Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but there really isn't much to post about. AG had a cardiology appointment and her heart function looks good so we don't go back to Dr R for three months! Amazing!
We are still quarantining due to the high number of cases of flu, stomach virus and RSV still floating around. That has been difficult, but we are hopeful that in the next few weeks we will come out of quarantine and just live normally again!
AG has started stuttering and having some problems with her speech so I took her this last week for a speech evaluation with the school district. AG did great and was so polite and well mannered. She answered all of their questions to the best of her ability and I was so proud of my big girl! They will call me to schedule a more in-depth evaluation soon and then make a determination of she qualifies for the speech program within the school district. So, we will see how things progress there.
Easter is coming up and so I have planned a special homeshool class this week for the kids to talk each day a little bit about why we, as Christians, celebrate Easter. I really want my children to realize that Easter is a holiday that is so much more than candy and egg hunts. I am excited that they are both getting old enough to start to expound more on Easter - Jesus - and all that Him dying on the cross and being buried in the tomb and then 3 days later rising again means for us. It is exciting to me to begin sharing these truths with the kids!
So, that is about all that we have going on these days. Again, sorry for the lack of posts. I will try to do better!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Poop Watch Is Over!
So about 36 hours after swallowing the pacificer it made an appearance..... so poop watch is now officially over! It was such a relief that nothing invasive had to be done with her :) I have to give all credit to my husband who - without complaint - took over the poop watch duty for me because I quite frankly couldn't bring myself to look through the poop. He is my hero and an amazing husband and father. I was grateful :)
I am also happy to say that we drove up to NC this weekend for a day trip to play in the snow! We drove to the Visitor Center at Beech Mountain in NC. They have a small hill there for sledding. It is free to sled there you just have to take your own sled. It is also only for children 12 and under. It snowed all day while we were there. There was probably a foot of snow on the ground so it was beautiful! The kids loved sledding down the hill. Brian and I both went down with AG and then she got brave and wanted to do it herself and we let her! She hung on the whole way and never let go. She loved it and wanted to do it again and again and again by herself! So she and Zachary both enjoyed the sledding. It was a 2 hour drive up there and then we played about 4 hours and then drove home. It was a fun, easy, cheap day trip and it was fantastic!
In my head I am now planning to try to teach the kids how to snow ski next winter. I think they will both be big enough next winter to learn to ski and I can't hardly wait! This snow ski loving Mommy can't wait to share my love of the sport with my kids!
So, we made some fantastic family memories this weekend, that I wish I could share pictures of with you, but I still don't know how to upload the pictures :( Hopefully soon!
I am also happy to say that we drove up to NC this weekend for a day trip to play in the snow! We drove to the Visitor Center at Beech Mountain in NC. They have a small hill there for sledding. It is free to sled there you just have to take your own sled. It is also only for children 12 and under. It snowed all day while we were there. There was probably a foot of snow on the ground so it was beautiful! The kids loved sledding down the hill. Brian and I both went down with AG and then she got brave and wanted to do it herself and we let her! She hung on the whole way and never let go. She loved it and wanted to do it again and again and again by herself! So she and Zachary both enjoyed the sledding. It was a 2 hour drive up there and then we played about 4 hours and then drove home. It was a fun, easy, cheap day trip and it was fantastic!
In my head I am now planning to try to teach the kids how to snow ski next winter. I think they will both be big enough next winter to learn to ski and I can't hardly wait! This snow ski loving Mommy can't wait to share my love of the sport with my kids!
So, we made some fantastic family memories this weekend, that I wish I could share pictures of with you, but I still don't know how to upload the pictures :( Hopefully soon!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Swallowed A Pacifier - Poop Watch
So today Anna Grace bit the end of her pacificer off and then swallowed it. No, I'm not joking. I called her doctor to let him know what happened and he said that we need to check her poop for the next 48 hours to see if she passes it. If not then, well.... it will have to be removed surgucally I suppose. But for now Brian and I are on the poop watch.
Please pray that she passes it - I can not even imagine trying to take her back to a hospital for anything invasive right now so soon after heart surgery! Serious anxiety drugs would have to be administered!
So Brian had the honors of looking through tonight's poop with no sign of the paci. What a trooper he was - without complaint and without even gagging! He's Super Dad as far as I'm concerned. I doubt that I will be able to accomplish the task as well as he did! So.... pray for me too!
I'll keep you posted on how things turn up :)
Whew.... being a Mom is CRAZY!
Please pray that she passes it - I can not even imagine trying to take her back to a hospital for anything invasive right now so soon after heart surgery! Serious anxiety drugs would have to be administered!
