Yes, we had
another cardiology appointment today. We visit every three weeks and I think Owen is starting to enjoy it a little too much. He smiles and laughs through all his procedures. Nothing bothers him anymore...
even the once dreaded scale. Dr. Stock comes in the room and Owen gets excited. He helps him with the stethescope while listening to his heart, makes Dr. S laugh and even tolerates him feeling his liver. Every nurse, echo tech, cardiologist, and receptionist knows Owen and they shower him with love and attention. We never walk out of there without a few suckers and stickers galore.
Now, onto the appointment.
weight: 24lbs 2oz
height: 30 1/2 "
oxygen sats: 82 on 3/4 liter of oxygen
blood pressure: 77/44
ekg: perfect
Dr S says Owen looks great! We continue to go up on his Captopril until we hit 60ml/day (equivilent to 3oz), we will leave his other meds alone for now. Aldactone, Lasix, Digoxin, Asprin and Sildenafil are the others. We go back on 7/24 and we'll introduce the Carvedilol. Carvedilol is a beta-blocker and as explained to me... blocks adrenaline from the heart which slows the rhythm and force of the heart pumping. It is intended to lower blood pressure and help with the heart failure. It has not been highly successful in kiddos like Owen, but we're going to try. The downside is.. it can help his failure,
or worsen his symptoms.
By his August 11th appointment, we should have his Captopril up to full dose, his Carvedilol at the full dose and we'll do an echo to see what effects it's having on his heart. Dr. S mentioned the possibility of another cardiac cath, but we won't know for sure until the echo.
Also, Dr. Rosenthal, our cardiologist at Lucile Packard Childrens, wanted Owen to see a Pulmonologist. They deal with the lungs. We have no reason to believe that there is a problem with Owen's lungs, but we need to be sure. He has been on continuous oxygen now since October. His appointment is scheduled for July 9th. Please let the lungs be
perfect.
That's enough medical talk... let's talk 17 months because that's how old Owen is now. He is finally mobile and butt-scooting everywhere. He is starting to bear weight in his legs, so maybe he'll be walking by his 2nd birthday (this is my goal for him). He is talking a little more, but still no real communication, although
we know what he wants. We are starting speech therapy soon and Physical therapy might get a little more intense now that he's feeling better. He still won't eat a whole lot of food. His problem is volume, not variety, he'll eat anything you put in front of him. I like to call him the two-bite wonder. After two bites, he's "Ah dun". I give him sippy cups all day long, but he takes one drink and then shakes the liquid out. He enjoys eating, he enjoys food, he'll catch on sooner or later. Most importantly, he's HAPPY and he's home. :)
He always turns blue in water, too. His lips, fingernails, feet and scalp always have a blue tinge, but it's definetly more vibrant when he's in the water. Cardiology says it has something to do with his vessels clamping down, Dr. Stock lost me on that explaination.
Kamryn and Gigi could live in the pool. They swim, they run around, they jump in, they play tag, they get out to relax in the heat and then right back in. I need to tap into some of their energy. The best part of it is, they eat a ton of dinner and then they crash early. All that heat, water and playing wears them out.
We have at least 4 more months of desert heat, which translates to many more days and nights in the pool. You'd think I'd have a tan by now. Think again.
