Messy Faces Going Lots of Places!

Happy Holidays

2013-12-12T20:07:00.001-08:00

Just a quick update. In November we had the opportunity to attend the Go Red for Women Luncheon once again. Olivia and I enjoy doing this and have made it our yearly tradition. This year Heidi and Ellie were able to attend the event as well. It was a great time away for us ladies! Olivia & her heart friend Ellie at Go Red Hoping you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We enjoyed the company of family and had much to be thankful for. Olivia is head over heels for little Isaac. As you can see, he adores her too! My 3 goofy babies! It’s hard to believe, but Isaac is just about 3 months old. He is all smiles here lately and I am loving every minute of it. Unfortunately, I am returning to work tomorrow. But, I was blessed to be able to spend the last 12 weeks at home. I went ahead and took Isaac’s pics a week early since I knew things were about to get busy-er! It’s hard to believe Christmas is in less than two weeks. We definitely have the winter wonderland after this week! It’s been snowing a lot here in Iowa and the temperatures have even been single digits and below zero! Baby, it’s cold outside! I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’ll leave you with a few cute holiday pics. God Bless PS Sorry for the couple of pics turned sideways, it looks fine of my computer, but is posting this way on Cp's server.

My Most favorite time of year!

2013-11-16T21:36:00.001-08:00

It's no wonder I have three fall babies. From September to January, I just love this time of year. From apple crisp and changing leaves to the twinkle of the first snow and celebrating the magic of Christmas. Not to mention our entire family also has a birthday during this time too! As some of you may be wondering, we did have our baby boy! Isaac Lee. He weighed in at 7 lb 5 oz (my gestational diabetes baby was smaller than my heart baby!). He's strong and healthy, but doesn't leave his mama's arms all too often! Here are a few pictures I took in the hospital and when he was a week old. Meeting big brother for the first time Meeting big sis! 1 week Olivia officially turned 6 and Thomas 3. Both kids are growing up fast. Olivia is quite the mother hen to Isaac. Tom is warming up to him, we’ll say that! Olivia also got glasses. She has an astigmatism. This seems to be helping her with school work. I took their official pics about a month ago too. Here’s my big kids! We also had a quick session with all 3 kiddos (I am just full of pics, aren’t I?) Let me tell you…1 kid=EASY, 2= harder, 3=almost impossible! You’re lucky if you can get them to sit still, forget a smile! Ha ha. This fall we were able to hit up a few pumpkin farms and also an apple orchard in Minnesota. The kids loved the hay rides and picking their very own apples and pumpkins! Instead of a sandbox there was a corn box at this farm! Oh, and we can’t forget Halloween! Here’s my Thomas the train and cowgirl! And my candycorn/pumpkin baby. We’ve kept busy with homework (Yes, there IS homework in kindergarten) and projects. Last night Olivia had a speech at school on a book character. She was the 3rd little pig. We had been practicing everyday for the last two weeks. She did great! Tonight the kids wanted to watch a movie. It worked out great because I was actually working on a Pinterest project mom sent me. Check out our own drive-in movie. Oh, how I loved the real thing as a kid! Well……That’s all folks! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving. God Bless!

Falling into Fall

2013-09-01T19:00:00.002-07:00

September…Ahhh, sweet September. What a great month. Not only is this unruly heat (hopefully) coming to an end, it’s Olivia’s birthday, and Baby Spencer’s due date, but it is also the start of my favorite season. Fall. Apple orchards, comfy sweaters, pumpkin carving, pumpkin-pie, hay rides, cute boots, and the smell of warm apple-cider…I could go on and on! But, before we head into this new time of year, I thought I should update you all on our summer fun. I haven’t been very good about keeping things updated, but life has definitely gotten away from me. With working, two kiddos, being pregnant, and finally giving into Pinterest (Yes, I took the plunge and checked it out, thought I’d better do it now before I had no “me time” left…quite addicting)! As the school year was coming to and end we enrolled Olivia in something called Hippotherapy. This is actually therapy with the help of a horse. Olivia has been in Occupational Therapy for almost 5 years, since her stroke. She has made great progress, but I know things get a bit mundane for her sometimes. This is practicing different left handed tasks on a horse with a therapist walking beside her; Olivia has always been a big fan of horses, so we thought this would be not only a great experience, but good motivation for her as well. That it was, unfortunately the course is only 8 weeks. At the beginning of the summer we had our town festival and then a few weeks later the county fair came to town. The kids love to go see the horses and ride whatever handful of toddler twisters come to the county fair! We also had a mini vacation to Minneapolis (Olivia had another round of Botox in June). This time we stayed in a cool hotel that used to be a train station (Tom loved this!). We went to the zoo as well. This August my parents took us to the state fair. Luckily, we had a reprieve from the heat waves and enjoyed a nice day at the fair. It had been quite awhile since I’d been there and it was nice to share the experience with my kiddos. August also brought on the annual AHA Heart walk. Mid-August brought my baby girl’s 1st day of kindergarten! It’s so hard for me to believe Olivia is in school now. Not that time has gone so fast the past 5 ½ years, but because of all the milestones and statistics she has overcome. At one point we weren’t sure we would ever see Olivia go to kindergarten, so this normal milestone was extra special for us! We decided to send Olivia to private school about 20 minutes from where we live. It’s a great school and on the first day we all attended church together. Very refreshing! Since I seem to have a knack for having fall babies, we decided to have the kids’ birthday parties this past weekend at Chuck E Cheese. Olivia had wanted to do the ticket blaster since she attended another party last year and finally got her turn! The kids and grown-ups had a great time! We’ve gotten a lot done around the house in preparation for the baby. Steve re-did Olivia’s room for Thomas in Thomas The Train and turned our toy room into a trendy horse room for Olivia. Now, we are just putting the finishing touches on the baby’s room. I have gestational diabetes and have been on insulin for the past 6 weeks. It’s been tough giving myself shots 4 times a day and checking my blood sugar 7 times a day, but a mother does what she’s got to do! Anyhow, they are going to induce me a few days early because of this, so my planned due date is September 16th. I was really wanting to have this one on my own since our other two kiddos were induced (Liv for medical reasons and Tom because he was late), but the baby’s safety is the most important thing. Plus….I’m ready! So, my next update will probably include cute little baby toes and Halloween Costumes! I hope you all have great start to fall. Thanks for checking in on us! Until then, here are a few pics of my beautiful kiddos! God Bless, Kendra

2013-02-07T13:55:00.002-08:00

Happy Heart Month! This month is a very special month for many of us. Heart Month, Valentine's Day, and tomorrow marks the start of CHD Awareness Week. I know it is important to many of us to bring more attention to CHD. Not many people realize what families are going through. What the children have to go through. Olivia has had three open-heart surgeries, survived a stroke, and endured many heart catheterizations and procedures. This little fighter spent over 100 days in the hospital her first 16 months of life and another couple of dozen since then. Our little angel has come such a long way…She works so hard in therapy and in her everyday activities. We couldn't be more proud. There have been plenty of ups and downs over the past 5 years, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Each time I gaze down at my amazing daughter I find it hard to believe what she has been through. To think that was my sweet Olivia lying in that hospital bed fighting for her life tugs at my heart. I have to push those thoughts away and focus on the miracle she truly is. The pain and suffering are behind us for now…It's now that we need to stand up and spread the word. To be honest, my husband and I had never really heard of a Congenital Heart Defect before Olivia's diagnosis. Now, we're amazed at how many others there are similar to us...fighting this life long battle. Did you know? ~About 1 out of every 100 babies are born each year with some type of Congenital Heart Defect ~Though research is ongoing, at least 35 defects have now been identified. ~Nearly twice as many children die from Congenital Heart Defects in the United States each year as from all forms of childhood cancers combined, yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher than funding for CHD ~For every dollar provided by the national medical funding arm of the American government, the National Institute of Health (NIH), only one penny is provided for pediatric research, and only a portion of that penny goes to support research on heart defects, the most common birth defect. It's hard to believe it's almost Valentine's Day! This is a very special day. It is a day we celebrate our loved ones, those very dear to our hearts. It's a time for flowers, chocolates, and enjoying each others company. But it is also a day very special to our family, it is “A Day For Hearts.” We celebrate the survivors of CHD and the angels watching over us. We try to spread hope and awareness for those unfamiliar with the disease. Feb 14th A DAY FOR HEARTS : CHD Awareness Day is an effort to highlight to the public the problems posed by Congenital Heart Disease. This awareness, it is hoped, will lead to an increased demand for, and attention to *research funding *formation and assistance to support groups *education of the general public *enhanced standards of care to CHD patients worldwide

So, as we are celebrating love, life, and lots of cute, glittery hearts...let us not forget those many broken hearts fighting so hard to survive. Help us spread hope and awareness for CHD this week. In honor of those special hearts we are doing our Love for Liv fundraiser for The American Heart Association this year. Please e-mail me if you’d like anything from this brochure and we can work out a place to meet to deliver your order or have it shipped to you. klm479@gmail.com {Stay tuned next time for some pictures of our trip to Texas and Aunt Bree’s Wedding}

Merry Christmas!

