Jump Rope For Heart!

Well you know that eventually we would be looking into some way to raise money for a "heart" organization and the time has come :-)  Actually, this comes from Miller and Jump Rope For Heart.  Funny thing is that "It's My Heart" is having a walk in Houston on Feb.18th and I have been on the fence about getting a team together and participating in it.  I really, really want to but it would put us out of town for several days due to some appointments that we have scheduled.  Then Miller comes home with JRFH info and said that he had been practicing his jump roping and I decided this was a better way to raise money at this time.  He was pretty excited to be able to piece it together: JRFH is for people to donate money, the money is for research for hearts, hearts like brother's that are "broken" and need help to be fixed.  Maybe we will do a walk in the future whether it is locally or in Houston but right now we have a jump roper that is willing to jump so if you could please help him reach his goal.  Here is the link to his page:

 http://honor.americanheart.org/site/TR/JumpforHeart/GSA-GreaterSoutheastAffiliate?px=3090425&pg=personal&fr_id=1682

I also wanted to give you a quick update on Steven.  Just when I thought we would be slowing down on appointments, I have to schedule another one.  On Friday I received word from TCH that his lab work showed that his hemoglobin is low.  I believe the nurse used the word "marginally" low when explaining it to me but Dr. R still wants us to see the pediatrician to follow up on it.  I am praying this is just a little iron deficiency and nothing to be concerned about.  I hope to get him in on Wednesday.  We also received the blood pressure machine, FINALLY.  So if you need to have yours checked, just come on by it is just like the hospital's.  So proud, ha!

Well I hope everyone had a great weekend and a happy Monday!!!

Another Hall Pass!

So yes, I call not having to go to the doctor getting a hall pass.  We had the appointment at TCH with Dr. R the nephrologist and we will not be going back until April.  I am so thankful and excited to see such progress with Steven's blood pressure staying under control.  Nothing better than having your prayers answered!  On the way home I received an email that the bp machine has finally been shipped so now we can check it and keep a log so should it start to go up, we can make any adjustments that are needed. 

Being at TCH always brings on such strong feelings, good and bad.  Our baby was operated on and is now progressing so well because of it.  But it is also where I experienced such a helpless feeling.  As I walk the halls now, I see so many precious children that have such uphill battles compared to what we have gone through.  Again, I am thankful for Steven's successful surgery, but I cannot help but be sad for the journeys of others and for the parents that continue to put one foot in front of another as their only way to function.  While we stayed at the hospital I knew that we had the High Five of congenital heart disease and the "easy" of surgeries and the "highest" of success rates but for us it was so overwhelming.  But I know that compared to others, we are so fortunate and blessed!

Now on to the most recent of funny's...I am 37 years old.  YIKES!  I had the dreaded birthday this past weekend but what a great weekend it was.  David took me and the boys for a little afternoon outing on Saturday that included a wonderful late lunch and a some ice cream.  On Sunday the actual "DAY" we went over to mom and dad's and had lunch and cake.  Now for some reason, my mother does not know or want to accept how old her baby is because to my delight the candles displayed 35!  Yep, she is bringing me back to one of my favorite years of my life.  I was so tickled, I took a picture and I have shared it with the facebook world and as many friends as I can tell.  Mom, on the other hand is not a fan of the funny and would rather me not share it with everyone!  Too Bad!  :-)

One more thing, the best thing about having to go to TCH for appointments is the chance to visit with people.  Last night, I really enjoyed just hanging out with my dad and visiting...love the time with my dad!  Then this morning before the appointment, I got to finally see Sweet Shelby.  What a CUTIE!  She looks just like her daddy and it cracks me up because I have never seen any baby that looks that much like their dad.  And we all know that both of mine look nothing like me!  So happy to finally get to meet her and to visit with her mom, hopefully next time it will be a longer visit. 

Well, off to dispense some meds to a little Sweet Mess!  Have a Great Wednesday everyone!

Someone Made Someone's Day...Any Guesses?

A little video from yesterday evening....

And The Football Woes Continue...

Oh, what a ROUGH football weekend for our home.  It is still so hard to fathom, the Saints are out, the Texans are out and Tebow is out.  What are we to do?  Fast forward to a little baseball?  Let's face it, even baseball season is not what it used to be since the Astros are pretty much a minor league team.  But at least it is something and our expectations are low!!!!  :-)

Thankfully the weekend ended and Monday's doctor appointment arrived for Sweet Mess.  Guess who got a 2 month hall pass from the doctor?  Yep, that's right, Steven's next appointment with Dr. K is in March!  Cartwheels are being done in my mind because my body says, don't even think about it!  His blood pressure was 108 which although still a little higher than "normal" it is a comfortable level for him.  Don't get me wrong, we still go to TCH next week for the nephrologist and probably still continue there monthly but hey, one less appointment a month and we are happy campers.  Next month we will also go back to TCH for his 5 month post op check up.  At that time we will probably say goodbye to them and we will just see Dr. K for all of our cardiology check ups in the future.  As for when we will say goodbye to TCH for nephrology, probably not for a long time but it is great to scratch one off the list!! 

