Natalie's regularly scheduled cardiology visit and 4 year old well-child check was yesterday. Natalie and I headed to Anchorage for our round-trip venture at 7 AM. We watched the sun rise as we drove West, but didn't actually see it until we reached sea level in Anchorage.
Natalie has grown in the past six months. It's evident because her 3T shirts aren't covering her belly anymore and we've graduated to size 4 all-around. She still has a hard time keeping pants up-even with the adjustable waistbands. As I expected, she weighed in at 29 pounds at the peds office and was 38 inches tall. She's still not tipping 30 pounds. Her doctor did emphasize that she has gained three pounds and grown two inches in the last year and is following her curve in the 10% percentile. She satted 80-85% which is great.
We discussed her leg circulation. In her heart cath this summer, they tried to access her through her femoral arteries in the groin, but were unable to go anywhere. The clots that she had as an infant in both femoral arteries have made it impossible to cath from the groin. This is frustrating because it means that she will need to have all her heart caths from here on out through her neck (which brings increased risk). Anyway, I've noticed that there are times when her feet look white. This mostly happens when she is very active like when she's bouncing on the trampoline (this summer) or when she's running around the house. Sometimes, it takes at least a minute for her feet to pink up again. She's complained of intermittent leg pain at night too, so I asked if this could be related. Dr. Brauner and Dr. Brand both thought that it wasn't and contributed the leg aches to growing pains and maybe fatigue and hydration. Dr. Brauner explained that if there was arterial insufficiency due to blockage, there could be arterial claudication going on, but that pain usually exists during exercise. Since Natalie's is at rest, her leg cramps are probably due to growing pains. Usually a hot pack will make her more comfortable, but there are times when she gets a Tylenol. Other than her poor circulation to her legs, there wasn't much of an answer for the discoloration.
Dr. Brauner did bring up the fact that when she reaches 33 pounds, he will present her to Seattle Children's cardiology group and then they can make a decision about when to proceed for the Fontan. Since she was satting so good and not yet reaching 30 pounds, and after the conversation we had with Dr. Jones this summer, I figured the Fontan would be put on the back burner for quite awhile. We'll see what happens. It may be "quite awhile" before she reaches 30 pounds! Ha!
Dr. Brauner did do an echo this time and all looked great! All valves were functioning perfectly and there was blood flow through her aortic valve from the small left ventricle that she has. This is greatly beneficial as it relieves some of the workload of the right ventricle.
We are so thankful for Natalie's health right now. She's made it through this much of winter without any sicknesses. I think she may have had a runny nose for three days this Fall, but that's been it! Of course she got her flu shot and is probably benefiting from all the exposure and antibodies she acquired in her second year of life.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
What do you do... (Part Three)
...when it's -50F.
Let the "Midget Marathon" begin! This was Jessica's idea. She came up to me while I was making supper (it's always when I'm busy making supper) and she told me that I was Craig's trainer because he was going to be in the Midget Marathon after supper. Never thought I'd be a "trainer" and unfortunately supper took precedent over training my son to perform. Jessica was training Natalie on the course which was up and down the hallway. The course took you around the stool, over the tote and under the string at the end of the hallway and then turn around and come back.
Natalie started out ahead in the game, but she was passed by her brother as she reached the end of her "gas tank" and needed a rest.
Later on, the trainers got to compete.
In the end, the kids got some exercise and settled down for bed.
Let the "Midget Marathon" begin! This was Jessica's idea. She came up to me while I was making supper (it's always when I'm busy making supper) and she told me that I was Craig's trainer because he was going to be in the Midget Marathon after supper. Never thought I'd be a "trainer" and unfortunately supper took precedent over training my son to perform. Jessica was training Natalie on the course which was up and down the hallway. The course took you around the stool, over the tote and under the string at the end of the hallway and then turn around and come back.
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| The Midget Marathon Gold Medalist-Craig Hand |
What do you do... (Part Two)
...when it's -50F?
You get in some target practice with the Nerf guns you got for Christmas. The basket ball back-board served as a good target. But for Craig, anything is fair game! This little guy has a good aim.
