Future

I've been thinking a lot lately about Mia's upcoming surgery and quite frankly, it scares the crap out of me.  I know of 3 other heart warriors that have earned their angel wings in the past couple of months and while I try to look past the thought that those children aren't Mia, the fact is, they're similar in many ways.  Mia's third open heart surgery, the Fontan, should be her last for many years.  We can only hope that it is.  And while that is an extremely comforting thought, I find myself constantly wondering, but what if?  Then my thoughts turn to a place that I hate and fear takes over.

Yesterday I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up some of Mia's many medications.  On my drive home, I was thinking about how unfair it all is.  I haven't thought that way in awhile, but knowing her surgery is coming quickly, the dark cloud now looms.  No matter the fear, no matter the unknown, no matter how unfair I feel like it is, I have to be strong for my little girl, her big sister, and my wonderful husband.  I have to treasure each day and I have to have hope.  I have to let my fears out and keep the hope inside.

Peaceful Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year!  Izzy was so excited and it was so much fun to see Christmas through a child's eyes.  Everything was exciting, everything was new, everything was magical.  And it was so heart warming to see her sharing those experiences with her little sister.  We've all been fighting a horrible cold and it decided to stick around and join us for Christmas.  Mia had a temperature of over 102 on Christmas Eve and all of us had runny noses.  But we didn't let that bring us down.  We enjoyed every minute of the holiday and for us, it's not over.  On the 23rd we celebrated with Art's family at his parents house.  On Christmas day we enjoyed a large family gathering at his aunt's house.  We will end our Christmas celebration this weekend at my parent's house.  A week long Christmas this year sounded exhausting when we were planning everything, but it has been a lot of fun!

December Check-Up

After a slow & snowy drive this morning, Mia & I made it to Children's Hospital.  Her check-up went very well.  They were able to get some really good echo pictures.  That hasn't happened the last 2 or 3 times we've gone.  Our cardiologist reported that Mia's heart function looks great!  Such good news.  Her valves and aorta look awesome as well.  They were unable to get good pictures of her Glenn surgery and her pulmonary arteries this time around (which is an area that there is concern in).  Mia has to basically arch her head back so they can get high up on her neck, in addition to laying still and not crying.  Ha, not easy for my curious 14 month old or any 14 month old for that matter.  So we'll try again next month.  All in all, it was a successful appointment!

Tomorrow

Mia has an appointment at Children's Hospital tomorrow.  Even though it should be an uneventful appointment, it stresses me out.  Every appointment does.  I don't think that will ever change.  Mia has been doing so well that there really have been days here and there when I forget that she has half a heart.  However, when we have to go to the hospital for an appointment, it's staring me in the face.

Even with that stress awaiting me tomorrow, I'm so lucky.  I've thought about that a lot the past few days after the horrific incident in Connecticut.  No matter how stressed out it makes me, I will drive to Denver as often as I need to if it means that I get to keep my little girl.  And when I get home, I will be so thankful to hear about the day that Izzy and Art spent together.

Growing Up Too Fast

Several months back Izzy learned to ride a tricycle.  Honestly we're not sure where she learned it, possibly at school or she randomly figured it out on her own.  One day she couldn't ride it and the next she could.  Art and I were so excited that we did what any proud parent would do, we went and bought her a brand new, two wheel, princess bike with training wheels.  Much to our surprise, she loved looking at the bike, but was terrified to ride it.  It has been sitting in our garage ever since.  Suddenly today, Izzy sees it in the garage and tells me she wants to try it again.  And the results...well see for your self!

Follow By Email

On the right hand side of this blog, I added a 'Follow By Email' box.  If you would like to get an email whenever we post something new to the blog, please type in your email address in the box to the right.  You will need to follow a few simple steps to receive email updates.  After typing in your email, you will get an email in your own inbox that will finish the activation process.  This way you'll know as soon as we post a new update or fun story!

Updates

It’s been quite some time since I’ve used my blog, but I have missed it.  We will now be updating on Mia via this blog instead of on Facebook.  We will also be using this blog as a fun way for everyone to keep up to date on things happening with everyone in our family!

My first instinct is to update about Mia because it has become second nature to me, but lets start elsewhere!  Art and I are doing very well.  Art has been spending his extra time restoring a 1961 Ford Thunderbird.  It’s a beautiful car, but we will be selling it once it is all set to go! 

I have been enjoying spending time with a few of my good friends and being a mommy.  There are days when I feel like ripping my hair out, but I wouldn’t trade that for the world.  My girls are growing up too quickly.  I have also become quite addicted to fantasy football, weird, I know. 

Izzy started preschool in August and loves it so much!  She goes twice a week for a few hours each day.  We’re looking forward to her holiday program tomorrow.  She’s also in gymnastics once a week and seems to be a natural (or at least we think so)! 

And our miracle Mia, well she’s a miracle!  She’s walking around everywhere and quite literally gets into EVERYTHING.  She’s as curious as they come!  She’s trying to say more and more words and her little personality evolves more with each day.

On the medical front, we received some much needed information from our cardiologist this week.  Art and I have been unsure what the plan will be for Mia moving forward and now we know.  Mia’s left pulmonary artery is narrow and needs to be watched.  This is proving to be quite difficult because our little wiggle worm will not stay still enough for the doctors to get a clear echo.  We were thinking that she would need to be sedated for a procedure of some sort in the next few months.  Because she is doing so fantastic in all other aspects, a sedated procedure will not be done until May or June.  At that time she will be having a cath done in preparation for her third open heart surgery, the Fontan.  Her Fontan surgery will then be done in August or September.  Although things could easily change, that is the plan as of this week.  It is comforting to know what is ahead, but also scary to think that isn’t very long from now.  We can just continue to take things day by day!