Friday, February 27, 2009
Mending Hearts on WAFB
The 30 minute special on WAFB was very good. It brought tears to my eyes several times. I will be aired again on WAFB on March 7 at 6:30 pm. I will also be on the repeat channel several times. If you don't live in the area, you can watch it online. Go to www.wafb.com and click on "mending hearts" about halfway down the wafb home page.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
WAFB Heart Segment
Thursday, February 26th at 6:30 pm WAFB will be airing a 30 minute special on our Congenital Heart Defect kids. The feature will include interviews with the three cardiologists, three families (The Bourgeois, Marionneaux & King families), the Jindals and will also include pictures from the gathering at the Governor's Mansion. Be sure you record it so you don't miss it.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Carter's Crazy Hair
Daddy's up to his tricks again! Jason bathed Carter the other night and spiked his hair. The next day I tried to comb it and it wouldn't go flat. So he went the day with his hair sticking straight up. I have to admit, it is cute. I started combing it that way since!
Just call me Spike!
My hands are up...Don't Shoot!
Just call me Spike!
My hands are up...Don't Shoot!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Cardiology Check Up
Yesterday, the kids (it sounds so weird to say that) and I had our cardiology appts with Dr. Hixon. Hannah was such a big girl going first to show Carter how to do it. She did not cry at all and was very eager to go with the staff to the treasure chest. How much she has grown in the past 3 weeks. It is so good to see, yet so sad too. I want my baby back!
Anyway, Carter's visit was pre-planned. We had discussed this with Dr. Hixon while I was pregnant. We would give it a couple of weeks and wait for the PDA to close. At that point, we would see if there was anything that was undetected while in-utero (such as co-arctation of the aorta, like I had). We were also told at delivery that Carter had a murmur. We were never worried because we had seen for our very own eyes all 4 chambers of his heart and a beautiful Aortic Arch. We knew if there was something wrong, we could handle it. To be cautious, Dr. Brumund had come by on the day of delivery to listen for himself. He even brought Jackie in case we wanted to do an ultrasound. He felt confident it was nothing to be concerned about and we agreed. By discharge, Dr. Flechas no longer heard the murmur.
So back to yesterday's visit. Carter has a beautiful healthy heart!!! Thank God for answered prayers. He will no longer need to see Dr. Hixon!!
Hannah's 3 month check up went well. Her sats were 93-94%, which is great for her! Her fenestration is still open, and right now that is fine. We don't need to see Dr. Hixon again for 6 months!! We will just watch her over the next few years to see if the fenestration closes on its own and to watch if her sats begin to drop. The fenestration will eventually need to be closed, but right now she is fine with it open. This is something that can be done in the cath lab, not open heart surgery. So it would only mean a quick trip to Boston. However, there is no definite/perfect timing for it. Hannah will let us know when it is time. So HURRAY for Hannah's check up.
As for my heart, I am also fine. There is something different about my Aortic Valve in that it acts like it is Bicuspid (2 leaflets) instead of Tricuspid (3 leaflets). Right now it is not of any concern as my blood pressures are great and there is no narrowing of the aorta noted. However, Dr. Hixon does hear a murmur because of the way the valve is opening. Also, after speaking with Dr. Breitbart, the concern for me as I age is the build up of plaque around the surgical site. However, I am still young and that shouldn't be a threat right now. I will have to be mindful of my cholesterol as I get older, especially since I have a family history of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. He wants me to repeat the heart MRI (I had this done just prior to Hannah's birth) in 1-2 years and then every 5 years thereafter just to keep an eye on these two areas. It's weird, because I have ALWAYS dismissed my heart defect as no big deal, I'm fine, I've been fixed. But the truth of the matter is that there is no real evidence or research on the matter. Open heart surgery for CHDs is not that old. It has been 26 years since my surgery. Only recently has there been a big push for treating Adult Congenital Heart Defects. Until I became pregnant for Hannah, I hadn't been seen in over 10 years. It's very interesting.
Anyway, great news all around! We are all doing well and are enjoying our new addition (and his healthy heart).
Anyway, Carter's visit was pre-planned. We had discussed this with Dr. Hixon while I was pregnant. We would give it a couple of weeks and wait for the PDA to close. At that point, we would see if there was anything that was undetected while in-utero (such as co-arctation of the aorta, like I had). We were also told at delivery that Carter had a murmur. We were never worried because we had seen for our very own eyes all 4 chambers of his heart and a beautiful Aortic Arch. We knew if there was something wrong, we could handle it. To be cautious, Dr. Brumund had come by on the day of delivery to listen for himself. He even brought Jackie in case we wanted to do an ultrasound. He felt confident it was nothing to be concerned about and we agreed. By discharge, Dr. Flechas no longer heard the murmur.
