Valentine's Day is not a day that I am too fond of, and yes I mean that and am not just saying it!! It's nice to be reminded that I am loved when it's not expected. Any who, Kris gets out of this day by just giving a card (but let's not forget my birthday is the 19th!) So, Valentine's Day now has an entirely different meaning in our family...it's determined to make me like it someway! haha
On February 14, 2012, we found out for sure that our family of three was growing to four and told our parents with a special "gift" by telling them with Madeline's shirt saying "this princess is going to be a big sister."
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| didn't look big enough to be a BIG sister! |
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| yay! |
On February 14, 2013, Chandler had her pre op appointment for her surgery that following day. February 14th and 15th now have true meanings of "heart" days!! Looking back at pictures from those days just one short year ago literally makes me cringe, thinking how on earth did we make it through such a hard time?! As I look at Chandler now, "crawling" "talking" laughing and smiling all the time, it is so hard to believe where she was one year ago. Kris and I thought we would never get to hold her again and would still be scooping her like ice cream instead of picking her up underneath her arms. I am a firm believer that the Good Lord above got us through those times and to where we are today! We surely felt the prayers and His strength during that scary time as we do today. If you would have asked me what would Chandler be doing one year from open heart surgery, I don't think I would've been able to say ALL that she has accomplished since then. If I can give any advice to mothers of children going into surgery, it is this: take it one day at a time and the best is yet to come, you are also a lot stronger than you think you are! Clearly I am, cause just thinking back and looking at pictures makes me weak in the knees... But we all survived and Chandler rocks her scar like the rock star that she is!! Even Madeline is proud of it, saying periodically, "Mama sissy's bobo looks so much better!" You are right sweet girl, it does...
I would also like to thank the super fabulous surgeon, cardiologist, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists and all the other wonderful people on staff at Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital for treating all of us like Chandler was part of their family!!! Also to our friends and family who took time out of their lives to show us how important Chandler was to them..we will be forever grateful!
Just a little stroll down memory lane, and yes some are very hard to look at, but it just goes to show that every day got better and she slowly started looking like herself again, plus she gained her appetite too!!
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| blood work day :( |
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| this is what we thought about waiting |
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| she was so calm you would've never known she was hungry |
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| STILL a thumb sucker to this day!! |
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| in PICU right after surgery, still on vent |
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| no ventilator |
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| yep, this is the way they transported her to the floor |
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| settled in her room |
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| FINALLY got to hold her, tubes and all!! |
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| no oxygen!! (but was short-lived until Daddy fixed the darn O2 thing on her toe!) |
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| sleeping beauty |
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| Can we go home now?! |
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| VERY CONCERNED SISTER!! |
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| and finally there's her sweet smile.. |
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| This was taken just 8 short months after her surgery and scar is barely visible...but who's looking at her scar when all you see is a beautiful, smiling face?!? |
loving our heart day,
Megan
