(I found Natalie all curled up on the couch one day-during her recent illness)Two weeks can take a really long time when you're waiting for a phone call.
Natalie had a cardiology appointment on the 16th of May. I've not been able to put into words a post since then. I didn't realize how stressed I was about her next cardiology appointment until I asked for prayer in church for the appointment and broke down crying. It all came to a head. I try not to dwell on the inevitable, but as a parent I can't deny that my third daughter is a miracle walking and living on borrowed time. Usually I'm right on top of making appointments for Natalie and don't waste any time. But this time I waited...I even got a reminder in the mail...and a phone call. I was just dragging my feet. Maybe it was my subconscious saying that there would be big things discussed at this doctor's appointment. I don't know. But I was dreading it. Outward symptoms were telling me that Natalie was ready for something more than just a doctor's appointment in Achorage.
"Well, I have an idea..." Dr. Brauner said as he put down the pulse-oximeter and thumbed through Natalie's chart. "I think it's time for Natalie to take a trip to Seattle for a cath. She hasn't had one since her Glen surgery, right?" Nope, Nattie's done great since then. Though other children her age have already finished their Fontan or are scheduled for it, Natalie continues to hang below 30 pounds. She just hit 29 at Dr. B's office. At home, she's been in the middle of 28 for a long time. But what has concerned me the most is how much Natalie has lost her reserve. She's always lagging behind. She asks to be held or carried and anything that taxes her system gets her breathing really hard and her color changes. She flat doesn't have much reserve. In the doctor's office, her sats were anywhere from the upper 60's to low 80's (the last one that they took after she had been sitting there for 10 minutes). So I'm guessing that when she's active, Natalie's sats can go down into the 60's pretty fast. Anyway, we are waiting for a call from Seattle Children's to schedule a heart cath this summer. I'd like to get it done and overwith. If they can tune her up and get her functioning a little better so she can wait for her Fontan surgery until she is 33 pounds, then hopefully she can be a little more active this summer.
After we got back from Anchorage, both Craig and Natalie got sick. Both wanted to be held all the time and Natalie had fever for three days straight. (I didn't get much done around the house.) This illness just confirmed that it takes Natalie a little more effort to get over things. She looked terrible when she had fever. I didn't have to even feel her little forehead, I could just look at her and tell. Maybe that's why two weeks have taken so long. Either way, I'm pushing for a cath sooner than later in hopes that my girl can find some relief.
