She did receive this great balloon arrangement this morning from her Nanny and Granddaddy and was so excited I had to remind her not to jump around.  Crazy girl.  Just don’t want her to hurt herself of bust open something.

We said good bye to Grandma Judy this morning and now we are taking a few days to relax and recover before school on Monday.

We all want to say THANK YOU!!!

We received so many wonderful messages, prayers and thoughts during this.  It makes such a huge difference to know you aren’t alone in anything and that we have so many people out there cheering for Ellie is awe inspiring.  THANK YOU just doesn’t truly seem like enough.

Since Ellie couldn’t eat or drink we made a pact that none of us would.  We made it there and began the process of getting her settled and sleepy for the MRI and then the Cath.  She seemed fine and was laughing and joking with us until after she took the medicine to make her sleepy.  They give children a drink that makes them very sleepy and makes them loose their inhibitions.  It also contains a bit of amnesia so they only remember being with you and then waking up.  They don’t remember the gas mask or even really falling asleep.  That’s a really good thing.

I was actually ok until she started to cry (once the medicine started to work) and she keep saying “I’m so scared”.  That was when I actually got a upset.  It’s hard sending your little one into any type of surgery.  You put your faith in what you know are fabulous doctors and hope for the best.

We said goodbye around 8:15 when she feel asleep and was about to go to the MRI lab and had until 9:00 and the first update to figure out what to do.  We ate and drank coffee and tried to make time pass faster.

9:00 update still in the MRI lab

10:00 update about to go to the Cath lab

11:00 update they decided to actually try to dilate (balloon) her      mitral valve and they would be doing it soon.

12:00 update she would be out soon

Dr. Marx (Ellie’s Caradologist) was in the Cath lab and one of the ones to make the decision to dilate. He came out and explained that it seemed to go well. There was a slight tear but that it seemed to be ok and the pressure across the valve was so much better than before.  He also explained- completely unrelated to the valve- that there was a slight electrical problem.  The random elevated heart beat she has been having is actually causing her left side atrium (top part) of her heart to enlarge.  They are going to have a look at her EKGs and see how often her heart rate is elevating and decide what will be done with that later.  It didn’t seem to be a major problem or one they wanted to address right now.

The best sight of the day was walking into the room and seeing her smiling face as she ate the purple ice pop I had promised she would get.

She showed off her ET finger (the electrical device that monitors her O2 saturations).  Ellie also proudly informed us “I’m fine, I’m fine!” and that “it only took a minute and I was waking up.”  I was so glad it felt that way to her cause it sure didn’t to her father and I.

We stayed in the cath lab for a few hours and then she was transfered to the heart ward for the night.  Since they dilated the valve they wanted to observe her over night.  She was sleepy – good thing because she wasn’t allowed to move her right leg for 7 hours and keeping her still on a normal day is near impossible (which I relise now she is home).

I couldn’t resist getting her the largest most obnoixious balloon from the gift store.

Ellie was a bit sick to her stomach that night but that is normal and didn’t really get to enjoy her dinner which is a shame considering the way they deliver the food on most of the floors of the hospital.

This train carries the food from the kitchens.  It runs by itself, rings it’s bell to let you know it is coming and if you walk in front of it too closely it will automatically stop.  It’s really very cool.

Ken went back to the Yawkey Family Inn that night and Ellie and I had a slumber party in her room.

New Years Day was full of animal shaped pancakes and black eyed peas and of course football. More good hang time. They say whatever you do on New Years Day will be what you do the rest of the year. I sincerely hope so!

It’s always great coming into town and getting loads of cuddles and hang time with all the aunts, uncles, grandparents and of course cousins. The only damper was an annoying cold that hit us all. Started with Ellie(who cant seem to shake it) then I was the next to fall, it hit Ken over the weekend and now I think my poor Mom has it. Besides that it was a wonderful visit.

This year was one of the labour of love years.  Getting an almost 3 year old and a 6 1/2 year old to stand still, look and smile at the camera at the same time is near impossible.  I worked at it for at least a half of hour before Ken took the camera and spent another 10 or 15 min trying to get “the one”.  Which one did we end up with you ask?  The first one I took.  Isn’t the just the way?

I thought I would share some of the bloopers first:

And now (drum roll please) the first picture I took and what ended up being the final product.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you.

dancing at the bus stop

surprises from afar that make us smile when the sunshinesclown glasses, noses and shoes from circus night

and breakfast dates

Yes, it’s true, we are one of those families.  The tree goes up Thanksgiving weekend. And I say heck why not?  I am allgeric to real Christmas trees -my eyes swell shut and I can’t breathe, I know TMI but there it is- so we have a really beautiful real looking fake tree.  Everything but the lovely pine smell that makes me go crazy. So why not put it up early so we can enjoy it for longer.

Love the peacefulness of a decorated tree and love the memories that each ornament brings as it is placed on the tree.