's First Day of Swim Lessons
Ahhhh. We got through the first day of swim lessons yesterday and it was so much fun!! I was going to put him in swim lessons last year when he was about 14 months but then we moved to the valley and that was then end of that. I'm kind of wishing I had still done it though.
Anyway - it was interesting. Alejandro immediately wanted to get in the water when he saw it. But of course we had to wait for the instructor to call attendance and go over some rules but our son would just not hear it!! He wanted to get in the water...and NOW!! He started pitching a fit and I had to step back so the other parents could hear. After a little scolding he finally calmed down and in we went!! He started giggling the minute he got in.
He did great! We blew bubbles (which freaked him out when he took some water in) then we did some kicking exercises with some kick boards and he loved it all. The one thing he would NOT do was float on his back with me holding him. Nope. He just wouldn't have it. But all in all it was a fun experience. He came home starving after 45 minutes in the pool. It was the perfect end to our day. And to think - we have 9 more lessons to go!! There will be pics later but I need someone to come with us to snap a few since I'm in the water with him. I think abuelo and abuela are coming one of these days - but then I need to teach one of them how to use the digital camera and that is another post in itself.
Anyway - it was interesting. Alejandro immediately wanted to get in the water when he saw it. But of course we had to wait for the instructor to call attendance and go over some rules but our son would just not hear it!! He wanted to get in the water...and NOW!! He started pitching a fit and I had to step back so the other parents could hear. After a little scolding he finally calmed down and in we went!! He started giggling the minute he got in.
He did great! We blew bubbles (which freaked him out when he took some water in) then we did some kicking exercises with some kick boards and he loved it all. The one thing he would NOT do was float on his back with me holding him. Nope. He just wouldn't have it. But all in all it was a fun experience. He came home starving after 45 minutes in the pool. It was the perfect end to our day. And to think - we have 9 more lessons to go!! There will be pics later but I need someone to come with us to snap a few since I'm in the water with him. I think abuelo and abuela are coming one of these days - but then I need to teach one of them how to use the digital camera and that is another post in itself.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
What a Crazy Weekend!!
What a Crazy Weekend!!
Well this weekend was tiring and fun. Well, tiring on Saturday and fun on Sunday. Whew!! Saturday my mom, Alejandro, my niece and myself took off for some Saturday shopping while we left Paul at home to rest. Poor Paul - he's had a really rough and discouraging work week. But we're hoping for a better week this week!
Anyway - went shopping, got my hair done and then went to a crazy "loteria" or bingo type of gathering. Not my cup of tea, really. I was so mad. This is not my scene first of all but I did it as a favor for a friend. Well - it was outside, the bingo cards were $20 each and the prizes were - at most - jewelery that looked as if you got it out of a candy machine. Plus the family that was hosting it was charging for water and soda!! Ugh! I won nothing and was so glad to get out of there. But I smiled the whole time!! ;)
Sunday was sooooo much better. I had to skip mass because I was so worn out from Saturday. Paul bathed the dogs and washed the car with Alejandro by his side while we were off to a baby shower hosted by my sister-in-law Patty and my friends Ashley and Jennifer. It was a great turn out. We had fun playing games and eating yummy food. Now we are really anxious to meet the newest member of the family! I even think Alejandro is ready.
We had three other pregnant chickies there. My old college friend Celina, my coworker Caro and my cousin Marissa. Caro is due five days before me, Celina is due three days before me and Marissa a month after me. And we are all having boys!! I'll post pics soon!
At this point I have no idea what is going on. My ob/gyn called and said she wanted me to deleiver in Corpus and they referred me to a doc over there and the new doc was supposed to call me last week to set up an appoinment - nothing. My doctor's nurse called once and I called twice and nothing! I was frustrated. So my cardiologist said he would get on the ball and set up an appointment for me. If that doesn't happen by Monday, a friend of mine from Corpus has given me some other names to try. Soon, hopefully I will know who is delivering this child and when. Who knows - maybe he will take us all by surprise and show up in Brownsville on his own time!! Only time will tell...
