That was hard!

I didn't really see this one coming!!  Me and my little guys went for a walk this morning to our local pharmacy.  After spending about 20 talking with the pharmacist, I left with Nate's Rx and the knowledge that it was time to start with this new regime.  It was a long walk home....Brady's Smarties falling on the sidewalk led to several sit down/lie down times on the way home.  Yes, that 2 1/2 year old lying down on the sidewalk crying was mine!!

Once home, I wanted to get a base line pulse for Nate so I would have something to compare it to for the next 3 days until we get his blood pressure checked.  That didn't go well.  It's pretty challenging!

Then came the hard part.  And I started to bawl.  It's not that I was so scared of this drug and what it would do, but more that this was the first time that I've had to actively do something to/for Nate as a result of his condition.  Kind of like admitting that this actually was real and was happening.  Of course add to that the worry of any possible complications, and you've got a mommy who really doesn't want to give her son his meds.  After a quick call to Don, to get some encouragement, I did it.  And prayed.

I almost had to call 'my person', but then this happened.  I'm holding my Nate and cuddling him and crying.  Then I pull him back just to look at him and he gives me this goofy little smile.

That's what I call perspective!

You know, I'm glad this was hard.

If it wasn't, I'd have to wonder.

The Update

We just got back from Winnipeg.  Our little Nate was our hero today!  He did really great, all things considered.  We were at the appointment for 2 1/2 hours, so a bit of fussiness (okay, crying!!!) was totally acceptable!  Here's the synopsis:

1. There has been no change in the VSD (hole between the ventricles) nor any changes in the heart with respect to the ventricles and arteries being transposed (Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries).
2. At the last appt., the leakage from his tricuspid valve was termed 'moderate'.  Since then, the leakage has become worse, now  termed 'moderate to high'.
3. Nate will be put on a drug to lower his blood pressure, which will cause his heart to not have to work as hard, hopefully reducing the leakage from that valve.
4. If this drug is successful and Nate does not show signs of heart failure he will remain on it.  If the leakage continues to increase, and he begins to show signs of HF, they would need to go in to repair/replace that valve.

So, we'll start the drug tomorrow.  It's always a little scary giving any type of meds to a little babe.  But we are hopeful this will help.  We go back for another echocardiogram in 2 months.  We feel like we are in very good hands, with the knowledge and experience of Dr. Soni.  But even more importantly, we are in the hands of Jesus.  Doesn't get better than that!

Thanks for your prayers!!  God answers!!  

Carole

Just a note from Nate:  Mommy did real good at my appointment.  She was all normal and calm...even asked the questions she wanted to.  Not sure what all the fuss is about...Jesus is going to take good care of me!

Blessed

The past 2 weekends, the Winkler Bible Camp has been home to the annual Women's Retreat.  I (along with my mom and sisters) was able to take some of it in this past weekend.  On Friday night I thoroughly enjoyed the awesome singing, and funny skit.  Just as the speaker was coming up to speak, I got the phone call from daddy, that Nate was ready for his mommy to come home!  Oh well, I sure did enjoy the time I could spend there that evening.  I went back for the Saturday evening session, and this time I was able to stay for the entire evening.  There was more amazing singing and the speaker was fabulous.  I don't think there was a dry eye there as the evening came to a close.

The thing that struck me the most was how blessed I am to have so many people surrounding Don and I with prayer.  There were people there that I didn't even realize knew about Nate, who told me that they were praying for us.  

For the record, I drive with my cell on vibrate on my lap too!!!  (Had to be there!)

Tomorrow we are taking Nate to see the pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Soni, again.  They plan to do another echocardiogram and a ECG.  We feel a lot more prepared for this visit, as we've had 3 months to learn and try to understand exactly what his condition is.  Now we know more of what to ask, and instead of being bombarded by explanations and terms that were foreign to us, we hope getting a better grasp on his specific diagnosis.  More prepared, but still just as nervous.  Here are a few specific prayer requests:

1. Nate will need to lie very still for the echo, about 30-40 minutes.  At 6 weeks he did great, but now he's a lot more active.  Pray that he will be relaxed and content.
   
2. Just thinking about walking into those doors again at the heart clinic makes my eyes tear up....pray that I will be strong and in control of my emotions, especially when talking to the Dr. after all the tests.
3. Pray for a miracle.  That Nate's heart would be healed.  That there would be no other explanation but 'GOD'!!

Thanks for your prayers, I'll update the blog when we get back tomorrow!

Carole

What do you get...

What do you get when you have:

1)  An overtired, overextended, a little under the weather but still has enough energy to be stubborn, refusing to have 'quiet time' 2 year old.

2)  A mom with a baby on her hip, wearing mis-matched clothes, without any makeup on but at least had the ability to brush her teeth, and really doesn't feel like turning this moment into a 'teachable or training experience'?

You get a funny looking Brady on a hot 28 degree day wearing a long sleeve shirt, swimming trunks and snow boots!   (And a mom who is just gonna let it go!)

Back in the saddle!

Woo hoo!  I had fun this afternoon!  After Don and Brady's dentist appointments, we stopped in at Mom and Dad's to see how the painting was coming along.  They are painting the exterior of the house, and today they were up to the "real" paint on the siding.  You'll never guess what I got to do!  I had the honor of painting the front and back door.  Now, anyone who has painted a house knows that the front door is like the crown jewel!  It totally makes the house, gives it some serious impact and is often a 'fun' color.  Usually it is the last thing to be done, and once it's painted and the tape is peeled off, it's like a big reveal!  Boy it felt good to be back painting again.  Now that I'm not pregnant, I can do it guilt free!  Watch out Don, I'm going to get my fan deck out and start dreaming about colors again!