2012-12-08T23:39:00.003-08:00

I can’t believe it is December already! This year has flown by and my favorite time of year is already upon us! This year we have had so much to be Thankful for and continue to count our Blessings. Just before Thanksgiving, Olivia and I were able to once again attend the Go Red for Women Luncheon in Coralville. Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an “older man’s disease.” To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red for Women – a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health. This is a great event to raise awareness and have a wonderful time. We helped at the Heart Friends vendor booth for some of the day. This group is the one we have been with since Olivia’s birth. It is a group of Heart Parents and doctors and nurses who try to spread hope and awareness for CHD. After we had walked around a bit someone from one of the pampering booths asked Olivia if she would like a red streak put in her hair and her nails done. Of course, she couldn’t pass this up! After her nails were done, she asked for a massage! I didn’t get any of this special treatment…Although; I do not deserve it as much as Olivia does! Later that week Vinton had a few festivities to kick off the Holiday Season. There were Llama rides and Santa! At the end of the month our family embarked on a new tradition. We went and cut down our very own Christmas tree! The kids loved being out in the open space, with nothing but fields of beautiful Christmas trees. Soon, we spotted the perfect one….Daddy cut it down, yelled, “Timber!” and we drug it down to be netted and put in the trailer to take home. The kids helped me decorate as we ate cookies and listened to Christmas Carols. We also started another new tradition this year. “Wings,” as Olivia has named him, has come to stay as our Elf for the Christmas Season. Although, we sometimes we still forget to take off our “Sassy Pants,” he is a gentle reminder! At the end of November I was asked to do an interview with The Rivers to Rivers show on IPR. Here is a link if you’d care to listen. It is regarding rural healthcare. Kendra's IPR Interview The first weekend in December my mom took the kids and me to an indoor water park in DSM. We were supposed to go for the kids’ birthdays back in September, but mom ended up being sick. With the weather being cooler, now was the perfect time to go! We also attended Valley Junction’s Town Christmas Celebration. The next day we hit the mall on the way home. Thomas could not get enough of that train! Last week we went to Clinton to have a slumber party with my Grandma, Aunt Tee and Melissa and our cousin Emma. We all stayed at Grandma Brewer’s Farm. Olivia has been counting down the days for this! Aunt Tee took off work and had all kinds of activities planned for her and the girls. She made up these adorable signs and bought them all kinds of snacks (Yes, she’s awesome)! They loved every minute of it (except when Thomas tried to join in on the fun!)… In the evening we attended a lighted train display and fireworks and then drove through Eagle Point Park’s Christmas Display. I don’t think those girls got to bed until 11:00! However, they were still up at 6:30am…poor Aunt Tee! On the way home from Clinton we attended a special celebration at CRANDIC in Cedar Rapids. The kids were able to meet Santa (again), but this time he, Mrs. Clause and the Grinch arrived via train. They rode right up to us on the train. It was amazing to see! You will have to excuse the picture. It was dark and I didn’t have my good camera with me, but you get the idea! Thanks for tuning in; I hope you enjoyed the many, many pictures (I think the people I’m with begin to roll their eyes at me, ha ha). I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God Bless. I will leave you with one of Miss Olivia at dance class. Next week is her Christmas Recital!

2012-05-21T20:57:00.001-07:00

Wow, I can not believe I have gone 3 months without updating! That is a record by about…2 months! I honestly don’t know where the time has gone. I guess it’s true what they say, “Time flies when you’re having fun!” We have kept ourselves busy as usual here at The Spencer Household. We’ve had so much going on I’m sure I’ll forget to tell you a thing or two. However, I have taken quite a few pictures lately, so I will let those do a lot of the talking for me. In March Steve and I took Olivia up to St. Paul for her visit to Gillette Children’s Hospital. This is where we had the evaluation with the rehabilitation doctor for Olivia’s arm. Botox was recommended for Olivia and March was our first set of scheduled injections. Olivia knew why we were going and she was a little nervous. But, we told her a bit about what to expect and also had a fun trip to Sea Life Aquarium planned at MOA. Before they gave the injections they used a needle guided by a machine (perhaps some sort of EMG) to find out exactly where they would be injecting the Botox. They gave Olivia some Nitrous Oxide and luckily, she didn’t remember much about it! Gillette After about 20mn Olivia was back to her old self. The first person she wanted was her dad (as I am standing next to her the entire time, ha!). After being smooched on and babied for awhile (which she deserved), Olivia was ready to head to the aquarium. We entered MOA and headed on our journey to the aquarium. After a little walk, we arrived. It was a bit pricey (and a lot of the attractions were closed for renovations), but Olivia really enjoyed what they had to see. The aquarium with the turtles and sharks were pretty cool. They also had a touching pool for the kids, which was kind of neat. If you want to check it out, get your tickets ahead of time on their website. It’s a lot cheaper! After a couple of days we could already see the improvement in Olivia’s arm and hand. Her arm wasn’t nearly as tight. We bumped up her therapy to 3-4 times per week and have been rolling with that ever since. Luckily, my mom comes in to work out and can bring Olivia with her to therapy since they are in the same place. Otherwise, I don’t know how we’d do it! We are fortunate our little girl is willing to work so hard. She is a fighter. Always has been. She is my hero. Olivia thinks of therapy more as play, but she does get tired or frustrated when she can’t complete a task sometimes. She loves to come in with Gram and report they are there. I do the scheduling, and enter charges, etc. so Olivia gets to come “help me work” while she waits for her therapist. We saw Dr Sinner at Gillette 6 weeks after Olivia’s first injections. Olivia’s hand and arm were still making improvements but you could see a little bit of tightness setting in. The “peak” for these injections is at 3 weeks, which we definitely saw. Dr Sinner is pregnant and will be gone in July, but she thought we could schedule the next set for mid June. If we decide things are still going well we can push it back and schedule with one of her partners. We are to see more improvements with each set and are hoping to see more supination of her left arm in the near future. At some point we will be able to spread the injections out further and do them just during growth spurts. That will be great. During our second trip to Minnesota Gram went with us. We ate at The Rainforest Café again and visited Build-A-Bear. We also went to Nickelodeon World at MOA. Here are some pics from our past trip. It’s hard to believe I now have a 4 ½ year old and an 18 mo. These kiddos are so cute and oh, so much fun! Thomas is growing into such a cute little boy. He is smart and sweet, although he definitely has an ornery streak! Livi has been enjoying preschool and continuing to be the social butterfly she is. She has her preschool graduation tomorrow night. We are so excited. I plan to surprise her with a bouquet of flowers and her Auntie Bree is flying in (Yes, this is a preschool graduation, but EVERY milestone is a miracle for us). 1st time flying a kite (Sorry, taken with a cell phone) 1st Play-Date in, I don’t know how long (too long) w/ her BFF Ellie. Notice they both have their Rapunzel Dresses on? Playing w/ Liv’s new Cinderella Castle Liv & I made our own birdfeeders out of pinecones, PB, & bird seed. Great rainy day craft. 1st trip to the park this year! Down goes Frazier! This was too funny. Liv hit pretty softly. I think she kind of made herself fall forward to get us to laugh. She’s a clown! Hope you all had a wonderful Easter. We did. We were Blessed with Health, Family, & Friends. Here are a few pics of the kiddos on Easter. Our 1st Town Egg Hunt together. You should have seen the handful of us crazy moms who snuck onto the field to catch these pics. We had hundreds of kids charging right at us! Tommy J at Grandma & Grandpa Ron’s Farm Bunny Cake! Liv and Aunt Lisa make one of these delicious cakes every year. We were also able to visit my Grandma B. in Clinton last month. Mom and I took the kids out to the farm for the weekend and had a blast. We went to one of my favorite parks, Eagle Point and enjoyed some QT with our Grandmas! We’ve had some great weather here in Iowa lately. Steve and I took advantage of it! The first chance we got, we took the boat out. The kids LOVE playing on the sandbar. It’s such a relaxing feeling…not having the TV or computer sure helps too. We have had a few quick photo shoots here recently. These babes are so active I can barely get them to hold still, let alone look at the camera…as for a smile, Ha ha, forget about it! Ok, so this one wasn’t part of our shoot, but I had to include it. Tom is just so cute. He looks like he belongs in there, driving my car! Hope you all enjoyed the update. You may remember me mentioning in Feb. Olivia was chosen as Survivor of The Year for The Linn Co area AHA Heart Walk! We are honored to be a part of this and can't wait to raise funds for a cause that saves lives like Olivia's. Keep an eye out over the next couple of months. If you are in Cedar Rapids you may see Olivia on a billboard, or if you watch the news or read the paper I'm sure you'll see an article or two about our miracle girl! We also have some fun fundraising activities planned! Here's a link if you haven't joined our team yet! Please join us, even if you just want to come and walk a little. It's for a great cause and a little walking never hurt anyone! http://heartwalk.kintera.org/linncounty/olivia

Happy Heart Month

2012-01-31T19:57:00.001-08:00

Happy Heart Month (Ok, I am a couple hours early..but I had the time)!

This month is a very special month for many of us. Heart Month, Valentine's Day, and CHD Awareness Week! I know it is important to many of us to bring more attention to CHD. Not many people realize what families are going through. What the children have to go through. Olivia has had her first, second, and third staged surgeries as well as five heart catheterizations and countless procedures. She spent over 100 days in the hospital her first 16 months of life and an additional 30 since then. Our little angel has come such a long way…At 8 months old Olivia decided she no longer needed the feeding tube. At 9 months old she began to sit-up by herself. Next, at 14 months, came Olivia's very first steps. Then she mastered crawling, walking, and talking. At 18 months, Olivia could spell her own name. At age two came potty training and art work. Once she reached age three, there was no stopping her! Olivia acted like an 'old soul.' It was at this age Steven and I had to prepare Olivia for her next surgery. This brought on many questions about God and Heaven. Olivia really grew-up in 2011. This year she has really blossomed into a delightful young lady. She helps around the house and even earns an allowance. Preschool has given her quite a bit of confidence, as she is not shy what-so-ever. We also received a new diagnosis and a new prognosis this year regarding Olivia's left arm. We took her to a specialty clinic in Minnesota where they confirmed Olivia's stroke and Hemiplegic CP, due to the brain injury. They also gave us hope, with the option of Botox injections to help Olivia use her left arm functionally. This goes to show, our journey with CHD will never be over. This is something CHD families have to face all the time. Even though the ‘planned’ surgeries may not be looming over our heads, there is always something to keep us awake and our hands on the wheel in the journey.

