photography
My husband has a new hobby...photography! Please check out his website when you get a chance...thanks!
cardio report
We received wonderful news at the cardiologist today. Ethan's heart is working great. There have been no major changes and so we can continue treating him as a normal little boy! The cardiology staff is continually amazed at how well he is doing and so are we. Thank you, Lord!
fit model
Isaac has a part-time job...he is a "fit model" for LEE jeans. He started this past spring and it is a pretty good gig for a 6 year old. He tries on jeans and shorts for the LEE employees and they look at how the clothes fit him...are the pockets too low, how easy was it for him to snap the jeans himself, is the length just right, are the seams even, etc. He doesn't mind it too much and the ladies just love him.
Over the summer, he had the opportunity to do a couple of photo shoots for the boy's fall line. One was for the online catalogue and the other for the sales rep's catalogue. Check out the online photos here! In the first row, he is pictured 2nd and 4th. In the second row, he is 1st and in the fourth row, he is 3rd.
Over the summer, he had the opportunity to do a couple of photo shoots for the boy's fall line. One was for the online catalogue and the other for the sales rep's catalogue. Check out the online photos here! In the first row, he is pictured 2nd and 4th. In the second row, he is 1st and in the fourth row, he is 3rd.
anencephaly...
...this word has forever changed my sister and brother-in-law's lives and the lives of our entire family.
My sister, Stephanie, is pregnant with her first baby. On October 1, she and Andy found out that their precious baby has a fatal birth defect...anencephaly. She is 22 weeks pregnant. Words can't describe the shock, devastation and heart-ache that we have all felt the last week. It is a road that we would have never dreamed we would travel down. Steph and Andy need your prayers - our whole family needs your prayers.
I wrote this in my journal a few days after we found out: We don’t praise God for this bad circumstance…we praise HIM for who HE is in spite of this bad circumstance. He is Sovereign, Just, our Refuge, our Strength, our Counselor, our Hope, our Redeemer and our Restorer.
You can follow their story here.
My sister, Stephanie, is pregnant with her first baby. On October 1, she and Andy found out that their precious baby has a fatal birth defect...anencephaly. She is 22 weeks pregnant. Words can't describe the shock, devastation and heart-ache that we have all felt the last week. It is a road that we would have never dreamed we would travel down. Steph and Andy need your prayers - our whole family needs your prayers.
I wrote this in my journal a few days after we found out: We don’t praise God for this bad circumstance…we praise HIM for who HE is in spite of this bad circumstance. He is Sovereign, Just, our Refuge, our Strength, our Counselor, our Hope, our Redeemer and our Restorer.
You can follow their story here.
birthdays...
Ethan turned 4 on September 28 and I turned 35 this past Friday. A lot happened in the week and a half between the birthdays and I will explain that in my next post. Just like any other child, Ethan is excited to be getting older, but me...not so much! There are things that happen after age 35 that I am not looking forward to. I still see myself as a 25 year old...when does how I see myself catch up to how old I really am?
Much to Ethan's delight, Brice made a special appearance as "batman", but I won't post any of those pictures! I thought he might post some on his blog, but he hasn't yet.
I had a great birthday. We went to our favorite pizza restaurant for dinner and then to a highschool football game. We had to pull out the layers, hats and gloves...perfect football weather.
Ethan had a batman party and in his words, it was "awesome." I really don't know why he wanted a batman party. We have absolutely nothing batman in our home, but that is what he wanted.
Much to Ethan's delight, Brice made a special appearance as "batman", but I won't post any of those pictures! I thought he might post some on his blog, but he hasn't yet.I had a great birthday. We went to our favorite pizza restaurant for dinner and then to a highschool football game. We had to pull out the layers, hats and gloves...perfect football weather.
Other than the fact that Ethan (he refused to smile) complained the whole time about being thirsty and hungry, we had a great time! Brice and I had a glimpse of our future while we were at the game and it was frightening. Just picture a bunch of middle school boys yelling, running up and down the bleachers, hitting each other, stuffing nachos into their mouths, spilling hot chocolate, bumping into annoyed adults, oblivious to everything around them, except their other crazy friends. Yikes!
first day of preschool
Ethan has beentalking about
preschool since
January...I think
he is going to
love it! He had a
great first day.