Well this weekend was tiring and fun. Well, tiring on Saturday and fun on Sunday. Whew!! Saturday my mom, Alejandro, my niece and myself took off for some Saturday shopping while we left Paul at home to rest. Poor Paul - he's had a really rough and discouraging work week. But we're hoping for a better week this week!
Anyway - went shopping, got my hair done and then went to a crazy "loteria" or bingo type of gathering. Not my cup of tea, really. I was so mad. This is not my scene first of all but I did it as a favor for a friend. Well - it was outside, the bingo cards were $20 each and the prizes were - at most - jewelery that looked as if you got it out of a candy machine. Plus the family that was hosting it was charging for water and soda!! Ugh! I won nothing and was so glad to get out of there. But I smiled the whole time!! ;)
Sunday was sooooo much better. I had to skip mass because I was so worn out from Saturday. Paul bathed the dogs and washed the car with Alejandro by his side while we were off to a baby shower hosted by my sister-in-law Patty and my friends Ashley and Jennifer. It was a great turn out. We had fun playing games and eating yummy food. Now we are really anxious to meet the newest member of the family! I even think Alejandro is ready.
We had three other pregnant chickies there. My old college friend Celina, my coworker Caro and my cousin Marissa. Caro is due five days before me, Celina is due three days before me and Marissa a month after me. And we are all having boys!! I'll post pics soon!
At this point I have no idea what is going on. My ob/gyn called and said she wanted me to deleiver in Corpus and they referred me to a doc over there and the new doc was supposed to call me last week to set up an appoinment - nothing. My doctor's nurse called once and I called twice and nothing! I was frustrated. So my cardiologist said he would get on the ball and set up an appointment for me. If that doesn't happen by Monday, a friend of mine from Corpus has given me some other names to try. Soon, hopefully I will know who is delivering this child and when. Who knows - maybe he will take us all by surprise and show up in Brownsville on his own time!! Only time will tell...
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
San Antonio 2009
Well we took a trip to San Antonio this year for our family vacation. It was a short trip but it was so much fun hanging out. Some things didn't turn out exactly as we had planned but what can you do?
We got a late start on our trip to Sea World and then once we got there...of course it was PACKED because it was Memorial Day Weekend and it started pouring. Alejandro was oh so tired and hungry. There was a reason I wanted to be at the park at 10AM...so I could avoid a cranky child. But once he saw his first dolphins, he woke up. We didn't get to see our first show until 4PM!!! I honestly think I was miserable up until I finally saw Shamu. Nothing like a little Shamu to brighten your day. :)
By the time we got home, Alejandro and I were pooped!! The next day we got up early again and took off to the riverwalk. We had fun. It was sooooo hot but still fun. Paul and I kept on thinking what our family vacations would be like next year when we add Joaquin to the mix!! Whew!! But we wouldn't change it for the world!!
We got a late start on our trip to Sea World and then once we got there...of course it was PACKED because it was Memorial Day Weekend and it started pouring. Alejandro was oh so tired and hungry. There was a reason I wanted to be at the park at 10AM...so I could avoid a cranky child. But once he saw his first dolphins, he woke up. We didn't get to see our first show until 4PM!!! I honestly think I was miserable up until I finally saw Shamu. Nothing like a little Shamu to brighten your day. :)
By the time we got home, Alejandro and I were pooped!! The next day we got up early again and took off to the riverwalk. We had fun. It was sooooo hot but still fun. Paul and I kept on thinking what our family vacations would be like next year when we add Joaquin to the mix!! Whew!! But we wouldn't change it for the world!!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Mended Little Hearts meeting
Well Paul and I left Alejandro at home with abuelo and abuela tonight and attended our first Mended Little Hearts meeting and while it was a small group it was so good to hear all these amazing stories. The group coordinator, Michelle, is such an advocate for this cause. It's a small, new group here in the valley and Michelle has dreams of making it big. I told her her we can do it and that we were there to help!! It's so good to have people out there that really understand what you're going through...it makes all the difference in the world. I just hope that we can really raise awareness to this cause and above all I hope that one day I can help the parents of children CHD just like they've helped us.
