Let Our Avery Go!

It's been awhile since I've updated on the family. Life has been really good for us, not without bumps in the road, but good. I feel I've gotten into a routine and had ventured out, even with both kids (imagine that).

Avery has been gaining weight and smiling at our voices. As her chins increase, so does our love for her. People have said Avery looks like Zachery, but I can't recall how he looked back then (so long ago :) . Sometimes I think she's just a normal little girl, and she is. She thinks, smiles, sleeps, eats and cries like a small person. Then, when she spits up and the feeding tube comes out (that's happened too many times for me), or goes to the doctor, I'm reminded her heart works different.

This morning, dark and early I got up and took Avery up to Univ. of MI to have her airway looked at- to make sure it wasn't closing up. That all went well, thank the goodness. But, when they were taking her vitals, her blood oxygen levels were low. I was surprised, she seemed fine at home. Now, since her levels are still low, they need to find out why. Her hematocrit (blood level in general) is lower, so she's going to get some blood today. They said it could be her shunt isn't working as well, and maybe it's getting closer to needing to have her next surgery, the hemi-Fontan. I joked that I'd run out of here with Avery, that I wouldn't let them keep her. As disappointed as I am that they're admitting her, again, I acknowledge that if there's something going on it is very fortunate that they found out here and not at home when it would surely be more critical (and when we were sleeping).

I think I try and assimilate a "normal" for my life, my family, ect. and whenever something happens that I'm not expecting, I get disappointed and it takes me a bit to adjust. I suppose I need to stop expecting smooth sailing and plan for storms or just windy days. After all, at least we're still sailing!

One great bonus is, Avery took a bottle last night at 10:30 pm and only started fussing at 5 when I was getting her ready to leave. That means she could sleep through the night! Yay. I did have to feed her about every 2 to 2 1/2 hours, but I'll take it. Here I go again, expecting too much, but it does give one reason to hope. :) The night before she woke up hungry 3 times, so up and down - that's life.

I'm up at the family center at the U of M hospital. Avery is sleeping and she'll be admitted to general care to watch and hopefully figure out why her oxygen is so low.

I went out to get some food and saw a "butternut squash soup" and thought that sounded yummy and healthy. Well, watery and bland is more like it. I also drank a fruit smoothie and finished the water in my cup. (This is so interesting, I know, what will she write next?!) Anyway, I'm Soooooo full!!! Who'd a thunk. It's worse than thanksgiving.

I hope she doesn't need surgery this soon. She weighs 9 lbs.!! tchau