Blogging and Coloring!

This is what happens when I'm blogging and Erin is playing with markers. All I can get out of her is something about lipstick. Again, thank the Lord for Crayola washable markers.

Hallelujah Harvest

Here are a few pics from our trip to Hallelujah Harvest!

My Bear and My Cow Utterly Adorable!

Which camera do we look at? Giddy up

Our Little American!

Erin shocked the flip flops off of me the other day. When she emerged from her preschool door she declared that she had been leader for the day and she got to hold the flag. This was a big deal since last time she was leader she didn't get to hold the flag. So on the way home I asked her what they say when they hold the flag. "The Pledge of Aweegiance" of course - and then she proceeded to say it, in her own words! I've posted the video for you all to enjoy. I'm so proud of all she's learning. It makes me think - everything that goes in, will eventually come out!

You gotta love, "liberty and Jesus for all" she's right isn't she? He is for all!

Pumpkin Patches!

We had an exciting couple of days. Since I was finally able to emerge from my home and take Anna out, we headed to the Pumpkin Patch. We started on Saturday at Taylor Farms. We met up with the Judds and the Saunders and the kids had a blast. It was great weather, a little warm, but the farm is mostly in the shade. We practically had the place to ourselves. After the fun, we headed to Golden Corral where Erin ate her fair share of the buffet!

As if this wasn't enough Pumpkin Patch fun, Erin had her field trip to the Hunt Club this morning. Anna stayed with Baba so Erin and I could have a great time just the 2 of us.

It was rather warm, but the kids all had a great time. We got to go on another hayride and pick out another pumpkin. Of course Erin wanted one of the big ones, not a pie one. I got to snap some pics of Erin with her little friend Jameson that I've heard so much about, and yes - she is a girl! I also got to talk to Erin's teacher and get a little scoop on how Erin is at school. It was a great day and we were both pooped by the end of it.

.

Going Home!

Anna was released from the hospital 4 days after having open heart surgery - Is that not amazing? She is recovering well and except for the medicines she has to take, she enjoys most of her days at home. This week she has really discovered her feet and lifts them up to stare at them. She also has been giving out oodles of smiles this week. I don't think we realized how hard things were on her before the surgery. She used so much energy just to breathe and eat that she didn't have much left for smiling and exploring. We are so thankful for her fast recovery and her new found joy!

Moving on Up!

Tuesday evening Anna began to come out of her second sedation and was so alert. I was able to feed her a bottle which was the first food she had actually tasted since Saturday night. She had been on a feeding tube for the past couple of days. We left Tuesday evening to go home again since she had to spend another night in PICU. When we called to check in on her Wednesday morning the nurse said she had been so alert that they ordered her a mobile and she was eating like a little piggie. I remind you, this is the night nurse saying how alert she was! Yes, I am still paying the price for this.

We headed off to Erin's first field trip Wednesday morning and then scooted on to the hospital. We arrived just in time for her big move back to the Step Down Unit 3C where she would do the rest of her recovery. Happy to be nursing again and have a little more privacy, Anna was recooperating so well. She was such a trooper as the nurses came in every 2 hours to check vitals and poke at her. Mommy was exhausted from the constantly interrupted sleep, but knew it would be over soon.

The great news came on Thursday afternoon, Anna was okayed for discharge. We were floored that it all could happen so fast, but we were ready to be at home so we could get back to our normal routine. The first few nights have been an adjustment. Anna got her days and nights mixed up again, but she is quickly returning to her routine. We have been stuck inside this week since they don't want Anna exposed to any sickness. Hopefully next week we can return to getting out a few mornings. I'm looking forward to taking my little Pumpkin Pie to the Pumpkin Patch next week and watching her turn into a round little pumpkin herself. She is so much happier and looks so much healthier.

God has been so gracious throughout this process. If you would have asked me months ago if I could handle my child having open heart surgery, I would have told you not in a million years. I can't explain it, but there is something that happens to you when you are faced with a situation like this. I had a choice, to deny this was happening and crawl into a hole of despair, or to face it with courage and faith that God doesn't give us more than we can handle. Knowing that truth and having to actually live it out are two different things. There are times I feel God gives me more than I can handle - and it is more than I can handle - on my own - that's why He steps in and makes Himself so present that the most unbearable situation becomes bearable. Praise be to God who gives us the power through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Miracle Tuesday!

We arrived Tuesday morning at the hospital excited to find our little girl awake and looking around. We had gone home Monday night to get a decent night's sleep since she was in the PICU and I would have had to sleep on a bed in a room the size of my closet. Actually, we both could have slept there - they had bunk beds! So we opted for our own bed at home. Upon arriving home Monday night we called to check in on Anna and they were still concerned about her heart rate being so high. She was now peeking around 220bpm. They asked us to call back at 9:00 for another update after they had given her some medicine. At 9:00 her heart rate had dropped to a perfect 130bpm. Phew...we could get some rest and feel confident she was okay.

So we woke up Tuesday morning and called in and her rate was about 150bpm which was manageable they said they were getting ready to take all her tubes out. We arrived at the hospital and the doctor quickly came over. "She looks great, she's profusing well, her color is good, her rate is good, only one minor glitch - we can't get her stomach tube out." We didn't quite know how big of a deal that was until he said we're going to have to go in and surgically remove it. Okay Lord, another surgery, more anesthesia, another breathing tube - we really don't want to go through this again, but if it has to be done, then it has to be done.

The surgeon came by to explain the problem to us, "Apparently I either accidentaly caught a stitch in the tube, or it is stuck on something else." He apologized immensely and Joe was very gracious with him explaining we were so grateful for what he had done, that this was just a minor set back. So we prepped for surgery, again. Got the prayer chains going and asking people to pray that the tube would fall out before they had to go in and remove it.

We wheeled her down the long hallway, again. I was hoping they would give it one more try, one more little yank before going to the extreme measure of surgery, but that wasn't the plan. We went to the waiting room to wait for the hour and a half/two hours to slowly tick by. Imagine our shock when after 45 minutes the surgeon walked in and declared, "It came out, It just came out!" We immediately responded with Praise the Lord, and the surgeon responded, "He is an Awesome God!" How exciting it was to hear the good news, but also to have the surgeon share in our belief that it was only God that could have caused the tube to fall out.

The miracle we had prayed for all along was for Anna's heart to be healed. When it wasn't, we accepted it and knew God would bring her through the surgery. How awesome God is to have given us an unexpected miracle, one we couldn't possibly have seen coming weeks ago. He answered our prayers in the immediate need of them. He showed us and all those praying for Anna that He is still in the business of making miracles. He gives us just what we need, when we need it. Thank the Lord for our Miracle Tuesday.