Rocky Mountain Baby

What's Not to Love?

2011-07-02T20:25:00.009+02:00

There are so many things that we love about our firstborn...his courage, his stubbornness, his big brown eyes (with eyelashes that would make any woman envious), but it is the little things that we love most about him. Right now, he is doing and saying some particularly cute things that make Emmett...well, Emmett.

We LOVE the way he:

1) says "I love you too", even when he is the one who says it first. I guess he just knows we love him.

2) insists that he is full after dinner and then 3 seconds later asks for a snack.

3) stretches the word "snack" into an eight syllable word....shnaaaaaaaack!

4) says "Again!" about 4,000 times a day. In Emmett's mind, if something was funny the first time, it will be just as funny the fiftieth.

5) calls all men "Daddies" and all women "Mommies", whether they have kids or not.

6) stops and looks at himself admiringly every time he passes a mirror...let's just say poor self-esteem is not an issue with this kid.

7) knows how to work the iPad better than either of us...without us ever teaching him.

8) makes us mimic his funny faces, even though his are much better.

9) says "You talk about it" when we ask him a question that he doesn't feel like answering.

10) prays for everything under the sun at bedtime...God bless the car, the house, the walls, and stickers, and stamps, and Santa, on and on and on...especially if he isn't ready to go to sleep yet :)

11) kisses his baby brother in Momma's belly...and tells him to be nice to me and not kick so much.

12) chooses his ice cream based on color, not flavor. Right now, green and blue are the winners.

13) searches for "clues" to solve mysteries all the time. Too much Scooby Doo perhaps?

14) still calls blankets "bibbets"...no idea where this came from, but it's adorable and Joe and I have taken to calling them the same thing.

15) says "Mommy, can you sit next to me?" when he is drinking from his sippy at night. He likes to play with my hair while he's drinking it. It soothes him.

16) thinks that bandaids magically heal all wounds, which is why he only keeps them on for about thirty seconds before taking them off and declaring himself healed.

17) snores...loudly. Of course, we will find this much more endearing when we are no longer sharing a bed with him in a hotel.

18) still talks about his last Halloween on an almost daily basis. He got to dress up as a shark and eat candy with his friends. It doesn't get much better than that.

19) shows real concern when he hears another child crying. Let's hope he's as compassionate with his baby brother.

20) is obsessed with the type of "flushers" all toilets have since we moved here. They look different here, and he is endlessly fascinated by them.

21) gives a play by play of every bowel movement he has. This can only be cute when coming from a three year old.

22) sings incredibly annoying, loud, monotonous songs and when asked to stop says, "but I made that song just for you"...making us feel both horrible and happy at the same time :)

23) loves to just be with us. We are dreading the day that this is no longer the case.

24) uses the number 24 for everything. Is it time to get out of the bathtub? "24 more minutes". What time is it? "24 o'clock", etc. We're pretty sure this is going to be his jersey number if he plays sports.

It is also the reason we are ending this list at number, you guessed it, 24 :)

Emmett Joseph, we love you more and more every single day. And, no matter what, you will will always be our baby.

Alsfeld that Ends Well

2011-06-27T08:47:00.002+02:00

Okay, that was a stretch with the title, but I'm feeling a little cheesy today :)

If you've visited this part of Europe (or maybe any part of Europe), you know that everything pretty much comes to a standstill on Sundays. With the exception of churches, restaurants and gas stations, everything else closes down. Determined not to spend an entire day locked up in our hotel, however, we ventured out to the little town of Alsfeld for a visit...what a gem we found! Beautiful buildings, amazing architecture, cute little bistros, and incidentally, one of the largest groups of American tourists we have seen to date. They were getting a tour of the town in English (note to self: I have GOT to sign up for one of those someday). There is obviously a lot of history in this little village, but I was content (for the time being) to just enjoy its beauty. It was a photographer's dream as every corner we turned looked like a postcard. Though I am definitely an amateur photographer, I snapped a few shots to share with each of you. Hope you enjoy!

Schönes Wochenende

2011-06-14T10:07:00.004+02:00

We had another beautiful weekend in Marburg, filled with relaxation and fun! Saturday we went to Circus Krone, which happened to be Emmett's very first circus...as well as mine! That's right, at the ripe age of 36, I had never seen a circus! E's favorites were the sea lions and other animals. I, however, preferred the performance acts--the jugglers, acrobats, and trapeze artists. So we were all happy, and E has been talking about it ever since.

Sunday, we packed up a picnic lunch and went to a nearby park. Joe and E ran some laps in a fruitless effort to wear our boy out, but alas, he was still up until almost 10 p.m. that night...I give up! In the afternoon, my amazing husband gave me three whole hours to myself as he and E went to a football game (yes, American football) here in Marburg. Apparently, they had a great time since Emmett was still crying when he got home...he didn't want to leave "that fun game". I spent my three hours taking a bubble bath and watching an entire movie...alone...uninterrupted. I can't remember the last time I did that. It was heavenly.

Finally, on Sunday, we decided to take a drive to Edersee, a lake just over an hour north of Marburg. It had been recommended to Joe by a colleague, so we thought we would check it out. The ride alone was worth the trip there--beautiful trees, adorable little towns, lush green grasses...I could go on and on. Once we arrived at Edersee, we found people camping, wind surfing, fishing, and drinking...it felt like we were right back in the U.S. It was a beautiful little spot, so I know we will be returning again soon, especially since there is an old castle which has been turned into a hotel. You can't pass up a chance to sleep in a castle, right? After a full day there, Emmett declared that his favorite part of the whole weekend was, you guessed it, throwing rocks in the lake. This kid is nothing if not consistent. A boy and his rocks.

Racing around the park

Hoarding rocks to throw into the lake

Taking in a double wide slide!

No matter where we go, E manages to find a popsicle :)

Reunited!

2011-06-06T13:59:00.000+02:00

A home just isn't a home without our Murphy Lee! Our 11 year old kitty arrived in Germany on Friday, and we were all thrilled to see him. We felt like a part of our little family was missing until he got here. I am sure that the last month has been traumatic for the poor guy--his first stay in a kennel (and a long one at that), a few trips to the vet, and an international flight (11 or so hours in an animal crate). He made it though, the little trooper, and he is settling in nicely so far. He has found his "safe spots" along with a few choice windows that provide hours of people-watching entertainment. Needless to say, Emmett is thrilled to have his buddy back...now it is starting to feel like home!

Zoo Enthusiasts

2011-06-06T13:26:00.002+02:00

Since Emmett is such an animal lover, we are making it our mission to visit every zoo that is within driving distance during our stay here. We had already seen the zoo in Frankfurt, so our next stop was the Kolner Zoo, in Koln (Cologne), Germany. Two of Joe's colleagues have a little battle going on as to which is the better of the two zoos...not surprisingly, the woman from Koln prefers the Kolner Zoo and the woman from Frankfurt is convinced that their zoo is the best. So, we were sent to break the tie.

Having seen them both, I can honestly say that they are both wonderful parks. However, the one in Koln might have just won out simply because it had an awesome aquarium, which we weren't expecting (of course, we told the two women that they tied...we don't need to make enemies already). Beautiful fresh and salt water aquariums kept E entertained for over an hour of our visit. What I love about seeing zoos in other countries is that they often have animals that we don't have at our zoos in the states, so we definitely saw a few new things during our trip.

Here are some pics of our visit to the Kolner zoo--enjoy!

Pirate Costume: Take 2

2011-05-30T19:46:00.003+02:00

This is the reason we HAD to get E a legitimate pirate ensemble. Since he started showing an interest in pirates a few weeks ago, he has been walking around the apartment wearing a makeshift costume (which really had nothing to do with pirates, but you have to give him credit for his creativity). Thus, the before AND after of Pirate Emmett:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Disneyland Paris

2011-05-30T12:03:00.005+02:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, we took Emmett to Disneyland Paris this weekend to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his Double Switch heart surgery. After a six hour drive there, we did little more than grab a bite to eat and crash into our beds for the night, hoping to be fully energized for the days ahead.

Day one didn't start out as planned. For some crazy reason, we didn't think they would be busy yet...I mean, it's only May, right? WRONG. It was nuts. We went downstairs for our breakfast, only to find that the two waiting lines wrapped outside of the restaurant, up the stairs, and into the lobby. I wanted to just say "Forget it" but Baby B had other ideas. I knew that if I didn't get something in my belly soon, Momma would pay the price. We waited for about ten minutes before we saw the hostess, who quite hurriedly pointed at my pregnant belly, called a waitress over, and immediately moved us to the front of the line (ahead of about 40 non-pregnant guests). Score! I finally found one advantage to going to an amusement park 30 weeks pregnant--sympathy seating!

After a nice continental breakfast of breads, cereal, yogurt, and fruit, we headed out for the park...and not a moment too soon, as E had been talking about seeing pirates since the minute he woke up in the morning. Our first stop was Adventureland, because, well, that's where the pirates live. It is there that E took his first real ride--Pirates of the Caribbean. As much as he wanted to enjoy it, he just couldn't crack a smile. It was a little too dark, a little too scary, and a little too creepy for our Big E. We had to laugh though, because Emmett being Emmett, he never cried or complained. He also NEVER changed his expression, not once, even when the boat took a little dip down river. He just stared straight ahead...so serious. Any of you that really know Emmett can totally picture this, I'm sure. I love that kid.

Since our first ride wasn't a huge success, we decided to follow it up with a classic, "It's a Small World". It is a very small world indeed, and it became a very familiar one as we rode it four times in just two days. Truth be told, E would have probably ridden it four more times had we let him. He loved it. And every time, he just took it all in, noticing something new around every corner. He's such a little observer.

Aside from these two rides, Daddy took him flying with Dumbo as well as Peter Pan. We also spent time at a couple of playgrounds, explored hidden caves, crossed a suspension bridge, and ate numerous popsicles. One of our favorite E moments was when we were walking through a cave. He was leading the way in full pirate attire--hat, flag, and sword at the ready. After turning a particularly dark corner, he immediately stopped, switched on his oh-so-serious face, and headed out of the cave saying "I don't think so...there's pirates in there".

Last but not least, the parade. Joe and I went to Disneyland Paris eleven years ago. Of course, we were in our twenties with no kids, so mostly we just hung out at the restaurants and had some drinks. It was also in October, a particularly slow time at the park, so seeing the parade was not a big deal. In fact, it seemed like we kept accidentally running into it, without planning. Not the case this time. People started claiming their spots along the parade route an hour in advance. Knowing that E probably wouldn't make it an hour, we decided to hit the gift shop, take a potty break, and try to find a spot before it started. This was when Operation Baby Bump came through yet again. As we were wandering the streets, a Disney employee stopped me and asked if I was looking for a place to watch the parade. I said yes, and he pulled back the rope to the handicapped section. He said "You should't be walking around in your condition. Come stand back here." Front row, baby! Apparently, in France, being pregnant is a handicap. I'll take it. I was so tired and sore at this point that I didn't think I could walk a step further anyway. Go Disneyland--way to treat the Mommas!

All in all, our first Disney experience with Emmett was a huge success. In fact, as we were loading up the car, he was crying "I don't want to leave this happy place. I love it here!" Something tells me this won't be our last trip to Disney :)

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Happy Anniversary!

2011-05-25T21:08:00.000+02:00

One year ago today, Joe and I handed over our sweet boy to the surgical team at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital one more time for his third (and hopefully final) heart surgery. Though we had been down this road before, this surgery felt different. On one hand, we were relieved knowing that the "big one" would be behind us soon. On the other hand, we knew this surgery was the most risky one yet. I cannot begin to explain the amount of faith that it takes in God and the surgeons to trust them with your child's life. We felt a tremendous sense of hope and helplessness, all at the same time. We had been discussing this surgery, the "double switch" since I was pregnant though, and we truly believed that it offered the best hope for a long, healthy, and normal life for Emmett. One year later, we still believe we made the right decision.

Joe and I know how lucky we are. We get to wake up to Emmett's big, beautiful smile every day. We get to watch him play, hear him laugh, and feel his hugs. We know that not everyone is this fortunate. Throughout Emmett's journey, we have met other heart families, either in person or online, who still have a long road ahead of them. We also know families who are dealing with the very harsh reality of losing a child to heart disease. We think of them every day and keep them in our prayers, not really having a clue what they're going through...and not knowing why our own beautiful child was spared.

