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We are settled in on 8 East. We are actually back in the first room that started our journey here, room 833. Sam has been asleep since we before we moved up here. The plan is for him to rest tonight, we will have to get an X-ray and blood work later. I am hoping he is a little happier when he wakes up because he can actually get up now. When he woke up after his cath he had to lay flat and he wasn't too happy about that. He also didn't like the iv in his hand, and hasn't figured out for sure about the one in his neck. He kept asking what was on his ear, and I told him it was an iv, but not sure if he understood. He just kept saying something about "those people" put all that stuff on him. :) He did really well and I am so proud of how he handles everything. When he had a question I would answer/explain, and most of the time he would say, ok. I can't wait until he wakes up and we can wipe him off, put some clothes on him, and change his bedding. There is Popsicle juice everywhere from earlier! We haven't talked to the surgeon yet, but we met with dr Marx after the cath and he thinks it is time to replace the valve. I will let you know when we have a definite answer from the surgeon and a time for surgery on Wednesday. Thank you for your prayers, they were felt all day long! 

Sam enjoying his Popsicle

Feels good to be "home"

We have had another long and tiring day, but Sam has been a trooper through it all. We started with a rough night. Sam kept waking up and crying, for some reason (not sure if it is the air or heat air unit or just something in the room) he has a runny nose and dry/scratchy throat. I kind of wake up with my throat hurting, but it gets better. Hard for him to handle that, plus that his nose is sore and running all the time now. We got him some Zyrtec, lotion tissues, saline, and a Vicks vapor rub plug in hoping it will help the situation.

We had to be at the hospital at 7am. We meet in a clinic room and they send us to different locations for testing throughout the day, always returning to the same clinic room. Sam did an EKG, vitals, met with np, blood work (first time EVER he didn't cry during blood work. They used numbing cream and he trusted us that it wouldn't hurt, that was awesome!!), met with a fellow, echo, and met with his cardiologist Dr. Marx. He says that we will have to wait and see what the cath shows Monday before we know for sure what we need to do in surgery and if we need to do surgery. It may even be Tuesday before we know anything because we know Dr. Del Nido has surgery Monday and may not get to look at Sam's case until that night. 

We also made a trip up to our old stomping ground 8 East to visit our nurse and np friends. They are definitely more like family to us, and it was obvious today that the feeling is mutual. They were all so happy to see him and couldn't believe how big he is and how good he looks! It is crazy to say but it makes you feel at home there, to see all those familiar loving faces gives you such peace. For a lot of his life this place has been our "home" and we are grateful to be back were everyone knows him and he knows everyone. Makes for a much easier trip considering the circumstances. 

Here are some pics of our day:

Lots of waiting today...

Getting an xray

Watching the awesome train!

Back at the hotel keeping busy.