Annual Cardiology Tests...

This year Braden's cardiologist wanted to add in another test.  A stress test.  So, we had to spread his testing into three visits.  Otherwise he would have been there all day.

Aug 2, 2013 First he had his echo appointment.

It was a tech we didn't know and it went quickly. It's hard to sit for an hour and not have her be able to tell you anything. He watched the movie and we watched the echo screen. 

8/21/13 A few weeks later we went in for a stress test. It's the first time he's ever done one. He wasn't nervous, I was for some reason. They started with some breathing tests. They were amusing to watch. 

Blood pressure

Getting a resting EKG 

He had to blow like he was blowing out candles, huff and puff and a few others.

Then they got him all fitted in his mask. The blue cuff was his blood pressure, he also had a continuous EKG. The mask sent readout straight to the computer. It was so cool to watch. 

First he started out walking at a slow speed and as the test went on it got faster and faster and the incline went higher and higher. 

He got going pretty fast! The MA had to stand at the back to make sure he didn't go flying off. 

All in all he ran for about 15 minutes. He wasn't tired but his legs were burning. Whose wouldn't be?? The doctor performing the test said he did amazing on it. He said there's a standard for CHD kids and Braden was above "normal" kid standards.

8/29/13 Finally it was time to have his actual appointment with his doctor. He was weighed and had his blood pressure done. He had been doing math homework in the waiting room and when his BP was a little high we blamed it on that. Dr Nowlen was pleased with his test results. He let us read the report from the stress test. Braden tested at 119%. Well, well above normal CHD and "regular" kids. There is still some turbulence in the areas where the repair was done and because of that he will see us again in a year. Every year we hope to go to 2 years in between appointments. Maybe next time. 

I love that we usually end up chatting for a while after the appointment is over. He's been so great with us. Can't believe we hit the 10 year post op anniversary this month! We are so blessed that Braden is doing as well as he is. 

Berkley's Trip to the Cardiologist...

Back in October at Berkley's 6 year well child his pediatrician finished the exam and casually said to me, "He needs to see a cardiologist, he has an irregular heart beat." And left the room.  While he was getting dressed I had a second to process, and was still in denial.  This could NOT be happening again.

As she came back I asked her to repeat what she said, she did and I think I nodded or something. Anyhow, of course on the way home I call Rusty bawling. He did the logical thing, took Berk over to "Dr. Pops" and he listened and thought he could hear something too.  I called the trusty APCC the next day and booked the first available with Braden's doc at the PCH office in Dec.

The day came and we pulled him out of school and headed to Phoenix Children's Hospital to the office there. We had big bro Braden give him the low down on the office, what would happen etc. He wasn't terribly nervous, he was extra excited to get to play his iTouch in the middle of a school day.

 Height and weight.

 EKG- he laid very still for this, thanks to some insightful words from big brother.

 I think it is funny that they do the blood pressure on not just one arm, but both as well as BOTH legs. That's why they are the specialists I guess.

 After trying to get the stickers off himself, he let Daddy help.

 He asked me to take a picture of his "Polka Dots"that he got from taking the stickers off. This was another thing he was warned about from Braden. Pretty cute.

When I scheduled the appointment back in October, I had made the decision to wait to see our regular Dr instead of the first available. That's why it took so long to get it. Anyhow, the night before the appointment the office called and said there was a scheduling conflict and could we please see the NP instead. I flipped my "Mama Bear" switch and said "No, no we cannot!" I am sure you can understand why, but the lady on the phone needed convincing, because he was a new patient with no history there.  When I explained that his older brother had 10 years experience there, she put me on hold for about 10 minutes, and when she came back she said it was fine, they would leave my appointment where it was and with Dr N. So, imagine my surprise when after the EKG, some person I didn't know walked in!