He has come a long
way in his almost
4 years of life.
This is a big milestone
for my little boy! We
are very proud
of him!
monday was the first day of school
I am sad to see them go back to school, but very proud of them at the same time. They are really good kids and I miss them already. Ethan and Levi don't know what to do with themselves...they miss their older brother and sister. We will eventually get into a new routine, but it doesn't feel the same at home anymore. Good luck, Abigail and Isaac!
our colorado vacation
In July, we drove 13 hours to Colorado to see Brice's parents. Just a reminder of what a beautiful state it is! Here are some pictures from a couple of the popular sites we visited: Garden of the Gods and the Sand Dunes National Park. Huge rocks to climb and the biggest "sand box" we have ever seen - what more could the kids ask for?!?
(important mom note: I was able to get Levi's white onesie completely clean...you will see what I am talking about!)
(important mom note: I was able to get Levi's white onesie completely clean...you will see what I am talking about!)
Happy Fourth of July!Catching up...
Happy Summer! Here is a glimpse of what has been happening the last month or so.
Isaac started coach pitch baseball
Brice turned 34
Abigail finished soccer
Levi went to TableRock Lake for the first time
Ethan drove a boat and caught a fish...Abigail & Isaac started learning how to water ski
Isaac turned 6
The kids had a lemonade stand to raise money for the AHA Heart Walk. All in all, our family raised $350! We were part of a "big" team that has raised $44,000 for CHD research!
Ethan doesn't like the carnival ride "dizzy dragon" & a parade with lots of friends!
and last, but not least, Abigail turns EIGHT!
American Heart Association Heart Walk
This is the first year that we will participate in the AHA Heart Walk (May 30th) and we will be walking in honor of Ethan. All the money that our team raises will be used to fund LOCAL research for Congenital Heart Defects. This means that Ethan and so many other children will be directly impacted! If you would like to donate in honor of Ethan, you may do so at his heart walk website. Thanks so much.
Am I losing my mind?!?
Yesterday, I went to Old Navy with Ethan and Levi. I went through the checkout, walked out the store and realized that I had bought two swim suits for Levi by mistake - I had forgotten to put one back after I had decided which one I wanted. So, I walked back in and returned it. We left for a second time when I realized that I hadn't bought the jeans that Ethan had JUST TRIED ON! So, went back in and got the jeans off the rack and went through the check out again! I went through the check out THREE times! I know they thought I had lost it!
CHD Picnic
Our whole family attended an "indoor picnic" on Sunday with other families who have been impacted by congenital heart defects. Here is a picture of me introducing Ethan to Sarah, an adult who was born with a CHD. She came to visit Ethan after his second surgery, and it was a special opportunity for me to be able to introduce them again. Sarah is showing Ethan that she has a scar on her chest, just like him. Sarah just had her pulmonary valve replaced about 6 months ago. She has had several open heart surgeries and they have all been done at Children's Mercy Hospital. They don't only perform open heart surgeries on children!
technology is advancing
When Ethan was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, we were involuntarily thrown into a whole new world. It is a world that I wish we didn't have to live in, but for some reason, it was God's plan for our family. It is exciting to see things like this Growing a Heart clip and this Regeneration of Cells video. Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator, and I am so glad that He gives humans wisdom and skill to learn new ways to save lives.I am a member of a support group called CHD Families. It is for parents of children with heart defects. At our January meeting, we heard Dr. Hopkins of Children's Mercy Hospital speak about some groundbreaking research that is taking place right here at CMH in regards to heart valve replacements. It is pretty incredible!
Who does Levi look like?
We get this question all the time. Here are pictures of each of the kids at one year. Who do you think Levi looks like?
Levi
Ethan
Isaac
Abigail
Congenital Heart Futures Act
Just this past Tuesday, the Congenital Heart Futures Act was introduced in both the House and the Senate. In order for this piece of legislation to pass, it has to get majority support from both the House and Senate. This is groundbreaking news for all those living with a CHD and all those yet to be born with a CHD. If this passes, Ethan and so many others will be directly impacted!
