Hello from NICU Seattle. This is Henry's dad. Debbie had a good day, she flew back to Spokane for a few hours to play with George and fly back with Emily. So dad got to spend the day with Henry. He is amazing. There are wonderful moments where everything feels like your sitting on the couch and holding your son. Henry had a good day. He had really good numbers this last hour. We are counting down the time before he goes to surgery. We have not gotten a lot of details of the day but on Monday we get to start talking to the actual sureons.

Henry had his eyes open for a long time today. He cries here and there and it is nice to hear. He has already decided its a good thing to suck on his hands. I got to hold him for a very long time today and it felt great. Henry got music in his room and now I am trying to remember lyrics to all these childrens songs. We are slowly converting this ICU room into a nice boy cave. Henry is very excited for mother and sister to get here.

The nitty gritty of whats going on today is: Last night they tried to wean Henry off of PGE1 because if best for his surgery but it is also keeping things open so he gets fresh blood back and forth across his lungs. He went for about 6 hours before his O2 Sats dropped enough that they started the PGE treatment again. He is back on it currently which makes him cranky, feverish, and a little slower to take breaths. He is being monitored well though and the PGE is best for his heart and body at this time. Henry is recieving his nourishment through IV right now and to keep his blood requirements lower will probably not take on digested food/milk until after his surgery. Henry has a good balance of sleep and awake time. He responds very well to stimulation. There is direct responces of his numbers when he is being talked to or held. Henry recieved a main line PIK IV today that will last him through his Surgery. Its a much more stable and reliable IV. He also recieved another chest X-ray to check on a little congestion in his right lung. Everything looked fine. It is most likley due to so much laying down and all the fluids he is getting. He gets lots of CPT with a Respitory therapist every day and really likes it. Let me tell you Henry looks amazing and healthy. It feels like you should be able to pick him up and head down the hall he looks so good.

We are very fortunate and everyone needs to keep in their minds and hearts that this is something fixable. I met a lady here this morning that has had a son here for three years off and on waiting for a small intestine miricle. Yesterday her son recieved a transplant and he is doing amazing today. This can be the happiest and scariest place on earth.

I want to say a few things to those of you reading this. Thank you from the bottom of my family's heart to all of you for caring, supporting, praying, and all that you have done. This process is amazing and scary and makes me realizes the important connections that we have surrounding us at all times. From family to friends, thank you for everything you have done. I know we are just getting started but the support has been so incredible. I will post a few pictures next.

I better stop rambling. Thank you again. We will post more and often. Please feel free to leave messages on the blog or questions on the blog or email us.