Quick Update

Here's a synopsis of our lives....

We. Are. Crazy.

Truly, no to complain, but this is the nuttiest time we have ever been through. We are overwhelmed with the move, unpacking, pregnancy, normal craziness of raising three young boys, preparing for surgery in a week ... and we haven't had internet service since we moved on Saturday. It's been so difficult to respond to all the wonderful supportive emails I have receiving because I can read them on my phone, but trying to write a thoughtful message in reply is nearly impossible. It's not like we would have hours to sit around and surf the internet, but just being able o email and update our blog would be great.

I'm currently sitting at gymnastics while Cooper runs around and has the time of his life. Thank goodness they gave me the wifi code and I could use this time. I've been wanting to post so much about our visit with the surgeon last Friday, as well as the move and how the boys have all been doing.

So, here is my attempt for a quick update...sorry in advance for mispellings and incomplete sentences. Just trying to get lots of information out as quickly as possible ... : )

We met Dr. Mendeloff on Friday. He was incredibly nice and thorough and patient with our questions. After he had spent a LONG time drawing a diagram of J's heart and where the problem is, and how he will fix it, he took time to listen to our concerns.
The risks are scary. The hope that he will be healed is great.
We ended up bringing Jackson with us. We told him about the surgery Thursday night. We were brief and didn't go into too many details, and he has been okay with the whole idea so far. He had surgery when he turned three (outpatient) and remembers the hospital, etc. So the idea of surgery isn't a new one. But, of course, this will be much more serious and involved and scary for him when he wakes up.
The child life specialist met us for his appt, and played with him in the waiting room during part of the time we talked with Dr. Mendeloff. She gave us great advice on ways to talk about all of this with Jackson... how to answer questions, and let him have some control in he situation. She will also be there for his pre-op next Tuesday.
My mom and brother will come in town this weekend, and will stay through the week to take care of Cooper and Charlie. Colin's mom will be there for when we come home from the hospital the next week.

Please know how much we appreciate all the prayers. I feel like my cup runneth over with the amount of love, prayers, and help we have already received. Prayer is powerful. Please keep praying.

If I haven't responded to an email or message, please know that I have read it, and taken it all to heart. One day I will find some thank you cards (packed in one of the gazillion boxes around the house) and write everyone when we get through this mess. Maybe. The point is, we are thankful.

I have a sonogram tomorrow morning, after speech for Cooper and JAckson, and before a well-visit for Charlie. Whew. I don't know how to keep up but I am just hoping that we get by. In a couple of weeks, we can hope that we have a healthy 4 year old who is making a great recovery. No more hole in his heart. We hope that we also have a while until Maggie arrives. We hope we have a few days to unpack our kitchen. Or any of the other rooms in the house.

The house is beautiful, and we are so grateful to call it home. It is a big house, and seems HUGE after the apartment. The boys are so happy. We have lots of space. We have lots of boxes : ) It feels like home already, even without being unpacked.

Cooper is done with gymnastics so that's all for now. Sorry for the jumbled thoughts ... and hopefully we will be getting the internet one day in the near future so I can keep updating our blog as we move closer to the surgery.