Pray for Abigail's Heart

At Abby's 15 month check up the pediatrician noticed a heart murmur. No one had ever heard one before. So to clear all our minds we were sent to a pediatric cardiologist. We went the next week to an amazing doctor. Abby did a horrible job being examined. Poor thing screamed her head off the whole time! People were coming into her ultrasound room from the other side of the office to see if they could help her calm down. They were able to get some pictures of her sweet heart but from all the screaming the pictures the doctor needed were compromised. He met with us afterwards and said he has a pretty good idea we have a problem. Not a huge one but it needs to be dealt with. It's called a PDA (Patent ductus arteriosus) and all babies in utero have them. When babies are born and take a breath for the first time it begins to close. Sometimes it take a day.... sometimes longer. He said by 16 months it should be closed. Here's a link for a more clear definition of her condition... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_ductus_arteriosus. The doctor said she is in excellent health. Her heart is super strong. She's growing perfectly. SO he is pretty sure the opening is small. We have to go back right after the baby is born to try the ultrasound again. If they can't get good pictures this time they will have to sedate her. After that they will decide when to go in and close the opening. The doctor said if it's small we can wait until she's like 4 or 5. If it's big we have to close it sooner. The procedure involves going through a vein in her leg and they will plug up the hole that way. She will have to stay overnight in the hospital with me there every second. So I hope it can wait until she is 4 or 5. The doctor said sometimes this condition isn't noticed in a healthy growing baby until they are like 15 and can't keep up running with other kids. We are so blessed and grateful they noticed it now. So if it is small and can wait to be worked on until she is older we will have to see the cardiologist every 6 months to keep an eye on it.

I was super concerned that no one ever heard the murmur before. The doctor said when the opening is bigger there is less sound. The smaller the opening gets the louder sound it makes. Abby's pediatrician said he thinks it can still close on it's own. We are praying and fasting that it will so we won't have to put her through the procedure. Please pray for Abigail's PDA to close on it's own. We have many friends going through absolute nightmares with their children's health. So I feel bad asking for your prayers. But it keeps gnawing at me to post this for our friends and family to pray for her. Please don't worry about our sweet Abigail. She is a sassy, adorable, very active little girl. We love you guys and appreciate your prayers on Abby's behalf.

Abby 11 months Shep 32 months

Just a few recent shots of my beautiful babies... Shep has a bruise on his forehead from falling and hitting his head on the floor. He is fine, just looks bad. He is such  a trooper...

Silly Shepherd

Sheppy has just recently started this cheesy fun grin whenever I take pictures. Before he would ignore the camera and keep busy with his current task. Now he is looking right into the camera and smiling big and squinting his eyes. I was laughing so hard taking these pictures. I love my silly Shepherd! =)

My sister took us to a super fun train ride in Tavares, FL. Shepherd is so obsessed with watching trains on youtube. She thought he would like this train ride... she was right!!!!! Abigail had a good time too. It was a 2 hour trip and they both fell asleep 10 minutes until the end. We want to go again in October. Here are a few photos of the ride...

Shepherd is waiting very patiently!

Abigail really wants Mommy to hold her. =)

Marvin is excited about the train ride too... he is soooooooo gorgeous!

Abby will not take her eyes off of Mommy.

Here comes the train...

We have our seats!

Abby had a super fun time. =)

Ok... here are some more pictures of the kids. I have just a few minutes so I can't write too much. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves! =)

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe it's almost the end of May! The kids are great! Here are a few pictures we took this week. I love these two kids!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!

Instead of sending out a Christmas letter to everyone we decided to do it on our blog... saving paper and money. =)
We have had an amazing year. It was our first year in Florida as a family.
We decided to try for another baby when Shepherd turned 1 in January 2011. We got pregnant the first try! We were blessed with our daughter on October 25th 2011. She is 7 weeks old and just the sweetest thing. She is starting to coo and talk a lot. We've seen her smile several times. She is very active and alert. She nurses all the time and is gaining weight. She is so beautiful! She looks just like my sister Renee!
Shepherd is growing up so fast. He still doesn't talk much. He mostly talks at home around the family. That's probably because we are the only ones who understand him! =) He signs a lot too. The main thing is he is communicating and telling us what he wants. He understands us and is getting better everyday at following instructions.
We haven't tried potty training yet. He hasn't showed any interest and I really don't want to have to chase after him with a newborn. =) We might give it a try after he turns 2 in January. It's all up to him. We won't force him.
He loves playing outside more then anything else. My parents got him a big swingset with a fort on it. He would play on that all day long if we let him. =)
He loves Disney movies. His favorites... Up!, Meet the Robinsons, Toy Story, Cars, Cars 2, Monsters Inc. He still loves watching the Wiggles, but it's nice for the grown-ups to have different options.
Sheppy took swimming lessons at the beginning of summer. He did well, but we'll have to take them again next summer to build on the skills he already learned. Shep goes to gymnastics once a week. He has a great time and is improving every week. I love that he is learning to socialize, discipline, waiting his turn. It's great exercise for me too. =)
Abby is such a wonderful addition to our little family. Shepherd lights up like a firefly when he sees her. He wants to sit next to me when I nurse her. Shep is always giving her kisses on her head and just snuggling up next to her. It's so precious!
Marvin is working hard! He works full-time and fulfills all his church callings. Marvin was able to find an wonderful job right away when we moved here, with Manatron (now Thomson Reuters). He loves what he's doing and who he works with. He never ceases to amaze me with his willingness to serve others. He is an amazing husband and father. He takes such good care of us. Marvin is the best protector and provider I could have every wished for.
As for me... I'm loving life. Being married to my best friend, having 2 great kids, family close by. I know none of this would be possible without my loving Heavenly Father. Also, without my savior Jesus Christ I would be no where. I want my kids to know the true meaning of Christmas... the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
We love you all!