The Tin Man's Heart Watch Day #33

Holden was sedated to get permanent IV line in him. His anesthesiologist even came in to help, ON HIS DAY OFF! Pretty awesome stuff.

As for Holden? He slept all day. He slept all night. He didn't even wake up when dad got erupted at the crazy end of the Auburn-Alabama football game.(Oh, and he didn't have to submit his brain cells to the Florida - Florida State game)

The Tin Man's Heart Watch Day #32

The angle makes it look like he's picking his nose. Amazing, huh?

During his appointment on Monday, Holden's doctors decided it was time for him to be under a little stronger supervision. Unfortunately his heart is struggling a little more than it was a few weeks ago when we were allowed to go home pending transplant. So, we're back in the hospital.

While there is no timetable on his release, the goal is to pump the precious heart nectar known as Milrinone through his veins and remove some of the stress from his ticker. If it's successful there is an outside shot he can come home for Christmas.

The good news? The fine folks at Shands and Arnold Palmer Hospital agreed to allow Holden to do this in Orlando.So, we don't have to pack the conestoga and head up to Gainesville just yet.

The great news? They allowed us to wait until Friday so we could spend Thanksgiving with him. We catered our days to Holden. SeaWorld. Thanksgiving. Yesterday? A trip to Lake Eola to visit the swans. Lunch at Jason's Deli (salad bar, brah).

Holden is doing very well right now. This place has all you can eat hummus. Hummus I tell you!

The Tin Man's Heart Watch Day #31 (Thanksgiving)

Behold the wonderful feast of thanks! A holiday that celebrates everything we love as human beings. Loved ones, life, and cooking with butter.

Holden isn't what you'd call an "eater", in fact the rare moments he goes hand to mouth with any sort of foodstuffs calls for its very own balloon filled Macy's Parade. He ate a little, but we made sure to consume his complete share of the turkey and sides.

Regardless, it is a good day to remember everything that everyone has done for us the last two years. The doctors, the nurses, the support staff, our family, and our friends. HAPPY THANKSGIVING, we are so lucky to have you all in our lives. (More photos after the jump)...

The Tin Man's Heart Watch Day #30

With dad off for the Thanksgiving holiday, we went to SeaWorld yesterday. Earlier this year we acquired annual passes, which is nice, because the attention span of a two year old can best be described as "limited".

(1) It was chilly.
(2) The Polar Express ride was really cool, but of course we didn't take a single picture of any of that.
(3) Holden tried touching the penguins, which is frowned upon, apparently.

Check out the pictures below...

The Tin Man's Heart Watch Day #29

Check out this interview on Life of Dad with NBA player Channing Frye. He was born with a CHD and talks about his experience, along with his work to create awareness. Pretty cool stuff.

The Tin Man's Heart Watch Day #28

Special thanks to Grandpa Andy who accompanied Holden and Nicole to Gainesville for his checkup! Unfortunately the Thanksgiving holiday really put a wrench into the week, and dad couldn't join in.

The Tin Man's Heart Watch Day #27

Pictures with Santa take 2. The Central Florida Gator Club hosted a holiday shopping event on Sunday that included a Gator themed Santa scene. Holden summed up the entire football season in 30 wonderful seconds. Santa hung in there. What a trooper.

Go Gators!