Wednesday Night

Hello,
Just wanted to give you all an update and let you know what is happening. I am really feeling like Joshua is getting somewhere. Dr Salerno has SUCCEEDED in getting Joshua into the cath lab. He will be going in tomorrow late morning. He is the 3rd case. Dr Jones (whom I have not met) will be doing it. Usually Dr Johnston does Joshua's cath's but he wanted to go on vacation or something. :) Please keep Joshua in your prayers!! This procedure is not without risks but we feel that it is a necessary next step. We are really hoping to determine the reason for the plural effusion. One of the things that they are thinking is a possibility is that there is a narrowing in one of his SVC's. They kind of work as the drain system for the fluid that we usually create and reabsorb around our lungs. If these are narrow, then the thought is that Joshua's body can't absorb the fluid. If this is determined to be the cause then a stint will be placed to open that up. It is one of those bittersweet things. Yes it will "fix" one problem but in turn creates another one. But I will let our Lord handle all that. I am not at a point that I want to worry about it. :-) I am very happy that if nothing is found during the cath....Dr Salerno has actually talked to me about....A PLAN! LOVE IT!! :-)
So, today was a much better day for our Joshua. He slept a lot but then he woke up happy. I gave him a bath and he smells so good. I did get a little water under his PICC line dressing....which in my defense was OPEN, so we are waiting for the IV team to come and redress it. He was talking and he totally discovered his toes! It is so fun to watch him play and do "normal" baby things. I have also been working with him a lot to strengthen his neck and back muscles so he can sit up. He is doing very good with that and really enjoys it. There have been a couple times in the last couple days where he was laying there and then would try and sit up. He can get his head about 4 inches off the bed. He has VERY strong tummy muscles. Must be from holding his legs in the air all the time.
Please pray that all goes well tomorrow. It could be that he has to go back to the ICU. He usually has some issues coming off the ventilator so I will not be shocked. Only once has he come back from the cath lab off the vent. One other time he had arrhythmia's during the procedure, please pray that he does NOT have them again. That was very scary!
Love and blessings,
Leah and Joshua