He introduced himself as Dr N's NP, and told us there was a newborn baby with a CHD that they were trying to get a bed for at PCH, and Dr N was the one in charge of intakes that day. Of course, we understood, and he told us we would still see Dr N, it would just be a bit.  Fine by us! After the exam the NP said he didn't hear any abnormal rhythms. The EKG showed a normal rhythm as well. I had been trying not to stress about the whole thing, but you can imagine the weight that was lifted right then. A few minutes later in strolled Dr N, he listened and listened to Berk. He had him sit up, lay down and listened. He concluded the same thing. No irregular heart beat. He said, our PCP very well could have heard something at the time, but since these types of things are "electrical" (vs Braden's which was "structural") sometimes they work themselves out.

Of course, being Dr N, he told us what to watch for in the future. In case it happened again, but he reassured us that currently Berkley's heart was completely normal. We then chatted for about 20 minutes with the NP about Braden. It is always fun to feel like your child is a doctor's favorite patient. So, I am not sure why we had to go through this little trial but we did, and I have to give myself props for not completely losing it every time I thought about what the outcome could have been.  Yipee for healthy hearts.

Cardiology Visit...

Well, our once a year cardio check up came and went without a hitch.  He actually gets excited because he knows he's gonna get some quality Mom and Dad time. The appointments generally last about 3 hours.  After his height and weight (53 inches, 60lbs 4 oz) we did a BP or two, it is usually hight the first one because he is stressing a little. Then we went back for the Echo.  It went well.  I always love the look on the tech's faces if they haven't seen his heart anatomy before.  Its different to say the least.

 Blood Pressure

 Getting his Echo.  He was so still and was watching the tech so closely.  He would count when she was taking a picture but eventually stopped because she took a lot...

Then we went back in the room for an EKG. and waited while the doc reviewed the Echo.  He said everything looks the same.  Still some concern over his Pulmonary Artery. It was stretched during the surgery and now it is having a little bit of turbulence as the blood flows.  It isn't causing him problems so it is just something we watch yearly.  The Doctor remarked that while he was reviewing the echo another doctor came by and remarked, "Oh No, what is wrong with his Mitral valve?" Dr N laughed, and explained that this was the good version of it.  Braden's valve looks like a chunky golf club, where normally it would look like a nice pretty slant.  Hard to explain, but it definitely does NOT look right, but it works right, and that's all we care about!

Next year we scheduled the treadmill EKG. in addition to the usual test just to make sure he is able to continue to play all the sports he wants to.  After asking Braden if he had any questions we chatted about life a little and we were done.

Oh, and of course we had to do our annual Dr./Pt. photo op.We thought it was funny that Dr Nowlen had Braden hold his chart! And cause he's such a cutie, here is a picture from back in 2004.

Ethan's Run 2012...

This was the Third annual Ethan's Run- Hope for Heart Defects.  I love this event because it is such a great way to connect with other local heart families. 

We were super honored that Braden was chosen to be a Mile Marker.He was super excited too. It was sweet to see people recognize him.  He always gets stopped about his shirt and I love that he is getting old enough to answer them himself. 

We were so blessed that a bunch of people wanted to run the 10K on Team Braden. All in all I think we had about 30ish people there. My parents got to come this year too.  We decided to grab a team photo before the runners took off.

Team BRADEN 2012

Then the 10k started and we watched them make the loop and come back by us. That skinny thing in the top left picture is my Kenyan of a husband...

Then we started the fun run.  My parents pushed my stroller so I could wander behind taking pictures and talking to families we know. 

Not long after the fun run ended (actually some finished the 10K before the walkers did!) it was time to start watching for our runners to cross the finish line.  The first handsome guy I saw wearing a green Team Braden shirt happened to be our very own 'heart dad.'  So proud of him, he ran a great race and ended up placing 2nd overall in his age division! 

It was fun watching the other runners come across too.

While they finished the kids enjoyed the bounce houses, face painting and cotton candy!

