Happy Hearts

Fall Family Fun

Two weeks ago, all of the grandkids and some of us "kids" were over at my Mom and Dad's for Sunday afternoon fun.  We all had a delicious lunch and then headed outside to enjoy the absolutely gorgeous weather.  Ryan and I had been wanting to play in the leaves with T and M so off we went.  Some of the kids rode the ponies with Papa and Uncle Seth and the rest of them "helped" Uncle La (Ryan) rake leaves in to a huge pile.  The kids were outside all day and finally at 3:00 we had to make the little girls take naps.  It was so much fun watching them play together and gang up on Uncle La a little bit too.

Abby and Maggie raking leaves

My sweet niece, Abby Grace

"Trent, is Dad in there somewhere?"

Claire and Lawson (niece and nephew) attacking Uncle La (Ryan)

Seth Robert and Lawson had a blast to see who can jump the "best"

What a fun day!

Fall Catch Up

I've gotten a tad bit behind in my blogging.  Amidst the dr. appointments, we've done a lot this fall and have enjoyed lots of fun family time together.  Trent and Maggie play together more and more and with that comes more and more fighting/arguing.  Maggie misses her bubby when he is at school and always wants to know when he is coming home.  Trent is doing very well in school (after a little extra discipline at home).  He can write his whole alphabet and is sounding out and spelling lots of words.  He has a lot of maturing to do before he starts Kg so I am very glad that he has an extra year before starting.  Maggie is quite the little "helper" and is as always full of life.  She is enjoying being able to eat lots of yummy food again!  This week we are working on getting her re-potty trained.  You may remember that my sweet girl potty trained herself the week before she turned 2.  However, this last surgery and the lasix and diuretics she's been on have really shot that one out of the water.  We have rearranged her med. schedule with hopes of being able to get her back in panties again.  Today has been a success so far and for that I am sooooo thankful! 

So, take a look at what we have been up to in the last couple months:

Trying their best to keep Ryan from going on his business trip

Maggie's first big time owie (other than surgery).  While Ryan was out of town, she fell off of the bar stool and her ear hit the other bar stool wrung as she came down.  Ouch!!!  She was mighty tough.  This picture doesn't even do it justice.  It looked even worse.  Poor Baby!  It's all healed up now, though.
 

Enjoying some spaghetti!  This girl can eat!

Ryan is so good at coming up with fun things for them to do! He's an amazing Dad.

Carving pumpkins on Halloween.  Trent wasn't very interested.

Maggie wanted a princess pumpkin so Ryan carved a crown.

Princess Cinderella

Trent, the famous golfer

My sweet nephew, Seth Robert, the Rodeo Clown

 

 

Pink for Maggie

Maggie's pink party was a success!  We had lots of delicious, pink treats and we had fun visiting with friends and family. We all enjoyed a photo video that highlighted what God has done in Maggie's short 2 1/2 years, and then Ryan shared from His heart about Maggie and the story God is telling through her.  There were lots of us decked out in our pink.  Maggie's Daddy and bubby (after much convincing) even wore pink for her.

We did our best to explain to Maggie why she was having a pink party.  After thinking it was going to be her 3rd birthday party, she was finally able to understand that her party was to celebrate that "God and Dr. Gandhi fixed her heart."

If I counted correctly, there were 62 adults and kiddos here to celebrate what God has done in Maggie's life... And there are even more who have sent cards and letters for my sweet girl.  WOW!!!  As my brother and sister in law wrote to Maggie, "He mended your heart so that your life could be a testimony to HIS greatness and HIS love.  Always remember that God didn't fix your heart for you or for your mom and dad.  You are here to serve Him and fulfill His purpose for you.  God just started using your life to touch others earlier than most."  I would say that last night was proof that God has used Maggie's life to touch so many.

In Maggie's mind, a party involves blowing out candles... so that's what she did!

Mammy got some pinkalicious sugars!

Adan, Robin, and Olivia (some of our "heart friends")

Erin (heart mama)

Sarah and Camden (more heart friends)

Angela and Abbie Lynn (more heart friends)

Abbie Lynn (sweet heart baby) wanting to do what her big sis is doing

Maggie and Camden (8 yrs. old) have very similar hearts

Angela and Maggie Jane

 

 

We're having a...

GIRL!  Evangeline Kait made it as difficult as possible for the ultrasound tech to see her precious little heart, but after at least an hour long echocardiogram, we learned that her heart is whole and functioning well!!!  We are so relieved and thankful to our God who has blessed us with this gift.  We give Him all the glory and can't wait to meet our sweet girl in a few months... right around Maggie's 3rd birthday. 

Maggie is very excited and poor Trent is getting there.  He was in denial for a good part of the day but it now coming around to the idea.  It was a VERY long day, and I am exhausted.  I feel like I've run a marathon today.  Thank you all for your prayers for our family and our sweet baby.  I felt an amazing amount of peace today, and can only credit that to my God holding me.  We will continue to pray for a safe and healthy pregnancy, delivery, and baby. 

Tuesday

This tuesday, Ryan and I go to Barnes for our level 2 ultrasound at 9:15 and then at 1:00 we will have our fetal echocardiogram at SLCH.  Needless to say, we (mainly me) are very anxious and quite a bit scared.  I have managed to keep the fears and the "what ifs" at bay for these 17 weeks.  However, as the day is approaching, the fears are creeping in.  I have thought about all of the "what ifs" and how I would react if they came true.  I hate the thought of them.  We are hoping and praying for a healthy Sean Lincoln or Evangeline Kait, but we are also praying that God will give us the grace, peace, and strength to handle whatever we hear on tuesday.  He is a good God and He is forming this babe in my womb exactly how He wants him or her to be.  We covet your prayers as we face this week.  Please pray for peace on Tuesday. 

"Dr. Gandhi says yes"

Yesterday, Maggie had a check up with her cardiologist, Dr. Sharkey.  She said that Maggie's lungs sound great and she looks great.  She put her back on a regular diet but kept her meds the same.  She's allowed to eat anything she wants and we will go back next week for an x-ray to make sure the extra fat hasn't caused any fluid build up in her chest again.  We are praying for a clear x-ray, that's for sure.

When Dr. Sharkey told Maggie she could have a cheeseburger for lunch, Maggie started jumping up and down with excitement.  She couldn't wiat to get out of the parking lot and thought we should immediately go to McDonalds even though it was only 9:30.  We went to the mall and she got to have some of my frozen mocha from Panera Bread Co. and we did some shopping.  We then made our way to McDonalds and I had one very excited little girl.  I ordered her a cheeseburger happy meal with french fries.  She ate the whole cheeseburger, all of her fries, and drank all of her apple juice.  All the way through lunch, she kept asking me, "Dr. Gandhi say yes I can have cheeseburger?".  I'm not sure where she thinks Dr. Sharkey fits in the picture but Dr. Gandhi is obviously the boss in her mind.

Unfortunately, on the way to pick Trent up from school, she threw up all of her lunch.  Her poor little tummy was not used to all of that rich food and just couldn't take it.  We took it easy for the rest of the night and today.  She has still had a lot more fat than she was having, but not quite as much as a happy meal.  She has tolerated the increase today just fine, and is enjoying having some of her normal foods again.

At Walmart this evening, I put a big box of goldfish in the cart (we haven't bought them for 2 months) and she said, "Dr. Gandhi say yes? YIPPPPEEEEE!!!"  I don't think she has ever enjoyed a grocery shopping trip as much as she did tonight and neither have I.