Side note..

Libbi drew on the wall AGAIN today.. last post was yesterday. That was easy to clean up, this time she got a permanent marker. My fault i know. It's time to move her high chair, she can reach the drawer full of markers. Kurt got mad at her yesterday and she gave her pouty lip and got really sad and started bawling! I can't handle it :( But then again, thats probably why she did it again today, cause dad wasn't home :)

Terrible Twos???

This is Libbis masterpiece as of yesterday.. (she was standing in her high chair when she drew this, i know you may think she isn't tall enough for that, so i needed to explain. Koy already tried to blame Jerzi because he said Libbi isn't that tall. I assure you, it was Libbi, not Jerzi)

Today she has decided to take her diaper off! I went to get her out of bed and she was standing in there NUDE! She had taken her jammies off, the ones with footsies, so not easy to get off, and then her diaper! I got her dressed and just minutes later, here she is again!
..I think she's flippin me the bird!!

I chased her around trying to get a diaper on and snap a picture, but she was not having it! I said "where do you think we are, a nude beach?" and she repeated "nude beach" ha ha! She is in the 'repeating everything we say' stage!

I'm not sure why but i could care less about the drawing on the walls, the running around nude and all the 'terrible two' things she has been doing. Maybe its because i've been reading Paul Cardalls book 'Before My Heart Stops' and its really made me realize that life is short, enjoy it. Or maybe it's because i am really enjoying having Libbi be so healthy and happy. She was sick for a while which really weighed heavily on my mind. We take her next month for an echo and MRI, i always get nervous/emotional when we have a check up near. Whatever it is, she is a crack up and i am enjoying her every moment of the day!

I know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and He has made our plan specific to our needs. We needed Libbi so much in our lives, as i'm sure we do the new baby. Its hard to comprehend why things are the way the are sometimes, but just knowing it's out of our hands can help us all do better with dealing with our trials. He would never want us to suffer, He just wants us to grow and learn, and i believe to do that, we have to endure trials. Not just endure them, but endure them well.

I am really nervous about having another baby. I think it hit me when we went to see Dr Menon that Libbi still needs my full attention. How am i going to give her the attention she needs AND a newborn? Let alone my other kids. When i had just 2 kids i always said to Kurt "I am only 1 person, i can only give love to 2 kids, 3 is too many" Then after much prayer and thought, Libbi came. After Libbi i was SURE that was enough! I was already overwhelmed with 3, let alone Libbi being a bit 'high maintenence' Since Libbi we have started our own business, which i do the accounting for. ..as i'm still trying to dabble in the hair business. And then the shocking news of a 4th child?? How do i do it? I don't know. Time will tell i guess. Its getting close, about 2 months is all. I've got to figure it out because its happening!

We feel so blessed that the Lord would trust us with 4 beautiful children, one needing a little extra attention. To me its a compliment, but at the same time i think "What is He thinking, does He know i CAN'T do this?"One thing is for sure, i would not be ok if i didn't have the gospel in my life. He is there each and every day to pull me up and give me hope. And then there's the many examples i have to look up to that deal with far worse than anything i've ever had to endure. They humble me, make me feel selfish and bratty, and give me hope that if they can do it so can I! I wouldn't trade my life for anyones. It's perfect for me.

This started as just a fun post about Lib and her naughtiness, but my words just kept flowing. I guess i needed to get them out :)

Libbi's 2nd Christmas!

What a fun Christmas we had with Libbi! She felt better which was GREAT! She ate cheetos for breakfast. I was just glad she ate something! It's been a few days!

She got a baby set with stroller, crib and high chair!

This is Libbi's 12 Dixon cousins! We have such a fun time together and because she is the baby, and well because she is Libbi, they all spoil her rotten! Especially the boys! They adore her!! There she is, front and center, right where she belongs :)

Her Mi-Mow jammies and her new baby. She couldn't be a happier girl on Christmas night!!

Merry Christmas to you! We hope you had a wonderful day, we sure did!!
Best wishes for the next new year!

Mi-Mow!