I tell you what, there have been plenty of ups and downs over the past 4 years, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Each time I gaze down at my beautiful daughter I find it hard to believe what she has been through. To think that was my sweet Olivia lying in that hospital bed fighting for her life tugs at my heart. I have to push those thoughts away and focus on the miracle she truly is. The pain and suffering are behind us for now…It's now that we need to stand up and spread the word. To be honest, my husband and I had never really heard of a Congenital Heart Defect before Olivia's diagnosis. Now, we're amazed at how many others there are similar to us...fighting this life long battle.

Did you know?
~About 1 out of every 100 babies are born each year with some type of Congenital Heart Defect
~Though research is ongoing, at least 35 defects have now been identified.
~Nearly twice as many children die from Congenital Heart Defects in the United States each year as from all forms of childhood cancers combined, yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher than funding for CHD
~For every dollar provided by the national medical funding arm of the American government, the National Institute of Health (NIH), only one penny is provided for pediatric research, and only a portion of that penny goes to support research on heart defects, the most common birth defect.
Also, for adults cardiovascular disease is America's No.1 killer, causing more deaths each year than cancer, diabetes and accidents, combined. And while there's a myth that heart disease affects mostly men, today it is the leading cause of death in women, killing one in three, while breast cancer kills 1 in 30 women. Symptoms for women are much different than men. Know your numbers and keep an eye on any strange symptoms you might be having.

Valentine's Day is a very special day. It is a day we celebrate our loved ones and those very dear to our hearts. It's a time for flowers, chocolates, and enjoying each others company. But it is also a day very special to our family; it is “A Day for Hearts.” We celebrate the survivors of CHD and the angels watching over us. We try to spread hope and awareness for those unfamiliar with the disease.
A DAY FOR HEARTS: CHD Awareness Day is an effort to highlight to the public the problems posed by Congenital Heart Disease. This awareness, it is hoped, will lead to an increased demand for, and attention to:
*research funding
*formation and assistance to support groups
*education of the general public
*enhanced standards of care to CHD patients worldwide

width=300 height=100 border=2 alt="A DAY FOR HEARTS : Congenital
Heart Defects Awareness Day
- Click here for details">

Praise God for giving us the opportunity to walk this life long journey. Praise God for giving us the gift to celebrate the small things in life.
A couple of weeks ago My Aunt Lisa, Olivia, Thomas, and I went to Clinton to visit my Grandma and Aunts and Uncle. Grandma lives on a farm with a huge sledding hill I used to go down as a kid. When Olivia found this out, she couldn’t wait to see it. This little girl loves to be outdoors, whether its 10 degrees or 110!

The first time down Aunt Lisa rode with Olivia…A few seconds after they took off I see another passenger hop on the back. It was my grandma’s farm dog! Every time I look at this picture I just crack up!

By the end, Olivia was ready to race down the hill on her own! I couldn’t believe how brave she was.

After that, we headed inside for some lunch and visiting.

It was so nice to see everyone. Wish we could do it more!

Things have been steady around The Spencer Household. We manage to stay pretty darn busy. Just the other day I asked my mom, “How do these people find time to make all of these delicious recipes…let alone take pictures of them and post them on their blogs and Pinterest? I barely have time to update carepages. What am I doing wrong?” She smiles and says, “I think your house is a little too clean for having two young kids and you working four days a week.” Ahh, maybe she’s right…Then again, there’s always more I could be doing or feel I should be doing. The kiddos have had a pretty nasty cough for quite awhile now. I took them back to the doctor last Tuesday. He gave them both a Zpack and tested Thomas for strep. Luckily, no strep. However, Thomas continued to run a high fever all week. He wasn’t swallowing all of his med no matter how hard I tried, so I called to see if we could get him a shot of Rosephin to kick that nasty bug to the curb. I took him back in on Friday to find out he has a double ear infection! Poor baby. Needless to say, they did the shot and we got a script for Tylenol suppositories (I know, fun, fun…but better than a sleepless, screaming baby!). He started to feel a bit better on Sunday, but still isn’t himself.

When Thomas does feel himself, he’s either mopping, sweeping, or playing with the vacuum. This kid loves to clean! Too bad when he’s old enough to show him how, he won’t be interested anymore!

On Monday Olivia had her Cardiology check-up in IA City. We were scheduled for an EKG, XRay, and ECHO. Gram was nice enough to go with us this time. I can usually handle it myself if need be, but when we’ve got all of these tests, chasing a 14 month old around and trying to pay attention to pertinent information is next to impossible! Olivia is getting to be pretty brave anymore. She charms these doctors and nurses pretty well! After the Xray we headed over to the cath lab for Olivia’s ECHO. She held pretty still through most of it. When we got towards the end she asked, “Am I doing a good job?” The lady said, “Yes, very good.” Then Olivia turned to me and asked, “Am I doing a good job, Mommy?” I told her how proud I was of her. Once we were done and it came time to take the three stickers off that monitor Olivia, she freaked. She does not like EKGs because of the umpteen stickers they rip off of you when they’re done, so this sent her anxiety sky high. She cried and cried. Dr. Law (Olivia’s Cardiologist) waked by the waiting room and saw Olivia crying. He came and sat down, asking her what was up. Olivia looked at him with her big, sad eyes and told Dr. Law she was scared of her EKG and she didn’t want one. He asked her why and she told him how much those stickers hurt. Next thing I know, Dr. Law is telling her she doesn’t have to have one this time, but she has to pinky swear to have one at the next visit….Ha! Got what she wanted once again! Ohh, Miss Livi-Pie.

Overall, they were pleased with the way things are going. Dr. Law thought Olivia’s SATs were a little low at 85%. I had been complaining about this from May-Oct. but no one seemed too concerned. I guess being a little further out from surgery they would expect the fenestration (pop-off valve they use with many Fontan’s) to start to close. This would increase her SATs. One risk of having the fenestration is stroke. However, putting Olivia through another procedure right now to close the Fenestration when she seems to be doing ok, is probably more of a risk. So, we are to keep doing what we’re doing and come back in 6 months. Whoo hoo!!!

Take care,
DON’T FORGET FEB 3RD IS WEAR RED DAY!

New Year; New Chapter

2012-01-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

I hope all of you had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year. The kiddos definitely enjoyed their Christmas. We had 4 of them again this year, so it was like A Christmas Marathon! I told Steve, I don’t think the kids need anything until their birthdays (which are in September and October)!

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What’s in the cage, you might ask? Olivia got a brand new hamster for Christmas from Grandma Lynch. Meet Mimi!

Yes, Thomas is CRAZY! He is constantly climbing on everything! He’s only 14mo right now; I am going to be in trouble in another year…

Last week we made the trip to St. Paul Minnesota to Gillette Children’s Hospital. As most of you know, Olivia has been in therapy since she was 6 months old. I had noticed problems with her left hand and arm when she was a baby and asked that we get her into therapy. A few years later it was confirmed Olivia had a stroke. This is what caused her arm to become locked at the elbow and her hand to look claw-like. After 3 years of therapy Olivia does have some use of her hand and it no longer has that claw-like appearance. She is able to open and close it and can bend her arm now as well. However, Olivia cannot fully straighten her arm or turn her arm/hand so her palm is up (supination). Her therapists believe this is a problem with her tone/spasticity, which was caused by the stroke. Below, it explains a little bit about this.

Before your Stroke
Your brain communicated to your muscles through your spinal cord and told your muscles when to tighten and relax to help control movement.
The muscles in your limbs had finely tuned sets of stretch receptors to tell the brain how much tension they are under. This helped the brain move the body safely to avoid injury.
After your Stroke
If your stroke damaged the part of your brain that controlled movement of muscles, your brain might not be hearing those important signals from the affected muscles. The body goes into a “safe mode” to keep the limbs protected.
When the damaged brain is no longer able to understand the usual signals from the muscle, the spinal cord might send its own impulses to the muscles in those limbs to remain contracted, or tight, so the muscles don’t get overstretched and torn.
Negative Effects of Spasticity
• Stiffness in the arms, fingers or legs.
• Painful muscle spasms.
• A series of involuntary rhythmic contractions and relaxations in a muscle or group of muscles that lead to uncontrollable movement or jerking, called clonus
• Increased muscle “tone.”
• Abnormal posture.
• Hyperexcitable reflexes

Olivia has tried several different braces over the years, with some improvement. However, her therapists believe we need to take things one step further in order to progress. They suggested Botox injections into her left arm. At first, I thought this idea was crazy. However, I did do my research. Not many doctors are familiar with using Botox in a toddler for stroke therapy, so we were referred to Gillette Children’s Hospital. Here we met with Dr. Sinner. She is a specialist in rehabilitation and botox/baclofen injections. I wasn’t sure if she would agree with the therapists or have another suggestion for us. But, we thought we might as well see what she has to say. After all, we were told Gillette is the best of the best!

After meeting with Dr. Sinner, she agreed Olivia did indeed have a stroke. She found abnormal tone in both her left arm and her left leg. The doctors were afraid she may need hand surgery before meeting with us due to the likelihood of contractures (a condition that leaves the muscles and tendons permanently shortened). However, Dr. Sinner did not find any in Olivia's hand and maybe a small amount in her elbow. She said they would classify Olivia’s brain injury as Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. I know, it sounds scary…one more diagnosis. But, I think of it as only a “classification.” Dr. Sinner also thought Olivia would be a good candidate for Botox injections. This is a series of injections that would be completed every 3-6 months. We aren’t sure for how long since each case is different. However, these shots are extremely expensive. We didn’t schedule her first set of injections until March so we can get everything ironed out with insurance first.