To commemorate the one year anniversary of E's surgery, we are doing two things this week. First of all, we booked a little getaway for EuroDisney this weekend. Remembering the difficult time we were going through this time last year, we just wanted this weekend to be about having fun and celebrating Emmett's life. Believe me when I say that it is ALL Emmett wants to talk about this week...and admittedly, Joe and I are just as excited (maybe even more so)!

The second thing we are going to do is make a donation to The Children's Fund at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. The Lucile Packard Children's Fund supports the Hospital's highest priorities each year in areas that are not covered by insurance: Family and Community Services, Pediatric Research, and Care for All. With Emmett's condition being so rare, we did our homework and felt that LPCH, and specifically, Dr. Frank Hanley, was the right choice for Emmett's care. Their love for children combined with their innovative, ground-breaking work has given hope to families from all around the world who want nothing but the very best for their children. Joe and I have made a commitment to financially support their work every year on this day. We truly feel that they are angels on earth, doing amazing work for children and families. If you feel a tug in your heart to support their mission as well, please read more about ways to give here.

Finally, Joe and I would like to thank each of you, once again, for your support throughout the last four years. Since E's diagnosis in utero, we have felt overwhelming love and compassion from family members, friends, and even strangers who offered everything from prayers to meals to advice. We appreciated each and every gesture, and cannot begin to thank you all enough for keeping our family in your thoughts. It is hard to believe that just one year past his 9 hour open heart surgery, we are living in Germany with a feisty, strong-willed, and healthy Emmett, preparing for the new addition to our family in August. Yes, we are truly blessed.

Much Love,
Missy, Joe, and of course, Big E

Emmett right after his Double Switch - May 26, 2010

Emmett and his hero, Dr. Frank Hanley of LPCH

Koblenz

2011-05-24T16:25:00.000+02:00

Saturday, we ventured out to the beautiful town of Koblenz, about 140 km southwest of Marburg. Joe had seen online that they gave boat tours, and we were pretty sure that would be right up E's alley. Our first little adventure came with trying to use our car's navigation system in German. It got us to Koblenz, but detoured us through every little German town between here and there. Oh well, we just chalked it up to a learning experience and a nice little scenic tour. Needless to say though, we made sure that the drive home was more direct.

Upon arriving in Koblenz, I immediately hopped out of the car to find the nearest tourist center (and bathroom, of course) while Joe and E patiently waited for a parking spot to open up in the garage. Little did we know that there was a children's street fair and a summer-long horticultural event going on, so the place was jam-packed. All along the river were various boat tours that ranged from one to several hours long. Having never taken E on a tour like this, we decided to play it safe and see how he managed for an hour.

The weather was PERFECT--I was more than comfortable in my little sleeveless maternity dress (looking every bit 29 weeks pregnant, and feeling it too, by the way). We sat on the top, out in the sun, and just enjoyed the cool breeze and beautiful scenery. A fortress and a castle were among the beautiful sites, but E only had eyes for the ice cream offerings, so we caved in and let him have a kid's sundae before we even had lunch. It kept him quiet and happy the rest of the cruise...totally worth it. At the end of the hour, we asked E what he thought of the boat ride. In his words, "We floated around and ate ice cream. It was a good time." Deeps thoughts...by Emmett.

After grabbing some lunch at a cute little Italian bistro, we headed up to the castle, thinking that a little tour would nicely round out our day. So we handed over 40 euros for two tickets (a little steep, I thought) and began the not so quick climb up to the castle doors. We walked around a little while before asking the guy at the information desk where we could sign up for a tour. We were then informed that there was nothing to tour in the castle. Most of it was destroyed during the war and what parts have been restored are now government offices. Say what??? No royal bedrooms to ogle at, no thrones, no artwork? What the heck did we pay for then? I was told "the atmosphere". Thanks for that, but I could have gotten "atmosphere" somewhere else for a lot less than 60 bucks. Oh well, live and learn. *

* Footnote: We did discover later that our 20 euro tickets included a few other attractions; unfortunately, there was no time left in our day to take advantage of them. Next time, we will buy the tickets early :)

They did have beautiful gardens though and a few entertainment options--a dance performance, an a cappella group, some birds on display...an interesting mixture of odds and ends. However, we found the best part last...a little wading pond that you could take off your shoes and walk through. Sounds a little strange, I know, but you should have seen the look on E's face when he saw it. "Can I go in that water?" he asked hopefully. "Of course" we said and in he went. Of course, walking isn't really E's style. So it was only a matter of seconds before he was running full force through it, soaking his shorts in the process. His shorts got so wet, and so heavy, that they started to fall down. Eventually, he was running through the water, shorts around his ankles, his adorable little Finding Nemo tighty whities on display for all of Koblenz to see (and, yes, there is photographic evidence in the collage below). I thought the old German men were going to bust something laughing at him, and I have to admit, I almost wet my pants doing the same thing (not a tough feat at 7 months pregnant). I jumped in, fished him out, changed his shorts, and off we went...Emmett protesting the entire time. He had no problem running around half naked and was not ready to go home yet.

So that, in a nutshell, was our day in Koblenz. Quite fun, quite peaceful, and quite possibly a place that we will visit again very soon!

Blog: Take 2

2011-05-24T10:35:00.001+02:00

Yes, yes, I realize that the blog is a little outdated now. I can no longer technically call Emmett my Rocky Mountain Baby, and I, alas, am no longer a Rocky Mountain Momma. Therefore, the blog is in need of some updating. This will happen eventually, with the help of my technologically savvy BFF, Dana, I'm sure :)

I also must warn you that I will be taking over as head writer of the site, as Emmett has been quite the slacker lately. I mean, no posts since March...what's up with that, Big E? So, until he can become a little more consistent, he will only be making the occasional guest blogger appearance for the time being. I know that he is a more talented writer than me, not to mention funnier, more creative, and let's be honest, cuter...however, you'll just have to take what you can get for now. For my part, I promise to keep you all updated on our journey over the next two years...the ups, the downs, the highs, the lows, the travels, the adventures, and of course, THE BOYS!

Sending lots of love from Deutschland!
Frau Missy

Your New Head Writer (and my little "in utero intern")

We Made It!

2011-05-24T10:09:00.000+02:00

Well, we did it! We made the move. I have to be completely honest here (I mean a blog is where you share your deepest, darkest truths, right?) When Joe came to me several months ago and told me he would like to apply for a job in Germany, I thought "What could be the harm? He might not get it anyway, right?" I honestly didn't think that it would pan out, so when he told me that he'd been offered the job, I suddenly realized the enormity of it all. Moving internationally...with a 3 year old...almost 7 months pregnant. Friends have called me brave, but actually, I think I am just plain nuts. However, we have done this before. And, like before, I know that in the end we'll be glad we have the experience under our belts. Afterall, we are giving our kids an amazing opportunity to be immersed in a new culture, visit fun and exciting places, and hopefully, learn a new language while we're at it (at least a little).

So, now that the shock has worn off, I can tell you that our first week or so in Marburg has been a success. Joe is obviously working, so that leaves E and I the daytime to explore our new surroundings. We are currently living in a hotel, which is wonderful and beautiful. I mean, I haven't made my own bed since I got here and the laundry magically washes itself. Since this is probably the last time in my life that I will get to say that, I am going to enjoy it while I can. However, I must say that I am very excited to move into our apartment in July, so that E has more room to run, and I have a bigger kitchen to get creative in (at least until the baby gets here, when I'm sure we'll be back in carry-out mode for a while).

This week, Emmett and I found all the important things: the best place to feed ducks in the river, the best lunch spots, the neighborhood grocery store, the playgrounds, all of the public restrooms (since Baby B seems to be using my bladder as a trampoline these days), and of course, the toy store. As far as E is concerned, there are no other necessities in life. Ahhh, to be three again!

We have the beautiful old Botanical Gardens, which serves as a wonderful picnic area (plus there is a pond to throw rocks in, so E is in heaven). Joe took us to the zoo in Frankfurt, which is beautiful and much bigger than we anticipated...let's just say that the season pass will be a must. And, last weekend, we took our first day trip to the town of Koblenz. Beautiful. That will be in a separate blog post.

So, as with anything there are pros and cons. Here is how the list is playing out for us right now:
Pros:
* Beautiful scenery
* New places to explore
* New people to meet
* Tasty news foods to eat
* Wonderful new memories to be made

Con:
* Missing all of you :(

So, friends and family, if you are up for a little European adventure, please know that the Balleydier Haus is always open (as of July, that is). Free room and board...you just have to offer up a night of babysitting :)

We love and miss you all!

Missy, Joe, and Big E

Hey There, Remember Me?

2011-03-27T03:24:00.000+02:00

My, my, my...where has the time gone? I haven't updated this site since...that's right...OCTOBER! Oy!!!

No excuses, just a simple lack of motivation and inspiration. I don't want you to think that we haven't been doing anything the last five months...hardly! In fact, we have had some major life changes in the works lately. Will fill you in on that later.

For now, however, I wanted to do something that is LONG overdue. The love of our lives, Big E, turned the Big Three on December 28th. As I did with his second birthday, I would like to catch you up on some of his favorite things--make that 3 favorite things (covering a wide variety of topics). I actually "interviewed" him, so this is straight from the horse's mouth!
Here goes:

THE THREES OF THREE YEAR OLD EMMETT:

3 Favorite TV Shows:
1) Max & Ruby (much to Daddy's dismay)
2) Scooby Doo (much to Mommy's dismay, only because I'm sick of it)
3) Go, Diego, Go!

3 Favorite SHNAAACKS (that's snacks, Emmett style):
1) Ice cream (preferably vanilla shakes or Oreo Blizzards)
2) Blueberry Pop-tarts
3) Granola bars

3 Favorite Toys:
1) Candyland
2) Stickers
3) Moon Sand (messy...thanks, Grandma Donna :)

3 Favorite Colors:
1) Green
2) Orange
3) Blue

3 Favorite Places to Visit:
1) Zoo
2) Ice cream store
3) Aquarium/Mall (tie--he couldn't pick just one)

3 Favorite Animals:
1) Sharks
2) Dinosaurs
3) Fish (particularly the arapaima--look it up)

Well, that's a quick snapshot of our big 3 year old boy. He amazes us everyday with his intelligence, wit, and uncanny ability to get anything he wants ;) We don't know what we ever did without him!

On the Road Again

2010-10-31T22:01:00.000+01:00

....or at least on the plane again. Momma and I were feeling a little homesick to see the family, so we decided to take a last minute trip back to the S-T-L! In six days, we managed to see almost all of our family AND score some serious snuggle time in the process!

We also realized that this was my 10th round trip on an airplane--whew! That is more than my Momma had flown at 25 years old. Just call me Emmett, World Traveller.

The Great Pumpkin!

2010-10-31T21:45:00.000+01:00

I love this time of year! Mostly because it's Mommy's favorite time of year, so she's been in a GREAT mood. Playing outside, baking cookies, picking out a Halloween costume, and of course, finding the perfect pumpkin! Mommy, Daddy, and I went to the pumpkin farm (actually, a couple of them) in search of just the right pumpkin to carve. We found a couple, and I must say...I know how to pick 'em! Here are some pictures of the Great Pumpkin Search of 2010. Enjoy!

The Gang Was All Here

2010-08-11T03:26:00.000+02:00

A couple weeks ago, Grandma Donna, Aunt Spring, and my cousins (Tory, Avary, and Libby) all came to see me. That was our fourth (that's right, fourth) set of house guests in less than 2 months. It's busy, busy, busy when your'e as popular as me!

While my cousins were here, we visited Tiny Town--this really cool little town that was just my size. All of the buildings were my height, and there was even a little choo-choo that we got to ride in. It was pretty cool. We also went to Estes Park, Rocky Mountain Park, outlet mall shopping, and swimming. I even went down the waterslide ALL BY MYSELF! I am the man.

Here are some pics from our super fun family time!

