Prayer request

Please pray for one of the Heart Babies I read about, Stellan, he has gotten very sick last night, did better today but is sick again. If you want to read his story look under Stellan in the right hand column under blogs I read.

The New Way to Eat a Brownie and Then Some....

I made brownies on Sunday and I gave Lorelei hers in a bowl. This is how SHE eats a brownie! I thought it was too cute!

She's a clown!
Her "What?" look.
This is what I saw when I came into the bathroom after John had told me she 'fell in', which she didn't, she CLIMBED in. Big difference. Yes, she is in the tub clothes on and all with the water going!

Yesterday was her first day back at daycare. Her teachers were VERY excited to have her back and she was a little fussy when I left but I think she was happy to be back. She went to sleep like normal last night but still woke up at 2:45am but went back to sleep about an hour later. At least she wasn't wide open! She went to daycare today as I did some errands and such. Hopefully we will be back on a schedule soon.

We will be getting ready for Halloween this weekend then on to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I can't believe it is that time of year already! John and I put some things on layaway for Lorelei today for Christmas. I can't wait to see her little face when we put up the tree and when Santa comes!

Not Me Monday!

I did not get Lo a bath ready and turn around for 1 second and then have John tell me that she was in the tub WITH her clothes on! Not Me! I would not do that, I watch her every second!

That teaches me a lesson to close the bathroom door when getting a bath ready if I have to go out of the room!

Any suggestions?

I was just wondering if any of my readers could give me advice about how to keep a hairbow in Lo's hair? She won't keep a bow or a ponytail or anything in her hair. Her hair is in her eyes and I don't want to cut it. She looks so cute when its up even if it is for 1 second!

Some more pictures

I love Mickey, Minnie and Daisy!


Trying to be cool in my Camo!

I'm coming for you!

My first cupcake from Cupcake in Columbia!

The way I like them both: SLEEPING and quiet!

CHEESE!


He are some pictures from the last week or so that I was home with Lorelei. Back to the grind tomorrow!

Colds and Prayers

So, I go back to work on Monday. I am looking forward to it but I am also not looking forward to it. I loved spending the time with Lorelei but we also need money too! :O) This week we will be getting ready for Halloween and trunk or treating. Then we will be moving on to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I can't believe Christmas is only 2 months away! John and I have a lot to do!

Also, I am sitting here with a cold, at least I think its a cold. My head is stuffy and I am coughing my head off but I don't feel bad otherwise. I guess it doesn't help that it goes down into the 40s at night and is in the 70s during the day.

I also need my prayer warriors to pray for a couple of people. My friend Nan's mother is in Arizona and dealing with 2 blood clots in her lungs. They have called in Hospice and are not sure what will happen. Please pray for Nan and her family that they will have strength during this time. Also, my friend Emily (blog: The Mullen Momo's) is in the hospital with twin girls. She has been on bedrest for 8 weeks now. They are coming upon the time to make a decision on when to schedule her c-section (they can't be delivered vaginally because they could strangle each other). Please pray that she will know what to do when the time comes.

Our heart friend Derrick gave his parents a little scare this week too. They were in the hospital for 2 days after his sats dropped into the 60s. They have determined that he had a UTI but Shannon and Justin aren't sure that is the case. Cardiology checked him out and said that he was ok. Pray for them as well as they get through this little bump and prepare for D's second surgery soon.

Today is watching football and relaxing as a family before we get back to work and daycare and the everyday ins and outs.

18 months old!

On the playground, looking for trouble!
















Finally, something I can climb on without getting yelled at!

















Grampa bought me these last Christmas and they finally fit! Now I'm reading to go hunting!













Peek-a-Boo!













Boy, I'm tired of all my baby dolls! (She has 7 of them and really does play with all of them!)

Things I've learned being a Stay at Home Mom

As you all know, I've been staying at home with Lo while she is recovering from her surgery. Its been a fun 5 weeks but I've learned several things:

1. Staying at home with your child(ren) is THE HARDEST JOB IN THE WORLD!
2. Cartoons are the enemy.
3. My house is not always going to be clean.
4. Lorelei is a handful.
5. I'm addicted to Facebook, Give Away Today, and the many blogs that I read.
6. It's very hard to get ANYTHING done when chasing after an 18 month old.
7. I thank God for my husband everyday.
8. Lorelei changes and does something new everyday.
9. I never thought I would love it this much.
10. I can cook and I have thought of several new recipes!

