cause and effect September 29, 2009

Eva’s chest x-ray showed the doctors that it is not pneumonia.  Doctors think it one of the two things:  Eva is aspirating TINY amounts that her heart is reacting to it.  They will do a swallow study tomorrow.  The other possibility is it is actually 100% her heart.  The obstruction does in fact make the pressure in her lungs double what it should be, so that is a strong possibility.

However, the x-ray did show some changes in her lungs.  Here is the list of that change possibilities:

Systic Fibrosis

heart obstruction having an effect in her lungs.

4th verse came early September 29, 2009

Once again Eva was admitted to Children’s hospital. Since dinner last night she has had less than 7 oz of formula and isn’t eating and is having a difficult time breathing to the point where she is retracting (abnormal breathing pattern). She was admitted this morning where doctors are looking at 3 culprits. 1. Her heart obstruction is causing her breathing issues. 2. She caught a respiratory bug. 3. She caught the small bug that her heart made worse. Her open heart surgery at this point is postponed. As to when, that is uncertain. It could be early next week or a month. Once the doctors determine the cause of her breathing they will make the decision for her surgery. As to how long she is in the hospital now, that is uncertain as well.  For those who are curious, she is negative for the flu.

Where to go? September 27, 2009

We have so many plans and commitments coming up that we decided last night to have a family night just the 5 of us (we were not expecting Eva’s surgery to come up so quickly).  So we went out for pizza and the four of us enjoyed the food, Eva loved the crust.  So we were getting close to finishing when Jim asked Josiah where we should go as a family.  Here is the conversation:

Daddy:  “Where should we go?”

Josiah:  “House.  Bitby and Talub house!” (translation: Aunt Brittany and Uncle Caleb’s house)

D:  “No, just our family.”

J: “Oh, um…” puts his pointed finger on his chin, then with a face that resembles some kind of revelation, “bampa!”  (grandpa’s house)

D: “No, not grandpa’s house.”

J:  “Hmm, Charlie!!”  (Uncle Charlie)

D:  “Uncle Charlie lives far away.”

J:  “Um… hmm… Jesus!”

Mommy:  Somewhat baffled, “What?  Um, are you asking to go to church to learn about Jesus?”

J:  “Yeah!”  Pauses to reconsider, “No, not church.”

Short pause.

J: “Mike, Mike and Amy!  Yeah, Mike and Amy!”

D:  “Mike and Amy are probably busy.”

J:  “Oh,” thinks hard for a little less than a minute, “Kitty and Te”

D:  “Who?”

M:  “Kati and Ted.”  Then to Josiah, “They are probably busy too.”

J:  “Maybe.”

D:  With a teasing smile at Josiah “Or maybe your just silly!?”

J:  With a thoughtful expression and the index finger on his chin, “Maybe!”

Eva’s Appointments September 24, 2009

Ok, I thought I would give the details of what we are expecting over the next few weeks.

Monday at 4:15 we will meet with Eva’s surgeon to go over the details.

Wednesday at 1:00 Eva goes in for her pre-surgery exam (this is 3 hours long).  This is blood work, chest x-ray, vitals…etc.

Thursday at about 6:30 am we head into the hospital where her surgery will take place at 8:30am.  Surgery is expected to be a few hours.  Recovery in the hospital averages 5-7 days.  Some kids take longer and others, shorter.

We are praying: that God will guide the surgeon and team as they operated and make decisions, that Josiah will be patient and understanding, for wisdom in planning, for Eva to stay healthy between now and the surgery (they will cancel if she gets sick), for Eva to recover well and for Jim and I as hospital stays tend to make us physically exhausted.

due date September 24, 2009

Due to “Lise’s” (as Josiah calls her) measurement the due date is now Feb. 12th.  This wasn’t too surprising to us, so no worries.  It was expected.

Roses are red September 23, 2009

violets are blue,

Josiah loves Eva

and Annalise too.

Encouraged September 22, 2009

I read this today and it encouraged me and I thought I would share it with you:

None of us can come to the highest maturity without enduring the summer heat of trials. As the sycamore fig never ripens if it be not bruised, as the corn does not leave the husk without threshing, and as wheat makes no fine flour until it be g…round, so are we of little use till we are afflicted. Why should we be so eager to escape such benefits? – Charles Spurgeon

20 weeks – Ultrasound tomorrow! September 22, 2009

We’re at the halfway mark — YAY! Baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. Baby’s also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (The way lil’ peanut is measured changes now.) Baby’s swallowing more these days, which is good practice for the digestive system. Baby’s also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion.

What we have been up to the last week September 22, 2009

Due to lack of time today, I will just post pictures to give you an idea of what has been going on this past week (well, beside waiting for Eva’s cardiology stuff).

Uncle Charlie, Aunt Melissa and Anne came to stay with us for a long weekend.

Playing at the park

Enjoying “freedom” before the hospital stay (Eva hates not being able to just get up and go because of tubes and wires)

God’s little gift September 21, 2009

It is amazing how God can use children to comfort.  I was crying today with the thought of seeing Eva’s face while she will be in pain and Josiah said “Don’t cry mommy, don’t cry!”   I told him “I will try not too.  Thanks.”  But of course the tears kept up their pace, so my little man came over gave me a big hug and patted my back for a good minute saying “don’t cry mommy.”  After he released me he pointed out my tears on my cheeks, so I wiped them away and asked “all better?”  He said “yes”.  Then he started rubbing his arm, looked at me with a disapproving face and said “Mommy!  You got me all wet!”