Cath lab

I'll do a longer post later. Wanted to post Mariska goes to the Cath lab today for her first annual biopsy! Hard to believe last time last year what our lives looked like. Please keep her in your prayers that everything runs smoothly.

July 16th, First event with HopeKids

One year ago today!

Watching the door we'll use countless times the next year

Who doesnt love a good cut??... Yep it happened, She cut her own hair, atleast it worked out to be a bob. Other then the very very very short patch in the back. haha.    Could have been worst, at her age I gave my self a mullet.. yep inch high from the ears forward. I was So in style.   Feeling blessed Mariska didnt go that far.

What you cant see? the good 7 month baby bump. Mariska is gonna have a little sister in september!  All looks healthy but I'll believe it when shes a month old in my arms still. Oh thank heavens for little girls. <3

Time for a picture or two.

She wanted a picture of her silly potato head.

At the The Utah Renaissance Festival     Couldnt help but to get a picture with some fairies.

One of the fairies gave her a little fairy charm. She was pretty excited.

Ridin that "pony"

Finally an awesome update worthy of a post.

Mariska has had a little bit of a rocky few months. We played the game of will she gain weight or drop??!  Not a game I like playing with a child. Rather it be me on Thanksgiving.


*Edit* Mariska doesnt need a cath until July her year mark!! Her Echos have all looked awesome
Mariska got to come OFF of her steroids last month. Now about 6 weeks ago. HUGE for news. She was doing really well off of them. But Her white blood count has been really low. 1-2 *they want her at the normal 5* Pretty scary seeing its the yucky cold and flu season. She did end up getting sick a few weeks ago. Not super sick just diarrhea for 10 days... yeah just. It made for some long nights and a joke for the potty training. Every time we try something like this moves us way back. She will be one day soon. I have hope.  

She worked so hard to get to 27 lbs then to see her drop 2.2lbs in those 10 days was so heart breaking! She was still not really wanting to eat but just eating so she had enough energy to do what she wanted and nothing more.

After those 10 days She started eating I mean EATING again. eating like a teenage boy. haha Its awesome to hear the words I want more of *something* please. Or I"m still SOoooo hungry mommy what can I eat. It blew Sam and I away. Who changed my child over night??  Guess it was just those nasty cheek cubing drugs.   She went from two bites of what lets say pizza to eating 2 slices of a med. pizza. Still just watch her eat and thing WOW! Shes eating like a normal kid! and no feeding tubes. Hard not to say a little prayer of thanks in my heart.

I was fear full of her clinic visit Yesterday. Thinking ohh boy here we go. They will push the G-tube again cause shes lost some weight. ugh. She got on the scale and gained!!!! I was so happy I almost did a happy dance. 12.45kg Shes on the way back up.  I'd better *knock on wood* ha I want this to stay.

She doesn't need to wear her mask anymore and we can finally sneak her into places that aren't very full. What something normal?? 

I'm a little over due for pictures, but thought I should get a post in before time slips again.   Mariska had a fun St. Patricks day. The leprechaun came while we we're away and made a HUGE mess in the kitchen. She didn't think it was very nice thing he did so she helped me clean it up.   The Other night while we we're getting ready to say pray. She said wait I need to say something. We look at her and she being the goof she is said " I am a robot I have to talk like this" something about the cows are making her to save them. We tried SO hard not to just roll on the floor laughing at her. Shes full of all kids of silly things.

We're praying for those in Japan. What a scary time. Your in our hearts.

Happy New Year.

Phew we made it to the new year. Hard to believe all that has happened to our family this past year!  We we're so blind sided about this time last year. They wanted to do a cath to see if Mariska could have her fontan or if we needed transplant.  Few months later we got the dreaded news. She needed a new heart the function and just so much leaking. then the real prayers started. Would she be able to get a match? Would we live at the hospital for endless months just waiting watching our little one slip away? She was so lucky to be healthy enought to be able to wait at home. But there we're countless times we almost weren't so lucky.


My last post I was beside my self. I'm better now. haha...   We did a feeding tube for Misky, that should be in still but shes been eating and doing well. giving it a test to see if it can just go away.

Misky's weight has been all over the place. her high was just over 30lbs and her low a month ago was just over 24lbs. Thats a HUGE drop. Shes on the climb back up.   Shes drinking Boost breeze and Kids essentials. Both have a nice 250 cals per 8 oz. Not sure how they taste, she doesnt seem to mind them to bad. I"m ok with it other then they are just loaded with sugar.

Mariska has almost stop the throwing up. Thinking it had more to do with the taste of the meds and then became a bad habit. At the peek we did the feeding tube she stopped eating for a few days. Nothing will stress a parent more then that.

Her energy level is back! Havent been able to say that for months on end. Shes dancing playing, and just in a better mood. Funny what a few extra cals will do.  

Can you believe shes had her angle's heart for 6 months!? Such a blessing and answer to so many prayers.

Mariska on new years eve was done about 11 and wanted to go home. She we we're all in bed for the new year safe and warm.

 Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.    

Happy Birthday Pictures, Halloween, and Snow.

Little miss bones.

Stopped at Daddy's work to say High while most the building was at lunch before their party. She was excited to see dad at work.

Shh Trick or Treating at Red Gear. Just Sams floor.

At PCMC That Pink pumpkin was her Favorite! She saw it when we walked in and ran to it squilling.

The horse that does have a name now. They voted.

Mariska Strawberry Shortcake Anderson

At Grandma and Grandpa Brownings Ward side walk trick or treat.

So scared of the monsters inside!

She bumped her nose.. thought it needed a bandaid.

Her Hidden Rainbow Cake. Cutting it open made Mariska cheer to see all 6 colors inside still there.

Opening gifts.

With Grandma Anderson. Her Abby Cadabby Party.

Making some music

Misky and Sam's Snowman. She took the nose out so she could eat it. Didnt like that it was now very hard so put it back.

Is it normal?

those with a really weak tummies feel free not to read.   **



Hey Transplant buddies. How common is throwing up?!   Is it just a reaction to coming off the steroids or is it something more.  Once in a while I can see, but Misky hasnt really been her since the ER visit and the pneumatosis/c-diff battle.    


She throws up once if we're lucky every other day. Given her history I"m a mess. Shes LOST a lot of weight. Looking like she'll end the year weighting less then this time last year!.   Feels which I know not to be true. But inside feels like its all being brushed off.


Two weeks ago we met with the nutritionist. She said to cut out all water in her diet. Add cream to anything and everything. Make her go 2 hours between eating. In hopes she'll gain weight.


We also talked about giving her a pill to make her hungry. Its not that shes not eating or doesnt really want to. Its every time she eats a big meal for her * half a slice of pizza for instance* she doesnt keep it in.

Her high for weight has been 13.7kg shes now 11.5kg.... breaks my heart watching this happen to her. I dont pick her up under her arms in fear I might break her.


Will is pass I ask my self. Is it just something to do with the taper? does it have to do with all her past tummy things? is there a kink or blockage? will she be ok? 

Shes still her cute self just not active almost at all. Feels like when she was going down hill waiting for her heart.

I'm asking those who are willing to fast for her on Sunday and to say a little prayer she'll start gaining again.