Pinch Me

2010-07-17T03:46:00.000+02:00

Yesterday, we had our second follow-up with my cardiologist, Dr. Y, since my double switch surgery. And, once again, we got a great report! He says that my heart is functioning beautifully and that I have no activity restrictions anymore. Music to my ears! And a HUGE relief to my Mommy and Daddy. They still can't believe that the surgery they had been dreading since before I was even born is over...and I'm having a hard time believing it myself. We have a lot to be thankful for...a healing God, amazing friends, a supportive family, and incredible doctors. It's been a good year, and it looks like it's only going to get better :)

BFF

2010-07-17T03:38:00.000+02:00

It doesn't get much better than spending time with your BFF. Last weekend, my Momma got to do just that. Her best friend of 20 YEARS (wow, that's a long time!), Dana, and her family, came to visit. While we didn't have much time together, we made the most of it. I put on the charm for her cute 3 year old daughter, Natalie, and I even spent some quality time with her seven month old baby, Charlotte. Gotta keep my options open...afterall, either one of them could be looking for a prom date one of these days, and they're both pretty darn cute :)

We ate, we played, we celebrated Natalie's birthday, we laughed. It was a good time, and we miss them already. Come back, Auntie D!

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So Much To Say...

2010-07-17T03:04:00.000+02:00

I know, I know...I've been a slacker. It's just that we were all a little "blogged out" after the surgery. Momma wore her fingers out typing all those updates on me!

Needless to say, I am doing terrific! I'll update more on that later. First though, I wanted to let you know what I have been up to the last few weeks. Soon after Grandma Donna and the fam left, we had our next round of visitors. I am soooo popular. This time, my Uncle Monte, Aunt Sarah, and cousin Addisyn came to visit me. It was their first trip out here, and I was super excited to show them my hometown. Unlike Momma and Daddy, I can honestly say that I am a "Native". That's a pretty big deal around these parts :)

We had so much fun together! We looked at fish at the aquarium (my favorite), took a couple drives through the mountains and Rocky Mountain National Park, and threw a big 4th of July bash. All in all, one of my more successful hosting gigs. And, since Uncle Monte takes about 500 pictures a day, I have plenty of photographic evidence to support that claim. Here are just a few of the thousands of pictures from their visit!

Our LPCH Heroes!

2010-06-12T04:09:00.000+02:00

Over the last year and a half, I have had three surgeries at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. I stayed 10 days with the first surgery, 9 days with the second, and 8 days with the third. That's a total of 27 days spent with the most incredible medical professionals IN THE WORLD. We love our LPCH family, and cannot thank them enough for taking such good care of me and my parents. Here are some pictures of just some of the nurses, PAs, and doctors that took care of me during this last visit. Thank you from the bottom of my new and improved heart!!!

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A Great Report

2010-06-11T17:42:00.000+02:00

Yesterday, I went for my follow up appointment with Dr. Y. Momma was a little nervous about the echocardiogram, because 1) she thought I might freak out about going back to a hospital, and 2) it was the first one I'd had since getting out of the hospital and into a normal routine again. Of course, I handled the visit like a rockstar, as usual, and my heart has never looked better. I told her not to worry, but you know how Moms can be...

Dr. Y was amazed at how well my heart is functioning. That really big leak that I used to have when I was a baby is completely gone now! I now have some minor leakage in my mitral and aortic valves, but he's not worried about it, so I'm not either. Dr. Y said that he is always hesitant to tell patients they're "in the clear", but he really believes that the worst is behind me. Once I get past this 6 week recovery time, I won't have any restrictions on physical activity, so I can spend the rest of the summer swimming, running, and wreaking havoc at the playground--yay!!!

Here is a picture of me with my buddy, Dr. Y.

Center of Attention

2010-06-11T17:38:00.000+02:00

Well, we made it back safe and sound. I am so happy to be back in my own house with my own toys and my own kitties. To make our return even better, my Great-Grandma Norma, Grandma Donna, Papa Jim, and Aunt Carol came for a visit. They brought me presents, played with me, and showered me with attention--just the way I like it! That is why I haven't updated you all for a while, but since they left last night, I have a little more time on my hands.

Thank you again for all of the prayers and good thoughts while I was in the hospital. I am a tough guy, but I still couldn't have done it without all of you!

Digital slideshow created with Smilebox

Freedom!

2010-06-03T20:19:00.000+02:00

Well, we did it...we busted out of the hospital! Emmett was discharged this morning and not a moment too soon :)

In a way, it was a little sad saying goodbye to the hospital and the wonderful staff who have taken care of Emmett over the years. Yet, with huge smiles and warm hugs we all agreed that "We hope we never see you again!" At least not under the same circumstances.

Emmett is now back at the hotel, taking a little nap in the bed next to me. I just look at him and marvel at his strength and courage. When God made him, he certainly knew what He was doing.

Thank you to all of our friends and family members who followed E's story, sent cards and gifts, prayed for him, and cheered him on. We are very, very lucky to have you all in our lives. And a HUGE thank you to the doctors, nurses, and staff at LPCH--thank you for treating our son like the unique and amazing individual that he is rather than seeing him as "just another patient". You will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

Much love from Cali,
Missy, Joe, and of course, Big E

Light at the End of the Tunnel

2010-06-02T03:20:00.001+02:00

Last night, Emmett moved out of the CVICU and into a step-down unit on 3 West. This was a huge accomplishment--only 5 days post surgery! That is the soonest he has left the ICU yet. We requested a twin size bed so that we could lay next to him and watch movies. Last night, Joe stayed, and tonight I'll be the lucky one snuggling up next to Emmett. We have tried to get him a little exercise today. We went for a couple wagon rides, sat outside in the sun, and played with him on the floor a bit. He can't hold weight on his legs yet, but we'll keep trying. He STILL won't talk to us. I would be concerned, but he did the same thing last time. If this silent treatment is any indication of what he is going to be like as a teenager, we're in serious trouble :)

He had a chest xray, echocardiogram, and bloodwork today. As far as we know, they all looked good. They took out his temporary pacing wires today and removed his last IV. They just now took him off oxygen to see how he does. If this positive trend continues, he will be discharged on Thursday. God is good!

The Big Move!

Sharing my new bed with Mommy

Taking a stroll in the sun

Movin' on Up (to the West Side!)

2010-06-01T00:10:00.000+02:00

Having another good day medically speaking. Unfortunately, E's a little depressed and not quite himself yet. He only says the occasional word when he needs something, but otherwise he is giving us the silent treatment. Last time around, this stage really bothered me (and brought me to tears numerous times over a three day period). This time, however, I have the advantage of experience, and I KNOW that Emmett will be just fine once we step out of these hospital doors :)

They just took a chest x-ray to check his lungs, and if all goes well, they will be moving him out of the ICU and into a regular room on 3 West tonight. Fingers crossed!

Will post more as we know it. Thanks for all the prayers and positive thoughts!

A Brand New Day

2010-05-30T19:40:00.000+02:00

Last night, Emmett made huge strides. He woke up (lucky Daddy was here to witness that) and wanted something to drink. When the nurse tried to hold a wet sponge up to his mouth, Emmett uttered his first words "Emmy do it". He wanted to do it himself...of course. That's my boy!

I was so relieved and proud to walk into the room this morning and see those big, beautiful, brown eyes looking back at me. He looks amazing today! He's still a bit sedative drunk, but he's talking a little and tugging at this lines a lot :) They just removed his left atrium line, and they will be removing another chest tube tube this afternoon. Sometime today, I WILL hold him :)

Unfortunately, Mom and Dad had to leave early this morning, so they didn't get to see him awake. We are just happy that they got to spend so much time with us. Safe travels, Grandma Cookie and Papa Mike...we love you!

With Grandma Cookie and Papa Mike, Day of Surgery

With his animals and books, Post-op Day 4

The Picture of Health

2010-05-30T00:30:00.000+02:00

Well...almost :) Emmett has had another good day. His chest x-ray looked good, his oxygen mask came off, and one of his chest tubes was removed. He has spiked a fairly significant fever this afternoon. His CBC and diff looked good, so they don't think it's an infection, but that's always a concern, so they're keeping an eye on him. He hasn't opened his eyes yet, but he has "woken up" a few times...just long enough to say "Momma" in the most pathetic voice you've ever heard...and attempt to pull out some of his tubes. Luckily he runs out of energy pretty quickly so the wrestling matches don't last too long. They are planning to take out his left atrium line tomorrow, and once that is gone, I can hold my baby--yay!!!

Here is a picture of him today (before the oxygen mask was removed). He is looking more and more like himself with each passing moment.

Extubated and It Feels So Good!

2010-05-29T00:40:00.001+02:00

E is going to be one happy camper when he wakes up without that breathing tube in--woo hoo!

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye

2010-05-28T22:47:00.000+02:00

This morning, Papa Joe, Grandma Judy, and Aunt Melissa had to go back home. Unfortunately, Emmett wasn't awake yet, so they didn't get to see his beautiful brown eyes. They did, however, get to spend another hour or so holding his hand, rubbing his back, and watching his little chest rise at fall at the beat of his amazing, improved heart.

As sad as it was to see them go, we are just so happy they could be here with us. We love you guys!

Day 2

2010-05-28T01:17:00.000+02:00

Sorry that I haven't updated today...I have been posting on Facebook mostly. Emmett is doing great! He had a peaceful night, his vitals are good, and his pain seems to be under control. He had a chest x-ray and echo done today, and they both look good. There is a slight leak in his mitral valve, but they don't seem concerned at this point--they will just keep monitoring him. Of course, Emmett being Emmett, he has already tried to escape a few times. One second, he is completely out of it, the next moment, he is thrashing about like a wild man. Joe and I told the nurses that he goes from zero to sixty in no time, but they didn't heed our warnings. NOW they know :) They upped his sedative, putting him on a continuous drip, and he's doing better now. Though his little fights keep us busy and a little panicked, I am happy that he is so darn feisty...what a little fighter!

His surgeon came by to see him today, and he is very happy with E's progress, as are we. It's been a GOOD day!

Trying to get comfortable...

Our hero, Emmett, with his hero, Dr. Hanley

In the Homestretch...

2010-05-27T00:40:00.001+02:00

We got word almost two hours ago that Emmett was off bypass and his heart was beating on its own...sweeter words have never been spoken. They aren't quite finished yet, but the hardest part is over. Dr. Hanley should be around to speak with Joe and I soon. After that, it's just a matter of closing him up, and then we get to see our baby!

I am in awe of my son's strength and resiliency. I don't even know what else to say right now...I am just so proud to be his Mommy. We will update again once we see him...thank you for all of the prayers and well wishes!

Here We Go...

2010-05-26T18:09:00.000+02:00

About an hour and a half ago, Joe and I handed our sweet little boy over to the doctors. He is ready for surgery and waiting, perhaps they've even started by now. This is going to be a long day. We do, however, have the support of my parents, Joe's Dad and stepmom, and his sister, Melissa--not to mention the support of hundreds of friends, family members, and strangers, all praying for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. We are blessed. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We will keep you posted :)

Does It Get Any Better Than This?

2010-05-25T04:42:00.000+02:00

Today was all about Emmett. From beginning to end, we tried to pack in as many Emmett-centric activities as we could. And I'm here to tell you...WE SUCCEEDED! Monterey Aquarium, an oceanfront lunch, and a couple hours spent exploring the beach for shells, crabs, sea urchins, and fish. I know Emmett had to be thinking, "Does it get any better than this???"

Thankful

2010-05-24T15:43:00.000+02:00

Well, it's 6:30 a.m. West Coast time...I've been awake for almost 45 minutes (darn time zones)...I'm sitting here on the bed listening to my favorite sound...Emmett snoring. Nothing has ever sounded so sweet. It's funny how things that would annoy you (or gross you out) about anyone else in the world are amazingly cute when done by your own child--snoring, "boogie" picking, missing the toilet, leg kicking tantrums, etc, etc, etc...

As I lay here next to Emmett and prepare for his third (and hopefully, final!) heart surgery this Wednesday, I am reminded that Emmett is a gift to Joe and I. He isn't "ours". He's on loan, so to speak, from our Father. The Father who created Emmett and his special heart...the Father who got him through two previous surgeries...the Father who loves him more than I could ever dream of (as hard as that is to imagine). And we are so unbelievably thankful that God has entrusted this amazing, beautiful little boy to us.

We have lived by the following verse with Emmett:
"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for you are my praise."
Jeremiah 17:14

Today, however, thanks to our blogger friend, Deann, we are mindful of Psalm 139...the words ring so true with our little boy.

