Glenn Post-Op

Maddie has had a good afternoon and evening. She was extubated (breathing tube taken out) only an hour after returning from surgery. She's on about a liter of oxygen to help out. She is starting to swell, mid-line up, also a bit red/purple skin discoloration in her upper body compared to her lower body. This is normal with the Glenn. She's been in some pain, taking short breaths and whining, also a few tears and a very hoarse cry. This is a little tough for a mom to watch...she does comfort easily though and is loving her binky since she can't suck her thumb. She has 2 chest tubes that are draining nicely, 2 pacing wires in case her heart needs paced, 4IV's: an IJ in her jugular, a central line on her left hand (poor baby can't suck her thumb with her boarded hand) a peripheral line in her foot, a femoral line in her groin and a urine cath. She's lost her "brain thing"/renal probe. For drugs, she's only on Morphine and Milrinone (helps heart function), Tylenol as needed, and some maintenance fluids since she can't be fed yet. Her incision looks bigger this time but not too bad. We just left and she was much more calm and relaxed than earlier. Her uneasiness and pain is due to the increased pressure to her head- basically she has a MAJOR headache. This will be the case for the next few days until her body gets used to the new repair and the way blood flows through her upper body to the heart now. Bryan and I are pretty much exhausted, so we're heading to bed. We're comfortable knowing that Maddie is being watched very closely and is in the best hands. She is absolutely amazing...we're so, so proud.