Gotta Love a Ritz

Anna has been introduced to the world of Ritz crackers and let's just say we are both thrilled about it!

The first trip of the season!

We took off after lunch Friday to enjoy the beautiful afternoon at Busch Gardens. It was our first of many trips to B.G. this year. It was so nice not being pregnant while there, and Anna is a super kid when it comes to no naps and over stimulation. She got a short catnap in, while Erin did all the Dragon Land activities including the water. Then Anna got to experience the Carousel for the first time. Nana went along for the ride and treated us to some Trapper's Smokehouse and Ice Cream. It was a great Spring Day and we can't wait to go back!

This place is so overrated!
The ever so favorite yellow ladybug.
I love the Carousel!
My Nana loves me!

Credit and a Plug

The new pictures on our sidebar of our family and me and the girls were taken by Kim's father-in-law Mr. Nieter. I love when he gets to join in our family celebrations because he is an awesome photographer. He is always great at capturing candids as well as posed pictures. If you ever need a photographer that is willing to come to you and put up with crazy kids - he's the guy! Just thought I'd give credit where credit is due! Check out his website at www.ranieter.com!

6 Months!

I chose this picture so you can see how faint her scar is - it's hardly noticeable!

Well today marks 6 months since Anna had her heart surgery. I've been thinking about it all week knowing I would want to make a special post today. On the 5th I was remembering how it felt to call the Cardiologist and tell him my instinct says something's just not right. She isn't interested in eating and she just looks pitiful. When he told us to bring her in to CHKD to be observed, it was a strange feeling of anxiety, but relief. We were almost happy to be taking her in because at least the burden wouldn't be on us, and she would be in a place where she would be taken care of. Still, there is something very strange about driving your infant to the hospital not knowing exactly what lies ahead. Some of you have been there and can relate to that feeling.

Over the last 3 days I've allowed myself to relive those corresponding 3 days in the hospital with Anna. The fiasco with getting a feeding tube in her, the dozens of times they tried to take blood and couldn't get a good prick and had to call Leo the master blood drawer. The nurses I wasn't very kind to in the middle of the night when they'd wake me up to pump. Oh yes, and the days of pumping every 3 hours since I couldn't nurse. It's all much more difficult to think back on than it actually was going through it.

And then we come to the 8th. October 8th will be a date etched in our lives and hearts forever. But, not as a painful memory, as a day of praise and thanksgiving. On that very day our little girl's heart was made perfect. We actually got to witness the miracle of a heart being made perfect, not many people get to do that. We will always look back on that day as a special day for Anna and will celebrate it every year. It's hard to believe it has been 6 months since this whole ordeal. I look at my angel and I see God's hand. He hand picked her for something special and she just oozes His joy all over her face. Sometimes I forget she ever had a health problem, and other times I put my hand on her chest just to feel the rhythm of her heart to know that it is perfect.

God has taught us so much in the last 6 months. I pray that as the months go on we will never forget the lessons we've learned. I also pray we don't have to go through something like this again, but if we do, we know how we'll survive it. Thank you all for being our support system here on Earth. We know He holds us and He's given us all of you to tangibly feel His arms. And thank you for loving my little Anna and celebrating every little milestone with her. She doesn't even know yet what a big role you all have played in her life, but it won't be long before she understands it.

One last thought, I was reading in the book "Praying the Scriptures for your Children" and I found this verse and thought it fit Anna perfectly. It is my prayer for her.
"Give Anna a sense of destiny, and show her that you set her apart and appointed her with gifts and talents even before she was born." Jer. 1:5