Winter=Stress....So Ready for Spring

Since Reagan’s 6^th Birthday, life has been busy.  The day after Reagan’s birthday she was able to go to and participate in Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove in Washington, D.C.  Minnie Mouse’s dad just so happens to work with Rod, and they set it all up for the whole family to go to the show and for Reagan to be in it.  It was a great experience for her and she did great!!  Here is a pic of her debut…..

On stage with Rapunzel and Flynn

Backstage at the Meet 'n Greet

February and March have been busy and stressful.  When Reagan got sick in January and spent 5 days in the hospital with a respiratory illness, her heart cath that was scheduled for Feb. 1 in California had to be postponed until March 1 to allow her time to get better.  She did get better, however, Reagan has some dental work that has been six months trying to schedule.  Back in September at her regular dental exam/cleaning, the dentist found that Reagan had two cavities that needed fillings.  Due to Reagan’s heart condition, she has to have dental work done in an OR with anesthesia in order to be monitored more closely. Our cardiologist (out of Walter Reed) has been trying to arrange this to be done at Children’s National Medical Center in D.C. but to no avail.  Knowing Reagan has this dental work that needs to be done, he did not feel comfortable sending her to California for her cath as it increases risks of infection going to the heart.  I then called and rescheduled her cath, once again, for April 18.  

Last week, the kids had their dental exam/cleaning once again and one of the cavities that needs a filling has gotten worse and now needs a crown.  Thankfully, our dentist was able to arrange a time at Children’s and to arrange anesthesia for the procedure for March 15^th.  Last Friday, we went for Reagan’s pre-op visit at Children’s for them to assess her and the situation to determine if they are comfortable going through with this procedure.  Just a little over a week ago, Reagan finished a 10 day round of antibiotics for some new respiratory thing that crept up on her back in late February.  Due to her having a cough left from this and her lungs still not being at optimal strength, they were leary of whether to go through with it on the 15^th.  Just last night (Wed), I got a call from the Nurse Practitioner who saw Reagan at her pre-op visit and told me they are going to go ahead with her procedure but that they would like her Pulminologist to check her out this Thurs. to make sure her lungs are in a better place than they were last Friday at the pre-op visit.  So………we will go see the Pulminologist on Thurs. (tomorrow) and if she gives us the green light, Reagan will go in Friday for her dental work.  Phew!!!  I never knew cavities and crowns could be this much trouble.  I am praying her lungs continue to improve and that she can get this done on Friday.  I have been so stressed over getting this set-up and worrying about her heart at the same time being overdue for a check-up.  I’ve pulled her in and out of school in an effort to keep her healthy, for heart caths & dental work for some time now, that keep getting re-scheduled.  She is so confused as to whether she is going to school each day or not.  Ready to get this behind us so we can prepare to “stay healthy” for her heart cath on April 18.  

Please pray that if the procedure does happen this Friday, that all will go well as she has to be put to sleep (i.v. & breathing tube placed) for the dental work.  In spite of all her doctor and hospital visits, the sweet angel plays “doctor” with her stuffed animals and babydolls daily.  She gives them “check-ups” and says she’s going to be a doctor one day to help people feel better :-)  **Note: her “check-ups” not only include the normal checking their temp, eyes, ears and throat, etc but she also places stickers all over their chest and tells them she’s doing their echo!!