So Brian had the honors of looking through tonight's poop with no sign of the paci. What a trooper he was - without complaint and without even gagging! He's Super Dad as far as I'm concerned. I doubt that I will be able to accomplish the task as well as he did! So.... pray for me too!
I'll keep you posted on how things turn up :)
Whew.... being a Mom is CRAZY!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Temper Tantrums
There is so much I want to BLOG about but I have been struggling with finding the time to BLOG - so for that I apologize. I also have not been able to figure out how to post pictures or videos. Shortly after the first of the year blogger changed it's image upload feature and now I can't figure out how to do it - so I have lots of fun pictures to show you and no way to get them on my BLOG. My technology savy hubby will be able to figure it out for me though so hopefully I'll have some new pictures up for you soon!
Things here have been the same. We are still in quarantine trying to stay well during this crazy flu season that we are having. We have mostly been doing homeschool, playing outside and going on the occassional hike.
We have decided to homeschool again for the upcoming school year. It is always nice to have the decision made. Now I am in the search for the cirriculum we are going to use for the upcoming year I'm not going to start AG on an official cirriculum this year, but she will probably just stay in the school room with us on an informal basis like she has been doing for the last year. It's amazing how much information she picks up just staying the in the school room with us.
Our beloved Ms. Lauren came to babysit for a few hours on Saturday. She hasn't seen the kids since we came home from Charleston. She was amazed at how great AG looked and amazed at her stamina. She took her for a walk around the block and said she only had to carry her about 20 feet. It is a far cry from our walks with AG just a few short months ago when she had to be carried virtually the entire way. It was a blessing to see Ms. Lauren for all of us. She is such a dear dear young woman to us and we love her very much!
As for AG. She is entering the temper tantrum stage of life. Zachary never really experienced this but AG is a very strong willed child. For example, Brian took the kids hiking today. I needed to make a run to Sam's Club and I needed to do some checkbook balancing and bill paying. So - Brian and the kids went off for some hiking. Well, while they were out on the trail AG had to potty (she's been doing really great with her potty training over the last few weeks). So, since they were on the trail and there was no potty anywhere near Brian let her potty in the woods. She loved it! After they got home she had to potty and proceeded to try to potty outside. Well, I tried very lovingly to explain that when you're hikiing and you really have to potty and you can't hold it you can go outside, but when you're home or near a potty it is proper to use the potty. Well, she wouldn't hear of it - she was determined not to use the potty but to go outside. So, the temper tantrum began and went on and on and on. It finally ended with her pottying on the floor and then taking a shower. Whew... she would not be presuaded, not by candy, not by time out, not by toys or distractions. So I am hoping we are not back to square one with the potty training, but we will see :) But honestly, I am thrilled to be blogging about potty training and temper tantrums because it means that she is doing well and starting to get back to normal - so I'm always happy to deal with and blog about "normal" kid things!
As for a Zachary update - well, my big boy turned 6 years old this last weekend. It was a bittersweet ocassion to be honest. I am thankful that he is growing into a fine young man but at the same time so sad to see him getting older too. It only seems like yesterday that he was born and I was holding him for the first time. What a sweet, sweet baby he was! Now he's telling me that I can't lay down with him any more at night because he'a big now. Sniff.... truly I'm thankful and sad all at the same time!
So that is about all the news I have for now. AG goes back to the cardiologist in a few weeks for an echo and a check up with Dr. R. In the meantime, we're just hanging around the house trying to stay well!
Things here have been the same. We are still in quarantine trying to stay well during this crazy flu season that we are having. We have mostly been doing homeschool, playing outside and going on the occassional hike.
We have decided to homeschool again for the upcoming school year. It is always nice to have the decision made. Now I am in the search for the cirriculum we are going to use for the upcoming year I'm not going to start AG on an official cirriculum this year, but she will probably just stay in the school room with us on an informal basis like she has been doing for the last year. It's amazing how much information she picks up just staying the in the school room with us.
Our beloved Ms. Lauren came to babysit for a few hours on Saturday. She hasn't seen the kids since we came home from Charleston. She was amazed at how great AG looked and amazed at her stamina. She took her for a walk around the block and said she only had to carry her about 20 feet. It is a far cry from our walks with AG just a few short months ago when she had to be carried virtually the entire way. It was a blessing to see Ms. Lauren for all of us. She is such a dear dear young woman to us and we love her very much!
