The Quarterly Blogger

"Mama, you REALLY need to do a new blog post."

"Mama, why don't you do a new blog post about __________."

"Mama, WHEN are you going to do a new blog post????"


My sweet daughter has been giving not-so-subtle hints about how SLACK I have been this summer with the blog. We were very busy and out of town a lot the first part of the summer and I was just plain lazy and uninspired the last part of the summer. I have still been keeping up with our heart buddies, though.

As all you heart families know, in the CHD world that we live in, no news to blog about is good news. Zach is doing very well in terms of his heart. His last echo showed only a trace leak in his mitral valve and excellent function otherwise. He is running circles around all of us and growing like a champ. There has been nothing much to report.

Nonetheless, I have been a slack mommy --- not taking pictures much and not recording the precious memories of the summer of 2011. There are no good excuses, really. Now that school is back in session, I have even less time to spend at my computer, so I guess I will just rename myself "The Quarterly Blogger."

Rebecca helped me by uploading some pictures to document our latest big milestone... Back to school!



School supplies are packed in the...



...bookbags, and...



...the lunch boxes are packed, too.

 

She is ready for 8th Grade, and...



...he is ready for Kindergarten!
He couldn't hold his bookbag up!:)



My two students!




It is so hard to believe that our firstborn is starting her last year of middle school! It is even harder to believe that our baby is starting 5K! Where does the time go??? We are so thankful for God's many blessings thus far and thank Him for what He is going to do during this school year!

We hope you are having a wonderful start to the school year too!

Mystery Bug - Be Gone!!!

We really thought Zach was on the mend after my last post but he started coughing more and more on Thursday --- and had a fever over 102 Thursday evening. We called and talked to the answering service and the doctor advised that if we could not get his fever down to take him into the ER. Fortunately, we were able to get it down with Tylenol. Daddy slept with Zach in the recliner so he could be sitting up more.

Friday morning we were on the phone at 8am and got an early appointment. The doctor we saw always seems to listen more aggressively to their lungs than any of the other doctors --- he had helped Rebecca last Fall when she had allergies with a cough that would not quit. We may switch and start seeing him regularly. Anyway, he could hear something going on in Zach's left lung and bronchial area. They tested for RSV (another nose swab) and tested for walking pnumonia (another finger stick) but they were both negative. Nonetheless, he prescribed Azithromax, a steroid, and breathing treatments (he cleared this with our cardiologist first).

Coughing MORE is not Zach's idea of getting better --- unfortunately that is exactly what these meds are doing. Helping him get the gunk up and out. Bless his heart, he could not get to sleep for coughing last night. We tried him sleeping in our room. He had coughing fit after coughing fit so daddy took him to the recliner. Still more coughing fits. Did I mention that each coughing fit results in Zach gagging and sometimes hurling? So, Mommy slept on the couch next to the recliner so she could help manage cleanup. Not a fun night.

Oh, and did I mention that now I have a sinus cold??? Sigh.

Despite my whining, we do have so much to be thankful for. God is so good and I am trying to keep an attitude of gratitude. First, I have to go blow my nose.

We are getting ready to get all the Christmas decor down from the attic. Zach keeps asking when we are going to put up the tree, so maybe the excitement will help him feel better. Pictures later of our progress...

Good News - Bad News

The Good News: Zach's cardiology checkup was great! He was 31.5 lbs, 39" tall, pulse ox 93, bp good, and echo good. Dr. R. said his heart looks great! His fenestration (a hole they made during surgery that acts as a "pop-off valve" ) is still open, so Dr. R. is putting in the request to Charleston for a heart cath in March. They will place a coil to close it and have a look around to make sure all is well.

The best part of the appointment was when Dr. R. said "We are going to stop the Lasix." Woo hoo!!! I am so glad to get rid of that. In case you don't know, Lasix is a diruetic. Diruetics and preschoolers do not go well together. Basically, when we give it to him, we have to stay home for the next 2 hours so he can go tee-tee every 15-20 minutes. Trying to get a 4 year old to stop playing every 15 minutes to go potty results in lots of complaints. Dealing with accidents during this 2 hour period has been frustrating. Hopefully, he will do well off of it and we can be lasix-free from now on!

The Bad News: We thought Zach was on the mend, but he spiked a fever again this afternoon. He also has a bit of a cough. Daddy promptly called and got an appointment at the pediatrician. They tested for strep (negative), flu (negative), AND pricked his finger (white count normal). Poor guy! They are culturing the blood and strep swab.

So, we are not sure what is going on. All I know is that this little bug that's causing him to feel so bad has overstayed its welcome. We have places to be and people to see and TURKEY to eat!

Hope your Thanksgiving is full of blessings!

14 amazing years...

It was 14 years ago today that I walked down the aisle and said "I do" to the love of my life!

I am so incredibly blessed to be Bill's wife.

He is one of the kindest, most humble people I know and I have learned so much from him about living life.

It was his incredible witness that led me to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He has taught me how to show mercy and grace and love.

He has shown me how to how to trust God for His provision.

He has held me up during hard times and danced with me during carefree times.

He loves me despite all my quirks and flaws and hormones.

He is a dedicated husband and father.

He is a gift from God.

I love you, Bill!