Easter Story Mix-Up

Continue to pray for us.... why didn't anyone tell us the process of selling a home is so difficult! This is our first time selling a home and I just keep wondering if all is going okay. There is really no reason for me to think otherwise but.... I am famous for my worrying. I'm constantly reminded by friends and family to "Cast all your cares on him, for he cares for you."

Also pray for Evan... he is having a hard time even thinking about moving. He doesn't understand that everything goes with us and he knows nothing different than this is home so, he is quite scared. We have tried very hard to involve him and make sure he understands that everything goes with us. He has been very emotional and we seem to find him in deep thought worrying about (he is my son!) all of this.

ALSO... he goes to a Christian preschool and they told a kid friendly version of the Easter story last Wed. at school. Eric & I are happy that he is learning about our faith and were okay with him hearing this story. However, apparantly another kid in class shared with Evan his own version of the story. On Thur. night I was getting ready to give him his breathing treatment and he turns with tears in his eyes - I immediately asked him what was wrong and he began to sob and said, "Mommy, I need to tell you and Daddy something." The next few moments I heard some very disturbing things come from my little 4 yr. old. Eric and I could barely keep it together and Evan was just a mess. My poor baby had been worrying for over 24 hrs. that he was going to die on Sunday - he put himself in the story, or the kid that told him his version of the story told him it was them and not Jesus. We spent over 30 minutes explaining things that I really thought I would have many years before I got questions like he had. He still has asked questions daily to reassure himself. I can't believe how much of a deep thinker I have - and also how innocent and precious and trusting these little ones are. Pray for us to protect his innocent little mind to not worry about things we cannot control and to convince him that the time we are given here is not meant to spend worrying but living!

1st visit to the Dentist

Evan had his 1st Dentist appointment yesterday and I was so proud of him. He did so good and let the assistant do all she needed to do without a fuss. The office is also mine and I was very impressed with the way they made him feel comfortable and not scared. The Dentist did say that his top back tooth had a very small spot that he would like to see again in 3 months and they might have to fill it - ARGH! We brush his teeth every morning and every night - who knows! Check out his pics!

Also... keep us in your prayers - Bardstown is no longer going to be "My Old Kentucky Home"! As long as things go as planned we are moving in 4 weeks!

Snow, Snow, Snow!

The heading is for my brother, we LOVE the musical, White Christmas! Everytime there is even a forcast of snow we begin singing our song, LOL.

There has been lots of forecast of snow lately. Only to bring disappointment for the icy slush we end up with. BUT... we woke up today with about 9" of snow, snow, snow!

This is the first REAL snow since the year Evan was born. Within an hour after we woke up he had waited long enough and we were sledding down our *little* hill - it was big enough for him though, he would hit his brakes almost as soon as he got going. Fun times! Check out their fort and Frosty!

Evan's 1st Field Trip

I can't believe it.... Evan had his first field trip yesterday! I was so excited to have the day off so I could share this first with him. I think he was way more excited about riding on a REAL school bus than the actual field trip to the Fun Dome, which is also where we had his birthday party. All the 3 yr. old classes got to go so, in all there was about 27 kiddos. While at the Dome 2 of those kids started feeling bad and having flu symptoms so, we are crossing our fingers that Evan doesn't come down with it. Wouldn't you know that those 2 kids are in Evan's class! Funny things that happened - 1.) Evan crawled up the toddler steps to the tubes and got scared... he was up about 5 levels and was crying - refusing to come down the leveled steps or the slide, saying kids said the slide hurt their butts. I sent his BFF at school after him and he came back and said no, he is stuck. So.... me... this plus size Mama crawled up 4 levels and reached my arms up and he would NOT let go and come to me... I had 2 choices push him down the slide or pull him by his legs to me, I opted for the later which he screamed bloody murder until we got to the bottom. I forbid him to go near the toddler area again. 2.) Evan did NOT want me to help other kids, NO THAT'S MY MOMMY!!! We had talks about sharing but, he told me I was him Mommy and there for him and him alone, LOL. 3.) Apparently on the back side of a slide a little boy pulled Evan's ear (I could not see this) Evan came down the slide in tears with a very red ear. I told him it looked okay and to stay away from this certain little boy if he was not playing nicely. Evan's friend Blake came down next and Evan pointed to the little boy and said, "Blake, that is the one who pulled my ear." Blake reached his hand out and Evan took it and off they went to the next jumpy to get this little boy. The teacher saw this and said, "uhoh - they are going to get him, Evan and Blake stick up for each other." I got to the jumpy just in time, LOL.

