Never a Dull Moment

Exciting news in the Shoemaker house hold yesterday.

David lost two teeth! Though I’m not sure how good of news we should really make this.

The boys got up for school yesterday morning. Ate their banana and peanut butter, got dressed and I put David’s shoes on him, why I was doing that he ate his cereal bar. Why I put Matthew’s shoes on him (it’s faster if I just do it myself, the boys take after their Dad… they are SLOW). Well David went to sit in the blue chair. He says “Mommy my teeth hurt, one is wiggly”. So when I was done with Matthew I got up off the floor and David showed me…

Bottom front two teeth… one was GONE (we are guessing he swallowed it) the other was just hanging there. Well I freaked out just a little because for one we were running late. When I brushed the boys teeth the night before the teeth were fine, he didn’t complain about them being wiggly or anything, as far as I know when he got up they were there. How many times to you check your kids teeth as soon as they wake up? I thought… OMG now we have to make an emergency trip to the dentist.

I called Paul at work, he told me to call in sick and take care of it. Well I calmed down by this time, realized… I’m not calling in sick over a lost baby tooth and waste a sick day… we are going to be late… oh well… I pulled the dangly tooth off and looked at his mouth. Called the dentist… they don’t open until nine. David wants to go to school so that’s what he’s going to do. They are baby teeth anyways. I made a quick call to his teacher to let her know so she wouldn’t see him and wonder what the hell happened to him.

When I called the dentist after they opened she gave me the option of bringing him in or just assumes they were loose and needed to come out. I decided to assume they were loose. Like she said… they are baby teeth no harm done. I made a appointment for a cleaning for the boys in two weeks, they can look at them then.

So after I got home from work, and we talked about it with Paul, what we get out of the boys is that David maybe hit is face on the wall. I don’t remember anything from the night before. David never cried, said his mouth hurt or anything to clue us in as to why all of a sudden two just fell out. We tried to get out of David if the other tooth fell out or he swallowed it but then I vaguely remember when he was eating his banana I heard a crunch sound and thought that was odd but didn’t think much of it because Matthew was talking about something else and David never said “oh my tooth fell out”. So we are just going to take it as he swallowed it, and we are not going to dig it out of his poop.

As for what the hell happened to make it fall out… I give up on that one. We will probably never know and David will just have to be toothless for a while.

All I can say is “There is NEVER a dull moment in my house” and that’s the truth.

David's Heart Defects w/ Pictures

This is a normal heart

Congenital heart defects in children

1 in 100 babies are born with a heart defect.

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

If your child has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, it means he or she was born with a problem in the heart's structure. The news that your child has a congenital heart defect probably made you anxious and worried about your child's immediate and long-term health. But, knowing about your child's congenital heart defect can help you understand his or her condition and what you can expect in the coming months and years.

Some congenital heart defects are simple and don't need treatment. For example, a small hole between heart chambers that closes on its own. Other congenital heart defects in children are more complex and may require several surgeries performed over a period of several years.

Coarctation of the aorta

This is the main one that David still fights.

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Coarctation (ko-ahrk-TAY-shun) of the aorta — or aortic coarctation — is a narrowing of the aorta, the large blood vessel that branches off your heart and delivers oxygen-rich blood to your body. When this occurs, your heart must pump harder to force blood through the narrow part of your aorta.

Coarctation of the aorta is generally present at birth (congenital). Coarctation of the aorta may range from mild to severe, and may not be detected until adulthood, depending on how narrowed the aorta is.

Coarctation of the aorta often occurs along with other heart defects. While treatment for coarctation of the aorta is usually successful, it's a condition that requires careful follow-up through infancy and throughout adulthood.

Atrial septal defect (ASD)

This was fixed at his first surgery

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of your heart. The condition is present from birth (congenital). Smaller atrial septal defects may close on their own during infancy or early childhood.

Large and long-standing atrial septal defects can damage your heart and lungs. An adult who has had an undetected atrial septal defect for decades may have a shortened life span from heart failure or high blood pressure in the lungs. Surgery is often necessary to repair atrial septal defects to prevent complications.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD)

This was fixed at his first surgery

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

A ventricular septal defect (VSD), also called a hole in the heart, is a common heart defect that's present at birth (congenital). The defect involves an opening (hole) in the heart forming between the heart's lower chambers, allowing oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix.

A baby with a small ventricular septal defect may have no problems. A baby with a larger ventricular septal defect or associated heart defects may have a telltale bluish tint to the skin (cyanosis) — due to oxygen-poor blood — often most visible in the lips and fingernails. Ventricular septal defects are sometimes not diagnosed until adulthood.

