Allan has done great since his heart cath. No ill effects at all. He's full of energy and ready to roll. We aren't quite sure what to make of the whole "one coronary artery" thing. On the one hand, it is good news in that we don't have to have surgery right now. On the other, we were kind of hoping that we might find something that we could remedy and that would make a vast improvement in his condition. As it stands, we aren't any worse off than we were before and we are still just in a position of having to outgrow the oxygen. We go back to the cardiologist next week and, by that time, we should have our wits enough about us to ask the right questions.
I've posted a bunch of pictures from the past two weeks or so. You can see that Griffith hasn't gotten over his distaste for grass quite yet. We went to the jazz concert in the park and he would only venture to the edge of the blanket. It won't last long, but it is nice to know that he has his limits.
Aunt Kathy spent part of the weekend. She came to make sure that we weren't letting Griffith run roughshod over Allan. I think she is satisfied that Allan can hold his own. We didn't get a picture of it, but, one time when Griffith came over to mug Allan and take away whatever it was that he was playing with, Allan grabbed hold of Griffith's curly top knot and gave him a good shake. Typical boys.
She also got to see them playing ball with each other. Rolling it back and forth between. And, occasionally, grabbing it and hogging it until Mom or Dad made them share. As I said, typical boys.
Griffith still hasn't launched across open spaces yet. He walks along every piece of furniture and occasionally turns loose and stands. As soon as he realizes that he isn't holding on to something, though, he takes a knee. Future quarterback in action. He is doing better with his eating, too. He won't let you put any thing in to his mouth, but he will as long as you aren't watching him directly. We've discovered that he does better with a toddler fork because the food sticks to both sides, whereas it slides off the back of a spoon. Which, of course, is the side he wants to have up. Very British of him -- eating from his upside-down fork. Whatever it takes, I suppose. (But I'm not serving him blood sausage -- even if he would eat it.) We are working our way through gruelly foods -- tapioca, cream of wheat, cream of rice. Next week we are on to grits and, possibly, some substance called something like Malt-0-meal. Yum. Who knew kids could be so much trouble?

Allan in the sink

with his strategically placed hippo.

Allan snuggling with Aunt Kathy

Aunt Kathy came to spend the weekend and make sure that Allan wasn't being mistreated by his brother.

Griff snuggling his brother

He really can be pretty sweet to Allan. Sometimes.

Where did it go?

Check out Allan looking bewildered after Griffith relieved him of the pompom.

Allan and the shiny pompom (II)

He really loves it -- it is shiny and makes a cool noise when he waves it.

Allan and his shiny pompom.

Okay, so it isn't exactly what his father had in mind, but, if he wants to be a cheerleader, there's nothing wrong with that. Check out Action Griffith getting ready to do a drive-by.

Allan, looking pensive again

We went to Ecton Park last week for a jazz concert. Allan took it all very seriously.

It just isn't worth it

Griffith at the park - stymied by all the grass.

Griffith getting the hang of this eating stuff

Or, more accurately, getting the hang of playing with his food.

Big Al's heart

Big Al did great with the heart cath today. He's not home yet, but should be discharged some time this evening. Until then, Grif and I are just hanging out, watching dvr'd Veronica Mars episodes, and blogging.

In Allan's peculiar way, what they found wasn't what they were looking for. They expected to find an AP window or a coronary artery fistula, but what they found was that he has only one, not two, coronary arteries. There really isn't any thing that they recommend doing about it right now. We'll keep an eye on it and it will probably require surgical intervention later, much later -- like when he is ten or maybe even later. Apparently this is the same type of defect that Pete Marovich had. So, it doesn't mean that Allan isn't going to be a basketball star. (Being built like his mother will probably be the end of that, but it won't be his heart. )

So, we are looking forward to a peaceful (we hope) night of sleep. More later.