Kara Update, change of date

Kara's surgery date got changed to March 23rd. The surgeon's favorite assistant won't be here the week of the 16th, the nurse said he is the best of the best, so of course I am not going to argue. Please change the date for your pray plans.

Kara Update (FAQs), (Caution graphic information)

I wanted to post some of the FAQs that I am getting from everyone so you can feel more informed about Kara's surgery.

We will be going to her Preop appt. on March 9th, at that appt they will be giving her an EKG, chest xray, blood work and an overall examine to make sure she is healthy enough to undergo surgery. The surgeon and his staff will also go over the entire hospital stay with us. They will send us home with pre op wipes to clean Kara's chest with to prepare it for surgery.

The day before surgery we will give her a pre op bath and clean her with the wipes.

March 16th, the day of surgery, we will arrive at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. (the surgery will begin at 7:30 a.m.). When we arrive we will be placed in a private room to meet the anesthesiologist, the day surgery nurse and the cardiac surgery clinician. They will take her vitals and go over any last minute questions. We will then be escorted to the waiting rm and she will go to the OR. It will take about 1 to 1 1/2 hours to prep her in the OR. We will recieve updates about her surgery from the cardiac surgery clinician. We will see her again around 2 p.m.

The Surgery

-It is open heart surgery, she will be given a median sternotomy incision (straight down the chest), the breastbone is separated and she will of course have a scar.

-She will require a blood transfusion because she will be on the lung/heart machine.

-She will be put on a heart monitor, a breathing tube connected to a ventilator, an IV tube in either her neck or groin plus 1 to 2 more IVs, an artierial line to monitor blood pressure (it is placed in an artery), a pulse oximerter(to measure oxygen in blood), a nasogastric tube in her nose (to keep her stomach empty), a foley catheter.

-Basicly the surgeon will remove about a milimeter of scar tissue from the pulmonary artery and close the hole between the left and right venticle.

-The incision will be closed by wiring the breastbone back in place, the stiches on the inside will dissolve and the outside will be held together with skin adhesive .

Post Operation

-Kara will go to PICU

-She will still be attached to many of the tubes and wires

-She have some swelling especially in face and eyelids

-She will be given drugs for pain

-It is very important that we get to spend time with her

-She can leave the PICU once she can breath without the machine, has a stable blood pressure and has a good heart rhythm

-She will be released once the doctor and we feel comfortable enough to bring her home

I will send out more info later on post op recovery at home.

Kara Update

Today we met with the surgeon, Dr. Mumtaz, and his nurse practicioner Sarah, at CHKD in Norfolk. He was wonderful, great bed side manner, really took the time to explain everything from her condition, her surgery, recovery and future issues. Even though I now know every little thing that could go wrong with the procedure, I actually feel better, because we are moving forward again. Her surgery will be Tuesday, March 16th and we will go in on the 9th for her pre-op.

We will have to arrive at 5:30 a.m. on the 16th and her surgery will be around 7:30, we will see her again around 2 p.m. They were both very happy about her condition and the fact that she is a breastfed baby, because it will make her recovery easier.

I don't won't to go into to much detail on the blog, but feel free to contact me personally for more information about her condition, the procedure or her recovery expectations. Also if you would to visit us, let me know and I will let you know when will be a good time.

Again my contact info is georgetteprice@yahoo.com or cell number: 757-951-8438.

Will let you know more info soon on the move.

Snow Days (I hope they are over!)

I never though I would say this, but I am so glad that is seems to have stopped snowing finally. As a LA girl I didn't think I could get enough snow, but I have!

Who dat baby?

So very excited that I got to witness the New Orleans Saints finally win a superbowl. So proud to be a Louisiana girl! Had to share this pic again.

Holy Croop!

Kara and I had a fun filled evening, well I guess morning, at the urgent care center on base around 3 a.m. this morning. She has the croop and of course was has happy as could be hanging out and flirting with the guy behind the desk. She however did not appreciate the medievel torture device that she was strapped into to have her chest xray. Everything looked fine though and her ox stat was 96-97. They gave her a steriod dose and sent us on our way. She is actually doing great except a little moody and still a cough.
It is always something! But we are getting a new house soon, so I am not going to complain!

Aidan's Major Award and a day at VASC

New exhibit at the Virginia Air and Space Center, it is literally all about animals and their poop, seriously! This one is a game show about which animal is the slimest!

Aidan is actually playing a video game about trying to roll a dung ball up a hill faster than an animal, oh the game is actually on a big fake dung ball, seriously all about poop.

Kara is digging the poop exhibits, because well it is one of the things she knows well.

At least Georgia is stylish in the cute outfit her maw maw pam gave her and the boots her aunt meri gave her, unfortunately she is playing game that requires you to guess which animal pooped which poop!

Aidan got the citizenship award for fairness in January for his class! This is a major award!



The VASC also had a life size cow statue that farted and burped, it really freaked Georgia out, Aidan and Adam of course thought it was hilarious.