DO WHAT?!?

... My exact words after seeing this....

Ha.. that is how many I had to "go" on before I believed it!

All of you should know by now... I AM PREGNANT, but I thought I would share the story...I am going to be brutally honest, there were tears, tears and more tears. I was pretty shocked, to say the least. It wasn't a part of "our" timing. But what is? We have been through some things in the last 3 years that weren't "our" timing. We are constantly reminded that it is not about us, it's what God wants and has in store for our life. And to be honest, it has all worked out perfectly. I am amazed day by day how much God has blessed us and I really wouldn't change a thing about my life. We are definitely getting use to the idea now (being pregnant)... I have a feeling it will go by very fast, so much going on between now and then. My due date is November 7th, baby will probably be here by the end of October (c-section). So it looks like Big brother will share his birthday month with a sibling!

Gavin is so sweet. He says a prayer for the baby in "his" tummy every night. In fact, that is how my parents found out. At dinner Gavin said the prayer and thanked God for the baby. My parents looked confused and we started laughing and crying. My parents were shocked too! At our first ultrasound Gavin told Dr. N (my OBGYN) that mommy "ate the baby". I wonder where he heard that?? We had our second ultrasound on Monday. Baby looks great! Gavin didn't make it to that appointment because he was still recovering from his cath. So we didn't get any pictures. I do have ultrasound pictures, however, our scanner is not working right now. We ask that you pray for this baby and "his/her" health. We found out about Gavin's condition when I was 20 weeks. So the anxiety every time I have an appointment builds up more and more!

Gavin is on the mend, much better and more playful! We should hear from Dr. P in the coming weeks about a surgery date. It is definitely bittersweet. I wonder what life is going to be like with out another surgery "looming" over us. Pre-surgery is difficult for us... I think especially this time. Gavin is very aware of his surroundings, pain, discomfort. He knows when something isn't right and it scares me to watch him in pain. He is extremely verbal now and I just know that will be hard to deal with. We appreciate your love and support during this time!

Sorry for lack of posts lately, I haven't felt the best!

We are coming home!

Yesterday:


Today:

Gavin is a much happier camper today! He is glad to be coming home! Gavin is restricted to limited activity until we hear back from the cardiologist. He is in better spirits today, just really tired and not back to his "old" self yet.

Thanks to Elaine for updating and sending out emails. We appreciate everyones prayers!

Update Six

New text:

“Dr. just came in and since Gavin has kept his food down they will discharge him this afternoon. They had a conference this morning and decided that Gavin is definitely ready for surgery within the next few months. He will contact Dr. P in San Diego next week. Then we should hear from him shortly. Thanks for the prayers. God is good!” I’m still trying to get an update on Faith’s own health. I know being able to set a surgery date will be helpful for both Adam and Faith. It brings new concerns, but at least movement forward!

Update Five

Just got a text from Faith.

“Gavin is currently trying his first meal since the cath. Pray that it will stay down so we can come home today. He vomited every bit of fluid he had last night. He is also having a hard time getting around today. Not wanting to walk or move much. They have him on Tylenol this morning. Other than that, his stats are great!!!” So, friends… we know what to do!!

Update Four

I am SOOOOO sorry! Faith text again... and I forgot to let the rest of you in on it!

They are now with Gavin. She said that when they first got together, she and Gavin both threw up... (What a united family!! :-)Gavin is fine. He says his arm hurts, but he's getting gooood meds (morphine). At that time, he was watching Mickey Mouse and eating a popsickle. He's on bedrest til 1100 pm, but then they'll need to get him up for movement and coughing... has some lung clearing that needs to happen.
Plans are still to come home tomorrow.

Update Three

Elaine just got a text from Faith.

Doctors are finished with the cath. Pressures look good and ready for surgery this summer. Surgery needs to happen before Fall to avoid RSV season. They coiled the 3 arteries and will just keep an eye on the 4th one. Doc will call California with all the information and they will make surgery plans. Praise God this is such good news!

