Emma's annual cardiology appointment...

So today was Emma's annual cardiology appointment....at 8:30 in the morning at the downtown Cook clinic. Obviously, I made this appointment before I had two children and knew what it would take to get us all dressed, fed, and out the door. But, amazingly we did it! (I won't tell you what time I started this morning to make it possible for me to actually fix my hair and put on makeup, too!)

Emma was such a trooper! She did so well during her EKG, pressure readings and echocardiogram! She was amazing...so much easier now than when she was 1-2 years old! Here she is with all of her "stickers" during the EKG:

With her oh-so-attractive "dress"

Taking the opportunity to read while we wait!

Being so good while having her echo...and watching 101 Dalmations! You can see some of her heart chambers on the computer screen! It's much easier for me now to tell the different structures of the heart than when she was a baby!! Not only has the heart grown just slightly :) but I've had more experience now!

So we got good news and not-so-great-but-not-a-tragedy news.

Good news: She looks great and doesn't have to come back for a checkup for TWO WHOLE YEARS!!!! She will be finishing kindergarten before she goes back!

On the other front: this was the first time since her first year that Dr. Readinger talked about the real possibility that she will need an additional surgery when she is older. If she needs it, she would be a teenager probably. There is a piece of muscle below her bicuspid valve (which is a defect in itself because the normal heart has a tricuspid valve). If it grows as she grows, there will be a resulting stenosis (sp?) or narrowing that will restrict blood blow and she will need surgery again. But he said that sometimes it grows in situations like hers, and sometimes it doesn't. So we'll be praying over the next 10 years or so that it stays small!! And anyways, who know what advances will be made in medicine in 10 years!!

Carol Joy- One Month Old!!

Carol Joy is One Month Old!! (Ok, really she is 6 weeks old today...I'm just about 10 days behind. :) )

At birth: 7 pounds 2 oz; At 1 week: 6 pounds 10 oz; At 3 weeks: 6 pounds 10 oz (argh); At 4 weeks: 7 pounds 4 ounces (wow! amazing what a little formula supplementing will do!); At 6 weeks: 8 pounds 1 ounce (still not as big as Emma at birth!)

I'm not so sure about this, mommy!

Ahh...the pacifier is so good!

Umm..mommy? I think I'm done.

Sisters!

With her g-daddy (great granddaddy)

It was such a precious month, a precious "normal" time that I didn't get with Emma Rose since we were at Cooks for her first month. Although I was (and am!) exhausted, and at that point really recovering from the c-section, I am so thankful for this special time. Things that I really noticed and pondered:

- It has been weird for both of us to get used to picking Carol up from under her armpits at this age! Because of Emma's surgery and healing breastbone that was cracked open, we weren't able to pick her up that way for over 6 weeks and then again when she had her surgery when she was almost one. I still put Carol into her car seat or in and out of her swing like I would have with that restriction. It's almost second nature to me than under the arms!

-The diapers!! You might laugh at this, but I have been AMAZED at how many diapers she went through during the first few weeks. You have to understand that Emma had catheters and not much to eat the first couple of weeks! Luckily, Carol has slowed down the production recently. :)

- It has been such a blessing to me to nurse Carol. I wasn't able to with Emma- my milk just never came in. Now I can realize that during Emma's few days at home, she just wasn't a strong enough nurser to get the milk in. I just didn't realize that it was a weak because I didn't have anything to compare it to. But oh, Carol has it down! Blessedly, we got past the first uncomfortable weeks and now we are pros (and she is finally speeding up, too!). She is still eating every 2-3 hours like clockwork, even at night. Hopefully as she puts on more weight she can go a little bit further at night....soon. :) It is such a precious time and bond, though and I am very thankful for the opportunity to actually provide for the needs of my child.

- Carol is looking more and more like Emma as she fills out in the face. She is still so tiny, though! We had 0-3 month clothes saved from Emma because that's what she went into immediately. What a difference a pound makes! 0-3 months fall off of Carol, still! So she is looking stylish in newborn clothes before going to the hand-me-downs (get used to it, kid!).

-Carol is tracking really well and working on her focusing. She definitely knows my voice! Emma is such a good big sister- she always asks to hold her (but it only lasts for about 10 seconds or so!) and wants to carry her around like her baby dolls. She kisses her all of the time, and is so helpful making sure Carol has her pacifier, especially in the car! She loves her little sister!