We knew this day would come...

just did not think it would be so soon. On Monday I took Ethan to his GI appointment and it went great! The doc was impressed with how much weight he has gained. He is over 15 pounds which means he gained five pounds since he last saw him...which was only 20 days ago! His liver enzymes are back to normal now too(it was high due to a medication he was on before). So everything with that was good! Yesterday we had an appointment with his neurosurgeon for a followup...it was supposed to be an easy visit. So I decided taking Brayden with me would be fine...I was wrong. It was a long day! It turns out the shunt in his head that drains the fluid from his head to his tummy had stopped working!!! Ugh! He was not 100 percent sure at that time so he wanted Ethan to get a CT scan...lets just say an appointment that was supposed to be twenty min long turned into a whole day at the hospital getting tests done. After they confirmed that the shunt was in fact not working, he put Ethan down for surgery to fix the problem. That surgery happened today. We knew that he would need a revision, everybody with Shunts need revisions through out their life...was just hoping for it further down the road.

They started his surgery at 1 pm and it ended at 6...The longest 5 hours of our lives! They shunt stopped working where it was draining...it was in the beginning stages of another pseudo cyst. We had no idea! Thank god for that followup visit. He was acting fine and he was healthy! Before his surgery he was laughing and playing with his toys and doing all the things that he loves doing. The surgery went fine and it took so long because our surgeon is a perfectionist...they were no difficulties. They replaced the shunt and moved the end of the shunt to the heart. He now has a VA shunt. It is going to be more revisions and a little more complicated if he gets an infection but he is a strong baby...he has that on his side for sure.

Ethan is resting comfortably and they are keeping him overnight for observations. It was good that we caught the malfunction early before he started getting sick over it. Other than the malfunction he has been doing great and all the doctors are so impressed with him. We were in the cafeteria today after the surgery and we ran into one of the doctors that was in the OR today and he told my mom that he has dealt with so many preemies and he has never met an ex 28weeker who is doing so well and is so strong. He stressed how revisions with shunts are common...it is the piece of plastic a.k.a the shunt that is the problem...usually not the person. Yes, he spent a lot of time in the hospital before because of that pseudo cyst from his shunt but at the end of the day he is a lot luckier than other ex 28weekers. He has fought a tough fight and he has beat a lot of odds. I am so proud of him.

I have had a long 48 hours with little to no sleep. So I hope this all makes sense. We are praying that he does well tonight with pain and he doesn't get any fevers. I will write an update in a couple days. I can't wait to get my little monkey home.

Here is a picture of the lil man after his surgery...he is super sleepy cause they gave him some stuff for pain. But he is perfect...I love him so much!

Recovery sucks

ethan is in alot of pain after this surgery. Its not as bad as yesterday but he is still in some pain. We are hoping it will get better as the days go by. He has not been to interested in eating and just wants to sleep. He deserves a break...hopefully soon! Just wanted to update everyone on the little guy.  Cant wait till he is home and to give him a normal life.

Had a good day!

Today was the day that we have been waiting for...Ethan had his surgery to internalize his shunt. That means he is SOOOOOOOOOO close to coming home. They said next week sometime we should be bringing him home. He needs to recouperate from this surgery and show them for about three days that he can gain weight. They just changed him from milk to formula. So he is doing well and we see a light at the end of this tunnel.

I think Brayden knew something was happening with Ethan today. He had school today but wanted us to pick him up and bring him to the hospital to see Ethan. I am so blessed that Brayden is absolutely in love with his little brother. I was afraid Brayden was going to have a hard time but he loves him so. He has a nickname for him too..."little guy" ;)

We are smiling more these days and can't wait to be a family of four again under one roof!

Surgery Update

Yesterday was a crazy day so I didn't have time to update the blog but the surgery was successful. We spent the morning with Ethan, holding him and kissing his little cheeks like crazy :). They took him around noon and once again we walked our little man to the big doors of the OR. We went and grabbed a bite to eat at the cafeteria then went and waited and waited some more for the surgeon to hopefully come out with a big smile on his face. Around 3:30, his surgeon came out with that big smile on his face. All the weight on my shoulders just went away. I knew in my heart that this is what he needed and it is going to help him come home sooner.

When we went to see Ethan later that night, he was still sleeping and was on the ventilator (the one machine that make my heart drop every time I see it by my sons bedside). Last time he had to be intubated for a surgery he ended up on it for over 3 weeks...that was my fear. Well this morning I went in around 9:30am and much to my surprise HE WAS OFF THE VENT and back on the nasal cannula like before. His vitals are so much better than before the surgery, tests that were taken this morning came back great. We are so happy and crossing my fingers he continues to keep doing so great! He is so amazing and such a little fighter. He looks so different too (forgot my camera this morning). The top of his head was bigger because of the fluid...it has gone down a lot! I am so in love with my two little boys...they make my life truly amazing.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

Surgery Tomorrow

We were informed today that Ethan's VP shunt surgery is scheduled for tomorrow around noon. By placing the shunt it will allow the cerebrospinal fluid that isn't absorbing into his brain to drain into his stomach. If to much fluid builds up it can put pressure on the brain. The Shunt will stop the fluid from building up by constantly draining the fluid into his stomach. Now that Ethan is considered "stable" and closer to coming home the Neurosurgeon wants to get it done and out of the way.

So please send lots of thoughts and prayers to little Ethan...Thank you in advance and I'll update as soon as I get a chance. Oh and before I forget, last night when they weighed him he was 5lbs! He is doing such a good job gaining weight. :)