The Puddles

That’s what Ben calls his cardiologist.  Ben’s pediatrician explained his heart problem by comparing it to plumbing problem with his heart.  That his heart still worked but that we need a plumber to go in and work on his heart so the water will flow better (sounds weird but it worked for him).

So we saw the cardiologist and there is good and not the best news.  First of all. . . look at his awesome chest!  The scar is healing nicely.  By the way, he will show anyone his scar just ask (although I prefer that you don’t ask before we are walking into the sanctuary on a Sunday morning.  Tucking his shirt back in is hard!)  Second . . . she said that he sounds good.  She thought she heard an additional heart murmur while listening to him (like his aortic valve may have started leaking again), but she concluded that she believes the murmur is just a residual sounds from the resected membrane.  The sound went away when he laid back down.  I don’t understand it all, but that is what she said.

The not so good . . . on two different heart medications his blood pressure is normal.  So she asked us to try to take him off one of his medications today.  We did and his blood pressure went up to 115/70 (good for an adult. not good for a kid).  She wants it below 100.  We will try again in a few days.  I hate that he is still on so much medicine.  He is still on five different prescriptions.  Only two for the heart, but still.  He has developed pretty bad acid reflux over the summer (like he would throw up after lunch or breakfast.  Just throw up and then go outside and play!) So he is on an acid reducer and two allergy meds.  He needs them all but . . . yuck!

Now I have saved the best for last . . . BEN GETS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!!!!  I don’t know who is more excited me or him.  He has to wait two more weeks for his sternum to heal but then he gets to go back!  He also gets to play outside for recess and run in p.e.   I think I want to cry.  He gets to be normal for a time.  He has no restrictions except he can’t carry his backpack for two more months.  I’ll take that restriction.