Update Two

Sending for Elaine via Faith

Faith called at 5:10. They found 3 extra arteries and coiled those off with goal of decreasing blood flow. They are looking at 1 more artery. Currently, the plan is still to just stay overnight. At this point, things look okay for the open heart surgery. It is better to find the extra arteries now than during the surgery. Keep the prayers going.

Update One

Copied from an email from Elaine:

Faith called at 2:23. They had just taken Gavin back.She was unable to go back with him, since she is pregnant. Gavin gets to choose the “flavor” of his initial anesthesia, and he chose “bubble gum”!The heart cath should take at least 3 hours, as this is exploratory to look at everything they can. She described herself as tense, as is her usual during these events. She also just heard from her dr that she has an infection, and will need additional medicine. So continued prayers for her health, as she’s still fighting nausea and now infection. There’s about 20 family and friends there, and they’re grateful for the support and distraction. Ps 119:76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

Heart Cath

Just asking that everyone say an extra prayer for Gavin tomorrow... we will check in at noon for his heart cath. We will post updates tomorrow.

Just like Daddy...

Daddy has been out of town for a business trip and Gavin always misses him when he is gone! He goes in our closet and puts on Daddy's shoes, hats and sometimes his ties. I was able to snap this picture as he was coming out in the hallway with Daddy's shoes on.

Great-Grandpa Sam came in town last month for a visit. He came by to eat lunch and see Mr. Gavin. After looking at this picture, I remembered the one we took of Gavin and Sam when Gavin was a tiny baby... complete with matching overalls! Thanks for the visit Grandpa Sam!

Happy Birthday Papa Ron!!!

I love when you hold me...

Kiss me...

Vacation with me...

and most of all support me!

"I love you Papa Ron, Happy Birthday" Love, Gav

Happy 1st Birthday Paxton!!!

Gavin wants to give a shout out to his cousin Paxton... "Happy Birfday, Love ya dude".

Mimi & Papa's House

This past weekend Adam went to San Diego to help a friend move back here and I went to Texas for Kristen's baby shower. Gavin stayed at Mimi & Papa's and had a blast! Before we left we had to pre-fill syringes with all his meds... it dawned on me that he is on A LOT of medication!

Gavin had a great time, he played trucks and cars, ate popcorn, watched a guy on TV eat a bug and it was "yucky" and cuddled with Papa. It was so funny to listen to him tell me everything he did at Mimi & Papa's.

Other than that we have been at home, just hanging out, reading books and occasionally going potty in the big boy potty.

Gracie Gledhill

Gracie has been under our "Children who need prayers list" since the day she was born. Gracie was born with HLHS and has had some up's and down's since birth. Gracie recently had a heart transplant and her body rejected the heart. Please pray for Gracie's family, Gracie passed away yesterday morning.

Happy Birthday Grandpa Joe!

I love your kisses...

I love you even when I am grouchy...
I love when you play with me...
I love when we get to go places together...

I LOVE YOU!

Love, "Your Stud"

Painting, Meeting Max & V-Day...

We have been up to some fun stuff around here so I need to make a long post with lots of pictures!

One night we decided to have another "Family Fun Night"... this time we included my parents. We had a picnic on the floor by the fire place and we got out the finger paints! Instead of painting on paper we decided to paint our faces. Gavin got a little carried away and he was covered in paint!

This weekend we were planning on making a trip to see our nephew Paxton, of course his parents too... however, Paxton got RSV (please keep him in your prayers!). On the way we were going to stop and meet Max and his family. I am glad we decided to go meet them anyway! We have never met in person. Kelly and I talk on the phone, email, etc. As I have said before, she is such a kind hearted person. She is constantly thinking of other children and praying for them, even through her own trials with Max. We have a mutual connection, Kristen & Kim. So we had lots to talk about! We had a blast and it was so much fun to watch the boys play and interact. Kelly got a picture of the whole group on her camera. So I will post that when I get it from her. We had a great time J. Family... hope to do it again soon!!!

For Valentines Day we had a candle lit dinner at home. We had lasagna -from scratch, bruschetta, home made pizza, salad with olive garden dressing and lots of yummy desserts! We dressed up and had fun lovey songs playing in the background. I had two very handsome dates, but one of them decided to check out early and go to bed. It was a wonderful, romantic evening with two of the best men in my life!

