Thursday Thankfulness...

No, really... Piper is thankful for A LOT!! She just had a mini melt down before she reigned it in and we talked about our thankful hearts!! Our untransposed, thankful hearts!!

We are ohhh so thankful for a handful of amazing reports recently... So I figured why not make a "Top 5 of Thankfulness!!" 

 

 

5) The Synagis shot (that helps prevent RSV) was approved for administration this winter!! (November through April baby!!) She's the last person you want getting RVS... Well, maybe not THE LAST, but she's at least in the top 10!! Next to all her preemie buddies from the NICU!!

 

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4) Piper's blood was drawn... yet again!! It's getting to the point where she could probably draw her own!!

This latest round was to recheck her white blood cell count. Sister has been low for quite some time!!

Thank you Jesus that this time around her value had doubled!! It still puts her {just} outside of the normal range - but her pediatrician is happy - so mama is happy!!

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3) Piper had her nine month check up on 9/16/14 and she checked out beautifully!! Dr Marcotte said her heart sounds like that of a normal 9 month old!! No murmur heard WHAT.SO.EVER!! 

{The Stats}

Weight: 22# 14oz (95%)

Height: 30 1/2 in (>97%) 

We were told she is the size of an average 15-16 month old! Wow! There is no denying we grow em' big at our house!! 

 

She still has NO teeth... But he wasn't worried!! He thinks "anyday now!!" Which is comical, because we heard that at the 4 and 6 month check up as well!!  

Piper took her flu shot like a champ!! And wasn't any less happy in the day or two after!! But let's not talk about her daddy!! I'm pretty sure he did enough complaining for the both of them!!

I'm thankful for anything that doesn't throw off her sleep at night or make her crabby during the day!!

 

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2) Early On came and did an evaluation of Piper Pie last week. Diane said she is doing everything she should - plus some!!  We are making all our milestones so she's comfortable not coming back until the first of the year!!

 

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1) WE ARE ON THE BOOKS WITH DR LEE!!

 Technically we weren't suppose to go back until December. But I felt strongly that perhaps we should go in November prior to loading Piper with flu shots, Synagis shots, and her (four) 12 month vaccines. That's a lot of pokes, my friends!! If we have any chance of getting her to lay still for an echo - we need to do it before she is scared to death of anything doctor related!!

 

 

Let the prayers rise for continued good news and a great visit with Dr. Lee come mid November!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A year in review...

From every wound there is a scar. 

From every scar there is a story. 

A story that says...

WE SURVIVED!!

 

I don't care that we took this picture 59 times and not ONCE was Piper smiling at the camera!! We survived and that's enough for me!! 

 

I could tell you what I was wearing 1 year ago and what I choked down for lunch that day (and have refused to eat since!!)

Today marks 1 year since we were told of Baby O's extra special heart!! 

 

Who would have thought 366 days ago that Piper's first words would be "Transposition of the Great Arteries!!??" Just kidding... But her first phrase is guaranteed to be "Jesus fixed my heart!!"

 
What a difference a year makes!! God is so good!! We have walked through the valley of the shadow of death - but our heads have been anointed with oil and our cup now overflows!! (Insert tears here!!)

 

God's perfect plan wasn't for his precious children to have heart defects - but when sin entered this world his plan dramatically changed. And until Christ comes again (Come Lord Jesus, Come!!) we are trying to turn something that initially brought SO much sorrow, into a story of hope!!

We never turn down an opportunity to raise awareness!! In February we were asked to be a part of a "book" Helen DeVos Children's Hospital was putting together for potential donors. The book recently arrived and is precious beyond words. It highlights Piper's story as well as that of four others. 

 

I recently waded through a kiddy pool's worth of explanation of benefits... something we've talked about doing since Piper was discharged (for the second time) on her Great Grandma Huizenga's birthday - January 8th, 2014!!
 

The whopping total for her 14 day NICU/PICU stay, arterial switch operation AND THEN the 19 day stay for her MSSA infection...

$400,761.34

Is it just me or is this face worth so much more than that? 

Piper received million dollar care... We wouldn't have batted an eye if the total was a mill and we were on the hook for EVERY.LAST.PENNY!! 

 

Side Note: The pipe addiction started early!! And who can blame her? There are 18 in her crib right now!! I'm not even joking... Come and count them!!

Piper continues to do awesome!! She crawls, climbs and smiles all the time. (Watch out Dr. Seuss... I'm coming for your job!!) 

We will see Dr Lee (her cardiologist) closer to her birthday. Until then we pray everyday that the valve leakage and narrowing are no longer an issue!! Letting the prayers rise that no additional surgeries will be necessary!! And that she will lay still long enough to get a good echo!! 

We again say THANK YOU to everyone who loved on us this last year!! We are truly blessed!! 

We wouldn't have made it through without our parents!! I dare say we have leaned on them more this last year than in the 30 years prior!! Thanks peeps!! We owe you!! Just for this we won't throw you in a home when you get old!! {wink, wink}

And my final thought and request is to PRAY HARD for all those that find themselves in the shoes we were in just 1 year ago!!

 

We have a "transpostion baby-to-be" on our radar right now!! Sweet Kaleb should be arriving {transposed heart and all} in mid October!! We know all too well what those last 6 weeks look like. Please join us in praying hard for peace, hope and success like Piper's for Kaleb!!

 

Let the prayers rise!!!