What a Christmas! SO fun! I have plenty to post but i just need to get this down for now. Libbi's new word is Mi-mow ('mow' pronouced like 'how' would sound).. She got Minnie Mouse jammies and a big stuffed Minnie doll, she LOVES mi-mow! And we love listening to her say mi-mow ALL day long :)

Merry Christmas Eve!

So i emailed Dr Menon last night asking about Libbi and her fever and such. I was just worried, she looked really blue :( He wanted me to take her to be seen so we ended up at the ER at Mckay, no where else was open. She checked out just fine! Her oxygen was even up a bit from Tues, it was about 77. They did a chest xray to check for pnemonia, but it was good! The Dr there said it was weird she spiked a fever so many days later, that is why he was worried about pnemonia. We came home and put her to bed and this morning she was just fine! No fever at all. Weird situation, but i don't care all i know is she is good and happy and feeling good for Christmas Eve today!!! :)

Questions..

Ok so just for my own record, Libbi test came back with actually FOUR different viruses..
2 of the pari influenza viruses (which are like croup)
Rhino virus which is a head cold..
Adnovirus, the nurse said it's similar to RSV but with a fever.. she has had no fever.

That was yesterday that i got that call. (From the kidscare. I had already talked to Dr Rose on Tues and got the results but i asked in more detail yesterday what each one was) Well yesterday she was better! Acting fine, looked good etc.

So all was well.. until this morning.. (Thurs) she is acting yucky again and even has a little fever. She looks really blue and not well. I got to thinking.. Is her lower oxygen making her susceptable to viruses? Is she immune deprived? Or is she just taking a long time to get over all of this? I can't decide if she's caught something new today, because she was so good yesterday, or if she's still fighting off the 4 viruses she tested for on Sunday? Any suggestions? It's Dec 23. Not sure what type of a Christmas this will turn out to be.. I really hope she gets better TODAY!!

Checkup and update

Today we went to see Dr. Menon for a fetal echo for baby, and for Libbi. Well with Libbi being sick, they canceled her sedated echo but we still met with Dr. Menon. As for baby boy, everything looked perfect! Perfect little heart :) Libbi's oxygen was only about 75, which made him a little nervous i think. He said when she gets better he wants to do her sedated echo as well as an MRI to look at her arteries. If they are too narrow, they might balloon them. I guess this is necessary to do, if they are too narrow, so they are in good shape for the Fontan. He also mentioned her hematocrit and wants to test that in January as well when we go back. Which would be her iron, she may be a bit low on iron.

Sooo.... not a bad visit, but not the visit i had dreamed of which would've included "she looks great, see you in 9 months!" I fear we are getting closer to surgery. At first we thought 2 or 3, then last appt it was more like 3 or 4 but after today with her oxygen being low i got the impression we're back to 2 or 3. He said it really isn't an age thing, more an oxygen and weight determination. He said they usually like to do it when their oxygen gets to be about 75, if they are big enough. Well she was 75, but still to small. When we go in January, if her oxygen is higher then we will be back to waiting a while i would guess. I think it may have just been low because she's sick.. which brings me to the next update.

When we got home from Primarys, Dr Rose called to let us know she does NOT have RSV! YAY! She does have 3 other viruses though, rhino, croup and another (?) He said all three are going around and she must've just caught them all! Nice! Stay away from us. She is on the mend though, she slept really good last night. We are giving her the albuteral in the nebulizer and i think that is helping. She is also on omnicef for ear infections. Hopefully by Christmas Eve she is better!!

Not sure of when her appt will be in January, they will call to schedule it. Stay tuned.. and MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Be grateful to be home with your families! I felt so bad for all those families down at PCMC that have to be there for the holidays :( We are so grateful and blessed!

Dr. Menon gave her a cute bear with a snow hat and slippers.. She loved it. And it helped their relationship a bit too, she is not too fond of ANY doctors!


The ekg, these little stickers HURT to take off! She was a tough cookie and didn't even cry!


But the blood pressure cuff, that's a different story. She HATED it!

