Big Girl

Natalie on her first day of school this year

Brotherly Love
Natalie and Carter hugging it out before she goes into school

I have seen this coming for a few weeks now, but I did not realize how fast it would happen. Natalie is officially turning into a "big girl." We have had a week of big beginnings in our house.

Natalie is officially in a "big girl" bed! I am a little sad, because we will be removing the crib from our house this weekend; no more cribs ever. Do not get me wrong, I am happy with the size of our family and do not want any more little ones, but I am a little sad that we will not ever need a crib anymore. Sorry about my little side tangent there; back to Natalie.

We put a bed in her room when we moved back from Dallas last year, just in case I needed to be in there with her. Yes, I was way over paranoid, but who can blame me after three open heart surgeries. Lately, she has been pointing to her big girl bed at night, but Larry and I just put it off. Okay, so not Larry just me, I did not know how she would sleep and I just was not ready for it. However, Sunday night we put Natalie in her big girl bed. She is so tiny in it, but super cute (picture in the next few days to come). I only had to go in there 3 times before she went to sleep and yes, I ended up in bed with her at 3am. Since Sunday, I normally do not have to go back in there once we lay her down and only have to go in once a night when she wakes up. I am going to call that success!

She also started back to school on Tuesday. She only goes Tuesday and Thursdays, but it is so good for her to play with the other kids. She actually started this summer, but Carter was there with her and this time she was by herself. She gives the initial tear or two when I drop her off, but before I can check her in and leave she has already stopped and is playing. I think she does that to make me feel bad...drama queen.

I know this might not mean a lot most of you, but to me this is another huge step in the big girl world. Natalie is officially taking her aspirin without me having to dissolve it first! She is also taking Flintstones vitamins, of course, she thinks they are candy. I am sure me telling her they are candy has nothing to do with it.

Next up, is potty training...not for a few months, mommy can't handle to much to soon. Natalie actually is interested in sitting on the potty, but has yet to actually go. If I actually took the time and set there with her for a few days, she might get it, but I need Carter back in school first and a little time for sanity from the summer break before I take on too big of a challenge.

As a side note...Children's Med Dallas did not have a new episode last night, but they are keeping all the episodes up until next week. That means, my links should be active until next week if you have not had the chance to watch the first three episodes, they are amazing.

I hope everyone is getting back into the swing of school and your kiddos have had a great first couple of days or weeks if you have children.

Children's Med Dallas - Dr. Forbess

http://youtu.be/0eN8XSGytgU - Episode 3

Wow, episode 3 was intense for me. The CV-ICU waiting room; I have spent way to many hours in and will sit again within the next year or two. The episode showed the heart operating room, the bypass machine and even the heart of a toddler. Oh yes, I did cry. I tried to hold myself together, but knowing we will be back in surgery again in a year or so is scary. I would not want any other doctor operating on Natalie than Dr. Forbess.

I am sorry, I tried attaching the link to episode 2, but I am still have trouble with the link. If you are on facebook, you can go back and look for episode 2 on the Children's Med Center page. I am sorry, but you may be able to look around the site after you click on the above to see episode 2. I will tell you that both the liver transplant patients did great during surgery and their little bodies accepted the liver.

Children's Med Dallas - Dr. Forbess

I have found out that the Children's Med Dallas link from last week will only be active until 5pm today, however I am hoping they will re-active next Thursday as well. I am having trouble posting the link today for some reason, sorry. If you are on facebook though, you can go to the Children's Medical Center page or Children's Med Dallas page and then you clink on the red Med in the sign. Sorry about not being able to link, I will try again next week.

Tonight's episode continues to follow the two liver transplants from last week and starts following a family with a little girl with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Natalie has Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome, but they follow the same surgeries. Dr. Forbess is featured in this episode, he is the man saving Natalie's life.

I can't help it, but when I just hear the theme song, I start crying. Not sure if these episodes are the best for me, but I am proud Natalie is a patient at Children's.

Children's Medical Center

http://youtu.be/bw6pJHktST8

Children's Medical Center is doing a five part television documentary featuring an unprecedented behind-the-scene look at what goes on at the hospital every day. Children's Med Dallas is only being aired in the Dallas area, however they are posting the episodes on the web and I will be posting the link here each week for you.

I watched the first episode tonight and I am proud to say, I only cried three times. I will make no promises on next weeks episode. Tonight's episode featured two families needing a liver transplant for their children. You not only, get the point of view from the families, but you get to know the surgeons on a personal level.