Another great thing is simply the way life in general is going.  Miller is doing great in school even though he at times gets extremely nervous and of course doesn't always want to go because it is boring.  However in a strange way, I love that it has been my focus recently.  It is supposed to be my concern.  How is Miller doing in school, that is a NORMAL mom concern.  I am far from normal but I believe that the majority of my friends can relate to the worries of kids and school.  It makes me happy that when someone ask how things are going, Miller is just as much part of the conversation as Steven.  Please understand that I do not mean that Miller was not a concern to us only Steven, it is just that right now I have more concerns for Miller than Steven and I am thankful for it!  For me it represents a normal life for us and I like it!  And on that note, bath time awaits for my normal kids so I am going to be a normal mom and get things started. 

Hope everyone has a happy hump day! 

A Little Ice Skating, Football and One Frustrating Loss!

What a wonderful weekend and what a frustrating BCS championship game.  So let me start with the fun part.  David and I promised Miller that we would take him ice skating at L'Auberge over Christmas holiday but we never got the chance until this weekend.  I have to say I was a little leery if he would really skate or would he say "I changed my mind" after we paid :-).  But he surprised me and was strapping on those skates before Apolo Ohno aka, David could put his on.  I had the best time watching Miller skate around the rink, gripping the wall with a big smile on his face and watching David think that he was in the middle of the Olympic trials.  Miller asked if we could do it again next year and I call that success.  Might even have to take a trip to the Galleria so he can hang on to that wall and skate some more. 

Of course we spent Saturday afternoon and evening watching a couple of football games...what great games and since both the Texans and the Saints walked away with wins I was able to sleep worry free.  On Sunday we were both pretty excited about the Broncos vs Steelers game and it did not disappoint.  I love the that Tim Tebow has created such "chatter" and I love that they won.  What a fun game to watch!!!!

But let me get to the game that was not fun to watch...it was ugly!  The best team won and congrats to Alabama.  I am pretty sure my blood pressure was in need of a little medication last night and maybe even now as I am reminded about how that game "didn't" play out.  Jefferson was a deer caught in headlights and McCarron was playing like a pro.  It was just NOT fun...but for all of you haters, I have to ask this...where was your team?  Unless your team is Alabama, hush it!  :-)

I just cannot let this end on such a sad note, so let me share some stats from Steven's 6 month check up.  Steven went from the 5th percentile in August to the 70th percentile in weight.  Woohoo!  I just love answered prayers!!!!  Next appointment for the Sweet Mess is on Monday and then a week later at TCH. 

Farewell 2011, Hello 2012!

Happy New Year!!!!  I cannot tell a lie, my emotions are mixed.  2011 gave us the sweetest baby boy we could ask for and some of the most difficult times to endure.  Part of me is so glad to see the year go and then another part knows that as I wish away time it will be 5 years from now before I know it.  I pray that 2012 is just a little more "light" and not as "heavy" as 2011.  I hope to continue the blog but on just regular everyday happenings and the occasional update on Steven's health but nothing more major than we adjusted his blood pressure medicine.  Which by the way, we are currently on a month break from Dr. K visits since the bp was "controlled" for two weeks in a row.  Woohoo!  It works out nicely since last week he had another RSV vaccination and tomorrow will bring his 4 month shots and his 6 month well check up.  I pray that everyone has a wonderful, happy and healthy 2012!

Our year started off we a couple of first time events that I am itching to share, mainly because I will likely forget them if I do not put them in print.  First off, yesterday when Miller got home we checked on his tooth...or should I say David checked on it.  Miller has been waiting for this tooth to come out, not sure who but someone told him about the Tooth Fairy, he really has been way too excited to have something pulled from his mouth just for some money!  Anyway, David told him to grab a paper towel and he would try and pull it... 

Hello Tooth Fairy!!!  He came in our room at 1:30 to tell us that tooth fairy came, he had his money rolled up in his hand and slept like that for the rest of the night.  He cracks us up!  I am so very thankful that it was a first that took place at our house.  :-)

Not to be out done, Steven had a first of his own.  I am very careful with the progress of a baby.  I do not want to rush milestones...when something happens for the first time, it must happen several more just to make sure it is not an accident.  Since he wasn't able to lie on his stomach for 6 weeks following surgery I expect things to take him longer than your "normal" baby but he has surprised me.  Yesterday he decided it was his day to stay sitting up.  We were playing with some of his Christmas prizes and I noticed that he would use his hands to support himself and using his back to also keep his balance.  But not until he did it several times did I really believe it and take a picture.  Don't get me wrong, he still has some Humpty Dumpty in him but for the most part, little man will stay sitting by himself. 

So I think that with 2 first on the first of day of a new year, we are off to a wonderful start!  Again, wishing you all a wonderful, healthy and happy 2012!

Before Christmas Photos

I wanted to share some pictures of the boys that I forgot to post last week.  I was waiting to post them after Christmas because some of them were gifts and I think that I posted some on Facebook but not on here so:

 Love that we got one of the two together, prior to meltdown!

I am a firm believer that it is the thought that counts!

Thank goodness for a great photographer, who is full of patience! 

Joscelyn Langley of J. Langley Photography!!

But sometimes, things are just not meant to happen!

Every now and then a good one happens and this one is very special since both boys are in their Texas Children's Hospital t-shirts...I really wanted to send a Christmas card with this picture but life happened :-)