To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about this. The last thing I want is to put Olivia through one more thing. However, I do want her to be able to use her arm functionally and have the ability to dress herself eventually as well. I know I would be kicking myself ten years down the road if we didn’t give this a shot. Because of Olivia’s tone, we have made as many advances as we can therapeutically, now we need to move on to the next step in her recovery. Below is an article on Botox injections. Please take a moment to read. I will leave you all with a few pictures of our trip to Minnesota.

Pool side room at our hotel! Olivia loved that.

Daddy and my favorite restaurant, Fogo De Chao. Olivia says, “This place is fancy!”

Botox Injections Can Help Stroke Victims, Study Finds
Repeated Botox injections over a year after a stroke can improve muscle tone and decrease pain in the arms and hands, making it easier for patients to dress themselves and do other daily chores, researchers reported Friday.
“The treatment resulted in sustained and meaningful functional improvement that makes a difference in the daily lives of stroke patients and the people who care for them,” said Dr. Allison Brashear, who presented the findings before the American Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at its annual meeting in Philadelphia.
Brashear, now head of neurology at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., led the national study while she was at Indiana University School of Medicine. The study was sponsored by Allergan, the company that makes commercial Botox treatments.
The research was the first long-term evaluation of repeated treatment with botulinum toxin type A for post-stroke spasticity, a muscle tightness that inhibits movement.
Disabling spasticity affects between 17 percent and 30 percent of stroke survivors and can lead to functional limitations, discomfort and pain. Spasticity in the upper limbs can interfere with patients’ ability to dress, wash or feed themselves, among other activities.
About 700,000 people suffer a new or recurring stroke each year, and strokes are a leading cause of serious, long-term disability.
During the yearlong study, which involved 279 stroke patients with wrist, hand or elbow spasticity at 35 medical centers around the nation, all participants received up to five Botox treatments. The injections were given at the wrist, thumbs, fingers, and elbows to block overactive nerve impulses that trigger excessive muscle contraction.
After six weeks, muscle tone in the hands and arms had improved and was sustained for the duration of the study in all patients. At least half of the patients said they felt they had improved by at least one point on a four-point scale in their ability to bath or dress, their limb posture or their degree of pain in an extremity.
About 7 percent of the patients reported side effects, mainly headaches, pain in the arm or a flu-like illness, but no serious illness or complications.
Brashear noted that “if it isn’t managed effectively, post-stroke spasticity can result in very disabling complications such as contractures, a condition that leaves the muscles and tendons permanently shortened. Intervening early is vital to prevent profound disability in stroke patients and lessen the emotional and financial toll on their caregivers and the health care system.”
Typically, stroke patients suffering from spasticity take oral medications like muscle relaxers. But many of the drugs have strong side effects, like sedation, mental confusion, dizziness and muscle weakness, “all of which can seriously hinder rehabilitation after a stroke,” Brashear said.
On the Net: http://www.aapmr.org
(Contact Lee Bowman at BowmanL(at)shns.com)

2011-10-05T17:04:00.003-07:00

was going to include this picture at the bottom of my update yesterday and didn't get it in!

That's right, our big boy is officially a walker now!!!!

2011-10-05T17:04:00.001-07:00

few weeks ago we went with my parents to Des Moines. We got to enjoy a trip to Adventureland and our beloved zoo. Last year we did the same thing and are trying to make it a tradition. This year Olivia asked Aunt Lisa to join us and she was happy to do so. We all stayed at The Marriott Townhouses so the kids had plenty of room to roam around. We also enjoyed some time swimming.

In the morning we headed off to Adventureland!

Thomas rode the ferris wheel and the lady bugs for the very first time. Olivia rode every ride she possibly could, as many times as possible!

My babies (with all of the prizes Gramps and Daddy won for them).

I wonder if Gramps will ever go on this ride again? Ha! [I bet of his baby doll asked him to again, he would.]

We decided to hit up Soda & Sounds for some lunch. They had a new performer this time and he had animals with him (Liv's favorite, of course)! He even asked Olivia to help him up on stage. She waved her hands over the tin and some sort of brown little animal popped out!

We also stopped by the juggling act where Little Miss Cutie Pie got to go up on stage with some of the other kids. He was juggling and then throwing one of the balls to each kid. When it came to be Olivia's turn I was a bit nervous. She isn't able to catch a ball quite yet because of her range of motion with Lefty. Somehow the guy picked up on this and did a different trick with her instead!
It was a nice time with family. I love seeing Olivia do anything that makes her smile. Thomas too, he is just a laid-back, sweet little guy!

The day we left, Steve and I decided to take the kids to the zoo. With Olivia's love for animals and us being so close, we didn't want to pass it up just because we've already been there twice this year! Ha!

Last weekend was the annual Heart Friends picnic. We love getting to go and chat with other familes while the kiddos get to play. It's great!

Ahhh, October...My favorite time of year. The leaves begin to change to those beautiful shades of orange, deep red, and yellow. The smell of apple cider and pumpkin-pie fill the air...Family get togethers become more frequent...And the Holiday Season begins!
A few days ago we took the kids out to Sander's Pumpkin Farm. This is one of our favorite traditions! We usually end of going 3 or 4 times a year! This time we only stayed for a short time since it was more of a crisp afternoon, but the kids still had fun picking out their pumpkins and looking at the animals.

In the picture below, I was asking Olivia to smile for me, but she wasn't having it. Believe me, she doesn't just look at the camera and say cheese! However, even after several pictures, she wasn't budging this time!

Well, it's time for me to say goodnight, but before I do, let me ask you to keep Olivia in your prayers. She has been running a fever of 102 along with a sore throat and a runny nose. She seemed a little bit better today, but not back to herself yet. Also, I seemed to have sprained my ankle pretty bad...yea....being a mom who can barely get around is extremely tough. I've got some crutches to help, but it's not like I can carry anyone or anything! Today has been exhausting. Thank Goodness I've got great family close by to help out. I'm hoping I wake-up tomorrow and can put some weight on it!

Thanks for checking in and for your thoughts and prayers.

2011-09-20T14:56:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Our Little Miracle!

My sweet, Olivia:
It's so hard to believe it has been four years since your daddy and I drove to the hospital, expecting your arrival. We could hardly wait to meet you. However, you weren't quite ready to join us in this world. Your daddy and I got to the hospital bright and early the morning of September 19th, 2007. Our whole family anxiously awaited news of your birth. But, it wasn't until many hours later, you decided you were ready to meet us. It was 5:27pm on September 20th we got to finally see you face-to-face. I got a quick glimpse of your head full of hair as the doctors whisked you away. Although you endured a lot throughout the next few months, you did it on your own terms, just like when you were born. You have remained that same feisty, determined little girl up until today. Your family could not be more proud to have you in our lives. You have touched so many hearts with your smile, your contagious laughter, and your wit. You prove to us each day that there really are miracles and that one person truly can make a difference in the lives of so many others. You have grown into such a smart, kind, beautiful young lady, Olivia. Just the other day you told me that since you were turning four, you'd be able to drive my car. I told you it would be more like 14 years old before you got to do that. Your reply was, “Well, I can at least drive daddy's boat when I'm four!” You make me smile everyday and I could not be more proud to be your mom. Happy Birthday, sweetheart!

On Saturday we had Olivia's birthday party here at the house. It was a great time spent with the star of the show and our family and friends. I think I'll let the pictures do the talking, they always do it best!

Yesterday I took Olivia to my hairdresser where she got her very first haircut and a mani-pedi! She did start to tear up when Jenni first combed through her curly locks, but once that was over she enjoyed it. I told her it is a very special thing for a girl to go to the beauty parlor!

Another wish has come true for Olivia.

That's right, she has been granted her Make-A-Wish! We will be leaving on December 2nd for our trip to Disneyworld!

We are so blessed to have Olivia in our lives, she is a true miracle and we thank God for her each day. We also thank God for all of you by our side. Thank you for sharing in this special day for Olivia and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

2011-09-08T18:41:00.001-07:00

The kiddos ended up with a pretty nasty cold, which I think was a result of their allergies. I know I have been feeling the effects as well as some other family members. The pollen count has been high lately. We seem to be at the tail end of things as the runny noses have slowed down. The cough has gotten worse though. At least they are both starting to sleep better. For a few days Thomas was waking up 6-7 times a night and Livi 2-3 times. Steve and I are tired! As for the other issues Olivia has been having, they are still there. Her vomiting has increased the last few days, but her output seems a bit better. I was supposed to bring Olivia back to cardiology this week if things were the same. I can't decide what to do. One day she seems ok, the next she's tired, pukey, and out-of-breath. Please continue to keep the kids in your prayers.

A few weeks ago Nordstrom had their annual picnic in Cedar Rapids. Gram invited Aunt Lisa and us to go with her this year. It was at Usher's Ferry and it was amazing. The food, bouncy rides, train rides, and looking at all the historical buildings. It was a lot of fun for all of us! They also had free face painting and they were very intricate designs. But, after waiting in line for 40 minutes and still having 4 people in front of us, we called it quits. We still had a blast doing other things.

Thomas is turning into a little stinker ! Once this kid gets walking, I will never sit down. He already has me up and chasing after him constantly. He is still a sweet, happy, laid-back baby...he is just into EVERYTHING!

Instead of using the door to this playhouse, Tom will just fling himself over the wall!

You tell this kid no and he just smiles....

Thomas is starting to put more sounds together. He will look at me and say, “Mama.” He also says, “Dada” “more” and “Num.” Although, he doesn't always say these on a consistent basis. Thomas is the fastest crawler I have ever seen. He's faster than Livi at crawling right now! He walks all along the furniture and he has also taken two steps unassisted! Mama's big boy!