Levi is ONE!
Happy Birthday, Levi! My baby is not a baby anymore...bittersweet. We celebrated with family and friends over the weekend and had lots of fun. Today, we celebrated some more by turning his carseat to forward facing, buying him his first cheeseburger and fries at McDonalds, opening gifts and having another piece of birthday cake. We feel very blessed.
such a big boy facing forward!
yum...cheeseburger!
more cake
red mustang for valentine's
This was our transportation for our Valentine's date last night! Brice surprised me by renting a red mustang! I have to say that it was more romantic than our minivan! The kids, especially Isaac and Ethan, thought it was so cool. They got to ride in it this morning and they were in heaven!
our sweet valentines's
our sweet valentines'sbest "echo" yet!
Ethan had his 6 month follow-up appointment with his cardiologist this morning. We are very grateful for the good news we received. The doctor walked in after reading Ethan's echocardiogram and said that this was Ethan's best echo yet (huge sigh!) When Ethan was born, he had 3 main areas of narrowing: his aortic artery, his aortic valve and his mitral valve. All 3 areas are growing and currently show only minor narrowing. He has good blood pressures, pulses and blood flow.
Ethan cooperated very well. He was actually a very serious little boy, sitting and lying completely still during his blood pressure check, EKG and echo. I tried to get him to relax and at least smile, but he didn't move much. It was funny to see him like that, but it definitely helped make everything go smoothly.
Dr. A did talk to me a little about Ethan's future as far as playing sports are concerned. Ethan's aortic valve is not normal and never will be. It may require surgery or another type of intervention in the future, but it may not. Only time will tell that. Either way, there is a good chance that this abnormal valve will limit Ethan as far as competitive sports are concerned, especially in the area of the intense conditioning required for these sports. Playing t-ball, basketball and soccer at the preschool/elementary level is fine, but he may not be able to pursue them into highschool because of the limitations of his heart.
As parents, we don't like to hear those kinds of things, but we do trust that God has a perfect plan for Ethan's life. It will be exciting to see what happens. His next appointment will be in nine months - the longest he has gone between appointments!
We have so much to be grateful for. I have mentioned Cora in previous posts and following her story the last few weeks has brought back a lot of memories of the scary times we experienced with Ethan. When he was 6 days old, we almost lost him. It could have been Ethan in that little casket at the front of the church. God spared his life and spared us so much grief and sorrow. I wish He would have spared Cora's life too.
Ethan cooperated very well. He was actually a very serious little boy, sitting and lying completely still during his blood pressure check, EKG and echo. I tried to get him to relax and at least smile, but he didn't move much. It was funny to see him like that, but it definitely helped make everything go smoothly.
Dr. A did talk to me a little about Ethan's future as far as playing sports are concerned. Ethan's aortic valve is not normal and never will be. It may require surgery or another type of intervention in the future, but it may not. Only time will tell that. Either way, there is a good chance that this abnormal valve will limit Ethan as far as competitive sports are concerned, especially in the area of the intense conditioning required for these sports. Playing t-ball, basketball and soccer at the preschool/elementary level is fine, but he may not be able to pursue them into highschool because of the limitations of his heart.
As parents, we don't like to hear those kinds of things, but we do trust that God has a perfect plan for Ethan's life. It will be exciting to see what happens. His next appointment will be in nine months - the longest he has gone between appointments!
We have so much to be grateful for. I have mentioned Cora in previous posts and following her story the last few weeks has brought back a lot of memories of the scary times we experienced with Ethan. When he was 6 days old, we almost lost him. It could have been Ethan in that little casket at the front of the church. God spared his life and spared us so much grief and sorrow. I wish He would have spared Cora's life too.
Cora's Memorial Service
We drove down for Cora's memorial service on Tuesday. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking. When I saw her little casket, I broke down. It just wasn't fair. Family members wore pink in honor of Cora - a sweet touch.
