Five Little Blessings

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

2012-02-07T08:44:00.000-06:00

Today kicks off CHD Awareness Week as a part of February's American Heart Month. Just a few short years ago, I had never heard of "CHD's", and today I am mother to a CHD miracle!

So to recognize the week, I wanted to take a few moments to share some information about Congenital Heart Defects and the difference we can make to help save our children.

Did you know that congenital heart defects are common?
Congenital heart defects are conditions present at birth that affect how a baby's heart is made and the way it works. They are the most common type of birth defects. In the United States, about 40,000 infants are born with a heart defect each year.

Did you know that some heart defects can be found before birth, some at birth, or some after a baby leaves the hospital?
Some congenital heart defects can be found before birth. Knowing if a baby has a heart defect before birth can help families plan for the future. Some heart defects can be found at birth, because they can cause a baby to have bluish tinted nails or lips or troubled breathing. Also, some heart defects potentially can be detected in babies soon after birth using pulse oximetry screening, which is a test to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood and pulse rate. Certain hospitals screen all babies soon after birth using pulse oximetry screening. However, pulse oximetry screening is not required in most states. Other heart defects might have no signs at birth and are not found until later in life, during childhood or even adulthood. If a health care provider (a doctor or nurse) thinks a congenital heart defect is present, the baby can have several tests to diagnose the defect.

Did you know that congenital heart defects can greatly affect the finances not only of the families involved, but of everyone?
In the United States, hospital costs for people with a heart defect were about $1.4 billion in one year. Families and the government share the burden of these costs, which means that all taxpayers are affected. Other costs due to lost wages or work limitations can affect families and businesses as well.

Did you know that people with congenital heart defects are living longer?
As medical care and treatments have advanced, infants with heart defects are living longer and healthier lives. Many now are living into adulthood. About one million adults in the United States are living with a congenital heart defect. It is important for children and adults living with a congenital heart defect to see a heart doctor regularly throughout their lives.

Did you know that some congenital heart defects can be prevented?
The cause of most congenital heart defects is unknown. Some babies have heart defects because of changes in their genes or chromosomes. They also might be caused by a mix of genes and other risk factors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Birth Defects Prevention Study has found that women who are obese, have diabetes, or smoke during pregnancy increase their chances of having a baby born with a heart defect. A woman can take some important steps before and during pregnancy to help prevent congenital heart defects. She can work to get to and stay at a healthy weight, control diagnosed diabetes, quit smoking, and take folic acid daily. These actions can reduce the risk of having a baby with a congenital heart defect.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The first step we can take to help these tiny patients is PRAYER. Please keep them especially in your prayers during this week, and check back in the coming days for other things YOU can do to save a life!

.... Because no parent should ever have to see their child like this:

December 2008

June 2009

July 2010

[Big] Baby Six

2012-02-06T11:40:00.001-06:00

It has been a while since I updated on our new baby, though it seems I complain about pregnancy every chance I get. Today we are only eight ~~short~~ long weeks away from meeting our latest addition face-to-face! It depends on who you talk to; some will say "Wow, so soon!" and others "Eight weeks still? Gosh, it looks like that baby is ready to come NOW!" Of course, I personally can't wait to get our Little Blessing out of my belly and into my arms. I have never made it all the way to my due date... Alex was born a month early and each of our subsequent children kept getting closer and closer until Zachary was induced just two days ahead of schedule! So the trend predicts we may have to wait the full eight weeks, or perhaps even into the early part of April (ugh...)

On the health front, everything looks fabulous as far as we can tell. Our sonogram months ago revealed a full four-chambered heart, and a follow-up echocardiogram a few weeks later showed nothing out of the ordinary. This morning we had another sonogram to check baby's growth and "environmental conditions" in my tummy. The good news, still, is that baby looks very healthy (though we can't necessarily rule out some defects). The, well, surprising news is that baby is HUGE!!! At our sono two months ago, he/she was measuring in the 75th percentile for gestational age, and today baby measured in the 90th!!! That's right, folks, I'm told we have a 5 lb. 8 oz. baby swimming around in there, with still two months to cook! This blows my mind, as our first son was born weighing a mere 5 lbs. However, our babies progressively got bigger until Sammy tipped the scales at a whopping 9 lbs! (Zachy was a little smaller at 6 lb. 12 oz. due to his heart condition.) I guess the baby size makes me feel a bit more justified in complaining about how uncomfortable I've become; afterall, at 5' 2" I'M certainly not in the 90th percentile for size! And I'm a little concerned that baby will actually be able to fit through the birth canal, but we have a great doctor and will be doing follow-up sonos just to be sure.

As far as pregnancy goes, I have been anything but graceful and comfortable the past seven months. Once the nausea and vomiting subsided somewhere around 16-17 weeks, a terrible, untreatable heartburn settled in. And once that went away, I was simply HUGE and uncomfortable. I can tell my immune system is functioning in low gear, because I have suffered colds and sinus infections almost constantly since before Christmas. While my children seem to be unstoppable by a little runny nose and cough, they seem to bring me to a grinding halt.

And then there's the big belly, the general discomfort, pressure, and sometimes outright pain of another human being taking up residence around my waist. What they say must be true: it's like stretching a rubber band. The more kids you have, the bigger (faster) you become. I'm not getting any younger, and this body of mine keeps reminding me day after day.

