2 Year Anniversary :)

Because today is a day that will probably always be a "scary" day in my mind, I thought I would do a post...

2 years ago, I took little 20-months-old Robynson in for what I thought was a cold or flu or possibly (worst case) pneumonia. And I was wrong. That wasn't the worst case... Heart Failure and 'oh, we're life-flighting her because she's so sick she might actually DIE if we take her by ambulance' is a lot worse...

(with the portable heart monitor on)

Today, Robyn is a hyper active (more so than most, actually) little go-getter. If she wants something, you better look out - she is going to get it. She has a spunk that rivals any kid I've ever met. She has a smile that charms both of her Grandpa's (and even her Dad, but he won't admit it). Somedays she acts like a girl, but most days she acts like her brothers.


Robyn went off all of her heart medicines in April 2011 and she hasn't needed them since. At her last appointment, the doctor was "thrilled" with her progress... We don't have another appointment until the end of September this year... And, I'm happy to report, I believe we have almost completely paid off all of her medical bills!!!

Robyn is very active and healthy. She hasn't been slowed down one bit by any of this. She jumps on the trampoline or swims in the pool or plays in the dirt, right along side her brothers and friends. She dances and sings at the top of her lungs. Such a joy to us all.


We are, as always, very humbled and thankful to all of the support we have gotten from our friends, neighbors, family and church. We don't know how we would have gotten through that first while without you.

OH, any Primary Children's Hospital Staff --
WE LOVE YOU!!!

Love,

Robynson and Family

She's a Rockstar :)

I was having quite the emotional day (and did an emotional post) on Saturday (7/31) because it was exactly one year to the date of when they took my baby by life flight and I couldn't go with her. I just watched her leave - not knowing what was going to happen. After a super scary week in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), a couple of freak-out breakdowns by me, lots of prayers and lots of loving care - she came home. My little girl will now be known as a person with a 'heart condition'. But you wouldn't know it by watching her, looking at her, knowing her.


Robyn is a super active, very smart, great talking, spunky little 2 year old girl. She likes ants and bugs, Mickey Mouse, Dora the Explorer, her Daddy, her brothers, swimming, running, jumping, chasing and hitting. She's a boy in a little girl's body. :) Though, sometimes, you see that she's a girl. She'll carry around a baby, a purse and talk baby talk to & want to hold babies. We are SO truly blessed to have this strong little angel in our lives.

So today was Robyn's "Official One-Year-Later Checkup" with her Pediatric Cardiologist. She started her appointment with a limited echo cardiogram. The guy who did it couldn't have been any nicer to her / us. He was being silly with her and talking like Blue from Blues Clues while she watched the movie. I kept watching the screen and her little heart beat. I was a little freaked out by the blue and the red with the occasional yellow/green colors on the screen. But it was also kind of cool to see the little flaps opening and closing - moving SO quickly. Soon that was over - before Blues Clues was, even - and we headed to our Clinic room to meet with her doctor.

Dr. Everett was looking at her charts and the new notes. She said that Robyn is a total little Rockstar and that she looks completely healthy. So much so that if you didn't know her history, you would think that she was a totally healthy, completely normal little girl. Her heart looks how it should for her age. :) Robyn is healthy. Robyn is normal. :)

We will keep her on her current meds for now. And that's okay. They also wanted to do another portable heart monitor for 24 hours - just to make sure everything looks okay during the day / night when she's NOT on the table in the Echo room. I'm not worried. We've done that before and everything was fine - as I'm sure it will be this time. Robyn doesn't have to see the doctor again for another 6 months. I can do that. I'm totally okay with no doctors visits til after she is 3 years old. My daughter is a Rockstar. And she is healthy and normal. :)

I have to say it again, and I hope you know how absolutely genuine it is every time I say it, but I am SO grateful for all of you. For all of your prayers. For all of your encouragement. For all of you love. Without it, we'd be lost. Thank you and we love you all VERY much!

Love and Support

I have to say something about all of the amazing people we have in our life.

OUR FAMILY

Our parents, brothers and sisters have been such an amazing support system. From staying with us at the hospital, visiting Robyn, bringing food, getting medicines, lending a laptop, holding Robyn, taking our boys, calling for updates, passing along information to everyone else - they have been wonderful. I am so grateful for my families - both the one I was born into and the one I married into. They are super wonderful, amazing, great people.

OUR EXTENDED FAMILY

Our Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents and adopted families have also shown a lot of support. So many have offered to take the boys, come to the hospital to sit with Robyn, or anything else we might need. They have called to check on her, sent love thru email and texts, called to check on her and passed information around. Some have came to the hospital to visit little Robyn or just be there if we need them. Even brought Vending Machine money... :) So much love... So much support... I love these people.

FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS,
and STRANGERS

I am overwhelmed by the support we have had from our friends and neighbors. We have had so many calls, texts, emails, notes of love from those around us. It's so encouraging and wonderful. You never know how loved you are until something so horrible happens.

The Dome Family (our wonderful neighbors) has done SO much for us. They have watched the boys, gave Robyn a blessing, sat with us at the hospital, called for updates, and scheduled helpers. Which brings me to another part of overwhelming support... Because we weren't home and therefore couldn't use meals, they looked for another way to help. We have been working on finishing our basement for what seems like forever. After talking with my father-in-law, the Dome family called around our ward / neighborhood and explained our situation (daughter in hospital with heart problems, basement not getting done but NEEDS done so we can rent out upstairs to afford our house and now all the medical bills) and had people over pretty much every day we were gone working on our basement. I don't know if half the people even know who Jeremiah and I are. They just helped us because we needed help. To be good people. My house is clean, laundry is done, floors and bathroom scrubbed. My basement has new walls, mud and tape, insulation, back splashes installed. It's amazing. I like to think that I would help people if they needed it, but for these people to come over and do all that they have done and not even really knowing us - it's just a sign of true goodness and love and selflessness. I have no words to describe how much it means to me....

IN CONCLUSION...

I don't know that I knew how loved we were. I know how much I love and care for those around me, but to have such an outpouring of love and support from so many people - it's just amazing. I am so thankful and appreciative of the people in my life and my church. I'm also thankful for the people who are strong enough to work in a profession where they see sick people - especially kids - and show them them love, care for them, and heal them. I do not think that I am that strong, but I'm glad that some people are. Without them, I hate to think where I would be...

Please know that you all are loved.
That we will do anything we can to help any of you.
And that life is good.