St. Patricks Day!

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Cookies

Emmy ~ 23 Months

Emmy's PDA Closure

When Emmy was 6 months old we found out that she had a heart defect called Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

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A PDA is a heart defect that occurs when a blood
vessel called the Ductus Arteriosus fails to close after
birth, as it normally should. The Ductus Arteriosus is an
open channel in every fetus that allows blood to bypass
the lungs, which are not used until the baby takes its first
breath after birth. Shortly after the baby’s first breath, the
Ductus Arteriosus should close permanently. If it does
not close, it is known as a Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

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We knew she would have to have a procedure done to close it, the doctors were thinking that would happen at about age 3. But when we went up for her appointment in January the doctor said it sounded bad and she should have the procedure within the next couple of weeks. We scheduled it to be done on Monday, Feb. 13, but the Friday before the hospital had to cancel it due to a big RSV breakout. So it was re-scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 14, which was canceled because she had a fever. Then it was scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17, which was then canceled due to Emmy having double ear infection. So finally, on March 6, we went up to Primary Children's and Emmy had her little heart fixed.

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Emmy waiting to be checked in. She LOVED the fish.

Emmy in her hospital gown.About to go under general anesthesia.

This was the worst part for me. They let me be with her while they put her under. She was fighting the mask, trying to get it off and that was when I burst into tears.The Procedure

Emmy's heart Before:

Guiding Catheter into her heart.

Duct Occluder in place.

X-rayThe procedure took about an hour and a half. The doctor said it was good we had it done when we did as it was a lot bigger than they had initially thought and the left side of her heart was enlarged.

This is a picture of an Amplatzer Duct Occluder (what is in Emmy's heart).

Waking up.

Emmy had to lay flat and keep her leg straight for 6 hours to allow the blood to clot in her artery. That was fun.

IVAfter 2 hours of holding Emmy down while she screamed, some nice nurse brought us a wagon.

Thank goodness for the wagon, it was the only thing that kept her laying flat without screaming. So we walked around the hospital for 6 more hours until they could get her in for an echo.

Ready to come home!It was amazing to see the results. The next day Emmy had so much more color in her face and her eyes weren't sunken in. I'm so grateful for modern medicine.

I am also so grateful for all the prayers, cards, cookies, dinners, notes, balloons and thoughts. I am especially thankful for my wonderful mother, who flew out here twice, in order to be here to watch my other children. I'm so lucky to have so many amazing people in my life!

Valentine's Day!

Breakfast, Lunch, & DinnerBrooklyn's Valentine Box.

Brooklyn's Pajama Party

For Brooklyn's 7th birthday she wanted to have a peace sign pajama party.

InvitationsAfter seeing this table idea on Hostess with the Mostest I talked Steven into making a similar one for Brooklyn's party. He made the table and benches the night before the party. I LOVE how it turned out.Dessert TableI made all the little girls sleep masks.

Decorating FlashlightsThe guestsReady to eatPainting Guess who's animalTie Dyeing PillowcasesPinataPresentsCakeParty Favors