BUT... I have to stop and shake a finger at myself for whining. I'm uncomfortable and unproductive, but in reality things are going super. The baby is healthy and strong, and I haven't suffered from diabetes, hypertension, anemia, edema, or any of the more serious complications that plague many women. Unlike Zachary, the baby can be delivered here, in town, and come home to meet his brothers just a couple days later. We have room in our home and lots of love to go around. My hope of having a sixth child will soon be a reality!

We're still working on names, but have narrowed that down. We jumped the "Christmas" hurdle and got a few more boxes unpacked and space cleared out over winter break. We made it through Sammy's birthday celebration and have just two more birthdays to celebrate before baby comes. I suppose the next step is to set up the bassinet, launder my sweet, soft baby sleepers, and buy a pack of newborn diapers (or maybe size 2 or 3 just in case...) And then wait and pray for d-day to go off without a hitch.

Samuel, The Boy Wonder

2012-01-31T14:56:00.000-06:00

Sammy took his 5-year portraits today, and he managed to sneak one of his favorite costumes (which is two sizes too small) into the studio. We think it personifies him to a T!

Always out to save the day!

Sweet... but sassy!

Can you say "ornery?"

5... going on 15!

Sammy, you're growing up way too fast!

A WHOLE Handful

2012-01-20T13:35:00.000-06:00

Today Samuel James is officially a whole handful. That's right, my little man is FIVE YEARS OLD! Wow, how quickly time flies, as it seems only yesterday we were braving the snow and icy roads in a rush to the hospital, fearing we might not make it on time. And just a few hours later we welcomed a beautiful, healthy, BIG nine-pound baby into our family!

Our big baby kept growing and growing, and soon earned the nickname "Porkchop" (thanks to Daddy.)

Today Sammy is still big for his age and amazes us with an insight well beyond his years. He loves to draw, color, and write and "helps" out with his little brother. Sammy has an interest in fashion (though he isn't well skilled at pairing outfits,) and changes his clothes several times a day. Among his favorite outfits are the bright blues and reds that make him a superhero! Samuel loves to swim and ride his bike, and he's always up for a new challenge. But watch out, as he has a mind of his own and will certainly protest anything he doesn't like!

"Five" has always been a hard birthday for me as a mom. It's that grand milestone that marks the end of your babies at home, the coming of school age, and well, it's simply

A WHOLE HANDFUL!!!

Happy birthday, sweet Samuel! We love you and are so proud of the young man you have become!

Ka-POW!!!

2012-01-18T08:10:00.000-06:00

Last week Zachy had a little run-in with the corner of a table. His injury wasn't that bad, but it looks horrendous thanks to the blood-thinning aspirin he takes. We could only hold him still for all of three minutes to inspect the damage and apply ice, and then it was off to the races again! There's no holding him back...

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

I think it's getting better... don't you???

"I Aweady Potty-Twained!"

2012-01-13T09:35:00.000-06:00

My New Year's Resolution: Teach Zachy to use the potty--BEFORE we soon welcome another little diaper-donning dude (or damsel.) It was a goal I had hoped to accomplish months ago, but the awful sickness that pregnancy brings made such a job impossible. So, once we had gotten through the Christmas season and the big boys were back in school, I decided to give it another go.

I loaded up on cheap made-in-China bribes from the dollar store. I purchased way-too-pricey Pull-Ups that were supposed to get cold and uncomfortable when wet. I laid on the peer pressure: "Your cousins Adam and Kyler already use the big-boy potty, and they are three, too!" I bought a brand-new toddler-sized potty rim for our bathroom, and parked the portable potty seat right in front of the T.V. But the turning point was school. Believe it or not, Zachary is pumped to go to school. Three days a week he accompanies his big brother Samuel to his classroom, and three days a week I fight battles to pull Zachy out of that classroom so the Pre-K day can begin. And I promised: "When you are using the big-boy potty, you can go to school, too. School won't take kids in diapers."

So, literally over the weekend, Zachary decided to grow up. He taught himself how to let it out, how to hold it, and how to sound the alarm when it's time to go. He learned how to pull up and put on his big-boy pants (there is nothing so cute as a little tush is size 2 underwear), and he certainly got the hang of requesting pee-pee treats and poopy presents. He even wakes up dry after naps and in the morning! He's my big boy now, and I am one very proud mama.

So this morning, as we took Sammy to school and I attempted to sneak away, Zachy protested:

"I'nna go at Sammy's school! I AWEADY POTTY-TWAINED!!!"

Holiday Letter 2011

2011-12-21T08:47:00.001-06:00

Wow, what a year it has been! With the craziness that is going on around here, we nearly decided to take Christmas cards out of our schedule. But keeping in touch with our friends and family around the holidays is a priority we simply can’t write off! So we hope our greeting finds you all happy and healthy, awaiting the peace and joy that only the Christ child can bring.

Our year started off in full force with the sale of our beloved home of ten years.

We were sad to leave behind such an important part of our lives, but our family had since expanded and we needed a little more space! So in early March the whole herd picked up and moved a mere 2½ miles southwest. We love our new house, the bigger, fenced yard, the quiet (and safer!) cul-de-sac, and the friendly neighbors!

We chose not to take a “real” family vacation this year so we could focus on getting settled and save some cash. Instead, when school let out in May we packed our bags for a few days in Minneapolis to attend a wedding and spend some time with Steve’s family. Though we didn’t call it “vacation,” the boys had a blast playing with their cousins, visiting with Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, and uncles, and exploring the Mall of America.