Welcome Winter

..and so it begins. Libbi is sick :( She has been coughing for a few days. No fever, a tiny runny nose but she coughs like crazy, so hard that she throws up. And she won't eat. I took her to an instacare (Kids Care) and the Dr. said she had one really bad ear, and her throat looked bad. She took a sample from her nose to test for RSV. Lets all pray thats not it! I don't think it is cause she doesn't have a fever. Her O2 was 75, which is a bit low, but ok i think. She hasn't slept good for a few nights, poor thing is sooo tired but everytime she lays down she just coughs and coughs! We got her some Omnicef so hopefully it'll clear her up a bit and she can sleep tonight. She got her first round of synagis on the 8th, she'll get that every 4 weeks until April. I wasn't sure they'd approve her for it again, seeing as how it's almost $7000 a shot due to her weight, but they did! I was happy :) I just need to be extra careful with her, keeping her away from any and all sick people! It's sooo hard especially through the holidays, but it's not worth it to have her so miserable! ...and to think, i'll have a newborn to worry about in a couple months. Good thing i'm a pro! :)

Our Christmas Tree!!

I would be fooling myself if i said this is the first time a toddler has knocked over a Christmas tree! It came down about 4 times, then she learned not to touch :)

No more naps??

So i hear a THUD, i walk into Libbis's room, there she is standing on the floor, looks up at me and says "owie." Great, she has figured out how to get out of her crib!! Bye bye naptime!

Isn't it too soon to be done with naps? She is only 20 months! Help! I need my sanity, and that is when i try to regain it!

Makeup!!

For those of you who know me well know that i do not wear much makeup! I wear mascara and the occasional lip gloss. So i don't know what happened but my girls LOVE makeup! Jerzi is putting it on ALL the time! Glitter, mascara and anything else she can find. Well today i found Libbi like this..
..at first it scared me a bit. I wasn't sure what was wrong! Then i was mad, thinking she had gotten into the markers again. (which happens aLOT lately) When i realized it was mascara i couldn't help but laugh my butt off! She really tried, it was all over her face but nowhere else! She knew what she was trying to do :) And i learned to put my mascara away!

After reading the previous 'shoes' post and now this one, it looks like i've got quite the diva on my hands! Yikes!

SHOES!!!

I bought Libbi 4 new pairs of shoes today, at kid to kid, my fav :) She absolutely LOVED them! She tried them all on, walking by Jerzi to get approval with each pair. She then picked her favorite to wear, a pink pair of high top converse chucks, but carried the other 3 pair, so 6 shoes, around ALL night! THEN when i told her put them away, she lined them up in her room against the wall and says 'ni-night' O NO! What have i done!?! I'm afraid i've created a monster :)

11-6-10

19 1/2 months
O Libbi Lou Lou. What can i say?

She is our baby..for now.. she is spoiled rotten and knows it! If Libbi cries, you give her what she wants!

She has learned to SCREAM at us all day long. In her highchair, in her crib and mostly in her carseat!

She is so funny and SO smart! Smarter than we know i think!

She likes to give you the rock, kisses and waves bye bye.

She is not a napper! AH! She would not nap all day if i didn't make her. She's not the type to fall asleep in the car. Sometimes she'll play in her crib for up to 3 hours and never fall asleep!

She still has a bottle, but we've cut it back to 1 at nap and 1 at bedtime. If she wakes up in the night, she gets her bottle, but only with water. Dr. Rose gave me the ok to do that for a while, it's the milk that can hurt her teeth i guess.

She has started saying alot of words but still can't express what she wants most of the time, so she screams.
She says:
mama
dada
jerzi
ba ba
na night
bye bye
gramma
grampa
grammy
bibbi (libbi)
naughty (and points to herself!)
NO!
tay (OK)
and mostly anything you say, she can repeat.
However, shes having a real hard time saying KOY!

Jerzi has taught her how to cheer, but it's a mix of a football stance, and a cheer move. It's quite funny, and not very pretty :)

She has started to watch cartoons. I can turn the tv on in the morning and she'll sit and watch for a good minute or three.

