Update on Emma!!!

I got a call today from Emma's cardiologist telling me that he and her heart surgeon where reviewing some cases and hers was one of the cases they went over. They decided that at her next appointment (this Thursday) they wanted to get a detailed echo of her heart and some other minor test to see if anything had changed or if everything was still the same. They think that she is about at the age that it might be time to start her surgical process again. Of course the echo, x-ray and EKG won't hurt her, but I am not looking forward to the lab work they are going to have to do and I definitely know she is not going to like it at all.

She has been doing really good other than she is still getting tired when she is playing and not wanting to eat very much (she has been holding around the same weight for a while now, between 28-30lbs). We knew that the day was coming when we where going to be talking about surgery again, but as a Mommy you always hold out hope for no surgery at all. We have been blessed with so many miracles with her, that I feel a little selfish asking God for another one, "Dear God, please see this beautiful and perfect little girl through this. Hold her hand through the scary times when I am not able to be by her side and give her the comfort and strength to get through whatever path you have made for her". I know we do not know if she will have surgery yet, but I do know that one day, weather it be in a few months or a few years, she will need to have this done...

I am not sure if everyone knows still what Emma's actual heart problems are, so I am going to post them and explain a little more about them...

*One of her main diagnosis is Corrected Transposition of the great arteries, meaning, that her bottom two chambers switched position when they where being developed in utero. Her blood flow is flowing in the right direction, but do to the ventricles doing the others job, it puts higher pressure and stress on the left ventricle.

*Because of the extra stress put on the heart she is in the beginning stages of heart failure, witch does not mean that her heart is going to give out, it just means that it is a little enlarged and works harder than it should. Over time though if left un-treated it could cause other major problems, so she is on medication to slow the progression down.

*There is also a hole between the bottom two chambers called a VSD, which actually helps her blood flow due to the anatomy of her heart.

*She has what is called WPW with SVT, witch is basically a rhythm problem with her heart. In Emma's case her heart can beat up to 280 beats per minute if she has an SVT episode. Thankfully she has not had an SVT episode in a very long time, so we are hoping she is out growing it or her medication is working wonders for her.

*Lastly she has an abnormal tricuspid valve that has some mild leakage and some narrowing of her pulmonary artery called pulmonary stenosis.

I know it sounds like allot and a little overwhelming, trust me I have been there, but I promise you she is doing amazingly well and will keep doing it that way. She is such a little fighter and strong little girl, but most of all she is our little miracle and true blessing. I have learned so much about life through this one little girl. I have learned to be patient and to give my problems and worries over to God more and know that he is truly and AMAZING GOD. I will keep learning everyday from her and my other little miracles, just as I have done since the day they where born.

As I went through today I couldn't help but worry more and more about what they might say at Emma's next doctors appointment; so as I was checking my daily e-mail I felt the need to say a prayer her and me. While I was praying for the strength and comfort during this little bump in our road these words where put on my heart and in my mind and I really wanted to share them with you, "Why is it that we stress and worry over the things we can not change? No matter how hard we try there will always be difficulties and obstacles in our way, we just have to learn to take life's detours and to jump the hurdles (no matter how high they are), but always remember that God will be there to show us the best way and to carry us over any of life's hurdles". I truly believe that God put these words on my heart to really remember that he will get us through this and that he knows the best path for us to take even if we don't see it right now...

I am sorry that this is so long and if I am rambling and not making much sense through most of this post. I just felt the need to explain a little more about Emma's heart condition. I think I just always say "Emma's issues" or "Emma's heart problems" but I don't really thing I have explained exactly what her "issues" are. I do hope this give everyone a little better insight into the the happenings of Emma's heart. I know some things are still a little confusing, but hey, I am still confused some days, lol.

Please keep her in your prayers this week and I promise to update everyone Thursday after we get home from a long day at the doctors office...

As all way hugs, kisses and lots of love to everyone and thank you so much for checking in on us and your continued support and prayers...

It's Been A Long Time!!!

Wow, it has been a really long time since I have posted a blog (sorry about that), but I guess no news is good news. Lets see where do I start...

Well, Emma has been doing really well and we still have not had any hospital visits in a really long time (well over a year), we are still having issues with her not wanting to eat, but I really think that she is just being a difficult eater. She is still under weight, about 27lbs (she has been this weight for awhile now) and will be turning 3 in June... Unfortunately there is not much for us to do unless she stops eating all together and we do not want to go down that road at all; so for now we will just give her fatty stuff as much as we can and use supplements for the rest. We do have a cardiology appointment coming up on the 1st of April so we will find out more then, but I know she is doing amazingly... I do think here in the next year or so we will start the surgical process again (it could be sooner or later depending on how her heart function is), but we where told three is usually the magic number for all these wonderful kiddos... So for now we just wait, see and watch this amazing little girl grow...

