Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Promised Pictures:0)

Okay, to start off here's a video of our newly deemed "mountain climber". On the swing set we have there's a "rock climbing wall" that Vaeh has been eyeing for quite a while. We started out when the weather got nice letting her try to climb it & she did fairly well. Look at how she's doing now... (Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the page & pause the music before you watch her in action!)



So much for needing therapy or being behind developmentally! Boy, am I going to have a fun summer trying to keep up with her & her sister!


So, did you get a good look at her in the video? Did you see her hair? Take a peek again in this shot...


Isn't she just as cute as can be?!! (okay, so maybe I'm biased!) Here's Gabby's new do...



Doesn't she look so grown up?!?! I don't know if I can handle this - ugh! Oh, & I'll even show my new look. They took about 6 inches off the back & I love it!


(I put that picture up just for you, Amber :0) I cropped this out of a picture that my Mom took of our little family right after Miss Gabby's graduation last week from pre-k...


So there's some up to date pics of us! I'm sorry that I've been a slacker here lately. I have no excuses. But I'll warn you I'm not sure how frequent posts will be coming in the next couple of weeks. After we get past tomorrow (I have to help blow up balloons for my Mom & Aunt's - 500 orange balloons that will be released at a funeral tomorrow...) I'm going to buckle down & try to get Miss Vaeh potty trained! She doesn't like to wear diapers anymore - just pull ups. The problem is she won't yet tell me when she needs to go. She isn't really grasping the concept yet, so we're going to try regular big girl panties!! I'll let you know how things are going... :0)


Hopefully everyone is doing well. Oh, & if you would remember to keep Mr. Elijah in your prayers... he is scheduled to have surgery to release a tethered cord June 18th. He's one of our little heart buddies that is just too cute for words! I'm sure he & his family would appreciate your prayers! Thanks again for checking in on us!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Oh, goodness

I did it again. I went 10 days without a new post. Boy am I a slacker! But in my defense, we have been busy.

We were able to finally get our flower beds mulched, which really gave the house a finished touch. (It only took 3+ years - LoL!) And yesterday, Jon & his Dad hung my flag that I've had for nearly a year... just in time for Memorial Day. I'm a very patriotic person, so it was nice to have that flag flying.

We also all got hair cuts! The girls (myself included) are all short-haired now. Gabby & Vaeh both look soooo much older, it almost hurts! But they also look VERY cute! Gabby wanted hers up to about chin level, so that's where it is. Vaeh's is a little shorter than that, but I'm hoping cutting hers now will help it thicken up. With all the surgeries she had, all that anesthesia, along with her pulling her own hair all the time... lets just say her hair is quite thin. As for me, I just needed a change. I used to color my hair every 6 weeks. Now I'm lucky if I get it cut once a year!

Vaeh had her preschool assessment. She's too good - meaning she doesn't qualify with her therapies to have county based services paid for. So I'm going to try to get her into regular preschool this fall, & if I can't then I'll just wait until next year! To show off her skills, I have a great video of her, but can't post it right now. I promise I'll post it soon!

Oh, & Vaeh had her first sleep over somewhere other than the hospital! She & Gabby spent the night with Mawmaw. So Daddy & Mommy actually had a date night! The entire night without kids! We figured we hadn't been kid less (other than when Vaeh was in the hospital) in 5 YEARS!!! So, we went to see a movie - Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. It was a really good movie!

So, just a quick update here. I promise to post pictures sometime tomorrow. On a quick note, though... would you all keep Jesse's family in your prayers. He is a 15 year old that lost his battle with leukemia last week. I'm sure his family would appreciate your prayers.

Promise, more coming soon... :0)

Friday, May 15, 2009

One year ago today...

We were in an all too familiar place, for yet again sending our 'Reflection of Heaven' into surgery for a third time on her little heart. This time to hopefully complete her repair. Thankfully she did better than any of them expected her to!

We headed to the hospital around 7 am... scheduled for surgery at 8. They gave her a dose of versed & we were able to get some pictures of our "drunken" little girl before we would see her with all those tubes & wires, on a ventilator & sedated. I hated seeing her like that. Thankfully we don't have to worry about that again any time in the near future.

So, we're celebrating Vaeh's heart day today! Its amazing where we've come from...


to where we are now...


( How can you resist that gorgeous face?! )

Thank you all for joining us & supporting us along this journey. We couldn't make it without all of your love, support & prayers! We love you all!!

Monday, May 11, 2009

So much info... so little space!

I fear that this post may take up quite a bit of space, since I've been lacking on my blogging duties:0) To start off, Happy belated Mother's day to all you wonderful Momma's out there! I hope you all were blessed with a wonderful day with your families! The girls both made me wonderful gifts - Gabby gave me a little poem & a hand print from school, & Vaeh colored me a picture in Sunday school! I will treasure them always. And yes, they were both worth more that the other gift I was given...

Okay, so its really for the whole family, but as Jon says "its Momma's ride." We previously owned a 1997 Chevy Blazer that was on its last leg. We found this one (a 2005) on my brother-in-law's used car lot & couldn't pass up the deal. Its so nice to have the extra room the 3rd seat provides, too!

