7 Reasons I am Happy to be a Mom to a Child with CHD.

7 Reasons I am Happy to be a Mom to a Child with CHD. No parent is happy to receive a diagnosis of CHD, but CHD is not a death sentence.

1. I don't sweat the small stuff any more (or as much)
2. I snuggle a little longer at night when I tuck my kid in
3. I have met some WONDERFUL people
4. I have a stronger faith and better relationship with God
5. I am more thankful for what I have and have found that I want less
6. I have found strength that I never knew I had
7. I appreciate life so much more

What a day...

I had Sam stay home to help me with Misky, the cards want us to fortify her milk again cause they want her to gain more weight, like Sam said in the last post. I feel so bad for her it smells so nasty. blah. poor kid. So she cries cause shes hungry, cries cause she doesn't want the fortifed crap, then cries cause she has air bubbles and she's still wants to eat. yeah a lot of crying. And we just got her to start eating a lot, feels like we have to start all over AGAIN, makes me want to cry when she cries. yeah its been a long day. Sam's going to get us ice cream. :D

Love Melynda.

ps Happy CHD awareness Day! and Valetines Day!

(Pictures. Shes happy and ready for lovin')

Our visit to Cardiology

So we had the long awaited appointment with Mariskas Cardiologist, The news was good and bad.
First we'll start on the good news.. The Doctors were pleased with mariska and said she dosent need surgery yet for at least another month, Which gives another wonderful month with her before we take another big step..

The bad news is that the doctors said that she isnt gaining enough weight that she has just gained enough weight that she is just tredding water and that they were ready to put her back on the feeding tube.. Then We told them that she wasnt on the fortified breast milk anymore which they were somewhat suprised with but I think understood when we told them she had a hard time eating it. So they said that we need to put her back on the fortified breast milk.. oh the joy. Also they scheduled appointment with us in a month when she will go and get her E.K.G. and then six weeks from now a Cath, which is when we will get the date of her surgery.

We started her on fortified breastmilk and boy does she hate it. We can get her to actually eat it when she is really hungry then once she eats enough to get her a little full she wont eat anymore and spits the bottle out and get really mad and angry and cries for about 5 mins before we can get her to call down. So with the fortified breast milk she is getting more calories per ounce but is eating much less, which I think is about the same as eating alot of breast milk. Luckily we have found a way to get her to eat more by feeding her half a bottle of fortified breast milk and then the other half regular milk.. Just a Little bit more work but at least she is eating and getting some more calories.


We are so thankful for all the support we have recieved and ask for your prayers that she may gain more weight as we prepare for another long and difficult journey.

Love Sam & Melynda

CHD awareness week!

Dont forget its CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT AWARENESS WEEK!! FEBRUARY 7-14, 2008

We're part of a small support group. They have helped us a lot in the past few months. We need help rasing money so we can help others when they need it the most too. you can visit this site if you would like to Donate. :D

http://www.intermountainhealinghearts.org/paypal.html

Love, Melynda

Already middle of February...

Sorry it's taken me so long to write.. (watch out spell check is not working) Every time we go to see a doctor I get so nervous, I'll try to get Sam to write about all the things the Doctors tell us. My mind goes into over load with too much info. Sad but true.

(Picture.. I let her help me pick what she was going to wear for her synergyst shot visit. She loved it. hehe like loves the color pink, always makes her smile.)

The 4th. Mariska got her her synergyst shot (protects against RSV). We ended up getting the same girl to do the blood draw as last time... uhhhg. She looked at her vains for a while then she went to get some one else do stick her. I was really glad! She was scaring me. She got a guy to help. He showed her the vain she that should work, then he asked her if she wanted to do it. She looked at him in horror and shook her head , kind of felt bad for her. Our Nurse reminded her that Mariska is kind of a hard stick. The guy was a little better. We only got 2 cc out of the 4 to 5 that we needed. Better then last time, we only got one. She didnt scream as hard or for as long for Joel (I think that was his name) He also helped is confort her a lot. AND didnt wiggle the needle all around in her hand. So now we are good for another month. YIPPY. After we did the blood draw we went back to the room. Had a cardiologist come and listen to her heart. He was so much fun, he teased her and her poutty bottom lip, told her it didnt count unless it was a 1/4 in out. So misky made it bigger. haha. I Told her she can tease any doctor just not any of her friends in the OR. He was really nice even got her dressed again, hehe.

