Let me start by saying all went well today! Let me break each appointment down...
Heart echo: This was the quickest echo we have ever done! Frankie is such a good boy and this gal had done and echo on him before and knew the position to get the best shot of his ticker. We don't know the results of the echo yet as we didn't meet with the cardiologist. He will look over it and call us with any information. I am actually going to call in the morning to let them know I am anticipating a call no matter what the results may be. I'm sure they will be great!
Neonatologist: The plan is for Frankie to get his hernia surgery and heal. Once he fully recovered we go back and visit Dr. Phil (seriously, that's his name and we love him so much! Well, his first name is Phil at least!) in June and we start developing a plan to wean his oxygen! Yay! Fingers crossed it all goes well. This is something we have to work along side the cardiologist with because of his PPHN and ASD. Frankie is gaining weight, not as much as they'd like, but it's some. They'd prefer he'd gain an ounce a day but that's not happening. At least not at the moment. I'm trying my best to figure out the best feeding plan with him, along with the nutritionist.
Xray: We went and had an xray of Frankie's abdomen just to make sure that all looks well since he's spitting up more. He's still pooping but they just wanted to make sure all was well in his O and thankfully, it is!
Surgery: Frankie's O is looking great and is drastically shrinking. Little did we know, until today, that it has shrunk so much. The surgeons are much more used to this kind of thing and know how hard they can push on it and manipulate it. He has a lot of "give" and/or extra skin on his O now because a lot has gone into his abdomen. Very cool! Now that we can this we can wrap him tighter knowing that he'll be okay! Also while there, we discussed his double hernia surgery. This will take place on May 1st. We aren't sure of the time yet. We won't know that until the day before. Once we do we will let everyone know. Typically, this is an out patient procedure but because Frankie writes his own book on everything medical, we are staying over night, just in case.
Upper GI: Dr. Keller (surgeon) had us go back down to radiology just to check the placement of Frankie's NG tube. If it was too far down into stomach and into his small intestines it could cause a lot of issues. If it was in his stomach, things were fine. We came to find out that it's in his stomach and all is fine! If it had been in his duodenum (beginning section of small intestine) we just would have had to pull the NG back a little bit until it was in the stomach. Also, the other night Joe and I checked the placement and such of his NG and it actually wasn't in far enough. This is a big reason why he was spitting up more. He still spit up today but not as much as usual, now that it's in the correct spot.
Anesthesiology: We went and paid a visit to the drug doctors to see what we could do for Frankie during his hernia repair surgery. Typically, they intubate a child during this surgery and then extubate them shortly after during recovery. Since Frankie has PPHN, if possible, we would rather not do this to him. They did it during his belly surgery in December but that is an entirely different scenario. Thankfully, it is possible for them to just give him a spinal during the surgery and he will just be numb like I was for his delivery. Obviously if they run into complications (not likely) and such, they can always knock him out completely and intubate him.
So, everything went well and Frankie will have his hernia surgery on May 1st. I am nervous as ever about it just because I hate for him to have to go through anything more but it will be nice to cross one thing off the Frankie "to do" list.
We appreciate everyone's support, love and prayers through all of this. It honestly is very helpful and we are thankful for each and every one of you! If I missed anything or anyone has any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
Also, March for Babies is April 28th! We hope to see everyone there! And, a HUGE thank you to all who donated and bought a Team Frankie shirt! You all rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE TO YOU ALL!!!!!!!!! Now for some pics!
Cute little baby hand doing art!
Getting his echo done.
Waiting to see the drug doctors.
Passed out during the last appointment. He wore himself out flirting with all the pretty nurses!
Popeye face! No, really, he's feeling his two bottom teeth because they're coming in!
Chilling at home after a much needed nap after today's marathon!
