Scars are tattoos with better stories

In case you missed it: February 7-14 is Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week.  

As our house is covered hearts for that other heart celebration, I wanted to take some time to share our experience with congenital heart defects.  CHD is something that has impacted our lives in a big way. Here's the story.

Check out my scar!

When we were on vacation a few years ago, there was a great shirt that said "Scars are tattoos with better stories." When we asked if they had it in little kid's sizes, the clerk looked at us like we were crazy.  I guess most people don't take pride in the scars of their 2 year olds!

When I was pregnant with Mason, we didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl.  I REALLY wanted to know, but Bryan didn't want to at all.  I told him that he would win that time, but the next time, I got to find out what we were having.  Whenever anyone would ask what we were having, I'm sure we resorted to saying "We are fine either way, as long as it is healthy." (In truth, this was a lie, I really wanted a little boy and I was very nervous that it wouldn't be one) Little did I know how those words would grow to haunt me years later. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.  Mason was born one week after his due date at a very healthy 8 lbs 11 oz.  He was (and continues to be) the picture of health. This is something that I am thankful for every day.

Mason coming home from the hospital

When I was pregnant with Sam, we decided again to do the first trimester screening. During that screening we were alerted that there was something going on. The level 3 ultrasound showed us that we were having a baby boy!! (Yes, Bryan kept his word and I got to find out what we were having) It also showed that our baby had a heart defect. We were connected with a great cardiologist (Dr. Christensen) at Rocky Mountain Pediatric Cardiology. The day we went in, his technician was out on another case so he actually performed the fetal echocardiogram and was able to walk us through every step of what he was looking for and what he saw. I know know this is not the typical experience and am so thankful for this time we had with him.  He explained that our baby had a atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD). He also explained that this was completely correctable with surgery. It was now time to go back and tell people that we were expecting.  We even got to tell them that we were having a baby boy.  Then the comments started and I didn't exactly know how to respond.  Again, we heard "as long as he's healthy."  Well, we knew he wasn't going to be born a picture of health. We weren't sure what to expect when he was born. Sometimes I would answer letting people know that he has a heart defect and he will need surgery.  More often, I would just smile and say thank you. The pregnancy went on, we made a plan, and had lots of visits with the cardiologist and my OB to make sure that everything stayed as expected. It did.

See, it was even a relaxing day for Sam!

Sam was born 1 week before his due date at 8 lbs 8 oz with his pediatrician and my OB present and the cardiology clinic on call to read his echo. And he looked like the picture of health. In fact, if you hadn't seen his blood pressure results, you wouldn't have known there was anything at all wrong with this beautiful baby boy.  That being said, if we wouldn't have know what was going on, we would have seen the blood pressure results and chaos would have ensued.  I would not be surprised if we would have ended up in Denver to see what was going on. But we knew what was expected, so we didn't have to go anywhere.  Because of this, I am an advocate for prenatal testing. Even though this makes me unpopular in some circles, I firmly believe it made Sam's entry into the world a time of joy instead of a time of worry and fear.

Playing in the cardiologist's office

Sam came home and was a great baby.  He had surgery to correct his AVSD just before he turned 6 months old.  That story is here. Today, he continues to be full of life and energy.  The only way you can prove that he is a heart kid is the large white exclamation point down his chest.  We have decided that it is the perfect punctuation for how he lives life. If we all lived life with the joy that he has, the world would be a much happier place.

Brothers after Surgery

Why do I tell you this? I wanted to tell you that sometimes we get news that we don't expect or we don't want to hear.  Sometimes our babies aren't going to be born healthy. Sometimes our babies are born with things that can be "fixed." Sometimes there aren't fixes.  This is OK. 

Who is looking at a scar with this cute toothy grin?

Sometimes we focus so much on covering up our scars that we don't take the time to think about the lessons we have learned while getting the scars. 

Photoshopped (but you can still see the drain tube scar...just looking like a belly button!)

Un-photoshopped, just as cute!

From Sam's experiences, we've all learned lots.  Most of all, we've learned that life is precious and that we shouldn't take any day for granted. Now when I am talking with an expecting mom, I never say "as long as it's healthy." We didn't love Sam any less because he wasn't perfectly "healthy" on the day he was born. My go-to response is now "he/she will be so loved." Because that is true.  All mothers and fathers will provide so much love to their child whether it is a boy or girl, healthy or needing some additional support.

Husker Dreams

What did you do over your Christmas break? I've wanted to do something to the boys' room for a long time.  Not that it wasn't nice, it is just that it was boring...