On Sunday night we took advantage of the cooler weather and had a fire out back. Steve went to the store to get Graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows and we had our first family smores night! I couldn't remember the last time I had a real smore. It was great!

Marshmallow face!

On Monday MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) had their annual kick off. The kids and I went and enjoyed carnival games and snacks. I have been in MOPS before, but this is the first time I've taken the kids with. Olivia loved it.

Believe it or not, yesterday was Olivia's first day of preschool. I am in disbelief myself. Our big girl! I went into work a little late and took Liv to her first day of school. I couldn't wait to rush home at lunch to hear all about it! However, this Little Miss isn't giving me any details! She told me she had fun and she went down the big slide. Her teacher told Gram during prayer she made sure to include the horses she loves so much. Ha. Too cute!

“Bye, Mom! You can leave now!”

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Things have been very busy here trying to get ready for our stay next week. We've spent plenty of time doing laundry, packing, and having some fun before we go. Staying busy has helped a bit with all of the anxiety going into this. We've also had quite a few friends and family members reach out, reminding us how big our support network really is. The tremendous support everyone has shown us has helped us through our journey this far and we know it will help us the rest of the way. Thank you for all of your thoughtfulness, prayers, and generosity.

Olivia knows she has a special heart and she also knows she is going back to the hospital for surgery. Does she know what all surgery entails? No. We've explained as much as we can to a 3 year old, without giving her too much information. It's hard to know what to tell them at this age. Do you warn Olivia when she wakes up she will be in pain and see several chest tubes pouring out of her? At this point, we don't want to scare her. We want her to know where she's going and what is going to happen, but we don't want to raise her anxiety too much before we even get there. She's so smart, we have to be careful how much we say. The other day Olivia told me she had a “sick heart.” No one in our family has ever used those words when referring to Olivia's heart. I asked her who told her that and she said, “Jesus.” I asked her what else Jesus told her and she replied, “He likes to paint.” I asked her what Jesus likes to paint and she said, “Clouds, and God...and animals and stuff.” I'm glad she has Jesus in her heart and she knows he will be with her through all of this.

Thomas has been doing great. He has his first tooth, which didn't cause him too much pain. However, he is getting a few more in at the same time, which seems to be causing him some discomfort.
We had to get out the Tylenol last night. Not the best timing, since the poor baby will be passed around a bit, but I know it will all work out. Thomas is also sitting up unassisted. He still falls over...a lot! But, he is sure making great progress!

Usually Easter is our first week back at church after RSV/Flu season. We're pretty disappointed we didn't get to go this year, but with surgery only being a few days away we couldn't risk exposing Olivia to any germs. We've kept ourselves busy getting ready for Easter. Olivia made an awesome Easter Bunny cake with Aunt Lisa and a giant cupcake with Gram.

Olivia got to dye Easter eggs on Saturday. She is such a creative little girl! We had a blast doing it!

A little girl decided to put stickers all over the poor dog!

Since we were not able to attend church (or really leave the house for that matter) we invited our parents over for Easter Dinner. We thought this would give us all a chance to spend time together and enjoy each others company while we celebrate Christ.

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

Steve and I have been having a pretty rough time, but we know we will get through this together and with God, not to mention the support and prayers of all of you. We have felt God's presence around us, reminding us to have faith and that He will be here with us. This is a sign one of my MOPS friends sent to us in a bag of goodies. It's perfect, and yet another sign from Him.

Below is a poem I found when Olivia was just a tiny baby. It was written for a child with HLHS. It's something that has remained in my heart and my mind for 3 years and each time I read it, I still get chills and a tear in my eye.

It's a beautiful day up in heaven. Jesus is rounding up
his tiniest angels, to go live on earth, and be born.
One of the sweetest angels says to Jesus
"I don't want to leave, I like it here, and I will miss you."
He reassures the scared little angel that everything will
be okay, and that she is just going for a visit.
She is still not swayed on this idea. So Jesus kneels
down and says, "How about if you leave half of your
heart here with me and take the other half with you,
will that be okay?" The angel smiles and says,
"I guess that will work." But the little angel is still
scared. She asks, "Will I be okay with only
half of my heart?" Jesus replies, "Of course you will,
I have other angels there that will help out, and
you will be fine." Then Jesus gives the angel
more details about his plan. He says,
"When you are born, your mommy and daddy will be scared,
so you have to be strong, and when you feel weak
just remember that I have the other half of your heart."
"Enjoy your time with your family, play and laugh everyday."
"And when its time to come back to heaven, I will make
your heart whole again. Always remember that you are
not broken, just torn between two loves."

I have created a quick slideshow with pictures of Olivia. Please see below if you'd like to watch it.

olivia - slideshows

Also, if you plan to visit, this is great! I know Olivia will love to see all the familiar faces. Just remember, do not visit if you have been sick or even around anyone with the sniffles a week prior to coming. Also, while we are in the PICU they do not allow visitors under 12 years old. The kids would have to stay in the lounge while one parent came in, etc. However, once we reach the step-down unit things are more relaxed with the children. Again, thank you all for your immense support. We love you!

2011-04-12T05:36:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked what this next surgery will entail. As promised, I have included some information over viewing HLHS and the surgeries involved. I have also included some pictures to illustrate. This is a compilation of information we've received from our cardiologist and surgeon as well as articles we've researched. I have also included a brief update at the end as well.

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is a congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped.

If part of the endocardial tube gets pinched shut in a region that becomes the future ventricle, hypoplastic heart syndrome will occur. If the pinched part of the endocardial tube is the bulbus-cordis region of the developing heart, hypoplastic RIGHT syndrome will occur. If it is in the ventricle region it will be the LEFT side that is hypoplastic.
There is evidence associating it with Gap junction protein, alpha 1(This is a genetic link).

Presentation
In babies with HLHS, the aorta and left ventricle are very small, and the aortic and mitral valves are either too small to allow sufficient blood flow or are atretic (closed) altogether. As blood returns from the lungs to the left atrium, it must pass through an atrial septal defect to the right side of the heart.

In a healthy human, the left side of the heart receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it out to the rest of the body; with these structures underdeveloped, they cannot circulate blood to other organs, and the right ventricle must pump blood to both the lungs, as it would normally, and to the rest of the body, a situation which cannot be sustained for long.

In cases of HLHS, the right side of the heart often must pump blood to the body through a patent ductus arteriosus. As the ductus arteriosus usually closes within eleven days after birth, blood flow is severely restricted and eventually cutoff, leading to dangerously low circulation and eventually to shock.

Treatment
Without life-prolonging interventions, HLHS is fatal, but with intervention, an infant may survive. A pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon may perform a series of operations or a full heart transplant. In the meantime, the ductus may be kept open to allow blood-flow using medication containing prostaglandin. Because these operations are complex and need to be individualized for each patient, a cardiologist must assess all medical and surgical options on a case-by-case basis.

Currently, infants who undergo either the staged reconstructive surgery (Norwood procedure almost immediately after birth, Glenn procedure at 3 to 6 months of age, and the Fontan procedure at 3 to 5 years of age) or who undergo cardiac transplantation have a 5-year survival of approximately 50-60% (we have seen some research showing survival rates as high as 75%; much of this depends on where the surgery takes place). Further, studies show that about 50% of those children who survive surgery have developmental delay or need special education. About 25% of surgical survivors have severe disabilities.

The traditional three-stage procedure is a palliative procedure (not a cure), as the child's circulation is made to work with only two of the heart's four chambers.

The first step is the Norwood procedure. In this procedure, the right ventricle is used to pump blood into the systemic circulation. Since the right ventricle is no longer directly pumping blood to the lungs, a shunt is required in order to pass deoxygenated blood through the lungs. Either the subclavian artery can be connected to the pulmonary circulation (Blalock-Taussig shunt), or a shunt is made directly from the right ventricle to the pulmonary circulation (Sano shunt). [Olivia had The Sano Shunt.] The narrow aorta is enlarged using a patch to improve blood-flow to the body.

During this time the baby may be medically fragile and have feeding problems because the heart is working very hard. There is a considerable degree of venous mixing in the right ventricle, leading to lower oxygenation saturations. In addition, the Blalock-Taussig shunt and the Sano shunt both expose the lungs to systemic arterial pressures, leading in the long term to pulmonary hypertension and eventually to heart failure.

The second stage, the bi-directional Glenn procedure or Hemi-Fontan (see also Kawashima procedure) relieves some of the above problems. In this operation, the superior vena cava is ligated from the heart and connected to the pulmonary circulation. At this time, the Blalock-Taussig or Sano shunt is taken down. At this point, the lungs are no longer exposed to systemic arterial pressures, but much lower venous pressures. Although venous blood from the upper half of the body is no longer mixing with oxygenated blood in the right ventricle, there is still venous mixing from the lower half of the body, leading to some degree of oxygen desaturation.

During this time the child may have improved quality of life as the heart does not have to work as hard.

The final procedure, the Fontan (Fontan procedure) completes the repair of the hypoplastic left heart. Although there are several variations, the functional effect is to redirect venous blood from the lower body (through the inferior vena cava) away from the right atrium to the pulmonary artery. Now, there should not be any mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the right ventricle. The right ventricle performs the traditional job of the left, supplying the body with oxygenated blood, while the passive systemic venous pressure performs the traditional job of the right, passing deoxygenated blood to the lungs.

