Heart Month 2019

We don't take for granted the fact that it has been a year since we last used the blog as a way to update the latest about Piper's heart. It feels like yesterday that we were updating daily with prayer requests and praises.  We are abundantly thankful for a quiet and uneventful year in terms of Piper's heart health. #toGodbetheglory

In December we paid another visit to Dr Lee. After a quick photo shoot we colored while waiting to be called back.

For anyone keeping track - yes, she has worn hearts to every single Dr. Lee visit since the beginning of time! Riding that train as long as her sweet buns will let me!! #sayitloudwearitproud

 

It wouldn't be a Piper echo if we didn't watch the first 30 minutes of Finding Dory and have a ring pop.

 Then we waited for the big man himself AND took more pictures.

This year's vibe was different. Same friendly smile - but almost immediately Dr. Lee started drawing a picture of her heart! That's when I knew something was up. No one has drawn us a picture of her heart since the VERY EARLY DAYS!! I was waiting to hear Dr Haw get paged to our exam room as I attempted to choke back tears. 

In the end the story is this! Heart function is good! No change from previous echoes. However, her left ventricle has grown! He said that upon looking at the images he couldn't tell it had grown - but because everything gets measured from visit to visit, he noticed an increase.

After what felt like an hour of explanation, we ended on the note of "this is something we will watch, it's mild, let's see you back in a year." #GLORY

In the end, Dr Haw wasn't paged - so we will call it a good visit. All good visits are celebrated with Panera Bread.

Letting the prayers for a left ventricle that slows its roll - in the growth, not function department!! 


 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us.
Ephesians 3:20 

HAPPY HEART MONTH!!!

We started our new year as every heart family should... with a visit to our favorite cardiologist in his brand new office.

As Bry will attest  -- I don't like change -- #firstbornproblems --  but the new space is absolutely gorgeous and it was a much needed expansion.  I embrace the change if it means reaching more families and saving more lives!!  #gohelen

Dr Lee was pretty sure we wouldn't need to go the sedated route for Piper’s echo this year -- and while I appreciated his confidence, I wasn't as optimistic!!   It took us four separate sessions to finish Finding Dory because someone has NO sit. Make that two out of the three of us have no sit!!  Piper is her Daddy’s daughter!!

Much to my surprise she was (nearly) a perfect gem for the echo.  Our beloved Lindsey did the honors yet again and was more than patient with the heart princess!  The frequency with which Piper asked "Are we done yet?" was nothing if not comical.  We joked it was the echo equivalent of "Are we there yet?"

So while Piper watched Finding Nemo and chewed the life out of a ring pop, Lindsey got the images she needed and I breathed a huge sigh of relief!

Fast forward to the exam room where we did the traditional weight, blood pressure and EKG. The gal let Piper stick EKG pads wherever she wanted --  and then stuck hers where they actually needed to go.

Dr Lee comes in and immediately asks how Piper is doing.  Is she active?  Does she eat good? Is she everything a three-year old should be??  Yes, yes and again YES!!  He was thrilled because that was the impression he got from her echo too. He was pleased - no new surprises!!

And the next words out of his mouth we will never forget!  "Folks, I am happy with today's images and feel good about not seeing Piper for another year!!"  As I've eluded to in previous posts -- yearly visits are the holy grail. Those sweet words came out of Dr Lee's mouth and it was like the heavens opened and angels sang us the hallelujah chorus.

All four of us high fived!  Piper had no clue why - but obviously wanted in on the action.   She's only three, but we have waited for this day for what feels like forever!  Thank you Dr Lee, Thank You Jesus!

He asked about the future new baby’s heart (wasn't that thoughtful?)  He was happy that we shouldn't be needing his services for this next Oosting little love!!

And here is a 'Throw Back Thursday' photo (a day early) for all my Dr Lee loving friends.  This is where it all started for Piper and Dr Lee -- in a little corner of the NICU!

Piper and I then celebrated the days major victories with lunch at Panera (her favorite!) And of course I couldn't deny her the heart shaped cookie!!

HAPPY HEART MONTH EVERYONE!!