As you my know my little man just turned four... I still can't get over how much he has matured in the last couple of months, he is talking so much better and seems to be getting out of that toddler stage and into that big boy stage. He tells me every day that he is big now and can do anything... Oh how I wish they could stay little forever... I could not be more excited to say that he is officially fully potty trained. I started to wonder if he was going to be wearing pull-ups to kindergarten, but one day he just decided to put on big boy pants and use the big potty (it was amazing,lol). He is doing so awesome in school (the two days a week him and Emma go), actually they just told me yesterday that he is doing so well that they moved him into the preschool class early (he was not suppose to go till August). Nickolas and I went to San Antonio this past weekend and had an awesome time together (since Emma graced us with her presence he has not had very many one on ones with Mommy), it was really good for the both of us to spend some quality time together. Let me just say that I am sooo proud of him, he had such a hard time with speech and stuff, but now you would never know...

Katelyn is also doing really well and getting to be such a little lady... Unfortunately we don't get to see her as often as we would like, but when we do we find out how much of an amazing little lady she is becoming. She is doing great in school and excels in all her classes. She is in that awkward stage, you know the one, the one where she wants to be a "big girl", but also wants to little. Bless her little heart, I wish I could make everything better for her, she is having a hard time not understanding why we can't all live together as one "big" family (her Daddy, me and her Mommy), I know I went through the same thing when I was little. It will just take some time and lots of love from us. She starts spring break next week and is very excited about having a week off and being able to play with her friends and maybe doing some fun stuff. I just can't believe that she is going to be eight in just a few short months...

As for me and Josh, it is just the same ol' same ol'. We are hoping that in the next couple of months he will be moving to days and leaving the night shift far behind. It will be such a blessing to have some what of a normal family life again. I know the kids truly enjoy when there Daddy is here to help put them to bed (Mommy enjoys having an extra set of hands). He has been on days for this week, but will be going back to nights next week, I have loved having him home in the evening and all of us being able to sit at the table and having a meal together, I forget how much I miss the little things when he is not here... Other than that we just go about our daily routines with nothing really new to report... I will try and update everyone after Emma's cardiology appointment on the 1st...

Thanks for checking up on us, lots of hugs and kisses... New pictures to coming soon!!!

ODDS AND ENDS....

Just wanted to share a few pictures of our ending days of summer and some other odds and ends of my wonderful kiddo's...

Nickolas and Emma taking a ride in the jeep (Yes he is driving a pick Jeep)...


Emma showing us her ballet moves....

Trying to hold her leg up, like the big girls do...

I just love this picture (don't know why)...

Nickolas and Emma ready for Kick off of the Texans game....

Wordless, she is just too cute...

Katelyn and Nickolas at Chuck E. Cheese...

All of my wonderful kids playing on the swing set...

We have had an amazing summer, I just wish we could have a few more summer days (but I am totally loving the cooler days and nights). I think we are all finally over all the little bugs and stuff that have been going around our home (thank God). Joshua has finally got back on his original work schedule (6pm- 6am), it is a big adjustment but all in all it is for the best, the kids get to see him a little more during week and he is also getting a little more over time which is really helpful, I just thank God that he has a job and that we are able to provide for our family, he always takes care of us... Any how, I have a few more pictures that I want to share with everyone I just have to find what I did with the disk, I have been a Little scatter brained lately. We love everyone and only hope that you are as blessed as our little family has been during these last five years of our marriage...

Bad Blogger...

