*there's 5 lessons I've learned

Sometimes I debate with myself about whether or not Will's CHD was something that happened to us or if we were anointed with it as a gift. Here are some of the lessons learned.

1. from Lauren :

"God makes no mistakes."

2. from Kate:

"We serve a mighty God."

3. from Stefanie:
We can all be angels to one another. We can choose to obey the still small stirring within, the little whisper that says, Go. Ask. Reach out. Be an answer to some one's plea. You have a part to play. Have faith. We can decide to risk that He is indeed there, watching, caring, cherishing us as we love and accept love. The world will be a better place for it. And wherever they are, the angels will dance. Joan Wester Anderson

4. a quote by Barbara Bloom
When the Japanese mend broken objects, they fill the cracks with gold. They believe that when something's suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful.

5. a poem by Lauretta P. Burns 
As children bring their broken toys
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God, 
because He was my friend.
But then, instead of leaving Him,
in peace, to work alone;
I hung around and tried to help,
with ways that were my own.
At last, I snatched them back and cried,
"How can you be so slow?"
"My child," He said,
"What could I do?
You never did let go." 

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week 2011

*there's 6 affirmations of faith

I don't talk about faith very publicly. It's very personal to me but I am happy to share these verses that have meant a lot to me since Will was born.

1. in an email from Julie H.:

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

2. in an email (and gift!) from Julie Beth F.:

William Matthew Dianna...who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. Isaiah 43:7

3. from Katie M's artwork:
For this child I prayed and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27

4. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

5. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. Luke 2:40

6. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be
discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week 2011

*there's 7 reasons I am happy to have my CHD child

1. He is SO darn cute!
2. He reminds me that the human body can tolerate unimaginable things.
3. He reminds me to take one day at a time.
4. He reminds me to have faith and be hopeful when things look bleak.
5. Without him, I wouldn't have met so many inspiring people.
6. Without him, I wouldn't remember to be grateful for my health.
7. Without him, I wouldn't be a mother.

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week 2011

*there's Congenital Heart Defect Awareness week!

Starting tomorrow, I will be posting daily on 7 different topics related to our experience as a heart family. Several people are doing the same but I stole my format specifically from a theme this site used a couple of years ago called "7 for 7 Blog-a-Thon". Each day from February 7th - 14th the blog had cute topics like:
7 Reasons I Am Happy to Have My CHD Child
7 Ways You Can Help!
7 CHD Faces You Won't Forget

I decided that was too hard, so I am just going to count down from 7. Check back here to see what I came up with!

To perfectly combine today's Super Bowl with the beginning of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness week, please get yourself ready by checking out this article about a little boy with TOF who will star in one of tonight's famous Super Bowl commercials. If you also happen to be a Star Wars fan be sure to watch the commercial - there is a link to the video in the article.

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week 2011 

*there's an update

It's time to update you on Will's phobias. I know some of you have been very interested in this one so I need to make a change to the list. It appears that hats aren't a problem for him anymore and will be replaced with vacuums, mops, and brooms. Even when they are not in use.

So we now have:
*anything that cleans floors
 and
 *balloons - This one has not been tested lately. The next time Will encounters a balloon I'll let you know how it goes.

Tooth update: A few days after Tooth 1 appeared Tooth 2 joined it and they both came in together. If I am ever able to get a picture of them I will share it as soon as possible.

Also, join me in wishing Will's dad Chris a Happy 32nd Birthday today!!

*there's American Heart Month 2011

says the President.

The focus of this is more for acquired heart diseases than congenital ones (meaning you are born with it), but hearts are hearts and they are all important.

Please wear red this Friday, February 4th for National Wear Red Day!

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women.

*there's a quick announcement

I'm just spreading the word for other blogging mothers that Stefanie (of When Life Hands You a Broken Heart, Create Hope) is hosting another Every Heart Has a Story blog event on Feb. 15th for Congenital Heart Defect Awareness week.

This is where she explains what this year's topic will be and what to expect.

I'm planning some special posts for that week too. I don't like talking about heart stuff all year long so I'm going to fit a lot into this month.
~Jody

*there's the Pediatric Heart Institute

Watch this to hear some of the staff that I've talked with about Will talking about their work: Dr. Bichell (Will's surgeon), Dr. Baldwin, Dr. Dees, Dr. Fish, Dr. Johns (Will's cardiologist), and nurse Yvonne.

*there's a million visits to the doctor

ER trip #4

Yes, that's an exaggeration. But I was wondering about this a few months ago. Every time we leave an appointment within the Vanderbilt system I'm given a print out of future appointments. Each time that sheet has 6-8 appointments listed. So I checked my calendar, looked up Will's info on the medical records system, and remembered what I could about the rest of them...and came up with the following totals between February and November of 2010:

14 Pediatrician
4 Cardiologist
1 Cardiac Surgeon
3 General Surgeon
3 Gastroenterologist
2 Urologist
4 Emergency Room
9 Home Health Nurse
5 Early Intervention Coordinator
10 Early Intervention Teacher
16 Speech Language Pathologist
10 Physical Therapist
1 NICU Follow Up Clinic
1 Ophthalmologist
1 Hearing Screening
1 Nutritionist
 = 85
+ a handful of other miscellaneous medical things (weight checks, etc)
= 92

If only there were some way to estimate the phone calls...

I just wanted to add those up in an attempt to try to measure what we have accomplished as a family. I don't have to wonder "Where did the time go?". It went to Vanderbilt! Luckily it is a nice place with good sweet tea. And sometimes they came to us so we didn't have to leave the house. Soon enough these visits will be replaced with visits to a school and a critique of the tea from that cafeteria.

But back to the near future, these upcoming appointments remind me of this:

February 2010, Will's discharge from the hospital

Next month we see the cardiologist again and will record year #2 of this photo. If he gets the all clear for annual appointments then we will won't be able to get the 3rd installment of the photos until February 2012!

*there's a video

Sorry, not a video of Will. We still haven't figured out how to get those on the blog. But this one is really fun too. Remember this guy?



I almost warned you to get a tissue but maybe that was just me. (I think the girl named Ellie is my favorite.) That is OUR hospital with doctors, nurses, kids, and parents that we recognize! I could take you to all of those spots. Better yet, I will pray that you never need to go there and see the inside that hospital. The brunette nurse holding the butterfly sign is Brittney that I've mentioned before (Best Nurse PCCU Category; Medical Division). I told you she was beautiful!