So back to yesterday's visit. Carter has a beautiful healthy heart!!! Thank God for answered prayers. He will no longer need to see Dr. Hixon!!
Hannah's 3 month check up went well. Her sats were 93-94%, which is great for her! Her fenestration is still open, and right now that is fine. We don't need to see Dr. Hixon again for 6 months!! We will just watch her over the next few years to see if the fenestration closes on its own and to watch if her sats begin to drop. The fenestration will eventually need to be closed, but right now she is fine with it open. This is something that can be done in the cath lab, not open heart surgery. So it would only mean a quick trip to Boston. However, there is no definite/perfect timing for it. Hannah will let us know when it is time. So HURRAY for Hannah's check up.
As for my heart, I am also fine. There is something different about my Aortic Valve in that it acts like it is Bicuspid (2 leaflets) instead of Tricuspid (3 leaflets). Right now it is not of any concern as my blood pressures are great and there is no narrowing of the aorta noted. However, Dr. Hixon does hear a murmur because of the way the valve is opening. Also, after speaking with Dr. Breitbart, the concern for me as I age is the build up of plaque around the surgical site. However, I am still young and that shouldn't be a threat right now. I will have to be mindful of my cholesterol as I get older, especially since I have a family history of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. He wants me to repeat the heart MRI (I had this done just prior to Hannah's birth) in 1-2 years and then every 5 years thereafter just to keep an eye on these two areas. It's weird, because I have ALWAYS dismissed my heart defect as no big deal, I'm fine, I've been fixed. But the truth of the matter is that there is no real evidence or research on the matter. Open heart surgery for CHDs is not that old. It has been 26 years since my surgery. Only recently has there been a big push for treating Adult Congenital Heart Defects. Until I became pregnant for Hannah, I hadn't been seen in over 10 years. It's very interesting.
Anyway, great news all around! We are all doing well and are enjoying our new addition (and his healthy heart).
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Random Moments in the Englert Lives
Hannah the Pirate
Welcome Baby Carter...Thanks Aunt Ally & Uncle Johnny for the sign
Look Carter...this is how you make it work
Reading to my babies
Mama's Boy outfit
Hannah wants to help pump milk for baby
The Pee-Pee TeePee for the Sprinkling Wee Wee (this is hysterical)
The Pee-Pee TeePee in use
Visit with Friends...
Saturday we had friends over for dinner and a visit. The Babins, who now live near Houston, The Skupiens & The Roans all came over. We had 8 adults and 7 kiddos here. It was fun. Katie, Kari & Jason said it reminded them of when they were little and their parents would get together for visits. How nice to continue that tradition with the next generation. I couldn't help but be reminded of when Mrs. Lou, Mrs. Betty, Mrs. Gwen & Aunt Rosie would come over to mom's house and of course Bianca & Ashley would come over too. I only wish Bianca and I lived closer so that we too could let our kids grow up together as we did.
Here is a picture of the gang.
Eric, Kari & Noah
Jeremy, Katie & Molly Kate (what's in your nose Molly Kate?)
Jason, Sarah, Nate, Caroline & Sam
Jason, Denyse, Carter & Hannah
Here is a picture of the gang.
Eric, Kari & Noah
Jeremy, Katie & Molly Kate (what's in your nose Molly Kate?)
Jason, Sarah, Nate, Caroline & Sam
Jason, Denyse, Carter & Hannah
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
He's growing...
We had a pediatrician appt today. Carter not only has regained his weight, but has surpassed it by 8 1/2 ounces. Carter was born 13 days ago weighing 7 pounds 2.9 ounces. Today he weighs 7 pounds 11.5 ounces. Wooo Hooo! A baby that eats well and gains weight! Oh, while on the scale at the MD's office, Carter decided he need to tee-tee. We were weighing him without a diaper. All of a sudden there was this fountain of pee all over the office. We all manage to get out of the way, but the office was covered. It was hysterical. We've never had to worry about that with Hannah!
Hannah still loves "her" baby and loves to "help". I can't wait to be able to give him a real bath and let her help with it. She'll love it.
Also, on Feb. 26 on WAFB there will be a 30 min segment on the pediatric cardiologists, the LPCF and the Governor's family. It will run on WAFB's replay channel throughout March.
Here are some pics of the two of them.
Hannah still loves "her" baby and loves to "help". I can't wait to be able to give him a real bath and let her help with it. She'll love it.
Also, on Feb. 26 on WAFB there will be a 30 min segment on the pediatric cardiologists, the LPCF and the Governor's family. It will run on WAFB's replay channel throughout March.
Here are some pics of the two of them.
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Monday, February 9, 2009
Hannah Dances at the Jupiter Parade...
Here is a video of Hannah dancing at the Jupiter Parade Saturday in Baton Rouge. I wish I could have been there in person to see her. She is hysterical! Hope you enjoy.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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