 Remember last year when I lost my mind and made a bajilion shirts? Well this year I did it again. But I did at least have my fancy Silhouette and their uber cool heat transfer material that made my job a ton easier. Even starting 3 weeks early I was still making shirts up until the night before. Cr-A-Zy me.  I made each of the boys new shirts, new ones for me and Rusty. And for all the 10k runners we did the performance shirts.  also made 5 shirts for 'Team Tempest" and helped make about a dozen for 'Team Zoie'  I think they all turned out awesome. Braden's was my favorite. Hands down. You can't tell but the ones in the lighter green lettering and red hearts are all this fuzzy material. And the black was flat, so they had real texture.

And one last picture of Mr Boss, the littlest Team Braden supporter.

Can't wait for next year!

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness!

I am so so so far behind in my blog.  I know you don't care, but I do.  I have been making about 30 shirts for the upcoming Ethan's Run.  I couldn't NOT at least point out that Feb 7-14th is CHD Awareness week and that FEB 7 was Braden's 9th Post Op Anniversary!  Love our CHD kid and our extended Heart Family! A big thank you goes to all the HEART MOM's who wrote to our governor and had her declare it a state recognized week!

Cardio Visit...

All the usual things happened... Height, weight and Blood Pressure. EKG followed by another BP (cause one nervous little boy had a really high one the first time) and off to the Echo.  Then back to the room for a check-up by our favorite cardiologist Dr. Nowlen.We always spend more time chatting and catching up than doing the actual exam. 

We always have a good few hours while we are there.Braden is so helpful too. He was so funny trying to pull the EKG stickers off. Those suckers are so strong, his skin stretches inches before they let go! Things look so good and we are off the hook for another year! And, because I find it so amusing, here is the latest volume of Braden's chart there.  Seriously, more than four fingers tall?!?

Ethan's Run 2011...

I am so happy that we did this event again this year. It was amazing. We were up and loaded in the car by 7 am and headed to the race. Rusty, Rhonda and a bunch of friends ran the 10k, and we even knew a couple (crazies) people doing the 1/2 Marathon. So many friends of ours came out that day to support us, and the cause, and I am so so so glad. I got to reconnect with other Heart Mom's I met last year, and meet a few new ones. And I learned even more about the support community available for CHD kids as they get older. (Like Braden qualifies to go to a summer camp on Coronado Island for free, cool huh?) Here goes picture overload.

Heading to the event

 The boys met Clifford

 Brenner trying to stay warm.

 This is Heidi, Ethan's Mom. She is amazing. This event raised $10,000 fo CHD families here in AZ.

 Rusty with some of our neighbors and friends Rhonda and Andrea, who all ran the 10k

 Me and one of my closest friends Ami

 Me and fellow Heart Mom (to Angel Jake) Elizabeth. She maes the softest blankets for CHD kids, I have her button on my sidebar.

 More friends who came to run the 10k or just to run the fun run to support us! Steph, Me, Ami and Sheri

 Rusty and Dave waiting for Rusty to start his run.

 Ami and Sean ran the 10k in honor of their nephew Angel Tate.

 The Farnsworth's brought their kids to come support Braden. So nice. Bethea's kids came too!

 These little guys we met at the Zoo. Lincoln has TGA and his brother's heart is fine. Such cute boys. Insisted on walking the whole way. Good job to their Mom and Dad for keeping up with em!

Gabrielle with the boys at the kids zone.

 Team Braden before the Fun Run Started -
Pops, Jill, Ryan, Gabrielle, Nana S, Noni, Me, Jaci, Berk, Braden and Brenner

 Rusty getting into his pace for the 10k. Proud Dad to a CHD Warrior!

 Aunt Rhonda tossing her jacket to the crowd. Gotta love me an action shot.

 Braden running the fun run.

 Rhonda survived the 10k!

Brenner had to fuel up after his walk.

 Braden met another DORV TGA kid, Will. His family lives in our same neighborhood. Small CHD world. (And that is flames painted on B's face fyi)

 Team Braden

Next year I want to make shirts for everyone who comes to walk with us. It was so fun seeing all the different teams. I love that we stood out in our green shirts. Most were in red or white. Plus it made spotting our runners very easy!