An Emma Funny

Yesterday morning I am doing Emma's hair for school. She said, "I can't wait to get a wedding ring in a beautiful box," Cinderella-like as always, "you know when your husband gets on one knee with that pretty box that has a ring in it, I can't wait for that box." I asked her if she wanted the big beautiful diamond ring or the pretty box it comes in. She said, "the box," and blinked a few times after that. I was amazed that her little mind thinks like that, that the box is so neat to her. I showed her my pretty box and I could tell she REALLY wanted it. Of course if I gave it to her, it would go straight up to the playroom with all of the other gillions of treasure boxes, so I told her she had to wait for that special man to grant her that wish. I have a feeling that on that day she won't be so worried about that pretty little box anymore, more like what's inside!!!

Washington DC

On the 6th of March, Todd, Emma and I traveled to Washington DC, Hershey PA, and Baltimore MD. We went to Arlington Cemetery (my favorite cause it was the one place I hadn't been), Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, the White House (Emma's fave), Museums of Natural History and Aerospace, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. After 2 days of sightseeing in DC, we went back to Owings Mills where we used to live. It was so weird because nothing had changed. Then we drove to Hershey PA for a tour of Chocolate World, we stayed in Hershey a couple of days as well. Finally we ended up at the Aquarium at the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, then back to Dallas! It was a great time for us to have some one on one with Emma, something that hasn't happened since Jameson came along, and revisit our old stomping grounds.

Emma by submarine at Inner Harbor of Baltimore. This will only let me upload 1 pic at a time, so my apologies that I don't have the patience to upload more!!!

Pray for these Families

Just wanted to let everyone know about these two families that are in desperate need of prayer.

The May family received news Monday that there is nothing further the doctors, nurses, etc, can do to keep Caleb alive. He is living on machines and medicines, he is in kidney failure, and has extensive brain damage. Ironically, his heart is doing well after having the Norwood procedure. I am uncertain of what has been done this far, but I know that his parents will be or already have made a decision unimaginable to all of us. It would be so kind of you to leave an encouraging word on his site. www.caringbridge.org/visit/calebmay

Also, I am in shock because I just read Baby Maverick's blog and he died yesterday (Tuesday) morning. If you go to http://babymaverick.blogspot.com/ you can read about him and maybe leave an encouraging word for his family.

I realize this is so much to handle, but please pray for these families. Now that our family is a part of the CHD Community, it's not just about Jameson, but so many other little lives too. There are so many blessings involved and so many tears, I just never realized it would be this many tears.

HLHS Story (An Answered Prayer)

I don't know if any of the heart moms out there can relate to this, but while CHD Awareness week is such a great cause, it has really caused an emotional strain on me this week. I try really hard not to think too much about Jameson's heart condition, but with all of this blogging and reading, I have done just the opposite...I have pined over it! Yesterday, I stood in a hot shower and cried, praying to God that He would free me from the fear of the future. Now I am crying (shocker) tears of relief, because I received an encouraging e-mail from a fellow support group member. She has contact with an HLHS dad, here's what he wrote her:

"Hi Kellie, Yes, my son was born with a heart defect. He has Hypoplastic Left Heart. He’ll turn 19 this May, and is in his second semester at University of Arizona. He’s studying Pre-Med. If you looked at him he looks totally normal. He visits his cardiologist yearly which creates a little problem. He still sees his Ped Cardiologist. The normal adult Cardiologist is not familiar with his condition. He’s had 5 surgeries. The last one was when he was 5 years old. He’s a straight A student, and on a full academic scholarship to UoA. He was not allowed to play competitive sport, so he was very active in Boy Scouts. He earned his Eagle, and loves to backpack. He’s even been down in the Grand Canyon a couple of times which blows his doctors minds. It sounds like your son is doing very well.

If you ever run into anyone with our sons conditions don’t hesitate to give them my contact information. It’s really scary, and we would have loved to have had someone to talk with back then."

Wow! HUH? What a Mighty God we serve, when He listens someone like me and answers my PRAYERS!!!! and promises me in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has plans for Jameson, to give him hope and a future!!!

Have a Blessed DAY!!!

7 Websites about CHD

Here are 7 great websites to visit:

Vote Here: www.colgate.com/ShowTheLove

About HLHS: http://hlhsinfo.homestead.com/
http://www.childrens.com/HealthLibrary/HealthLibContent.cfm?pageid=P01798 This is has a great picture of the heart.

Other sites:tchin.org
http://www.savinglittlehearts.com/
http://learnaboutchd.blogspot.com/ Love this one!
http://heartnhands.org/ Our support group

7 Pictures of Progress

Today I am showing 7 pictures of progress. My family and close friends have seen these pictures of Jameson. I feel that for someone to see how far he has really come, they should see where he started. They are very hard to look at, but are a reminder of what God has done for us, and how His grace has gotten our entire family through the past 18 months.

1 day old before 1st surgery

6 days old after 1st surgery

In between 1st and 2nd surgery

After 2nd surgery

After tummy surgery

J's First Birthday, the year before, we weren't sure we'd get to celebrate it!

A few days ago, all giggles.

7 Ways YOU Can Help

It is such a blessing to feel like you are contributing to benefit another. Today's subject is 7 ways you can help...pick one and see how great it will make you feel. The first one doesn't really count though cause it's too easy!

1. Go to www.colgate.com/ShowTheLove and go to Dallas, and vote for Medical City, for a Children's fun center. You can do this once a day from you computer. Also, if you want to help, leave me a comment on this post if you know how to put in a word in instead of the whole address...I see a lot of people doing this and I am feeling very inadequate in my blogging skills.



2. Donate Blood--I remember asking the nurse if she thought Jameson had any of his "original" blood that he was born with, and she said, "Probably not." Those donors, among others, gave J life.



3. Volunteer--I'm not really sure what hoops you have to jump through to volunteer, but I remember a sweet lady came in while we were on the pediatric floor (this floor, YOU are responsible around the clock) and sat with J while he was napping, so I could go sit and have some lunch outside of the room. It was very nice.



4. Donate Money--Crsti is dedicated to research for CHD. If you would rather donate your money to something YOU choose, instead of it all going to Uncle Sam, http://www.crsti.org/ is a place to visit, and I assure you your money will not be going to pay an executive's salary.



5. Keep 'Em In--I'm guilty of giving Emma a dose of Tylenol to mask a fever, so I wouldn't miss a millionth day of work, or so I wouldn't feel guilty about missing church, or so I could get a workout in. Now I realize that was a major no no. I was putting other kids at risk, and I didn't even know their medical background. Keep this in mind, there are other kids with special needs who don't handle sickness well at all. And although their parents shelter them during the rsv/flu season, they DO like to get out during the other seasons!



6. Encourage--It is so easy to send someone an e-mail to see how he/she is doing. Whatever method of communication you choose, this can make someone's day so much brighter.


7. Pray, pray, pray--There are so many little hearts out there for you to pray for. Here are a few for you to start with, who need our urgent prayers.

Caleb May has HLHS like Jameson. He is very sick after his first surgery. Visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calebmay. Pray for healing.

Baby Maverick is still very sick. Visit http://babymaverick.blogspot.com/. Pray for healing.

Baby Chase is doing very well, but has a sedated echo and check-up today. Visit http://ourfamily-henley.blogspot.com/. Pray for a great visit.

I'll end with a picture of my little miracle!