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

We will cherish these words over the next few days...always mindful that God knows Emmett's heart better than anyone, and He alone will get him through this.

We are thankful for the flooding of prayers from family, friends, and strangers...
We are thankful for the MDs, PAs, RNs, RTs, and every other person with an acronym at Lucile Packard that will be taking care of our little guy this week...
We are thankful that we will have the support of grandparents (and an aunt!) on surgery day...
We are thankful for life-long friends, like Auntie Dana over at Mommy Brain, who dedicated her blog to Emmett today. Take a look and grab a button for E!

Tomorrow, we begin the process. Today, we just have fun and enjoy every amazingly annoying and adorable little thing that Emmett does. We love you, Big E!

Blast From the Past

2010-05-19T15:25:00.001+02:00

I was just looking through some old photos of E and getting nostalgic...so I thought I would share. He really is the cutest little guy I've ever laid eyes on (says the completely unbiased mother). These were taken on a hike in Keystone in August of 2008, when Emmett was just about 8 months old.

I LOVE hiking...

...but I love sleeping more!

Are you sitting down?

2010-05-15T17:09:00.000+02:00

We got the shock of our lives yesterday. Emmett's cardiologist called to tell us the results of his tests. The good news: his heart is doing well. The left ventricle is doing it's job..in fact, it is working harder than they anticipated. The shocking news: after speaking with Dr. Hanley, they both feel very strongly that we don't want to miss this window for the double switch surgery. So, they have scheduled his operation for May 26th.

I am going back and forth between feelings of dread and relief. On one hand, I don't want E to have to go through this...I am deeply afraid for him. On the other hand, I want this behind us. I want Emmett to have the healthy and full life he deserves. I know this is bound to be the longest 2 or 3 weeks of our lives, but, on the bright side, it will all be over soon. Joe and I have never needed your prayers more than we do right now. Please pray for continued strength for our amazing little guy. We love him so much and just want him to be well.

Thanks again for your love and support...it means the world to us!

And We're Off...

2010-05-10T20:27:00.000+02:00

I just found out that Children's Hospital was able to switch some things around, and Emmett will be having BOTH his Cardiac Cath and MRI done tomorrow. Though I'm not looking forward to it, I am thrilled that he will only have to go under anesthesia once this week--what a relief!

Sooo...we check in at 8:30 a.m., the cath starts at 10:30, with the MRI following immediately afterwards. He will then have to lie flat in the hospital bed for several hours before we can go home. It will be a long day, but at least we may have some answers by the end of it.

Thanks again for your love for Emmett (and Joe and I). I woke up this morning, read all of your wonderful posts, and had a nice, happy, little cry--believe me, it was needed!

Assuming we have an internet connection tomorrow, I will try to keep you all updated on E's progress throughout the day.

Much love,
Missy

Update on E

2010-05-10T06:48:00.000+02:00

From Guest Blogger, Emmett's Mommy...it is Mother's Day, afterall!

Hello friends and family, and Happy Mother's Day to all of you amazing Mommies out there! Earlier today I posted a little message on Facebook about Emmett needing some tests done, so I thought I would elaborate on that a bit to set some minds at ease.

Thursday was E's cardiology appointment with Dr. Y. Normally, this is a very routine visit - check in, visit fish, grab a snack, check stats, get an echo, have a quick visit with Dr. Y and we're on our way. This has become so routine, in fact, that the last few visits, I have told Joe not to even worry about coming (save that vacation time for a real vacation!) Unfortunately, on Thursday's visit, I wish I'd had Joe with me. All was going well, echo was complete, and we were just waiting for the good doc to drop by. He walked by the room, said he was going to take a quick look at the echo, and be right in....fifteen minutes later, a nurse practitioner came by instead. I knew this wasn't good. She mentioned that Dr. Y was making a call to Dr. Hanley (E's surgeon at Stanford--also not a good sign). She then started to ask questions about Emmett's activity level as of late. Is he wearing out faster? How's the color in his face? Is his breathing labored? Etc. I said that, other than sweating at night, and some occasional bags under his eyes (much like his Mommy's), he was a perfectly "normal" 2 year old. She was very pleasant, playing with Emmett, but I knew something was amiss.

A few minutes later, Dr. Y came in, smile on his face. He gave E his high five and knuckles, listened to his heart, and gave him a good once over. Then came the sentence I was dreading, "I am a little concerned about Emmett's echo today". My heart dropped. What? We hadn't received a bad echo report since BEFORE his first surgery a year and a half ago. Dr. Y said that his left ventricular function was just a little different this time, but was quick to note that he may be making a bigger deal of it than necessary. Regardless, he wants Emmett to get an MRI and Cardiac catheterization done this week--double yikes since they both require anesthesia. We are hopeful that they can schedule the tests together for this reason. We are praying that the tests will simply serve to assure us that everything is fine. If, however, the tests show a negative finding, E's cardiologist will consult with his surgeon, and we'll come together on a plan for Emmett.

I admit that I did something that I don't often do on these visits...I started to cry. I felt a little like a bad Mom--I mean, was Emmett showing signs that I had just missed? After speaking with Joe and several of my friends who spend time with E, however, I realize that no one saw any signs. The optimistic side of me says that this is a great sign! If he is acting this strong and healthy, he must be fine. The worried Momma side of me, however, says that something could be wrong. I am choosing to remain optimistic. We adore Dr. Y (and he adores Emmett), so we pray that he's just being overly cautious.

I will update as soon as I know when the tests will be. In the meantime, please pray for Emmett. While you're at it, have your friends, family members, co-workers, church friends, next door neighbors, and supermarket clerks say a prayer too :) I truly believe that all of your prayers have made an incredible difference in our lives so far. We have an amazing God, who is holding Emmett firmly in his hands, and there are no other hands that I would rather he be in :)

Much, much, much love from the Rockies,
Missy, Joe and Big E

I'm Still Here--I Promise!

2010-05-09T08:09:00.001+02:00

Sorry I am so behind...I know you are probably missing me like crazy! I promise to commit some serious time to catching you up on all things Emmett very soon. There is so much to tell, including a trip back to St. Louis to visit my family AND my first time in a tuxedo. Intrigued? You're just going to have to wait, because I am a man in demand :)

In the meantime, here is a a little teaser photo...more to follow soon!

My New Book

2010-04-02T02:48:00.001+02:00

Daddy had this brilliant idea. Since I loved the animals on our trip SOOO much, he thought it would be nice to make a photo book for me of all my favorites! So, Mommy got right to it. She printed out the pictures, put them in a photo album, and then wrote the animal names down so that (hopefully) I will learn to read them someday. I LOVE IT! I have carried it with me all day and looked at the pictures, like, a hundred times! Who knew such a simple little thing could make a two year old so happy??? Take a look for yourself...

NOTE FROM MOMMY: The cutest thing is that Emmett calls the meerkat "Murray Cat" . Murray is what E calls our cat, Murphy. He's just a little confused :)

San Diego on My Mind

2010-03-31T00:57:00.000+02:00

REALLY early this morning (at like midnight), Mommy, Daddy and I got back from our trip to San Diego. We had so much fun! Everyday was packed with animals, beaches, walks and FOOD--my kind of vacation. As much as I loved San Diego though, it's always nice to come home to my own stuff. Click on the video scrapbook below of our super cool California getaway (be patient--it takes a few minutes to load)!

Customize a free scrapbooking design

Fave Photo of the Week

2010-03-24T20:33:00.001+01:00

Last week, that is. Can't you just see how much my Daddy and I adore each other? He's my best friend :)

I'm a Macaroni Kid!

2010-03-22T21:25:00.000+01:00

Last week, Mommy and Auntie Dana decided to start a new venture. They are now officially Publishing Moms for Macaroni Kid. What is Macaroni Kid, you ask? It is a free weekly email newsletter and website that lists all the upcoming happenings and events for kids in our community. Mommy and Dana do all the research and find out what is going on locally--all you have to do is sign up and they send that information to you! She also says that they plan to include recipes, music and event reviews, giveaways, and a bunch of other stuff in the future. Pretty cool, huh?

Finally, Mommy has something to do with her time besides smooch on me all day...maybe I'll get a little break from her :)

If you live in the area, please support my Mommy by subscribing to her website . Just go to www.broomfield.macaronikid.com and click on "Subscribe Now". It's totally free! I promise! And they don't share your info with anyone--Momma can't stand telemarketers either, trust me. If you don't live in the area, do a search for your city on the national Macaroni Kid website. If there isn't a Publishing Mom (or Dad) in your area, talk to my Mommy about becoming one yourself. She thinks it's super fun.

Thanks everyone...love from the Rockies!
Emmett

How Big Am I???

2010-03-18T21:17:00.000+01:00

You will never guess what I did last night! Mommy was at Bible Study, so Daddy and I were having a guys' night at home. I was taking a bath (my second favorite thing in the world right after dinosaurs), when all of a sudden I had to go poo-poo. Sorry if this is too much information, but you're gonna love where this story goes.

Anyway, I said to Daddy "Uh-oh, poo-poo"....well Daddy was just sure that I had gone #2 in the bathtub (even though I have NEVER done that - yuck!). He came over to check, and saw that, indeed, the tub was clean. So he said, "Do you have to go poo-poo now?" Duh, Dad, isn't that what I just said? So he gets me out of the tub and puts me on the toilet. I sat there for a few minutes, smiling and feeling all big-boy like, and then suddenly...it happened! I went poo-poo on the potty for the first time ever! I got to flush the toilet myself and everything.

After hearing about this, Mommy said I must be ready for potty training. And, boy, am I! We might just have to wait until after our vacation next week--don't know about the accessibility of potties at Sea World...anyway, Daddy was so excited about my first poo-poo in the potty experience that he gave me an ice cream cone--that alone made it worth it. Mommy even got me out of bed when she got home to congratulate me. She also started to cry a little, because this means I'm not a little baby anymore. She's not so sure how she feels about that yet :)

Comic Strip - Part II

2010-03-17T17:41:00.000+01:00

You may remember that on our last trip to Washington, Mommy and Dana created a comic strip of us coming upon a big, ferocious bear. Don't remember? Click here.

Anyhoo, they had SUCH a response (okay, a somewhat mild response), that they felt compelled to do it again. So, here we go, round 2! This time Natalie and I encounter a YION! (Emmett to English translation: lion). Yes, a big, cuddly lion that had to be mine....may the best lion tamer win!

Sleepless in Seattle

2010-03-17T04:40:00.000+01:00

Okay, not completely sleepless. In fact, I got a lot of sleep during our trip to Seattle. Mommy and her BFF, Dana, however, thought they were still in college--staying up late talking, laughing, and telling old stories. We went there to see Dana, Chad, my buddy Natalie, and the newest addition--Baby Charlotte! Now, I'm not much of a "baby person", but even I have to admit that she is one cute little pumpkin! She is three months old and about the same size that I was at three weeks old (or so Momma tells me).

We had soooo much fun on our trip. I mean, as if it wasn't cool enough that I got to ride on an airplane again, I even got my OWN SEAT this time...since I'm a big boy now and all. I sat by the window, watching movies, reading books and playing peek-a-boo with the occasional fellow passenger. Momma says I was a super good boy during both flights!

Once we got to Auntie D's house, it was game on! Natalie and I quickly picked up where we left off the last time we'd seen each other--playing, laughing, fighting, antagonizing...ahhh, good times! Even though I didn't have my favorite toys with me, I got to play with Natalie's stash of Little People, dolls, cars, and stacking toys. I quickly made a mess of the place, being sure to mark my territory right away.

Even though the weather wasn't the greatest, the sun peeked though long enough for a few fun outings...the train park, the zoo, and a local pond to feed the ducks. I especially loved the park--it had amazing, death-defying slides and treacherous climbing structures that allowed me to show off my wicked mountain man skillz for Natalie. Even though she didn't say anything...or acknowledge my efforts in any way...I KNOW that she was impressed :)

It was hard to say goodbye to our buddies, but we brought home with us a lot of great memories, and of course (thanks to Auntie D), a TON of pictures. Enjoy! (Click on the collage to enlarge)

Thanks, Auntie D and the fam for a fabulous trip!

