update from me-we are all home for now

for those who have been following all my twin dramas here is an update while i have a spare half hour!

so far this is what has happened.......

carolines official cardiac diagnoses are-
1- critical pulmonary stenosis,
2- midly dysplastic right ventricle,
3- moderate hypoplastic right ventricle and tricuspid valve.

cardiac operations
1- cardiac catheterisation with pulmonary valve dilation, 11-4-08 (didnt work)-5.5 hour op
2- right modified BT shunt, 22-4-08 (didnt work)- 6 hour op
3- central aorta to mpa shunt, 23-4-08 (worked)-6 hour op.

non cardiac diagnoses
balanced pericentric inversion involving one homologue of chromosome 1( i dont really have an understanding of that as i havent met with the genetics people yet)

transferred out of nicu to ward 23b in starship on the 16-4-08 and after her first shunt she was put into picu and she stayed in picu until the 28th then was transferred back to 23b and then we finally came home on tuesday night and we have been super busy since then.

caroline at this stage is doing great. i have a set of scales and and o2 moniter at home as i have to weigh her twice a week and take her saturations too. i met with the homecare nurses and a whole lot of other people at waikato yesterday and she also had her stitches taken out. she is gaining weight as she should and feeding like there is no tomorrow!! i have some sort of feeding routine for feeding the twins. i tried feeding both at the same time the other night but it just didnt feel right!we will be back in auckland in amonths time for her to be reviewed and checked over there and discuss the next step as there are several options as the what the cardiac team will do next but it all depends on how her heart grows.she will need at least one more operation within the next 4-5 months.

if anyone wants to keep following our journey with her i am going to set up an online diary and i will post the link back here.

awesome! i'm glad you are all home and caroline is doing well after such a rough start, long may it continue

WOw I didnt even know you had had the girls either. Congratulations and Im glad to hear you are all home safetly. GLad Caroline is doing well too

I didn't know either, glad to hear you are all home and it sounds as though Caroline is thriving. Congratulations

Yay that is so good she and you all are finally home.

Wow didn't know either! Congrats anyway! Sounds like Caroline's doing well. Hope you're doing well too

Congrats and I hope all goes well

Yay Hollie, glad to hear you guys are all home, and that Caroline is doing well! Sorry I haven't been in touch earlier, I did know you'd had the girls coz I'd seen your updates in April babies, but have been so busy, and sounds like you have been even busier. Am hoping to make a trip to Hamilton when I go on leave in a few weeks so will have to try and come and visit!

http://www.bebo.com/holz-dreano i have started an online blog on my bebo page for caroline.