When we got home, summer was in full force already, and what a summer we had! After record-setting low temperatures and lots of snowfall this past winter, Wichita experienced the HOTTEST SUMMER EVER with 53 days above 100 degrees. It was a hot season at the ball diamonds for Joseph’s first year of machine pitch, but he and his brothers didn’t mind too much because they spent nearly every day at our neighborhood pool! Little Sammy, who was afraid to go in the water at the end of May, was swimming on his own and jumping into the pool just two weeks later. Even Baby Zach couldn’t be held back, and he would run and jump and splash his way around the pool with his little inner tube. Alex, David, and Joseph spent most of their summer in the “deep end” playing for hours on end and developing a beautiful bronze tan despite our best efforts to keep them covered with sunscreen.

In June, Steve reached the ripe ~~old~~ young age of 40 and we had a surprise party to celebrate! We felt blessed that Steve’s parents could make it down for the event and so many friends, family, and colleagues were able to stop by and offer their ~~condolences~~ congrats.

We were just starting to feel like we were getting settled into our new place and getting a grip on the chaos we call life when big changes came again. We soon found we are expecting Little Blessing #6, and the timing couldn’t have been better! But with a new baby comes a difficult pregnancy, and Michelle spent late summer and the better part of fall sick and SLOW. The unpacking, organizing, and decorating had to go on hold (for probably another year) and we are simply trying to stay on top of the basics such as feeding and clothing the boys and schoolwork. Fortunately our 20-week sonogram of Baby revealed a beautiful four-chambered heart, so we are very hopeful that this time our child won’t have to undergo the agonizing surgeries that Zachy endured.

As the weather turned cooler this fall, Steve kept himself busy planting trees in our backyard and trying to breathe new life into our lawn that the heat and the dog had somewhat destroyed. Alex decided to give Tae-Kwon-Do a try, and he has plans to someday soon test for black belt.

David decided to give the sport a go as well, so our latest challenge is separating the two when they get into a kicking-and-punching martial arts dual.

Joseph is doing well in the second grade and has the unique ability to relate well to both the older and younger set of brothers.

Sammy is in Pre-K this year and enjoyed his first official soccer season!

Zachary turned three in early December and behaves just like any other child his age! We are thankful that his heart condition doesn’t seem to slow him down the least bit, though I sometimes use it as the ~~excuse~~ reason as to why he is still in diapers.

We have certainly had our share of challenges and sorrow this year in addition to the excitement and incredible joy that come with raising a household of little boys. It is definitely a juggling act where we often drop the balls. But we feel incredibly blessed to be entrusted to their care, and at the end of the day the only regret we have is how fast time with our children seems to fly.

Our wish for our family and for each of you this Christmas season is to slow down a bit, to be thankful for what we have, and to enjoy the time we have with each other. Our thoughts and prayers for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Much love,

The Hagerotts

Zachy's 3-yr. Portraits

2011-12-19T12:58:00.001-06:00

Loverboy, you melt my heart!!!

Christmas Prayers

2011-12-15T08:53:00.000-06:00

I have been feeling sorry for myself and for my family lately... sorry that I am so big, fat, and tired that I don't have the energy for the Christmas I had dreamed of in our new house. Sorry that we are having problems at school that put a damper on the holiday spirit. Sorry that I may have to cancel Zachary's three year-old pictures yet a second time because a nasty rash on his eyelid won't go away.

But then I am reminded that there are families this time of year facing tougher challenges, like Baby Robert who is recovering from yesterday's surgery to repair a ventricular septal defect.

His family are friends from our church and his older sister also underwent two open-heart surgeries as an infant. I think back to our similar experience just three years ago, and how I promised myself to always keep the holiday season in perspective.

I am reminded of all those families who never took their child home from the hospital. And my heart especially goes out to those who are celebrating their first Christmas without a child, such as our friends the Deans.

Please keep these families and all those who are facing extraordinary circumstances this year in your prayers. And rest assured, as we speak from personal experience, that your prayers will be answered and bring peace to these families in need.

God bless you and your family during this holy season!

Happy Birthday, Zachary!

2011-12-02T09:26:00.001-06:00

No way--my sweet baby boy turns THREE YEARS OLD today! Zachy has certainly come a long way in such a short time. I never will forget how we waited in eager anticipation--and fear--of our sweet baby's arrival. He came bright and early on a cold fall morning, and right from the start he was a fighter. He was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and scared us with his dusky-blue color. But the doctors and nurses were quick to act, and Zachy's strong set of lungs helped him to pink up in a matter of minutes!

Over the next few days, months, and years Zachary kept fighting and defying the odds time and time again. Today he is a happy, healthy, sweet, and independent little boy who is looking forward to becoming a big brother!

Tonight we will have a quiet celebration with Daddy and his brothers, and tomorrow we will meet with extended family at a pizza parlor for a super-hero party, with a Spider-Man cake and cupcakes that Zachy himself made!

Happy birthday, miracle boy! We love you!

Angel Aiya

2011-11-22T15:05:00.001-06:00

Many of you have been following the story of Baby Aiya, an HLHS baby from Wichita who had heart surgery this past Friday. My heart aches to inform that she passed away on Saturday.

I don't know the details regarding her complications, but our experience tells it is quite common for babies to develop a blood clot in their shunt or suffer a stroke after surgery. We know that she was under specialized care post-op and are hopeful she did not suffer. However, her parents suffer greatly.