Next week, they will follow up with these two patients and will follow two cardiac patients. Natalie's surgeon, Dr. Forbess will be featured and Dr. Guleserian, who over sees the heart transplants. Dr. Forbess has done all of Natalie's three open heart surgeries. We have met Dr. Guleserian when Natalie was put on transplant and during surgical rounds. Both of these doctors are amazing and we feel we owe our daughter's life to them and to the entire cardiac department at Children's.

The episode is only about twenty one minutes long, please take the time to watch these amazing episodes to see what goes on at one of the nation's largest children's hospital. Not to worry, I will be reminding everyone each week about these and especially next week as they look into the cardiac division at Children's.

Our little miracle would not be here without Children's Medical Center..Thank you, Children's!

Ranger Game and The Dallas Aquarium

The kids and I at the Dallas Aquarium

At the Dallas Aquarium and yes, we are crazy

Carter, Olivia Baker, Natalie, Hinsley Patterson and Hunter Patterson

Hunter Patterson and Carter soaked at Addison Town Square

Last weekend, we met some good friends in Dallas for the weekend, the Pattersons and Bakers. Chad and Danielle Patterson have a little boy Hunter, that is about 6 months older than Carter and a little girl, Hinsley that is 3 weeks younger than Natalie. Colin and Erica Baker have a little girl who is a day older than Natalie, so we had a great and wild weekend to say the least. Nothing like travel and going out to eat with three 2 year olds, a four year old and a 5 year old...yes, we are crazy!

Chad's parents have a box at Ranger Stadium and they were so kind to let us all use Friday night to watch Rangers vs Toronto. I must say, if we were not in a box, the game might have been miserable, but we were able to sit outside or trap the girls inside when we needed to. So, extra "Thank yous, Mr. and Mrs. Patterson"

This was Carter's first baseball experience ever; I mean not just professional, but ever, he has never even been to watch a kids baseball or tee ball game before. I know, but I thought I could hold off sports until this next year. I figured we had the rest of our life for sports, why not take it easy the first few years. I do enjoy my weekends of nothing.

Before we left town, I bought Carter a Cars 2 baseball glove to take with us. He was in heaven and wore it the entire car ride. We have since started working with him a bit on catching a throwing. I just have to make sure we do not throw inside the house, because the boy has an arm already.

I also have to say, the game was so much fun and yes, it did make it even sweeter that the Rangers not only won, but won big time!

The next day we all went to the Dallas Aquarium. Larry and I took Carter when he was 2 years old and they day before Natalie's first surgery. He loved it then, so I knew he would only love it even more and that Natalie would love it as well. If you have never been, it is worth going to see if you are ever in the Dallas area. Once you are inside the Aquarium, you will totally forget that you are in downtown Dallas.

The kids had a blast! The loved the monkeys, fish, and pretty much the entire exhibit. Later that night, we took the kids to Addison Town Square to let them play in the fountains and the water that shoots up from the ground. Talk about cheap entertainment, they had a blast and were totally soaked. What else do you to when it is a 104 degrees at 9pm at night?

The weekend ended on a little soar note for us...Carter woke up with fever. Poor guy caught some virus going around and felt yucky for about 3 days. The Lord blessed us though, because Natalie did not get it! Talk about a miracle, especially since they drink after each other. I try not to let them, but at this age it is almost impossible.

Our weekend in Dallas was great! It was also nice to go there and not have a doctor's appointment for once, not to worry, we will be back in a few months for an appointment. I have attached a few pictures of our trip as well.

Natalie's Heart Check

Natalie at her first Ranger game

(more to come on the Rangers)

Natalie had her heart check up her in Amarillo this morning with Dr. Luckstead. I am sure I have mentioned it before, but we see Dr. Luckstead, a pediatric cardiologist at Texas Tech Pediatrics in Amarillo, in between our Dallas appointments.

Her appointment went great! I have been worried about Natalie not gaining weight, but she finally has hit the 23lb mark and I am so excited. Little milestones are precious in our life. She has also gotten taller, so that I am just over joyed to know she is growing and gaining weight. Cardiac kids sometimes have a hard time growing and gaining weight, because their little hearts are working in over time all the time.

Natalie's EKG was good as well. Dr. Luckstead also checked her oxygen level, which was 80. Now, this is a little lower than it has been, but it is still in the 80s, so I am please.

We go to Dallas at the end of September for her appointment at Children's with Dr. Zellers. She will also get an echo during that visit, which is standard for her.

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"

Hebrews 11:1

Natalie is Two

Natalie is two! This past Saturday, my little miracle angel turned two. I can't believe she is two already. She is such a blessing to our lives. I praise God every time I look at her and see how far she has come in two years. I know we have a road ahead, but we will take one day at a time hand in hand with God leading.