So, You Want to Have a Heart Baby...

After just 4 short weeks, this is what life looks like:

We stole this idea from the hospital, you heart moms
will recognize this process:)

• We have home health nurses and speech therapists here once a week. They are super interested in how much Clara weighs. We talk about that a lot.
• I can tell you how many milliliters are in an ounce, how many tablespoons are in a scoop of formula, and I can estimate your weight in pounds based on the kilograms, as long as you weigh about what a baby weighs.
• Early Intervention specialists from the Jordan School District will come by monthly, and potentially more often as she grows. Clara has no problem adapting to strangers watching her eat, checking her muscle tone, looking in her mouth...just don't touch the stickers on her face.
• Our dog Gir thinks his new nickname is "watch out buddy" and he also seems to think Clara is a cat. He really wants to play with the cat, especially when the cat sneezes.
• We go to doctor's appointments every week or so-cardiologist, pediatrician, geneticists, immunologists. I have stopped trying to remember the name of every health professional that comes in to any room until I have met them at least twice. My brain only has so much room left.
• We schedule visitors very tightly. It's hard to coordinate Clara's feeding, my pumping, Todd and I eating and sleeping, and just general down time, so we plan ahead. We also learned that Clara doesn't do well to be overstimulated, so we try not to have visitors on the days we have other appointments, otherwise Todd and I are up all night with Angry Clara.
• There is an enormous pile of papers that I moved from the kitchen counter to the office today. Every appointment, home health delivery, and medical visit includes copies of paperwork and I have not yet found any motivation to organize these. 
• We have eaten so much junk and takeout, especially on the days we end up at the hospital at odd hours. I weigh less than I did when I got pregnant, but I don't think that will last long unless I can find the time management skills to get a Bountiful Basket ordered next week. Hopefully, the nice weather will also help us get out and take some walks.
• Our DVR is FULL of great stuff to watch...someday?
• We are so lucky. Clara is healing well from her surgery with no complications so far. She is getting better and stronger every day. Todd and I have started getting a bit of sleep at night. We have connected with some wonderful heart and 22q families. We have enjoyed more quality time with our own families and, as life gets more normal, we are excited to take advantage of the rest of my maternity leave with great bonding time together as a new family.