On Sunday our entire family attended her funeral. It was quite a unique experience for the boys and us, as we had never before attended a Muslim service. But grief knows not the boundaries of race or religion, so we were glad we could attend and offer her parents our condolences and prayers. Please continue to keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

We take for granted how blessed we are. Hug your babies, and enjoy the company of your loved ones this Thanksgiving holiday.

The Greatest Veteran

2011-11-18T11:57:00.001-06:00

It has been a week of tears.

On Veteran's Day last week, just two days after his 93rd birthday, the Greatest Veteran passed away. My beloved Grandpa Frank, who served courageously in World War II, went suddenly and unexpectedly, but peacefully in his sleep. It came as a shock to us all. Grandpa was old, but he was ever strong and such an integral part of our family. He left an amazing legacy to his five children, thirteen grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren, and we were blessed to have known him for so many years.

It has been a tough week for my boys, especially the oldest three. They remember so many visits with Gramps--the stories he told, the treats he offered, the love he gave us--and to see him finally resting in peace hit them hard. But we all took comfort in the fact that he went peacefully, and that the extended family spent time with him on his birthday just last Wednesday. During his services we reminisced about his incredible life through laughter and tears. And finally, he was laid to rest with full military honors.

Please keep my grandma especially in your prayers. She suffers with Alzheimer's and does not really understand what is going on. The family is having a difficult time making decisions about her care.

Grandpa, you will live in our hearts forever. We love you!

Grandpa (left) and a buddy in the Philippines during WWII

Grandpa (centerfold guy) and some of his brothers

Grandpa and my dad at the family restaurant

Grandma and Grandpa on their wedding day

Grandma and Grandpa, Thanksgiving 2005

Grandpa and Grandma with our newly baptized Samuel

Grandpa and my four oldest at his 90th birthday celebration

The grandsons bring Grandpa to his resting place

Zachy folds his hands in prayer

My dad is presented Grandpa's flag

Surgery!!!

2011-11-17T17:47:00.001-06:00

THANK YOU ALL for your prayers, success stories, and words of support for the family of Baby Aiya. It was your help I'm sure that gave her parents the hope and strength to opt for life-saving surgery. Last Friday, November 11 Aiya was taken by jet to Kansas City Children's Mercy where she will undergo the Norwood procedure tomorrow.

Zachy makes a new heart friend

Please continue to pray for this beautiful child and her worried parents. This is an exceptionally risky surgery for Aiya and she will need your intercessions!!! Updates to follow.

Day of Miracles

2011-11-09T09:05:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was indeed a day of miracles, from the good news we got in our sonogram, to Joseph's idea to clean the house after school, to the beautiful snowfall we received so early in the season. But most miraculous of all was the beautiful child we met last night.

We learned of Baby Aiya's situation only yesterday. She is firstborn to a young couple who are far from home, from a country far away and a culture very different from our own. Only weeks ago was she diagnosed prenatally with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a condition very similar to Zachary's in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. Like Zachy, unless she undergoes at least three open-heart surgeries, this sweet baby will not survive. Most HLHS babies have to be put on some sort of life support such as a ventilator and medication within hours of birth. Only after they stabilize to life outside the womb are they taken to surgery, which is typically a few days later.

Aiya's parents were shocked to receive the diagnosis, and in much the same way we were presented Zachy's options, the doctor drew them a picture of her heart and bluntly told them she would need surgery. They were given no information about the success rates of these surgeries, nor were they given any hope that Aiya could lead a relatively normal and less-than-miserable life afterwards. Her parents seemed convinced that she would face certain death, either in surgery or later, and could not bring themselves to submit Aiya to surgery.

So last night we took Zachary to the hospital to meet these worried parents, to show them that there is so much hope, to try to explain things in a way that local doctors either couldn't or just didn't know. We were prepared to meet the parents outside of the ICU, to hear of their daughter, now almost two weeks old, intubated and hooked up to the many machines, monitors, and medications that keep these babies alive. Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw.

Once we arrived at the nurses' station, we saw one very proud father holding a small pink bundle, and a beautiful baby free of any tubes or wires wrapped inside. As we sat down with her parents, we came to understand that Aiya is breathing completely on her own, without even supplemental oxygen, that she is currently not on any medication to sustain her, and that she vigorously nurses her bottle every couple of hours. Steve and I could not believe it... we had to ask again what was indeed her diagnosis. Her parents told us she does in fact have HLHS and a very restricted aorta (just 1mm compared to the normal 10mm for a newborn.) But her cardiologist had told them that at this point she is doing fine on her own, and that she may be able to go several weeks without medication. Incredible!

Still, Aiya's heart will inevitably fail without intervention. And her parents believe her fate is sealed whether or not she undergoes surgery. We introduced them to Zachy, we shared our stories of other HLHS kids we know, we told them that our local doctors don't understand the miracles that surgeons perform on these tiny patients. And I think--I hope and pray--that our conversation inspired them. But still, they pointed out the differences between Aiya and Zachy, and they are right. So we promised them even more stories of children, of adolescents and adults, with Aiya's very diagnosis, who underwent the Norwood procedure, who are leading normal and active lives.

Heart families, won't you please help us in supporting this family? We want to provide hope and share your stories to help them understand Aiya could enjoy a very bright future! If you would like to share your story or that of someone you know, please contact us in the message form below or send me an e-mail. Thanks to all of you who have already responded to my Facebook post; I will pass your information along.

