Post Heart Cath/Cardiologist Update

Grace had her 1 month checkup yesterday for her last heart catherization in June. Can you believe her oxygen saturation level was 96 today :)The highest we ever saw before this procedure was low 80's. An x-ray or echo wasn't done today, because they want to wait a few more months, until the device that they placed in her is fully covered over with tissue. We have another appointment in October. We did find out some interesting information on why her mouth still tends to be blue. Evidently, her hemoglobin levels are high, but over the next few months, they should begin to level out. The way her body compensated for the lower oxygen levels was to create more red blood cells. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. Her body has not had time to adjust to the new oxygen levels and overtime we should notice a decrease in the blueness around her mouth. She was cleared to do all normal activity except for trampolines or football. I don't think our little girl will be playing football anytime soon anyway :) We plan on enrolling her in a 3 morning a week preschool at a church here, beginning in August. She was given written permission to sit down/rest if she wants or needs to and to watch out for dehydration. The cardiologist told us that post Fontan patients are much more likely to get dehydrated quickly when they play or are in the heat, as their little bodies are working sooooo much harder than ours. In addition, we have noticed that her energy level has increased significantly since the procedure was done. The girl danced and danced the entire time the cardiologist was talking with me and didn't slow down once. We have been enjoying the cooler weather break and spending time out on the playground. She begs to go everyday now :) I always forget to take my camera, but will try to get some pictures soon and post them for you guys! Thanks for checking in on us and come back soon, I have several posts I need to catch up on.