She loves to sing 'little house in the middle of the woods' and loves the 'help me help me' part!

She is still in her crib, on the highest setting. She hasn't crawled out.. yet.

She isn't much of a eater. She will eat each meal with us, but only a few bites then she's done.

She dances around and loves to play with her big brother and sister.

We still think of her as our miracle. We live normal lives now, not thinking about her next surgery or her future. When appt time gets close, i am reminded. Reminded how lucky we are. She is a true blessing to our family.

..now if i can just remember that next time she is screaming at me :)

On that note, her next cardiologist appt is Dec 21, as well as my fetal echo, which should be great!

Football fanatic!

Our oldest boy, Koy, played flag football this year and Libbi was a trooper going to every single game, rain or shine! This was one of her favorite things to do, along with running on the field, eating Grandma's candy, playing with Aunt Jodi, fighting with Anna, screaming at Jerzi, running in the street, freezing, playing catch and stealing the end zone sticks!

Baby Boy!!

We went to our targeted ultrasound last week and it's officially a BOY!! I am 20 weeks today. Halfway there! Wow, time flies when you're having fun ;) The heart looked great! No bad news there!! We couldn't be happier with the news. I went and bought some boy football pajamas and had them laying out when Koy got home from school. He says "Yay!" Then in the next breath he says "Is his heart ok?" How sad yet cute is that?? We will keep you posted on any upcoming news with the baby but for now, no news is good news!!

Happy Glen!!

Today marks the one year anniversary of Libbi's surgery.
One year can change alot...

Fashions can change
Then...

Now...


Diets can change
Then...

Now...

Sleeping arrangements can change

Then...

Now...

Activities can change

Then...

Now...

Views can change

Then...

Now...

Prayers can change

Then...

Now...

Every trial we face will go away, just give it time.
I believe that patience is the biggest thing we need to learn in each trial.

18 months!

Somewhere between school, canning peaches and football i TOTALLY forgot to post a 'half-way to 2' Happy Birthday to Libbi yesterday! She is getting sooo big and SMART! Some things she does that we love:
*when you say 'stinky' she will plug her nose
*if we say 'time for family prayer' she will walk over to her spot on the couch and fold her arms
*if you say anything about diaper, poopy, changing or wet she will try to pull her pants off to get to her diaper
*She is miss sassy pants! She screams at anyone and everyone, that is when she's not being super shy. It's the worst when we are in the car, she is a yeller!!
*SHE LOVES BALLS! Footballs, soccer balls, bouncy balls, you name it, they're her favorite!
*She has a mouthful of teeth, all 4 front on top with 2 molars and 3 on bottom with 2 molars! 11 total teeth! Start feeding the girl some steak!
*She is not a very good eater. It may be because she still has a bottle :/ We'll work on that here soon :)
*Her crib is still in the top position, ya like where you put a newborn, but she doesn't climb out! I worry for that day...
*She went to nursery for the first time, not a bad thing, but not real great either. I think we will try again in the spring :)
*She has gradutated to 18-24 months, or 2T clothes. She had on these 12-18 months levis the other day and couldn't even walk! It was hilarious, she looked like a bull rider!

*She doesn't say much but she does say these few words.
-Ba-Ba=bottle, bye bye, blankie and plenty more that we are un-sure of.
-Mama
-Dada
-Ah-O (when she drops something)
-K-K-K (for stinky)
and then it's mostly AAAAHHHHHH or MOOOOOMMMMMM :)
(so let me know if she is on track or if she should be saying more??? I am going to ask the dr on the 6th, but just curious of your opinions)

She goes to her 18 month visit on Oct 6, i will post stats then!
(and if i get real ambitious, i will take some photos of her tonight and post them tomorrow!)

18 months is coming

Libbi is going to be 18 months next week, i can't believe it!! It's time i start weaning her from the bottle. I don't want to. It's going to be rough! She only has it at naptime and bedtime (ok and occasionally if we're going somewhere, i'll pack one and give it to her if she starts screaming at me in the car, which she does all to often!) I need advice! I need strength! Help me!