We all know that miracles happen everyday... let's support this family and the precious blessing entrusted to them!

Incredible Baby News

2011-11-08T14:15:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends, this was the day we have been long awaiting. The day we looked to with dread, but also with a great deal of hope. The day we got a first glimpse at our new baby's heart. The day we found out that our newest little blessing has a STRONG heart that is beating with

FOUR BEAUTIFUL CHAMBERS!!!

The four dark spots above are baby's four pumping chambers!

We are not completely out of the woods yet... in a few weeks we will go for a complete fetal echocardiogram, but even some smaller cardiac defects cannot be detected before birth. Still, we are rejoicing today at the news that more serious defects such as single ventricle and transposition of the great arteries can be ruled out! What's more, the rest of baby looks healthy, too! The only place we didn't look was between the legs... that will be a surprise we keep for later :-)

You formed my inmost being;
You knit me in my mother's womb.

I praise you, so wonderfully you made me;

Wonderful are your works! --Psalm 139

THANK YOU for all your prayers, and please continue to keep Baby Six and our family in your intentions.

Yet in our time of rejoicing, we have learned that another local family is facing some dreadful challenges. A former co-worker of Steve's just learned that their week-old infant suffers from Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a condition very similar to Zachary's. The family is faced with some difficult decisions regarding surgery for their child. Please pray that their doctors keep them informed, that they are filled with hope for the future, and that they make decisions to give their precious child a fighting chance at a normal life. We hope that Zachy's story and the stories of our brave heart hero friends will give them the inspiration they seek.

Trick or Treat!

2011-11-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

Little Zachary, you have always been my hero, but now you are my superhero!!!

One day a couple weeks ago I was talking to Zachary about the upcoming holiday. I asked him what he was going to say as he walked up to each house, and he replied:

"Give me something good to eat! I pull down you unnerwear!"

Shocked, I asked him, "Zachy, did your crazy brothers teach you that?"

"No," he told me. "Gamma tell me that." Alas, it was true. My mother admitted later that afternoon.

Why do the older ones always prefer the dark and creepy costumes?

Who are those masked men?

And finally, in honor of today's All Soul's Day and yesterday's Feast of All Saints, let us remember in a special way all those brave children, men, and women who have lost their courageous battle with congenital heart defects. May they look down on us with their now-perfect hearts and give us strength to face our challenges.

Trudging Through the Fall

2011-10-31T12:45:00.000-05:00

It has been a HARD several months. I love our children, but when it comes to pregnancy, I would rather pass. And with my added years, pregnancy just gets more and more difficult. It's not just hard on me; it's hard on the entire family. But life must go on even if I'm not at the top of my game... the children must be fed, school projects completed, extracurricular activities attended, laundry washed.... and thanks to my saintly husband, family, and friends, we are trudging along. And we are pulling through.

Still, at our slow pace, we have been busy this fall! Here's an update and some of our favorite pictures from the (aaahhhh.....) cooler season:

Alex decided to give Tae-Kwon-Do a go this fall, and he is really excelling and enjoying the new sport! He recently made his first big step to a yellow belt and loves to threaten his brothers: "If you're not nice to me, I'll Tae-Kwon-Do you!" I have never seen him work so hard physically with such a smile on his face! He also keeps busy with the school's Lego Mindstorms Robotics team (which Daddy coaches), and is breezing through the sixth grade. This boy is doing algebra and studying the atomic periodic table--things in my day were reserved for high school!

David has really been shaping up this fall with the Swim Academy. That boy can glide through the water several hundred meters at a time, while I get tired just watching him swim one lap! He is also somewhat of a "Dog Whisperer" and loves hanging out with and taming our crazy puppy. He is enjoying the fourth grade and doing fairly well, even though sitting still in class and concentrating can be a real challenge for him. Though he is growing older and definitely not a "little boy" anymore, David still remembers how much I love big hugs and kisses and is still not "too cool" to show me affection.

Joseph is breezing through the second grade and always has something intriguing to tell me that he learns in class each day. His favorite after school activity, second only to eating and eating and eating, is running around outside with our neighbors and enjoying the cooler fall temperatures. Joseph is easy to please and so happy-go-lucky, it's sometimes hard not to overlook him when we are "fighting" other battles in the household. His toughest challenges right now are growing in adult teeth in front (they are taking their time) and dealing with his awful seasonal allergies.

Sammy started Pre-K this fall and is also an up-and-coming soccer star. He, too, has really hit a growth spurt and developed quite a voracious appetite. When he's home, he helps keep Zachary entertained and shows him how to be a superhero! Samuel amazes us with his more grown-up insights and is such a busy boy... it is hard to believe he is still only four years old! He is really looking forward to Halloween and Christmas this year!

Zachary is my sweet baby and my little stinker all at once. Every day that he asserts his energy and his toddler independence and attitude, I thank God he is living a normal life. He talks nonstop (makes me wonder why I was concerned about his speech just months ago?) and GOES nonstop all day, less nap time. And we are finally having some potty-time success, but just when I start to get excited, he fill his pants. Oh well, the time will come, I keep reassuring myself. Zachy is so excited to be Spider-Man this Halloween, and really seems to understand the holidays this year.