OK so I am a really bad blogger lately, but I guess I can use the excuse that we have had ALOT going on lately... Well first, we took Nickolas to the Ortho dr. for his feet and found out that he might have some other issue going on developmentally and mentally. He was suppose to go to the Neurologist on the 11th but everyone was sick so we did not make it and as always we are waiting for a call and and a new opening for an appt. I have been really stressed and worried about what the dr might tell us, but then someone asked me if it would change anything and I had to say no... He will still be out sweet little boy no matter what some dr might say, he will always be our Nickolas, just as Emma has always been our Emma. I think God has given me some really special gifts, not only my husband and children, but he has taught be strong and patient. I have also learned to give my problems and worries to him, we are taught to let God do the warring for you. I think that is the hardest thing for me, just giving everything over to him, but I know that he will guide and help us through all our difficult times, he is always the light at the end of the tunnel... Sorry, didn't mean to get off subject... As for the rest of us, we have all been sick... Nickolas and I had a horrible stomach bug and them Emma got it, after we where all past that, we got another round of another bug. Last week I got sick again and found out that I had Pneumonia and now Josh has our stomach bug, God only hopes we don't get it back. We are all on the mend now and other than that there is not much to report... Emma is still loving ballet and is doing really well, pictures to come soon I hope. I will let you know more on Nickolas as soon as we go back to the doctor. I promise I will be a better blogger from now on, never mind I know I have said that before and as always my world gets a little crazy sometimes.... Love to all and may God bless your life as he has mine...

Getting to be a big girl...

We had Emma's 2 year check-up a few days ago and everything went really well. She weighed 27.6lbs and was 35in tall. I was so excited to hear her weight, she has gained 2lbs since we where at the cardiologist a few months ago. She didn't need any shots this time, thank god, It always worries me when she gets so upset and raises her heart rate...
Nickolas also when for his check-up and is 37lbs, he is getting to be such a big boy. They are both in the 90% in their height, Nickolas is also in the 90% for his weight, which the dr. said was really good. Emma is only in 50% for her weight which is really good for kids her age if she was a little shorter, I will take 50% (she has been in 25%), I am so proud of her, she just keeps fighting and getting bigger, everything she is suppose to do...

Emma also started to school with Nickolas two days a week. She did really well on her first day, she kissed me by and went off and played. When I got there to pick her and Nickolas up she was so excited, she had to show me the frog hat she made at school... She told me all about her numbers and letters and said that she had lots of fun playing at bubbas school today...

I have to share another cute Nickolas story with y'all... We where on our way home and it had started to rain...

Nickolas: "Mommy, it's raining"

Mommy: "Yep, it sure is"

Nickolas: "Mommy, where we get rain?"

Mommy: "Well, God makes the rain"

Nickolas: "Why?"

Mommy: "To make our flowers and trees grow pretty"

Nickolas: "Oh, Mommy, he is a good God"

I could not have said it better myself, sometimes it takes a three year old to remind us when we are having a bad day, that "He is a good God"...

Sorry this is such a long post, but was wondering if I could ask you to pray for a heart family... Their son Connie has the same problems as Emma and just got the news that he needs to have a heart transplant. Doing another surgery would put him to much at risk... They are praying for a better second opinion and that no transplant will be necessary...

Thank you so much for checking in on us, we love you and in the words of Nickolas, always remember, "He is a good God"...

Sick...

Yesterday Emma started to run a fever of 103 and never acted like she felt bad. She continued to run a fever through out the day and night, but by morning no fever, so I just though it was a little bug and we where all done, (I could only wish). We went to lunch today with Non, Ms. Angie and all the kiddos, by the time we where half way through lunch the fever was back, I decide to take her to the doctor and after getting very angry with the doctors office (that is another topic all together) I finally decided to just take her to the emergency clinic by the house. The Dr checked everything out and did a strep test on her and come to find out she has strep...

My poor baby, she is never sick and is so sad now. I think it all finally caught up with her and her throat is finally hurting. As I was trying to give her her "yummy pink meds" she spit it all over me, along with the Tylenol and anything else I tried to give her. She just kept begging me not to and to stop. It just broke my heart, I almost said fine no meds, but I new she had to have them and we did finally get them down after calling her Maw Maw over to help me hold her down :( .

I am just hoping and praying that after a couple of doses of meds she will feel better and not be to mad at Mommy for holding her down... I also hope that the rest of us don't get it, but I am afraid I will be taking Nickolas to the Dr next and just to be sure I am going to call me and Josh's Dr and see if he will send us an antibiotic just in case we need it as well...

Back Home...

Well, I am back home and everything went really well. The surgery took about 2 hours and the Dr said that everything looked good and I should start to feel better in the next couple of days. I am really bruised up, but I will take it, at least it is all over. The pain is OK, I am hurting but nothing that rest and medication won't help. I am going to lay low for the next couple of days and not do anything and as the Dr put it, just be the queen for a few days... I think I can handle that, it doesn't happen very often... Love to everyone that has been praying and thinking of me these last few days and weeks it is very much appreciated... Once again God has blessed our family, he has always taken care of us and always will...