Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our Family to Yours🎄

12 Weeks Post Opt

I can not believe it has been a little over 12 weeks since Natalie had back surgery. She is doing amazing! You would not even know she had back surgery by the way she acts and feels. 

She also been back at school now for 6 weeks. She is doing great! She is all got up and loves going to school, except for the waking up early part. 

Back in July, Natalie got glasses. We have been having a little trouble making sure her vision is completely corrected. She had a little trouble after surgery, but nothing to huge. I think we finally got it correct and today we go get her new lenses put in. My family has terrible vision, so my poor kids were both doomed. 

We did make a quick trip to Arkansas over Thanksgiving to watch the Razorbacks play football. Larry and I both graduated from the U of Ark. Our kids had never been and had a great time. 

Natalie got to go visit a TV station last week Girl Scouts and now has added Weather Women to her potential future jobs. The news station was incredible with these girls and we even got to watch them produce the 6pm news. 

We feel so blessed this Christmas season to be healthy and home together. Natalie loves Christmas and all the magic the comes with it! 

Carter’s Honor Choir got to sing this week at a few retirement centers. One of the places they happen to go, was where my Nanny lives. She loved watching him and getting to meet several of his friends. The choir did an amazing job. The kids went and visited with all the residents afterwards. They are a great group of kiddos. 

We pray that you are enjoying the holiday season and all the magic so far🎄

First Full Week Back

Natalie had her first full week back at school last week! We did shed several tears, but she made it😄 

Friday was hat day, so she wanted to wear the Santa hat we found, while pulling down some Christmas decorations. 

She called me the first day for some Motrin, but she never called me again all week. I helped her into the first two days and went to get her out of class a few minutes early the first two days as well. After that, I told her teacher, I was going to let her try on her own. She can lift up to 10lbs, but her backpack and lunch box, maybe weigh 5lbs. 

She asked if I would pick her up early a few days and I told her I would try, knowing I was not going to. I knew once she got to school each day, she would be fine. 

Natalie has so many sweet friends that walk and sit with her during recess, so she never feels alone. She was pretty upset Friday, because it was Free Friday in PE class and she can not participate. 

She had a great relaxing weekend! She was pretty wiped out from her first week back. Luckily,  we only have two days this week before Thanksgiving break. 

She has done amazing! Her last little strip fell off this weekend, so we can finally see her entire incisions. 

Thank you all again for the prayers. We feel so blessed and are so thankful for a little warrior. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

First Day Back at School

Natalie had a great first day back at school🤗! I helped her get to class this morning. She was greeted with happy faces from her friends and teacher. She was so excited to see everyone. 

I did get a call around lunch for some Motrin. She said a few of her buddies walked around with her at recess. Then, she went happily back to class. 

First day back was a success! 

6 Weeks Post Opt

Natalie had her 6 weeks post opt appointment. I can not believe it has been 6 weeks! 

We had a beautiful drive, God’s sunsets speaks for themselves...

Natalie had X-ray, followed by the appointment with the Dr. Richards. They were starting to set up for Christmas, so Nat found the perfect tree🎄. Her only problem now is, trying to figure out which stuffed animals we will use to mimic the tree and which ones she will sleep with😜.  The speak her love language❤️

She had a great appointment! I was ready to see the dr after her fall on Monday. We compared X-rays and ct scans and everything looked awesome! All of her hardware looks in place! 

We come back at the end of January for her first lengthening😳. I have watched a few videos of kids have their rods lengthened. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. 

For now, she gets to start school on Monday! No recess or PE for the time being, however, she can now lift up to 10lbs. It’s the little things. 

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support! It has been a crazy 6 weeks, but our little girl continues to amazes us💖

Socks + Slick Wood Floors + Stairs = One Scary Evening😳

Our evening did not go as planned, which was suppose to be relaxing family time. Instead, we spend the evening in the ER. 

Carter had finished dinner and was in the basement planning Xbox. Natalie had just finished up her dinner and wanted to go downstairs and play with him, which she often does. 

However this time, she left her socks on. Larry and I were still eating when we heard her fall. Larry flung peas all over the counter and floor. His reaction time, is way better than mine. 

Natalie fell and went down 5 steps, feet first, but we completely freaked out, because of her back. Her back had already started to swell up (the picture does not show how swollen it got). 

I called my mom to come over and watch Carter, while we took Natalie to the ER to make sure all of her back hardware was okay and in place. The fear I was feeling was awful. 

I text our Pediatrician, who is amazing by the way, to see what we should do. She suggested we take her to the ER on Soncy. She thought that might be faster and less germs than the main ER. 

We got right in. Natalie was walking just fine and not crying in pain, so we thought that was a good sign. The doctor we saw, wanted to do a CT scan to see more than just the rods, to make sure we did not damage anything else.  I stayed in the CT room with Natalie, we wanted her not freak out and Larry stood with the techician. 

A little after 2 hours of being in the ER, we left with everything okay! Natalie is a little sore today, but you can not even see a bruise. God was watching out for her! 

“God is our refuge and strength , a ever-present help in trouble”

Psalm 46:1

Lesson learned...No Socks of any kind in stairs - This mom can not handle another fall 

Props to ER on Soncy, the staff was amazing and the facility was so clean. I would definitely recommend them if you need an ER, but pray you never do. 

A Semi-Normal Evening...Girl Scout Campfire

Tonight, Natalie had a Girl Scout event outside of town, learning about different types of fires and how to lay the wood to start a fire. I was not sure how she would do, but she wanted go and try it. 

When we first got there, the girls were playing a few games and Natalie of course got teary eyed and cried some, but once we started eating and singing songs, she was fine.  Natalie has an amazing troop and a few of her friends came and set with her. It made this momma’s heart so happy to hear her laugh and make up funny campfire stories with her friends❤️

Roasting marshmellows for s’mores always makes everything great! 