Quote

My sister in law left this quote in response to my previous post..
I have to admit at first i didn't realize it was a quote and i thought it was her words and i was thinking 'wow, she sounds like a profit' ha ha!
Thanks Jana :)

Many who think that life is unfair do not see things within the larger vision of what the Savior did for us through the Atonement and the Resurrection. Each of us has at times agony, heartbreak, and despair when we must, like Job, reach deep down inside to the bedrock of our own faith. The depth of our belief in the Resurrection and the Atonement of the Savior will, I believe, determine the measure of courage and purpose with which we meet life’s challenges." James E Faust

Baby news

Baby Dixon
Things are going well in this household. Crazy but well! We went to the Dr this week to see how the 'new baby' is doing and things are good! I am 11 weeks tomorrow and due on March 20. For those of you paying attention, Yup, that is Libbi's birthday! What are the odds :) We will find out the sex in October and have our targeted ultra sound in December. Same time as Libbi's was. We're hoping for a better December this time! Libbi's next cardiologist appt is also in December. The last few Decembers have brought bad news to our family. Not that i'm superstitious, but i wish we could skip to January! Life is a crazy whirlwind, we just have to hang on and enjoy the ride i suppose :)

Baby Jaxton
On a sad note i have to tell you about my dear friends. They were expecting a baby boy on Sept 11 and she went in on Tues of this last week and was told her baby had no heartbeat and was no longer alive. They induced labor and she delivered early Wednesday morning. They are holding his funeral tomorrow. Has anyone ever heard of this before? I am baffled. 37 weeks along, no prior known problems.. what the heck? I'm very confused. For my friend, the dad, this was his first child. Mom has 3 older kids from a previous marriage and had no problems like this before. I know there is a plan, and a reason for everything, but it's really bothering me not knowing what happened that far along. Any insight?
Also, why is life so unfair? I need an answer cause i just don't get it. There are so many people out there wanting to have babies that can't get pregnant, or when they finally do something tragic like this happens. Then there are others out there that treat there babies like garbage, they don't take care of them in the womb, they don't love them when they arrive, and yet these babies are always healthy and fine. Where's the justice? My faith is being tried.

The girl loves meat!

This picture is just too good! She is knawing on a rib bone, just like a puppy! Ha ha! She loves her meat!! We were all laughing at her when i took the pic, you can tell she's like "what?? why is everyone laughing? I'm just eating my rib bone!" What a cutie pie she is!!

Surprise!!!

Announcing baby #4!
Due spring 2011
We are onto yet ANOTHER new and exciting adventure! (Because the last year and a half wasn’t exciting enough??)
4 kids? Really? Are you serious? Why have 4 kids you say? Because 3 is for wimps…wait I AM a wimp?
Although MANY measures were being taken to avoid any further children, the Lord sees something different for our family so we will embrace it.
We are extremely nervous and scared.
Jerzi is SUPER excited and already calls the baby Strawberry Shortcake (here we go again)
Koy wants a puppy not a baby 
Libbi has no clue what’s about to happen to her. Neglect. Maybe Koy is smart enough to know??
Kurt is excited, in a smirky, ‘I got my way’ sort of way.
Mindi is… well… fill in the blank cause she’s not sure.
All kidding aside, here we go again.
We will hope for the best.
Thanks for your support, we love you all.
Kurt.. Mindi.. Koy.. Jerzi.. Libbi..and baby
(There is NOT any more room on our Christmas card!)

First Tantrum!

Libbi full on threw herself on the ground today in a full blown tantrum! It was hilarious! I don't even know what she was upset about but it was awesome! I can't wait for many many more of these, i'm sure a few in the grocery store and church, a few embarrassing moments, a few more funny times and a few that will make me very angry. I'll take them all!

