Summer... almost!

The kids are out of school now! I am so looking forward to a schedule that is not packed so our family can enjoy spending time together.

I have to work on Tuesday :( and then we head to the beach! My side of the family is going to Nags Head this year --- there will be about 30 people there at various times throughout the week. It's always a blast --- crazy, but a blast!

Last Monday afternoon, Zach started running a fever. Once we got his fever down, he acted fine. Tuesday, he stayed home with Daddy and he ran no fever so we thought he was ok until 5pm when it started again. I took a look at his throat, which looked like he had 2 red-hot fireballs (you know the hot candies?) stuck back there. When I saw that, Zach did tell me that "his tongue hurt". The child hardly ever complains! I declare that he does not feel pain the way other children do, with all that he's been through. Anyway, I took him in on Wed. mornint and the dr. said his throat looked "impressive" but the strep test came back negative. She decided to treat him with an antibiotic anyway because the strep test is only about 90% accurate. He seems to be back to his old self again and was able to finish out the week at school.

So now, as a reward for taking such good care of Zach, I am the one suffering with a sore throat and now a "like-a-faucet-runny-nose" and sneezing. UUUGGGHHH! I woke up at 5:30am and could not go back to sleep. I kept trying to sneeze but could never get it out. My eyes are watering and watering. Please pray with me that everyone else can stay healthy for our beach trip.

Also, I have a couple of other prayer requests... Our neighbors, Jo and Al, have a new grandbaby. They knew something was not right all during the pregnancy but the possible diagnosis changed with each doctor's visit. He was born on Thursday, and they know he will have surgery sometime because his esophagus and stomach do not meet. I do not even know his name yet, but you can pray for Carter and Amy, his mom and dad. Many of you with heart babies know how they are feeling right now.

Also, please pray for Emma and her family, who go to church with my mom. I think Emma has the same heart defect as Zach and she had surgery on Thursday. I do not know any other details yet but will update when I know more.

Hope you have a blessed Memorial Day Weekend! We have so much to be thankful for in our country and we owe so much to those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and those who are serving us at this moment. Remember them this weekend!

Celebrate!

Just a quick update to let everyone know that...

Zach is no longer on a fat-free diet... AND the doctor released Zach from all activity restrictions which means he can finally enjoy the playground at preschool! Hooray!


I have to admit that the fat-free diet hasn't been all bad. I think I have lost a little weight without even trying! The problem is, so has Zach!

Bill sent me the picture below today after Zach's marathon cardiology visit (x-ray AND echo, and all the other usual stuff). As they were headed to Zach's preschool, Zach asked if they could stop at Zaxby's. Dad told him they were not open. Zach thought about it a second and said, "OK, we can go to Chick-a lay!"

See the box of Chick Fil A chicken nuggets? See Zach's BIG smile?

This is one happy boy with a good lookin' Heart Zipper!

Dr. Zach

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

Tonight, at bedtime I told Zach the story of Independence Day. I know he's only 4, but he's sharp. While our neighbors were noisily shooting fireworks, firecrackers, and Roman Candles, making it sound like the Revolutionary War was going on outside his window, I told him that the Americans fought ........ he said "Why they fight?" He knows that fighting is not right and I didnt try to explain it at bedtime! Regardless, I am so thankful for the freedom that we enjoy in the USA. I want to teach our children to appreciate the sacrifices that people have made for hundereds of years so that we can be free.

Rebecca and I enjoyed a girls weekend of shopping at Concord Mills in North Carolina. We brought Zach a really cool Toy Story 3 pop-up tent. He LOVES it! The problem is he wants the whole family to be in it with him all the time! Sissy decided to take a much needed nap in there and woke up an hour later trapped. Zach had piled pillows in front of all the entrances leaving Sissy to sweat her way through the nap!

We also found the most adorable PJ's at Carter's for Zach. We thought that they would be cute for him to wear in the hospital.

So during supper tonight, he proclaims that he is going to grow up to be a doctor and help people "feel better and give them Lightning McQueen stickers!" He practiced by "doctoring" on the whole family. Wouldn't it be awesome if God decided to use him in that way? Can you imagine the compassion that a "Heart Kiddo" would have for others? That's the kind of doctor I would want to go to!

Checking Daddy's ears

Checking Sissy's eyes

Mommy's heart says "Bounce, Bounce, Bounce!!!"