The Norwood Procedure is generally performed within a week of birth, the second stage at 3–6 months of age, and the Fontan at 18 months to four years of age. There are two types of Fontan: the Lateral Tunnel Fontan, and the Extracardiac Fontan. When the Fontan Procedure was first being done for children with HLHS, the only Fontan was the Lateral Tunnel Fontan. This requires actual cutting in the heart itself to create a "tunnel" by which the blood can travel passively to the lungs. Within the last decade, doctors have created an Extracardiac Fontan. This operation creates a tunnel outside the heart itself which reduces the chances of Fontan patients developing scar tissue on the heart which might later cause arrhythmias. At this time it is believed Olivia will have the Extracardiac Fontan.

Prognosis
While infants successfully treated for HLHS have a good chance of survival, they may experience chronic health problems for the rest of their lives. The 3-stage surgeries were developed in the early 1980s with no survivors prior to that time. Therefore, the earliest survivors are in their mid 20s and the long term prognosis is unknown. However, the advances in surgical and medical techniques have helped increase the survival rate dramatically since the surgeries were first developed.

As is true for patients with other types of heart defects involving malformed valves HLHS patients run a high risk of endocarditis, and must be monitored by a cardiologist for the rest of their lives to check on their heart function.

The three stage Norwood procedure only increases the life of the heart as HLHS cannot be cured. The child may need a heart transplant at some point in the child's lifetime.
************************************************************************
Well, we have officially entered the 2 ½ week mark until surgery. This also means we are now quarantined. Over the past week we have been very careful where we go and who comes around, but we have still allowed for a bit of fun while we still can. Olivia has enjoyed a lot of time outside with the nice weather we've been having.

Vroom...vroom!

Thomas has also enjoyed some time outside. This is a picture of his very first trip outdoors!

The other day I came outside to tell Steven and Olivia it was time for supper. This is what I found! No wonder she loves playing outside with Daddy!

We've also had plenty of time inside doing crafts, playing with water in the sink, and hanging with family.

Hangin' with Gramps

Playing with our doll house.

We also had a surprise birthday party for Grandma Lynch. Miss Olivia is quite the social butterfly, so she loves helping me plan parties, get everything ready, and entertain our guests.

Thomas has been doing great. He started rolling over a few weeks ago and can roll all over the floor now! He smiles all the time and is just a big sweetie-pie! I call him, Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky. It's hard to believe he will be 6 months old in a few weeks. Since we aren't going to be home, I went ahead and snapped a few pics while we were playing the other day.

Thankfully, Thomas is so laid back, it's going to make getting passed around the next month a little easier on everyone. However, I feel terrible about it. I had thought about having him stay at the hospital with us, but we decided it wouldn't be fair to him or Olivia. I'm still going to have him stay a few nights, but the other nights one of his Grandmas will have him. It's a lot different having to worry about another little one at home as well.

I love this picture...just the way they are so lovingly starring up at one another....It melts my heart.

Many of you have asked how we are holding up. I can't speak for everyone else, but to be completely honest...I'm really not doing so well. I'm usually the one that eventually turns my worries over to God and lets my body go into auto pilot after that. It's gotten me throught the last two surgeries. But, to be painfully honest, I am having a hard time turning over my worries. Every single day my biggest fears swell up in my throat until it is almost too much to bare. I look at my sweet baby girl, trying to memorize every tiny detail. The sound of her laugh, her beautiful blue eyes, the smell of her hair...I am just so afraid...afraid that in two weeks my biggest fears could become a reality. Please pray for us. Please pray the doctors and nurses have all the knowledge they need in succeeding with Olivia's surgery and keeping her as safe and healthy as possible. Please pray for Steve and I as well as the rest of our family. This was tough to do the first two times, but I think this is going to be the toughest by far.

2011-03-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was definitely a long, very hectic day but we survived it! We arrived to the Peds Specialty Clinic early Wed. morning for all of Olivia's pre cath tests. Our first stop was lab, as I'm sure you can imagine, this did not go over very well! After they drew blood, Olivia shot them her best scowl and said, “This room is not a good room.” Ha ha! After a few more things we headed over to the cath lab to talk about the procedure and sign the consent forms. At first, Olivia was in the room as we went over her history and talked about the plans for the day. However, she heard one of the doctors ask me if she was up-to-date on her shots and freaked out, shouting, “Shot! I'm getting another shot?” Needless to say, before we got to the part about all of the terrible things that can happen during the procedure, Olivia and Daddy left the room to go see the fish. This being the first hospital stay she will most likely remember, we we're trying to do all we could to make it the least traumatic experience as possible. Once the Chief Anesthesiologist came in to talk I asked about giving Olivia Versed before they put on the gas mask since that has definitely scared her before. I also asked about a drug called Precidex for after the cath to wake Olivia up nice and calmly. Unfortunately, the anesthesiologist scoffed at this idea from the very beginning. She ended up being very rude to our family and even used some profane language in front of Olivia. Steve told her she was fired as our daughter's doctor. Usually we don't have too many issues at The U, but today we did. Luckily, we were able to get another anesthesiologist about an hour later. While we waited, Olivia got to be carted around by some of her favorite doctors, play with puzzles, and sit on Mama's lap.

This is Miss Olivia getting her blood pressure checked, she is still smiling at this point!

This is Olivia and Dr. Lindsey one of her doctors for the day. She was so good with Liv.

Ahh, the infamous Cath Lab Miracle Worker himself...This is Olivia and Dr. Divekar. He kept teasing her and calling her “Dora.” Finally Olivia shot him that infamous scowl of the day and stuck her little bottom out at him. Ha ha! She was a card!

Just as we were getting ready to take Olivia in, she looked up at Steve and I with her big blue eyes and said, “I don't wanna go to Heaven today.” Holding back tears, Steve and I told her she would not be going to Heaven for a very, very long time. To hear your 3 year old (who suffers from a life threatening heart defect) say this was just heart wrenching. I don't even know how or why she would associate the hospital with Heaven. I guess sometimes these kiddos know a lot more than we think.

About an hour and a half after the cath started we got a page. They found several collaterals (which are growths the body makes to compensate). They ended up coiling off around 50-60% but the others were too small and risky to coil. About an hour later she was done. After this we went up to recovery.

When Olivia woke-up we could hear her screaming and screaming. This really didn't stop for the next 12 hours. I forgot how miserable staying overnight at the hospital can be. Every 30 minutes Olivia would wake-up screaming and thrashing. Anytime the door would open she did the same thing. She said, “I'm trying to be brave!” I told her she was brave and she did a very good job!

Here is Olivia opening her special present.

Some snuggles with Mama as we try to keep her leg straight for 6 hours...Yes, a 3 yo holding still for 6 hours is a task in itself!

The doctors noticed during the cath Olivia kept having what they call PVC's (Premature Ventricle Contractions). She also had these quite a bit afterwords, which kept setting the alarms off. Dr. D talked with Dr. Law and he also saw Olivia has intraventricular cardiac rhythm. The PVC's are not a big deal if they happen once in awhile, but if you get several of them in what they call a “run” it can affect the way the right ventricle squeezes and pumps blood. They sent us home with a 24 hour halter monitor to watch these things. They will be presenting Olivia's case to the surgical team on Monday and we will hopefully have a date for surgery soon after that. We definitely got a taste of what hospital life is like with 3 ½ yo and it's a whole new ball game!

Thanks so much for all of your thoughts and prayers!

2011-03-27T05:23:00.001-07:00

The kiddos are finally feeling better. No more faucet noses, no more terrible cough, and no more waking up 6 times a night because they are completely miserable. Woo hoo! And just in time for Olivia's heart cath next Wednesday too. Whew!

I will say, it's been tough on all of us keeping the kids at home these past 3 weeks. We've been doing lots of projects to keep ourselves busy. On St. Patrick's Day Olivia and I made green eggs for breakfast. She helped me crack the eggs and stir in the food coloring. This girl loves to cook!

Her and Daddy love to whip stuff up in the kitchen Saturday mornings too!

Gram came over on St. Patty's Day and we made Shrinky Dinks. It had been so long, I had forgotten they even existed. When I was looking on Amazon one day I found a few and had to get them. Olivia had such a fun time coloring and watching them bake. We got the Easter set so we were able to make decorations and hang them on the Easter Tree.

Feeling a little more ambitious, and having my mom there with an extra pair of hands, we also tackled making Dirt Dessert. Olivia thought it was so funny we got to put worms in the yucky mud and then eat them!

We've also gotten a bit creative. Here is Olivia's new fort with a “chimley” (Chimney) lookout

Olivia has gotten to use her easel quite a bit here lately too. She loves to paint animals or have us help her write her name.

We've even started making some of our Easter décor. Here is our Easter Bunny chain. Mom had to get a little creative with this one!

Here is Miss Cutie all ready for her camping trip in Grandpa's basement. This was her one venture out the past 3 weeks and she was pretty excited about it!

Olivia is back to being Miss Feisty again. We have been practicing good listening and behaving here this week. Whenever our little Livi-Pie is doing something she's not supposed to and we catch her, she covers her eyes or closes them just as tight as can be. She thinks that if she can't see us, we can't see her either! Oh Boy, she is quite the riot. Her and Thomas have had a few tiffs here lately too. Olivia does not like it if Tom touches one of her toys. She really only likes to share if they are sharing his toys. Ha ha. One day she says, “Thomas is NOT part of this family. I don't want a baby brother....I want a girl!” I said, “Honey, Thomas is too part of this family and we love him very much. He is what God gave us.” Then she felt bad and starts crying, “But, I looove Tom. He IS part of this family!”

Tickles from Sissy!

Thomas has been doing great with his foods. He wasn't too sure about the green beans at first. He took a couple bites and each time he would make a face like he had just taken a bite of a lemon!

He has almost made his way completely over as well. He's rolled from his back to his tummy and rolls to his side quite a bit. He's also getting better at sitting up. He can't quite sit unassisted yet, but he's close!

