Day 11 Post Op-Going Home!

Wow. Two weeks to the day we were admitted, Gavin was actually discharged today!
His discharge was almost prolonged a week longer because of the fact that the special blood pressure machine I need at home is not available. The hospital is scouring the country for one for us to rent, but in the meantime, I asked if I could possibly go the pediatrician each day. So that is now the plan! Gavin will need his BP taken twice a day for one to six months, so a daily visit to the doc would not be a realistic plan long term--needless to say I'm grateful insurance had agreed to pay for the special equipment so I can do this at home.

You might wonder why this machine is so hard to come by? Simply because babies just don't usually have blood pressure issues--Children's Hospital only has about 5 patients a year who need one. Even transplant and open heart surgeries have less impact on blood pressure than "coarc" surgeries because it impacts the flow of blood through the arteries so severely.

Gavin is on two blood pressure mediations--five doses total at different times throughout the day. As his kidneys adjust to his fixed aorta and his blood pressure lowers, I will keep the kidney and cardiology docs informed weekly, and his meds will gradually be decreased, so that we don't allow his BP get too low. The significant role I have in this process is a bit humbling!

Coming home was wonderful! Leaving the hospital was an indescribable feeling. I felt like any moment someone would stop me before I could sneak out! I was so grateful that Sister Dickerson and her son dropped by for a visit right when I was discharged--they were so willing to help me load up all my things. I know this was not just a coincidence, but an answer to all the prayers so many of you have offered in our behalf!

Grandma Conway was here the the kids today and they had made a welcome home poster and cake for Gavin and I. I LOVED the bedtime time I had with them this evening. All the kids have been so brave, but I know they've been scared. I know, because I know how scared they were for Mia. Tonight I told Spencer about how when I was a kid, I thought my brother, John, might die. He was VERY sick with scarlet fever. I was an avid reader, and I knew that this used to be deadly. My parents didn't seem to be too afraid, but I still wasn't so sure. I think I quietly shed tears with this nagging fear, and it was really upsetting to see my brother so ill. Needless to say, John made it! Spencer seemed to like this story.

Here are some pictures from earlier in the hospital stay.

Saturday-- Day 1 Post Op

Gavin's first day post-op, Tim and I were at the hospital together. It was great to have each other's support. It was not easy seeing Gavin under so much drugs for so long. He did not open his eyes until 5 p.m.--24 hours after he was wheeled away for surgery. He happened to be in Tim's arms when he opened them, so the first thing he saw was his Dad. It was a big moment for all of us.

Another huge event for that day was getting "extabated" or having his breathing tube removed from his nose. This happened at 2 p.m. It was stressful, because he was congested so they had to suck out his lungs for about 10 minutes, with his body heaving and fighting it. When it was out, he was visibly not getting quite enough oxygen but they quickly put little oxygen lines under his nostrils and he was stable. Nothing alarming to the folks working on him--just difficult for his parents standing by. But at the same time, we knew that he was in reality, in good hands and going to be just fine. Earlier in the day he had the chest/drainage tube removed.
He was slowly starting to get freed from his spagetti mess of lines!

Another event of this day was the fact that was was moved three times in his first day in NICU! This was based on the discharge logistics of other patients. The bonus from these moves was that I've been able to get to know three beautiful HEART babies and their parents--and we have been a support to each other through the good and the sad that we've already seen in the two short days I've been with them in ICU.

Meeting baby Gavin! This is one of the best moments of my life--with each baby I've had--introducing the new baby to their biggest fans-his/her brothers and sisters. And this time was no exception. Spencer, Rachel, Levi and Elizabeth are all so enamored with their precious baby brother.

Elizabeth loves her baby bro, but notice her grip on my fingers. This is all kind of scary for her, too. She knows somehow that things are changing, and that she doesn't have the same access to mommy right now. She is trying really hard to be careful for mommy's bandaids on her tummy--I showed them to her--but it is upsetting for her. She sat beside me on the couch all evening, with a glowing smile, but with tears in her eyes. It about broke my heart! She'll be OK, though!

First Family Photo!

Taking their first peek at his little hands.

WELCOME HOME GAVIN!

Tim and I brought our little guy home from the hospital last night, in the middle of a beautiful, thick snowstorm. The snow was gone by morning, but it made the drive home that much more memorable. Isn't the sign Tim made cute?! I was very impressed.

I was very grateful to have the blanket wrap that Rachel made for Gavin. He was toasty warm all the way home.

All ready to load up and say farewell to the nice nurses at Valley Hospital in Renton.

SOME HOSPITAL HIGHLIGHTS:

Gavin had lots of visitors from friends and family. I do not have pictures of everyone available--Grandma and Grandpa McDonald saw Gavin when he was just a few hours old. My sweet friends Kristin and Jana came, and even Uncle John was able to stop by on his way back from visiting his own wife and daughter in the hospital at Children's where they had to stay a few nights for testing. Hopefully Mimi and Mia are back home again by now!

Aunt Bethy came just in time to help us gather up our things, and get our precious cargo ready to leave the hospital and head for home.

I love this photo of Daddy Tim with his little man. It turns out Gavin is the third of three of our sons to inherit their Dad's olive skin and dark hair. "Tall, dark and handsome" is how we make 'em!

My precious baby.

Love this photo! My sister Anne and I hold our little bundles! Eve and Gavin are just 5 weeks apart! It is fun having a baby the same time as my little sister. I remember when I was newly married, Anne worried that all her older sibs would be done having kids before she got started. I'd say with 5 of us having babies within about a year's time has those worries washed away! :) On Tim's side, all 7 of the children in his family will have had a baby within 15 months of each other. Can you say, hurray for cousins!

I put this photo in for a little perspective--can anybody guess how this guy fit into my belly just a few hours before the photo was taken?

GAVIN THOMAS KOVACS - Our belated Christmas gift!!

We love the name we have given our son. GAVIN was a name that I intially thought of in reference to Christmas--as it ties to the spirit of 'giving'. While he decided to be born in January, we still loved his name, and besides, the Christmas spirit should last all year long! His name also means "White Hawk" and has noble connections to the Knights of the Round Table.

THOMAS is meaningful for us in several ways. It is the name of one of our ancestors on my Grandma Hallmeyer's side, who owned a castle in Ireland centuries ago. Thomas is also the name of our religious leader, our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson--a man whom Tim and I admire and hope our son will be inspired by and feel a special connection to, as he matures into his own personality!

The kids came bringing gifts for their baby brother! Rachel shows him the blanket wrap she sewed for him.