Packin' the fun times..

(Preface: Jack's Dr. told us they would be calling monday for the echo date, and the surgery date. So please stay tuned for those announcements.)

About two weeks ago, Jack and I visited Griffith Park a couple of times. It is a very large park, like Liberty Park, that has lots of places to do fun things. (Only much bigger.)

Jack and I went to the Train Museum, where he almost jumped out the window of a train. The train cars are old, and non-functioning, and people can wander about them with little to no restriction of where they can go. So Jack had a super time, and finished it off with a train ride around the museum.

Then, on another day we visited the LA Zoo. It is a very nice Zoo, but kind of confusing and hard to navigate. So we just followed the signs with animals and arrows, and we did end up seeing some fun things. It was raining a little, but still a nice day. (To see the animals MUCH BETTER, click on them, and you'll get up close and personal.)

(Jack took this himself)

(Kind of a rough day for the gorilla..)

(Twins..)

Act II

So Dr. Su (Cardiologist) spoke with Dr. Kouretas (surgeon) ... TWICE, just to make sure- and we are a go for surgery. Though Dr. Kouretas would like Jack to be bigger, Dr. Su pointed out that if we wait till Jack is of "optimum weight" he will be 7 years old. So Dr. K said that he feels comfortable putting in the 18 gauge, versus the 20 gauge- which is the size of choice, so as Jack grows, there will be a good flow of oxygenated blood. So though we will most likely be putting in the 18, Dr. Su says that he has many many patients that have had an 18 put in that have not needed to come back for an upgrade.

If, for some reason Jack DOES become some, huge adult (by some anti-genetic miracle), then the risk of having another surgery to upgrade the 18 to the 20 is just the same as the surgery he is about to have, but as Dr. Su said, "the more times you open the chest, the riskier it gets."

SO, we are hoping that the 18 will be perfect for Jack, and last him his whole, long life. I also asked Dr. Su about the distant future, and what he projects, and he said he can't really predict the long-term outcome, but that Jack won't necessarily be one of those 50 year-olds carrying around an oxygen tank. He also agrees with me that Jack is one of the better candidates for this surgery, as his half-heart is very strong.

So now, we are scheduling a SEDATED echo, (because there is no chance in the world Jack would hold still enough for an awake one..) which will be next week, and tomorrow the surgical nurse will be calling us to set a date for surgery. I anticipate that it will be middle to the end of March, but I will certainly let you all know when we find out.

Visit to Dr. Soup

Today we went to Primary's to see Dr. Su. Jack was pretty good for him, I can't really say the same for the poor nurse. Taking Jack's blood pressure is like pulling teeth. Heaven forbid we wrap a peice of fabric around his arm. I won't even mention the O2 sats thing we attached to his toe for a minute that sent him over the top.

All drama aside- Jack looks great, I think he is doing as well as a kid with a single-ventricle heart could BE doing. Dr. Su said he looks ready to go for surgery and will be putting in a request to Jack's surgeon Dr. Kouretis, to schedule Jack's FINAL surgery. It could be as soon as a couple of weeks, but it all depends on how the surgeons feel he is doing and whether or not he'll need another cath (please......no.....)..

So stay tuned, we should hear in a couple of days when the date will be. And I really think....this is it this time folks.

Legoland

The first Legoland was built in Denmark in 1968.

Now that the educational part is over, let's talk about how GREAT Legoland is for wee little kids such as Jack. They have many wonderful toddler rides that go up and down, and side to side, sometimes spinning while doing either of those; it isn't good for motion-sick people.

My personal toddler attraction of choice, was the Driving school, where our children ages 3-6 got to operate and drive their own vehicle, by themselves, in attempt to drive in a looped track and get their "drivers license." It goes as follows.

Kid and parent go through the gate and choose a car.

Kid gets buckled in car, parent leaves to stand behind gate.

Attendant pushes button that makes gas pedals work.

12 cars start swirving around and 60% of them immediately hit something (be it the wall, another car, or attendant.)

ONE attendant goes from stuck car, to stuck car, freeing the vehicle.

3 seconds laters all cars that were once free, are stuck again, and await the attendant.

Parents sit behind gate and laugh.

Attendant continues her way around the loop, freeing stuck vehicles and avoiding the "good" drivers. (All the 6 year olds.)

Attendant pushes a big button, everyone stops, and we all clap as she passes out each drivers license to the undeserving drivers.


MAN. It was funny. But Jack thouroughly enjoyed each ride. He did a really good job waiting in line (though there weren't ever any really long lines..)
I highly suggest paying a visit.

Universal

Universal Studios is about 2 minutes away from us, and we have yearly passes, so we couldn't exactly come here without hitting this place. Jack got to see his favorite friends, Dora and Deigo. You could tell he was really confused as to why they were so BIG. Josh got to chill with Matt, who also seemed bigger that he was supposed to be. And I hung out with the British soldier. Also big. But just because I'm small.

But the ultimate climax of the day was this ridiculous BALL WORLD in the Curious George section, that was a multi-level, netted recreational area full of foam balls that could be shot out of canons, guns, vacuums, and Jack's ball machine of preference, the EXPLODER. You fill the base with balls, then push the button, and balls explode out of the top.

It's genius.

We spent most our time in there.

Money well spent.

Fast Times at Sunny Cove

Currently, we are residing at what Jack likes to call "The California House" which is located just above Studio City, in the Hollywood Hills. It is a darling little house, and since we've been here we have done a few fun things. One, was the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It was particularly nice because we had just visited the super duper wimpy one Salt Lake, on 106th and State. With its trout. So this one seemed magical.

Anyway, we had alot of fun. Jack enjoyed being able to touch slimey and spiney things, and I rather liked taking pictures. Here are some from the bunch:

I hope you like them. I do. It's so nice to take pictures at an Aquarium without the big FLASH REFLECTION in each one.

Stay tuned...for more CA stuff.