2 Years Old!

"It's My Birthday"

This big girl turned two last week! I can't believe how fast she is growing up! I've got all sorts of cute pictures to show off, but I'm going to save the good stuff for the end and take care of the more serious business first.

We had another heart check-up complete with echo and EKG, and Ramona is officially NOT a fan. The older she gets, the more nervous she is about the doctor's office, especially the echos. She's been nervous about the echo the last two times we've had them, but this time she completely flipped out. We're talking HYSTERICAL screaming and crying while trying to leap off of my lap. This girl is a typical 2 year old, so she's got tantrums down to a science, but I've never seen her like this before. We finally got her semi-calmed down when we dug an old paci out of the diaper bag (she usually only gets one at bedtime), and after a few more tears she calmed down enough to do some snap chats and then settled in to play with her PJ Masks while the technician finished the echo. *phew*

We're late to the land of the Snap-Chats,
but this girl loves a funny face!

Her heart anatomy and function are pretty similar to what they have been so far, which we consider to be good news. We're thankful that we haven't lost any ground and that her heart is still hanging in there. She is also still happy, active, and growing like a weed, which are positive notes, as well. She still has her loop recorder implant, and it has been clear again this month with no irregular transmissions. As long as she continues to do this well, we'll keep going back every 2-3 months for an echo and check-up to keep an eye out for any changes. And, of course, we're always keeping a close eye on her for any behavior/habits/patterns that are outside the norm. Our next echo is scheduled for mid-February, and we've been given the "okay" to do some traveling during Christmas break, so we're all pretty excited about that!

Playing while we waited to see the doctor after her echo.
She's also rocking her new medical alert bracelet.

Birthday bear! Aaaand everything else
she can carry. 😂

Ramona ended her appointment on a much better note than she started it. But, who wouldn't be cheered up by crackers, stickers, and a birthday bear? Another thing that helped is that Daisy is such a sweet girl and a good helper at our appointments. Besides helping get toys and stuff for Ramona, she also stands on the scale and gets measured first so that Ramona won't be scared to do those things. And plays hide and seek with her while we're waiting in the exam room. And offers to hold her hand. 💖

That's basically it for our current status, but I also want to clear up a little confusion about about her hospital stay in Chicago earlier this year. We've had several people comment that they are glad she is all better, and it's been a common misconception that the cardiac cath and ablation that were done in Chicago fixed her heart. While we're thrilled with how well she is doing right now, she still has a very, very thick heart. The ablation was done to potentially help decrease her chance of cardiac arrest from a "short circut" in her heart, but it was not something that would change or improve the anatomy of her heart. It is true that she hasn't had any more fainting spells since we came home from Chicago, but we think those were caused by an issue with her beta blocker, which was resolved when she stopped taking that medication. None of these things have fixed (or can fix) her heart, but maybe they will serve to extend and improve her life. There is no cure for the disease that she has, but, for now, she is thriving anyway.

Every time we have an appointment, it's a relief to know that things haven't gotten worse, but it's also sobering to think about that gravity of what's inside that tiny little body. It's hard not to be fearful of the future, but we also can't forget that God has been so good to her all of her life.

Thank you for your diligent prayers for Ramona and our family. I know it can become wearisome to pray the same prayer day in and day out, and we deeply appreciate the commitment you have to lifting her up.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
- For her heart to be healed
- For her to continue to grow and thrive
- For us to know how to help and comfort her when she's scared
- For a safe Christmas season
- Thanks that she is so happy, active, and silly

Droppin' that change in the RMHC box.
You should do it, too!

COULD THEY BE MORE PRECIOUS?!

Baby caterpillar

Baby frogs

Petting butterflies! Or so we thought. It turns
out Ramona was petting bumblebees. Like,
actually petting them. 😳

She loves babies!

First time trying s'mores! Ramona couldn't get past the
stickiness and gave hers to daddy, but sister loved it!

Finger painting!

😍

They always love a visit from Grandma Cupcake!

