Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Bennett Will Be Having Surgery SOON.

Today we went to CHOP for the sedated echo and it went smoothly! They put Bennett to sleep using gas so he slowly drifted off to sleep. I got to kiss him goodbye and then waited with my dad for about an hour while they performed the echo. He woke up very quickly after the procedure and when they called me back he was crying but quickly calmed down once I gave him his bottle- poor thing was starving! The doctor said Bennett got the star for the day for being such an easy baby to work with. As I was getting him dressed though they said they wanted to get one more look at something, of course I was concerned but off went his clothes and he was able to just suck on his paci while they once again looked at his tiny heart. Whatever they were looking for must have been found because the doctor said it was nothing and she would proceed with the paper work and scheduling the surgery. So just as I suspected, nothing has changed. Bennett still has a rather large hole in his heart and the cardiologist said it needed to be repaired sooner rather than later. He will be having surgery in 2-3 weeks! GULP. Wow, that's soon.

I told her I felt like he was starting to slow down on his feeds. Not really breathing harder but it just seems to take him longer and he's not finishing all of his bottles. She suggested we put him on lasix to help make him more comfortable during his feeds. It will help with any fluid that may
be building up in his lungs causing him to work harder to breath during his feeds, thus tuckering out quicker. She just doesn't want him loosing any weight before surgery and I've noticed a slight slow down, not loss, but slow down in his weight. He was 10.6 by the way.

So thank you for all of your prayers for today but the big day is approaching so don't stop praying, please!! I'll let you know of the official day as soon as I get the call.

On a much lighter note, Bennett is 2 months old today!!

I can't believe 8 weeks has flown by- why doesn't 8 weeks go by this fast when you're pregnant?? Anyways, Bennett continues to do well! I've said this to many people but Bennett is really such a good baby! I'm not trying to brag because I've had those sleep deprived times with my other two but I just think I'm surprised. He's very content almost all of the time and he's a type A, schedule fanatic's (like myself) dream! Now is he easy because of his heart and he just doesn't have the energy to get upset or wake up for a bottle at 2 am or is it that he's the third and he just knows his place with his two loud sisters? Or is it a combination of both or is this his personality? I don't know but I'll take it for now!

So at two months Bennett is:

  • getting better at holding his head up although sometimes he gets overzealous and throws his head along with the rest of his body back so you have to be prepared for that.

  • every so often gives me a smile:)

  • working very hard to get his coos out and is almost surprised when they come out- so cute!

  • working hard on rolling from his back to front which is a little surprising since most roll from their stomach to their backs first but I think he needs to get his head up more to do that.
  • holds rattles or toys

  • tracks objects
  • focuses on objects

  • ***sleeps soundly through the night until 7 am and sometimes he's still sleeping but I, being the schedule freak that I am, wake him up! The child could have his last bottle at 7:30 and call it a night (I tried it one night just to see) but I want him to gain weight so I still feed him at 10:30. After his surgery, (assuming he will still sleep through the night!) I'll stop offering him this last bottle.
So who knows, after his surgery he could be a different baby- waking up to eat at night and fussier for attention or to be held but I hope not!! He's just not high maintenance like his sister's were at times.

It's funny because I find myself way more excited about the things he does because I guess you just expect a typical child to do certain things at certain times and when he does them I'm so proud of him even if it is just holding his head up! I must say it makes me appreciate the things he does so much more.

Yes, it's hard not to compare him to other babies because whether I like to admit it or not, I'm competitive by nature but I just keep reminding myself "he has an extra chromosome in every cell of his body Adrienne, this is inevitably going to cause some delays" and then for some reason I'm okay with that... at least for now anyway. I guess we'll just take it step by step, one day at a time.

But for now these past 8 weeks have been the most pleasant 8 weeks with a newborn that I've ever experienced. We will see what Mr. Bennett has in store for us in the future!

Brand New!

1 Month Old!

2 Months Old!


I LOVE this kid!

25 comments:

  1. Oh, he is so sweet...glad all went well with your visit and I will be thinking about you all with the upcoming surgery...
    I think you will find that Bennett is still going to be just as good after his surgery...I know Brayden has not had any heart issues, but he has been the best sleeper and most content baby ever as well! Still at 15 months is! He has only woke up once since he was 7 weeks old! Hard to believe, huh? ALthough he is our third too...lol...maybe that has something to do with it???
    I just love the look of your blog! You have done well...I love all of your posts...you are a wonderful writer. My prayers will be adding little Bennett in them...

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  2. Love the pics....he definitely has Harper's look!!

    Glad all went well this morning....will be praying for the surgery to go smoothly!!

    Every milestone is a big one for these kids....I guess with JEB, I didn't really expect much so with everything he did or does, I'm amazed!!! I make a big deal out of all of his accomplishments and now he expects me to praise him!! He even does it for himself, if I'm not around!

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  3. OMG, Adrienne, he's sooooooo adorable! I want to just snuggle him!

    I am sure you're feeling a lot of anxiety as Bennett's surgery approaches. Just know we're saying lots of prayers for you, him, and your entire family.

    As an aside, Lucy took lasix and it really seemed to help. She was also on Digoxin prior to surgery, which made her heart beat more efficiently. Hopefully the lasix will give him that little boost he needs to continue to grow strong!

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  4. Great pictures! He's a handsome little guy.