This is a picture I took of the room a few weeks ago to show them what I mean by a clean room.

So, I recruited the boys to help me make a transformation. Some fads come and go.  In our world, the Huskers are something we can all agree on. 

Step 1: Clear the room

Everything out!

 They were great help.  We started by putting white on one wall and the ceiling.  

Yup, that is Sam shirtless and painting. 

 Step 1: finished

Please tell me it gets more exciting than this!

 Step 2: Add some red

At this point, there was no turning back, and I was questioning my sanity for allowing my helpers to be a part of this particular step!

 I didn't get any pictures of the red coat finished.  I was too excited to get to the next part. (Yes, I really do love this step!!)

Step 3: Tape the grid

Just a few adjustments and then there were some nice straight lines 

Straight...I think

Step 4: Painting the grid 

Trying to lay out the colors (it changed once after this layout)

The colors are on

The boys went to bed with it like this.  Sam found the camera in the room and thought you might want a close-up of the colors that we used: 

 Step 5: Removing the tape

If you've ever taped a very textured wall, you know the anxiety that I had at this point. I found on the internet a suggestion to paint over your tape with the base color first.  I was hoping and praying that it worked, and it did!!

The first one 

More and more tape!

Check out those lines!!!!!

The finished grid

 Step 6: Accessorize

Painting the dresser.  This is the same dresser that I had as a kid. 

 I didn't get any pictures of the decals that I used before they were on the wall. 

Step 7: Bask in the joy of a finished project!

The grand entrance to the room

The grid wall from the beds

The before and afters: 

I think this solidifies our Husker loyalty in case anyone was questioning it.  The room turned out great and the boys love it!  Swing by and see it sometime, they would love to show it off.  Just don't expect it to be this clean all of the time...it is a little boys' room after all! 

The sounds of the season

Both boys did a wonderful job at their Christmas programs.  

Mason's Program

Gering Geil Elementary

So proper!

Singing fun

Geil 3rd Graders

Sam's Concert

Scottsbluff YMCA Preschool

Ho Ho Ho

I'm a little snowman

Sam really didn't care to go see Santa, but we finally convinced him to go over there. He let Santa know that he really wanted to have a pizza cutter for Christmas.  Yes, you read that right.  It is all he has asked for this year. Just in case you are one of the people that he has told this to, this is what he is talking about. 

Not so sure about Santa!!

Now, we start our Christmas Break.  We plan to have lots and lots of fun!  Maybe you will hear about some of it here on this blog...

Today I'm thankful for....

Snow days!!!!!!!!!

When we looked at the forecast yesterday, it said we might get 1-3 inches of accumulation out of a storm that was supposed to come in overnight.  We went to bed knowing that we (meaning Bryan) should probably plan to get up early and clear the driveway.  Little did we know....

Our deck view

No matter how old we get, when the phone rings at 5:45 to let us know there is a snow day, we celebrate!  So, I laid back down and waited for the kids to wake up so I could tell them to go back to bed.  Once we got up for the day, lets be honest, it was still early when we got up, but we didn't let that get us down.  We played dominoes, made Christmas goodies, baked banana bread, built giant marble mazes...all before lunch!  After lunch the snow stopped, so we ventured outside.  Here is just a small sample of the fun we had: 

Mmm....snow

I think he might have missed

Not our Christmas Card picture, but maybe it should have been!

Sam LOOOOVVVEEEDDD sledding.  His squeals were wonderful.

Brothers

A very happy home ready for a White Christmas

I hope that wherever you were today, you had an enjoyable day. If you were one of the lucky ones that got a snow day, I hope you took some time to enjoy one of life's great joys...no matter your age!

Weekend project

When we first saw our house, we were in love with the location and interior of it.  We didn't realize when we moved in that there would be so many hidden gems.  We found some great old bricks that we used to create a flower bed...

and border for our flag pole: 

When we expanded our chicken coup to include more of the building we were using, we came across some old doors.  So, we decided to put them on Craigslist.  Well, procrastination has its benefits. They never got posted on the site.  As luck would have it, we decided that we needed something for our deck so we embarked on a journey to make something out of the old doors.  What follows is our adventure in furniture design.  

First step: sand off the flaking paint (wearing masks of course!)

Help from the youngest members of the household.

 

Let the assembly begin!

Careful

Hmmm...is it going to work?

 

Taking a break

 Time to start painting!

Drying Paint 

 Finished product in its place on the porch.  We are very happy with the finished product!