The Fun Just Keeps Coming

Mom was worried that I wouldn't like to be held after my stay at the hospital, but as you can tell I dont' mind at all. This is me and big sis taking a nap.
This past week I became a big cousin, Gage Allen Ratliff was born Tuesday May 13th 4 lb. 10 oz. and 17.5 inches. I guess he thought he was missing the party, since he was seven weeks early. Last thursday I think I was twice his size I weighed in at 8 lb. 15oz. and Gage was 4 lb. 5 oz. Since he was so early he will have to stay at the hospital for a couple of more weeks. And I know from experience that is no fun for him or his Mom and Dad. I know his big sis Maddie can't wait for him to get home. I can't wait until were both a little older, so we can play together.
Then there is my big brother Kaden, my first week home he decided to get strep throat and the doctors thought he had a bug in his ear. Thankfully Mom told him it was dirt. After three different doctor visits and nearly three hours of water picking, Dr. Rybak decided it would be best to knock him out. This meant another trip to the OR for Mom and Dad, and this is a picture of the "foreign object" that was removed. I don't think it was a bug or dirt, but some kind of seed from playing in the woods. Well I will try to update a little more often, but Mom and Dad are staying very busy.

My Hero - Dr. Gandhi !

My first follow up appointment went very well with Dr. Gandhi.

I am almost back to my birth weight, my scar is healing well, blood pressure looked good, chest X-ray clear, and my oxygen levels were good. Although Dr. Gandhi didn't believe Mom when he asked if we got a pulse-ox monitor for home. We really didn't, but Mom, Dad, Grandma and Granpa Patridge watched me very closely the first few nights. Sorry it took so long for an update, but my technical guru, Dad was unable to take any sick days for my stay at Childrens Hospital. Instead he had to use almost all of his vacation days, and had to go back to work this week. I do not recommend the two week vacation at Childrens Hospital. The room accomodations are terrible and cafeteria food gets old after the first 4 or 5 meals. Hopefully we can all rest and have some good family time this weekend. I hope Grandma and Grandpa Patridge hurry back, so Mom and Dad quit walking around here like zombies.

P.S. I found out that my little buddy Fisher Herzog was able to go home as well. Sounds like he recovered quickly from his surgery just like me. Mom and Dad were also glad to hear from Tate Coopers family that he had made it home also. Tate's parents were very comforting about my surgery and Dr. Gandhi, because they had been through it about 3 years ago. I do have one last request about a little girl Hadley from Auburn she is about one week older than me, and as it turns out her Grandpa Hemberger had painted a tractor for my Grandpa Ratliff. She was born with a heart problem as well, but her condition is quite serious and would be very risky for her to have surgery. I believe they quoted 50/50 for her to survive. So she and her family are currently waiting for a heart transplant. Our prayers go out to them.