When Evan tells stories or is upset and wants to use numbers the way I did above, he always skips 1st, and says 2nd of all this happened... and then 3rd of all... LOL.

This pic is of Evan on the bus.

I only do it once a week

We talked to Kayla's Nanny, my sil, last night and she had 2 Feberal seizures (fever seizures) caused by high sudden spike in fever. The Dr. said she will outgrow them and they can rule out all other types of seizures and neurological problems. So, although it is something they will have to watch and they have medicine to give her to stop them if she has another one, it sounded like the Dr. was confident that she will outgrow this and that there will not be any other side effect problems.

Evan has been a real funny one lately - telling jokes and making comments - he thinks they are hilarious and sometimes they are (and sometimes they aren't.) I picked him up from school the other day and one of the helpers said she took Evan to the potty and he needed to poo-poo. She asked if he needed help, which he replied no. She waited outside the bathroom for him and when he was done he came out with his jeans still fastened and pulled down to his knees. She told him that it is a LOT easier to undo them and that she would help him next time and then they would fasten them back when he was done. Evan told her, "It's not worth it, I only do this once a week."

Prayers for Kayla

My little neice Kayla is at Kosairs today having an EEG done because of the recent seizures she has endured. Kayla we are praying for you today and Evan says your in the "hero club" now too! Hoping that your day went smoothly and that you felt our prayers and they calmed you (Mommy, Papaw and Nanny too!) Can't wait to hear that your home and maybe even want to talk on the phone. Although Evan doesn't talk long, does he? See below pic of Kayla and Evan on their camping trip this past summer.

CHD Awareness Day

Somewhere...someplace... today...
A family is waiting to hear...
Is something wrong with their baby?
The answers aren't quite clear...
This family has entered an unwanted world...
And they just don't know what to expect...
Somewhere...someplace... today...
They first heard the words: heart defect.
And how they hoped this was not true...
And thought... this cannot be...
I too... know just how this feels...
For one day...this was me.
Somewhere...someplace...today...
A man and a woman embrace...
Their baby is in surgery...
They long to see her face...
They haven't got to hold her yet...
Without...a cord or line...
They pace the room awaiting news...
And hope she'll be just fine.
Prayers fill this busy waiting room...
And mom and dad are scared...
Somewhere...someplace..today...
The tiniest hearts are repaired.
Somewhere...someplace...today...
A child's growing fast...
Smiling,laughing,thriving...
His mom thinks...can this last?
It's almost easy...to forget...
That anything is wrong...
Somewhere...someplace..today...
Her child seems so strong.
Somewhere...someplace... today...
A little boy fights...just to live
A father holds his tiny hand...
His love...all he can give...
The doctor's are all baffled...
They fear that he might die...
Somewhere...someplace...today...
A family says goodbye...
Somewhere...someplace...each year..
More than 40,000 families will see...
What it means...when something's wrong...
They'll face a CHD.
Today...for just a moment...
Stop...remember...reflect...
Make time to tell someone you know...
"I've been changed by a heart defect".


Author - Stephanie Husted

Putt Putt Pro's

After everyone else had left these 3 bud's played Putt Putt till way after bedtime! They had a blast!

Party Time

Notice Evan sitting between the "older" girls. These two are his friend Robert's sisters whom Evan requested they also attend his party. Kristin & Olivia, I think Evan loves you two!

Evan getting his bike from Mommy & Daddy

My Baby is 4!!!

