Thankful

What am I thankful for this year?  Is there anything to not be thankful for???  There's a list a mile long to be thankful for, but 2 of the highest on the list are my happy little man and my silly little girl.

Kiddo Haircuts

Both kiddos got haircuts today :o)  It was Will's first and Julianna's second.  Will just had some really really long hair on top of his head.  I mean, like 3 inches long just on top.  When he woke up this morning and I thought he looked like a little old man with a really bad comb over, I decided it was time for his first haircut.  He went to Daddy's barber just like a big kid.

Here's the before (check out the shagginess above his eyes)

Here's the after (just a little trimming on top & in front)

Julianna needed a much more in depth haircut.  The first time she got her hair cut, I did it in our living room and that was over a year ago.  Her hair was just starting to look shaggy no matter what I did with it, except for pigtails...which I will so dearly miss now :o(  I didn't think she'd sit for me to do it, so she made her first trip to a salon.

Here's her before (look how long her hair was!)

Here's her after (I think she looks so much older now!)

Both kiddos look so much better and now I won't hear Julianna crying every morning "No! No! Don't brush my hair Mommy! (Ha!  she'll probably still whine).

And just because I think its a super funny picture, here's another one of will :o)  And check out there's top teeth now!

Update on the Kiddos

Quick update...Will's cardiology appointment went really well...so well, that he doesn't need to go back until April!  All the concerns we've had recently Dr Awesome explained are not an uncommon thing when the weather turns colder.  He said we'll probably notice the color change and temperature change even more as it gets colder, but unless its accompanied by breathing issues, sleeping too much, or starts eating less then it isn't a major concern.  His blood pressures were good and so was his EKG.  YAY!

Julianna also got her custom "butterflies" today (aka braces).  They are not at all what I was picturing.  They are much bulkier than the ones we've been borrowing and are bright purple!  I wanted a fun color for her, but that was when I thought they were smaller.  There will be no missing these when she wears dresses, haha!  And I cannot find her shoes to wear with them!  All the shoes I find are way to narrow to fit the braces in.  Guess we'll be looking for some wide width shoes in the next few days.

All in all, today was a great day for my kiddos!  I am so appreciative of every one's prayers for both of them!  THANK YOU!

Awake

It's 5am and I am awake...ugh.  I have been awake since 3am thanks to a little man who hardly sleeps anymore, a back that just won't get better and quit hurting and anxiety over a cardiology check-up.

Will's last cardio appointment went really well.  So well, that he was taken off his last medication and we were moved to 8 week appointments instead of 6 week ones.  I am praying that today's appointment goes as well, but I am worried.  Yeah, I have the normal (can you call any of these feelings normal????) anxiety for just wanting a good report, but we also have some concerns since his last appointment with Dr Awesome.

Will hasn't ever been a "pink" baby.  He's always had a slightly blue tint to him, but unless you see him next to a "pink" kiddo, you don't really notice it.  When he would eat or get really tired, his hands and feet would get even more blue, almost purple.  But lately we've noticed a lot more blue.  Not just when he's eating or tired, but when we're holding him, or sometimes when he's sleeping, really just random times.

We've also noticed major differences in the temperature of his hands.  Where his coarc was (and still somewhat is), is after the blood flows to his right arm & head.  That was one of the reasons he had blood pressure differences (high in the right arm, low in the left arm and legs).  Lately his right hand & arm have been keeping very warm, but his left hand will be ice cold.  This is new.  We've never noticed temperature difference before in his hands.  This really worries me.

One of his still trouble spots is his aorta.  They were not able to completely repair his coarc and it hasn't been growing as well as it should.  It has grown, which is good, just not as much as it should have.  I am terrified that these new symptoms are a sign that his aorta hasn't grown enough.  Or that his coarc has recurred (about 20% of babies with a coarc repair have that happen).

So if y'all could say an extra prayer for him today, we would really appreciate it.  And now on a lighter note....he's some pics of the kiddos :o)

Isn't he looking so grown up!  I can't believe we have less than 5 months until he's a year old!  And you gotta love the puff stuck to his cheek...haha!

Julianna drew her pumpkin face again this year and we carved it, but she did an awesome job!  I love the crooked smile!  She is doing so well cognitively her teacher said she has run out of activities from school for her to do!!