A Little Q & A

Once again it's been forever since I have updated! What can I say anymore....I'm simply a busy person :)

I thought I would answer some questions that I get asked frequently....

1. How is Kindergarten going for Macy?
Macy loves Kindergarten!!! She is excited to go everyday, and comes home with a smile. She hasn't had to move her penguin tag (for behavior) yet, and she is very proud of that! She is reading some decodable books on her own, and is learning things so quickly :)

2. Is McKenna talking a lot now?
McKenna is talking up a storm. She is able to imitate ANY word we say, and is making request and communicating mostly with 2-3 word phrases. She has such a cute personality!

3. Are you still working/going to school...what are you doing now?
I work 2 days a week as a developmental therapist for our state's early intervention program. Basically I work with children who have delays (mainly cognitive and speech). I love my job! AND I am also working on getting my master's degree in early childhood studies. It all keeps me very busy!

4. What does your husband do?
My handsome husband is a civil engineer for our state. He is currently working on preserving our state's road network. Lots of meetings, lots of computer work, lots of phone calls, lots of math, and lots of getting out on the roads around the state.

5. Are you having any more children?
Hmmmmmm.......right now, NO. Later...not sure. If it was up to Macy, we would have added another one to our family already, lol.

6. How is Macy doing healthwise?
Macy is doing great! We see metabolism/genetics in October. We will have some lab work done then to see how all her numbers are looking, mainly liver enzymes and ammonia levels. I am, like always, worried about her weight. Her doctors aren't. She is growing in height and weight, and she has her own line going on her growth chart. It's just hard when I see her compared to others her age. We will see Cardio in April 2012. We know she will have another heart surgery, we just hope it's not for a while. Macy's asthma is under control most of the time. She continues to go through spells when she is breathing heavier and a little raspy, but I think it has a lot to do with the weather and allergies.

If you think of any more questions I can answer about my family, just post them in the comments :)

Have a great week! I hope you are leaving today feeling a little more caught up on what's happening in our lives! Thanks for continuing to check in on us!!!

Heart Hugs

For those of you new to my blog...WELCOME!!! For those of you have have been following Macy's journey..Thanks you for your continued support!

I can across a great blog event today, and I decided to join in. This event was created for heart families to come together to support eachother, spread awareness of congenital heart defects, and learn from eachother. You can visit the blog link here!

I decided the best way for me to share Macy's story would be to show you the video I created back in 2007.

I quick synopsis: My pregnancy was very normal. I had two ultrasounds at 19 weeks and 28 weeks, everything appeared normal. At 31 weeks, things really took a drastic turn. I started swelling, and ended up on bed rest at the hospital. Macy was born at 34 weeks. She weighed only 3 lbs, 11 oz. and was 15 1/4 inches long. The very next day, my hospital room was flooded with nurses, doctors, and pamphlets. They were all explaining that our beautiful baby girl had a heard defect.

Macy was born on January 28, 2006, and was diagnosed on January 29th with Tetrology of Fallot. In August 2006, Macy recieved a BT shunt as a temporary repair, and had her full repair in September 2007. Macy's battles didn't stop with a heart defect diagnosis though. Macy has been diagnosed with subglottic stenosis and tracheal malasia (both airway defects), Abernethy Malformation (an extremely rare liver malformation), ketotic hypoglycemia (blood sugar issues), asthma, and an unknown muscle disease. Macy has been under general anesthesia 19 times, and will face more surgeries in the future.

My little miracle is now 5 1/2 years old, and just started Kindergarten last week. She is an amazing little girl, with an amazing story! We are so proud at how much Macy has accomplished, and look forward to all the amazing things she will do in the future!!!!

Here is her video: Click HERE!

What's New.....A Whole Lot!!!

The girls are growing and changing right before my eyes! This week has been quite the week!


Macy

• started Kindergarten on Wednesday!!

• lost her 2nd tooth while we were at the lake this weekend




• is trying to learn how to ride her bike with no training wheels



• she took her first shower by herself last week...I, of course, coached her from the other side of the curtain

McKenna

• is getting even more and more independent, and is starting to love pretend play.

• is exploring things in her room...when she should be sleeping. We put her down in her bed tonight, but this is how we found her an hour later.
  
  





• is using lots of 2-3 word phrases when she talks now. She says things like, "Where is my daddy?", "Macy is bad", "Come here Tucker". Also, when you ask her, "What's your name?" She says, "Na" (Mc-Ken-NA)

What is all of this doing to this mommy? Making her an emotional mess! I sobbed on Macy first day of school as I watched her walk into the school building. Thankfully, Jeremy was with me to wipe away my tears.

How is Macy adapting to full day Kindergarten? She is doing amazing, although I think I have a little tattletale on my hands. I know everything that happens during each school day.

• On the first day they didn't get to go out for recess because some kids weren't following directions, "but I was Mommy, and I still didn't get to go."


• On her second day, a boy puked at recess.


• A girl had to move her penguin for not following directions. She was crying on the bathroom so Macy rubbed her back and told her it would be okay.


• A girl told Macy that her medical bracelet was ugly, so Macy responded with, "That's not nice!"


• They read a book about counting and played a dice game.


• They had to introduce themselves, "My name is Macy." And she made Jeremy and me practice too.


• A little boy tried to run out of the classroom over and over, so the principal had to come down and keep bringing him back. Macy said she thinks it is because he missed his Mommy.


• Then tonight she told me that she really hoped I didn't cry when she went back to Kindergarten tomorrow because it's really fun there.

They grow up WAY TOO FAST!!!