You can see in the above picture that the couch cushions hardly ever stay on the couch. They are used to build towers, cushion jumps off of chairs and make "boingy things" that they jump in. They pile all the pillows in the house and the cushions into one heap and just jump and swim and giggle away. There are some things-like used furniture-that are just a must have for families. I tell myself that someday we'll have furniture that we want to sit on, but who has time to sit!
You get in some target practice with the Nerf guns you got for Christmas. The basket ball back-board served as a good target. But for Craig, anything is fair game! This little guy has a good aim.
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| A picture is worth more than words! |
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| This is actually against the "rules" for the guns in our house. But as any two-year-old, Craig doesn't like to follow the rules. |
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
What do you do... (Part One)
...when it's -50F?
Have your own fairytale ball. I've not been the only one going stir crazy with cabin fever. Last week Thursday and Friday the temp was -50F at 6 AM so school was closed. Friday was already a scheduled day off for inservices. Friday night, the girls decided that they wanted to have a "Ball" so they dressed up, had a make-over, closed all the curtains, turned the lights out, cleared the living/dining room out and turned up the classical music. Heidi has had some ballroom dance lessons at school for their 2nd and 3rd grade fairytale ball. She attempted to teach her siblings, but in the end it looked more like Ring-Around-the-Rosy and ballet.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Our Lisping, Toothless, Seven-Year-Old
January is Jessica's month. She's a lisping, toothless, seven-year-old now. I just find first graders so cute. They are so proud of their missing teeth. When Jessie's top front teeth started to get the slightest bit loose, she was obsessed. She had to get them out. The first one came out before Christmas and the second one came out right before her birthday. She wiggled and wiggled them. My girl that freaks out about getting her fingernails cut wanted be to twist that thing around until it cracked and came out! She's one that when she sets her mind to doing something, you're not going to stop her!
This year, we travelled into Anchorage for her birthday. We spent the weekend at her Aunt Mindy's house and I had the "privilege" of buying her a birthday cake. I welcomed the break from creating masterpieces. It was a special occasion for Jess to pick out her cake. She picked an ice cream cake with lots of sprinkles! After we all sampled it, she relayed her disappointment in how it tasted. I guess homemade "takes the cake."
Her major birthday gift was going to H2Oasis, Alaska's only indoor waterpark. I think it's the only waterpark, period. It was just amazing to think that we could be playing in 80 degree water when it was -10F outside. (Anchorage is always warmer than we are in the interior.) The kids had a blast playing in the water. I didn't get any good pictures because I was afraid of bringing out my camera. Craig was afraid of the water. I was hoping that he would have liked it more, but to my knowledge, he hasn't been in water any deeper than the bathtub. We are going to have to work on that! Natalie wore a whole bodysuit. I was hoping that she would stay warm, but her lips were still purple. There is just no way that she can be in water and not turn color. She loved "swimming" and didn't want to quit. I'm hoping that there is hope for Craig as he gets older.
Jessica has worked really hard in first grade this year. She reads by memory so she has to work extra hard in reading, but she's like her Daddy and can do wonders in math. I've been told by her teachers that she is very competitive. Really? Of course she is...she always has been competing with her older sister! Jess is in a class that is very active and demands a lot of TLC. Her God-given competitiveness and determination are just what she needs to survive there.
Jessie got a new room-mate this fall. Heidi was complaining about how Natalie always wanted to be in their room so I decided to do a swap. Heidi went to Craig's room and Natalie moved into the lower bunk under Jessie. It's been a good switch. Jess has become the "big sister" instead of the tag-along and she "pre-schools" Natalie when she gets home from school. It's been fun seeing Jessie taking the initiative to play with Natalie. She looks so proud when she takes the role of teacher. As Natalie has grown up, her interest in playing with the older girls has grown so she soaks up the extra attention for Jess when she gets it.
Sporting events draw our little social bug. Jessica competed in her first year of Little Dribblers Basketball this year. It was so fun to watch her. She was all over that court trying to get the ball. She's a whole head shorter than her competitors but that doesn't slow her down from trying. Her little package is very athletic with speed and agility unlike others her age. She's become a great little ball handler so I see point guard in her future. I just can't wait to see what she's going to do in years to come!
Jess, you are loved bunches and bunches. You bring smiles to our faces and joy to our hearts. We look forward to watching what God will do in your life in the upcoming year!
