Michael continues to do great.  He came back from surgery with only minimal swelling and started stirring shortly after arriving to his hospital room.  The team monitored his breathing and because he was doing so well on his own, they decided to extubate him.  From the hallway, we could hear Michael's amazing nurse say, "You are a superstar!"  Not only was he breathing on his own, within minutes he said, "I want water," followed by "I want to go home."  His speech and spirit were already progressing.    

It is going to be a rough night, with Michael expected to stir, be confused, and want to be rid of his tubes and IVs.  He has chest tubes in both lungs, draining out fluid and blood and he has lines to provide medicine.  When asked how he was doing, his nurse said Michael is doing great and is a "textbook Fontan case."  Just what we wanted to hear.  

Tom and Meg are holding his hands, singing to him, and reassuring him that Santa is leaving a gift for when he wakes up.  While he's still groggy, he has been opening his eyes for a few seconds at a time and then drifting off back to sleep.  As the anesthesia wears off, he'll be weaned off pain medication and will likely be taking just Tylenol by the morning.

Michael's progress will be measured by healthy lungs and no infections but for now, everyone is just so grateful for a successful surgery, a skilled medical team, and a true Irish Tiger Rockstar of a little boy.