Number Six is growing and kicking, just as he (or she) should at this point. He has sure turned our household upside down for being so small! We are asking for lots and lots of prayers for his health, as our 20 week sono is November 8 and we hope to see a beautiful four-chambered heart. We also need name ideas... it seems we have exhausted our options (we have already been through the alphabet, A-Z) so if you have any suggestions for classic, traditional names please pass them along!

Toothless Joe tames our psycho puppy

Sammy gets full of mud on one of our last warm days

David found a friend at Daddy's company picnic

Samuel enjoys the tree house at Botanica

Pumpkin patch time!

Joseph and Alex... lost in the corn maze?

Uh oh... emergency diaper change!

Daddy is about to capsize the boat...

Local CHD heart children and their siblings

Zachy loves Chipotle!!!

Alex tests for (and earns!) his yellow belt

Brain Surgery

2011-09-28T12:57:00.000-05:00

Please keep one of our special heart friends in your prayers over the coming weeks. Baby Colton is a fellow Wichitan who has been through two open-heart surgeries to repair a defect similar to Zachary's. He was recently diagnosed with hydrocephalus, one of his many complications resulting from a stroke shortly after his first open-heart surgery. Colton and his family will be heading back to Ann Arbor on Friday to undergo testing and shunt surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain. This is an especially risky procedure because of his heart condition.

Colton is a happy and adorable 14 month-old boy!

We have long known Colton's family, even in the years B.C. (Before Children,) for I used to be roommates with his mom's best friend, and graduated from high school with his aunt. It's a small world, even among CHD families! So we are asking all of our blog readers and in particular Zachary's supporters to pray for Colton and his family in a special way these next few weeks. Please stop by his CarePage here for updates on his procedures and to offer your messages of support and comfort to the family.

As for Mr. Zachary, we are very fortunate to report he is doing well and looking forward to becoming a big brother. The only complaint we have at this point is his unwillingness to use the potty. But we are blessed that he is happy and healthy heading into the fall, and we're determined to make it through cold and flu season without any complications!

Help Save a Life... Become an Organ Donor

2011-09-14T14:31:00.000-05:00

Some of you may remember Tommy Schomaker, a little boy (Alex's age) that was in the hospital recovering from a recent heart transplant when Zachary was going through his Hemi-Fontan (second surgery.) Tommy has been doing great, and in fact came to visit Zachary in the hospital last summer:

Just two weeks ago, Tommy met the family of his heart donor, and a very emotional and inspiring event it was! When I saw this segment that the Detroit NBC affiliate aired on the encounter, tears streamed down my face and I just had to share:

Click this link to view video

Please, please consider organ donation! One person can save the lives of many...

Tommy and Audrey, you are our heroes!

Calling All Camera Owners!

2011-09-13T13:52:00.000-05:00

I need your advice!

In our twelve years of marriage, Steve and I have owned just about as many cameras as we have children. And all the while we continued to upgrade our photo-snapping gadgets, we have never made the jump from point-and-shoot. But with a new baby on the way, and five other good reasons to take the best pictures possible, I have started to consider a digital SLR. I'm thinking about asking Santa for an upgrade this year, but I'm just not sure it's in the budget.

So I come asking you, friends, family, and strangers alike for your expertise. Now I know that some of you who read our blog are very talented professional photographers, and I value your opinion greatly. But I would also like the amateur photo-snapper to grace me with your advice:

What type of camera do you own? Why did you choose this particular model?

What features do you consider most important when upgrading from a point-and-shoot? How much "extra" would you pay for them? I myself would like to be able to adjust the aperture to provide for "softer" pictures where the background is sometimes blurred. I would also like a camera that does better in lower-light setting such as indoor gatherings. What else should I consider?

Almost all the pictures I post are from our Panasonic Lumix, which is not a bad little point-and-shoot. How much "better" would these photos have turned out if taken with an SLR?

Do you feel the better features of your SLR merit its higher price tag? In other words, is it worth the ~~expense~~ investment?

For the pictures you see us take, is there a particular model you would recommend? (Perhaps I would venture out more with a fancier camera and some photography classes under my belt...)

And to clarify, I'm planning to use this camera for personal photos... I'm hoping simply to breathe a little more life into the memories we make so that when our children are old, grown, and hairy, I'll remember the sweet babies they once used to be!

Thank you for your advice and comments, and stay tuned... if Santa has me on his "nice" list there will be more pictures to come!

What WAS I Thinking???

2011-09-08T15:06:00.001-05:00

I hate this. It is the perfect afternoon for a nap... Samuel and Zachary are sleeping, the house is QUIET, and I so desperately need sleep. But I can't. It's the curse of pregnancy. If I don't get my rest this afternoon, I know it's going to be a terrible evening. But I simply cannot turn off my mind.

My thoughts turn to everything but the housework, fortunately, which is also in desperate need of attention. I'm thinking back to a conversation Steve and I had at lunch about names for our new baby. Fortunately we have plenty of time to think about this, because we'll need to get creative to find something original between my family and his. Steve mentioned a girl name he likes right off the bat, but I told him to get real, because, afterall, this is bound to be another little boy.

We love our boys. We couldn't imagine life without our boys. But boy, oh boy, did they surprise us. One after another, they kept turning up, well, boys. Do you ever wonder what thoughts are going through a mother's head when, one by one, she gives birth to not one, not two, not three, or four, but FIVE little bundles of BOY!?!? Well, I'm about to tell you...

