Being Heart Healthy

Last week Vada had a scheduled cardiologist appointment. Everything checked out well. She still has her small VSD and the leaking valve but is showing no signs and is having no symptoms of struggling from her heart conditions in any way. In fact, her cardiologist, Dr. Bramlett said she is "Amazing!" and he went on to say how impressed he is with her constant growth and successes. His amazement isnt because of her having Down syndrome, he has a lot of patients with Ds, he is amazed because of the obstacles that she has overcome and yet she is thriving and strong and she is constantly reaching her goals and moving on to meet new ones!

 I like this doctor a lot. He's very nice and he is so great to Vada but there is a time shortly after Vada's heart surgery where he kind of put me in my place and set me straight with God again and he has no clue about it...

It was during a check up, maybe a month or two after her heart surgery. Dr. Bramlett mentioned that Vada still had the VSD and the leaky Valve in her heart. I was floored, angry and shocked. I didn't understand why the actual heart surgeon hadn't filled me in on this huge piece of information directly after the surgery and I why I was just finding out about it all at that moment, weeks after the actual surgery. Most of all, out of all that I was feeling, I was terrified for my little girl and out of that fear I spit out a question asking why the surgeon hadn't "fixed" her heart when he was "in there" in there first place. Dr. Bramlett turned to me, looked me in the eyes and calmly stated that the surgeon wasn't God and wasn't capable of "fixing" everything or everyone. His statement stung but he was right and I knew it. Dr. Bramlett's reply has stuck with in many situations. I think a lot of patients or parents of patients may have been angered by his matter-of-fact reply but it was just what I needed. 

Yes, God creates all things perfectly in His image. Sometimes however, we want to "fix" or help when something isn't quite as right as we would like them to be, like for us with Vada's heart condition or when she was suffering with seizures. However, ultimately, it's still all out of my control as well as the doctors. Ultimately, God is the best medical Specialist available and He is the chief of surgery. He'll make the final call and I have faith in Him and in Vada, they are both so strong, stronger than I will ever know. 

Now, that I have rambled on and your all probably wondering what the heck I am trying to say... All is well. Really. Vada's check up went well. She is doing great and while she still has heart conditions that are of concern, they are not changing or getting worse or causing her any problems, so we are as happy with this check up as we possibly could be, (short of being told her heart had miraculously healed).

P.S. Check out how much Vada has grown since September of 2011!

Special Deliveries and Prayers for Friends

Today Vada and I received a very special package in the mail. It came from our friend Annie at The House That Jade Built. Annie sent Vada a homemade personalized heart warrior blanket. I'll admit... I love, love, love receiving packages in the mail! Especially, when they end up being this cool. Thanks Annie for thinking of us!

Annie and I met cyberly (Is that a word?) several months back, when she was pregnant. We have yet to meet in person but its in the works for once our girls have fully recovered.

Since Ollie's birth Annie has become a stay at home mom to her three children. On top of taking care of her kiddo's Annie also has an Etsy business that she runs from her home. You can check Annie's Etsy store out here, when it's up and running again. Right now, as she awaits Ollie's heart surgery, she has decided to take a short break.

I'm not writing this to sell Annie's items, but she did send some of her products to us. Plus, she opened up her Etsy store to help make a little extra money so that being a stay at home mom would be an easier thing to do. Sometimes choosing to be a stay at home mom means giving up a lot, but in my opinion, it's all worth it and there is no better job out there than taking care of your children. With that in mind I feel as another stay at home mom that I have to tell you about the cool stuff that Annie makes and sells.

Along with the personalized heart blanket Annie sent this beautiful stamped necklace. I hadn't realized that it was in the bag when I opened it. I was so excited to receive the blanket and Ollie's prayer card that I didn't check for anything else. I was getting ready to recycle the bag when I happened to see the tiny box that the necklace was in. What a sweet surprise!

The necklace says "precious in His sight". I thought it was only appropriate to put it on Vada... and then take it right off, because she is only fourteen months and it went straight to her mouth! Duh, Mom! Its beautiful and I plan on wearing it until V gets a little older, then i'll give it to her. This necklace, along with the blanket are two examples of what Annie makes and sells in her Etsy store. Again, when she reopens it, you'll have to check it out! Thanks again Annie for thinking of Vada when you made this fantastic blanket and thank you for the necklace... it is precious!

Now that Vada and I have shown off the cool stuff that Annie sent to us Vada wants to show you her friend Ollie (See how she points to that pretty little girl in the picture?). Ollie was born with a similar heart condition that Vada had, only Ollie's condition will need to be corrected much sooner in her little life then Vada's needed to be.

Having gone through this surgery and knowing how many people prayed for her. Vada wants to ask that each one of you who read this to say a pray for Ollie. You don't have to know Ollie to pray for her or to pray for her family. The power of prayer is amazing and God loves when we talk to Him!

Ollie's heart surgery is scheduled for June 9th, 2011.

I prayed for the same thing with Vada that I now pray for Ollie and her family. I pray that the nurses and doctors have a realization that Ollie is not a number. Ollie is a child, a grand child, a sister and a friend. She has worth and value that is unmeasurable and she has a family who loves her dearly. I Pray for her family to have a calmness wash over then in their time of wait. I pray that they all will be strong in their faith and in the knowledge that God is with them, always. Finally, I Pray for a quick recovery and that Ollie's repaired heart helps her blossom into the strong little girl that she has already proven herself to be, but after the surgery, that she has nothing holding her back.