Glad to be home!

We're back at home....sweet home! Wow - if this was just four days, and didn't even involve surgery, how in the world did we get through 4 weeks of this the last time we were there?!? I guess that wold be called God's grace and mercy - getting us through a time that seemed impossible. But anyway, back to 2013!

Procedure day went as well as could be expected. Things did get delayed (surprise!), Nate complained about being hungry, but did okay with all the waiting. We got in shortly after 11 am, started the anesthesia with the IV this time (didn't enjoy that, but it was quick, and we haven't talked about it since!). The MRI and 3D echo took about 2 1/2 hours. Recovery in at the MRI unit took a bit longer than usual. The anesthetist, when beginning the intubation said Nate was just full, full, full of secretions. She said is was pretty bad. After the procedure she did some serious suctioning, and got him cleaned out, but did advise that there was something else going on - possibly with sinuses being infected or a ridiculous build up from his cough that he had. Anyway, after an hour there, we moved up to the ward at about 3pm. The typical recovery from anesthesia played out, but by 7 pm all systems were 'go' and we were ready to leave.

Today was a day of travel back to Winkler, via a crazy cab ride (can you say a nine-point turn to get out of the hotel parking lot???? Don was ready to volunteer to drive himself!!) out to the Edmonton airport, then on to Calgary and back home.



So thankful for safety through travels and procedures.

Thankful for parents, who cared for Brady and gave him safety and stability while we were away.

Thankful for elite medical professionals, in a specialized centre for their knowledge, skill and care.

Thankful for understanding employers who allow us to take time off without an issue.

Thankful for the best friends and family who support us, care for us, show their love in many different ways, and commit to praying for us as a family and ultimately for Nate's healing.

Thankful for other heart families who are taking this journey with us - for their understanding, advice, prayers and love.

Thankful beyond words for our Heavenly Father who gives us strength for each moment, and hope for each new day.


All the waiting....

After the hard part of recovery was done, we got a good smile out of him!

Hot wheels from the treasure chest and a Blue Jays toque from the ward.

Here We Are!

Things haven't changed since the last time we were here, lol!

Here we are, in an eerily familiar hotel room, with a very familiar view. We had our pre-admission appointment at the Stollery (University of Alberta hospital) and saw some familiar faces. I had to work hard to purposefully not think about our circumstances in these exact same locations 3 years ago. Nate did just fine at his very easy appointment this afternoon. Praying that tomorrow also goes smoothly, especially with the 'NPO' orders in the morning. I explained it to him, as he is a bit older and can understand much better now. I could tell he was trying not to show his emotion as he told me that he would need to eat something in the morning. Hopefully the distraction trick works again this time!


We're last on their list for tomorrow morning, due to the need to add on the 3D echo after the MRI. Praying there will not be any delays leading up to our turn. We report at 9:15am, and expect to get started about an hour after that. He will be under general anesthetic for both procedures, which should take at least 2 hours. Then about 5 hours up on the ward

So that's the plan! Thanks for praying for some serious 'shock and awe'!!! Lets give those doctors something to be amazed at!!


Happy and hyper at the airport.....

A fun surprise for the flight.

Yay for Apple products to distract during loooong waits at appointments!

Where have we been.....and where are we going?

That's a very good question, indeed!

The last three months have been a flurry of activity in our house!  School started up and Brady is in Grade 2....and loving every single minute of it!  So thankful for a great school, amazing teachers and a boy who loves to learn!  He also started piano lessons (another hi-light of each week!), and Awana (easily his favorite event each week!).

So, along with the start of a new school year, school pictures were next on the to-do list.  I won't tell you how hard I had to work to get one.  Oh my.... I mean really - the facial expressions were hilarious (but not in a good way!).  I don't know how many times I heard Brady say, "but mom, I AM smiling".  And then just when the nostrils stopped flaring and the smile was genuine, do you think he was looking AT the camera???  Oh well!  Out of the hundreds, I did get a couple for each boy that worked out!

So yes, there were a LOT of outtakes....had to throw in just a couple for you!

This outtake isn't so much about the boys, but rather, their beloved Barn Cat (BC for short), who appears to be feeling somewhat....stressed?!

This one just screams "CHEEEEEEZ"!

A little bit of brotherly love....

And finally.... their reward for nearly sending their mother over the edge - a fun quad ride!