We spent the night at a hotel just for fun a
few weeks ago. These girls love the water.

Taking our lunch orders and writing them
in their little notebooks. You always
have to order fries. 😂

Cousins!

Halloween: Owlette and Anna!

Birthday girl!

She loves to be silly and make people laugh.

We celebrated our 5th anniversary!

YOLO. (Do people still say that?)

 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. 

He has also set eternity in the human heart;

yet no one can fathom what God has done 

from beginning to end.

Ephesians 3:11

Summer

It's been a while since the last update, and you won't believe how much this girl has grown! We had our scheduled visit with the cardiologist last Friday, and she is really happy with how well Ramona is doing. We started our visit with an echo, which Ramona got nervous about again. I held her on my lap like last time, Daisy scooched in beside us to watch cartoons, and then we breezed right through it that way. Daisy was VERY interested in the echo this time. She kept switching between watching TV and watching the technician very closely. And by "very closely," I mean her face was like two inches from his hand. 😂

In the waiting room. Future piano player?

After that, we headed down the hall to see the cardiologist. Ramona got to stand on the big kid scale to get weighed instead of lying on the baby scale, which was very exciting for her, and then they had a goldfish cracker snack while we waited to see the doctor. (Between the crackers and stickers, I think we might be getting spoiled! Daisy gets awfully excited when I tell her we're taking Ramona to the doctor now. 😊 We really appreciate how they can add bright spots to otherwise serious business!) We were happy to hear that everything is still stable with her heart and that there hasn't been any unusual activity on her loop recorder (YAY). That gnarly little heart is still doing its job! She continues to have a very low heart rate for her age (in the upper 60s, which would be normal for an adult), but, to quote her doctor, "It's working for her!" The doctor was not only happy with Ramona's heart staying stable, but also with her overall growth and development.

Sharing some cracker snacks.

😍

Reflecting.

She has the boots from her sister's Anna doll
on her fingers, and she was cracking herself up!

Ramona really has grown this summer! In addition to getting physically bigger, her coordination, vocabulary, imagination, and independence have all developed so much, too. (Side story - one of her favorite things to do is unload the dishwasher, and she puts all of the plastic dishes away by herself now!) When we were done with the appointment, we collected our stickers, had lunch and played at Chick-fil-a, and headed home. We go back for another echo and check-up (plus an EKG next time, too) the week after Thanksgiving. (As long as nothing happens in the meantime, of course.)

We've had a quiet summer as far as Ramona's heart is concerned, which is the best thing we could have hoped for. We've also had a very busy summer! I've adopted a bit of a "what-if-we-never-get-another-chance-to-do-this-with-her" mentality, so...we've been doing a lot of things. 😬 And, I've gotta say, even with all of the uncertainty and worry in our lives, this summer has still been one of the best times of my life. These girls bring the magic.

As always, we're basically just waiting for things to change. Which can be pretty tiring sometimes. We appreciate you and can't thank you enough for continuing to pray over and care for our precious girl, our family, and that fierce little heart.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
- So. Much. Thanks. For a smooth summer, a thriving girl, and a beating heart.
- That her heart continues to function well
- For her heart to be healed
- For less worry and more sleep

Want to know what we've been up to the last couple of months? Yes? Good. Because you KNOW Momma's got pictures. 😁

Sunday morning matchers.

Great grandparents and all of the cousins. 

We spent a few days in Michigan with my family. It took
Ramona about 4 days to get used to the sand.

Pouting with Papa. She's even cute when she's cranky. 😍

Hide and seek. 😂

Painting! Besides the fun we've had out and
about, we've also had good
times staying home.

Oh, and sister turned 3. WHAT.

Birthday unicorndog.

Helping with VBS. (They didn't ask her
to help, she just assumed she was needed.)

😍

Pony rides at the ice cream social!

 

We did have a run-in with hand-foot-mouth a
few weeks ago. Luckily it wasn't too serious.

Backyard fun! 

She likes to pretend to be my mom and take
care of me.

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16