Wednesday 3/30 is Olivia's heart cath. Please keep her in your prayers (and us for some peace of mind, as any procedure can be stressful). I will do an update later in the week with any news.

Thanks for checking in!

Out & About

2011-02-24T14:27:00.001-08:00

For Valentine's Day we had the pleasure of attending the annual CHD Awareness Day Party at The University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Olivia has such a great time with all of her little heart buddies at this event. It's just a wonderful opportunity to meet other heart kiddos and other parents. Usually we know most of the people there, but this time there were many new faces. We also had a little smaller group due to some of our heart friends having procedures or being ill. But, it was still a great time!

Look at that arm!

Watch out for that lion!

That is one tough candy necklace!

This was pretty neat. They had all the kiddos who were survivors make a hand print and write their name and age. They are planning on taking this banner around to all of the different heart walks.

Olivia, Thomas, myself, and Gram got to go out on our first shopping trip in quite awhile. The kiddos got some clothes and Olivia got a new pair of rain boots.

Good thing we got some rain 'cuz this girl was ready to try out her new boots!

Thomas is still growing so fast. He will be 4 months old on Monday and he's up to a whopping 19 lbs! Last week he tried baby cereal for the first time and loved it! He ate every drop I made. I tell ya, when he gets a little older him and his daddy will being eating us out of house and home! Ha ha.

Recently there has been an ice jam just outside of town. We drove by and this is what we saw. Amazing, isn't it? Olivia thought it was pretty cool. She kept asking, “Have I been to the ice jam before?”

The other day Olivia wanted me to take her picture (which is rare). So, I got out my photo stuff and we had a quick shoot.

Well, that's all for now. Olivia's heart cath is 3/16, please keep her in your prayers. I will update with the results from the cath and any news about surgery.

Until next time...

2011-02-11T18:29:00.001-08:00

Since going back to work we've been trying to make the most of the days we are all home together. Olivia is the type of girl who is always up for anything. Sledding, slumber parties, shopping...you name it. My kind of girl! So, she is always giving us ideas on different things we can do. The other night we got out the air mattress, made homemade pizza, and had a slumber party in the living room.

We also went bowling again. While Aunt Bree was back over Christmas we took Olivia for the first time. It was a blast! Steve and I used to go all the time...I forgot how much fun it is. Olivia thought it was great. She wants to go all the time now. Thomas didn't think it was too bad either. Then again, he's a pretty laid back little guy.

Last week we brought Thomas over to Grandma and Grandpa Spencers while we went to the sledding hill. I hadn't been there since I was a kid. The first time Olivia and I went down the hill I think I screamed more than she did. Ha ha!

On the colder days we've been doing a little baking. Aunt Lisa gave Olivia a cupcake mix and some little heart liners. Livi loves putting on her apron and helping out in the kitchen. She even had me put on an apron this time. It was so cute.

Daddy has shown Olivia how to run the laptop and a keyboard now. She spends some time surfing the Disney website where she plays games, watches video clips, and makes pictures. It's amazing how fast she picked this up. We've tried to show her before but she wasn't all that interested. The computer has seemed to be good for her fine motor skills. Daddy hooked a mouse and keyboard up to our TV so Liv could play her games. She thought it was cool at first, but didn't really like the mouse. She prefers the touch pad on the laptop. Ha ha.

Mr. Thomas is getting to be such a big boy. He was actually sleeping 6-8 hours at night right when he turned 2 months old. I know, amazing huh? These couple weeks he's decided to wake up about every 2-4 hours. I think he's going through a bit of a growth spurt since he usually just wants milk. The last time we were at the doctor he was up to 17lbs 4 oz. On our home scale more recently he was just about 18lbs. Wow! He's so strong. He's been holding his head up well for awhile now and has even started trying to roll over. He's made it to his side, but not all the way over just yet. He has also figured out how to hold onto his toys and even has a favorite. I took his 3 month pics last weekend. Here are a few.

On Wednesday we finally heard from the Cath. Lab. Olivia's heart cath is scheduled for 3/16. I'm glad to have a date in mind, but I'm still not ready to do it. The last time Olivia had one she was 18 months old. It was hard enough then. This time we're going to have to actually explain things before we go. I ordered a going to the hospital sticker book I'm going to get it out a day or two before the procedure. Please keep Olivia in your prayers as well as all of her other heart buddies who are going to be having heart procedures and surgeries...and also our ones recovering as well.

Speaking of these precious little heart kiddos...We got invited to a Valentine's Party over at Ellie's house. Olivia and all of her other heart buddies and their siblings played, decorated cookies, did crafts...It was great. Thanks for hosting, Heidi (and for e-mailing the pics)!

2011-01-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was our Cardiology appointment and echo. I got off work and picked-up Steve and the kids. We got to Iowa City, hauled in the kiddos and our umpteen bags, then got seated. They called Olivia back for her vitals, which is usually a bit of a task. She'll usually sit on my lap and cry while they do her 4 point blood pressure and O2 SATS. This time was different...Our big girl climbed up on the chair all by herself and was a peach the entire time. The nurse blew bubbles to keep Olivia entertained and Olivia talked her ear off, asking all about her appointment.

Once we were done we headed over to the cath lab for her echo. This is where things got tricky. As soon as Liv sat on the table, panic set in. She clung to me and kept saying, "No, no no...." It took some coaxing, but we finally got her to lay down and hold fairly still. After this we headed back to the room and Olivia got to open her super special surprise for being such a good girl. Trudy came in a little while later and took a look at Livi. She was such a good girl, talking to Trudy and playing with her toys while Trudy listened to her heart.

When she was done Trudy took Livi to get a snack, since she was asking for some food. Have I ever mentioned how awesome Trudy is? Then her and Dr. Law took a look at the echo. When they came back in we talked at great length about Olivia and the next open-heart surgery. He also took a look at Miss Livi-Pie, which she didn't mind. When he was listening to her heart, Olivia put her hand on his face and started rubbing his cheek. It was sooo sweet!

Dr. Law felt that her echo looked stable, but the time is coming. With most heart kiddos things don't happen quickly, it's a slow process of decline before things get to the point of surgery. He felt Olivia's body was starting to get ready for it and he thought doing a heart cath sometime in the next couple of months would be a good idea. Dr. Law said this summer is a reasonable time to go ahead with Olivia's 3rd open-heart surgery. We knew it was coming, we just thought we had a little more time...We weren't even supposed to have an appointment until June. But, it is what it is....We have to do this someday and that someday has now become this summer.

2011-01-18T19:00:00.001-08:00

We had a great day last Thursday. After we got up and around, Thomas, Olivia, and I hit the road and drove to see Ellie, Katelyn, and Heidi (cp:elliejoschmidt). It was the perfect day, in fact, it was our longest play date yet. The girls hadn't seen each other since before Christmas, so they were completely engaged in playing kitchen, having a fashion show, and riding in the "train." At one point they disappeared and played quietly in Ellie's room while Heidi and I got a chance to relax and chat. After my first week back at work and some other things adding a bit of stress to our lives, this was exactly the reprieve me and Olivia needed.

"Don't take my picture!" This is just as the fashion show was beginning...

She takes a fall and is still all smiles, what a fashion diva!

All aboard!

Thomas and Katelyn liked checking each other out. There was even some hair pulling, but Thomas didn't seem to mind. These two kiddos are about the most laid back babies I've ever met! Ahhh, we deserve it, Heidi!

Things have been going ok here. It's definitely been a change in routine for everyone with me not getting home until 5:45pm. I've been trying my best to get supper made, baths given, meds ready, and put Thomas to sleep all in the hour and a half I have after work. Sometimes things haven't gotten done, but eventually things will fall into place. Olivia has been such a good helper. She even fed Thomas a bottle the other night (check out lefty holding the bottle!).

As most of you read in the last update, Olivia has been quite tired and out of breath lately. I had been shrugging it off, trying not to worry. However, my husband and now my parents have voiced their concerns to me as well. I figured it was time to send our beloved Cardiology ARNP an e-mail. I told her Olivia's symptoms and let her know her SATS have been in the low 80's (which isn't awful for Olivia). Trudy e-mailed me back a few minutes later and told me we need to bring Olivia in for another evaluation and an echo within the next few weeks. She said Olivia's body may be ready for The Fontan (her 3rd open heart surgery). To say the least, I was shocked. We weren't even due for another appointment until June. I figured Trudy would tell me not to worry too much and to keep an eye on her SATS. We go next wed at 2:00pm for the appointment. Please pray for the doctors and nurses to have all the knowledge they need to proceed in the best possible way for Olivia....

2011-01-04T18:21:00.001-08:00

Hello. Sorry it's been awhile since my last update, but I do have an excuse! Ha ha. Actually, I probably should be getting things ready for next week (back to work) while I have a second, but I wanted to say hi while I could before things get even busier. Olivia is doing well. She has been very busy playing with all of her new things. She's also managed to stay healthy after our outings this past month, thank goodness! However, I've noticed her being quite out of breath the last few weeks. Whether she's singing or running around the house, she will gasp for a breath mid-sentence. Sometimes she will even sit down for a minute and tell us she needs to take a little rest. I suppose it's probably just part of the trend we will see until it's time for her third open-heart surgery. Let's hope it's a very slow trend. I'm just going to keep an eye on her SATS and her and only time will tell.

Olivia has been asking Daddy to take her sledding. These two are always outside together shoveling snow, building snowmen, or what we like to call “improv sledding.” Since we didn't have a sled yet and Daddy's little girl wanted to sled, he got a trash can top and built her a hill in the backyard. Ha ha, only Daddy! *PS We did eventually buy this babe a sled and Daddy took her to the park to go down the big hill!*

Daddy also decided to bury her in the hill!

