What Time Is It?

Since you asked...

It's time to buck up, sign up and get ready to walk/run with Team Zoe!!!

The 2nd Annual Phoenix Congenital Heart Walk/Run is only a few months away. Team Zoe will again be participating with the goal of raising awareness and research funding for congenital heart defects. We're hoping that our little warrior, Zoe, will be able to join us this year for the walk. (I can't promise, but depending on flu/rsv season, she may make an appearance...)

So, are YOU ready? Take a peak and see some of Zoe's extended family that led to Zoe's success last year.



Please come out and join TEAM ZOE the morning of November 6, 2011 and support the Lihn family and hundreds of other CHD families in our state and throughout the country. You can join or donate to TEAM ZOE by clicking here. To join, click "Join Our Team" or to donate, click "General Team Donation". All donations are tax-deductible.

Team Zoe will have their own T-Shirt design again this year - and trust me when I say, they're awesome! A big thank you to Aunt Stephanie and Joel and Erin Proto in San Francisco for their hard work. Stay tuned for the Team Zoe t-shirt reveal! They won't disappoint.

We look forward to making Team Zoe bigger and better this year. She's so worth it!

Surprises at the Pediatrician

On Thursday, Zoe went to her 15-month well check at her pediatrician's office. We were greeting by the same sign that caught me off guard last time we entered. Again, it caught my eye and I snapped a photo to share with ya'll.

Since the sign confirmed that we were in a safe zone, we entered the office.

Zoe's check up revealed a few surprises. Apparently, Zoe has lost some ground on her weight gain. She's dropped from the 10th percentile to the 4th percentile. Her pediatrician's take, "she's still got the cheeks." Apparently, if she's got 'the cheeks' no one cares what percentile she's in. Emerson never made the growth chart in weight either, so it runs in the family.

Next, Zoe's pediatrician checked inside her ears and mouth. I figured his "has she been fussy" question pointed to an ear infection. Wrong. Instead, he shared (with the non-observant mommy) that Zoe was getting all FOUR of her molars at once. What? Emerson just got her fourth molar a month ago...

The final surprise of the appointment was my favorite. Dr. Magalnick placed his stethescope to Zoe's chest - listening to her heart and lungs. He turned to me, smiled and said, "I hear nothing but normal inside her little chest." This struck me as odd. I retorted and said, "Normal - as in her heartbeat sounds like a everyone else's?" For some reason, I assumed that if any trained ear listened to her heart they would be able to notice that it was different special. But no, he emphasized that her heart sounded completely normal. All I could do was smile. Yes, I know she has half a heart. Yes, I know she has a glaring scar down the middle of her chest. But, to hear the words "normal" in conjunction with her heart was music to my ears.

So, even though she's small, she's healthy - and fiesty!!! This little girl is keeping us on our toes. She's non-stop and full of energy. Whoever said that having half a heart would slow you down hasn't met Miss Zoe Madison Lihn!

Impromptu Weekend Getaway...

Last weekend, after Zoe's great cardiology appointment, we packed up the car and headed north to my parent's cabin.

As soon as we arrived, Emmy was out in the grass setting up her tent and playing with her golf clubs.

The girls loved the cooler weather and picking flowers in grandma's garden.

On Sunday, we headed further up north to Flagstaff for Cardinal's training camp. This was Emerson's second trip to camp, but Zoe's first. Zoe had little interest in sitting and watching practice and preferred to practice walking.

Just before we left, Papa found a baby horny toad in the driveway. Emmy refused to hold him. Zoe had no problem petting the toad. Sounds about right...

We all enjoyed our impromptu getaway and agree that we need to do so more often. Rest and relaxation agrees with us.