Don't break my heart

There's a song, a pop song, that says 'please don't break break break break break my heart'... I'm working on finding who sings it, but anyway, it was on today and Jerzi says "Mom, this is Libbi's song huh?" She's so funny that she was even listening to the song, let alone thinking about Libbi. I had to journal that, i thought it was too cute. Then we were at Lagoon and there was a bear with a stitched heart on his belly and Koy and Jerzi both just HAD to win it for Libbi! Well, they did, and she loves it :) Sweet kids! update 7/19/10 i found out that Taio Cruz sings this song.

15 month lil update

I am growing so good and getting very big and sassy! The doctors think it's amazing how well i am doing, i am doing everything a 'normal' 15 month old should be doing. Walking, talking a little and being a kid!

Some other things i am doing...
Watching fireworks with my friends
Smashing my face in the trampoline net
Jumping on the trampoline

Walking and smiling! I have red hair i think?? What do you think??

And yes, i'm still drinking a bottle. I LOVE it though, and I get whatever i want, i am super spoiled :)

Not much else is going on, i am just enjoying my summer, swimming and playing with my brother and sister!!
Love you all!!

-Libbi

Slow Blogger!

Ok so i have like a million blog posts i need to do but my computer and/or blogger is sooooo slow at downloading the pictures! Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't know who reads this, but if you do and you have any idea how to upload faster PLEASE share! Until then....

June 1 2010 sedated echo

Today went very well, they sedated her around 8:30 and we were home by 11:30! She did very good, just a little sleepy now. They used the triple sedation method, she kept waking up and squirming so they would give her a little more at a time. She did well :)
Her echo looked good, he said to come back in 6 months again! YES! I love 6 month breaks :)

He said a few things that we were not aware of.
1: her fontan will now be between ages 3 and 4, not 2-3.
2: for a longer life span, to think about moving to sea level elevation post-fontan (NOOOOO!!)
3: post-fontan patients have a hard time having children, getting pregnant is hard for them due to the lower saturation.
This was all news to me! If you don't know me very well, I HATE TO TRAVEL! I have lived within a 5 mile radius my entire life, so has Kurt. The thought of moving makes me ill. He acted like this wouldn't need to be for a while, but maybe when she gets to college she could move. NO! I don't want her away from me, even if she is in college! It made me have quite the meltdown on the way home. I don't think i had realized this is a lifelong thing. I've been telling myself once she has her next surgery, life will be normal. But will it? Will she ever live a normal life? I asked Kurt on the way home "what if noone wants to marry her?" His reply "i'll marry her" then he quickly said .. "that was weird" Ha ha he was just trying to console me then realized that would be weird. One thing is for certain, whoever does marry her will be quite the guy! So that's one worry i can cross of my list!

I was secretly hoping for an earlier fontan. I think the younger she is, the easier it will be. I can't even imagine Jerzi (who is 4) having that surgery right now. She would go nuts. And so would i. Have any of your children had the fontan? What age? How was it? What's your opinon?

Dr. Menons final words today..
"you have to live for today and not worry about the past or the future, you and I could die tomorrow, you can't worry about that" Great advice that we have all heard and know, now it's just trying to live by it :)

Wrap-up! Today was a good day, things are looking good, she is doing great! And the way technology is going, these worries may be silly in 20 years. She may be just fine living in Ogden, Utah having children :)

June 1

It has arrived. Our next cardiologist appointment :( When they said back in December we didn't have to go back for 6 months i was soooo excited! It came WAY too fast. I can't remember if Libbi has ever had a sedated echo?? What does that mean exactly? I know what sedated means, just can't remember how long it takes to come out of it.. how long can i plan on being there?? Help me out, i am losing my brain and can't remember anything!

Quote for today

Taken from Miracle Mason's blog
"There are two ways to live your life - one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle ~ Albert Einstein"

This that and the other...

Cough is gone thanks to singular! Not sure what that means, other than cough is gone! So far so good this month of May! I'm hoping for no doctor visits until June 1 when we go see Dr. Menon. Libbi is a crazy gal these days, walking all over like she's big stuff and throwing little girl tantrums! WHAT?!? Where did that come from? O well, we love her anyways, she's a doll! I have lots of updating to do, heart picnic, Paul Cardall fireside and more. .but i'm too tired tonight :) Just thought i better check in :) O and for all my heart mom friends, go to http://www.blog2print.sharedbook.com and print your blog into a book!! BEST INVESTMENT EVER! And soooo easy to do! Seriously, i was reading my book tonight thinking how wonderful it was! If you need any help let me know but it's SUPER easy!

