We are here!

Phew! We made it to Philly and with only one casualty. We lost our beloved kitty cat Miette at the first rest stop we took in Georgia. In Aaron's words she turned into  a puddle of water and slithered out of her harness. We looked for hours and weren't able to find her. Carys sobbed and begged us not to give up but we had to get going. the drive away from the rest area was heart breaking - C crying and worrying aloud "Miette's afraid to go outside. She must be so scared. And it's getting dark. and look at those clouds - it's going to rain on her. She's not going to know what to do." Me silently weeping in the front seat - trying to think of something to say to ease her worry but not lie to her - thinking we've got 18 more hours of road trip ahead of us. then Kismet - ever practical - turns to her sister and says " Why you crying Carys? She's just a cat." In retrospect it is funny - but at the time it made me realize how many things in our life have had to become unimportant - get shelved or relegated as unnecessary- so we can get Macsen to CHOP. We brought what we would need to live in our minivan - streamlined our whole existence that takes up 2500 sq feet at home into  a few totes, bags, and 1 cargo carrier. All the toys, clothes and STUFF, and now the cat. It is just stuff but we've also shucked our whole routine, the girls' day to day and really everything and most everyone they've ever known. It's been a big week. We're still holding out hope that someone will find her and report her to the Welcome Center where she was lost but we have to move on.
We are settling in to our new home. Aaron's Aunt J and her family have been amazing. It's tough barging into someone else's home - especially with kids - for an uncertain and lengthy stay. No endpoint, no real "job" but to wait. But if anyone could make it easier it is this family. We are feeling blessed by the beautiful surroundings here and by this wonderful family.
Our appt at CHOP on Friday went well. I was so so so SOOO afraid we would get a repeat of our last appt there and the heartbreaking news that they thought Macsen wouldn't make it to birth. Everyone was encouraged by his functioning tricuspid - though they don't know if they should call it that as he only has 1 real valve. Every doctor will apparently label his heart in differant terms - depending on their experience and preference - but Dr D labeled his valve more of a common a/v valve. He really has a single ventricle already - very weird - but apparently they believe they can go forward with the regular surgeries for HLHS. We didn't get outcome #'s or percentages but dr D actually smiled and said he felt encouraged. I'll take it! We also found out Dr Spray - THE Dr Spray will be doing M's surgery! He's a rockstar of cardio thoracic surgery.
We took a tour of the special Delivery Unit - it didn't look vastly differant from our beloved delivery suites at Southeast Alabama med center where both girls were delivered. And we saw the pass through window where they will whisk Macsen after delivery from the delivery room to the room full of waiting neonatologists who will evaluate him and give us the final verdict on his heart. this window means we will not be surrounded by these neonatologists while I labor. Apparently just the OB and I think 2 nurses will be there with us - vastly different than the room I imagined teeming with specialists and experts hovering over me waiting for my baby so they can take him away. Quiet and calm...
We have NO MORE ECHOS! Crazy after 1 every few weeks and from here on out have only regular OB appts every week. We will meet with Child Life Specialists who will help the girls to process seeing their baby brother with tubes and wires and will also meet with a lactation consultant who will help me prepare for pumping/storing milk until the baby can nurse. Tomorrow we start homeschooling the girls and may check out the local YMCA. Other than that our days are open until little man decides he's ready to face it all.