Happy Heart Day!

OK, one day early.

"Heart Day" is the anniversary of Daniel's Tetrology of Fallot repair surgery. I figure, if you have open heart surgery, you should get to celebrate that day annually. Especially if your surgery takes place before your first birthday. It also just so happens that Daniel's annual visit to see Dr. Charlie Baker, his pediatric cardiologist, usually happens in July. And yes, I am dorky enough to "shoot for" having the checkup on heart day if we can. Dr. B is out tomorrow.

My other odd 'tradition' is that I have a photo of Daniel on the exam table, usually with a stethoscope and sometimes with a doctor (yeah, he sometimes takes the stethoscopes to play with) at every visit. So, above is little Scooter and Dr. B.

Daniel's latest "thing" is to tell us that his heart is blue. We figure it's because his favorite color is blue, and that the most prominent veins you see in your arm and such tend to be blue. Dr. B thought that was interesting and let Daniel know that his heart is now just like everyone else's. Sweet!

There was also a pedatrician doing her cardiac rotation with CHC (Children's Heart Clinic) and she got to listen to Daniel too. Little Daniel is generally a very patient patient. He has had lots of students and other doctors and nurses check him out.

The exam went well. Last year Daniel also was treated to an echocardiogram. They skipped that this year, but will probably do one next year, so Daniel will get to bring his own movie to watch while he has his echo. He doesn't need any special meds or treatments or even observation, which is always what we hope for. He still has a bit of a murmur, but Dr. B wasn't sure if that is the leaky aortic valve which we know Daniel has (he didn't think it was, but it could have been) or a little leftover VSD (ventricular septal defect - hole between ventricles) from the patching (but I thought last year's echo showed that as closed). So, all in all, no surprises! YAY! Oh, and more good news, Daniel is now 36 and ONE EIGHTH inches tall! That has to be taller than when he met Dr. Ainslie (the pediatric endocrinologist), so that makes me happy. Still (technically) just under two inches before he can 'legally' move to a Graco Booster in the car. We won't mention that he sometimes gets to sit in a booster in the Maxima...

Happy Heart Day little Scooter!

Tomorrow we will celebrate with cupcakes at school and maybe even a heart cake at home. We'll see how mommy feels. There is also a movie in the park (hotel for dogs) and activities, but again, we'll see how mommy feels.