The Gang's All Here

2010-02-19T22:45:00.000+01:00

Last week, some of our favorite people in the whole world came to visit. Mommy, Keith and Laryl went to college together a REALLY long time ago ;) So they came to visit with their little girl, Marisa. Even though we've only met a few times, we clicked immediately. We fought and made up just like a brother and sister. One day we even met them up in the mountains to go sledding. I am a fierce sledder.

Here are some pics of our fun day!

How Cute Are We???

2010-02-19T22:40:00.000+01:00

Some of Mommy's favorite pics of me and my girl, Mimi--they make her giggle every time she looks at them :)

The Big Boy Room

2010-02-19T22:26:00.001+01:00

Well, my Mommy and Daddy finally did it. They got rid of the drab, genderless yellow walls and gave me what I've been waiting for--a really cool big guy room. Bye, bye teddy bears, cutesy animals and pretty figurines--HELLO cars, cars, cars! Take a look at the amazing results...

You may notice, however, that one element of the "big guy" room is lacking. Mommy and Daddy haven't set up my big boy toddler bed yet. I keep telling them I'm ready, but Momma has her doubts.

My bed...the location of my soon-to-be big boy bed!

Enjoying my reading nook...

A nod to Mommy and Daddy's time in Europe--they said they will take me to Switzerland to see the Matterhorn someday.

Mommy's homemade wall art that she made just for me.

A few of my favorite pictures and, of course, more books!

CHD Awareness Week

2010-02-12T04:53:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the length of this post. It had to be long though...it is our story...the story of our amazing little boy and the "heart journey" that started for us before he was even born.

February 7th-14th is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. The following is an excerpt from the Congenital Heart Information Network website (http://tchin.org):

Congenital Heart Disease is considered to be the most common birth defect, and is a leading cause of birth-defect related deaths worldwide.

Despite the fact that CHD affects approximately 1.8 millions families in the U.S., a relatively small amount of funding is currently available for parent/patient educational services, research, and support.

By sharing our experiences and providing information, we hope to raise public awareness about conditions that affect approximately 40,000 babies each year in the United States alone.

When I was pregnant with Emmett, we went in for our 20 week ultrasound. Joe and I were so excited, full of anticipation, hope, and optimism. We couldn't wait to get a better look at this young life that would forever change our lives. Though some of the details are a little fuzzy now, I clearly remember the sonographer spending a lot of time looking at the baby's heart. She didn't say anything...her facial expression didn't give anything away. At the end of the ultrasound, she said she needed to go speak with the doctor. Joe and I just looked at each other--we knew something wasn't right.

When she came back, she said the words that would forever change our lives--"There is something wrong with your baby's heart." She couldn't give us any details, couldn't diagnose the problem; she just told us to contact a cardiologist at Children's Hospital. We spent the next two weeks before our cardiology appointment waiting...and wondering...and worrying. We had no idea what to expect, and as much as we didn't want to hear the news, we needed to know what we were dealing with.

The echocardiogram took two hours. The cardiologist barely said a word to us, and as much as we wanted to ask questions, we didn't even know where to start. When it was over, Drs. Younoszai and Fonseca took Joe and I into a room, sat down with us, and explained that Emmett had Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries (ccTGA or L-TGA). We, of course, had no clue what this was. They explained as best they could the inner workings of our future baby's unique and complicated little heart. Dr. Y even drew a diagram of his heart (of course at that time, we didn't know that he was a "he" :)

I tried my best to listen to them carefully, but my mind was racing with questions, and the one question that kept repeating over and over in my head was "What did I do to cause this?" I had been so careful throughout my pregnancy. After years of trying to conceive, and one heartbreaking disappointment after another...we felt so blessed to be pregnant that I did everything by the book. I took my vitamins, ate healthy food, drank lots of water, stopped taking hot baths, avoided alcohol, and got plenty of sleep. So WHAT had I done to hurt my baby's heart? I tried to ask this very question, but couldn't get one word out before I started to cry. Dr. Younoszai, as if reading my mind, said "There is nothing you could have done to cause this, and nothing you could have done to prevent it." It was a fluke, a "glitch" while his heart was forming. It was an extremely rare heart defect, he said, affecting only 1 in 25,000 babies, but there were things that could be done to help him live a long and healthy life. He then took my hand, squeezed it, and smiled at Joe and I in a very warm and reassuring way.

On December 28, 2007, God blessed Joe and I with the most amazing gift that we had ever been given...a beautiful and strong baby boy. Our Emmett. Since that day, E has had countless echocardiograms, EKGs and check-ups with Dr. Younoszai, whom we consider part of our extended family now--always greeting me with a warm hug and Emmett with a goofy grin and a high-five. Emmett has also undergone two heart surgeries at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in California at the expert hands of Dr. Hanley, who will forever be in our prayers for what he has done for us. Though he still has at least one very complicated open-heart surgery left (a double switch) sometime next year, we are confident that he will come out even stronger on the other side.

I tell this story, because it is the story of so many parents. Though the diagnosis may be different for each of our children, and the paths we take are varied, there was still that moment for each of us when we knew our lives would never be the same. We joined a heart family--a network of Moms, Dads, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends trying to make their way through this confusing world of "heart defects" to better understand our heart children, and make the best decisions for them that we possibly can...all the while knowing that they are in God's hands.

I recently joined an online support group for individuals and parents of individuals who suffer from Emmett's condition, L-TGA. All of our stories are different--some children, like Emmett, are thriving...some children did not survive their fight. We are all, however, connected because of a shared journey, which makes us all feel a little less lost.

Although Emmett's heart disease is not something we think about everyday considering how well he is doing, it has not escaped us how lucky Joe and I are to have Emmett in our lives. He is, and will always be, our greatest gift, and we thank God every day for entrusting him to us.

During Congenital Heart Defect Awareness week, please take a few moments to educate yourself about CHDs and perhaps find some way that you can help heart children on their journey.

And to all of you who have prayed for our family during the last two years, we sincerely thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Blessings,

Missy, Joe and Big E :)

Emmett after his last surgery in December...

Emmett today!

Two words: Di-Saurs

2010-01-19T04:12:00.000+01:00

Thanks to my Grandma Donna and Papa Jim, I have something bordering on an obsession with a certain movie: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (or Di-saurs as I like to call them). This movie has everything I like--adventure, excitement, cute cuddly animals, and most importantly, (you guessed it) di-saurs. Knowing how much I love them, my Mommy and Daddy took me to the Museum of Science and Nature today to see REAL ones. Granted, they didn't have skin anymore and they didn't talk much, but they were still pretty darn cool. And HUGE! One of them was like as big as my house!

Also, I got to see my very first movie! It was an IMAX, so it felt like I was right inside the movie. It was about sea monsters--big, scary ones that lived millions of years ago. I can't wait to go back next month and see the new one! Here are a few pictures of our big day.

Party on, E!

2010-01-19T03:57:00.000+01:00

Last weekend, I went to my first big-kid birthday party. You know, the kind where you get in the car, drive a long way to some place special (like a museum, restaurant or park), take a present, sing Happy Birthday, eat cake, and all that jazz. Well, it was my friend, M's, 3rd birthday, and she did it up right. We went to the Children's museum where I got to climb in a cave and even sit in a firetruck (my favorite part!). I am feeling like I got the short end of the stick on my last birthday, since I was still recovering. Therefore, I am already coming up with ideas for next year's festivities, because I want to give Mommy and Daddy plenty of time to save up for it. Don't worry...you're ALL invited :)

Amazingly calm and cool Fire Chief Emmett to the rescue!

Riding shotgun in the fire truck--look out!

Me and my buddies--aren't we cute?

Blogs...they are a-changin'

2010-01-19T03:42:00.000+01:00

Soooo....what do you think of my new blog wallpaper? I know, I know...hearts? A little girly perhaps, UNLESS you're a super-cool heart surgery survivor like me. Mama thought it suited me, and I must agree. So, like it or not, I'm rockin' the hearts. At least for the time being...

IF you are a regular blog visitor, I have one little request to make. Before I do, picture my cute little face...big puppy dog brown eyes...pouty red lips...cutest chubby toes in the world...yeah, that's me. Got the visual? Now that you have that picture of me in your head, picture those big brown eyes asking this eensy, weensy, teeny, tiny favor....Will you PLEASE start leaving comments on my blog??? Some of you (Grandma Cookie, Aunt Dana, Aunt Clarissa, etc.) are very good at this, but most of you aren't. It's not that I'm full of myself and need your affirmation, but...okay, that's totally it. I need to know that people are reading this if I'm going to continue it; otherwise, I'm just writing for myself, and let's face...that's just not fun (don't tell my Mommy I said that...she's a teacher). Anyway...it's super easy to do. For instructions, read here.

Thank you! I can't wait to read all of your funny, insightful and flattering comments! :)

Big E

Picture of the Day...

2010-01-13T15:50:00.000+01:00

even though it was taken two weeks ago :) Mommy thought I looked like such a natural skiier that I just had to post this picture. Of course, I haven't really gotten to enjoy the powder yet, but maybe next year???

Top Twos of a Two-Year Old

2010-01-13T02:59:00.001+01:00

As you all know, I recently hit a big milestone in my life--I turned 2. I like it so far. Feeling good, no aches or pains yet. I think it's going to be a good year for me. When I turned 18 months, I wrote a post listing eighteen things about me. I wanted to do something similar, but let's be honest, 24 is a BIG number, and it would take way too long to list that many things about myself. So, instead, I have decided to list my "Top Two" answers to several questions that I think you may be asking yourself. So, here it goes...

1) Top two favorite foods?
apples and ice cream (hopefully, one cancels the other out :)

2) Two favorite movies?
easy peasy--Ice Age 3 (Di-saurs, as I call it) and anything with Elmo

3) Two favorite animals (besides my cats, Murphy and Gretchen, of course)?
FISH!!! and dinosaurs

4) Two favorite toys?
Choo-choos and cars

5) Two favorite books?
This changes daily, but right now, they are "Bringing Down the Moon" (a gift from Auntie D) and Dinosaurs by Sandra Boynton (are you seeing a theme yet?)

6) Two favorite people?
Why, Mommy and Daddy, of course!

7) Two biggest accomplishments?
Heart surgeries #1 and #2 :)

8) Two favorite places to go?
Three-way tie: Aquarium, zoo and Costco (the last is Daddy's influence)

9) Two cutest things I say?
"Tank tou" (thank you) and I LO! (I love you!) - I actually pronounce many words very well, but Mommy thinks it's cute when I say things my own way.

10) Two comfort items
Li-Li (the Lion) and MILK (and lots of it!)

Well, that is just a glimpse into what make me Emmett. And a darn cute Emmett at that.

Hugs and kisses!
Love,
Big E

Zoo Day

2010-01-09T03:40:00.002+01:00

After the aquarium, my next favorite place is the zoo. Mommy and Daddy had been promising to take me again for a while now, and they finally made good on that promise last Saturday. Even though it was a little cold, it was the perfect day to go. The park was practically empty and all the animals were out sunbathing. I even got to take my first carasoul ride! Take a look at our super-duper day at the zoo...

My favorites--the big kitties!

Daddy and I up close and personal with a rhino

It doesn't get any better than this!

Our happy little family!

Full (and fun!) House

2010-01-09T03:40:00.001+01:00

Just a day after Grandma and Papa left, Mommy got a phone call from one of her very best friends, Clarissa. She knew Mommy when she was young...a LONG, LONG time ago. Anyway, she asked if she could bring her family out for a last-minute New Year's trip, and of course, we said YES! So, Clarissa, James, Matthew and Charlie arrived the next morning, and the fun began. Take a look!

The crew in Estes Park after a yummy lunch at Penelope's

Just us guys...

Mommy and Baby Charlie

Auntie Clarissa, Matthew and I going fishing...

Look at the size of the snowman's head! (inside joke for James)

Happy Birthday to ME!

2010-01-09T03:39:00.001+01:00

Goodbye, baby...hello, toddler! That's right, it's official. I am a big, 2 year old boy now. On December 28, 2007 at 2:13 p.m. my Mommy's and Daddy's lives were forever changed when I entered the world. To celebrate the big day, we went to my favorite place in the whole world--the aquarium. You know how I love those "gish" (Emmett to English Translation: fish). Then we came home and Daddy served up a tasty and messy cupcake, complete with two candles that I promptly blew out. Here are a few pics and a video from my big day.