Now, as for my little stinker! My oh my how much personality Miss Vaeh is beginning to show! I think that she went through the "terrific 2's" & is now moving into the "terrible 3's" just like her older sister did:0) She's really beginning to push buttons to see how far she can take Mommy! I love every minute of it!! Today while we were waiting to have her echo done, she was kicking around, hitting me, etc. Then during the echo, she decided she wanted to pull on the EKG leads that they had on her. She created quite a bit of artifact in the strip, but the pictures they got at least turned out well enough. Just take a look at this face...





Playing before Megan started her echo.

Getting started.

Here, let me help you! She loves the gel!




Showing several "shots" of her heart.


Her appointment went very well today. It started off with perfect sats - 100%!! I just love seeing those triple digits:0) Her blood pressure has leveled out too, back up in a more normal range vs. being on the low side. Then onto the scale. I think (?hope) I told you all how Miss Vaeh had lost some weight right after we had her button taken out. Well, for a short time we kinda got a little worried but once she adjusted to being on the revatio, her appetite picked up & she seemed to be getting back to normal. Well, the scale proved that today. Since we were there to see Dr. Butto in March, little miss thing has gained almost 3 pounds!!! She weighed in at 27lb 14oz today!!! That really did my heart good!


Dr. Butto also said that the revatio is doing its job. Her right ventricle pressure is down from 55 to high 30's/low 40's! He did say that we still can't change her dose any, as the half-life for this drug is short & her pressures are still elevated. But we're moving in the right direction. He also gave the okay for her to go to a center based preschool vs. home!! So, come this fall I'll have 2.5 hours to myself 4 days a week! I'm not sure what I'll do, but I'll start planning now! (LoL)


Other than that, she's doing great & we don't have to go back for - are you ready? 3 months!!! We've never gone that long without seeing Dr. Butto! I think I'm going to go through withdrawal LoL!!


The girls are both enjoying the nicer weather. Vaeh is constantly asking "ow-side." I'm going to have my hands full this summer! They're both getting so big. Vaeh can now tell me both of her meds & which one each is by looking at the color. Check out this video of her taking her meds...





How many 2 year olds do you know that can say the name of their medicines?! Just early training for her to go into the medical field (LoL)!

Gabby is doing well. She's getting excited about starting kindergarten. We even went & got her immunizations up to date, which meant that it was her turn for a poke (actually 3) :0( She did so well, though. That's one step closer to my baby going to school - ugh! These kiddos need to slow down. Vaeh's doing it to me, too! Look at her latest feat in the world of getting older...


Yep. She's in a toddler bed instead of her crib. Her first night in it was last night & she did fairly well. I did hear her around 2:30 this morning, & went in to find she had rolled out of bed & underneath the bed! She didn't even wake up when I pulled her out & put her back to bed! Glad she's a sound sleeper!

Well, there you have it. Sorry its been so long. I promise I'll try not to let it happen again! Hopefully everyone is doing well. Thanks for checking in on us!

PS - If you all could, would you please keep a couple of our friends in your prayers? Most of you probably know Miss Gracie, but if you're new here please link over & read her story. Her family is such a strong ,wonderful bunch & they're going through some trying times & could use your prayers.

Also, another friend of our family are in the midst of a battle for life. Jesse is a young man who is once again battling leukemia & things are dire at this point. He is in critical condition after a failed bone marrow transplant & they're hoping that he can gain enough strength to fight for a second chance at transplant. I know the family would appreciate your prayers, too!

Update coming!!

Sorry its been soooo long since I've updated. There really hasn't been much going on around here other than "normal" life (if you can define normal - LoL!). Vaeh & I are headed to our "date" with Dr. Butto, her cardiologist. So, as soon as we get home & I get a chance, I'll put up a long overdue update as to life in the Walp household!

Hope everyone else is well & had a great Mother's day!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

I did it!!

Yep. I did it. I've been putting this off for quite some time now, though I'm not sure why I've been putting it off. Procrastination, I guess:0) (I'm really good at that!)

Oh, I guess I should tell you all what I'm talking about... The Littlest Hero's Project. I've known about this wonderful charity for a while now. When I first found them Vaeh hadn't had her final repair & was on O2. In my mind at that point I didn't want the pictures to have all the tubes, etc. Now I wish we'd done it then. Here's a case of hindsight being 20/20!

So I really decided to do all this around 10:30 last night, & by this morning I had an acceptance email!! So today I've been scouting out photographers on their list & emailing them back! Now its just a matter of hearing back from the actual photographer that we'll be working with! Its really exciting anticipating having another picture on the wall other than the one from the hospital - LoL!!!

Not much else going on around here. Miss Vaeh did fall & hit her eye on something & now looks like she has a streak of eye shadow on!


Oh, the joys of growing up "normal"!
Hope everyone else is doing well! I think we all need to band together & do a sunshine & warmth dance. That is if you live in the mid west!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Here we go again...