Quote

Lawrence E. Corbridge said, "Life is hard, but life is simple. Get on the path and never, ever give up. You never give up. You just keep on going. You don’t quit, and you will make it."

Church and cough!

We took Libbi with us to church for Mothers day! She was pretty good through RS and Sunday school but by the time sacrament rolled around, she was done! She was tired. She is in the "crawling all over the floor" stage, which makes me CRAZY but i don't know what else to do. For now i just hope and pray she doesn't get sick. On that note.. she has been coughing for over a month now, but just at night. It is so crazy. This week has gotten alot worse so i called both doctors. Dr. Menon (cardiologist) thinks it may be allergies while Dr. Rose (pediatrician) thinks it's reactive airway disease (i think that may be similiar to asthma) so we gave her singular the last 2 nights and propped her crib up on an angle and gave her a pillow to sleep on as well. Night one was AWFUL! She was up all night long but last night she was much better. I'm calling tomorrow to see what the next step is. She has NO fever NO runny nose NO nothing but a cough... just at night ?? Weird i tell ya. I'll keep you posted on any further findings. Her next cardiologist appt is June 1. We haven't been since December, i'm kind of nervous, but she seems just perfect to me :)

First steps!!

Libbi took her first steps today!! It just so happens to be my cousin, Sunnees, birthday! Sunnee and I are like sisters so for this to happen on her birthday is fun. I will always remember Libbi took her first steps on April 12. I gotta feeling she isn't going to take it slow either. Once she figured out she could do it she was doing it all day! Only about 2 or 3 steps at a time but she'd fall and get right back up! That is Libbi! She gets knocked down but gets up again!! I'll be honest, i'm a little afraid of what may come. Falling, bumps, bruises, etc etc. It'll be a fun summer with a lil toddler walkin around :)

I AM crafty :)

Ok so i have entered a contest to win a Lifetime table! All i had to do was be crafty, easy right? Wrong! I am not a crafty person but i did come up with this...

All you do is buy the letters at Joanns, they come in all shapes and sizes. They are just cardboard blocks. Then pick your favorite scrapbook paper, tear it to fit, and mod podge it on! Voila! Done! You can go to http://blog.lifetime.com/lifetime365 and vote for my craft so i can win a table! Woohoo! Who doesn't love to win?!?! Libbi's name is next!

No more shots!!

Libbi had her last dose of synagis yesterday! Woo hoo!! Poor thing, we just walk into the room and she starts crying :( My kids hate it. They were chanting yesterday "we hate this place" Yes i stopped them. I told them it's a wonderful place, that they help Libbi there. She has an appt June 4 at PC for her echo and appt with Dr Menon then June 21 for her 15 months!! Are you serious!?!? NO doctors for 2 months!?! What a relief! Now the hard part... keeping her healthy! As of yesterday she has a little teenie tiny eensie beensie cough. (i think if i downplay it it'll go away) She's ok in the daytime but the last 2 nights have been rough on her. Cough cough go away DON'T come back another day! (That's our chant for today, yes they learned to chant from me, we do it all the time!) On a side note, i think she's teething which may be the cause of her runny nose.. O i didn't mention she has a runny nose as well. Oops. :)

Miracle's this Easter!

Our little buddy Mason has received a new heart this Easter! What an amazing journey this family has been through! Their sweet family is all together this weekend, which hasn't been the case in 6 weeks! The chance of the family showing up just 1 day before receiving this wonderful news is a true blessing, and i'm SURE not just a coincedence. For more on Mason click on his picture. But for now, pray for his recovery, pray for the poor family that has lost a child this Easter, and pray for your own family, giving gratitude for them. We are so blessed :)

What it's like...