Friday, January 20, 2012
What is it really like...
...at -50F? I know that many of you that have read this blog are family and some are just casual observers from other parts of the world. Maybe you follow this blog because you're curious about our life with our "Heart child" or maybe where we live fascinates you. I would like to know what you're interested in. What draws you to this site? Please leave a comment and tell me a little about yourself and why you read this blog. It might help me to figure out who I'm talking to and what I need to say.
So here goes my elaboration on the above question.
What is it like at 50 below zero?
-My husband gets a call at 6:30am that says that school is closed.
-Tim checks the computer numerous times a day monitoring the temperature in all the buildings for the school district to make sure the boilers are running.
-On days like today when there is no school, water needs to be run continuously at the school so the sewer doesn't freeze up.
-Our wood boiler "eats" the wood!
-Our Newfoundland dog looks like a fluffy black bear with frost all around his face. He's always chosen to sleep outside even when a doghouse was provided. I'll call him into the garage for a minute and he can't wait to get back outside.
-There's a good chance that our propane can gel and we lose our stove and dryer use. I remember one year cooking over a camp stove because our propane was frozen for a couple of days.
-Sewers can freeze if not used.
-Water lines can freeze if not kept circulated with a circulation pump.
-If your vehicle is left outside, chances are even if you have a engine core heater it might not start. If it does start, you want to let it run for a very long time before getting in. If you have leather seats, they are as hard as a rock.
-When you start driving, your tires are no longer round. You bump down the road feeling like they are square.
-Your vehicle feels like it has arthritis as you drive it. Everything is stiff.
-You can't breath through your mouth when you are outside or you will cough. The first breath you take as you walk out the door freezes all the hairs in your nose and the blasting chill reminds your skin that if it's not covered, it's vulnerable to frostbite.
-There's a haze that settles in. Any exhaust from furnaces or wood stoves just hangs in the air and drops. It doesn't rise.
-If you are outside for any amount of time, the moisture from your breath makes your hair around your face and eye lashes freeze and become crispy.
-House fires are common when it's this cold. There's not much hope for your home because they go up super fast. Many families have just gotten out with what was on their backs.
-Ice isn't slippery.
-People don't go out if they don't have to.
-Local businesses close (except the medical center where I work).
-If you decide to venture out of the house, you are wise to take with you in your car all of your winter gear, food and water...just in case you break down. And cell phones are a must.
-Everyone becomes a Good Samaritan. If you see someone broken down by the side of the road, you will stop to help. It's a matter of life and death.
and last but not least...
Life goes on! Many Alaskan's pride themselves in their ability to survive in such harsh environments. I just can't help but wonder how the Native Alaskans survived in the years long ago before gasoline, propane, electricity and all the modern ways of life came to keep us comfortable. Because of all of those modern conveniences, our lives go on much like they do any other day.
So here goes my elaboration on the above question.
What is it like at 50 below zero?
-My husband gets a call at 6:30am that says that school is closed.
-Tim checks the computer numerous times a day monitoring the temperature in all the buildings for the school district to make sure the boilers are running.
-On days like today when there is no school, water needs to be run continuously at the school so the sewer doesn't freeze up.
-Our wood boiler "eats" the wood!
-Our Newfoundland dog looks like a fluffy black bear with frost all around his face. He's always chosen to sleep outside even when a doghouse was provided. I'll call him into the garage for a minute and he can't wait to get back outside.
-There's a good chance that our propane can gel and we lose our stove and dryer use. I remember one year cooking over a camp stove because our propane was frozen for a couple of days.
-Sewers can freeze if not used.
-Water lines can freeze if not kept circulated with a circulation pump.
-If your vehicle is left outside, chances are even if you have a engine core heater it might not start. If it does start, you want to let it run for a very long time before getting in. If you have leather seats, they are as hard as a rock.
-When you start driving, your tires are no longer round. You bump down the road feeling like they are square.
-Your vehicle feels like it has arthritis as you drive it. Everything is stiff.
-You can't breath through your mouth when you are outside or you will cough. The first breath you take as you walk out the door freezes all the hairs in your nose and the blasting chill reminds your skin that if it's not covered, it's vulnerable to frostbite.