I can't believe it, my baby is 4! We have still been battling sickness and I was afraid that we would have to cancel his birthday celebration. After 5 visits to the Dr. in 3 weeks, I think we are finally on the mend. Evan started running another high fever this Wed. night, his actual birthday so off we went to the pedi. again Thur. morning. After 2 blood tests and a flu and strep test they determined after all of that came back normal that he had a sinus infection. We are now on the breathing treatments twice a day (Pulmicort & Albuterol), a allergy medicine (Singular) and an antibiotic (Augmentin). We also spoke with his cardio. due to this 3 weeks of sickness and after reading what the pedi. sent him and read all the test he felt Evan was in good hands and not in harm heart wise. I was a little worried b/c our fellow Brave Heart member Andre' who needs our prayers is still in ICU here at Kosair and his stay seemed to start with a lot of the same issues as Evan - breathing, high fever. By dinner on Thur. Evan's fever broke and you could tell he was feeling much, much better. On Fri. by lunch he was so excited about his party at the Fun Dome he could hardly contain himself. Enjoy the pic's - we had an amazing time celebrating our little man, with such wonderful friends - Thanks to all that came!

Steroids

Well, at Evan's check up last Fri. they still heard wheezing so they increased his breathing treatments to 4 times a day (2 times pulmicort, 4 times albuterol) and added a liquid steroid to it. We are going back today for another check to see if we can cut any of this back or out. My little boy has been such a handful the past few weeks. I'm blaming the steroids but, whew. He gets very aggervated very easily and has had so many tantrams and lots and lots of whining. I really hope once he is over all of this that his temper will return to regular Evan temperment. Also, Evan has been potty trained for almost 2 years and I can't remember him ever, even in the beginning having accidents but since the steroids started on Sat. he has wet the bed twice and had one accident. Pray that we get a good report today. One of our fellow Brave Hearts has RSV and is in ICU here so, please say a prayer for Andre'.
Our house has had 12 showings now and one family came yesterday to see it for a second time. We are praying that all of this happen's in God's timing and that he will lead us when it is time.

RAD

No, I'm not trying to go back to my childhood and be cool - that is what Evan was diagnosed with Monday. On Sun. during naptime Evan started having this croupy cough and I thought, uhoh, here we go, he has croup again. Sunday night he started running a fever and the cough got worse so, I called in Mon. and took him to the Dr. She said he sounded very squeaky and gave him a breathing treatment (pulmicort and albuterol) which afterwards he sounded better. We were told to do 3 treatments a day and come back Fri. to see how things are going. Evan doesn't much like the treatments but, thought he sounded a bit like Darth Vader and kept telling me, "Luke, I am your fader." This kid is growing up and fast, he LOVES Star Wars, his Daddy is so proud, his Mama well, most of the time I have no idea what he is talking about. They said that Reactive Airway Disease is seen w/ heart kids (Becky, doesn't Miles have this?). He has a virus where the only symptom is a high fever that comes down with Tylenol but returns to 102.5 as soon as it wears off. I don't believe he has ever had a fever this high. He does good during the day but, has a hard time sleeping - seemed to be talking out of his head last night. I feel so bad when he is coughing his head off, I have enjoyed lots and lots of snuggles the past 3 days though. Say a prayer for my little guy.
ADD: during our snuggle time we have watched a lot more TV than usual and with this Evan has picked up on 2 things.
1) Evan said he had a new favorite song which he began to sing, "Nationwide is on your side."
2) He started telling me that all citizens need Life Alert. I always start laughing and he is so serious, he said, "Mommy, I'm not kidding if you fall and you are on fire you need life alert, it said all sitzens (he has no idea) need life alert."

Update

It is through tears as I type that Maddie passed away yesterday. Her parents last sentence on her site states "There is joy somewhere in all of this, but I cannot see it yet. I am praying for that clarity." I will pray that Maddie's family finds the peace and clarity they are searching for. There is nothing more I can say - I cannot find the words.
Hug your children today.

Prayer

We had a busy weekend - spent it cleaning and looking at prospect new homes. If we get a contract I think we narrowed our choices down to 3.
In response to my own post - I don't always understand why things happen or why I have such a nervous & controlling personality but, I do know that I believe in GOD. I might have a hard time turning things over but, I know that things go much better when I do. I know that if a contract is not put on our house this weekend it is because the house we need to buy is not ready or there are reasons for us to stay in our house for a while. I'm stubborn but, I believe!
Because I believe, I'm asking for all of you to pray! Pray for our dear heart friend Maddie. Pray, pray and pray.