When we found out we were expecting our first baby, we were terrified. I wish one day I could tell Alex that the news brought tears of joy, but in reality it simply brought tears. Oh, yes, we wanted plenty of children. But so much had happened that year: I recently finished grad school and started a new career, Steve moved back to our then home in Texas from California, we bought a house, got married, and started life as newlyweds. The exciting news we got just weeks later simply was too much change to handle. But as the reality set in, the morning sickness subsided, and the bump on my belly grew, we became increasingly eager to introduce our baby to the world. There was just one problem, in my mind, at least. There was a 50% chance that this baby could be a boy, and what on earth was I to do with one of those? I knew a little about boys. I knew that they can get loud, rough, and smelly. Afterall, I had two younger brothers and I will never forget the odor that permeated our house when they came back inside from playing soccer. I also knew that boys pee everywhere but in the toilet, and that they make a habit of stashing used dishes everywhere but the kitchen sink. And I just didn't know how to mother a creature like that. But still, when people would ask us, "Are you hoping for a girl or boy?" I would smile politely and give the standard answer: "We don't care, as long as the baby is healthy..." We like surprises and decided not to find out baby's gender in our sonogram. And when Alex arrived a full month ahead of schedule, with a set of strong lungs and a full set of manhood, my heart melted and I became the proud mother of my first little boy!

Our second pregnancy ended in tragedy at eleven weeks. Somewhere earlier in that first trimester, my awful "sick" symptoms mysteriously vanished and I thought God was giving us a break. I later learned that He was giving us a test, and that He had called our sweet baby home before we would ever know his or her precious face.

So when the puking came fast and furious with our next pregnancy, I decided to grin and bear it, and accept it as a sign that those pregnancy hormones were in full swing. But no doubt, this pregnancy was completely different from Alex's, from the intensity of my morning sickness to the way I gained weight and carried the baby. We were so stunned by the differences that we were certain this one would be a girl! We weren't the only ones; my mother hand-crafted a wardrobe of pink and lacy outfits, complete with a very girly baptismal gown! So, when to our amazement David made his arrival as a definite boy, it was no surprise that my dad carried into the delivery room a pink balloon that read: It's a ~~Girl~~ Boy!!! corrected with magic marker.

I really loved the idea of having two sons. Alex would approach his baby brother, give him a big hug, and say "Two boys!", and I was thankful that they would have each other for best friends. But we were soon expecting another, and it seemed the time was right to add an X chromosome to our growing family. However, I knew several families with THREE sons, so when Joseph came out sunny-side up, all I did was laugh! At that point, it seemed I had a higher calling, a duty, so to speak. I thought maybe I should look into writing a book or at least join some special club or something. I felt "elite" to be mother to "My Three Sons" and I definitely decided I could start using them as excuses for A Less-Than-Tidy House, Why We Are Late All The Time, and This Is Why We Can't Sit Still In Church. Afterall, have YOU ever tried to parent three boys? Try it, then let me know how easy it is. And I figured, if I didn't have a girl to doll up, I can still play dress-up with my boys. I made it a point to find matching outfits for portraits and formal outings, and I basked in the pride of parenting three handsome young men.

Then a fifth "easy" pregnancy brought more heartache, and another child joined the ranks of the angels in heaven.

I really tried not to complain, then, when our sixth pregnancy took me out of commission again, for it seemed the extreme sickness for me was the sign of a healthy baby. As in the past, Steve and I decided not to find out baby's sex in our sonogram, but when the technician switched the mode to 3D, little Sammy nearly poked our eyes out! It was beyond obvious we were having another boy, and I remember leaving the sonographer's office with some tears in my eyes, believing this had been our last chance for a daughter. But now we knew that Samuel James was in there, and we had fallen in love with our son, our fourth boy, long, long before he was born (not to mention there were no embarrassing pink balloons at the hospital!)

And then came another... another little blessing and another strong heartbeat we heard at just the right time. Then the devastating news. "Your baby only has half a heart, and there is really no guarantee..." Steve and I wanted right then and there to start making that baby an integral part of our family and to pray and ask others to pray for him by name. So we found out that indeed, though he was missing part of his heart, he was definitely not missing any of his genitals! And little Zachary John came to be known by many, long before his first breath of air.

And you know what? We LOVE having five boys! We are blessed in a special way not many parents are, and no matter how we are blessed again, we know it's all part of a plan.

But just in case you wondered, and just for the record when my memory fails me...

...that's what I was thinking as I became mother to five beautiful boys.

Samisms

2011-08-31T07:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I managed to get out of bed, shower, fasten my pants with a rubber band, and head out the door--all in time for lunch! I had just a couple hours, I figured, before the yuckies would start to settle back in, and I was on a quest for Pre-K school supplies! So Zachary, Sammy, and I kicked off our errands with a visit to Chipotle for a burrito bowl. My little guys were awfully excited, for the plan was to head to Wal-Mart next for Sammy's school supplies. What was really on their mind, though, was the upcoming Halloween holiday. They were hoping, clinging to the faint chance that Wal-Mart might already be stocking costumes! Zachy really wants to dress up as "Buby Spy-man" and Sam has had his heart set on a Spiderman suit with muscles for a good five or six months now.

As we were loading up in the van to begin our exciting shopping quest, Samuel stopped me with his BIG BROWN eyes and sighed,

"Mommy, you're pretty."