-There's a haze that settles in. Any exhaust from furnaces or wood stoves just hangs in the air and drops. It doesn't rise.
-If you are outside for any amount of time, the moisture from your breath makes your hair around your face and eye lashes freeze and become crispy.
-House fires are common when it's this cold. There's not much hope for your home because they go up super fast. Many families have just gotten out with what was on their backs.
-Ice isn't slippery.
-People don't go out if they don't have to.
-Local businesses close (except the medical center where I work).
-If you decide to venture out of the house, you are wise to take with you in your car all of your winter gear, food and water...just in case you break down. And cell phones are a must.
-Everyone becomes a Good Samaritan. If you see someone broken down by the side of the road, you will stop to help. It's a matter of life and death.
and last but not least...
Life goes on! Many Alaskan's pride themselves in their ability to survive in such harsh environments. I just can't help but wonder how the Native Alaskans survived in the years long ago before gasoline, propane, electricity and all the modern ways of life came to keep us comfortable. Because of all of those modern conveniences, our lives go on much like they do any other day.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
The Twelve Gifts of My Birth Day
This could be the first day of the last year of the first half of my life. My Daddy called me his "little tax deduction." I've been asked on too numerous occasions to count, "So do you get gypped out of presents at Christmas?" "What's it like being born on a holiday?"
As I sit here listening to the fireworks go off around our home, I think back to many a birthday spent away from home. Our family traveled to see grandparents in Florida or Texas almost every year for Christmas. This meant that I had the privilege of spending my birthday with grandparents and cousins. On one very important birthday (it had to be 14-you know those years are so crucial to a young girl if she thinks she's being left out), my Dad decided that we needed to be heading back to Michigan from Texas...on-my-birthday! I remember trying to talk him out of traveling. It didn't work. We hit the road and I wasn't in a good mood. Mom talked Dad into stopping at Chuck-E-Cheeses somewhere along the road that day. That was a first for our family. Dad endured the expensive, bad pizza so that we could have a few games to break up the trip.
The first gift of the day was a "Happy Birthday to You" call from Andrew and Becki's boys in Michigan. What a way to start out the day!
The second gift of the day today was a gallon of milk spilled all over our carpeted dining room floor. This tempered our whole day as now my dining room carpet got a complete shampooing. It needed it anyway, so I guess this was a blessing in disguise.
The third gift was a nice long nap with my son snuggled next to me. Craig is such a snuggle bug. He loves to be plastered right next to me and thankfully isn't a real wiggle worm like one of my older daughters.
The fourth gift was a nice warm home in 20 some degree below zero weather. We've been blessed to have such a nice home. Our wood boiler keeps us warm a toasty. Tim works hard to keep wood cut for it...which leads me to...
The fifth gift of my husband. I thank God for giving Timothy to me. He is so understanding of my quirks. He just smiles at the girls being girls. He works hard to take care of our family. Of course he is still a "work in progress" but I thank God that he's willing to be worked on.
The joy of childhood is my sixth gift. Yesterday when I got home from working a 12 hours shift (which gave Tim that whole time with the kids), I asked of the girls had made me a birthday cake. Natalie came running up to me and said, "No mommy, we bought you a birthday cake!" I love this age. It's so fun. They just can't keep a secret inside.
The seventh gift was a book from my brother and sister-in-law The First Born Advantage: Making Your Birth Order Work for You by Kevin Leman. It's quite a coincidence that I have five sister-in-laws that are all firstborns. You can just imagine what it's like getting together. I'm looking forward to reading this book and seeing how it works for me.
The eighth gift was a yummy dinner at my brother and sister-in-laws house. There wasn't going to be a party at my house on wet carpet so I gladly accepted her invitation.
The ninth gift was watching my kids get more excited about my birthday than I did. The cake, the candles, the questions-"Are we going to have lots of people over? Are we going to have pretty plates and napkins?" My girls are BIG into parties. If it were up to myself, I wouldn't go to all the extremes, but I know they like it. It's what makes it mysterious and creates excitement, I guess.
Number ten came a little early, before Christmas. I got a new Nikon DSLR camera for Christmas and my birthday. What a package! I'm going to need some schooling on how to capture all the essence of this machine. Hopefully I'll be able to share some of the pictures in the future-I'm still learning.
