Cardiology today

Ah, to stay out of the hospital for just one week...

I ended up back in the ER today; thankfully, all tests came back well. Apparently, I'm stressed. :) This is a bit frustrating to me, as I don't feel stressed (am generally happy and even-tempered this week), but apparently, my body says otherwise...appreciate your prayers as we continue to deal with my recovery even as we deal with Moriah's health.

Jason, then, bravely ventured without me to cardiology in Boston with Moriah. The appointment went well; she was weighed, measured, and endured a 13-point EKG (how they find 13 places on a little baby to stick 13 stickers is beyond me). Her EKG came back well; she's not showing any signs of heart failure yet. We've booked another appointment in three weeks (September 2nd)...Dr. Brown thinks that by then we'll be seeing signs of failure, and will have a better idea of when her surgery will be. It seems it's a fine balance--pushing her as far as she can in growth/weight while at the same time, not wanting to get to close to failure, either, before surgery. Pray for wisdom for the doctor as he helps us navigate that.

We are feeling a little overwhelmed this evening...hard to be apart from each other today, and sad to think about our little girl's heart gradually approaching failure in the coming months. There is no other choice except to live day-by-day, and to be grateful for all the little "normal" things we get to do. We had ourselves a good cry today for all the ways our life has changed, and all Moriah and our boys have to endure in the coming months.

We thought we'd have an appointment-free day tomorrow...ah, no such luck. Today Moriah's blocked tear duct looked infected AND her belly button isn't looking so hot, either...so it's back to the pediatrician for us tomorrow. And Friday we have 2 ultrasounds--an upper GI, and a hip (the doctor thought he heard a clicking there when we saw him 2 weeks ago).

Tonight, we're glad to be home, to have our bellies full of chicken and rice (thanks, Alexandra), and to have had some time this evening to have a "family meeting" with the boys, which served to right attitudes and to reaffirm love. A dear friend reminded us this week that those families that live like ours do--with medical issues, and day-to-day--also get to experience the fierce love of God in ways others do not, as we understand the gift of each day in ways others do not, and look for His presence out of a need that others do not have. Fierce love. We need it tonight.