The longest pre-op in history

We reported to MUSC for our pre-op at 9 AM sharp only to wait, and wait and wait. We did all the routine stuff: EKG, Echo, X-rays, lab work. That was all done by 1:00 the time we were supposed to be done with our appointment. Then we waited and waited and waited for all of the doctors to come by for their consult. We met everyone and anyone who may be working with Abby Grace during surgery. She was a trooper lifting her shirt to show everyone her zipper on her chest, breathing in and out like she was a pro and generally being a social butterfly with the entire day surgery team. The childlife specialist was there to entertain her while the doctors each explained to us their role in the surgery. Ms. Betsy was so sweet trying to find butterflies for Abby to color and found a cool sand art fish that we worked on. We had a good day but there were a few tears shed because Abby was just through with the whole thing, after 8 hours wouldn't you be too






Surgery is scheduled tomorrow morning. We have to be at MUSC at 5:30 AM. They plan to take her back at 6:30 and surgery should begin around 7:30. Dr. Bradley said to expect 6-8 hours of surgery and most likely a 2 week stay in the hospital.

We really appreciate all of your prayers for us in the coming days and weeks ahead. I will update tomorrow after surgery is complete.

A little bit of fun before surgery

I think we were a bit crazy when we decided to take a day trip to Car*winds on the SC/NC border this week. We have not had a chance to take a vacation this summer so this was it. We had a great time despite the heat. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

MOOO!!!

We enjoyed our free dinner for National Cow Appreciation Day at CFA. These were the only 2 who dressed up, along with me, so they got the benefit of free dinner and a little playtime in the playroom.

Surgery update

Well let's just say that thanks to a very aggressive dental student we lost our surgery date scheduled for yesterday @ MUSC. We are now rescheduled for July 19th. We are on standby in case they have a cancellation, but how often does heart surgery get cancelled, really??? So the 19th it is. Of course if we do get an earlier date I will post it here.
Summer is going well around here. Trying to toughen up on this household and get some help from the kids. Gotta work on a chore chart of some kind so the kids can take some responsibility around here too. After all they can't just sit around all summer and expect me to do everything, right? I will say one thing the younger two seem to be more happy to help than the older two. They think it is fun when I say who wants to help me with the laundry, while to other two have to rock-paper-scissors it to see who has to unload the dishwasher. I have got to toughen up!!!
Hope you all are enjoying your summer. I will post some pics of the kiddos when I get a chance to get on the good computer.

Counting down to summer & Prayer Request

Well the countdown is underway 12 days of school left til summer break!!!!
Can I get an AMEN :)

The kids are going stir crazy as he last few weeks of school roll in, slowly I might add. No big summer plans yet as our big plan has just hit a road block!!
AG is supposed to have her open heart surgery on June 9th but just this week I got a call for the dental team @ MUSC. They want us to wait to do her OHS until after they do her dental repairs. Ok....here is the roadblock, they can't do her dental surgery until October on the books or possibly July if they can move another patient. Are you kidding me??? We have been waiting 4 months to get her heart surgery done and now this??? I am just so frustrated. We set it up for the summer because I teach and obviously don't have 4-6 weeks of leave banked for her recovery. Plus with 3 other little people to worry about summer seemed like a good time. They could hang with nana and papa maybe go to day camp for a few weeks. Now this :( We were thinking late summer road trip....oh how the best laid plans often don't work. So we're just in wait mode. Our cardiologist and our surgeon are supposed to be talking this out to see of they can work something out. Please pray for this surgery to happen when it is supposed to happen. We know that God has that day already penned in her book, just hope it is a 6-9-10 date :)

Hope to be able to do a longer post this weekend to catch everyone up on all our family happenings including: V hugging Taylor Swift, Jacob's many fishing adventures, Owen finally riding without his training wheels and Abby Grace just being the silly little monkey that she is :)