Big Girl

Natalie on her first day of school this year

Brotherly Love
Natalie and Carter hugging it out before she goes into school

I have seen this coming for a few weeks now, but I did not realize how fast it would happen. Natalie is officially turning into a "big girl." We have had a week of big beginnings in our house.

Natalie is officially in a "big girl" bed! I am a little sad, because we will be removing the crib from our house this weekend; no more cribs ever. Do not get me wrong, I am happy with the size of our family and do not want any more little ones, but I am a little sad that we will not ever need a crib anymore. Sorry about my little side tangent there; back to Natalie.

We put a bed in her room when we moved back from Dallas last year, just in case I needed to be in there with her. Yes, I was way over paranoid, but who can blame me after three open heart surgeries. Lately, she has been pointing to her big girl bed at night, but Larry and I just put it off. Okay, so not Larry just me, I did not know how she would sleep and I just was not ready for it. However, Sunday night we put Natalie in her big girl bed. She is so tiny in it, but super cute (picture in the next few days to come). I only had to go in there 3 times before she went to sleep and yes, I ended up in bed with her at 3am. Since Sunday, I normally do not have to go back in there once we lay her down and only have to go in once a night when she wakes up. I am going to call that success!

She also started back to school on Tuesday. She only goes Tuesday and Thursdays, but it is so good for her to play with the other kids. She actually started this summer, but Carter was there with her and this time she was by herself. She gives the initial tear or two when I drop her off, but before I can check her in and leave she has already stopped and is playing. I think she does that to make me feel bad...drama queen.

I know this might not mean a lot most of you, but to me this is another huge step in the big girl world. Natalie is officially taking her aspirin without me having to dissolve it first! She is also taking Flintstones vitamins, of course, she thinks they are candy. I am sure me telling her they are candy has nothing to do with it.

Next up, is potty training...not for a few months, mommy can't handle to much to soon. Natalie actually is interested in sitting on the potty, but has yet to actually go. If I actually took the time and set there with her for a few days, she might get it, but I need Carter back in school first and a little time for sanity from the summer break before I take on too big of a challenge.

As a side note...Children's Med Dallas did not have a new episode last night, but they are keeping all the episodes up until next week. That means, my links should be active until next week if you have not had the chance to watch the first three episodes, they are amazing.

I hope everyone is getting back into the swing of school and your kiddos have had a great first couple of days or weeks if you have children.

Children's Med Dallas - Dr. Forbess

http://youtu.be/0eN8XSGytgU - Episode 3

Wow, episode 3 was intense for me. The CV-ICU waiting room; I have spent way to many hours in and will sit again within the next year or two. The episode showed the heart operating room, the bypass machine and even the heart of a toddler. Oh yes, I did cry. I tried to hold myself together, but knowing we will be back in surgery again in a year or so is scary. I would not want any other doctor operating on Natalie than Dr. Forbess.

I am sorry, I tried attaching the link to episode 2, but I am still have trouble with the link. If you are on facebook, you can go back and look for episode 2 on the Children's Med Center page. I am sorry, but you may be able to look around the site after you click on the above to see episode 2. I will tell you that both the liver transplant patients did great during surgery and their little bodies accepted the liver.

Children's Med Dallas - Dr. Forbess

I have found out that the Children's Med Dallas link from last week will only be active until 5pm today, however I am hoping they will re-active next Thursday as well. I am having trouble posting the link today for some reason, sorry. If you are on facebook though, you can go to the Children's Medical Center page or Children's Med Dallas page and then you clink on the red Med in the sign. Sorry about not being able to link, I will try again next week.

Tonight's episode continues to follow the two liver transplants from last week and starts following a family with a little girl with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Natalie has Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome, but they follow the same surgeries. Dr. Forbess is featured in this episode, he is the man saving Natalie's life.

I can't help it, but when I just hear the theme song, I start crying. Not sure if these episodes are the best for me, but I am proud Natalie is a patient at Children's.

Children's Medical Center

http://youtu.be/bw6pJHktST8

Children's Medical Center is doing a five part television documentary featuring an unprecedented behind-the-scene look at what goes on at the hospital every day. Children's Med Dallas is only being aired in the Dallas area, however they are posting the episodes on the web and I will be posting the link here each week for you.

I watched the first episode tonight and I am proud to say, I only cried three times. I will make no promises on next weeks episode. Tonight's episode featured two families needing a liver transplant for their children. You not only, get the point of view from the families, but you get to know the surgeons on a personal level.

Next week, they will follow up with these two patients and will follow two cardiac patients. Natalie's surgeon, Dr. Forbess will be featured and Dr. Guleserian, who over sees the heart transplants. Dr. Forbess has done all of Natalie's three open heart surgeries. We have met Dr. Guleserian when Natalie was put on transplant and during surgical rounds. Both of these doctors are amazing and we feel we owe our daughter's life to them and to the entire cardiac department at Children's.

The episode is only about twenty one minutes long, please take the time to watch these amazing episodes to see what goes on at one of the nation's largest children's hospital. Not to worry, I will be reminding everyone each week about these and especially next week as they look into the cardiac division at Children's.

Our little miracle would not be here without Children's Medical Center..Thank you, Children's!