Long day, everyone's OK.

Scarlett will be going wireless soon, probably tonight.  All the probes and wires will be out.  If she starts nursing tomorrow, which will be her first try, that will get us one step closer to a discharge from CHOP.  We are all so exhausted and ready to be home.

OK! Scarlett had a great night!

Her nurse updated Mama throughout the night as Daddy and his brother were sprawled out on the couch and air mattress (thanks for making it up to see us all Jer!).  At least some rest was had by all.  Scarlett's O2 stat is around 85, and she was eating mother's milk even FASTER than the nurse had anticipated, which means she will run out by 0930 this morning.  Good thing we are getting there at about 0800!!  I don't plan to lug my computer around now since we have been kicked out of the SDU (Mom is no longer a patient), but we will update this when possible.  Thanks so much to everyone for continued prayers and support.  Thanks specially to Brian & Courte, and Chris & Liz who have opened up their homes to mommy, daddy, and their parents!!!!!!!  Their hospitality has been an overwhelming and truly reviving refreshment.  We know we are blessed.  -A

Hard to describe how long today was.

First off, Scarlett is doing wonderfully right now.  We just got an update from her CICU nurse half an hour ago.  We had some real scares earlier today, but the doctors revived her from too much sedation and worked with her O2 stats by upping her oxygen and letting us feed her!  I held her up while mama held the bottle.  There's much more to tell about today, but let if suffice to say that I felt like a real man.  I supported my two babies and I did it well.  I'm proud of myself.  And I'd like to add that Mama is doing such a wonderful job of taking care of her little one.  Finally, thanks to Brian and Courte for making the end of the long day a wonderful dinner and some great fellowship.  -A

Scarlett still asleep, doing pretty well.

She seems to be pretty calm, still asleep from the pain meds and whatnot.  I watched the surgical team remove her chest tube, they were very quick.  Her pacemaker wires, rectal probe, and catheter are also out.  These are all good things.  Her O2 stats are hovering around 83, which is a bit lower than I would personally like, but the doctors don't seem to mind right now.  -A

Scarlett is still asleep, but the ventilator is OUT.

Scarlett post-op

We finally got to go see out precious Scarlett!  It was very hard to see our sweet little girl connected to so many tubes, but the Dr.'s all say she is doing very well.  She still has a breathing tube in her nose, a chest tube to remove extra fluid from around her heart, two tubes in her belly button, one attached to an artery and one attached to a vein, to measure her blood pressure, and a catheter so they can measure how much urine she passes.  We could not be more proud of our daughter and her strength, and are thanking God for every second!

Still haven't seen Scarlett yet...

We're supposed to get to see her in about half an hour.  An adjacent patient apparently had an extended procedure right in the CICU next to Scarlett's bed.  Our nurse reported that Scarlett is "very much asleep" due to the pain meds she is currently on and the anesthesia from the surgery.  The breathing tube is still in after all.  We're definitely ready to see our baby.