Natalie's Heart Cath

Sorry I am just now getting around to updating on Natalie's heart cath, it has been a crazy week to say the least.

Natalie did awesome during her heart cath!  The cath itself lasted about 2 hours or at least she was gone from us for 2 hours.  Dr. Zellers said everything looked great in terms of her being a perfect candidate for her next surgery, the fontan. Dr. Zellers went in through her groan area and her neck, so she has two little incisions and she had two places on her hand where the IVs were, one the missed and the other hand actually had the IV.

 

Post cath was a little interesting. There is nothing like keeping a 3 year old still for 4 hours.  The nurse told us, she has to keep her leg totally still for 4 hours, if she started bleeding again from the spot of the incision the 4 hours would start over...needless to say, Larry and I were determine to keep her leg still. 

 

Natalie did great though!  We quickly downloaded the Wiggles on the ipad and got the joy of watching it 5 times; I know you all are jealous (same video by the way).  Of course, Natalie cried out off and on, but for the most time she was a trooper.  It was not until we finally set her up, that we almost had a problem.  When we set her up for the first time, it looked like she was about to throw up and then the second time we tried, she turned stark white.  However, third time was a charm in this case. 

 

By the time we left, she was chatting up the nurse and doctor like she was totally fine.  Poor thing though, passed out in the car, she fought it all day to stay awake.  We stayed in Dallas Monday night to be safe, plus we did not leave the hospital until 3:45pm.  Natalie was asleep by 7pm and it did not take more than 30 seconds to go to sleep.  She is doing great overall, still a little tired and cranky.

 

I wanted to thank everyone for all the prayers and support, we would not be where we are today without you all.  I also wanted to thank my brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew for entertaining Carter Sunday night and all day Monday.  He had a blast with you all!

 

I also ask you all to start praying for us and the doctors as we move closer to Natalie's surgery, which is the first of October.  Pray for God's comfort to be poured over my family and for the surgeons  and staff at Children's who will be doing the surgery and taking care of Natalie post surgery. 



Natalie prior to heart cath; happy as can be for 6am

I know this is a bit hard to see, but she is so upset because we took her Minnie pjs off and put her in the hospital gown

Natalie and Daddy in pre-opt
Finally got her okay with the hospital gown, but she kept asking for her Minnie pjs the whole time



Natalie post heart cath, chillin watching the Wiggles on the ipad
I would like to point out that Natalie has her Minnie shirt on.  She asked for it right after she woke up, too funny



My brave little girl post heart cath
 

Heart Catheterization

Natalie has her heart catheterization this coming Monday the 20th.  I ask you all to say a prayer that all goes well and the doctor gets all the pictures and information he needs to pass along to the surgeon.

I have had several people ask me what exactly a heart catheterization is.  Children's Medical Center sent me this great little pamphlet, Understanding your children's heart catheterization.  I thought I would just write out a little about what they have down, because it is a great explanation:

"...the catheters in normally inserted in the groin area, at the top of the legs...After the are is numb, small plastic tubes called sheaths, are inserted into the large blood vessels. The sheaths are about the size of a piece of spaghetti.  Through these sheaths, long plastic tubes or catheters, are guided into the heart.  X-ray helps the doctor guide the catheters into the correct place.

Once the catheters are in place, small amounts of blood are taken through the catheters.  Blood is taken from the heart chambers and blood vessels in the heart.  This is done to find out how much oxygen is in the blood in different places of the heart.  The blood pressure in the heart is also measured at the same time.

Next, a special dye, called contrast, is injected through the catheters.  The dye goes into the chambers and blood vessels of the heart.  The dye shows up as a bright white shadow on the x-ray film.  This allows your doctor to see: 1. the shape of the heart structures and 2. the flow of the blood through the heart and lungs.  Motion x-ray pictures are recorded as the dye passes through the heart."

Natalie is first case, which I requested.  I mean, try explaining to a 3 year old, why they can't eat or drink.  I like to basically pull her out of bed and just go.  The heart cath itself should take 2 to 3 hours and then we will be in recovery for while (at least 4 hours).  The doctor wants her to lay flat and still (should be interesting), to help reduce the risk of bleeding.

I am hoping that by the time we get discharged, we will know the surgery date.  I have a little anxiety, but I know Natalie will be in great hands.  We are very blessed that our own pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Zellers, will be doing her heart cath.  We love Dr. Z and know he will take great care of Natalie! 

I will try to update everyone after Natalie's heart cath, but it will probably not be until Monday night since we have the awesome job of keeping her happy, while she had to lie still for at least 4 hours post heart cath...pray for us too

Psalm 91:1

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty"

Carter's Great Adventure

When the grandkids turn 5 years old, Larry's parents take them on a week to ten day trip to either Branson, MO or Hot Springs, AR.  Carter turned 5 in December, so this was his first trip and man was he excited!

