One hard thing about a hospital stay is how nothing changes for days, and then lots of things happen. I'd been putting off any updates, because it seemed like Riley might be sent home last week. But again, as they weaned her medications, her O2 stats were dropping lower than they wanted. They have something that's working, but it's mostly IV medications, and she can't go home on that. So, we found out late last week that they wanted to do another heart catheterization this week to get a better picture of what's going on.

From the little I understand, the left side of her heart has a pretty high pressure, and since that's where the blood from the lungs ends up, it's causing pressures to build up elsewhere in her heart/lungs and causing her lungs to be saturated. They are going to change up her medications, and see if there's anything else she can be on, and look again in another week to see how things look. That means we'll most likely be in the hospital for Thanksgiving, or have something big to be thankful for at home! (The last time Riley was in the hospital it was over Thanksgiving, and Sara and I both felt that if you have to spend a holiday in the hospital, that one's OK.)

We'll hopefully have some more ideas or information tomorrow after we meet with her cardiologist who's been with her since she was born. We knew this surgery was not a normal procedure, and to be prepared for complications. Hopefully they are able to figure out what's best for her body to get her safe and home.

Photos:
1) Riley with a new owl. We're still hoping for the original to turn up, but she's happy to have one!
2) Riley posing this morning, when I asked if I could take a picture.
3) Riley couldn't have any food or water before her procedure today, so she guzzled some imaginary tea.