Pictures from Stage 2, the Glenn
Pictures from Stage 3, the Fontan Please note - these pictures, for the most part, are "safe". If you're interested in post-op pictures from the Norwood, please email us at us@babysamson.com for access.
Doctor Visits
Fontan
General Updates
Glenn
Life with Sammy
Norwood
Other HLHS families
Support
Surgery & Recovery
Surprises
Test Results
Worrying
Recovery
Unexpected Open Heart Surgery
Fenestration-closing cath
One year post-Fontan!
NSTAR's Walk for Children's Hospital Boston
3 years old & cardiology visit
Wild Man
Update and Santa
Blue episodes and a cardiology appointment today
Ellie's Fontan
Post-Fontan Cardiology Visit
"You've gotta just let him be."
Sammy's Recovery from the Fontan
Life Post-Fontan
Bump from home
We are home!
Fontanized - Day 6 Update
Day 4 Post-Op 2:30pm Update
Fontanized, Day 4 Post-Op
Bump #2 - Pneumothorax
Little Bump
Fontan Post-Op, Day 2
Extubated!
Fontan Post-Op Update
Fontan Day
Fontan Pre-op Done
Checking in
Update, 2 years old, Fontan date, more
And we're free!
Pre-Fontan cath DONE.
Cath Day
Day 1, Pre-Fontan Cath Prep
Pre-Fontan cath
Twenty-three months: chatterbox, the holidays and the cath
Twenty-two months
Cardiology visit
Eighteen months
Seventeen months
Early Intervention Assessment
Fourteen month update
Miles for Miracles - Together in Heart.
Sedated echo
Look who's one!
One year.
11 1/2 months old!
Almost 10 months old!
Cardiologist Visit
Just about nine months!
Who is this kid, and what did you do with my baby?
Eight months old!
7 months old!
Coming up on 7 months
Six month update
Post-op Checkup & Life post-Glenn
And we're outta here!
Waiting to go home & a few firsts...
Truckin' along
Step-Down!
And the lines are OUT!
Happy updates
Post-Glenn, Day 4
Post-Glenn, Day 3
Post-Glenn, Post-Bronchial Spams, Day 3
Not fun - post-Glenn, night 2
Post-Glenn, Day 2
Post-Glenn, Day 2 - morning
Post-Glenn, Day 1, part 2
Post-Glenn, Day 1
He's out!
In surgery - updates
the wait
The night before the Glenn
Preparing for the Glenn
Update & Surgery
Milk Allergy Fun
Chatty Sammy
Cath Hospitalization
Catheterization
Gasmonster!
Teaching Sammy about the world.
Miles for Miracles
First bath!
Gassy infant prodigy
Rockin' Sammy
Revelations about mamahood
Babymoon, Part 2
Babymoon, Part 1
Home Sweet Home
Discharged!
Rumor has it...
Stepdown, Day 2
We have step down!
Today was pretty mellow
No step-down for you
Time to buy stock in St. Joseph's
One step closer
Extubation!
One step at a time
Done with the closing
Chest Closing
Birth story
Chest Closing & Mama in Triage
Recovery
Out of Surgery
Welcome, Sammy!
Samson Arrives
Labor update
Of due dates and inductions
Baby Grace
Snow baby?
Welcome to the jungle
Getting closer...
37 1/2 week update
Fighting the bad thoughts
Getting bigger - and closer!
31 weeks with Dr. Brown, CHB
31 Week Appt. w/ Dr. Johnson
One big monkey!
Starting to Get Ready
30 Weeks and Full-blown Panic
Silly Pregnant Lady
27 Week Visit
Fears
EFO Shout Out
Weird Pains & an Early Morning Trip to the Hospital
Fetal Echo at Boston Children's Hospital
DiGeorge's - Negative!
Evil Genetics Counselor
Full amnio results
22 weeks and Life Now
Pediatric Cardiologist
Redefining Normal
FISH Results
Embarrassing the poor boy already
The Baby's Name
Post-Amnio
Pre-amnio, Baby痴 name riddle
Reiki energy, and not being alone
Friends and Tarzan
Trying to get through the day
The diagnosis
Trying to stay positive
Pre-Diagnosis
Because this poor kid hasn't been through enough already...
On and off since the cath, there's been blood mixed in with his poop. We weren't sure where it was coming from, the culture showed no virus, but it was there. His pediatrician didn't seem too concerned, but we were getting worried. Yesterday, which was the medical DAY FROM HELL (mammo for a supposed lump in my breast which showed nothing, the phone call with the date for Sammy's next surgery - which is almost a full two weeks earlier than I was planning on - and this), it got worse. The pediatrician made an appointment with the gastroenterologist on Thursday and wanted to see him this morning, just to "eye him over."
Yeah. Never made it to the pediatrician. Nothing like a DIAPER FULL OF BLOOD to freak a mother out and send her racing to the ER.
Turns out, after a long day at Childrens', our little monkey has an intolerance for milk proteins. The last few months of second-hand yogurt, ice cream and milk wreaked havoc on his poor little intestines - hence, the blood.
So this mama gets to completely cut out milk and soy from her diet. Sure, switching to formula would be easier, but I really believe breastmilk is best and I want to do everything I possibly can for him - even if it means forgoing cheese and lattes for a few months.
So - it's been fun over on this end. My poor little monkey.
Interesting tidbit - this time, this day last year, I was the only one who knew I was pregnant. While I sat around the living room, eyeing the test and waiting for Jay to come home, I wrote the following:
Dear baby,
There's one thing your dad made me promise: don't get pregnant before my birthday. I turn 30 on Wednesday. It's Monday, and there were two little lines on that little plastic stick screaming, "Happy birthday Mommy!"
Whoops.
I've been really tired the past few days. My period's been screwy the past few months, but I knew last month I got it on the 18th. It was early - I'm usually around the 24th, so this month I wasn't sure if I was due the 18th or the 24th or somewhere in-between. This morning I felt a little sick - it was different than the normal nausea - and I was exhausted in a way I couldn't imagine I'd ever be exhausted, so I decided to pick up a test on my way home.
Two little lines for something so incredibly huge.
I'm still trying to figure out a fun way to tell your daddy. We've been working around the house a lot the past few weeks, and we're so tired (though at least now I know the exhaustion isn't just because I was painfully out of shape!). I was thinking about hitting up when he walked through the door, telling him not to get mad, but that I have another project for him... and this one's kinda big.
I know this is one project he won't be complaining about!
I've got two hours until he gets home, and I'm bursting at the seams. Ready for nap, but trust me - bursting at the seams.
Holy crap. We're having a baby.
Love,
Mommy
(P.S. It still doesn't feel real.)
And you know what? Sometimes it STILL doesn't feel real. :-)
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