Chuck E Cheese, here we come...

Today has been a good day.

Today, we took Brigid to the cardiologist and received the best news we could have received, just short of hearing that the hole in her heart was completely closed. Yes, it’s still there (which we knew, since the pulmonologist could still hear a murmur last week), but the defect in the heart wall, which was 4.5mm in November, has shrunk to 2.5mm, and the hole itself is down to 1mm. The doctor said we’re past the peak point when symptoms of respiratory distress (caused by too much blood flowing through the hole from her heart into her lungs) would have presented themselves, and even if the hole doesn’t close completely anytime soon, we’re most likely not looking at a surgical correction, since the hole itself isn’t really a problem as long as everything else comes back clear. She’ll probably go back once a year, unless the hole closes completely, to make sure the aorta isn’t weakening or that one chamber of the heart doesn’t become enlarged, (both of which can sometimes occur over time if the blood flow through the hole causes too much pressure to build up on one side of the heart), but other than that, we can treat her like a normal baby going forward.

So what does this mean, you ask?

It means her days of complete seclusion are over! She’s finally allowed to be around people! Well, within reason, of course. I mean, if I can tell you’re sick, you’re still not coming anywhere near my baby, but she’s been given the ok to be in public from time to time. All of those clothes she’s been given? They will actually be seen by somebody other than me. That stroller frame that mommy got for indoor errands (as opposed to the 45 pound off-road stroller that daddy uses, but mommy can barely lift)? It can actually be put to use now. We can have people over to the house without being utterly paranoid that they’re harboring some disease that just isn’t showing itself yet. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is still expected to bathe in hand sanitizer the minute they walk in the door, but that has more to do with me being crazy than anything else. I will still do the best I can to keep her from getting sick, but if it does happen (and I know, it’s going to happen), we don’t have to be as worried now that it could develop into something life threatening. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. And that, my friends, is a fantastic feeling.

Needless to say, when we head in next week for Brigid’s four month vaccination visit, I will be double checking with the pediatrician, because I am all about second opinions. And I don’t plan on heading straight out to Target or Publix with her this very minute, because I am not ready to tempt fate just quite yet. But a dinner out? That might be an option now, and that’s pretty good news to me.

Plus, when I finally lose the rest of this baby weight, Brigid and I are totally hitting the mall. I need to start the girl off right, after all…


Side note: The kid weighed in at 14lbs, 4oz today. That’s an eight ounce gain in one week. Holy crap. Forget doubling her weight at six months, she’s going to pretty much be there by four. And honestly, I’m pretty sure it’s all going straight to those cheeks…