2015 to June 2016!

I decided to try blogger on my phone... and it was a big fail, so sad!   We've lost 3 or 4 great *I'm gonna do this blogging stuff again* posts!

SO in a nutshell before I forget again and anymore things happen I'll give you the super fast update!

Mariska's update. She goes to clinic every 3 months, her heart is looking wonderful, she has gotten to come down on meds. Her new goal range for tacro ( immunosuppressant med) is 5-8!   Her echo from last month looked good.   Also she's far enough post transplant that she only needs a heart cath biopsy every other year, unless needed. so NO CATH this year!!
  Mariska is 8!  She decided she wanted to be baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints.  Her daddy was able to go into the font with her. It was a wonderful day, filled with the spirit, surrounded by family and friends.   Mariska Just finished the 2nd Grade. She was given the award works well with everyone, at the end of the year.   She's looking forward to a fun filled summer with swimming and playing with friends. 

Kamiah now 4! is a little social butterfly, she lives outside and is very self entertained, and like her sister an independent spirit.   I love her smile, her silly blinks, and that curly golden hair. She's forever our little Goldy locks.

Baby #3 Did I tell you we were expecting?!  No? She's now 10months old tomorrow, how can that be? I just had her.

Winnrey our newest little Girl brought a sweet spirit into our home and hearts.  She is adored by her sisters. Winnrey loves to smile, army crawl, nurse and eat anything she can get her hands on.  She is such a content happy baby.   We found out she also has a small heart defect. VSD its a small hole between her two lower pumping chambers. No planned treatment for hers, if it gives her trouble later in life they can patch it, but so far no one has been able to hear it when checking her heart.


Sam and I are slowly becoming more wise and better parents. Sam Goes Bow hunting, flyfishing, backpacking or rifle hunting when ever he gets the chance, Hes love for the outdoors is one of the reasons I love him!   Sam was layed off last year, (march 31.. so his first day out of work was april fools day.. not a good joke! couldnt even tell anyone until the 2nd, since my family is a big bunch of jokers!)    Finding the right replacement has been a challenge, but we're blessed the market is opened up and he was able to find work quickly.
 Sam's working on learning the ropes with Forex, so hopefully he'll become a full day trader. 

Melynda  I'm working on keeping busy with the house and kids. I do a little photography and play around with my cameo, its been fun making things for the house, gifts or cards for friends. Live's going well for us. 

Home!

Mariska was discharged lafter lunch time.   Since she's not on iv fluids she can do the same recovery there as home.

She shared a lunch with her sister. Made her eat with the fear Kamiah would eat all her lunch. Still got a little sick. Sam and I wonder if its more of a mind game now.

Kamiah and Daddy (Sam) came up today. Was nice seeing them again. Was only a few days but we all missed life together.   Kamiah finished painting a few pixtures and wooden bird. She was in heaven.. Guess we should do more of that at home.  

Mariska's Kindergarten class made a get well poster and all signed their names with out help. Mrs. Bradshaw was very proud of them. She really got lucky to such amazing teacher! One of Mariska's friends told the class Mariska was in the hospital. She didnt want to believe it until she thought back, im sure me asking 3 times a week if misky said any thing about her tummy hurting the week before. She's called us everyday this week to see how she felt.

Her class also gave her a little stuffed cat. We thought we forgot him sleeping at the hospital but found him in the car. Phew all is well now.
Mariska's little friend, the same who told her teacher. Brought over her homework and a little gift. Once Mariska woke up from her 3 hour nap she got busy coloring. It's so nice staying put in one town long enough to build friendships. Was one fear I had about her starting school. Dont let her shyness fool you she is super social.

Mariska ate a little dinner and has drank enough for me to finally feel gokd about coming home.

Cardiology transplant, (really need a shorter name) wants labs Friday and Monday.  Prograff is still super high. Lowest was 13, was 17 again this morning. Guess that will work with the pharmacy only having 6 days of the new med.

Here's a bunch of photos. Best thing about posts from a phone quick photos!

The great, fun, and silly pictures

Kamiah few days old

Did tell her to smile. *sign* gotta love crazy faces. She so LOVES her sister.

Kamiah's blessing day. Boy was that dress slippery.

Visiting Sam's Grandma and Grandpa Anderson. They are so sweet!

Now I was just playing with my camera and you all get to watch me not knowing what I'm doing. hehe

Happiest baby ever! I mean it. Shes a little morning person, every time she sees us all day she'll smile. Shes starting to giggle too now. Love her a ton!

Used to have hair.. now working on her ever growing bald spot.

sledding in the front yard. =) finally have snow.

Misky of so many colors.

Checking out the other kids snow people.

Welcome baby Kamiah!

Mariska is so proud to have a little sister. =) Here's some pictures.

