Happy New Year! And I guess happy Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a couple of birthdays, because we've had ALL of those since we last checked in. 🎃🦃🎄🎂😊 They say no news is good news, and we're entirely grateful that 2019 had so little news for this girl.
We ended 2019 with one last heart check-up on December 30, and we were thrilled/relieved/grateful to hear that everything is still stable. She looks (and acts) like a million bucks on the outside, but I always breathe a sigh of relief (and need a nap of relief 😂) after being reassured that her extra-special heart is still doing it's job so well on the inside.
We practiced ahead of time for her appointment by "playing" through all the steps and looking at pictures from previous visits, both of which usually help with her nerves on check-up day.
Using a flashlight to "take a picture of you heart" (a.k.a. give me an echo) at home the night before. She wears her stethoscope around her neck now. |
Once we were at the doctor's office, she was a little nervous and very serious during her echo, but that's because she knew the dreaded "squeezy" (a.k.a. blood pressure cuff) would be next. She did great for the echo, but the squeezy was a disaster, as usual. 😢
Got half a smile from a snap chat filter during the echo. |
Once the squeezy was done (phew), it was smooth sailing through the rest of the visit. :) She describes the EKG as "they put on stickers, put on cwips (clips), and I hold berry berry still, like this" followed by her holding very still, indeed. 😂 She also got weighed and measured, saw the doctor, and very nearly talked the doctor's ear off.
Still teary-eyed from the squeezy, but feeling much better. And holding very still. |
We played a toy-hiding game while we waited to see the doctor. She closed her eyes while I hid her toys so she could find them. |
Post-appointment treat. She promptly fell asleep and I had to peel it off her clothes. |
Sewing a lizard head. It's still a work in progress, but it's been fun. |
We'll have her first check-up of 2020 in 3 months (late March). It's amazing to look back on 2019 and see how normal of a year it was. An entire year of memories that don't include a single hospital stay or any big scares. What a blessing.💓 She did have a run in with some kind of cold/virus/something this fall, with a cough that lingered for many weeks, but it's finally gone and she easily able to stay home during all of it. I think I can count on one hand the number of times shes been sick in her entire life (not counting heart stuff), which is amazing in itself.
Thank you so much for praying for our precious girl! We would so appreciate you continuing to lift her up as we enter the new year.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- For her heart to be healed
- For her to stay healthy through the rest of winter
- Thanks for her great year and happy spirit
And here are a few highlights since our last update:
Silly girls helping grandpa in the yard. Both always eager to help. |
SO EXCITED for the first snow! |
"Unicorn Greatest Showman," Elsa, and cousin baby bumblebee trick-or-treating. |
Making a snowcat with their aunts. |
"Come over here. Lets snuggle up." |
Did I mention someone had a birthday? After months of waiting, she was so happy and excited all day. She kept asking, "Is it still my birthday?" all day. |
3 years old!!! |
Both of her grandmas from Florida were here for her birthday. |
My birthday is right after Ramona's, and my mom brought them surprise me at work. What a treat! |
From the photo booth at our family traveling Christmas party. |
All of my sisters and some of our kids! |
Christmas morning! Much anticipated, thoroughly magical, more than I could have hoped for. 💓 |
Ramona taking the cousin "babies" on a balmy Christmas day walk, and trying so hard to get them to look at the camera and smile. |
Beautiful Christmas sunrise. "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices." |
Celebrating New Year's Eve with pre-dinner ice cream. |
I think I shared this verse recently, but here it is again. Praying that your year will be filled with the joy, peace, and hope found only in Jesus!
May the God of hope fill you with all
joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13