A Glimpse

just put together a little video for Nate. If you followed his story, you've seen most of these pictures, but I still thought I'd share it with everyone here.

I'm Glad I Have Boys!!!

I know that one day, sooner than I probably think, they're going to be taking care of me! Why am I so confident? Because it's already started!

This morning, I walked into the sunroom toward the door to go outside. Then I stopped dead in my tracks. Just outside the door was a little bird, who had obviously had an up close encounter with the windows and now lay dead on the patio.

Now, I'm not a wimpy kind of person. However, I do not touch dead animals. I actually went as far as to get a hockey stick to see if maybe I'd be able to push the bird into a garbage bag. AGH! No, I couldn't even do that.

So what's a mommy to do? Enlist the help of my 4 year old!

Brady had absolutely no trouble doing this.

So glad to have boys in the house!!

In other news, Nate has been doing really well. We're halfway through the antibiotics and he doesn't seem to be too bothered by the pneumonia at this point. He's very happy to be outside, playing with his brother, going for walks and swinging at the park. Still no news from his cardiologist about what's going to happen next. Hopefully we hear soon, although for the time being, we're enjoying just living in the moments!

Yay for Pnuemonia!!

And I actually mean that with all sincerity! I think there were a few of us tonight that were pretty relieved to hear this wasn't heart related. Yes, it is more complex because of the heart situation, but is not being caused as a result of the heart situation.

We're on our way home from Winnipeg now, with Nate. And even if this ride may be considered 'second class', I'll take my Odyssey anyday, over our mode of transportation going in. Although Nate (lover of all things with lights and sirens) did enjoy seeing it!

I'm so thankful for doctors who aren't too proud to say something is out of their comfort zone, and send you to the people who do know.

Thanks for praying!
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In the ER

Just waiting for X-ray and blood results. Will most likely be sending us "first class" to Winnipeg. They think it could be something infectious (pneumonia?). They're not totally comfortable treating him here.
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1st Follow-up Appointment

We went in to see Nate's cardiologist in Winnipeg today. The really good news is the fluid around Nate's heart isn't there anymore!! The not so great news is the band that they placed isn't tight enough to be making a difference. Whereas in surgery, the pressure after the band was placed was at about 60, post surgery and today included, the number is down to about 30.

They did talk to us about that in Edmonton, saying things weren't where they needed to be. The hope was that maybe as he grows and his heart also grows and gets bigger, the band would be applying the correct amount of pressure to affect the leaky valve. The problem is the length of time that it would take for that amount of growth to happen, and that we run the risk of putting him into failure in the mean time.

Dr. Soni is going to conference with a doctor at Toronto's heart centre about Nate's situation. They have a technology there that Edmonton does not have for measuring pressures in the heart. If this doctor feels that he would be able to do the surgery and tighten to the appropriate degree with that technology, then that would be the next plan of action.

She's hoping to get back to us next week! For now, we get to say good bye to two of the drugs Nate was on for the fluid around his heart! That makes us happy! And if Nate could tell us, he'd say he was pretty thrilled about that idea, too!

Our Last Day There

Just thought I'd share a few of the pics from our last day in Edmonton!

We took a little walk down to the third floor (gasp! don't you you're not supposed to leave the 4th floor...?!). Here is a pic of the ICU where Nate spent the first half of his hospital stay.

Off the monitors and getting ready to go!

After a little purchase (for good behavior *wink*) at a book fair happening in the hospital, we headed for the hotel.

Grabbing a quick supper at Chili's in the airport, luckily we scored a table with a view!

Our little flyer....getting closer to home!

Finally pulling up to our house felt strange! Don went in first and came out to the garage where I was getting things together and said: "It's crazy in there!". Crazy in a good way! What a fun surprise to come home too!

That night, when I finally crawled into my bed, I found myself smiling and not being able to stop! As strange as it felt walking into our house that we'd be away from for 4 weeks, I also felt the comfort of knowing we were finally home. An answer to so many prayers!!

We are Home!

Happy Easter to each one of you! It feels so good to be able to say that to you from the comfort of my computer in my home!

Feeling a lot of things - most are a bit surreal! I'll try and put some of them into words in the coming days, but for right now, I'm so excited to be HOME and to be with my family!!!!

Walking away from the hospital after we were discharged yesterday felt strange. I honestly didn't know if I should laugh or cry!!! So I did neither, and just tried to wrap my head around what was had just happened....removing all of Nates monitors, dressing in him real clothes (which he detested, by the way....bringing home those hospital jammies would have made life a lot easier...he's not doing well with change right now!), armed with all his meds and simply walking away from the hospital. The place where medical expertise and equipment were only seconds away from Nate. After all of the constant care and monitoring - we could simply leave....just walk away. Surreal!

Nate was a great flyer again, awake for the whole flight this time. It felt so great to touch down in Winnipeg and to see my sister waiting there for us! After getting Nate's meds in (not an easy task anymore....maybe because there are more - or maybe because he's just sick of them!), we had a quiet drive home.

Today, the priority is just being. Being together, being family. My goal is to try to infuse Nate with as much joy and happiness as possible. Right now, he's happily playing with Brady, and I think that will also help him get back to his true self.

Thank you for your prayers....they got us home! And thanks for continuing to pray for Nate!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane!

See Auntie Michele and Katelyn....I am going to beat you home!!!

Guess where I am!

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Friday's Update

This is certainly an Easter weekend unlike any we've ever had! The walk to the hospital this morning was very quiet, as were the halls in the hospital for the first part of the day.

Today was a good day. No real issues arose today. Nate's picc line came out today...a good sign! It sounds like the dr's want to discharge this weekend...both an relieving and scary thought!

One of the cardiologists that is now on rotation and who was in today, sat down and talked about 'where we are going' with all this. It was a little discouraging, only because we're feeling like things are looking up as we prepare for coming home. He tried explaining the bigger picture. He said he wasn't telling me these things to scare me, but rather to demonstrate how concerned they still are about Nate. He's not convinced the 'double switch' is the best option, and voiced concerns about replacing the leaky valve and the more frequent surgeries that would require. The third option was a new heart. At this point there are no clear answers or timeline for future treatment, aside from close monitoring right now until intervention is required. He did say, however, that 'miracles do happen', so that continues to be my prayer!

Wishing you a weekend filled with family and hearts full of thanksgiving as we remember and celebrate Jesus' love for us!

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Status Quo!

Today is the first day that I can say we were at a status quo! No big changes and no big surprises! It was NICE!


The morning featured a nice little concert by a Canadian group Quoia, along with appearances by Edmonton's Rush Lacrosse Team. There was a pizza lunch for the pediatric patients at The Beach too, which was fun to be able to include Brady in!



Nate had blood work in the afternoon, and an echo that was called off 3/4 of the way through....Nate just couldn't stay still any longer (but really, what do they expect?!). We said goodbye to my parents and Brady - and hope to say hello to them REALLY soon! I've learned not to count on any promises they make, but going home this weekend might actually be a reality!! Don has been off work for 4 full weeks, and is MORE than ready to get back!!

Praying for good news tomorrow from the blood work and the echo!

At the concert...I'm the mom with salamander stickers all over my sweater...thanks Brady!

Brady got his t-shrit autographed by Brodie.

Pizza Party at The Beach

Impromptu self portrait right before they left!