Do I look older? Because I FEEL older!

Crouching Emmett, Hidden Turtle

Did you see that gish, Daddy???

Happy birthday to me!

Christmas Morning--Hello, Santa!!!

2010-01-09T03:38:00.002+01:00

Santa was extremely good to me this year. Apparently, he felt guilty about me being in the hospital right before Christmas, so he went a little overboard :) Here are just a few pictures of me taking it all in...

A Visit from Grandma and Papa!

2010-01-09T03:38:00.001+01:00

About 24 hours after we arrived home from California, Grandma Donna and Papa Jim were pulling up in the driveway. They stayed for a whole week, and it was so fun to have them here on Christmas morning! They even brought Baby, their lhasa apso puppy, with them. Here are a few pics of their visit. Thank you, Grandma and Papa, for making my second Christmas so memorable!

Where to begin?

2010-01-09T03:37:00.001+01:00

Hello, family and friends. Have you missed me?

First of all, I would like to thank my beautiful, amazing, selfless, intelligent, and talented (she made me say that) mother for taking over my blog while I was in the hospital. She's not the best writer in the world, but I had limited options, and she got the job done.

And thanks to all of you for following my story. As you will see in the following updates, I have made an incredible recovery from my second open-heart surgery. My Mommy, Daddy and all of my doctors are amazed by how well I am doing just four (very busy) weeks later. I am going to attempt to catch you up on my life for the last month...it won't be easy, but I'm up to the challenge. Enjoy and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The happiest day of my life to date--leaving the hospital on December 17th!

Ahhh, real food. My first post-hospital meal...PF Changs fried rice in our hotel room--my favorite!

Back Where We Belong

2009-12-19T22:59:00.000+01:00

Ahhh...home! I have never been so excited to walk in my door. After eleven days in Palo Alto, we finally made it home, albeit a little delayed for Joe since they oversold the flight and he had to go through San Fran and Phoenix to get home--oh well, HELLO free voucher!

Anyway, the day after we arrived home, Joe's Mom and her boyfriend drove out to spend Christmas with us. We are looking forward to a lazy week of sleeping, eating, playing and gift-opening. Just need a little snow here so it really feels like a Colorado Christmas.

E is doing great! The first couple of days were rough--he was very clingy, very irritable, and he couldn't sleep. We were up 5-6 times with him each night. Sometimes he woke up crying, as if he had a nightmare. Sometimes he woke up searching for us, like he didn't know where he was. And sometimes he woke up famished--nothing like a pop-tart at 3 o'clock in the morning :) He's getting much better though. Last night he only woke up once or twice, and that I can live with.

He seems genuinely thrilled to be home with his toys, his cats, his bed and his freedom. Thank you again for following us through this difficult, yet very successful, journey. Much love to you and your families this Christmas season! XOXOXO

Woo Hoo!

2009-12-17T22:06:00.000+01:00

We are outta here! We are just waiting for our nurse to do a few things (remove his IJ line, give him meds, and administer an H1N1 booster) and then we are going home! Well, at least to the hotel until tomorrow when we fly home. Thank you to everyone who has followed E's story and prayed for him. We will give another update tonight or tomorrow to let you know how he is adjusting to life "on the outside" :)

It got better :)

2009-12-17T06:34:00.000+01:00

When I called Joe this morning, he sounded happier than I have heard him since Emmett's surgery. At 3 o'clock in the morning, they had to move E to the step-down floor due to bed space issues. We went from a loud, bright, crowded 7-bed room that can only be compared to a casino to a dark, cozy little room with just one other roommate. Joe said that as soon as they got him out of the ICU (not even to his new room yet), he fell asleep and dozed for hours. Sleep has been one of the biggest issues here. Since he is such a light sleeper, he had only been able to sleep about 6 hours total the previous two days. He was exhausted and frustrated...the move today was a HUGE step towards recovery.

There is still one underlying medical issue. He has a small pneumothorax (collapsed lung) that isn't going away. They have taken chest x-rays everyday to monitor it, but there has been no improvement. They thought the chest tube would basically suction out the air pocket that has formed, but after several days, it hadn't. The surgical residents/fellows came by and said they were going to leave the chest tube in again today. Joe and I didn't agree with that decision. Granted, the alternative isn't great. If the pocket grows, they will have to go back in with another chest tube to correct it, but it seemed to us that the chest tube he had in wasn't doing its job anyway, so why not be a little proactive? I don't think the team agreed, but as luck would have it, Joe ran into Dr. Hanley (his surgeon) on the elevator on his way out this morning (we have NEVER just "run into" Dr. Hanley). He asked Joe about E, Joe explained that the tube was still in, Dr. Hanley looked surprised that it was, and lo and behold, two hours later the tube was out. Ahhh, the power that man yields :) We love him!!!

They repeated the x-ray. The pneumothorax is still there, but it didn't get any bigger. So the current plan is to take another x-ray tomorrow and they will make a decision about our next step from there. They are putting him on oxygen tonight to help the process along. For the time being though, he is so much happier. I got to take him for a wagon ride around the floor today (about 50 laps) and when Joe got there, we went to the playroom. It's amazing how choo-choos, blocks and cars can lift a 2 year old's spirits. Here are a couple pictures of some happy moments from the last two days.

And, by the way, a big shout out to E's team of nurses, doctors, PAs, RTs, and surgeons from the CVICU. They took great care of him and we wouldn't be this close to going home without them. A shout out also to E's amazing nurse, Christine, at 3 West today, who actually brought me a piece of her lasagna and a soda when she noticed I hadn't eaten anything by 3 o'clock today. Let's just say Emmett is a handful now that he's awake! It's totally worth it though, after 6 days of waiting, we finally got hugs today and even a couple small smiles...our little guy is getting back to his old self.

Hugs and kisses from Big, Bad E!

Does it have to get worse before it gets better?

2009-12-15T21:27:00.000+01:00

It's been a bad morning. Let me first say that Emmett is fine physically. He is improving everyday. I guess I can't ask for much more than that. Unfortunately, his spirits are completely deflated. He is unhappy, uncomfortable, confused and just...sad. It is so hard to see my vibrant, active young son just laying there, looking up at me with these eyes that beg for mercy. Every time medicine is delivered to him, he stiffens up and starts shaking--just by seeing the bag. He has major people anxiety. When the team of doctors came around this morning for rounds, he absolutely broke down, crying and cowering in fear. Not to mention, he is sharing a nurse with another patient that requires about 90% of her time. So, if it weren't for Joe and I being here, who knows how long he would sit in pain or hunger or in a wet diaper. It is not the nurse's fault, she is great, but it's just too much for one person. I voiced my concerns and I think that this afternoon will be better. On the positive side, one of our favorite doctors here, Dr. Cisco, is putting some things in place to help him feel more at home--a pain management team is coming to talk to us about alternate forms of pain relief (since it takes me 30 minutes to give him any meds orally), he is advancing E's diet to include non-clear foods (thank goodness!), and he is going to TRY to convince the surgical to take out his chest tube which causes so much discomfort. In addition, E's nurse is trying to get some toys for him to play with and the therapy dog to come pay him a visit. I know it has only been 6 days, but it is just so hard to see him like this. I keep telling myself that we're doing the right thing, but trying to get a 2 year old to buy into that isn't so easy.

Sorry for such a depressing post, but this is what is on my mind and my heart. I know that in a couple weeks, we will be celebrating Christmas and E's birthday and all will be back to normal, but for now, it's heartbreaking. Hopefully, my post tonight will be much more positive. Hugs and kisses from Big E to all of you!

The Good, the Bad, and the Adorable

2009-12-15T00:14:00.000+01:00

The Adorable part is easy--that's Emmett! He is so stinking cute and has easily won the hearts of all the doctors and nurses here.

The Good: Physically, E is doing very well. His numbers look good, his left ventricle is functioning well, and he is off nearly all of his meds. They are monitoring a couple things--some fluid that needs to drain and his left lung, which is a little collapsed due to another pocket of air that has formed--nothing serious and nothing to worry about.

The Bad: He just isn't our boy yet. Though he is awake (and has been since about 8:00 last night unfortunately), he isn't really interacting with us. He makes very good eye contact, but he is extremely leery of anyone that comes close to him (not that I blame him). He won't talk or move around much. He lets me hold him, but doesn't seem very excited about it. I know that this is all to be expected, but I can't help being sad that he is so distant. I just hope that someday he realizes that we are doing all of this out of love.

The Bright Side: We are here...with our baby. That is not the case for all of the families here. Some have to work during the day and come see their baby at night. Some have other children to take care of at home, so they can't be here to be with their little one. The more time I spend here the more I thank God for our many blessings...insurance, a stable income, a company that is willing to let Joe take all the time he needs here, and the most amazing and supportive family and friends that anyone could hope for. Thank you for everything.

Happy, happy, joy, joy!

2009-12-14T06:02:00.001+01:00

Here is Big E, sitting up like nothing happened. Granted, he doesn't look very happy yet, but he will be soon. Joe and I are ecstatic...what an amazing little boy we have.

And the Good News Continues...

2009-12-14T02:57:00.001+01:00

They just repeated Emmett's echo and chest x-ray. Both looked great! He no longer has the air pocket by his lung. HIs left ventricular function is much better. And, as an added bonus, his tricuspid valve insufficiency has improved. They are taking him off the dopamine tonight and some more meds tomorrow. Things are rolling now!

E is in pretty good spirits. He's not talking or playing yet. No smiles (then again, what has he had to smile about?). However, he has been snuggling with Momma, watching movies, reading books and keeping some liquids down. Big progress for one day! We are so proud of our Big E and so excited to take him home in a few days!

Ahhh...Bliss!

2009-12-13T17:14:00.001+01:00

Last night Joe came to relieve me about 7:00. Emmett hadn't yet woken up enough to hold him, so I conveniently managed to stick around until I could do just that. He started fidgeting and wimpering a bit, so I immediately informed the nurse that he was asking for his Momma. After about ten minutes of arranging chairs, wires and tubes, I was able to hold him in my arms for the first time since his surgery. It was heaven! He fell asleep in my arms almost immediately, and I just stared at his sweet little face for an hour or so until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I went back to the hotel, happy and satisfied that I had gotten some snuggle time in with my favorite little guy.

Joe said that he slept all night, with the exception of waking up once to drink some water (which he promptly vomited right back up). So today our goal is to 1) ween him off more meds, and 2) get some clear liquids to stay down. He also has a little air pocket in his chest which they are observing. Hopefully, it will go away on its own. Worst case scenario--he'll need a new chest tube. Everything else has seemed to just work out, so I'm optimistic that this will too.

Thanks again for the prayers--we are unbelievably blessed!

It's a Brand New Day...

2009-12-13T04:52:00.000+01:00

Figuratively speaking, of course. At 5:50 tonight, the RT removed Emmett's breathing tube. This was greatly appreciated by E along with myself and the nurses who had to practically sit on him to stop him from extubating himself. As soon as they took the tube out, he rolled onto his side, put his baby "Li-Li" in a headlock under his arm and went back to sleep. His numbers look good, his meds are being weened off, and he gets to start drinking clear liquids in a few hours. Most importantly, his Daddy will get to hold him in a little while. I am MORE than a little jealous that I will not be the first one to snuggle him post-surgery, but I've been here for 14 hours now and I need to go catch a little shuteye while the gettin's good.

We could not be happier with Emmett's progress. I am in complete awe of our son's courage, strength and determination. Just looking at him right now, I am confident that he can handle whatever life (and his special heart) throw at him. He is my hero!

Earlier today...ahhh, success! I told you I'd get on my belly somehow, suckers!

Post-extubation...so glad to get that breathing tube out of my way...now I can really breathe :)

Lookin' Good, Mr. E!

2009-12-12T17:00:00.000+01:00

Joe took the graveyard shift last night and reported that it was fairly uneventful again. He did wake up a few times, but was soon either comforted or sedated back to sleep. Joe is not a fan of overmedicating so I think he and the nurse had a disagreement or two (I know what you're thinking...not Joe?) :) Emmett is lucky to have such a doting, loyal Daddy at his side.

