Surgery Day - October 18th, 2012

We got to Diamond Children's at 6:15am for a 7:30 surgery. We had our family here to send her off before surgery.

Gram's Girl!

Being a Diva with Aunt Lissa!

Arianna picking out the flavor for her "sleepy" medicine. She already knows she doesn't like cherry and bubble gum so she choose watermelon this time.

Arianna choose banana flavor for Coco's mask

Look at all those bracelets!

Arianna playing while we talked to all the doctors. Poor thing was terrified when they took her. The versed didn't do a thing. Thank God Lauren was able to go back with her. She did cry the entire time and that just breaks my heart. :(

Devin watching Spongebob while we wait for sister. He made it till about noon then Aunt Lissa took him home for lunch and a nap.

Coco was waiting too!

Me, Galyn, Christina  (Heart Moms!) So blessed to have these women stop by while we were waiting. I cannot begin to tell you how blessed I am to have meet so many incredible heart moms the past 6 years. Thank you to every single one of you that came by, texted, called, emailed, messaged, etc! Christina thank you for the necklaces. It means so much to me and I know Arianna will love it too!

My baby girl, Aleayah, came to wait for Arianna to get out of surgery and just in time!

Post-op and already extubated! They had us talking to her in order to keep her awaking enough so she wouldn't have to be reintubated. Apparently it took them about 90 mins just to get her to breathe on her own again in the OR so we are very pleased she is still extubated and holding her pulmonary function! Dr. Teodori was very pleased with the repair. He placed a pulmonary valve, widened her left pulmonary branch and repaired her tricuspid valve (there was a small hole and fusion of the chordae tendinea to the old VSD repair) Due to her small chest cavity they he was only able to put in a 24 mm pulmonary valve but that is still a decent adult size valve! He was hoping for 27 mm but that wouldn't fit. It's okay because we know this is all apart of God's plan!

Arianna woke up when my Nana came and talked to her. (My Nana is getting ready for her surgery on the 22nd to remove her thyroid cancer) Two very brave ladies right here!

Grams & Ari

Bepa & Ari

Arianna woke up and was happy to see baby Aleayah and Anita! Then she went back to sleep

Galyn stopped in after her orientation training and got to see Arianna!

My incredibly BRAVE little girl after her 2nd open-heart surgery!

 Arianna has been sleeping most the day. She responds to our questions. At this she already saw respiratory therapy and did her neb and pounds. Pounds is where they literally pound on the chest to help keep the lungs from getting fluid settled in them. Arianna already showed some signs of atelectasis on xray after surgery which is typical but with her pulmonary function w ae want to keep doing her nebs and pounds on schedule. But Dr. Barber and Dr. Teodori were constantly checking on her all afternoon and evening and VERY happy with her status. Just a little tweeks here and there and alot of TLC at this point.

She was not too happy about moving on her side but once they got her positioned she feel fast asleep during pounds, or her "massage" as I like to call it. :) After treatment she asked to sit her bed up! Then she got a really special treat...Miss Adrienne showed up before work to check on her!

Arianna & Adrienne (Fellow Heart Mom!)

 Then my sister was able to come back and see Arianna after surgery and bring Devin to see his sister. He was a little unsure at first. He said "Ari owwie." Then I let him kiss her forehead and he held her hand. Very compassionate brother.

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Meds

Pastor James & Kathy came to see and pray over Arianna.

Devin got to have a little snack and love from Mommy before he went and spent the night with Grams & Bepa. Thank you Dad for bringing us dinner too!

I asked for morphine because she started coughing more and really hurting. She was able to get some good rest after that. Dr. Teodori likes his patients to remain comfortable the first day

It's 12:45am and she is able to tolerate water and told we can move on to apple juice. She is waking up more and asking to go home. :( So far nothing major has come up. Her fluid output is great (thank you Lasix) and her sats all look good! She just received some potassium which was slightly low. Dr. Teodori just called and checked on her! She can have morphine as needed to stay comfortable. Have I said how much I love that man! He is an amazing surgeon, has wonderful bedside manner and you can tell he truly loves what he does and protects his kids. Thank you God for placing such a wonderful man in our life!