I have read this poem a few times on others blogs and i realized i have never posted it. It really hit me tonight. I think i get in routine of 'normal' life and routine and i start to take Libbi for granted. It's things like this poem that make me slow down and remember how very special she is. She is such a blessing to us, we are so lucky to have her and to have it as easy as we do. I took her to labs again today, Dr. Rose asked me last Monday to take her to get her blood done again, just to be sure everything was looking good and i put it off until today. I am horrible. I like normalcy! She looks so good all the time that it's hard for me to remember she has a bad heart. Maybe i live in denial a little bit? O well, wherever i live, i like it here :)
I changed the poem to say 'she', it normally says 'he'
Thank you to the author, it is a beautiful poem and sums it up perfectly!


What it's like to have a child with CHD
It’s Lasix, aspirin, Captopril...
It’s wondering…Lord what’s your will?…
It’s monitors and oxygen tanks…
It’s a constant reminder…to always give thanks…
It’s feeding tubes(none for Libbi!), calories, needed weight gain…
It’s the drama of eating…and yes it’s insane!
It’s the first time I held her…I’d waited so long...
It’s knowing that I need…to help her grow strong…
It’s making a hospital…home for awhile…
It’s seeing my reward…in every smile.
It’s checking her sats…as the feeding pump’s beeping(again, thankfully none)…
It’s knowing that there… is just no time for sleeping…
It’s caths, x-rays and boo boos to kiss…
It’s normalcy…I sometimes miss…
It’s asking…do her nails look blue?
It’s cringing inside… at what she’s been through.
It’s dozens of call to her pediatrician…
They know me by name…I’m a mom on a mission
It’s winters home bound…and hand sanitizer…
It’s knowing this journey…has made me MUCH wiser.
It’s watching her sleeping…her breathing is steady…
It’s surgery day…and I’ll never be ready.
It’s handing her over…I’m still not prepared…
It’s knowing that her heart… must be repaired…
It’s waiting for news…on that long stressful day…
It’s praying…it’s hoping…that she’ll be okay.
It’s the wonderful friends… with whom I’ve connected…
It’s the bond that we share…it was so unexpected…
It’s that long faded scar… down my child’s small chest…
It’s touching it gently…and knowing we’re SO blessed…
It’s watching her chasing…a small butterfly…
It’s the moment I realized…I’ve stopped asking…why?
It’s the snowflakes that fall…on a cold winter’s day…
They remind me of those…who aren’t with us today...
It’s a brave little girl…it's watching her playin…
Or a special heart bear…or a frog in the rain….
It’s the need to remember…we’re all in this plight….
It’s their lives that remind us… we still need to fight!
It’s in pushing ahead amidst every sorrow…
It is finding the strength to have hope for tomorrow.
-Author Unknown

Lib's 1st Birthday!!!

What a great day! Libbi had such a fun time being spoiled rotten! She had plenty of help from her sister opening presents!

She got this cute stroller from Grandma and Grandpa Head.

Man she sure thinks she's big stuff with this thing!

I think she is too :)

Read on for plenty of birthday fun! It wouldn't fit in just 1 post, or even 2!!!

The cake!

I was really happy with what we ended up with for a cake! When i first went to get it, i was not. I had ordered a butterfly, hoping it would be 3d like this one, and it wasn't. So i just asked if i could buy this instead! I loved it.

These poor kids, i made them all stay outside in the freezing cold. They had plenty to play with and tons to do so they seemed fine, i just felt bad. I wanted a party, but wasn't willing to risk Libbi getting sick again! This is where they sat to sing happy birthday and watch her eat her cake. She sat in her highchair in the doorway :)

Look at her face, she's not so sure she likes the attention!

MMMMM!!!! She liked it for a moment, but then the frosting on her hands was really bugging her, she started crying, and that is NOT allowed on her birthday. I had a back up just in case.....

....her HUGE donut!!! Libbi's LOVES glazed donuts so when i saw this it was a must! And she did love it more than her cake!! (and so did my brother!)

All in all it was a great party! Thanks everyone for being understanding and helping me keep the kiddos outside!