On December 23rd Thomas had his 8 week check-up. Dr. Rick was all smiles as he reported our “Big Guy” was off the chart for weight. He weighed in at 14 lbs 10 oz, higher than 99.9% of babies his age! Steve and I had to laugh. Both our kids are off the growth charts, just at different ends of the spectrum, ha ha!

The kids have been doing great. They made it through all 4 Christmases without too much of a fuss. Luckily we were able to spread it out, so we didn't have more than one a day.

We hope you all had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. It's a busy time of year, but such a great time of year. I'm always a little sad when it's time to take down the tree. That soft glow of the lights sure warms up an atmosphere. I turned the big 29 New Years Day, so Steve and I got to go out for the night to celebrate New Years Eve. My mom had the kiddos so we got to relax and have fun for the night. It was nice, but I think this is going to be my last recorded birthday, ha ha!

I took a ton of pictures over the Holidays (as I'm sure you could guess). I've narrowed it down and thought I would let the pictures speak for themselves! They do a pretty good job!

Olivia with her new apron and new dollhouse, a few of the new favs!

Tommy and Grt. Grandma Spencer

Christmas morning at our house!

The Art Show! One of Olivia's top picks to ask Santa for.

“Oh boy! A Camera! Now I can be just like Mama!!!!

Yes...our daughter tries to ride our dog! Ha ha!

I'll try to do another update sometime within the next month, although I can't promise anything with starting work again. I'm not used to working 4 days a week instead of three and adding another kiddo in the mix too. It's going to be hard to go back and leave my babies again...but, at least I know they're in good hands with their Grandma's. I feel blessed to have spent a maternity leave at home with my family this time and I'll just have to make the best of it. It always works out...

Take Care

2010-12-16T14:03:00.000-08:00

The weather outside is frightful.

After at least 6 inches of snow here in Eastern Iowa, we are ready to break out the snow pants and boots and start celebrating this wonderful time of year!

We've also hung our ornaments on the tree and decked the halls for Christmas!

Olivia has definitely been in the holiday spirit this year. We are all so excited for Christmas. We've watched “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” nearly every night. Shes even gone to see the light display a dozen times. Olivia also likes for us to tell her about Santa coming on Christmas Eve. She can't wait to bake him some cookies and set out an apple for Rudolph. This will probably be the first Christmas she has any memory of, which makes it even more special.

Thomas has been growing up on us. He's now smiling and cooing quite a bit. He's also found his voice and will let you know if he doesn't like something. He seems to like it when Olivia runs over and makes him laugh. They are really good together. Although sometimes I have to remind Olivia not to squeeze him quite so hard. Ha ha! He's a big boy (now over 14 pounds at 6 weeks), so I don't have to worry about him too much!

Sissy making him laugh

I know this one is blurry, but it was too cute not to show you!

Last weekend Steve celebrated his 30th Birthday. We took a trip to Minneapolis to stay in a hotel and watch The Vikings play on Sunday. As most of you know, Minneapolis got over 17 inches of snow. Needless to say, the trip there was treacherous! We made it there a few hours longer than it usually takes, but we made it. We checked into the Hilton and went to get some supper. Unfortunately there restaurant was short on staff with the weather, so they only had a few things on the menu and a 2 hour wait. So, we decided to venture through the downtown sky way. We stumbled upon a cozy, fancy little place called Ruth's Chris' Steakhouse. It was delicious! When we got back to the hotel we discovered the game had been postponed. We bummed a bit, but headed to The Mall of America the next day so our trip wasn't a total loss. Before we left, we heard the metrodome had collapsed and drove by to check it out. What a crazy weekend! A birthday I'm sure Steve won't soon forget!

The view from our room on the 17th floor. It was magical to see the snow falling from around the sky scrapers.

This Friday we start our rounds of Christmas parties. Olivia can't wait to play with her cousins and open presents. We hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T14:01:00.000-08:00

Things have been pretty fast-paced around here the past three weeks as I'm sure it has in your homes as well. A couple of weeks ago Olivia and I were honored to attend the Go Red For Women Luncheon in Iowa City. We were able to go two years ago and had a wonderful time.

Olivia right as were walking in

Olivia and her best bud and fellow heart friend, Ellie

Olivia and Thomas have spent some quality time getting to know each other the past 3 weeks. She's constantly wanting to hug him or hold him now, which has been great! The other day she ran over to him, gave him a squeeze and said, “I love my baby brother. He's the best Thomas in the whole entire world!” I thought that was just the cutest thing! She has been such a great big sister. She's really growing up a lot right now. Miss Livi-Pie has even insisted she take her meds by herself now. I supervise and try to make sure she doesn't spill a drop, but she's been pretty good about it.

Thomas is growing like a weed. He has already gained almost four pounds since we came home from the hospital. The other day he was 11 pounds 15 ½ ounces without a diaper or clothes!!! Wow, a 12 pound 4 week old! He has also been very interested in his surroundings. He's even started to bat at some of his toys.

We've also spent some time getting ready for the holidays. Would you believe I am now officially done with my Christmas shopping? I know...Usually I'm not this good, but I started back in September. I knew I wouldn't have as much time to go out and shop this fall so I wanted to make sure I got done all that I could. It's hard to believe the holidays are just around the corner. I've been so preoccupied with my little ones it kind of snuck up on me! This is such a wonderful time of year. I can't wait to put up our decorations. There's something those lights and garland do to the atmosphere. It really makes a person all warm and fuzzy inside!

This holiday season makes us appreciate all that we have and how truly blessed we are. Tomorrow we will celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time as a family of four. We will be able to spend time with our families and enjoy one anothers company. We have so much to be thankful for.

I'm thankful for Olivia. She's such an amazing little girl who has taught our family so much. Through those dark and desperate times she showed us the importance of faith and holding each other close. She taught us about friendship, hope, love, and generosity. If it wasn't for Olivia we wouldn't have been able too see and appreciate all the small things in life.

When Thomas was born our eyes were opened to what Olivia truly went through. We knew she had endured so much, but once you go through the process of having a baby without complications it makes you realize just how different it is. I was able to hold Thomas the minute he was born. With Olivia we weren't able to hold her for the first time until she was 4 days old...the night before her first open-heart surgery. In fact, I told Steve the other night, I could probably count the amount of times I held Olivia on one hand when she was Thomas' age. I can't even count how many times I've held Thomas. Olivia was very fragile for a very long time. She was on paralysis medication until she was Thomas' age. She couldn't move or even open her eyes to look at me. She was helpless. Now, she's a thriving three year old. Looking at Olivia you would only see a sweet, smart, beautiful little girl. Not a poor innocent child who fought so hard to survive.

I'm also thankful for Thomas. The Lord definitely blessed us with a happy, hungry, little man. He's a lot like his Mama...laid back! It's so nice to have him home and be able to enjoy our time together as a family. He's started making these adorable little coo's here lately and has even given up a few smiles!

I'm thankful for Steven. Not only is he an adoring husband, but a wonderful father. He stands by his family and protects us through thick and thin. He's always been my rock in the storm. He's here to fix the dishwasher, carry in the groceries, read to the kids, listen to me when I need him to, and tuck Olivia in at night. His list of honey do's never ends, yet he still shows up for 'work' with a smile.

I'm also thankful for my parents and Steve's. I couldn't ask for better people to help us raise our children. They're always here when we need them, no matter what the problem may be.

And we can't forget our church family and friends. They've kept us afloat through our journey and we wouldn't have been able to make it without them. I'm so thankful to have such caring, generous, and kind people surrounding our family.

May you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

1 week

2010-11-05T13:38:00.003-07:00

This first week has flown by, it's hard to believe Mr. Thomas is already 8 days old. During this first week he got to experience Halloween. Him and Livi dressed up as Mickey & Minnie. Daddy took Olivia out trick-or-treating and Thomas and I held down the fort.

Mickey & Minnie

Olivia, Big Mickey, & Lil Mickey

Pluto (Aunt Bree) & Minnie

Thomas also had his first check-up on Tues. At 5 days old he weighed 9lb 5 oz, which is over a pound heavier than his birth weight! Dr. Rick was surprised and excited. We spent some time talking about the normal newborn things, since this is new to us. Olivia wasn't released from the hospital until she was 41 days old, so things are definitely different this time. I told him being the slightly paranoid heart mom I am, I went ahead and used Olivia's SAT monitor to check Thomas. I figured since they didn't do it in the hospital (since the prenatal echo was fine and they didn't hear a murmur after he was born) I'd do it. I told him I was getting 93% and wondered if that was "normal" for a newborn. He said it wasn't, but he didn't think it was a true reading. Dr. Rick felt the monitor wasn't picking up correctly or the probe wasn't right for Thomas. He smiled and told me to relax. He said I'm a good mom and to trust my instincts, but Thomas is perfect and to enjoy it. He laughed and told me a healthy baby doesn't need spot checks and not to do it again or I'll drive myself crazy! Dr. Rick also said he didn't need to see us for 2 whole months! Wow...

Olivia has been doing fairly well with sharing the spotlight. She still wants the attention, but she's been a big help. The other day Grandma watched Thomas and Olivia and I had a girls day. We just spent a couple of hours doing what she wanted to do.

Thomas pretty much sleeps all day. He eats anywhere from 2-4 oz every couple of hours and goes back to sleep. At night he wakes up every 2 hours and other times he will sleep for 3 or 4. He's pretty laid back and overall a really good baby!

Thanks for all of your thoughts, prayers, cards, and gifts. We love you guys! I will leave you with some of Thomas' 1 week pics!

1 week

2010-11-05T13:38:00.001-07:00