Kamiah Mae Anderson

6 lbs 9 oz

19 inches

 Born at 8:20 am

September 28th 2011



Due date September 22nd. 6 days late planned to be induced at 7:15am on the 28. Told Kamiah it was her last chance to come into the world on her own. Very glad she came own her own. We weren't fully sure the due date was right but all the ulta sounds measured her dead on with the date we thought was right. So happy she came on her own with out drugs and force. She was trying to keep her head lifted off my chest and look around hours after birth and has amazing muscle tone very much so in her legs. Nursing is going well, It was a little rocky but we're working to get over it. We love you little Kamaih so happy to have you in our family.

Here's what 40 weeks looks like. 3 days over due.

Welcome to the world Kamiah.

Tiny feet

Contractions started at 12:30. Finally at 2:30 and 2mins apart we headed for the hospital. Taken at 9am.  Here's what a long night will do to ya. :o)  

Proud daddy and Grandpa.

smashed fresh from the birth canal face. hehe Stayed awake for 2 hours after birth looking around.

First time meeting.

Upset because the nurse took Kamiah from the room to the nursery before we moved to the recovery room. She did not like having her sister taken away.

Mariska loves being a sister.

Little sister shirt we brought her home in. First diaper change at home.

Checking things out.

10-1-2011. 3 days old.  She looks so much like Mariska.

Mariska age 1 day. Before we knew about her half a heart and going to the NICU

6lbs 11oz

Mariska a few days old. Before norwood. Taken at PCMC PICU.

Yesterday Mariska morning I layed down while Kamiah slept to take a nap. Woke up to Kamiah crying and to see Mariska was in the pack-in-play bassinet with a few toys working on laying down with her sister. So cute but a little naughty.

Went to the pediatrician yesterday *48 hours old* since we left the hospital a little early they wanted to see her again. Since she had a little jaundice that was a working its way up. She looks fine. Her oxygen levels are 97 and 99. She a healthy little girl.  Mariska again was so worried they would hurt her. We talked about what would happen to Kamiah when she was born that she would have to get pokes in her legs just like she did as a baby. Mariska said she will hold her sisters hand so she doesn't get scared. 

She blows us away with the amount of compassion she has for others. Always making sure others are happy. Sam Told her his shoulder hurt one day a few days later shes asking him if it feels better now. Most of us don't even remember little things like that, little alone check to make sure things are fine. She's such a sweet heart.

Rejection still going on...

Mariska had a Heart cath yesterday morning to find out if her little body is still rejecting her heart. She was first case, makes it easy on keeping her tummy empty but not so easy to get out of the house at 5. Yesterday feels like a blur, Sam and I both didnt sleep well between the stress and the scary lighting storm.

  Mariska was scared the night before. We talked with her for over an hour listening to her fears and giving her comfort. Her biggest worry was mommy why did they take off my panties!  *last time they entered the leg artery and the neck* Poor kid, At only 3 she is so modest.

We took her down to the cath lab, she cried but still went to the nurse. When we went down to talk to the doctor the nurse said she was super brave. Asked for a tissue wiped her nose, layed down covered her eyes and said she was ready. Moments like those break my heart to see her having to be brave. She didn't have any trouble waking up, she was up drinking water and juice ready to get out of there. And very happy they left her pants on. They tell us it will get easier.. I'm sure with time it will.

We found out her chamber pressures inside her heart are higher then her last cath, but still with in the normal range. *numbers went up by 4 in almost all 4 chambers* They did an echo while she was there also. Her echo also shows her valve is a little worst.. but also still in the normal range. Little changes like those pretty much mean rejection.

We went down stairs to talk to the transplant team and find out what Dr. E had to say.  Mariska's prograf level was low again! after being stable for 2 weeks. They bumped up her meds again. .9mls x twice a day. Hard to think less then two months ago she was on .4mls . blows my mind. We needed to wait for the biopsy to come back to find out if it was indeed rejection still.  I didnt want to ask, but finally did. What is the next step to treat her rejection. Praying it wasn't going to be head to the CICU for plasmapheresis or ivig. The first one still gives me chills and nightmares, Its a beast to put it lightly.  Told her if it was that I was going to break down right then and there. She said no, and if she needed it she'd be crying also. They said the changes came when she hit the half way mark on the tapper off her steroids, so it would be likely to go back there and hold.

They called a few hours after we got home. Home what a wonderful word. Said she was still in rejection, forgot if it was mild or moderate -forgot which it was a very long day. Said to bump her pedisone up to 1.6mls twice a day.

She has been putting on a lot of weight. checked in at the hospital at 15.5kgs. two months ago she was 13.2kgs. Shes our little fluffy marshmallow. To think 7 months ago you could see almost every bone in her body. Sure has come a long way.

Now we sit and wait praying the rejection goes away. Its hard not to miss doing normal things, going places like the store as a family, swimming, or church. It is draining, thinking about should we go to the park.. will there be someone sick? will she pick up something? Sometimes its easier to just stay away.
She has talked about going to Disney Land once a day for a good month, and is getting excited to go next year! She also cant wait to be a big sister. 5 more weeks and shes not the only child anymore.