In the midst of the back to school routines starting up in September, we put our house on the market.  And in the perfect timing that only God could orchestrate, our house sold!  This again confirmed how God's got it all under control.  We don't see the big picture, and so we start to question God, or start to stress and worry about things.  That easily could have happened to us, and probably had moments in which the doubt did get a hold of us.  Why didn't our house sell 6 months ago, when we were getting plans together, and were ready build a house on the lot we bought last summer?  At that time we didn't know, but God did, and he had something different in mind for us!

What He did provide for us is a story in itself!  Since Brady started kindergarten, I kept thinking about how wonderful it would be to live closer to the school.  I grew up across the street from my own school and loved it, and now having my own kids, that convenience would be so great!  There was a particular bay that I really wanted, and only a handful of homes that would work (in my mind!).  Being a bit of a Real Estate guru, I had always watched the realtor's websites like a hawk, but nothing came up in that area.

But one afternoon this Septemer, as I went to check new listings, the words "Chestnut Bay" jumped off the page at me.  The listing hadn't even loaded, and I had the phone in my hand and was calling Don at work,   telling him to call our realtor....we had a house to look at!

Given the location of the house, I knew it was going to sell quickly, so the pressure was on!  Later that afternoon I met our realtor (Don was too busy at work to come) and literally checked out the house in about 14 minutes!  Twenty minutes later the offer was written up and then the waiting game began.  There were more showings and offers in the coming hours, so I knew it was out of our hands, and into God's.

And, 24 hours after seeing the house online, we found out it was ours!  So yes, I bought a house.....without Don even seeing it!  My mom made me laugh by emailing me a verse from Proverbs 31, "...she considers a field and buys it."

So, next weekend we'll be loading up!  I'm excited to be so close to both our elementary and junior high school.  Our backyard will have 9 acres of green space and 3 play structures, and the best part is, I don't have to mow any of it!  And we're steps away from school!  See....God had this all planned out for us.  His ways are the best!

Now, after all the drama of buying this house, and selling our own house (which was another another display of God's plan, totally being done in the lives of another dear family!) it was time for a pumpkin carving party!

And now,  on to Brady's latest involvement.....hockey!!!  This boy is loving it!  And even this morning, when they had to be on the road at 6:30am, to get to the arena in time, there were smiles all around!

And even though you can barely see the snow, the GT racers came out, with the excitement of snow days to come!

Well, that's a bit of a long one....  I guess it was 2 months of missed blogging wrapped up into one long, overdue post!  It's fun to be able to share some of the 'normal' things that happen in our family!!

All Done

I had to repeat those words many, many times as he came out of the procedure. He wasn't happy, but after he got settled in recovery with me, he has been more content.

The cath went just as planned - so thankful!! Now we're back up on the ward. He has complained about pain in his leg, but just managing it with Tylenol. A few more hours of cartoons and we should be back to our 'hotel'.

We had to ask for this smile....but he gave it to us for a few seconds - enjoy!!

Here We Go!

I just got out of the cath lab. Nate went in holding me tight, but very brave and quiet - and most likely just unsure of what was all around him. That was at 9:45am.

Now about 3 hours of waiting. Don and I just got a muffin (thanks for the recommendation, Dr. Mike!). So we'll sit and wait it out, with Drew Carey on The Price is Right as our soundtrack, lol! It's empty and quiet in this area so it's nice.

After he recovers here, we'll head back to Children's, and to another familiar face: when we got here this morning, I saw someone familiar, and kept staring (hopefully not creepy!) until I realized the nurse on the ward is one of my Schmidt cousins!! A nice bit of sunshine in our day.

Here are some pics from Don's phone. Always nice to have construction zones to watch to pass the time.

Thanks for your prayers. They are being felt every moment.

Settling in...

Today was pretty easy for everyone. The Pre op appointment went smoothly and was more discussion than anything.

We wandered around a bit this afternoon and our 'moose' enjoyed his lunch at Montana's. Lunch in a truck -can't go wrong with that!! It was lovely to run into some friendly strangers - Hi Karen's mom - thanks for the wonderful visit and encouragement at the mall!! And now that we're settled in at the Ronald McDonald house, it was great to chat with the parents of an ortho client who is at Children's.

Don and Nate are enjoying some air hockey and pool right now. Will get him ready for bed soon. It will be an earlier morning than usual :)

The jury is still out on the use of Versed prior to the cath. Will depend who is doing the anesthetic and how Nate is doing with everything.

Thank you for each prayer and encouragement we have already received.