I am afraid, we might be in for long night. I plan to give her some pain meds before bed, so hopefully that will help. Plus, we get an extra hour of sleep tonight! 

A Fun Visit

Natalie has been feeling so much better and she is on the downhill side of being homebound so, we decided to surprise a class on Halloween. I had been emailing Natalie’s teacher, Mrs. Robertson about Natalie coming to visit the class and bring a little Halloween treat. Tuesday afternoon, we surprised her class🤗! 

Everyone was so cute and welcomed her and was extra careful not to touch her back. She was so happy to see everyone, but she was also pretty overwhelmed being the center of attention. I am hoping that got everything out of the way and when she starts back on the 13th, it will not be so overwhelming. 

We also decided to take her brother lunch as well. Believe it or not, he wanted her to come. She got to see several teachers and I got to see how she got in and out of the cafeteria tables (all good). 

Yesterday was a long day after visiting school twice and then the excitement of handing out candy on Tuesday. Her back was pretty sore and hurt some. We decided to take it easy and focus on all her school work that needs to be done for the week and watch a few new movies she found on Netflix. I am just so happy to have a break from cartoons. 

We had a long talk last night about how it may be best for her to wait and be in the back of the lines at school so, she will not be accidentally pushed or shoved. Of course, if she is line leader for the day, she can do that😜. She was super concerned about that. After we talked for a bit, she understood what I was saying, I am just hoping she remembers when she starts back. 

A few more of her strips feel off last night, so you can see her incisions a little better. 

Upper Incision

Lower Incision 

I feel very blessed, Natalie always heals beautiful with her incisions and scars. Thank you again for all the prayers and support! 

Happy Halloween

Well, Amarillo is always so much, it has been in the 70s until the last few days. Today, in good Amarillo fashion, it is in the 40s😫. Tomorrow, you guessed it, the weather will be in the 70s again. You have to love the weather here on the High Plains. 

With the weather being so chilly, I thought it was best for Natalie and I to stay home and hand out candy. Larry took Carter out to trick or treat and brave the weather. The crazy boy, was mad, because I would not let him wear short. I am sure he is thanking me about now (he will never admit it though). 

I personally think, I got the better deal. Natalie is having a blast! She is singing to herself and yelling everyone how cute they look. We also have the fire on and the baseball game...Go Astros! 

I mean, how cute is she...

A pillow is our new best friend

We tried something new tonight. We went out to a restaurant for dinner. We might be the only people whose new accessory is a pillow😜. Yes, I bought Natalie her own new pillow she can take everywhere with her. Natalie did great, but she did say her back hurt a little by the end of the meal. I feel like we tried and she did good, but we still have a ways to go. 

4 Crazy Weeks...We feel Blessed

I can not believe 4 weeks ago at this exact moment, Larry and I were in the pre opt room with Natalie. We had signed so many consent forms. I typically make Larry sign all the forms the day of surgeries, for some reason it freaks me out to much. 

Natalie was just about to recieve some “Happy Juice”, I still say parents need some of that too. I do not think it will ever get easier letting your child roll away from you into an operating room, no matter what the surgery is. I had so many emotions this day and still do. 

Natalie did amazing in surgery! Our surgeon was able to use the longer rod, which will hopefully get us to her full growth. The neuro team that monitored her spine, said she did great. The cardiac anesthesiologist said her fontan was absolutely beautiful! She did receive a little blood during the surgery, which we knew was possible and we totally okay with. Natalie has received a few transfusions in her time.

Today, Natalie is healing wonderfully! She did push to a limit this past weekend and has been in some pain since. We have actually had to give her pain meds the last few days. I love my brave warrior! 

Here are a few pictures of our life these last 4 weeks. I have posted several of these over the past few weeks...

On our way to the Hospital

Getting our IV

Smiling in Pre Opt

Dr. Knock Knock and Dr Scribbles actually had us laughing

In PICU

Screws in her back

MAGEC Rods (the small twisted wires are from her heart surgeries)

What the screws look like and she has 8 of them!

Finally awake and not happy

Moving to Scottish Rite

Ambulance ride

In a lot of pain...poor baby

                     Ms. Heather got us up and walking

Xray

Trying to sit up and color

Arts and craft time

My Sweet Girl

More arts and crafts

Outside in the sunshine for the first time in 6 days

Happy

That is right, Mrs Hackett stopped by to say on her way to her high school reunion

Up and walking and actually happy about it 

Discharged

Leaving the hospital

Ms. Courtney has the best couch ever

First night not in the hospital

Amarillo here we come

Happy to see Carter

First shower in 10 days

Sunshine

Incision

Homecoming parade (sitting the entire time)

Baked a Birthday cake

The weekend was to much

We tried grocery shopping together, notice the pillow behind her back

Thank you for all the texts, emails, phones, face-times and prayers!  We appreciate all the balloons, gifts, flowers and meals.  I can not tell you all enough how much this means to our family.  We feel so blessed and are so thankful we have such an amazing support system!  Thank you!  

It has been a crazy 4 weeks and we feel so blessed that Natalie is doing better each day.  She is still out of school for another 2.5 weeks and we have her 6 week follow up appointment in Dallas coming up. But for today, we are thankful we how great she feels.  We know we still have a long road left, which I have been reminded of this week and her first lengthening will be in 4 months, but we will take it all one day at a time.  

I will continue to keep you all posted on how she is doing, but I wanted to thank you all again for everything.  

"Joy of the Lord is my strength"

Nehemiah 8:10

"Faith does not make things easy, it makes them possible"

Luke 1:37