Our first week

Ty is now 9 days old. 

I am still pinching myself and knocking on wood everytime I comment on what a good baby he is. The differences between him and Mav are like night and day. 

Our first week has consisted of two follow ups and rounds of blood work for Ty to monitor his jaundice. On day 4 his levels came back right at the limit barely escaping a hospital admission and phototherapy. When we went back at day 6 he had gained 1.5oz and bloodwork showed a small improvement so we've been free to monitor it from home. 

On day 7 I woke not feeling very well. My chest felt heavy and it was like I couldn't take a deep breath without something hurting deep inside. I have had a lot of swelling since giving birth, way worse than when I was pregnant. And my left leg was pretty bad so when my mom arrived for the day Ty and I were ready at the door waiting. I had her take me to the ER to be assessed. In the back of my head I worried about a blood clot, but I mainly felt like they were going to just send me home. 

Well that's not what happened at all. At triage they discovered my heart rate was way too low and in the 30's. I was rushed into the back where I was hooked up to an ECG machine and had al ultrasound done on my heart looking for the suspected clot. After an injection of blood thinner and a cat scan of my lungs they determined there was no clot after all, but what they did find was a cyst on my lung which was located right beside my heart. 

Over the next 48 hours (I was admitted onto the cardiac floor) they discovered fluid around my lungs (pleural effusion) and a heart murmur. The cyst measures 5x5x2cm. More ultrasounds and a chest x ray ruled out more serious diagnosis but no actual cause for my heart rate was determined. It was decided that I had the cyst previously undetected, and labour caused stress on my body which in turn caused the fluid and low heart rate. No real answers but a theory. I will have to follow up in a month to assess the cyst and check to see if the fluid has been absorbed or not. They won't drain anything unless it worsens because of the high risk of infection. 

This whole time Ty was at my bedside as I am breastfeeding. He was absolutely perfect, my mom stayed as well bc another adult had to be there to be responsible for him in case something happened with me. I remember holding him and through all the other emotions feeling so blessed that he was such a good baby. If it wasn't for him being the talk of the floor no one would have known he was there. I think every nurse and worker came to say hi. 

It feels good to be home again, and sleeping in my own bed. Home with my family where I can hold and kiss both my boys. I'm still feeling a little off, and very nervous for the future. I broke down in the hospital just sobbing at the possible thought of not being there for my boys. And while the immediate risk is gone the mystery of what happened remains and is on my mind. But for now all I can do is wait it out and go back if something concerning happens. 

Now to turn this post back around I will leave it with some pictures of our week. 

<3 <3