So, this was the scene in our house... again, this morning. Miss Vaeh has had a runny nose the past couple of days, but yesterday it kicked into high gear. Every time she turned around I had to wipe her nose. At times it even was a little bloody (I think from the dry air). Her eyes have been extremely watery & "goopy" with a lot of matter. She's even woke up with her eyes matted shut a couple of days ago:0( So after trying benadryl last night, to no avail, I broke the nebulizer out again this morning. She's just so stuffy sounding - like she's talking through her nose! So, for anyone who doesn't "speak Vaeh" its even more difficult to understand her - LoL!!

As for other news, Vaeh's really getting good at going up & down steps - with help, that is! That, running & jumping are basically the only reasons she's not "caught up" developmentally, according to the therapist. She is sooo close to running... we make her try it all the time. This for two reasons, really: 1.) she gets better with practice, & 2.) she's just so darn cute when she does it! I was actually able to catch her on video...



Don't mind the crazy woman operating the camera & asking her to run over & over! I just can't help myself, she looks so determined with that arm pumping along! It reminds me of her first steps & having to have the purse on her shoulder before she would walk!

So, Miss V will be getting at least daily nebs until the weather warms up & stays that way. The weather forecast for our area is to be around 70 degrees by Friday, & then back down into the 40's & 50's with rain again by the middle of next week!!! Maybe by the time summer gets here it will feel like spring!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!!

Boy has it been a busy weekend! I know its been a while since I've posted. But last week my uncle was in the hospital because he had a blood clot! We think that there's something in the water around here. He is the 4th person in my family to have a blood clot - whew! So, because he was in the hospital, the girls & I entertained their kids (ages 8 to 12). Needless to say, there was a lot more noise, clutter & commotion around here!

Friday afternoon we colored Easter eggs:0) They all had so much fun, including Miss Vaeh! She had to have something to do while waiting for someone to pass her an egg, so Mawmaw had her 'stir' the dye - what a riot! She grabbed the spoon & stirred with all her might! Too cute!

Then this morning, we all got ready & headed down for the Easter contata at church. The girls looked so pretty all dressed up in their new dresses!! Although I don't think Miss Vaeh will be able to wear hers again:0( It is absolutely beautiful & fits great everywhere but... the chest! I was just barely able to get it zipped up! Well, at least I was able to get it on her this morning & get pictures of her in it!

Here's some pictures from our weekend!




Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Hopefully some warmer temps are on the way on a more regular basis... I can't wait to get out in my flower beds & get things planted!!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Kids!

Okay, so for how long did I wish that Vaeh would be normal? Well she's getting that "normal" thing down pat! Not only does she act like a very normal 2 year old & a very normal little sister, but she also gets bumps & bruises in a normal sense. (Just now as I'm typing this post, I can hear her & Gabby getting into a little scuffle - must not be too bad, though, Gabby didn't yell "MOM!" - LoL)

We usually make it up to Mawmaw's shop (the florist store) once a week. We tend to pop in after we drop off Gabby at school. Yesterday happened to be our day. We stopped to pick up something that they needed dropped at Gabby's school, & they offered lunch. Plus, if I were to leave without Vaeh getting to see Mawmaw over lunch, I'd be mud!

Since there's not much time after that until Gabby needs picked up, we just hung around & talked with the girls. There's 3 girls other than my 2 aunts that work in the shop & Vaeh has fun with all of them! Missy takes care of stuff out in the green house, so her & Vaeh are now best buds. Vaeh LOVES going out to the green house. I told Missy that I'd bring Vaeh's high chair up & we'd set her out there when Missy's working & let Vaeh play in the dirt! I'll be sure to get pictures if we ever get around to it!


We were up in the main part of the shop & Miss V was busy running around between work stations. My Aunt Deb was taking a step back & didn't see miss thing & ... BOOM! Vaeh fell down. Usually no biggie & I was trying to blow it off, but Deb says "she hit when she fell." So when we were checking her over, we found it. There was a red line on her chin from where she had hit the edge of the shelf. It wasn't bleeding too bad, just a bit that anyone would expect. But the closer I looked, there was a very tiny gash. It was open, but again not bleeding too much. It was one of those cuts that if I'd taken her in to the ER they'd probably have thrown a stitch in it just to charge the insurance a little more (LoL)!!

So, Nurse Mommy back to work! We put a band aid on it after cleaning it & putting ointment on it. I pulled the band aid a little snug to try & hold the cut together. When we got home, it looked like it had bled some, so I took the band aid off to check it out. It had already closed!! But just to be on the safe side, I put a few steri stips over it. (They look better than the band aid I think...) Its a good thing I kept ahold of all the stuff we used to use for Vaeh's NJ tube:0) (I'll have to tell you all sometime about our experiences with changing the tape on THAT!) Here's what she looked like this morning:


It looks much better in person:0) The orange -ish stuff around the edges is an adhesive bonder to make them stick! So my hoarding of medical supplies comes in handy!

You wouldn't even know that she'd done anything this morning.. she's just as "normal" as ever!