Natalie's Children's Appointment

Natalie had her appointment at Children's this past Friday. She had an awesome appointment! Her oxygen was 88! Last time we were in Dallas her oxygen levels were 79 to 82, so 88 is a blessing! She is in the 5th percentile on height and weight. Most kids in her position are normally in the 20th percentile, but she has always been low and is continuing growing so that is what is important.

Below is a picture of Natalie eating her snack before she had blood work done. We have not gotten the results yet, but should in the next day or two. I must say, she did awesome with the blood work. She cried only because I made her put her snacks down, not because she was having blood taken out. She is a champ!

Natalie also had an echo down and everything looked great! Dr. Zellers said she look amazing! When she does have the next surgery, the fontan, they will actually leave a tiny hole in the shunt. The hole should close within a year or two, but about 3 out of 10 kids the hole will not close and they will go in to close it via heart cath. So, with that being said, after she has the fontan, her oxygen levels will be about what they are now until that hole closes. They leave the hole there, because they have seen better and easier recover for the kids.

Dr. Zellers just said he can not offer her any more relief than she already has. Her oxygen level is good, she is eating and growing great. When her oxygen levels start to effect her growth and development, that is when there is a need to do surgery. Please note, she will have to have the next surgery, that is inevitable, but the fact we can wait another year is awesome! Try convincing a 2/3 year old to cooperate, not like a 3/4 year old will be any better, but I am hoping it will be easier for her to understand what is going on.

We had a great appointment! I got to even meet Linda, who I speak with all the time for scheduling and we got to see one of our nurse friends, Aliana, who we got close with while living in Dallas.

Below is Natalie after we left Children's. She did not even make it to the highway before she was out. We put her in the car and she was singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star one minute and out cold the next.

When we go to Dallas, we try to make it a fun trip and not just a doctor's appointment. This trip we spent the weekend with my brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew. My mother also drove down and back with us. We had a great time as family!

Yeah, this is how we roll! Thanks again for all your continuous prayers for our family and our precious little miracle!

Better Late, Then Never

Chuck E Cheese fun for all

Carter's birthday cake
Yes it is ice cream, he does not like cake really

The Birthday Boy
Carter and one of his best friends from school, Evan
Evan happens to have a congenital heart defect too

Over a month ago now, was my little man's birthday party. Yes, Carter is officially 5! Since, he has the joy of having his birthday so close to Christmas, we always try to make his birthday special and this year was no different.

Carter likes to plan his birthdays a year in advance, like most little kids. I really thought he would change his mind on the location, however there was no such luck and Chuck E Cheese won. I can handle Chuck E Cheese as long as it is not on the weekends, so we had his party Friday afternoon and it was perfect.

We had some of Carter's classmates and soccer team there to celebrate with us. I was able to do everything for the party online and then just showed up, which is my kind of party. Carter got a crown and a medal, which was still have. He also got a Chuck E Cheese balloon, which I have to say, I just threw away yesterday. Oh that is right, one full month and it was still inflated. He was tired of looking at it and cut it up when Carter was at school. Who would of thought the fun from Chuck E Cheese lasts forever in their balloons. Mental note for all you moms out there, do not buy your child a balloon from there unless you want it forever.

Carter had a blast! Not to worry, we have already been planning our party for next year...got to love kids.

Operation Lose the Pacifier...Not So Good

So, I tried cutting Natalie's pacifier before nap time the other day. Poor thing set in her bed for 40 minutes crying and screaming to me that her paci was broken. When I finally gave up on nap, her pacifier was on the floor and her little face was bright red and wet from crying so hard...broke mommy's heart.

The whole lose the pacifier operation is a lot tougher than I had thought it was going to be. I have since decided that we are going to have to go cold turkey, which should be miserable by that way.

I am not trying to procrastinate; okay may a little, but I have decided to put off the cold turkey part for a couple of weeks. Natalie has an appointment soon at Children's and she will have to have an echo. I really do not want them to sedate her and they have agreed not to, unless she will not cooperate. Cooperate meaning, laying still for 30 to 40 minutes (she is 2 remember). I wanted her to have the pacifier to sooth her, plus she will be on a warm blanket in the dark watching Mickey Mouse, so hopefully this will all equal a good echo with no sedation.

I will toot my horn a small bit, basically to make myself for better for not going through with the losing of the pacifier yet. I have cut the pacifier to nap and bedtime only. She has finally quit asking for her pacifier all the time, but she has started putting her fingers in her mouth more. Please pray she does not end up sick as I am trying to break the fingers or anything in her mouth bit.

My goal is to be pacifier free by mid-February. Once again, I will let you know when we go cold turkey, because I will be asking for lots of prayers for both Natalie and myself. I have such a hard time letting her cry over a pacifier when she has already gone through so much in her little life, but I know she needs to get off it too.

PS...Mindy, I hope you have had better luck with your sweet little one

Operation Lose the Pacifier

Today, Natalie had another well-check at the pediatrician's office. Her oxygen was actually 86, this is huge!

However, she also has thrush again. Thrush seems to be a reoccurring thing for us and I am tired of it and the antibiotics, plus Larry and I have been wanting to get Natalie off the pacifier for a while now. So, "Operation Lose the Pacifier" has officially begun in our house as of now.

I believe and I am hoping that I have all the pacifiers picked up around the house. The one pacifier we have out, I cut the tip off and will continue to cut more of the nipple off each week until there is nothing left to cut. We also have started only letting her have the pacifier during nap or bedtime, this is a challenge for me, because she asks for it all the time, especially when we are out running errands.

I ask for you all to say a little prayer, that we stay strong and Natalie adjusts. I will keep you posted on how things are going, so stay tuned.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012! Here are a few more pictures from Christmas...

Loving on Daddy

Christmas Morning Fun

Carter attempting to ride his bike without training wheels...unsuccessful for now