After we got the kids in bed, Tim and I sat down to watch the DVD "How Great Is Our God" by Louie Giglio. It is so powerful in describing how amazingly we were created by such an awesome and mighty God. It's a must see and made it as the eleventh gift of my day.
And now as I prepare for a good nights sleep in the wee hours of the new year, I will be enjoying the gift of quiet remembering all the wonderful things from the past year. The challenges that brought determination. The daily chores that brought perseverance. The young laughter that brought joy to my heart. The Hope knowing that I whatever this next year brings, it has all been planned way before my existence. I have the God that breathed the stars into existence as my Savior and friend.
Happy New Year!
As I sit here listening to the fireworks go off around our home, I think back to many a birthday spent away from home. Our family traveled to see grandparents in Florida or Texas almost every year for Christmas. This meant that I had the privilege of spending my birthday with grandparents and cousins. On one very important birthday (it had to be 14-you know those years are so crucial to a young girl if she thinks she's being left out), my Dad decided that we needed to be heading back to Michigan from Texas...on-my-birthday! I remember trying to talk him out of traveling. It didn't work. We hit the road and I wasn't in a good mood. Mom talked Dad into stopping at Chuck-E-Cheeses somewhere along the road that day. That was a first for our family. Dad endured the expensive, bad pizza so that we could have a few games to break up the trip.
The first gift of the day was a "Happy Birthday to You" call from Andrew and Becki's boys in Michigan. What a way to start out the day!
The second gift of the day today was a gallon of milk spilled all over our carpeted dining room floor. This tempered our whole day as now my dining room carpet got a complete shampooing. It needed it anyway, so I guess this was a blessing in disguise.
The third gift was a nice long nap with my son snuggled next to me. Craig is such a snuggle bug. He loves to be plastered right next to me and thankfully isn't a real wiggle worm like one of my older daughters.
The fourth gift was a nice warm home in 20 some degree below zero weather. We've been blessed to have such a nice home. Our wood boiler keeps us warm a toasty. Tim works hard to keep wood cut for it...which leads me to...
The fifth gift of my husband. I thank God for giving Timothy to me. He is so understanding of my quirks. He just smiles at the girls being girls. He works hard to take care of our family. Of course he is still a "work in progress" but I thank God that he's willing to be worked on.
The joy of childhood is my sixth gift. Yesterday when I got home from working a 12 hours shift (which gave Tim that whole time with the kids), I asked of the girls had made me a birthday cake. Natalie came running up to me and said, "No mommy, we bought you a birthday cake!" I love this age. It's so fun. They just can't keep a secret inside.
The seventh gift was a book from my brother and sister-in-law The First Born Advantage: Making Your Birth Order Work for You by Kevin Leman. It's quite a coincidence that I have five sister-in-laws that are all firstborns. You can just imagine what it's like getting together. I'm looking forward to reading this book and seeing how it works for me.
The eighth gift was a yummy dinner at my brother and sister-in-laws house. There wasn't going to be a party at my house on wet carpet so I gladly accepted her invitation.
The ninth gift was watching my kids get more excited about my birthday than I did. The cake, the candles, the questions-"Are we going to have lots of people over? Are we going to have pretty plates and napkins?" My girls are BIG into parties. If it were up to myself, I wouldn't go to all the extremes, but I know they like it. It's what makes it mysterious and creates excitement, I guess.
Number ten came a little early, before Christmas. I got a new Nikon DSLR camera for Christmas and my birthday. What a package! I'm going to need some schooling on how to capture all the essence of this machine. Hopefully I'll be able to share some of the pictures in the future-I'm still learning.
After we got the kids in bed, Tim and I sat down to watch the DVD "How Great Is Our God" by Louie Giglio. It is so powerful in describing how amazingly we were created by such an awesome and mighty God. It's a must see and made it as the eleventh gift of my day.
And now as I prepare for a good nights sleep in the wee hours of the new year, I will be enjoying the gift of quiet remembering all the wonderful things from the past year. The challenges that brought determination. The daily chores that brought perseverance. The young laughter that brought joy to my heart. The Hope knowing that I whatever this next year brings, it has all been planned way before my existence. I have the God that breathed the stars into existence as my Savior and friend.
Happy New Year!
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