We're on our way....

We are set to leave for Ann Arbor at 5am. I tucked the boys in and said goodnight and goodbye. It was sad, but I'm ready to get the ball rolling. I had a lot of anxiety today, I'm sure it will stick around for awhile. We will be in good hands though. I will be posting updates as often as possible. Pre surgery testing is all day tomorrow and the surgery is 7:30 Tuesday morning. Thank you everyone for your constant prayers!

A Horribly Amazing Day!

Today was quite a day. With Kaitlyn's surgery only days away the mood in the house has been, well...tense. We all seem to be wearing our emotions on our sleeves, even the boys. They have little idea what the next couple weeks will bring but clearly sense something is going on.

There is a lot to get done before Sunday. The biggest stress we've had is waiting for the official approval from the insurance company to allow Kaitlyn's surgery to be performed at the University of Michigan. We've been fighting this battle since we learned of her heart defect (complete AVSD) back in June. Surgery was scheduled last week. The doctors seemed confident the surgery would get covered but Blair and I remained less optimistic. We would believe it when we had an authorization number. The days have continued to come and go and no official authorization. Our family and friends have been rearranging there lives for this and all I could think is that our plans would fall apart at the last minute.

Tears of joy came this afternoon when we received the phone call that she is 100% approved. I literally felt weight being lifted from my shoulders. The fight was soooo stressful, but we won the war. We fought for Kaitlyn and it payed off. Her surgery will be performed by an amazing surgeon, Dr. Richard Ohye, at one of the top pediatric cardiology hospitals in the nation. (sigh) God is good!

We will leave for Ann Arbor either Sunday evening or very early Monday morning. Her pre-surgery testing will begin Monday morning at 10am. She will get a chest x-ray, sedated echo, EKG, and blood work. We will meet with an anesthesiologist and a cardiologist. Tuesday morning the surgery is scheduled for 7:30 AM. Her surgery will last approximately 4 hours. She will then go to the PICU where she could be 3-5 days. Once the ventilator is removed and she is breathing well on her own she will get moved to the general care floor. Her estimated stay is 10 days give or take. All healthy adult visitors are welcome! Hospital policy due to H1N1 is no kids under 16. The hospital advised our family and friends to watch a video to help us prepare for surgery and Kaitlyn's recovery. If you plan on visiting take a peak at the video. Thanks again to everyone for all your continued prayers. I hope to keep updating through her surgery and recovery.

Click here for the link to watch the video

Neighbors Helping Neighbors...Friends Helping Friends!

Having a sick baby is a lot of work, and having two small boys and our everyday responsibilities on top of Kaitlyn's demanding care has become impossible. We are in survival mode. Our priorities have changed. Things that once would have been considered to be on top of our to-do list have been put on the bottom or temporarily removed. The kids are number one. Kaitlyn's paper work and her therapies are next and everything else gets put on hold.

All the leaves up here in Western Michigan have fallen. Most people are working hard to get them up before the snow falls. We planned on ours waiting until spring, we have little time and zero energy. Sunday afternoon much to our surprise we heard noise in our front yard. Our close friends (who are also our next door neighbors) were raking our leaves. What an awesome random act of kindness. Thank you, thank you to Fred, Becky, Caden, and Morgan!

I would also like to thank everyone else who has been helping us out. We've needed to ask more favors then ever before in the last weeks and months since Kaitlyn was born. With her surgery next week we need to rely on a lot of upcoming help. Thank you to everyone who is rearranging their lives for us in the next weeks, whether its to be with the boys or Blair and I in Ann Arbor. We are truly thankful!

Happy 5th Birthday Brady!

FIVE YEARS OLD

Please, everybody look at me!

Today I'm five years old, you see!

And after, this I won't be four,

Not ever, ever, any more!

I won't be three-or-two-or one.

For that was when I'd first begun.

Now I'll be five a while, and then

I'll soon be something else again!

