Moving on UP!

We had a very BIG day!  Owen was moved out of the CVICU and onto the Cardiac step down unit.  He was so excited and things moved pretty quickly this morning.  We pulled his arterial line and packed up.  This morning was also his last Lovenox shot for today... if we can keep his INR above 1.9 then we can stay off Lovenox, otherwise we will go back to injections.  We already miss our nurses and friends in the CVICU, but will be back soon.  At least Owen got a few minutes in a wheelchair to explore the hospital on his way to his new isolation room.

Stacey brought Gage, who is also waiting for his heart with a Heartmate (heart in a backpack basically).  He came by with his siblings and they brought markers so the kids could play Tic Tac Toe on the window while seperating themselves at the same time.  Hoping these two boys get their hearts very quickly so they can hang out and play.  Their entire family knows all about transplants as this is their fourth transplant in the family and the kiddos have spent plenty of time in these same rooms.  The markers were a genius idea and Owen is loving them.  Thanks!! :)  Owen drew himself a moustache.

The first thing I said was that Owen didn't have too much junk.. then I packed up and seriously?!  How did we accrue so much in the past four weeks?  Insane.

Allison (another heart mom) came by with Josh (HLHSer who will be waiting for a heart in the near future) and his brother Sam.  She is a rockstar and brought her clippers so she could cut Owen's hair for me.  He looks a million times better so THANK YOU!!  They also brought Owen a little racecar and some snacks.  The boys had the best time with that little racecar and the nurses got a good dose of what's to come with Mr Owen on the unit.

Today was the last day we get to wear these ridiculous diapers.  I also realize I need to get him lots of pajama bottoms since we can't do shirts and he won't be running around in his undies.  It's nice to have an actual bathroom in his room (unlike the ICU).  After Owen's haircut, he got a very LONG bath which he LOVED! It was his first bath in 5 weeks... he didn't want to get out.

Stating the obvious... Owen had a great day.  He looks really good on the outside.  His heart function isn't great, but the real worry is his coronaries and the high risk of cardiac arrest.  We are careful with his isolation restrictions, so he won't cross the little black line from his room into the hall.  He sure loves to stand REALLY close to the line and drive his little car around.  I'm going to try to get an exception to let him ride around in one of the cardiac cars (so fun) to drive around the unit with his mask/gown this week.  We'll see....

Back home.. Kam was playing Sims with the cousins and Logi just really wanted her attention.  He will just lay by her and play with her hair.  The LOVE is real!

I am so grateful for where we are today compared to five weeks ago.  Praying for a stable heart until his offer comes.