It’s 10:30pm and he is awake…not particularly happy! Poor guy…

It’s 10pm and the lab tech is putting on the leads now! Angel-boy is sleeping soundly so far!! Yeah

Rudy has been awake since 5am this morning…these last 20 minutes are the hardest as we wait for the sleep lab to call for us!!! Hopefully his day of no naps will work in our favor tonight. We’ll emerge from the lab tomorrow morning at 5am…thanks for your prayers today!!

Hello dear friends! I’m sorry you haven’t heard much from us this week. Rudy is doing great and will get back to his regular schedule this week. I have a more detailed post in the works but am having trouble posting it…Internet connection problems AGAIN!!! Argh!!! In the meantime, we all wish you a very Happy Easter and we thank you for your many prayers for Rudy these past couple of weeks. Blessings to you…

Rudy’s been taking it easy at home since getting back from UCLA late Thursday. He’s a little achy from time to time, but a little Tylenol seems to take care of that. We’ve been very touched by Docs Dan and Nina calling personally to follow up the cath report and check on him–so assuring to have such gifted doctors who care deeply for Rudy and our family.

The most interesting development since yesterday has been the massive blister that seems to be taking over Rudy’s foot. We texted a picture of it to some nurses and one of the docs who sent back “Wow! Never seen anything like that before.”. This has given us room to create our own theories: infection (not likely as the foot isn’t painful, warm or red), allergic reaction to tape (but there was tape all over him so why only there?), or a burn from something to do with the IV (my best guess as the port was right there and something could have leaked under the dressing).

More rampant and creative theories from his siblings include: an alien nesting under his skin that’s going to emerge? A collateral sixth toe (since the veins were coiled up something had to grow somewhere)? An inchworm that’s spun a cocoon on the side of his foot?

In any case, Rudy is not noticeably disturbed by it, so we’re watching it and taking pics so we can track its progress. The big kids haven’t named it yet, but it’s big enough that they do address it as a separate entity from Rudy (as in, “Good night, Rudy! Good night, Rudy’s blister!” or “Is Rudy coming? Is the blister coming too?”)

We’re not really into putting gross-out pictures on our blog, but in the name of science, here is the wondrous blister (just in case you can’t see it from your house). Feel free to submit your own theories or potential names.

Got to a room fairly quickly (only 2 hrs in PACU). Slept so-so. Rudy’s not in huge pain, but uncomfortable and woke up often. Different tactics distract him for varies lengths of time. iPad is worth every penny…

Having an echo right now. After that we’re likely clear for discharge, but probably still a couple docs to round on him.

Sent from my iPad

Got back with Rudy after 7 hours here in PACU. Heard from two tired but excited docs about all they did (43 angiograms for you heart nerds) More detail later but two stents to open the Sano shunt (which had narrowed to 1mm) to 4-5mm. Then a huge collateral coiling fest. Lungs look strong both in terms of oxygenation and pressures. Not a Glenn candidate yet but good progress.

The warrior is slowly waking up. Not smiling yet, but not super-cranky. Due to all the work they did, they want him supine until 9pm.

Thanks for the prayers and messages.

When this thing beeps, there’s either an update from the cath lab or our table at Chili’s is ready. Been watching it in the dining room for 3 1/2 hrs. Decided to come outside and watch it on the patio for awhile.

It’s buzzed twice. First at 11:30 to tell us things were underway a bit late and just now at 1:30 to tell us they’ve got another hour to go. Rudy’s beat his personal best for cath lab endurance. They placed two stents and are now coiling collaterals. Rudy is stable.

That’s all for now. Back to watching the buzzer….

They rolled Rudy away 30min ago. Livy made him a special anklet to wish him luck.

The trip from SB to UCLA went smoothly. Rudy still has celebrity VIP status–didn’t make it 20ft from the car before the first of several adoring nurse fan spotted us. Good to be in skilled and caring hands.

Mr. Fearless is ready for battle.