As for AG. She is entering the temper tantrum stage of life. Zachary never really experienced this but AG is a very strong willed child. For example, Brian took the kids hiking today. I needed to make a run to Sam's Club and I needed to do some checkbook balancing and bill paying. So - Brian and the kids went off for some hiking. Well, while they were out on the trail AG had to potty (she's been doing really great with her potty training over the last few weeks). So, since they were on the trail and there was no potty anywhere near Brian let her potty in the woods. She loved it! After they got home she had to potty and proceeded to try to potty outside. Well, I tried very lovingly to explain that when you're hikiing and you really have to potty and you can't hold it you can go outside, but when you're home or near a potty it is proper to use the potty. Well, she wouldn't hear of it - she was determined not to use the potty but to go outside. So, the temper tantrum began and went on and on and on. It finally ended with her pottying on the floor and then taking a shower. Whew... she would not be presuaded, not by candy, not by time out, not by toys or distractions. So I am hoping we are not back to square one with the potty training, but we will see :) But honestly, I am thrilled to be blogging about potty training and temper tantrums because it means that she is doing well and starting to get back to normal - so I'm always happy to deal with and blog about "normal" kid things!
As for a Zachary update - well, my big boy turned 6 years old this last weekend. It was a bittersweet ocassion to be honest. I am thankful that he is growing into a fine young man but at the same time so sad to see him getting older too. It only seems like yesterday that he was born and I was holding him for the first time. What a sweet, sweet baby he was! Now he's telling me that I can't lay down with him any more at night because he'a big now. Sniff.... truly I'm thankful and sad all at the same time!
So that is about all the news I have for now. AG goes back to the cardiologist in a few weeks for an echo and a check up with Dr. R. In the meantime, we're just hanging around the house trying to stay well!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
5K on June 1st
If you've been following my blog for a while now then you remember last year that I helped organize the Palmetto Heatrs 5K fundraiser. Palmetto Hearts is a SC based charity that helps children and families of children who are born with congenital heart defects (like Anna Grace). It is charity that is near and dear to me. Last year through the efforts of the 5K we were able to raise $11,000 for Palmetto Hearts.
Well, I am happy to say that Palmetto Hearts is in the process of planning its 2013 5K. I won't be able to help with the organizing and planning of the 5K this year. Honestly, with homeschoolinjg Zachary my time is so much more limited than it was last year so I don't think I would serve on the 5K committee and homeschool him effectively. But... if you know me you know I love to be involved in some way. So.... I have volunteered to run the registraion table on race day! It is a less long term commitment than being on the planning committee but I will still feel like a big part of the race on race day!
I am thankful for another opportunity to help this charity help heart kids. So, please mark your calendar that the race will be June 1, 2013 at Duncan Park in Spartanburg. It is the same location as last year.
I'm sure it will be some time before they have their website up-to-date with race information, but I am hopeful that I will get to see lots of friends, family and heart families at the race. It's not only a fundraiser, but also a sort of heart family reunion.
I am excited to be able to help this year. I am thankful that Anna Grace is recovering well enough for me to be able to even consider volunteering for the 5K. We have so much to be thankful for!
Oh.... by the way.... AG was able to stop taking Lasix today! Hooray!!!! AND.... Dr. R said it was fine for her to start taking swimming lessons at the beginning of February. We are all so excited that AG is going to be able to start swim lessons - but AG is certainly the MOST excited about it!!!! She can't wait and trying to explain "you have to wait 2 more weeks until you start" to a three year old is not easy! It can't get here sonn enough for her! I'm praying she is as enthusiastic about it when her first lesson finally arrives. I will keep you posted on how it goes!
Well, I am happy to say that Palmetto Hearts is in the process of planning its 2013 5K. I won't be able to help with the organizing and planning of the 5K this year. Honestly, with homeschoolinjg Zachary my time is so much more limited than it was last year so I don't think I would serve on the 5K committee and homeschool him effectively. But... if you know me you know I love to be involved in some way. So.... I have volunteered to run the registraion table on race day! It is a less long term commitment than being on the planning committee but I will still feel like a big part of the race on race day!
I am thankful for another opportunity to help this charity help heart kids. So, please mark your calendar that the race will be June 1, 2013 at Duncan Park in Spartanburg. It is the same location as last year.
I'm sure it will be some time before they have their website up-to-date with race information, but I am hopeful that I will get to see lots of friends, family and heart families at the race. It's not only a fundraiser, but also a sort of heart family reunion.
I am excited to be able to help this year. I am thankful that Anna Grace is recovering well enough for me to be able to even consider volunteering for the 5K. We have so much to be thankful for!