Getting Crafty...

This last month, I've put way more miles on my sewing machine than the pavement.  I have to say it's been so much fun, and really quite inspiring.  One idea leads to the next and thanks to some very cool online sewing and craft forums, the ideas I've found seem to be endless.  In particular, I've been falling in love with all things Amy Butler.  You need to check out that website (if you're of the sewing mind!) and get inspired.  Her fabrics and patterns are amazing.  So here are a couple of things I've had on the go...

  

This was a gift for my very fashionable niece...I've since heard

she is actually using it!  That's the best compliment!!

This bracelet is an Amy Butler pattern.   I thought this would be fun for my

nieces to make during our Schmidt camping weekend.

Instead of bracelets, they made necklaces.

Here is the beautiful Katelyn with her finished wearable art!

I had some fabric leftover from the purse I made my niece, so

I made a diaper bag/purse for myself, complete with very cool interior

pockets and compartments.  Today, Don was looking for something in the 

bag, but couldn't find it and said he didn't like all those little pockets and

that he could never find anything in there.   Hmmmm, I guess that is the

green light to go ahead and design and sew an new one!!  Yea!!!  

Another place I've been spending alot of time is at

The Babywearer website.  I'm totally amazed and a bit flabbergasted 

at the number of slings/carriers/pouches etc. that are out there.  The

 mamas are all very proud of their stash, however, and rightly so.  There's

 no better way to spend money, than on something that you'll use to keep

your baby close.  I have to say that some of their budgets blew me away, 

spending several hundred dollars on a single carrier - and having

 multiples of them!  One mama said if she sold all of hers, she'd

 have enough money to buy a nice car!  Anyway, there is a forum on that

 website that is just for Do-it-yourself'ers like me.  I've made one

 pouch (above) and one ring sling, and can't wait to make more!

A few other things on my sewing room table... I've got some nice brown microfibre waiting to be made into new panels for my living room window, and Nate's been sporting some new camo bibs!  Well, that's it for now.  I really need to start putting on miles on the pavement.  I'm not going to be ready for Winkler's half marathon this year...maybe I'll do the 5K, and work on the half for next year!

By the way, Nate blessed us with his first laugh today.  You can hear it here.

A note to RPF:  Sorry this post is not witty or entertaining!!!

A Man and His Tools

Don and I are what you could call "closet renovators"!  We do a lot of it, and for the most part, we do it the hard way!!  For example...The first house we lived in Morden was a cute little home.  When we started fixing up the exterior, I, being a lover of shutters, decided that we needed them!  I remembered that my dad had built the shutters on our family home, so I was determined to build them myself!

Back to the 'doing it the hard way' story.  With louvered shutters, the "louvers" are actually strips of beveled molding, that you attach in the shutter frame.  Most people would use a power mitre saw to cut what ends up being dozens of strips.  But not me, so determined was I, and not wanting to wait for help, I set up in the garage with a plastic picnic table (yes, one of those white, anything but sturdy, resin tables) and you guessed it, a hand saw and a mitre box.  And away I went, cutting little 8" strips of molding.  But, wow, the satisfaction that it gave!  

Another project in the Morden house was installing some crown molding.  I've read that a crown molding project should never be worked on by both husband and wife, in an effort to protect a marriage! Anyway, using MDF moldings requires either the use of a brad nailer or to predrill all your holes and then use a hammer and nails.  Well, being the beginners we were, and without a budget for all the fancy tools, we once again set off with our hand saw, trying to get those tricky backwards and upside down corner cuts.  Then while precariously standing on whatever furniture we had, holding the moldings up to the ceiling...predrilling....and finally nailing it in.  (And yes, our marriage survived)  (barely)!!

Then there was the whole electrical issue.  This (for once) did not involve tools, just wires.  Scary!  We managed to remove an old light fixture, and rewire the new one.  I was left standing up on yet another plastic chair, holding the fixture in place above my head, while Don ran downstairs to flip the breaker to make sure we had wired it in correctly.  How convenient.  Let your new bride stand beneath the fixture, which began shooting sparks as soon as the breaker was flipped.  We now contract out any wiring issues.

On to house number 3, where a new fireplace surround and mantle was required.  By now our skills were becoming honed, but still minus the power tools.  All credit goes to Don who somehow was able to make all of the cuts off site (at the lumber yard) and bring them back home to assemble.  I was very proud.  

There are many more stories to tell, but I'll fast forward to this week.  We're upgrading to a king sized bed and my dear husband is set on building a platform frame for the bed.  Finally he said,  "Enough is enough.  Let's stop talking about getting an aircompressor/brad nailer, and just get one".  So off him and Brady went, to Canadian Tire for some manly shopping.

Now today, I find him and Brady in the garage.  Brady playing around with some scrap wood, and Don sitting down with paper and a pencil.  I asked him what he was doing.  He said he's planning his next project...a entertainment type unit for the components beside the TV.  Now you have to understand - this is SO unlike Don.  It's always me, dreaming and sketching, trying to convince him what "he" (we) need to build next!  This is just awesome....he's inspired to keep building and I'm totally pumped about what we can create next!  And I can definitely say, it's going to be a whole lot easier with some (wo)manly tools!