Last Echo before we leave

Dr Mary Mehta (Macsen's lovely pediatric cardiologist)
and Cindy Demos (the most awesome ultrasound technician ever)

 Our last appointment with Dr Mehta and Cindy went well. We went a day early to break up the long trip to Pensacola and to (more importantly) enjoy our last day at the beach. We had a wonderful time - the water was crystal clear and the perfect temperature, there were lots of shells to keep Aaron busy (that man loves treasure hunting) and we were able to relax while bobbing in the gently swells and bouncing off the bottom on the sand bar. Sometimes I just KNOW that someone "up there" is saying "Let them have a perfect day today, they'll appreciate it."

   We had a really great breakfast at the hotel restaurant - real half and half for the coffee and real butter for the pancakes then played in the hotel pool for a few hours. The staff was even nice enough to bump our checkout back for 2 hours so we wouldn't have to rush out. 

   We met Charlene  at the Mall and handed over Thing #1 and Thing #2 for 1+ hours of Mall Mayhem - train rides, and trampoline bungeeing, ice cream and candy! They're going to miss Charlene :)And while we were in our appt they were even able to spend a little time with their Uncle Sam who took his break and came to the mall too. 

    Our appt went well - I am always nervous when they first place the doppler on my jelly slimed belly that we won't find Macsen's heart beating - or it will have gotten worse. A split second of morbid dread then there it is - his heart - working hard. Dr M thought she saw a tricuspid valve leak - the one thing we check for every time and fear- and she and Cindy tried to reassure me that it was a tiny amount. Just to be sure they kept looking - waiting for Macsen to turn so we could get a different view. Eventually, a few agonizing minutes later while I tried to push away thoughts of what this tiny leak could mean ... would it get worse, was this the beginning of the end, the end Dr Degenhardt @ CHOP was most likely if his valve started to leak... they both agreed it was most probably a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) an abnormal opening in the wall, or septum, that divides the right and left lower heart chambers or ventricles. Not a big deal for Macsen as his left ventricle is so tiny - the blood goes in there and then just comes right back out. We saw this VSD at his last echo a lot more clearly - everything only gets harder to see as he gets bigger and more cramped. Dr M was also able to actually see his aortic valve - that was a  first. @ CHOP 10 weeks ago it looked like he didn't have a valve - we're not sure if it's functioning and if it will make any difference to his final diagnoses. He did have growth in his pulmonary artery which is a good thing - we need it to be bigger because it will be getting a pretty big work out in the years to come. We will miss Macsen's team in Pensacola though - hope we are blessed with an equally amazing one when we get to Philly.
  Can't believe we'll be loading up and moving out in 2 weeks- beginning the most critical part of our journey so far. I'm excited to see Macsen but so terrified. I am thankful Aaron will be able to be with me through the settling in, preliminary appts @ CHOP and for Macsen's birth. After that we'll have to see - I'll cherish his presence though - if we're together I know it will all be easier to bear. Not excited about packing up what I think the girls will need - don't even know where to start - I am admittedly the World's Worst Packer always bringing things we don't use and forgetting those crucial things I kick myself for not bringing... what clothes will they want, what toys will bring them distraction and comfort. It always comes down to how long will we be gone and we just can't say... Trying to prepare to be there until M's second open heart surgery but maybe he'll rock this whole being cut open and rerouted thing and we can miraculously come home.... a girl can dream. Never thought that would be one of them. One more OB appointment on Friday - then a week of packing and saying goodbye to our friends and family here in Enterprise... then it all begins.