I have three kids. Ahhhhhhh!

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Kaden's Surgery

It has been 2 weeks since the day of Kaden's open heart surgery for his AV canal heart defect. I've had a hard time trying to figure out how to write this post. So I've decided to let my brave, strong Kaden tell you the story of his surgery and hospital stay with his pictures:

(Day 1 - Right before they took me back before surgery)

    (Day 1 - Right after surgery)

 (Day 2)

 (Day 3 - The day my chest tube was removed. Owch.)

 

(Day 3 - Riding around the ICU in a wagon with my sis :) )

 (Day 4 - Closeup of my incision.)

(Day 4 - I'm getting ready to go home!)

(Day 4 - Going Home! :) :) :) :) :) )

Since Kaden has been home he's been so energetic. His heart no longer has to do an insane amount of work. He's been throwing balls far, getting into absolutely everything, and standing up on his own! Maybe he'll walk soon now that he has the energy to do so. He's still on his heart medications (enalapril, and lasix). But his cardiologist said he should only be on them for a few months while his heart heals. While he heals we have to scoop him up like a newborn to hold him, instead of picking him up under his arms – which has taken some getting used to, especially trying to get him out of his crib. And we have to keep him home and away from crowds until early September, so that he doesn't risk getting sick at this time. His condition will require lifelong follow up – but pretty soon in the form of only one visit to the cardiologist a year! :)

We are over the moon to have him home, and have the surgery over with. I believe that all those many wonderful prayers from family and friends were the sole reason he has been recovering as quick as he has been. We will be forever grateful for those prayers, and good thoughts, and well wishes.

Pre op

We're getting pre op stuff done and a tour of the icu. Still can't believe surgery is tomorrow. :(

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Eating at Moon China, our favorite. Yum yum!

Escaping the heat

It's fun to swim with these kids. Sariah is starting to be confident in the water, and she loves swim lessons. Up until this year she'd been very cautious - which was just fine, but it's fun to see her in the deeper part of the pool enjoying the water.
Kaden is a water baby, he has so much fun swimming. He'll even laugh and stick his head under the water. Silly boy!

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This is what happens...

When your 4 year old sister does your hair:




Wonderful, superhero-ey Curt decided to clean out the garage earlier this evening while I was at Riah's swim lesson. I came home to an immaculate garage, and the knowledge that !14! black widows had been calling it home before they were squashed by Curtzilla. Scary!

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Mustaches!

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Sariah's pictures make me smile

She says this is a picture of me and her at the snail parade. :)

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Does this make me a soccer mom? :/

Sariah has been telling me for a long time that she's been wanting to play soccer. We finally put her in this year. She is super energetic, and LOVES soccer.

Happy Earth Day!