Oh.... by the way.... AG was able to stop taking Lasix today! Hooray!!!! AND.... Dr. R said it was fine for her to start taking swimming lessons at the beginning of February. We are all so excited that AG is going to be able to start swim lessons - but AG is certainly the MOST excited about it!!!! She can't wait and trying to explain "you have to wait 2 more weeks until you start" to a three year old is not easy! It can't get here sonn enough for her! I'm praying she is as enthusiastic about it when her first lesson finally arrives. I will keep you posted on how it goes!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Update & Sorry for the Lack of Posts
Hello friends! Let me apologize by saying that I'm so sorry for the lack of posts. Everything has been fine here, we have just been busy with Christmas and then we headed to Florida on a 10 day vacation to reconnect and relax together as a family. So now we are home and have started homeschooling back again and have settled back into a nice little routine.
We are still quarantining, but just this week we have "broken" quarantine and signed Zachary up for swim lessons. It's the "safest" sport I could think of since they put so much chlorine in the pool that SURELY no germs could possibly live in there! He started swimming this week and will go twice a week for the next 4 weeks. Of course AG cried and cried because SHE wants to take swim lessons too. It will be a hot topic on the agenda in February when we see Dr. R again for a cardiology check up. I am hopeful that he will say "YES" and allow her to take swim lessons like her brother. As you all know she wants to do EVERYTHING that her big brother does! Can a little girl with half a heart swim????? We shall soon find out!
AG is still taking her Lasix which is a medication which helps her body release any extra fluid that it has possibly building up around her lungs. It basically is what I call pee-pee medicine because that what it makes her do. The reason I mention it is because she has decided that she is too big to wear diapers and has insisted on wearing underwear. I had hoped to start seriously potty training AFTER she was through with her lasix, but she could not be put off any longer, so the potty training has officially begun! She is still in a diaper at night, but during the day she's in big girl undies! She's doing pretty well managing the potty, even with the Lasix. She just has to go EVERY 20 MINUTES. Seriously, it doesn't stop. It's constant.... potty, potty, potty. She is getting lots of practice using the potty! She is so proud of herself and with her frequesnt potty trips she is getting LOTS of candy - since that is her reward of choice for using the BIG potty. Oh.... her poor teeth! But seriously, I am grateful she is so independent and determined. She is an amazing little girl and I am always overjoyed when I see her growing and accomplishing milestones.
Speaking of milestones - our little one turned THREE on December 28th! We were vacationing in Florida and she had a doughnut with sprinkles on it and we sang happy birthday to her. It was a small affair since we had her birthday party back in the summer with her cousins and family. Regardless of the size of the party - it didn't decrease how amazing a milestone turing THREE is for a heart baby. We are blessed, blessed, blessed. We are so thankful for our sweet, independent and beautiful little girl :)
Thank you for continuing to follow our story and to pray for Anna Grace!
We are still quarantining, but just this week we have "broken" quarantine and signed Zachary up for swim lessons. It's the "safest" sport I could think of since they put so much chlorine in the pool that SURELY no germs could possibly live in there! He started swimming this week and will go twice a week for the next 4 weeks. Of course AG cried and cried because SHE wants to take swim lessons too. It will be a hot topic on the agenda in February when we see Dr. R again for a cardiology check up. I am hopeful that he will say "YES" and allow her to take swim lessons like her brother. As you all know she wants to do EVERYTHING that her big brother does! Can a little girl with half a heart swim????? We shall soon find out!
AG is still taking her Lasix which is a medication which helps her body release any extra fluid that it has possibly building up around her lungs. It basically is what I call pee-pee medicine because that what it makes her do. The reason I mention it is because she has decided that she is too big to wear diapers and has insisted on wearing underwear. I had hoped to start seriously potty training AFTER she was through with her lasix, but she could not be put off any longer, so the potty training has officially begun! She is still in a diaper at night, but during the day she's in big girl undies! She's doing pretty well managing the potty, even with the Lasix. She just has to go EVERY 20 MINUTES. Seriously, it doesn't stop. It's constant.... potty, potty, potty. She is getting lots of practice using the potty! She is so proud of herself and with her frequesnt potty trips she is getting LOTS of candy - since that is her reward of choice for using the BIG potty. Oh.... her poor teeth! But seriously, I am grateful she is so independent and determined. She is an amazing little girl and I am always overjoyed when I see her growing and accomplishing milestones.
Speaking of milestones - our little one turned THREE on December 28th! We were vacationing in Florida and she had a doughnut with sprinkles on it and we sang happy birthday to her. It was a small affair since we had her birthday party back in the summer with her cousins and family. Regardless of the size of the party - it didn't decrease how amazing a milestone turing THREE is for a heart baby. We are blessed, blessed, blessed. We are so thankful for our sweet, independent and beautiful little girl :)
Thank you for continuing to follow our story and to pray for Anna Grace!
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