-Mary Louise Allen

I can not believe Brady is turning five. The years are flying by. This past Saturday we "threw" together a party. Normally I spend much time planning a party for the kids. I really enjoy having our friends and family over. My favorite part is making a special cake. Brady's actual birth date is the 17th. Because Kaitlyn's surgery is scheduled that day we had to do things different this year. I made a few quick calls to local friends, my dear friend Tiffany made an awesome cake and we had a party. My mother in law watched Kaitlyn for us, we had to keep her away from all possible germs. It was a great day! Thank you to everyone who helped make this day special for Brady!

Caden, Morgan, Brady, Bryce, Macey, Elyse, Paige, Caleb

A Quick Update

My mom's surgery was today. She did well. She is already home. She's quite sore and has been instructed to take it easy (little walking) for the next few days. My sister is there so she will take good care of her. It can take up to two weeks plus for the pathology to come back. I don't do well with waiting.

Little Kaitlyn went to the doctor again today. We seem to be there a lot these days. She weighed in at her highest weight yet 10 lbs 14 oz. She's been playing the gain an ounce lose an ounce game all month. Maybe she can reach 11 lbs before surgery. The last two days she's had this crazy rash. I thought it was because of her low fever and the virus she's been fighting. The doctor said it looks like an allergic reaction to the amoxicillin she was on...lovely! Good thing there are several antibiotics to choose from since she can no longer take anything from the penicillin family...ugh! If its not one thing its another!

Would you like to make a difference today!

If you would like to make a difference today, please see below...(This is a true request) A 5yr old boy named Noah Biorkman, is in the last stages of a 2 1/2yr battle with Neuroblastoma Cancer. The family is celebrating Christmas next week and Noah's request is to get lots of Christmas cards..Lets get him some.

Please send cards to:

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountian Viewcircle
South Lyon, MI 48178

Thank You!

His story is in the Detroit news, read here.

Feel free to reblog this to reach as many people as possible!

When It Rains It Pours!

Surgery Is Scheduled

We went to Ann Arbor yesterday. The insurance company approved a consultation with Dr. Richard Ohye. We have been waiting (fighting) for this day since we found out about Kaitlyn's heart defect when I was 27 weeks pregnant. Due to her increase in symptoms, mainly lack of eating they saw no reason to wait for surgery. It is scheduled for November 17th...Ugh! Brady's 5th birthday! MOTT children's hospital seemed so confident the insurance company would give the final OK that they scheduled the surgery. Blair and I are cautiously excited! We still have the fear PH won't come through, but we have to keep the faith. I'll write more specifics about the surgery later. My main focus now is to plan a little party for Brady. He is at such a fun age, and he is well aware his birthday is very soon. I need to make it special since we won't be here on his birthday!

Please Pray For My Mom

My mom is having surgery tomorrow. She has been having a lot of pain in her left femur. After many tests finally a bone scan found a dark "suspicious" spot in her bone marrow in her left femur. They will go in and remove what they can and biopsy it. Our biggest fear is cancer, but the doctors said it can be one of many things. My mom is the strongest woman I know and unfortunately isn't new to battling cancer. When she was 21 she had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and with great doctors (U of M) and a lot of determination she beat it. She needs a lot of prayers right now. Unfortunately I can't be there but my sister went down to be with her and my dad. Thanks Jenna! We are praying for a miracle right now. I'm so sorry I can't be with you tomorrow Mom!

Happy Belated Halloween!

Out of all the candy the boys managed to get their hands on the favorite item in their bags were these crazy vampire teeth. So silly! The week around Halloween H1N1 over took our house. Both boys were mildly sick with fevers and a nasty cough. I on the other hand got horribly sick. Definitely the sickest I've been as an adult for sure. We questioned whether or not to let them go out trick or treating but we decided they could go. Brady was much better and Bryce...well I thought a little fresh air couldn't hurt! For the first time in years Brady wasn't a super hero, he decided to be a pirate. Bryce had his heart set on Scooby Doo, and after much searching in stores and online (it was sold out everywhere) he settled for a "cute" monkey. He liked the costume at the store but on Halloween he informed me he didn't want to be cute :( Next year he wants to be scary! Kaitlyn and I stayed home. I didn't even dress her up! She slept through it all. There's always next year!