Venogram and .....

Good Monday all! Hope everyone had a day back from your holiday break. Sorry no post yesterday..not a whole lot happened. We hung out on the couch and watched Hallmark Christmas movies ( i love these!)

Anyway...this morning, we were at the hospital @ 6a.m. for the venogram....Matt received an i.v. in his left hand, then they started an i.v. in each foot. He was awake for the procedure, so he was able to watch the dye as it went up both legs and into his abdomen. They injected the dye and tied bands to different locations on his legs and squeezed (this is matt's version of how things were done...haha) HE DOES HAVE HIS IVC...both doctors said that it is totally occluded (closed off), which "was part of development in-utero", so he has been this way literally all his life. The occlusion is from the femoral artery to right below the hepatic vein. (there's something for you all to google tonight, and Nikki no cheating by just asking Chris!!)) The reason he became symptomatic is because a blood clot formed....so he already had all the colladerals (from fetal state, per say)...it was a God thing from the beginning (as if we needed another living example of His power)

(post venogram feet)

Both doctors concluded by stating that the bypass surgery would be a 3-4hr surgery...opening his chest & abdomen and HOPING it works. At this time, they are both pleased in Matt's physical condition and that he is able to function at the capacity he can. So at this point, we have waived against the bypasses. They have given us instruction on the to do's & not to do's and so forth. Both doctors reassured us that this is in reason, he may never have to have anything done, but if need be they would be willing to do it. The vascular doctor spoke highly of Matt's vascular dr. in huntsville and said he would be in close contact with him.
His INR was 1.0 this morning because he has been off his coumadin since Wednesday. 1.0 is normal for me & you, however, Matt's has to stay between 2.5 & 3.5. So he will resume his coumadin tonight and recheck it when we get home to make sure it is back in his range.
which leads me to say......


WE ARE COMING HOME!!!!!! TOMORROW!!!!!

so excited!!! it rained here today and isn't supposed to be back above freezing for the rest of the week...expecting 1-2" of snow overnight....so we are now praying that our flight is able to stay on schedule ...safely....and we make our connecting flight in chicago (this time, we only have 1 hr between landing & leaving...o dear!!!)

Thank you all so much for your thoughts, prayers, & love you have sent our way. You will never know how much it has meant knowing that we have family & friends like you supporting us on this mentally & physically demanding journey.

please check back for updates on our flights tomorrow...Nikki will be handling those : )

See yall so soon!!!!
Love,
Matt & Em