Friday, March 28th

We received some good news this morning!  While we were in the hospital with Matthew, someone from their financial department helped us apply for federal aid for him.  She said the application would be processed faster through her, and would have a better chance of being accepted since they would have access to his medical [...]

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Back Home!

Matthew continues to do well and was discharged home today. He will require Nasogastric tube feeds for the next month in order to fatten him up to get ready for his next heart surgery. That surgery is scheduled for May 7th so we have [...]

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Just another day in the hospital.

The wet diaper finally came around 2:00am! 
Matthew has been doing really well today.  He hasn’t had any more pain, and he’s been happy and playful all day.  Now, we’re just working on getting him nice and hydrated, and getting all the calories he needs in him.  He eats every 2 hours, and anything he [...]

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Rough night, Tough day

We are back in the hospital with Matthew today.
After we were discharged yesterday, he did well for a couple hours, then started to not eat very well.  During the evening and all through the night, he would get very uncomfortable and cry with pain in his belly.  He was eating very minimal amounts, and we [...]

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Discharged!

We are out of the hospital, and doing well.  It feels so good to have our family all together again!  We will probably take a day to re-group and relax here at Aaron’s parents’ house, then head back to Yakima on Wednesday.  Aaron has the rest of this week off, then has to start an [...]

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Going Home

Matthew did great overnight – he’s eating very well, and it really sounds like they are going to discharge us from the hospital today!
Our family portraits are available to see online now at Holly Perona’s website (click the link to the right).  Click “photography,” then under “client area” enter password: vawterfamily.  She has an amazing talent, [...]

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Holding Steady

Happy Easter!
Matthew has held his own today, but has had a little trouble keeping food down.  He doesn’t tolerate any medications by mouth – even tylenol – makes him thow up.  We just have to try to get enough nutrition in him so that he can be strong enough to go home with us. 
We’re getting [...]

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More Progress

Matthew has continued to improve steadily, and we may even be discharged from the hospital Monday or Tuesday! 
He is keeping his oxygen levels up by himself, and he was taken off the oxygen early this afternoon.  It’s great to not have any tubing on his face anymore, and we can let him use his hands [...]

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Progress

Matthew continues to recover remarkably well. He was moved out of the Pediatric ICU late this morning, and is now in an intermediate-care room on the pediatric floor. He has been quite awake and alert today, and he even gave us some smiles and one little giggle this evening.
Goals for today were to [...]

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Healthiest Baby in PICU

Amy said that Matthew is the healthiest baby in the pediatric ICU this morning. He no longer needs oxygen and all of the tubes will be off of his face soon. He should be moved into a regular room today — his recovery is going more quickly than we anticipated.

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