Went to see our awesome cardiologist today!!
So today we had our...I think, 5th visit with Dr. Salhadar, our very awesome cardiologist. We got better news. No, little Joaquin's heart is not healed but it's better!! Children with Tricuspid Atresia usually need 3 surgeries with the first one taking place days after he is born. Well, in our case Dr. Salhadar had suggested at one point that the baby may be able to prolong his first surgery - the B. T. Shunt. Today he is even more confident that he will bypass the B.T. Shunt and his first surgery will be the Glenn procedure at 4 months!! yea!!! This will not be determined until he is born of course.
The good thing with this is that a) he will be stronger b) we can bring home right away and c) no trips to Corpus just yet!! We are so excited and hopeful. Dr. Salhadar also determined that I will be induced (don't know when yet) and that the baby can withstand a normal birth - no c-section!!! Our prayers are being heard!!
On to other things!! Alejandro has been having nightmares for the past few nights and I think I have finally figured out why. He's been watching Paul play Halo...which can be pretty scary for a 2 year old. Paul turned it on yesterday and Alejandro turned red and started crying and telling his daddy to, "apago, apago!!" which translates into "turn off" for the most part. Paul did and Alejandro did not wake up at all last night. Of course Paul thinks I'm exagerating but whatever!! :)
I also got Alejandro to drink from a big boy cup yesterday at dinnertime i.e., no lid. He did great!! I had to keep my eye on him of course and I will only let him do it at the dinner table but still!
Paul starts his vacation on Friday and we are off to Sea World!! We can't wait to see if Alejandro likes it and we'll just see just how much walking around I can do.
The good thing with this is that a) he will be stronger b) we can bring home right away and c) no trips to Corpus just yet!! We are so excited and hopeful. Dr. Salhadar also determined that I will be induced (don't know when yet) and that the baby can withstand a normal birth - no c-section!!! Our prayers are being heard!!
On to other things!! Alejandro has been having nightmares for the past few nights and I think I have finally figured out why. He's been watching Paul play Halo...which can be pretty scary for a 2 year old. Paul turned it on yesterday and Alejandro turned red and started crying and telling his daddy to, "apago, apago!!" which translates into "turn off" for the most part. Paul did and Alejandro did not wake up at all last night. Of course Paul thinks I'm exagerating but whatever!! :)
I also got Alejandro to drink from a big boy cup yesterday at dinnertime i.e., no lid. He did great!! I had to keep my eye on him of course and I will only let him do it at the dinner table but still!
Paul starts his vacation on Friday and we are off to Sea World!! We can't wait to see if Alejandro likes it and we'll just see just how much walking around I can do.
Monday, May 18, 2009
What am I doing??
So I've decided to start a blog. I really don't know what the heck I'm doing but I guess you guys will just have to be patient with me as I blog my little heart away.
The main reason I started this blog is so I can keep everybody updated on what our family is up to in Brownsville. Since we've left Taylor and the Austin area we've had some MAJOR adjustments. We miss our home in Taylor but are really excited to FINALLY begin our new life in Brownsville.
At first Paul and I had decided that we would settle in Harlingen but when we found out that our second baby would be born with a Congenital Heart Defect we thought it would be best to stay closer to family...and by close I mean 10 minutes away!! We should be closing on the house on 6/19...God willing. In the meantime we've been staying with my parents and while we are TRULY grateful for the roof that we have over our heads...well...we're just ready for a roof of our own again. And I can guarantee that my parents will miss Alejandro and nothing else - especially our dogs!! Ha ha!!
