Lily's first trip to the rides
"I will not nap, I will not nap, standing up is so much fun!"
"I'm practicing standing and pushing my shopping cart"
Lily and her girlfriend Charlotte
Standing in my crib
I am sure this sounds so cliche but Lily is growing so very quickly. Let the baby proofing begin as she's crawling all over the place. We've had to lower her crib two different times in the last month because now her favorite thing to do is stand up in there. Lily's like the Leaning Tower of Pisa as she leans then crashes into her crib. It's actually quite funny to watch her on the video monitor. She continues to thrive and be a happy little baby.
From a cardiac viewpoint Lily is doing very well. She had an echocardiogram this summer but because she was squirming so much her cardiologist couldn't get the best pictures. We'll be back for her 9 month appointment where he'll do a sedated echo. She does have some narrowing of the vessels which is fairly common after surgery. This is something that will be monitored.
Lee and I attended The Heart and Mind Education Day at CHOP this month. It was very informative. CHOP is a pioneer in research. We tried our best to educate ourselves about CHD's and the surgery before Lily was born but now that she's here we wanted to learn more. What is it like to live with a Complex Congenital Heart Defect? What is the latest in research, treatments, and outcomes for these children? We'd like to think that Lily had her surgery, she's fixed, and everything is fine. Unfortunately, this is not something that is fixed and goes away. Lily has a complex congenital heart defect and we need to understand the long-term effects such as behavioral problems and academic performances that may arise. She's three times more likely to experience the above than a child with a structurally normal heart. Lee says that we'll cross that bridge when we get there and I have to agree. As a 19 year old, choosing my major in college was just that, a choice. I became a special education teacher and then a literacy specialist. I knew I'd have a positive effect on other people's children but now I believe I was guided toward this field. I'd like to think that if Lily does have difficulties in these areas that I'm one of the best people to help her. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. For now we are just enjoying our little angel.
Lee and I attended The Heart and Mind Education Day at CHOP this month. It was very informative. CHOP is a pioneer in research. We tried our best to educate ourselves about CHD's and the surgery before Lily was born but now that she's here we wanted to learn more. What is it like to live with a Complex Congenital Heart Defect? What is the latest in research, treatments, and outcomes for these children? We'd like to think that Lily had her surgery, she's fixed, and everything is fine. Unfortunately, this is not something that is fixed and goes away. Lily has a complex congenital heart defect and we need to understand the long-term effects such as behavioral problems and academic performances that may arise. She's three times more likely to experience the above than a child with a structurally normal heart. Lee says that we'll cross that bridge when we get there and I have to agree. As a 19 year old, choosing my major in college was just that, a choice. I became a special education teacher and then a literacy specialist. I knew I'd have a positive effect on other people's children but now I believe I was guided toward this field. I'd like to think that if Lily does have difficulties in these areas that I'm one of the best people to help her. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. For now we are just enjoying our little angel.
Dear Buns,
ReplyDeleteWhen you start walking, come to Brooklyn for treats and presents and spoils.
Love,
Uncle Fran
Sooo cute Laura!! She's adorable!
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