Zachary Update - June 23

Well, our leisurley day got a little chaotic. In his excitement to go the the pool Zachary was running around the townhouse and fell and split his chin open. As we speak Zachary, Brian & Miss B have gone to Nason Mecial (on reference from our Crossbridge Ministry contact) to most likely have his chin cleaned and glued (I don't think they do stitches for these things anymore). I am at the townhouse with Anna Grace. I told Brian he could pick staying home with the baby or taking Zachary. He picked Zachary. I think he's going to have a rougher time than me. I feel so bad for Zachary, we were having so much fun together. This is his first split chin - I'm sure it won't be the last. I feel bad that I'm not there to comfort him - I hope one day when he's 20 he doesn't say "remember when I was three I busted my chin and you weren't even there"! Mommy guilt.... no one tells you about Mommy guilt before you have a baby.

Please pray for Zachary as I'm sure he's hurting and a little scared right now. Please pray for Brian as he tries to comfort Zachary.

Anna Grace - June 23

So this morning has been leisurley. We thought we would be at the hospital today, but since surgery was postponed we rode bikes & went to the pool. Well.... Brian had to work, but me, Zach, Anna Grace & Miss. B had a leisurley morning.

Last night a very sweet & wonderful family from Crossbrisge Ministries here in Charleston brought us a meal so I didn't even have to cook last night. This ministry has been so sweet and supportive to our family, I can not say enouogh wonderful things about them. They have continued to pray for Anna Grace all these months and it is such a comfort to have them close by while we are so far from home.

Brian, Z & Miss B are at Walmoart right now buying a pool float & me & Anna Grace are hanging out the the townhome trying to stay away from germs.

Tomorrow begins our hospital journey so we are really loving having today to have FUN!

Oh... so let me introduce you all to Miss. B. (I did get her permission to BLOG about her). She is a college student who is helping us out during our stay in Charleston with Zachary. She also happens to be one of the daughters of the family who owns the townhome where we are staying. What a blessing this family has been to us. Zachary LOVES Miss. B - he loves having "his friend" to play with. The Lord has blessed her with such a compassionate heart... I can't wait to see where the Lord is going to use this young lady... we'll... He's already using her to minister to us.

We are just in awe about how the Lord has taken care of all the details of this "heart journey" with Anna Grace. He has taken such good care of us - physically, emotionally & spiritually. This is not an easy journey to walk, but we are thankful.

Anna Grace - June 22 - 2nd Update

We arrived in Charleston this morning about 9:00 am. Brian came with us and is going to have his Jeep repaired here in Charleston.

Shortly after arriving in Charleston today we received a call from MUSC saying that an emergency had come up and Anna Grace's surgery is being postponed until Friday (June 25). Everything remains the same excpet now we will do pre-op on Thursday & surgery on Friday.

Thanks for continuing to pray....

Anna Grace - June 22

Looks like the kids and I (and our sweet friend Miss. B) are leaving for Charleston on Tuesday morning at 5:00 am. It's early, but hoping the kids will sleep on the way down. Brian and I are driving seprately to Charleston. The back passenger window on Brian's Jeep broke today so he is going to take it to the Jeep dealership in Spartanburg on Tuesday morning in hopes that they can fix it before he goes down to Charleston. If not, then he will be driving down with a broken window & try to get it fixed while we're in Charleston. Not terrific timing, but hey, these things happen.

I spoke with MUSC today to confirm Anna Grace's pre-op appointment on Wednesday. No food after 3:00 am on Wednesday morning. We have to be at the hospital at 9:00 am on Wednesday. They said to expect to be there about 6 hours. Anna Grace will have to be sedated, but she will not have to be intubated. They will do an extensive echo, an EKG, blood work/labs and then we will talk with anesthesia, we will talk with the PCICU cardiologists and we will talk to Dr. Bradley, the surgeon. Wednesday will be a big day - signing all the consent forms. Ugh....

Thursday will be an even bigger day. As it stands right now, we are supposed to be at the hospital on Thursday morning at 6:00 am for surgery. I'll try to post Wednesday night after we talk with the doctors to confirm that, but that is the plan as of right now.

Thank you all for praying for our family - for Anna Grace - for Dr. Bradley and his team. See you in Charleston...... God is in control.

Anna Grace - June 21

Today is Monday & it has been a hectic day trying to get everything together to head to Charleston. As I type this post (at 5:30 pm) we are still not sure if we are leaving tonight or in the morning to head to Charleston. Brian is trying to get things wrapped up at the office and as one would expect it is hard to get everything completed.

So far Anna Grace appears to be well - no cold or cough so as far as I know things look good for surgery Thursday.

Thank you all for praying for us as we travel and settle into our "second home" in Charleston.

Anna Grace - June15

Anna Grace had a cardiologist appointment this morning. She did great and the doctor said she looked great as well. However, I told him about our family cold (Brian & I both have it now). He said that they will not do the surgery if Anna Grace has a cold so PLEASE pray that she can stay well for the next week until surgery. He said if she is symptomatic at all before we go to Charleston to call him and he will help us make the decision about driving down there or not. If she is not symptompatic then we are to go ahead & proceed as planned. One of her pre-op tests is a white blood cell count, if that is elevated then they will reschedule her surgery 4-6 weeks from then - enough time to allow her body to heal. Trusting the Lord with HIS timing in this, but please join us in praying that Anna Grace stays well. Thank you friends!

CHD Survivior

I saw this on another BLOG and thought that I needed it too.