Another Saints Fan?!

Good Lord, Zoe has some converting to do.

Soon, very soon, our HLHS family will grow, once again. A new addition will be joining us on or about November 11, 2010.

A new warrior to welcome.

A baby boy named Will.

I have come to know Will's parents, Chris and Meghan, very well over the past few months. Our personalities are very similar. We joke around a lot, but when it comes crunch time, we set aside our humor. I'll never forget a text I received from Chris after Zoe was admitted to Phoenix Children's Hospital just a week or so prior to her scheduled Glenn. The new, soon-to-be heart dad, was already "in" our world. He wrote, "I can't believe how much I think about people whom I've never met before."

It is true. We think of each other often, and rarely do we get to meet those across the country who lend us support on a daily basis.

Please keep Chris, Meg and Will in your hearts and minds over the next week; then over the next month as Will undergoes and recovers from his Norwood.

As you can see, Will is destined to be a Saints fan, like Curtis.


Don't worry boys, as soon as Zoe is old enough to talk, she'll convert you. She's pretty persuasive it seems. She's already picked out Will's bedding for his toddler bed.

Good Heart (and lungs)

Wow, I never knew going to the cardiologist with Zoe would be tantamount to running a marathon! Zoe did not want anything to do with tests today. EKG, ECHO, pulse ox, you name it, she was not a fan. She smiled at Dr. Stock and let him listen to her heart but everyone else in the office (nurse, echo tech) was an enemy.

Dr. Stock checked Zoe out prior to her ECHO and gave her two thumbs up. During her exam, while listening to her heart, he said, "Wow, she sounds awesome." God, I love hearing that! Zoe's oxygen saturations were 90, blood pressure and EKG good. Zoe weighed in at 6.14 kg or 13.5 pounds; great weight gain.

Then came the ECHO...

Zoe threw a complete fit from the moment I set her on the hospital bed. She screamed and wanted no one touching her chest. We tried everything: Baby Einstien DVD, flashing lights, Baby Orajel, a bottle and binki. I tried singing ABBA's Dancing Queen, which is Zoe's new favorite song, but even that only pacified her for a few moments. Dr. Stock walked into the ultrasound room, half expecting to see her being tortured. Needless to say, Zoe's complete ECHO turned into a limited ECHO. Not what mommy hoped for, but Dr. Stock saw enough ECHO clips that he reported good heart function.

The plan is to keep her off of the Digoxin and Dr. Stock will see her in 6 weeks. At that time, he'd like to perform another ECHO - with a calm Zoe this time.

When we left the appointment, I was slightly disappointed that Zoe did not cooperate. I was hoping for a complete ECHO with no hanging chads. Caleb reassured me that Dr. Stock was pleased with Zoe's function and clinically, she is great.

Caleb wants to relay that he gave today's cardiology visit an A-, whereas mommy gave it a B. Either way, we both agree that today's visit was rewarding (and exhausting.)

Halloween Pictures...Finally

Caleb and I took the girls over to my parents' house for some Halloween photos. As you can see, Emmy and Zoe weren't too interested.

(Zoe the Bumblebee)

(Emmy as Brobee)

(The girls' first Halloween)

(Happy Lihn Family, this picture pretty much sums up the photo session)

Trick-or-treating went a little smoother. Emerson practiced knocking on doors, saying trick-or-treat and thank you before leaving the house. When it came game time, however, she was all mute.

She made it down the street, and back, then squatted down and began frantically trying to unwrap a tootsie pop. We came home and Emmy checked out the goods.


We let her go crazy. She soon was double-fisting her candy.


She was nice enough to share with her little sister, at least.


Emmy must have enjoyed herself, she's already talking about picking out her costume for next year.

On deck for this week:

Cardiology Appointment

Zoe's cardiology appointment is tomorrow. She will have a full work-up and we'll see how her heart is functioning off of her heart med, Digoxin. Positive energy and prayers, please, for a normal-functioning heart!

Visitors

My sister and brother-in-law are coming into town on Thursday, bringing with them some of Zoe's biggest supporters from San Francisco for the big event on Sunday.

Heart Walk

This Sunday is Phoenix's Inaugural Congenital Heart Walk in Tempe, Arizona. Team Zoe is 45 members strong! Unfortunately, Zoe will not be in attendence as she is still awaiting some very important vaccinations. We can't wait to post pictures from the walk and share this special day with all of you, Zoe's supporters near and far.

Pumpkin Time

Well, we did it. We took our first steps outside of the house, and into the public, as a family. Yes, it was scary. Yes, there was hand sanitizer (and lots of it.)


Emerson is so excited about Halloween. We couldn't deprive her of a trip to a pumpkin patch. She picked out her very own pumpkin. She decided she liked the pumpkins that were different - the albino pumpkin, black pumpkin and the warty pumpkin. She wasn't a big fan of the run-of-the-mill pumpkins.


We took the opportunity to get some pictures of the girls. Zoe was not thrilled, but participated...what choice did she have?


