Best birthday gift ever!

So, crossing our fingers tonight, Ethan is still scheduled to come home tomorrow. Yesterday's echocardiogram did not reveal any new concerns with his heart. His PFO (the opening between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart) continues to be open, though this can still take a couple of months to close off, apparently. He passed his car seat test tonight (he has to sit in his car seat for 90 minutes while maintaining adequate oxygen levels and such before coming home to us) and has been Brady-free! We are so excited to have our boy home, tomorrow on my birthday.

Unfortunately I (Doug) am typing this blog because Heather is not feeling well. She believes that she is getting Mastitis on the right side. She is really sore and started feeling very nauseous tonight. She felt sick enough that she worried she would be able to come to the hospital tomorrow. We are hoping to take Sydney with us so that a photographer that rounds the hospital can photograph them together. We can't bring her into the special care, so one of us will have to wait with her in the lobby or something. Hopefully Heather is feeling better to come.

This afternoon Heather met with Annie to get help in feeding Ethan. He has been fed by the bottle too frequently and wants instant gratification, so he is not patient when he nurses and can become very agitated. Heather said this was really helpful and that he did a much better job nursing with her help.

Though most will never see this, Heather and I want to say a big thank you to the doctors, nurses, and techs that have helped care for Ethan and Sydney at Timpanogos Hospital. Though we have had some frustrations, overall they have received excellent care and we have also made some dear friends after 8 weeks. The nurses have been especially sensitive to Ethan's needs since being left alone and it has made a BIG difference for him. Thank you, thank you.