Fortunately, ventricular septal defect is treatable. Many small ventricular septal defects often close on their own or don't cause problems. Larger ventricular septal defects need surgical repair early in life to prevent complications. Some smaller ventricular septal defects are closed to prevent complications related to their location, such as damage to heart valves. Many people with small ventricular septal defects have normal, productive lives with few related problems.

Aortic valve stenosis

He still has an issue with this one

Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff

Aortic valve stenosis — or aortic stenosis — occurs when the heart's aortic valve narrows. This narrowing prevents the valve from opening fully, which obstructs blood flow from your heart into your aorta and onward to the rest of your body.

When the aortic valve is obstructed, your heart needs to work harder to pump blood to your body. Eventually, this extra work limits the amount of blood it can pump and may weaken your heart muscle, leading to symptoms, such as fatigue and dizziness.

If you have severe aortic valve stenosis, you'll usually need surgery to replace the valve. Left untreated, aortic valve stenosis can lead to serious heart problems.

Mitral valve stenosis

David still has an issue with this but there is no picture.  Look at the Aortic Stenosis picture and the valve just to the left in the blue area.  That's where it is and it would look like the valve in the aortic stenosis picture.

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Mitral valve stenosis — or mitral stenosis — is a condition in which the heart's mitral valve is narrowed (stenotic). This abnormal valve doesn't open properly, blocking blood flow coming into your left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of your heart. Mitral valve stenosis can make you tired and short of breath, among other problems.

The main cause of mitral valve stenosis is an infection called rheumatic fever, which is related to strep infections. Rheumatic fever — now rare in the United States, but still common in developing countries — can scar the mitral valve. Left untreated, mitral valve stenosis can lead to serious heart complications.

Follow Up Appt.

I cannot begin to explain to you the feeling of relief that comes over you when your five year old son’s cardiologist tells you he can resume normal activities and that he doesn’t have to take his Lasix anymore.


For most CHD children that’s something that is not normal. Most parents don’t get to hear that.

But….

WE DID!!!

It’s like a weight has been lifted off my chest and I can breathe.

Make-A-Wish

David has officially made his wish and he wished for a trip to Disney World.  He hasn't been officially granted this wish yet but the chances of it happening are basically 100%.

Our Make a Wish ladies are Valerie and Tara.  They are super nice.  They brought the boys a gift.  David got a Dinosaur that is remote controlled.  It moves, it's eyes light up and it walks.  He is a wee bit afraid of it now that it's out of the box.  Matthew got a Matchbox police station thing. They do love their toys and were so excited.

We filled out a ton of paperwork.  Now we just wait for the official wish to be granted.

1 in 100

This being CHD Awareness week, I had plans on posting stories of CHD on this blog but, my computer is being a retard and not letting me on blogger. I have no idea why. I can get on here on Paul’s computer but not mine. I’ve scanned it for viruses and come up with nothing.

Any who… Reading these stories of CHD makes me realize just how lucky we (David) are. Most of these stories are not as good as David’s. David does have what’s called Shones Complex. It is what it says… its complex. You’d think with something that is ‘complex’ he would have more issues then he does. All these stories, babies were in ICU for a long time, David’s first surgery he was in ICU a week. The 2nd was two days I think, and this last one he was in for less than 24 hours.

These babies/toddlers, here in the hospital for weeks to months. David’s longest stay in the hospital was 15 days. Five days after birth in the NICU, seven days in the PICU, and then three days in general care. He skipped moderate care. Most of the stories I read, that doesn’t happen.

These babies/toddlers come home on numerous medications, on oxygen, with feeding tubes, and stay on them for long periods of time. We came home with Lasix, once a day then taken off the medication shortly after. David should be off his Lasix this time at his one month post opp appointment. No feeding tube, no oxygen, just one medication for a short time.

David does have some developmental delays like most kids with CHD. Though not severe, he will function as a normal person but will always need a little extra help with learning. Some of these kids with CHD are not so lucky. A LOT of them die as a result of CHD. Some have surgery and never recover. Some recover but have such awful lasting problems they die suddenly at home. Some of them require a heart transplant.

This is a BIRTH DEFECT. It is the most common birth defect and kills more children then childhood cancer, yet funding for research is zero compared to cancer. For the record I do NOT have anything against raising money for childhood cancer. It’s a sad and unfortunate thing and I believe we are super close to a cure but CHD needs more funding and research.

Why do I believe CHD is over looked? Because it’s the unseen birth defect. Most children with CHD appear healthy on the outside, other than the oxygen on their nose. They are clothed so you don’t see the scar down their chest, or the rib cage that us bulged up on one side because it didn’t heal back together just quite right. You don’t see the pneumonia that CHD children tend to get in the colder months.

You don’t see the fact that my five year old son is too scared to look at the scar on his chest.

You don’t generally see CHD but ask around, I guarantee you know someone with a CHD.

1 in 100 babies is born with a heart defect. David is 1 in 100.