September 18, 2012

6th Month CHOP Follow Up

WOW! Has it really been over two months since my last post?! I guess time really does fly when you having fun. Luna will be 6 months old next week and today was our 6 month follow up with the team at CHOP. My mom came along with us for the very long day since Daddy couldn't make it. It was a veeeeeeeery long day full of back-to-back appointments but the general consensus is that Luna is doing great. Here are some highlights from our day:

- Although Luna was not on ECMO she will be followed by the audiologist for a couple of years. The audiologist found that Luna responds very nicely to the sound of voices but then again I could have told her that since Luna's favorite past time is listening in on others' conversations...to a fault...lol.

- The (amazing)surgery team was very happy to see Luna again and were pleasantly surprised to see that she is growing so well. Luna is weighing 17 pounds, 9 ounces and is 27 inches tall. She is at the 85th percentile for overall growth. Since Luna has been doing so well since being home (Thank the Lord) we decided to stop her Lasix and Potassium (she was on very small doses anyways). We will then stop her Zantac in a week since she hasn't had any trouble with reflux. Hopefully she will respond well to these changes and she will be totally med-free!!!!

- The neonatologist was also very happy with Luna's health, growth, and attentiveness. She expressed some concerns over some "mildly immature motor skills" and so we discussed ways we can improve them such as increased tummy time. She also made sure to remind me to get everyone at home a flu shot and to always keep Luna away from sick people. She also reminded me to request the synagis shots from my pediatrician to protect Luna during RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) season.

- After labs, an ECHO, and an EKG, the cardiologist determined that Luna's heart has not shifted and is still on the right side of her chest instead of the left side where it should be. He reassured me that that is not a problem and she will be able to lead a normal life with a right-sided heart. Also, if she continues to do well heartwise at her 1 year follow-up he will discharge her.

I thank the Lord above that our visit to CHOP went so well today (despite the horrible weather to and fro). My miracle baby continues to flourish. We are so very blessed.


Luna and Abuela at the end of our marathon day at CHOP