He looks good today, no longer dehydrated, though he does have a little fluid on his lungs. They don't seem too concerned with this though, so they are just keeping an eye on it. They have ordered an echo for today, but it is Saturday and things tend to run at a snail's pace around here on the weekends. So...it will probably be done later this afternoon. They will then decide if his left ventricle is ready for extubation yet. Once the breathing tube is out, I get to hold him...and then the fight is on. Something tells me E will not want to spend one more minute than necessary in his bed. And that is fine with me :)

Everyone here has been wonderful, from the surgeon to the doctors to the nurses and RTs. We realize how lucky we are that Emmett is in such good hands. Several of you have requested a photo of Emmett, so I am posting one--notice Li-Li tucked safely by his side. You may think it looks a little scary, but we are thrilled with how he is doing. Once he is able to open those big, puppy dog eyes, I will post some new pictures too!

Love to all, especially E's great-grandma Norma who had knee surgery the day before E had his operation. We are thinking of you and love you loads, Grandma!

Good Morning!

2009-12-11T18:38:00.001+01:00

Joe and I took the nurse's advice last night and went back to our hotel for a little shuteye. He had a relatively uneventful night, with one exception. The nurse said she turned around once and saw a little butt sticking up in the air. Yes, Emmett had finally managed to flip over to his stomach--his preferred sleeping position. Unfortunately, he can't stay like that with all of the tubes and wires in his belly. So they gave him some more meds and it was sleepytime the rest of the night.

The doctors just came by on rounds. They are happy with his progress for the most part. He is a little dehydrated so they are giving him more fluids to combat that. He also had a couple dips in his heart rate upon waking. The attending cardiologist seems to think he needs a little more time on the breathing tube--after all, we are asking his left ventricle to do a lot more work than it was doing just 24 hours ago. They took an echo though and are going to go over the results before making a decision about extubation. They should have a plan in place later today.

E has developed quite a reputation in the CVICU already. He is known for 2 things: 1) his ability to go from 0 to 60 in an instant, and 2) his eyelashes, which I'm sure he will use to charm everyone once he is allowed to wake up. He looks like a giant compared to the other babies in his room, causing everyone to do a double-take when we say he isn't even 2 yet :) Yes, we realize how fortunate we are to have such a big, strong and seemingly healthy little boy.

Thanks again for all of the good wishes. Keep up the prayers, they are working! Much love from Cali...

More Drugs, Please!

2009-12-11T02:42:00.000+01:00

For Emmett or I--you take your pick. E was supposed to stay asleep until tomorrow when they take his breathing tube out, but he seems to have other ideas. He woke up the first time about three hours post-op, and he has woken up several times since. He kicks and thrashes, trying to pull out the wires and tubes. It takes the nurse and I (and sometimes a second nurse) to hold him down. I knew he was strong, but on sedation drugs, really??? I am so thankful that he is tough enough to put up a fight, but I also wish he would get some rest already. They keep increasing his meds-he's on a nice cocktail of dopamine, fentanyl and versed right now, but apparently it's not enough for our Big E--what a little fighter!

All is well. Joe is back at the hotel getting some sleep, and I'm sticking by Emmett's side waiting for the next round of wrestling :) Thanks again for all of the prayers and kind words. I will update again tomorrow--with a picture, I promise.

Finally!

2009-12-10T22:56:00.001+01:00

We got to see our little man in the CVICU. He looks amazing--a little pale and full of wires, but we think he looks absolutely beautiful! They are keeping him asleep until they take his chest tube out tomorrow, but I have a feeling that he can hear us talking to him. Joe and I are going to pull shift work while we're here-Joe drew the short straw, so he gets the night shift :) There is no way we're going to risk him waking up without one of us here.

The surgery seemed to be a huge success. The only complication was that his heart rate spiked in the OR and again when they brought him to the ICU. They have an EKG machine hooked up to try to catch the arrhythmia and diagnose the problem. He has a wonderful, attentive nurse at his side, and of course, two very protective and proud parents, so we know he'll be fine.

I'll post a picture later, but I'm going back to see him now. I miss him already :) Thanks for all the love and support for our Big E!

Woo Hoo!

2009-12-10T20:07:00.001+01:00

Dr. Hanley just came to see us...E is almost out of surgery. It went as well as we could hope for--they equalized the pressure, so NO MORE TIGHTENINGS! Dr. Hanley thinks that, if all goes well, we'll be back next Nov/Dec (always during the holidays :) for E's double switch. They are making room for him in the CVICU right now, so we should be able to see him in about an hour. Thanks again to all of our friends and family for the much needed and very effective prayers. Hugs and kisses from CA and our Big E!

The Waiting Game

2009-12-10T19:36:00.000+01:00

Dr. Hanley came back about twenty minutes ago to speak with us and explain the surgery. Unlike the last time, we didn't have that many questions, because we know exactly why we are here and what is being done. Much like the last time, I felt instantly better after having spoken with him. He has a calming presence and great confidence in himself and his team. Now, we wait...
should take about two hours. We'll keep you posted.
Here is a picture of E right before anesthesia took him. He's trying to make a break for it :)

Cute Story

2009-12-10T17:17:00.000+01:00

Sitting here waiting for the surgeon, I was thinking about something cute that happened yesterday. While we were in the clinical lab waiting for E's blood to be drawn, there was a three year-old boy sitting in his wagon crying. He, unlike Emmett, obviously knew what was coming. Emmett looked so distraught and didn't understand why this little boy was so sad. He walked over to him, took a sticker off his shirt and gave it to the little boy. The boy was so excited that he just lit up and immediately stopped crying. Pleased with the reaction, Emmett started taking off all of his stickers, including his visitor's badge, and handed them to the boy. They played together for a little while while I talked with the boy's Mom. It nearly brought me to tears, and then...

The 2-year old came out in Emmett. He decided to take those stickers right back. We all laughed and the boy took it well. Emmett decided instead to give him a sucker, which seemed like a good deal to both of them. :)

And we're off...

2009-12-10T16:44:00.000+01:00

We just handed Emmett over to the anesthesiologists (this is the hardest part for me). They were wonderful though, and we know he is in good hands. We are now waiting for Dr. Hanley to come speak with us before the surgery. We'll let you know when they have started. All prayers welcome!!!

Pre-Op? No Problem!

2009-12-09T21:56:00.000+01:00

Today was Emmett's pre-op day at Stanford. We were prepared to settle in for a long day since it took almost 8 hours before his last surgery. Today, however, all the stars seemed to be aligned for us. We were in and out in four hours, with an echo, EKG, chest x-ray, physical, consult and bloodwork under our belt. Emmett was such a trooper! He was an angel for the echo and EKG (after a little bribery in the form of a sucker and some fish stickers). He then tolerated the chest x-ray, but did let us know that he wasn't happy about it. We then met with one of his anesthesiologists, a physician's assistant and a nurse practitioner--all women and all rendered powerless by E's big, brown eyes. Oh yes, it was as if he knew they held some part in his fate at this hospital, so he turned on the charm--fluttering his eyelashes and smiling his big, toothy grin at their every word. They were wonderful...they answered all of our questions and seemed supremely confident that his procedure would go well tomorrow. Finally, the last stop of the day--the lab. Let's just say there is a reason they save the bloodwork for last. It did not go so well. The first needle prick was fine--few tears and no screaming. Unfortunately, his blood stopped flowing too soon, so they had to give it a second go. This did not settle well with Emmie...he screamed and cried and sobbed "No, Mommy....pweaze, Mommy" over and over and over again. I felt horrible. Like the worst Mommy in the world. Bad enough, in fact, to promise ice cream as soon as we left that terrible lab. And, true to our word, Joe and I took E out for a big, old scoop of ice cream. We are now back at the hospital and Emmett is sleeping (and snoring) soundly on the bed. YES! One day down...

Now, the best news of all--if all of Emmett's tests come back okay (which we believe they will), he is scheduled to be the first surgery of the day tomorrow--yay!!! If you will recall, last time they didn't get to start his surgery until the evening, so it was a long day of waiting, waiting, waiting. Hopefully, by lunchtime tomorrow, he will be settled into recovery, and we will be holding our beautiful and brave little boy's hand. We check in at 6 a.m. tomorrow and we will post an update as soon as we get a chance. Thank you again for all of your prayers and positive thoughts--they mean more to us than you will ever know. Hugs and kisses from Big E!

Californ-I-A

2009-12-09T15:59:00.000+01:00

We made it safe and sound out to California yesterday. After taking Emmett to meet Santa for the first time, we got carry-out and settled into our hotel bed to watch some bad Christmas movies. We are all doing very well! We are getting ready to leave for a long day of pre-op that includes an echo, EKG, chest x-ray and bloodwork. E is a little trooper though, so we know he will do fine. Thanks for all your positive thoughts and prayers. We will update more tonight!

Leaving a Comment

2009-12-03T21:18:00.000+01:00

Hello, family and friends! Some of you have mentioned that you can't leave a message on my blog. I took some steps to make that easier for you, because I LOVE reading what you have to say. If you want to leave a message, just click on "Comment" under a posting (it will probably have a number in front of it, like "2 Comments", for example). This will bring up a blank text box to type your message into. Once you are finished, you will need to identify yourself by typing in your Google account OR you can simply select "Anonymous" and then submit. If you choose anonymous, please make sure you include your name somewhere in your message, so I know who is talking to me. Finally, it will ask you to type in a word for verification. This is just to reduce spam.

Now try it. Right now. Or I will cry. No pressure...

Make sure to check in often next week as Mommy will be updating from Lucille Packard in CA during my surgery. Hugs and kisses to you all!

She's Here!

2009-12-03T21:16:00.000+01:00

Charlotte Jane was born at 6:55 p.m. on December 2, tipping the scales at 4 lbs, 9 oz. Looks like she's going to be a petite little thang like her Momma! Congrats, Auntie D and Uncle Chad. Can't wait to see pictures!

Auntie D's Big Delivery

2009-12-02T16:21:00.000+01:00

Today, my Mommy's best friend, Dana, is going to the hospital to have her second daughter. Part of me was hoping she'd have a boy who could be my best buddy, but she does make REALLY cute girls ;) So, they can either be my best buddies OR my future prom dates (it's nice to have options). Mommy says that Dana has had a tough pregnancy, so we're praying for a quick and healthy delivery.

Auntie D, if you're reading this, I love you and I can't wait to meet my new best friend!

Did I Have Fun?

2009-12-01T23:41:00.000+01:00

Just look at my face, and you be the judge!

Me and My Buddies!

2009-12-01T23:37:00.000+01:00

I LOVE THEM TOO!

Me and My Family!

2009-12-01T23:36:00.000+01:00

I LOVE THEM!!!

My First Wedding...

2009-12-01T23:08:00.000+01:00

well, it wasn't MY wedding...yet. We went to my cousin Brittany's wedding in Illinois. I'll be honest...I didn't see a lot of it. I was getting super excited watching everyone walk down the aisle. And what do I do when I get super excited? I yell really loud. I wasn't crying, I was cheering for them. Even though Mommy and Daddy thought it was cute, they thought I might be a "distraction" during the wedding. So instead, Daddy and I went outside and ran laps around the church for a whole hour. I was one hot mess by the time everyone came out of the church!

A Two-Week Whirlwind!

2009-12-01T22:44:00.000+01:00

Two weeks ago, Mommy and I took a plane ride back to Illinois and Missouri to see our family (Daddy drove in a week later). We spent time with all my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and a few friends--they spoiled me rotten! Even though it was exhausting to drive from house to house...to house to house...and to live out of a suitcase for two whole weeks, it was so worth it! I got to go to my big cousin Brittany's wedding, bake cookies with my Grandma Donna, eat a big old Thanksgiving dinner, and so much more. I figured that I had a job to do while I was there. Since my family doesn't get to see me all that often, I had to pour on the charm. I gave out a ton of hugs and kisses, said LOTS of new words (including everyone's names) and posed for countless pictures. And when it was all over, I handled the 14.5 hour car trip back home like a real champ. I didn't even fuss once! Mommy and Daddy kept saying what a good boy I was. Maybe I need to start acting up--I don't want to set the bar too high. I hope you all had a beautiful and fun Thanksgiving. Keep on reading, because I'm going to try to catch you up on our big adventure!

Snow Day!

