It's been a week!

It has been one week since Benny underwent major heart surgery but it seems like it's been longer. He just looks so great. He got his steri-strips removed today (the butterfly stitches covering his battle wound). They also removed one of the IVs from his foot. He's not on any medications anymore either!

When I went in to see him today he was sucking on his paci which is great news because it means that he's starting to get the sucking again and that will help with his feedings hopefully! He saw the Occupational Therapist and the Physical Therapist today and both visits went well. We will be working more with the physical therapy after he comes home because he has a tendency to clench his hands tight just about all the time. He tucks his thumbs under his fingers and just clenches and while many newborns react sometimes like this, it's not constant, like Benny. He is also a bit jittery, especially when he's touched. They're not sure why he does this; it could be a little withdraw from meds, reaction to some pain he might be feeling, or something neurological. They'll follow him and if it continues they might do an MRI, but we're waiting to see. All in all, he's doing well! They might be taking out his thoracic line over the weekend (the main IV line running straight into his heart, and the primary reason why we can't hold him!). We'll let you know if they do.