    Happy to hear things went well with sedation and that there is a plan under way.

    Prayers for Bennett and the rest of your family too.

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  5. I'll be praying for an easy surgery and recovery. His hair is just so darn cute!!!!!! What a cute baby boy you have. -- Jen Underwood

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  6. I've been thinking about you guys all day! We will continue to pray here!

    And OH MY- he has the chunkiest cheeks that I just wanna kiss! I'm sure you don't get tired of that!

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  7. We are thinking about you and your family. My nephew was on lasix for a week or so before and about 3 weeks after surgery. He was on so many drugs, but that is one I remember because he had some fluid build up. I am happy to say that he is doing wonderfully, which I know will be the same for Bennett. I enjoy reading your posts, and again, we will be thinking and praying for you all.

    Dana Mays (Fuller)

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  8. What a beautiful baby! Many prayers for his upcoming surgery!

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  9. LOL--I am *always* saying, "I love this boy!" on my blog about Benjamin.

    A few things:

    --B was on Lasix from a very early age--like a few weeks. It was no biggie.

    --B slept through the night (7-7 with a 10:30 dreamfeed) starting at seven weeks. I, too, am a huge schedule freak, and I *still* wake my kids up at 7:00 a.m. Even my three-year-old. (I have found that if I let him sleep later, he won't nap, and I NEED that nap!!) I didn't drop either boy's dream feed (10:30ish) until they were closer to six or seven months old. (My supply starts to really take a hit when I drop that last feeding, and I breastfed each boy until they were each about nine months old.)

    --B was (and is) a very easy baby. Very laidback--loves the schedule, too, but goes with the flow when we're not on it.

    --B also rolled back to front first!! It took Andrew a long time to get there, but B did it long before front to back, which, I agree, is opposite from the norm.

    We'll be praying for all of you!! :)

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  10. Adrienne & Mike he is so cute. Good luck! we say a prayer for bennett every night. The vitier family

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  11. He's growing before our eyes! Darling!!! and so handsome!

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  12. Thoughts and prayers with you and Bennet. I can't believe he is 2 months already and my little guy will be 5 soon!

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  13. He is such a sweet baby! I can't believe he is 8 weeks old already. Time really does fly doesn't it?!

    I'm so glad the echo went well. I will be praying for you as you anticipate a surgery date.

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  14. Such a great post & the pics are great. He is such a cutie. I have the same feelings why when pregnant does it feel like forever & then time flies when they get out, LOL. Praying for all of you so much. HUGS :)
    Caroline

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  15. Awww, Bennett is such a cutie-pie! I hope his surgery goes well, and he will be in my prayers.

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  16. My son just had open heart surgery to repair a hole in his heart, and I just want you to know that although it can be an incredibly scary thing it will be ok. It helped me to know that this type of OHS is fairly minor in comparison to other types of heart defect repairs, and the doctors do them all the time. I know when it's your kid it's different, but with all that you've been through already, rest assured that God is on your side.

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  17. Adrienne

    So glad that the sedated echo went well. Once you get it out of the way don't you feel a big relief. Will keep praying for the best for the surgery date. Wysdom had his surgery about 2 months ago and he is a totally different baby now. He's supercharged with energy!!!

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  18. Prayers from our family to yours as the surgery date draws near. Glad the echo went well.
    Isn't it wonderful to be very in tune to all of Bennett's accomplishments? We get to appreciate life more as we celebrate the milestones - big and small.

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  19. ps. I remember you now. I was following some of your posts on BBC. Yah Bennett is here!!. I lost track of things while my son had his heart surgery....I think you were due just before my son went in and I haven't caught up until now. Glad to see everything went well.

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  20. I'll be thinking of Bennett and sending positive vibes your way during his surgery. I've heard amazing things about how remarkably well kiddos do after heart surgery. It's like flipping a switch and all of a sudden they can make so much progress once their little hearts are mended.

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  21. Adrienne - so glad everything went well! I got chills reading about surgery in 2-3 weeks! WOW! I will be praying for you guys and following your progress. Parker sleeps thru the night too, last feeding at 9:30p and he's up at 6:30am. Glad to know there are others out there too! My Dr always said "never wake a sleeping baby" and my 3rd slept thru the night by 6 weeks, so I never worried too much. I think God has blessed you with a sleeping baby! He knows we need our sleep to manage our households and emotions on this new journey!

    Anxious to hear more about the surgery as we prepare for Parker's as well!

    Anticipating God's best! Lara

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  22. It must be very hard knowing that your little one will have surgery. I pray for the doctors, bennett, and strength for the family. God has a wonderful plan for that sweet little boy!

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  23. Happy 2 months, Bennett!
    Glad everything went well and we will continue to pray.
    Wonderful pictures of Bennett.

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  24. So glad everything went well! That's funny you mentioned about Bennett being a different kiddo after surgery. I've had several people tell me that I'll see such a difference after Max has surgery. But, like Bennett, he is a dream baby - I don't want him to change :) Max has been eating the same amount at feedings for over two months. I too, wonder if it's because he's too tired. He's been on Lasix for a couple of months now. Good luck on the 7th!!

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  25. Reading your blog brings me to the happiest and sweetest tears. I am always praying for little Bennett and for everything to go well. God Bless that beautiful baby boy!

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