2009-10-29T22:04:00.000+01:00

Woo hoo! We woke up this morning to about 20 inches of snow (or as I call it, 'no'). Last year, snow and I did not get along. I thought it was just cold, wet and kept me away from all of my favorite places, like the park and our backyard. This year, however, I have a totally different opinion of it. Snow and I are now friends! "Why?" you may ask. Just take a look at these pictures of my wicked sledding moves and you'll understand.

Daddy and I hitting the slope!

Family sledding

Me and my buddy, Mimi

Going solo--I'm such a stud (Double click to see the big smile on my face!)

An Avid Reader

2009-10-26T02:17:00.000+01:00

Even though I'm not even two years old, I am quite the reader. I have always appreciated a good book. It started with a book of lullabies that Mommy used to read to me when I was a baby. It then progressed through many phases--the Sandra Boynton fascination, the "Where the Wild Things Are" obsession, the Dr. Suess era, and most recently, I have turned to the Sunday comics. Mommy reads a dozen or so books to me a day, and Daddy reads to me every night before bed. I even do some light reading on my own in between. Here are a couple snapshots of me doing what I do best. Happy reading!

The Joy of Mail!

2009-10-26T02:10:00.000+01:00

Written by my guest blogger, Mommy:

Emmett had quite the surprise awaiting him when he woke up from his Saturday nap. He had gotten a package in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa Neuhaus--an assortment of toys, books and clothes that put a huge smile on his face. Emmett LOVES getting mail. He looks forward to it every day. Now, of course, getting a package or even a letter is a rarity for E, but I manage to "find" something for him in our mail every day...an Eddie Bauer catalog, a Target coupon book, and if all else fails, the occasional bill (I have no problem handing those over). Saturday, however, the mail was real and really exciting. Here are a few pictures of E opening his VERY OWN package.

An Update on my Heart

2009-10-23T23:38:00.001+02:00

Sorry that it's been a while since I updated you on my heart. Truth is, there hasn't been much to say. I feel great, and I am as active and defiant as any (nearly) two year old. I had an MRI and a cardiac cath done way back in July and we just heard from the surgeon a few weeks ago. So, here's the plan...I'm gonna let my Mommy explain it to you. Sorry if she's a little long-winded.

Band Tightening: We were hoping we wouldn't have to do this, but E's surgeon took his test results to conference and the vote was unanimous: his heart looks good, but the left ventricle just isn't getting strong enough fast enough. Therefore, we will be heading back to Stanford for a band tightening surgery on December 10th. The purpose of the band is to make the left ventricle work harder to pump blood so that it becomes stronger. In a normal heart, the left ventricle does most of the work. In Emmett's heart, the right ventricle is pumping most of the blood. This is okay for now, but the right ventricle isn't built to withstand that kind of workload for long. Therefore, as time goes on, it could grow more weak and, eventually, fail. Therefore, the band is helping prepare Emmett for his next (and hopefully, last) surgery--the double switch.

Double Switch: This is the big daddy of surgeries. In a nutshell, the surgeons will reroute Emmett's blood flow to work like a normal heart. This is the surgery that keeps me awake at night. It is complicated, rare and risky...however, I know that God will see Emmett through it. The current plan is to perform the double switch next summer or fall, once Emmett's left ventricle is strong enough to take on the task of pumping most of his blood.

Though this is scary, we know that we are very fortunate for several reasons:
1) We found out about Emmett's condition early on. Though the diagnosis was hard to hear, there was some bit of comfort in knowing what we were dealing with from Day One.
2) We have an incredibly caring cardiologist, Dr. Younoszai, who has been with us from the beginning. He helped perform our first echocardiogram when E was still in utero. He explained everything slowly and thoroughly. Over the last 2 or so years, he has answered countless questions, drawn numerous diagrams (for me, who is apparently clueless about the human anatomy :) and given me several hugs when I couldn't hold back the tears. We thank God daily for Dr. Y.
3) We have a brilliant surgeon. We did quite a bit of research on surgeons in this area. Our cardiologist highly recommended Dr. Hanley from Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford...now we know why. He is a man of few words, much like Emmett. However, he is confident, supremely talented, and never says never. While at the hospital for E's first surgery, we met several parents who said that Dr. Hanley had given them hope when everyone else had given up. I truly believe he was put on this earth to serve children.
4) We have the most supportive family and friends...EVER. Friends and co-workers gave us gift cards to pay for our meals during E's first surgery; my best friend, Dana, sacrificed Thanksgiving with her own family to share a turkey dinner at the only restaurant open in Palo Alto on Thanksgiving night :); grandparents came to visit after the surgery to help care for Emmett; and finally, I know that all of our friends and family members are praying for Emmett...this provides the most comfort of all.
5) And most importantly, we have our faith. We know that, with God, all things are possible. We have no crystal ball, and we are trying to make the best decisions for our son with what little information we have. However, at the end of the day, Emmett is in God's hands, and only He knows the outcome of all of this. We are just enjoying each and every moment with Emmett, and I can't help but think that we have many, many, MANY more of those moments to come!

Cozy Mountain Hideaway

2009-10-12T05:47:00.000+02:00

This weekend, we went with our buddies--the Lewis Family--up to a cozy mountain town called Crested Butte. We shopped, we ate, and we played at the COOLEST playground ever. Really, it had a slide that was, like, a mile long! I could have stayed there a lot longer, but Daddy kept saying saying something about having to go back to work--whatever. It was a long drive (almost five hours), but it was so worth it. Along the way, we saw deer, antelope and beautiful, majestic mountains. Mommy and Daddy said I was a good boy the whole weekend and that they were soooo proud of me. Here is a little collage of our fun weekend getaway!

I'm ready for my close-up!

2009-10-12T05:23:00.000+02:00

Mommy says she gets lots of complaints from people (particularly the Grandmas and Aunt Sarah) that I don't get my picture taken enough. Mommy actually takes a lot of pictures of me...TOO MANY, if you ask me, but she had only had my picture taken professionally once, when I was just 6 months old. I guess it is a shame not to take advantage of my rugged good looks. So, Mommy and Daddy had my picture taken by a photographer friend of ours in a park by the mountains. He took a ton of pictures, but here are a few of our favorites. Enjoy! And try not to drool... :)

Silly geese--pellets are for fish!

2009-10-01T22:10:00.001+02:00

Mommy and I went to one of my favorite places this week. It's a little pond with HUGE fish in it, and for a small fortune, you can buy pellets to feed them. Usually it's a lot of fun--a bonding experience with my favorite little underwater creatures. However, on this particular day, our bonding was interrupted by some very loud and very RUDE geese. They followed me everywhere, begging for tasty morsels of food and practically biting our fingers off in the process. It really started to make me mad! Take a look for yourself...

No Words Necessary

2009-10-01T22:06:00.001+02:00

This is how Mommy found me after she finished cleaning up the kitchen. Enough said.

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-01T21:54:00.001+02:00

Fall...it's my Mommy's favorite time of the year, and one of the reasons is the pumpkin patch. She LOVES her a good pumpkin patch--hay rides, petting zoos, picking out the perfect gourd--she lives for that stuff. Mommy and I went back to our local patch this week, but it was very different from last year. For one thing, I was walking this time (or should I say running?), and secondly, we went during the week, so we practically had the whole place to ourselves. Our own private little pumpkin patch--gotta love it!

I got to pet a baby goat, play on a cool wooden train, and pick out my very own pumpkin. I'm sure this won't be our only trip to the patch this season, but it was definitely the perfect way to say "Hello!" to fall.

My First Ballgame!

2009-10-01T21:30:00.001+02:00

Last Sunday, Mommy and Daddy took me to my first baseball game. The Cardinals were in town playing the Rockies, so it seemed like the perfect time to figure out how this baseball thing works. When we first got to the stadium, I didn't know what to look at first. There were all kinds of people, some decked out in purple while others were sporting Redbird red like Mommy, Daddy and I. There was also a ton of food--nachos, hot dogs, brats, pretzels and my personal favorite---slushies! Needless to say, it didn't take long to talk Daddy into buying me one of those (wink, wink).

We had awesome seats. We had outfield box seats, right next to the wall. Daddy said it was prime "foul ball territory", whatever that means. It took me a while to figure out that there were guys standing in the field right next to me! A couple times, they hit balls really close to where we were sitting. We even saw Albert Pujols accidentally send his baseball bat flying into the crowd. I don't know much about baseball, but it's looking like a pretty dangerous sport to me. Whenever a ball was hit "foul", somebody would pick it up and throw it over the edge. While I didn't get one of these balls, it occurred to me that if they could throw things from the field to the stands, then I could throw something from the stands to the field. I didn't have a ball handy, so instead I threw Mama's water bottle. She wasn't very happy about it, but I'm sure the players appreciated the gesture.

After three innings, I grew a little bored of the baseball scene, so I decided to scope out the humongous escalator that I had eyed when we first walked into the stadium. My amazing, patient and beautiful Mommy let my Dad watch some more of the game while we rode the escalator all the way to the top and then walked (very slowly) back down the stairs--twice.

Finally, we decided (or should I say, I decided) that it was time to go home and play with my cars. My parents didn't seem to mind. They were just happy to see any of the game. They said it was just the first of many, many baseball games that we will see together!

The slushie experience--yum!

Don't I look like a natural?

Leaving the game on Daddy's shoulders--best seat in the house!

After the game...

Rocky Mountain High!

2009-09-21T02:05:00.000+02:00

Today, we went with our buddies to Rocky Mountain Park. It is Mommy's favorite time of the year to go--the trees are changing, the fish are spawning, and the elk are rutting (I don't know what any of that means, but Mommy seemed to enjoy it). We went with our buddies too, so that made it even more fun. After a picnic lunch, we threw rocks in the stream and then went for a long walk around a lake. We got to see all kinds of birds, fish and a bunch of elk too. All in all, it was a perfect fall day!

Butter Flies?

2009-09-15T16:43:00.001+02:00

Let me just start by saying that, yes, I know I'm a slacker. Forgive me, family and friends, it's been way too long since my last post. It's not that I haven't been doing anything...in fact, I have been so busy that I haven't had time to blog. Now, however, both Mommy and I are sick and can't leave the house anyway, so.....perfect time to catch you all up!

Let's begin with a little trip we took a couple weeks ago to the Butterfly Pavilion. Yes, butterflies. Those beautiful little creatures that like to hang around flowers and ponds and all things pretty. While they were nice and all, I must admit that the butterflies were actually my least favorite part. I much preferred, to Mommy's dismay, all the creepy crawly creatures instead. We got to see spiders and cockroaches and millipedes...oh my! Mommy, being the brave woman that she is, even held a tarantula! I thought that was pretty cool. You can bet that I'm going to be bragging to my buddies about how superfly my Mama is!

One of many, many butterflies we saw at the Pavilion:

Me and my buddies touching a horseshoe crab:

Look at me petting a starfish!

Mommy holding Rosie the Tarantula:

Go West, Young Man!

2009-09-04T02:29:00.000+02:00

On Sunday, Mommy and I embarked on a great adventure out west. It involved airplanes, cougars, castles and beaches. Okay, so the cougars were behind a gate at the Cougar Mountain Zoo...and the castle may have been on the small side...playground size (but it did have a cool slide!). The beach was less like a beach and more like a sandbox in my buddy's backyard. But the airplane, that was 100% real and I was flying in it! I've flown in airplanes before, but I was little then and didn't really understand what was going on. This time, I was totally on board with the whole flying thing!

So, why was I on a plane? We flew to Seattle to visit Mommy's best friend, Dana, and her little girl, Natalie. Dana (Aunt D as I like to call her) is pregnant with my next newest buddy, a little girl that we like to call Baby Girl 2.0. She is having kind of a rough pregnancy and Mommy thought that my pretty smile and big brown eyes might make her feel better. I think it worked, but unfortunately that baby girl thought I was so cool that she kept wanting to get out to see me. I said, "No baby, you keep baking. Your Mommy will tell you when it's time to come out and play". Get used to it, kid, Mommies tell you when to do EVERYTHING!

We spent four days in the beautiful Northwest--playing in parks, going to the zoo, taking walks, and spending quiet afternoons reading books in Natalie's room. We had so much fun! Natalie and I got to be even better friends. In fact, I think it's safe to say that we're officially "Best Buds"--just like our Mommies!

FUN TIMES!

OUR MOMMIES

"BEARLY" ESCAPING DANGER...double click on this so you can read the captions!