Cardiology Check-up

Today went VERY WELL! Carlie did great during her echo and the tech was able to get the pictures she needed pretty quickly. After her echo, we headed over to the heart institute to meet with Dr. Mulla. Carlie weighed in at 30 pounds (one more pound than six months ago), 36 1/2 inches tall and sats between 95/96. Dr. Mulla was very pleased with the function of Carlie's heart and the fact that her mitral valve regurgitation was mild. She was officially taken off her Lasix (I had not been giving full doses because of potty training, which was okay with Dr. Mulla) and her Enalapril was kept the same; Dr. Mulla stated that it is her goal to have her patients off all medications by school age. The best news of all...Carlie doesn't need to go back for another check-up for a whole year! It's crazy to think that just three years ago, we were making weekly visits and now yearly visits?!? We are blessed and God is GOOD!

Cardiology Visit

Tomorrow afternoon we'll be heading to the hospital for Carlie's echo and cardiology check-up. Our last visit was in December (and we walked away with nothing but great news!) and I am expecting nothing but good news this go around, but I still get so nervous during check-ups because things can change so quick. Please keep Carlie in your prayers tomorrow and I will be sure to give an update when we make it home.

As for Lindsay and Zachary, they are both doing wonderful! Lindsay came off ECMO last Wednesday and was extubated yesterday! JR, Lindsay's dad, got to the best Father's Day gift yesterday when he got to hold his princess again. Zachary was extubated on Saturday and was being moved to 'the floor' today...they are both such strong little fighters! Please continue to keep them both in your prayers.

Swim Class and prayers for Lindsay and Zachary

Today was the first day of swim class for the girls. We were supposed to start yesterday but the pool heater was broke and by the feel of the water, it was still broke! The water was so cold that Carlie's lips turned a pretty shade of purple and she couldn't keep her teeth from chattering. I wasn't able to get any pictures of the girls today because Carlie and I are doing a Mommy and me class (because her chin doesn't reach 36") while Caiteyn is over on the other side of the pool with her class. Mike said that Friday (his day off) he would get in the water with Carlie so hopefully I’ll be able to get some pictures then. Caiteyn said that she had fun, but is hoping that tomorrow will be more fun. I explained to her that she isn't there to play, but to learn how to swim. Up until about a month ago, she was terrified to put her face under water so I'm hoping that this class will give her more confidence in the water. Carlie on the other hand is usually pretty daring around the water but today she didn't want to do much of anything. She kept saying that she was cold and hungry so I'm hoping this is what kept her from being the wild child that she is.

As for Lindsay, Suzie (Lindsay's mom) posted an update last night saying that Lindsay is still on ECMO but that her heart, brain, and kidneys were all doing well as of late last night. Suzie hasn't given an update for today, so I'm praying that things are well. Please keep this little princess in your thoughts and prayers.

I would also like to ask you to keep a sweet little boy named Zachary in your prayers. Tomorrow he will be going in for his Hemi-Fontan (or Glenn procedure) and I know from experience that it is never easy to hand over your sweet baby for surgery.

Lindsay needs prayers!

Lindsay's recovery from her heart transplant almost two weeks ago was going great and her family was even making preparations for home when her parents got a call around 7:00 this morning saying that Lindsay was having trouble and for them to head over. The doctors think that she had a seizure and had to perform chest compressions, as a result she was placed on ECMO (life support). Please pray for the sweet little girl and her family...

School's out for summer!

This past week has been a very busy one with all of Caiteyn's end of the school year activities. On Friday, they had their "Celebration of Growth" and I found myself teary eyed from time to time during the ceremony; it's hard to believe that my little girl is done with kindergarten and will be moving on to first grade...the school year went by too fast! Here are some pictures from the day as well as a couple snippets of some of the very sweet songs they sang (not great quality, but you can hear them just fine).

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Caiteyn and her AWESOME teacher Mrs. Adez.

Holly, Cami, Emily and Caiteyn...BFFs! I can't wait to take a picture of the four of them after they graduate high school.

On Tuesday all the kindergarten classes got together and had a beach themed day (although the weather didn’t make for a 'beachy' day; it ended up sprinkling on us and we all had to rush inside the classrooms) where their lunch consisted of octopus hot dogs (hot dogs cut up to look like an octopus), shells and cheese (shell shaped mac-n-cheese), fish in water (blue Jell-O with gummy fish), sea water (blue colored sports drinks), and for dessert sand in a cup (vanilla pudding with vanilla wafers crumbled up on top). All morning/afternoon the students went from center to center where they played different beached themed games and had tons of fun. I'm sure they would’ve had a lot more fun had the weather cooperated so that they could have REALLY soaked each other with all the water games. Instead, no one really wanted to get wet because it was so cold outside.

Carlie sneaking in on the games.

Caiteyn wearing a hat that the room mom bought for each of the kids because we thought it was going to be really hot.

Carlie having fun too!

Carlie loves coming to school when I help out because she always gets to play on the slide.

The last day of school didn’t really go as planned, again because of the weather. Instead the kids spent most of the day reading books to each other, signing year books, watching movies and eating popcorn. As the minutes ticked away in kindergarten, Mrs. Adez had the students stand up and count back from 10. When they reached 0, they would all officially be first graders…a realization that my baby is growing up!

One last picture of the girls eating lunch together in kindergarten.

First day of kindergarten...

...and the last day of kindergarten.

Quick River Trip

This past weekend we decided to take the boat out for a quick trip. I had plans that I committed to on Sunday that I needed to be back for, so Friday after Caiteyn got out of school, we packed and then drove 250 miles to where the weather was warm and beautiful (unlike the nasty weather we have been having around here for the last couple of weeks) to spend a day out on the water. The girls love playing in the sand all day and telling Mike "go faster Daddy" when we are driving around on the boat. Summer is my favorite time of year...

Caiteyn driving the boat as we went through the no-wake zone in the gorge.

Carlie having her turn to drive the boat.

Carlie hanging out at the bow of the boat.

A long boat ride always knocks Carlie out!

Lindsay

Tonight sweet Lindsay will be receiving her new heart! Lindsay was born with HLHS and placed on the transplant list in November 2008 after it was determined that her heart function was too poor to have any further surgical repair. She has been in the hospital for several months and will be celebrating her first birthday on June 11...what a precious gift she is about to receive. Please keep Lindsay as well as her donor family in your prayers...

Locks of Love

I am so proud of Caiteyn...today she cut off 10 inches of her hair to donate to Locks of Love. Spending so much time in a Children's Hospital has made her aware that there are many kids who are 'sick' and when we began to get questions about children in the hospital without hair, we told her about Locks of Love. She agreed that she would grow out her hair and then give it to those who needed it. Today was the day that she gave her gift...

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