Mixed Feelings Today

I'm feeling a bit frazzled today. My feelings have ranged from sad to happy to nervous and anxious. I read all the blogs on my blog list daily - it seems to have become a routine when I arrive at work. I login to my computer, go to Evan's blog and then go down the list to check and see how everyone is - Krystal I've also gotten use to checking a few on your adoption list too (some of those families really amaze me.) Yesterday morning and again today I check on Maddie and my heart is saddened. I don't understand. I don't know how they do it. I also check on Sammy (hope this is okay) and read his Mommy's last post about God and prayer and I wonder too. I'm a Christian - I believe in God - but why? I know God has a plan and although I would never have chosen my child to be born with a CHD I've been changed by it, and some of those changes are good. I've met people through blog land and my real life that I would have never known and I value those friendships so much. But, wouldn't life have been good if Evan would have been born without a CHD - wouldn't I still been changed for the better for just being a Mommy and met new people that I cherished? I guess I'm just feeling confused b/c of Maddie and her parent's awesome faith. They amaze me. I want that faith and I often blame my control/OCD disorder for the reason I have such a hard time with it but, I do believe, I just have the hard time understanding these types of things and being okay with it.

ALSO our house has been on the market since Sept. and we have had many showings but no contracts. We are having more showings this weekend and I was informed that one family is moving to our town b/c of work and is only looking at 2 houses and is planning on signing a contract on one of them. AHHHH!!!! That means there is a 50% chance my house will sell this weekend and we have not found a new one yet. I know, I want to move. Do others have a hard time thinking of moving on from the home that their child was brought home to from birth and then from his surgery, etc. I'm crazy. I really want to move but, these thoughts have sent me to tears all day. I pray that I can have enough faith that what is meant to happen for my family will happen and that we will be led to the right place to call home.

See below pic of Evan and a very well behaved female Doberman Pincher AKA Gal, that showed up at Mamaw and Papaw's Mon. - so far no owner response to flyers - no tags so, Papaw is taking her to the vet to check for a chip to identify her. If not, I think Mamaw & Papaw might have a doggy - look how in Love Evan is with her.

A Very Excited Christmas

Evan was so much fun Christmas morning! I didn't expect him not to be but, WOW, he was sooo excited. He woke up at 5:20 and came to our room and asked if he could get up and I said no, not yet, lay back down. Less than a minute later the light in the hall flips on and who is it you ask, my 43 yr. old brother. He poked his head in our room and said, "can we get up?" Of course Evan chimed in, can we, can we? I told Evan he had to go potty so Eric would have a chance to get the camera and Evan kept yelling while he was in there, "Munc, did Santa come, did he?" It was so cute! Munc (Evan's nickname for my brother, Uncle Michael) has spent Christmas with us the last few years so he can share in the excitement a little one brings and we love having him with us. I think next year there will be rules though - Munc can NOT wake up before at least 6:30. He always use to wake me up, I'm sure I should not expect anything but an early rise.

Update on my last post is that my lab work came back and I'm not anemic - actually my B12 levels are unusually high - normal 200-900, mine - 2000. Hmmm..... They are sending me to a neurologist to see if he has an idea why my feet are still numb. I'm doing fine though, it is just a bit aggervating. Also, Eric fell from a ladder at work yesterday and is quite sore - I joked with him that we will be hobbling into the new year!!! LOL.

The first two pic's of Evan right after he saw what Santa brought him - He loves his new race track and his Planet Heroes.

The second is of Evan opening his tackle box from Daddy. Eric LOVES to fish and is too excited that Evan also enjoyed doing this with him the past summer and that Evan had tackle box on his Christmas list.

By the time we got to my Mom's he was a pro and opened all of his presents before we had gotten our tissue out of our first bag. LOL.