Lorelei is now talking more and more. Some words in her vocabulary are: No, Momma, Daddy, Ball, Oh Toodles (from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse), one two three, and jump. She climbs on EVERYTHING and loves her doggie, Lola. She dances to any kind of music that comes on whether its on TV or the radio. She cracks me up all the time. Her new thing is to pull me off of the couch and make me get on the floor. She likes to brush hair and read books. I have loved every minute that I have been able to spend with her. I used to think that I would go crazy staying at home with her all by myself but I've had fun (maybe its because I know I have to go back to work). I give all my friends who are SAHM all the credit in the world for what they do! I will post some newer pics soon. Lorelei hasn't been sleeping well, day or night, so I haven't been able to do much of anything.

Yay Lorelei!

Today we went in the rain and yuck to see Dr. Shuler, the cardiologist. She let them listen to her heart and chest, check pulses but would NOT let them take her blood pressure. They also did an ECHO, just to check the pressure gradient going through her valve. Before her operation the pressure was 116. It is now down to 32! Dr. S said that this is mild sub-aortic stenosis and people live with that every day. He stopped her Lasix too. The hope is now that the obstruction is gone, her valve will grow normally and once it starts growing the pressure gradient will go to normal. Normal is that word in a CHD family's vocabulary???? We are praising God for the good doctors and nurses that have taken care of our little girl! We have to go back in a month but Dr. S was VERY pleased with how she is doing!

Just some more pics...

Lorelei's new toy, a whistle, thanks Aunt Gigi!
















The "I'm not doing anything" look.
















You turn your back for 1 second and then turn around to this!












She just had to wear her Daddy's mouthpiece for when he's playing XBox or Playstation online.

Lorelei's Boyfriends, Oh, I Mean Heart Friends :O)

Derrick















Zeb














Elijah














and Kaden a.k.a G.I. Joe













Can you believe that any of these children have CHD's? I sure can't!

Apple Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 boxed yellow cake mix
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, chopped and cored

Directions:

1. Prepare cake mix according to package directions for a 10 inch tube pan. Stir in cinnamon and vanilla extract, and fold in apples.
2. Pour into prepared pan. Bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool. ( I used the directions on the box for the oven temp and how to prepare the pan.)
   

****I used a 13 x 9 pan, 3 Granny Smith apples and baked for 34 minutes (what the box said) and it was DELICIOUS

Fun Fall Outing

Yesterday we went to Stewart Farms to pick pumpkins, go through the corn maize and visit with our Palmetto Hearts families and friends. We had a wonderful time! Lorelei enjoyed her first Ring Pop too! She thought the pumpkin patch was great and RAN everywhere! I can't believe she had surgery 3 weeks ago!

The Carter's were there with Derrick. Isn't he too cute? Kaden and Elijah were running around everywhere with Zeb. I will post some pics of them too!

Thanks to Stewart Farms for a great time. Now that we know where they are we are going to make it a Fall Family Tradition!

My little Pumpkin

So a few weeks ago I won one of the first contests on Fabulous Friday Freebies and the t-shirt came in the mail yesterday! I absolutely LOVE it. If you like what you see go to www.magabys.com. They have some cool stuff and check out the freebies for this week by clicking the button to the right! She is definitely going to have to wear it when we go to the pumpkin patch next weekend!

Lorelei has sort of gotten back on track in the sleep department. She still won't go to bed on her own but falls asleep with us between 9:30 and 10pm and sleeps until around 4-4:30am falls back asleep by 6am and sleeps til at least 8. Hopefully it'll continue :O)

For now, here are some cute pics of the little miss.

Cardiology Appointment

We went to see Dr. S this morning. She did well. She wouldn't let the nurse listen to her or get her heart rate but she let Dr. S do it! She likes the men! He said she looked good, decreased her Lasix to once a day and took out the suture from her chest tube site. All in all it was a good visit. We go back in 2 weeks to get an ECHO and hopefully come off of the Lasix!