After the first night, I think Larry's parents realized how much fun it will be for them too, because it has been so long since they have had a grandkid, where everything was brand new. I mean, we have never even taking him to putt-putt before.  My philosophy is, I have plenty of time for my kids to know about things, but lets do it in time.  Carter still does not know a place like Gattiland exists, but we do know all about Chuck.e.Cheese so I am not that bad.

Carter started his adventure with a few days in Texarkana before heading to Hot Springs, AR for the first time ever.  While in Texarkana, he got to hang out with some good friends and spend some time with Larry's aunt, uncle and grandmother.  Carter totally bounded with Larry's Uncle Steve, a high school football coach. 

Sunday afternoon, they proceed to Hot Springs where the spend 5 days in the miserable heat, but my kid does not know what that means.  Larry's parents took Carter to the Alligator Farm, Magic Springs (a cross between a Six Flags and a Wonderland, a scale in between), a waterpark and Carter even road a tube in the lake for the first time.  I know, but please remember there is not a lot of water around Amarillo.  Carter is unlike any of the grandkids and set a tone above all with his amount of energy!

He had a blast and is already talking about next year!  Thanks Gran and Papa, he had more fun with you all

Natalie's Scoliosis Update

Natalie had her yearly check up or over yearly check up, in this case at Scottish Rite in Dallas last week.  We got pretty good news for now.

Her curve in  her spine went from a 31 degree curve to a 33 degree curve over a 15 month period, which is great news!  The doctor, however did say, she has a lot of growing left to do and normally with growing the curve worsens.  The doctor, Dr. Richards, ultimate goal would to never have to do surgery on Natalie, but that if her curve gets worse enough, we will cross that bridge when we need to.

It has been a while since I updated on her scoliosis so I will do a quick refresher course.  Natalie was born with two hemivertebra both on the same side, causing her scoliosis.  A brace or casting will not work on  her type of scoliosis and will be to hard on her chest (from the heart surgeries).  The only thing that will help or correct her scoliosis, would be putting rods in her back.  The rods will only grow so much with a child, so if she were to have to have rods put in, we would pray she is old enough and mature enough in her growing to only need it once.

Dr. Richards will not intervene until her curve gets to a 60 degree curve and then we would all sit down and figure out the best plan.  However, she is only at a 33 degree curve so I will not even go there until we have to.  We go back in another year for a check up.

Do you notice what is missing?

That is right, my little man lost his first tooth tonight!  It only took us over an hour to convince him that letting us pull and in the end, we still tricked him.  I know, mean parents, but it did not hurt and he was pumped!

Happy Birthday To Our Little Miracle

Happy 3rd Birthday to the most amazing little miracle ever! 

I am so amazed daily by your strength and fight for life...We love you, Natalie

Summer Fun

Our summer has been full of surprises and fun, of course!  The weekend of Natalie's appointment at Children's, we also went to Great Wolf Lodge with some friends and my brother's family.  We had so much fun!  If you have not had a chance to go there, it is neat place for kids.  Carter was tall enough to do a few of the water slides, but not all. We even got my mom to go on a few water slides!

Hinsley and Hunter Patterson, Kate Sterquell, Natalie, Luke Sterquell and Carter

They were suppose to be in bed, notice the extra large lollipops in their hands
Natalie, Hinsley Patterson, Carter and Hunter Patterson

Hinsley Patterson, Natalie, Hunter Patterson and Carter
Again, no such luck on the sweet dreams

 We had a great 4th of July!  My brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew all came in town, plus Larry's parents were here as well.  We have a little cabin outside of town and they always put on a fun 4th of July BBQ picnic and parade.  Plus, we made it home in time for the kids to watch Amarillo's firework show from Carter's bedroom window! 

Cannon Ball!



Luke and Carter getting decked out for the 4th

Carter, Natalie, Gigi, Luke and Kate

A little team work

Larry trying to get Natalie to give him a piece of her candy; she does not like to share candy

Kate and Natalie swimming

 We got invited to go to a friend's lakehouse at a near by lake, I know you are thinking a lake?  Yes, there is a few small ones around Amarillo, but nothing huge.  This lake, Tanglewood, happens to be right on the edge of town and it is a pretty great little community.

Larry took Carter on a jet-ski.  I am not sure who had more fun, but Carter has already asked to go again!

Larry's parents also kept the kids for a few days so we could go out of town, before life got crazy again with Natalie's upcoming surgery (I will post pictures from our trip later this week or next, because most of them are on Larry's camera). Thanks Gran and Papa for watching the kids!

Gran hard at work, teaching finger painting
Natalie loved it! Carter hates to get his hands dirty, so needless to say, it was not his thing

Where Carter spends most of his time this summer

Guess who's taking this picture?