The service started with a slide show of pictures of Cora and her family. I am sure there wasn't a dry eye in the entire church. The pastor did an amazing job. He read scriptures that gave assurance that Cora was in heaven with Jesus. He read letters written to Cora by her grandparents, aunts and uncles. Joel and Jess had written a letter to Cora and one of Cora's uncles read that - another tearful moment, but so precious. We sang "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord" by Matt Redman. I couldn't sing this part:
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Not because I don't believe these words, but because they were too painful to sing at the time. The words are so true. It is a CHOICE to praise God even when we don't understand why He took Cora away.
Cora's body was buried in a simple, beautiful, country cemetery. It seemed the perfect setting. At the burial service, the pastor told Cora's family about a tradition some people had of remembering those who had passed away. It was based on the scripture:
2 Corinthians 5:8 (King James Version)
8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
The pastor went on to explain that these people would say the name of the person who had died and then everyone would say altogether, "Present." This signified that even though their loved ones were gone from this earth, they were present right now with Jesus in heaven. The pastor closed the burial service by saying "Cora Paige McClenahan" and we answered altogether, "Present."
Afterwards, we were able to talk to the family. Something I will probably remember forever is my brother hugging Joel and both of them sobbing. Why did this have to happen? I hugged Jessica and told her that she was an incredible mom. I also told her that she looked beautiful. She did - the peace of God was clearly evident on her face.
Cora's grandparents invited everyone at the burial service to come over to their home. I thought this was an incredible act of service on their part. In their pain, they were still able to open their home and serve OTHERS!
Please continue to pray for this family. The hardest days are yet to come as they learn how to live without Cora.
Click on this link to read Cora's obituary: http://www.thekansan.com/obituaries/x545176829/Cora-Paige-McClenahan
The service started with a slide show of pictures of Cora and her family. I am sure there wasn't a dry eye in the entire church. The pastor did an amazing job. He read scriptures that gave assurance that Cora was in heaven with Jesus. He read letters written to Cora by her grandparents, aunts and uncles. Joel and Jess had written a letter to Cora and one of Cora's uncles read that - another tearful moment, but so precious. We sang "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord" by Matt Redman. I couldn't sing this part:
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Not because I don't believe these words, but because they were too painful to sing at the time. The words are so true. It is a CHOICE to praise God even when we don't understand why He took Cora away.
Cora's body was buried in a simple, beautiful, country cemetery. It seemed the perfect setting. At the burial service, the pastor told Cora's family about a tradition some people had of remembering those who had passed away. It was based on the scripture:
2 Corinthians 5:8 (King James Version)
8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
The pastor went on to explain that these people would say the name of the person who had died and then everyone would say altogether, "Present." This signified that even though their loved ones were gone from this earth, they were present right now with Jesus in heaven. The pastor closed the burial service by saying "Cora Paige McClenahan" and we answered altogether, "Present."
Afterwards, we were able to talk to the family. Something I will probably remember forever is my brother hugging Joel and both of them sobbing. Why did this have to happen? I hugged Jessica and told her that she was an incredible mom. I also told her that she looked beautiful. She did - the peace of God was clearly evident on her face.
Cora's grandparents invited everyone at the burial service to come over to their home. I thought this was an incredible act of service on their part. In their pain, they were still able to open their home and serve OTHERS!
Please continue to pray for this family. The hardest days are yet to come as they learn how to live without Cora.
Click on this link to read Cora's obituary: http://www.thekansan.com/obituaries/x545176829/Cora-Paige-McClenahan
so very sad...
Little Cora passed away early this morning. She had just turned 11 months old. We know that God is Sovereign, but we don't understand why He chose to take Cora. She is with Jesus, but it is still so very sad. Please remember this family in the days to come. Their loss is so great.http://www.themcclenahans.blogspot.com/
Cora Paige
This is 10 1/2 month old Cora and she was diagnosed last Friday, January 23 with cancer - stage 4 Neuroblastoma. My sister, brother and I grew up with Cora's dad, Joel. Will you please pray for this little girl. She started chemo today and the next few days are very critical for her. We choose to believe that God is in complete control of Cora's precious life.
You can read about her story at: http://www.themcclenahans.blogspot.com/ and http://corapaige.blogspot.com/.
You can read about her story at: http://www.themcclenahans.blogspot.com/ and http://corapaige.blogspot.com/.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