If that doesn't make a mommy feel all giddy inside, I don't know what does! And then, perhaps to comfort me in my despicable state, or probably more likely to butter me up before we set foot in the costume aisle, Sammy added:

"I'm never going to give up on you!"

Five Little Helpers

2011-08-30T09:19:00.001-05:00

Steve is running a tight ship around here lately. He has been through the drill several times before: Mom gets sick and tired and lies around for much of the day, and in the meantime, the house kind of falls apart. But this time, things have been a little different and the boys are really pitching in to pick up the slack! They are learning responsibility and looking forward to the day that those chores will involve feeding and entertaining their new baby.

For now, take a look at my five little helpers! David and Alex are helping mow the grass. At least with this 100+ degree heat, the grass isn't growing too fast. (Get a load of those swath marks...)

All the boys have been scrubbing sinks and toilets! Is that a smile I see on my little Joe???

Anyone who can walk takes a turn with our ~~devil dog~~ energetic puppy.

And believe it or not, those little arms that cannot even reach the kitchen cupboards are loading and unloading the dishwasher! I am so proud of my helpful young men!

Samuel and Zachary have the important job of keeping me entertained while the big boys are away at school. They have also recently big honing up on their big brother skills with the recent addition to our family, sweet little cousin Corbin.

He'll make a super big brother!

Please continue to keep our friends the Butchers in your prayers. Their daughter Brittney is in severe rejection of her transplanted heart and is fighting for her life in the hospital. Please stop by Brittney's website to offer your support and prayers.

Prayers for Brittney

2011-08-23T07:54:00.001-05:00

Please send many prayers for Brittney Butcher and her family. Brittney is 14 and received a heart transplant around the time that Zachary was born... they were in the hospital at U of M at the same time.

Brittney presented with flu-like symptoms yesterday and had to be intubated this morning with only 25% heart function. Doctors are treating this as a transplant rejection.

Please send many, many prayers for Brittney and her family at this scary and very critical time. They have been such an incredible inspiration and support for us over the years. Stop by her CarePage at http://www.carepages.com/carepages/BrittneyButcher to offer Brittney and her family your well wishes.

Brittney and family
You are our heart hero!!!

Presenting...

2011-08-19T09:15:00.001-05:00

Zachy's little brother!!!! (Or sister, but that's a fat chance.)

If you have been following our blog, you may have heard that we are once again blessed with a little miracle! Zachy gets the chance to be a big brother, and I'm keeping fingers crossed that he will be out of diapers before Number 6 arrives (again, fat chance...)

So, what's his due date? many have asked. Well, technically it's April 2, the very day I TURN 39....ugh! So when our sonogram yesterday estimated March 29, that sounded good enough to me. Better to have this baby before I'm officially ANOTHER YEAR OLDER.

The second most-asked question I have received: "Are you praying for a girl this time?" Do I want a girl? Is the ocean blue? Is the pope a Catholic? Are you kidding me? I always want a girl! But we fall so in love with each and every one of our sons, from the moment we know of their very existence, that there is no way we could ever imagine life without them. I couldn't even begin to think which one of my Five Little Blessings that I would trade in for a girl. EVER. And so there will be NO prayers for a girl. Not from me, anyway (though Alex has other plans.)

I'm saving those prayers for a healthy baby. Of course, everyone prays for a healthy baby. But when you have been there, when you have heard those words "I'm sorry, but we can't find a heartbeat..." two different times, when you know you have babies you will never hold, when the doctor says "There's something wrong... we aren't sure he'll survive," when you see your child cut open and hooked to machines just to keep him alive, that fear in pregnancy is very real. Yet still, I'm not sure if it's right to ask God for a healthy baby. Because still in all the heartbreak of losing unborn children, and in the pain of watching your baby struggle to live, there are lessons to learn and and joy to be had. In Zachary's ordeal especially, we are grateful for all the beautiful souls we have met on this journey. We thank God for the new outlook we were given on life, and have learned in some small way how not to take for granted His many blessings. We have met so many of YOU and seen firsthand the beauty of people helping others, of the selfless sacrifices even strangers make to comfort those in need. These experiences have indeed softened our hearts, and many others have confided that their lives were changed as well having traveled this road with us. So who am I to tell God to send us a healthy baby? I guess I'm just letting Him know that my feelings wouldn't be hurt if this time He chose to let our baby be born at a local hospital, and to go home the next day with no strings attached (or wires, or tubes, or monitors...)

Our boys are outrageously excited to get a new sibling. Next spring sounds to them like such a long time to wait! Even Zachy comes to me almost every day and pleads "Mommy, you get baby out you tummy RIGHT NOW!!!" I wonder what kind of crazy thoughts must be running through his toddler head? And Alex is really hoping for a sister this time, because he says that he has plenty of brothers who are way too crazy and make messes. While they are waiting, the boys will have plenty of opportunity to practice baby holding, bottle feeding, and maybe even diapering! Two of my cousins have newborns and my little sister expects her first son next week! In fact, over the weekend I found my boys fighting over my sweet little goddaughter!

Joseph was tickled pink!

And so, our entire family is thrilled to announce that another Little Blessing is on the way! Please keep us in your prayers as you have always... that our baby is born healthy if it is God's will, that Mom sucks it up and deals with this all-day "morning" sickness, that Dad holds it together while he's picking up Mom's loose ends, and that Big Brothers learn the importance of pitching in to prepare the way for Baby.

Thank you, dear friends, and God bless you all!