We have a date...

March 26th, Gavin will have his heart cath!

Specific Prayer Requests before then:

*Prayers for Dr. S (and all medical staff) as he performs the cath

*Prayers for Gavin's stats to be normal during cath

*Prayers for Gavin's health and safety during cath

*Prayers for Gavin's pressures to be normal or low

*Prayers for no scar tissue

*Prayers that Gavin will be ready for his Fontan surgery!

Happy Heart Day & Cardiology Appointment

Surgery Day..... February 5, 2007

Coming home day... February 16, 2007

Two years ago today, Gavin went in for his 2nd open heart surgery... the Glenn: The second stage procedure, called the Hemi-Fontan or Bidirectional Glenn, reduces the work of the right ventricle by allowing it to pump blood only to the body, and allowing most of the blood to flow automatically from the body into the lungs. The second stage is performed when the pressure in the baby's lungs has decreased, no longer requiring the pumping action of the right ventricle to get blood into the lungs. This surgery is usually performed at about 4-6 months of age when the traditional Norwood has been performed. When the Sano Shunt is performed, the second surgery usually needs to be done earlier - at about 3-4 months of age - and the babies need constant monitoring to determine when they are ready for the second surgery. http://hlhsinfo.homestead.com/surgeries.html

I can't believe it has been TWO YEARS?!? Now we are preparing for surgery number THREE?!?

I thought I would give everyone an update on Gavin...

Tuesday, we made the trek to the city for Gavin's cardiologist appointment. We made a "girl" trip out of it... well we had one lil' guy with us! My mom, grandmother, mom's friend and her daughter all went along for the ride! We left around 8, but didn't actually make it on the road until 8:45ish. Once we were on the road, about 30 minutes into the trip... I made the comment, "Gavin is really quite" sure enough he let out a few loud burps and then started vomiting. So I pulled over and we got him settled down, moved his car seat to the middle row and changed his clothes. I never bring extra clothes, but for some reason I did that day! We switched drivers so I could sit with Gavin and take care of him. He was fine, no fever, nothing... he was in a chipper mood. We headed to a local college to drop of some stuff to Adam's cousin Brady and then headed to breakfast at Mimi's Cafe. Gavin was so confused, he kept asking for Mimi and Pa Pa since we were at "Mimi's". Then we went to Edmond to look at some shops, Gavin slept in his stroller most of the time. Before we knew it, it was time for Gavin's appointment!

Ok, I am going to try to break down the appointment, so family especially can get all the details:

*Gavin's oxygen levels were 85%, which is good for him!

*Gavin's blood pressure was normal.

*We talked to the cardiologist about him randomly vomiting (not just on our way to the city, but on several occasions through out the last month)... Cardio referring him to a GI doctor again. Gavin had reflux as a baby, took medications, but seemed to grow out of it. Basically, we need to get this checked out and see what is going on!

*Talked with cardiologist about Gavin having another procedure (on another area of the body)done during the heart cath. Talked about pros and cons of that. Pros: Gavin would only be under anesthesia once. Cons: Gavin will more than likely get an infection and will require antibiotics and a longer stay at the hospital. Cardiologist will speak with the specialized doctor about what is best for Gavin.

*The scheduler will call us by the end of this week to schedule his pre-surgery heart cath for sometime in the next six weeks. We will let you all know when the date is scheduled so you can start praying!

*During the cath in August, Gavin's pressures were too high... so they started him on a medication. The medication was suppose to decrease the pressures. If this cath shows that his pressures have not decreased they will put off the surgery until the pressures decreases. Going ahead with the surgery while pressures are high is not a good thing and can be detrimental to Gavin. Putting off the surgery for too long is not a good thing either. Our prayer is for normal/low pressures so we can get this surgery behind us!

*Fatten Gavin up!!! He is still on the low percentile for his weight and they want him bigger for surgery.

*All-in-all it was a great/informative appointment.

It has been an emotional roller coaster, but we are ready to move into a new phase of life... it's scary but bittersweet. We are so proud of our little man!