Me & Christmas

Sorry for no photo last Friday, our visit with Santa didn't go so well. Evan did great, he was so excited, it was Santa, can you believe it? The little kid in front of us got down and left so it was Evan's turn and I nudged him and said okay, it's your turn buddy and he walked right up to get on Santa's lap and Santa put his hand out and said, "You'll have to wait, they are not ready to take your picture yet." HUH??? My response - "We are not here to get a picture we are here to see Santa." Santa then looked down at Evan and Evan began telling him that he had been good and that he was sorry for when he had been bad and then his list of requests. Santa never said anything, never attempted to pick Evan up or anything. I was so disappointed. We are going to a Christmas party tomorrow and my Papaw is going to show up in a Santa suit so hopefully he'll be nice ; ) of course Evan didn't notice that Santa was less than Mommy expected.
Now for the title of the post. Something with me & Christmas is off. It started back in my Jr. yr. of HS when on Christmas Eve I started having horrible pain in my bottom. By Christmas day I was unable to sit down. I made it through and my parents took me to immediate care early the day after Christmas where I was rushed into immediate surgery for a polinidle cyst. Then the Christmas Evan was born we had a huge ice storm that shut down the town that Eric & I live in just outside of Louisville. We left Evan at my parents and drove the long and slow drive home to get our Christmas presents and check on the house. On the way back I began having a headache and wrote it off to driving so long in an ice storm. By Christmas morning I knew something was wrong, I was having such a hard time focusing and the room seemed to be slightly moving. The symptoms kept intensifying until I went to the Dr. a few days later and was diagnosed with Virtigo. I was out of commission as far as driving or being alone with Evan and put on disability for 2 months at which time it went away. Now this Christmas. On Monday after arriving at work I kept complaining about how cold it was. My feet felt like they were freezing - like in an ice bucket. When I got home I couldn't wait to take my socks and shoes off and wrap them in a heated blanket. When I got my shoes off I realized that to the touch my feet felt warm but my feet also didn't feel the touch. Yep, my feet have been numb/asleep since Monday! I went to the Dr. today and was told that looking back on my records I have always been borderline anemic - well not anymore - I crossed the line. They gave me a big B12 shot and took lots of blood work and warned me that the shot could be a weekly thing. They said some people get feeling back immediately after their B12 shot - so far I haven't. After telling my folks I found out I have 2 Aunts and 1 Cousins w/ pernicious anemia and that is hereditary. Good Grief.

FFF - Evan's visit with Santa

With Eric working so many hours it became a habit this summer to snuggle in my bed with Evan and read books and we always ended up falling asleep. Eric would move Evan into his bed whenever he got home. When things started to slow down a bit for Eric and he was home at bedtime he started going to Evan's room and reading to him but, he always fell asleep before Evan and ended up sleeping most of the night with him. Mind you, that before Eric's change in schedule this summer Evan has been happily sleeping in his own bed alone with no trouble. When Eric wakes up sometime around 2 or 3am he gets up and comes to our bed and in no time we hear Evan's little feet coming down the hall to our room. We have spent many many nights lately with the 3 of us snuggled side by side. My back has been hurting so badly that I told Eric we really need to try to get him sleeping again in his bed and the last two night he has, all night!
This Morning I told Evan that after lunch I would take him to see Santa. A few minutes later Evan said "Mommy, you be Santa"
M - "Okay, I'm Santa"
E - "Santa, do you remember me, it's Evan"
M - "of course I remember you"
E - "I slept in my bed the whole night last night"
M - "good for you, maybe there will be an extra gift in your stocking"
E - "Thanks for forgiving me when I'm bad too"
This followed with his gift request. I was cracking up. I'll post a picture of him with Santa tonight for FFF.

It's the Holiday Season

Last night was so precious! Evan had his very first Christmas play at his preschool - they were so cute. His class sang 4 songs - Away in a Manger, Go Tell it on the Mountain, Open the eyes of my Heart Lord and We Wish you a Merry Christmas. Evan had proclaimed that he would NOT be doing any motions but, he surprised us and did them all. I'll be uploading pictures tonight so, you will be seeing for yourself that my little man was so cute last night! I'm so excited to be given the gift of this child and sharing in these moments with him.
Our little Sarah has been released from the hospital and is resting at home - well somewhat - has her days and nights completely mixed up her Mama says.
Maddie still needs our prayers. Her parents said that she is a candidate for transplant now and that when asked the Dr.'s said the best time for Maddie to receive a heart is today. Please pray.

The first picture is of Evan and one of his Brave Heart friends that he also gets to go to school with, Caleb.

The Second picture is of Evan and he new school friend, Blake. You remember me posting earlier that Evan had a very rough first few weeks of school. Another Mom whose son is in Evan's class and whom I also work with but did not really know became such a God send to us during this. I was able to get to know this sweet lady and her adorable little Blake and they agreed to wait for us every morning in the parking lot and let Evan & Blake walk in together. This did just the trick and made Evan feel much better about school. Thank you Lisa & Blake!!!