The next day I was changing her diaper and asked her if she like the card she saw yesterday cause he was fun or if she wanted to see Dr. Pulver. she said "Pulver" Haha Sam was sitting at the computer looks over at us and said holy cow, she just said Pulver. We couldnt believe it, Talk about funny. I looked at her and ok Pulver it is. Silly little goose.

Her newest trick has been to blow bubbles, and shes starting to droll. I told her today that shes no longer a newborn cause she can blow bubbles and droll and tiny babies dont do that so now shes just a infuent, she didnt like that so I said alsost a big girl. He started to smile and so a silent laugh. so funny. I cant wait for the day when she can make noices when she tries to laugh.

(Picture. When ever we eat something by her she will give us these eyes like I want some did you get me some??? )

Moving.... I started boxing up stuff. Amazing now much stuff you can have hidden in a one bedroom apartment. We are doing pretty good. I have most of the stuff we dont use in boxes. I even numbered them all, and made a list of whats in each box. Yeah, I was a little bored, but this should help when in a month I need something and dont have to open each one to find it. granted I dont loose the list. haha. I took all of the small pictures down. then ended up putting two back up cause it weird to see the walls, so plain and white. besides we are not moving for another week or so. Sam wasnt sure what to think when he came home the other day. so many boxes by the door. It is a bit overwhelming.

(Picture She was mad at me, grumpy eyes.)

Dont forget its CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT AWARENESS WEEK!! FEBRUARY 7-14, 2008

(Pictures... She pulled her tube into her mouth... sneeky sneeky.)

Oh tomorrow is my Birthday :0) maybe I'll get out of the house for a little bit. And talk so someone I dont know. just for fun. Mariska see her Dr. Pulver on the 13th. I have to be truefull I'm scared out of my mind. I dont want to hear that she need the surgery Now. I'm not looking forward to the next one. I dont want to do it all over again. Aleast this time we dont have to go threw all the funny stuff we did last time. We can prepare our selves atleast.

(Pictues.. We took off the tube so we could give her a bath and put a new tube on. It was nice to see her face and not fight with the tubing for a change. I love these pictures.)

Mariska has been all smiles. I love waking up each and every day to our sweet Misky moo.

(picture, She love the elephant on her play mat.)

Love, Melynda

News: Thomas S. Monson Named 16th President/Prophet.

News: Thomas S. Monson Named 16th President/Prophet.

I am sure many of you have heard by now but if not here is the official statement from the Church Newsroom:

Thomas S. Monson Named16th Church PresidentSALT LAKE CITY 4 February 2008 Thomas S. Monson is the new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was announced today at a news conference in the Church Office Building. President Monson, 80, succeeds President Gordon B. Hinckley, who died 27 January.

The new world leader of the Church has called to serve with him in the First Presidency, the top governing body of the 13-million-member faith, President Henry B. Eyring, 74, first counselor, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 67, second counselor.

President Boyd K. Packer, 83, is the new president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be filled later.Full details will be posted on Newsroom later today.

I've grown up with Pres. Hinkley as my prophet, giving me constant strength and inspiration, but I have always loved President Monson, and I know he is a wonderful man called of God. I regard him with the highest respect and I know he will make a wonderful prophet and carry on the awesome work of Pres. Hinkley. I have faith in Pres. Monson and he is constantly in my prayers. I am so excited about our new leaders, I know they will do an excellent job and I am anxious to see the marvelous work they will do for our church!
love Melynda

Snow...

We are going to get the synigis Shot tomorrow. I'm kind of scared. Misky has to have her blood taken, and the last person that did it I think did a really poor job. She was moving the needle alround in her arm. It made me sick, I know how bad this can hurt. I hope we get someone that can stick her get the blood they need and be done. I dont like holding our baby down while someone hurts her. :(
Can you believe all the snow we have gotten, its amazing! When its snowing I'll take Mariska by the window and we'll both watch it fall from the sky. Only bad thing about it is we have to go to SLC tomorrow I really hope the weather is good for us while we're driving. ekk.
Mariska is doing really well. Shes happy most of the time unless shes hungary. Her grandma B went and bought her a few new toys for her to play with. She loves them and they keep her busy for a little while. wish us a safe trip.
Melynda