Besides the house, Paul is in the process of trying to get into a bulk sales route position with Pepsi. If if he does get it, the route is located in Brownsville and South Padre!! A BIG plus!! Big!! We're praying and keeping our fingers crossed.
Alejandro (our pumpkin) is growing so fast before our eyes. He is the joy in our lives. He surprises us with his little antics every single day!! He talks a lot and is talking more each day. He loves both sets of grandparents and adores his cousins!! He doesn't get to see his cousins in the Austin area that much but he loves hanging with his cousins A.J. and Emma in Brownsville. The newest things that he is saying right now are, "I so happy" (along with a hug) and "I'm mad". The "I'm mad" part cracks us up but we can't tell him that!! We're also having problems potty training him. He basically just does not want to. We'll work on that later. He is also somewhat clueless (or just doesn't care) about his new baby brother due in 9 weeks!!
Our newest addition, Joaquin, is due on 7/20. Things have been going soooooo fast and all of a sudden I feel as if they have slowed down. As most of you know, Joaquin will be born with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrom with VSD or - Tricuspid Atresia. Finidng this out so early in the pregnancy felt like the wind was knocked out of me. Partly b/c we didn't know exactly what was wrong until I was about 22 weeks or so. At one point we thought this child would either die in utero or not live past a year. It was heartwrenching for Paul and I but we've managed to get stronger each and every day!!
Now that we know what he has and that he has no chromosomal defects we are almost prepared to go on this long journey. It will be difficult. He will require 3 surgeries before the age of 2 - two of which will be open heart. Sometimes I wonder if I can handle all of this - but I have no choice, I absolutely HAVE to handle all of this...and we will.
The main reason I started this blog is so I can keep everybody updated on what our family is up to in Brownsville. Since we've left Taylor and the Austin area we've had some MAJOR adjustments. We miss our home in Taylor but are really excited to FINALLY begin our new life in Brownsville.
At first Paul and I had decided that we would settle in Harlingen but when we found out that our second baby would be born with a Congenital Heart Defect we thought it would be best to stay closer to family...and by close I mean 10 minutes away!! We should be closing on the house on 6/19...God willing. In the meantime we've been staying with my parents and while we are TRULY grateful for the roof that we have over our heads...well...we're just ready for a roof of our own again. And I can guarantee that my parents will miss Alejandro and nothing else - especially our dogs!! Ha ha!!
Besides the house, Paul is in the process of trying to get into a bulk sales route position with Pepsi. If if he does get it, the route is located in Brownsville and South Padre!! A BIG plus!! Big!! We're praying and keeping our fingers crossed.
Alejandro (our pumpkin) is growing so fast before our eyes. He is the joy in our lives. He surprises us with his little antics every single day!! He talks a lot and is talking more each day. He loves both sets of grandparents and adores his cousins!! He doesn't get to see his cousins in the Austin area that much but he loves hanging with his cousins A.J. and Emma in Brownsville. The newest things that he is saying right now are, "I so happy" (along with a hug) and "I'm mad". The "I'm mad" part cracks us up but we can't tell him that!! We're also having problems potty training him. He basically just does not want to. We'll work on that later. He is also somewhat clueless (or just doesn't care) about his new baby brother due in 9 weeks!!
Our newest addition, Joaquin, is due on 7/20. Things have been going soooooo fast and all of a sudden I feel as if they have slowed down. As most of you know, Joaquin will be born with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrom with VSD or - Tricuspid Atresia. Finidng this out so early in the pregnancy felt like the wind was knocked out of me. Partly b/c we didn't know exactly what was wrong until I was about 22 weeks or so. At one point we thought this child would either die in utero or not live past a year. It was heartwrenching for Paul and I but we've managed to get stronger each and every day!!
Now that we know what he has and that he has no chromosomal defects we are almost prepared to go on this long journey. It will be difficult. He will require 3 surgeries before the age of 2 - two of which will be open heart. Sometimes I wonder if I can handle all of this - but I have no choice, I absolutely HAVE to handle all of this...and we will.
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