Emmy helped Zoe pick out her pumpkin.


The next day, I had such high hopes for pumpkin carving with the girls. I thought Emmy would love gutting the pumpkins and getting messy. Nope, not even close. "Ewwww...duhtee" was all she said. She let Daddy do the scraping and pull out all of the "pumpkin nuts." Lord knows where she got that from.


Emmy, the priss that she is, refused to put her hand in the pumpkin. Instead, she was interested in...

(Cleaning the pumpkins)

(Watching the birds)

(And, dancing to Mumford & Sons.)

Zoe had absolutely no interest in the goings-on. She was just in awe to be outside the house!

The girls made the task at hand take much, much longer than expected. We took a break at dusk, made dinner, gave the girls their baths and put Emmy and Zoe to bed. Then, we headed back outside to finish carving.

Once the pumpkins were completed and lit, I was so happy with the outcome.

And, here they are:

Emmy's Pumpkin - FOOFA (Yo Gabba Gabba)

Zoe's Pumpkin - Tiny Heart

Daddy's Pumpkin - Classic Jack-O-Lantern

Mommy's Pumpkin - CHD Awareness

The perfectionist, that is Mommy, insisted on staying up until 2:00 a.m. to finish the pumpkins.

Tomorrow, Emmy will be running around like a mad dog in her Brobee costume, counting down the time until she can "fick or feet." We will take pictures of the girls fick or feeting and share as soon as possible.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM THE LIHNS!!!

Ode to San Francisco

Dear San Franciscans,

You do know I was born in Philadelphia, don't you?

You beat my Phillies.

BUT...

Since my Aunt Stephie and Uncle Paul live in San Fran, I dug up my big sister's Giants tee for tonight's game. I must be good luck! I apologize in advance to my Philadelphia supporters, but tonight, and for the remainder of the 2010 World Series, I will be a Giants fan (and not just because they are up 2-0.)

So, to my supporters and fans in San Francisco, these are for you!

(Me, with hope, during the 1st Inning.)

(Me, with tons of hope, during the 7th Inning.)

Let's take it in FOUR San Fran! (Sweep, Sweep!)

Love,

Zoe Lihn,
a fair-weather Giants fan,
a true Phillies fan.

Research. Progress. Hope

Just in time for the upcoming Inaugural Heart Walk in Phoenix...where Team Zoe is in 1st place for the largest team...the Children's Heart Foundation launched this public service announcement.

Please watch, and if you haven't had an opportunity to donate to Team Zoe, there is still some time - ten days to be exact. The 1-mile walk, 5k walk or 5k run will take place on November 7, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. Please join us in walking, or donate to this much-needed cause. All donations are tax-deductible and (per the CHF website) over 75% of CHF expenditures directly support research and research-related education.



Team Zoe shirts should arrive by Monday, Nov. 1. We ordered a few extras, for the stragglers. So, let me know if you'd like a shirt ($10) and we'll see what we can do.

Zoe is well. She has pepped up the last few days and we're seeing more smiles. She is still coughing, but we're communicating with her pediatrician often.

Keep up the good fight Zoes. We're all so very proud of you!

Busy Beavers

If I could find a way to add, at minimum, 5 more hours to my day, that would be great.

Since starting back at work (from home), I am running in circles.

Zoe is doing well. She continues to gain weight (6.01 kg, which equates to 13.22 pounds). Her volume intake is lower than many heart babies, but she is gaining weight so...

It is very confusing and stressful being a mom to a heart babe. This last week, Zoe's had some congestion. I think it may just be from teething. No fevers, irritability, etc. Who do I call? The pediatrician? The cardiologist?

We were told, before Zoe was born, to treat everything as cardiac first. So, I contacted our cardiologist first, pediatrician second. Sometimes I think I'm overkill, but with her being just one month post-op, I'm not taking any chances.

Zoe started solid foods last week. She took to it much faster than Emerson, who screamed the first several times we fed her oatmeal.

(Started off strong...)

(Then, quickly hit the wall...)

Zoe seemed to like the cereal, until her reflux reared its ugly head after a few days. Again, I'm not convinced it is reflux. It could be teething. When she is screaming and coughing, I just wish she could tell me what is wrong.

This last weekend, my parents bailed us out while we went on a much-needed date. We went out for dinner and then, to Target. Yep, Target. Hot date night, huh? We enjoyed it. Dinner and Target.

When we got home, Zoe was sound asleep on Papa's lap.

After she woke, we took a few pics. I'm pretty sure she was still half-sleeping though.



Sorry for the delayed updates. Between work and Zoe not feeling well, we've had our hands full this last week-plus.

Zoe has a cardiology appointment next week, with a scheduled ECHO. The plan was to stop her Digoxin (the medication that helps her heart "squeeze"), but we may not be able to get her off of it in time for her ECHO if she doesn't start feeling better soon.

Prayers and positive energy for Zoe to pep up this week and for whatever is causing her discomfort (teeth, reflux, a slight cold) to pass quickly.