Ultrasound Update: Week 34

Once again, to keep it simple, nothing has changed. Eli is still growing normally and is on target to his due date. The cardiologist found no changes in his heart, so that is good. We didn't find any additional problems. The immediate concern still continues to be the patent foramen ovale (PFO). It is currently still open, but restricted, as it was before.

The cardiologist didn't see any reason for us to return for another ultrasound before Eli is born. It is getting more difficult to see his heart, because his bones are beginning to calcify. They really had to look hard beyond all the shadows the ribs were creating already. Now we just get to wait until he is born to do an ultrasound on his heart.

We have an appointment with Eli's surgeon on Wednesday, the 14th. This will hopefully be an informative one as far as what is expected to happen with Eli after he is born. We are hoping to get a better idea of timelines and what to expect for surgeries from this appointment.

Until then, please continue with the same prayers we have requested before...

1. Continued development of the mitral valve and left ventricle
2. Increased growth in the patent foramen ovale (PFO)
3. That we can be bold with our faith to everyone in this process

Paige's First Haircut

We finally took Paige in for her first haircut last Friday. Granted the poor girl didn't have any hair until she was one, but it was finally long enough and we needed to even it all out. We took her to Irma, the hairstylist I have gone to for 15 years. Paige goes with me to the salon when I get my haircut, so she is familiar with the place and already knows Irma.
The day before, we were talking to her about getting her haircut and visiting Irma so she wouldn't freak out when we plopped her in the big chair.

She was GREAT! She sat so still and didn't even cry! She even smiled for Daddy and the camera! Her hair looks good and evened out. She is beginning to look like a little girl, not a baby anymore. :( I'm even getting brave enough to curl it every once in a while now. It looks really cute when it's all curled out.

New Christmas Traditions

Like posted earlier, this was the first year we really started with our family Christmas traditions. Of course, we taught her lots about baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the manger, the real reason we celebrate this holiday. She can look at nativities and name off the major people and tell you about baby Jesus sleeping in the manger.

Our Chirstmas started a week early when Grandma and Grandpa Salt came down from Montana. We got to visit with them for a long weekend, and had a gift session then. Paige got an art easel, complete with paints, markers, and chalk. It's difficult to keep her away from it. She is really into drawing and trying to write letters and names. It's gonna be a great thing to teach her letters and words on as she grows.

We also started teaching Paige about Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, we went to the Candlelight service at our church. Then we came home and made cookies just for Santa. It was fun having her on the counter with me, punching out shapes and decorating the cookies. After the cookies, we headed over to Richard and Terri Heckman's house for their traditional M&M hot chocolate. Yummy!

Christmas morning, Paige woke up to find all her cookies gone, and new presents under the tree. We have never seen her dance around and get so excited about presents before. But she knew that Santa came and visited her house. She loved everything he brought, especially her new baby!We spent Christmas day out at Nanna and Nanno's house. She had tons of fun playing with her cousins, Hannah, Dominic, and Brooklyn. Nanna got a new play kitchen at her house, so the girls played for hours out there, cooking and serving dinner.

The day after Christmas we went down to Pappa and Grandma's house in Bakersfield. More presents were opened there (see her pretty Princess Paige outfit in the previous post). That evening we went out to CALM (CAlifornia Living Museum), a small zoo, where they put up tons of lights. It was beautiful! It was fun to take Paige out there to see the figures. She seemed to enjoy finding them and naming all the ones she could. She especially enjoyed the animated ones!
You can imagine that after all these festivities, we were exhausted! Christmas is tons of fun, especially when seen through the innocence of a little girl.

Princess Paige

We had a wonderful Christmas! This was the first Christmas where we could really begin establishing those family traditions with Paige. We have tons of pictures of the many Chirstmases with all the grandparents. But I couldn't wait to share this one with you all!


Grandma and Grandpa Wedehase gave Paige her first princess outfit. It is complete with the Cinderella dress, tiara and wand! She wasn't too sure about it at first, but the smile she got on her face when she first put it on was adorable. You could tell she felt like the princess she is.

I will be sure to post more as we get them edited and resized.

Visiting with Santa

No worries, we still have Paige, too!

Tonight, we took Paige to meet Santa Claus. She was wonderful with him! She was excited, all the way up to Fresno, to tell Santa that she wanted new books for Christmas. Once she sat on his lap, she even started playing one of her little games, called "Don't smile." She purses her lips real tight, making every effort possible not to smile, while we taunt her with "Don't smile!" Eventually, she cracks, and we get a genuine, wonderful smile.

We also took the time to take Paige on her very first carousel ride. She kept crowding the line, she was so excited! She couldn't wait to ride the horsies, just like Mary Poppins! In no time, she was yelling out "I go up and down like Mary Poppins, Daddy!" The hardest part of the evening was pulling her away.

Bring the Rain

So many people have asked how we are doing. As we've said earlier, we live for God's glory. He has a purpose in everything He orchestrates. We find great peace in knowing this.

Just recently, we ran across this song by Mercy Me. The lyrics really speak of what we are going through. Many have heard this song, including us. But at this time in our lives, it really speaks to us.

It is our hope that, as you listen, you can find the Peace that we have.

To God be the glory.

"Bring The Rain"

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Ultrasound Update, Week 30

The short story is: Not much change. Eli is still growing, right on target. The best news is that the left ventricle is still growing, as well. Often, in a case like this, the right ventricle continues to grow and the left begins to fade away. Eli's heart is still growing at the same ratio. That is: the left ventricle is still only half the size it should be. But it's not going backwards.

We're learning more heart anatomy with every visit. We already knew the mitral valve was too small, which is the cause of the underdeveloped left ventricle. We've also learned the other opening that's too small is the patent foramen ovale. This is the opening in the heart that, while the baby is in the womb, allows blood to bypass the lungs, since they aren't in use yet. Once the baby is born, increased blood pressure and the use of the lungs naturally closes this opening permanently. Right now, and immediately following birth, Eli needs that opening to stay open. Because of this, it is expected that he will be transported to CHCC and into surgery immediately following birth, so they can use a balloon catheter to open that channel up. This channel's status will remain our primary concern until they can open it up.

At this point, we're still expecting to need the entire 3-stage Fontan procedure. While the left ventricle is still developing, it still appears it will never be large enough. Because of this, Eli's condition will be treated as if the left ventricle simply wasn't there at all, just like full fledged HLHS.

What to pray for:

1. Continued development of the mitral valve and left ventricle
2. Increased growth in the patent foramen ovale (PFO)
3. That we can be bold with our faith to everyone in this process

Our next ultrasound is January 8, 2009.