CHD Awareness Week Feb 7-14...

Where has the time gone Braden? Who would have guessed it? 5 years little man --and now we are registering you for kindergarten in the fall! I see the calendar and realize it's been 5 years, since your 4 icu stays (nicu, picu, sicu, cvicu), 20+ hours on heart-lung bypass machine, 8 total days on a ventilator, 2 months in heart failure, 1 cardiac cath, dozens and dozens of EKG's & Echo's,1 NG tube, 2 open heart surgeries, 3 holes, 1 leaky valve, and a whole lotta things in the wrong place. Who knew 5 years later the only problems affecting your health would be from playing so rough in ways we never thought you would??? You are so strong and resilient. Sometimes I think I forget just how lucky we are that you are so healthy. Most of the time, I don't feel that I am grateful enough for having you here everyday. And most days (especially when you are stubborn)I forget that you are my miracle boy.

February is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month and the anniversary of Braden's first open heart surgery. So, I thought I would let you in on a few interesting facts...

• There are about 1 million people alive in the United States alone who were born with a heart defect

• Heart defects are the #1 birth defect

• Each day 10,830 babies are born in the U.S.; 411 of them have a birth defect -- of those, 87 will be born with a congenital heart defect -- that's more than cerebral palsy (27), sickle cell disease (27), Down Syndrome (12), and oral/facial clefts (11) combined (total of 77)

• It affects about 1% of newborns -- over 40,000 babies are born with heart defects yearly

Braden had all of the following defects...

• TGA (Transposition of the Great Vessels) occurs in 5 to 7 percent of all congenital heart defects. Sixty to 70 percent of the infants born with the defect are boys.

• DORV (Double Outlet Right Ventricle)-Normally, a ventricle has just ONE outlet. For the left ventricle, this is the aorta. For the right ventricle it is the pulmonary artery. In DORV, both of these "outlet" blood vessels - aorta and pulmonary artery -arise from the RIGHT VENTRICLE, either totally or to a great extent

• Patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, is the sixth most common congenital heart defect, occurring in 5 to10 percent of all children with congenital heart disease. Patent ductus arteriosus occurs twice as often in girls as in boys.

• A ventricular septal defect, or VSD, is the most common kind of congenital heart defect

• MVP (Mitral valve Prolapse) affects 5% to 7% of the population, the cause is unknown. Mitral valve prolapse occurs more often in women than men; it often occurs in people who have no other heart problems, and the condition may be inherited.

His defect was literally one in a million. A handful, at most, of all the people walking around today with a CHD have had Braden's exact defect. We were so lucky to find a terrific Cardiologist, and Cardiovascular Surgeon. And more so, we are truly blessed to have a family, and community of all faiths who pulled together, and prayed us through it. People often ask us how we got through it. I kiddingly say "lots of drugs" but mostly I know it was the power of prayer and my faith in my Savior. During the first year of his life we were in survival mode and I never had the time to process everything until much later. Even today looking back at at his scrapbooks, it seems like the events inside them happened to someone else. The photos make it all very real again. Even Braden, who loves to look at pictures of himself, generally skips over that scrapbook...

5 Years ago today we gave Braden to a scrub nurse and prayed he would be alright... 5 years ago today, 10 hours passed and it felt more little 10 years...5 years ago today I couldn't even imagine signing him up for another soccer season, or that my biggest health worry for him would be from riding a quad or snowboarding. I got to hold Braden for the first time after his surgery on Valentine's Day. I remember thinking how ironic it was that we had a ''heart baby's" heart fixed in the month synonymous with love.

Once a year, I pull down this little pale blue box, covered in yellow stars and I sift through the items inside and remember how loved we were and how blessed we are. It holds basically all the things I couldn't smash into a book...

• a pediatric stethoscope,
  
• a few NG tubes and Kangaroo bags (from when he was fed by tube)
  
• his camo "No-No's" (Cast-like things for his arms so he couldn't pull at the tubes)
  
• the pink elephant scrubs he wore into surgery (shhh, they don't know I swiped those)
• a tiny oxygen mask from the PICU stay
• the smallest blood pressure cuff you have ever seen
• the O2 cords he had on for surgery
• some EKG leads
• and a few other odds and ends I collected along the way
  

We love you Braden and we are so happy you got the chance to be the great little, tough, stubborn boy you are. Thank you a million times over to any nurse, PT tech, surgeon, doctor, cleaning person, radiology tech ect ect that had a hand in helping make Braden well. The best part about this whole experience has been talking to other parents of CHD kids and being there for them during a scary time. Most of you regular bloggers read his story back in August when I reminisced about the 4 yr mark from his final surgery. So, I won't add more pictures, you can see them and read about his heart journey here... We are linked to several CHD parent support sites and I welcome the chance to share our story of hope, success and to help spread awareness.

Oh, and bloggers, PLEASE--- don't tell Braden about 'my' box. He loves to play doctor and I am afraid he will confiscate everything in it for his own doctor bag!!! Tee-hee-hee...

Two for Two...

So, I guess I spoke too soon... Lucky for me I have a Doctor and Nurse in the family and on speed dial. I guess Braden had so much fun at the dunes doing a 'Superman' through the air, he thought he would try to do it again at home...
Not so much. He did have his bike helmet on, thankfully...He was actually playing ball with his brother, being SUPER sweet (for once), when he --honestly, I saw it and can't explain it, but his face met the concrete and WhAm... Poor boy! He has two very fat lips, and a very swollen-bruised nose. Thank goodness my pediatrician doesn't read my blog!

No worries, I am putting both my boys in walking lessons later this month...

Berk's nose a few weeks back, from a face + floor= pain episode...

Nothing Broken = Good Trip...

Well, the moment Braden has been waiting for since Christmas morning arrived this last weekend. Rusty, his Dad, his sis Kelcie & bro Ryan all headed down to the Dunes. Pretty, sure I did not want to go, fearing I wouldn't let him have any fun what so ever. Plus, Berkley has been cranky and I didn't want to deal with the 8 hours in the car in one day thing... One thing I have learned about the trip, Braden can do a nice Superman and loves actual Sand in his sandwich. Oh, and Kelcie is about the craziest girl quad rider I know. No fear, seriously...

The met up with good family friends the Whiteners- Jim, Stephen, Sharon & Jayne. Good times were had by all. Glad they all got home safe, extremely dirty and exhausted. Enjoy the pictures.

Beloved Leader...

We are saddened tonight at the loss of the President of our Church tonight, President Gordon B Hinkley. He was an amazing man, so inspired and faithful. We can only be comforted in the thought that he now reunited with his sweet wife Marjorie. I have such gratitude for how he lead our church and for his willingness to visit the members all over the world. It is hard to comprehend how at the completion of his 97 years he had traveled more than half a million miles and spoke to hundreds of thousands of members in more than 60 nations. The great works he has brought to us include the Proclamation to the Family, smaller Temples so more members could benefit from them, the Conference Center in SLC--just to name a few. I think the trait that endeared him most to me personally was his humor. He always had a way of making lite of something during even serious moments. We look forward to the April General Conference when we sustain the newest leader and Prophet of our Church.

Eat This Not That...

I have a new favorite book... Along the lines of eating better, I ordered this a few days ago on Amazon. It came today and I swear, I already think differently about eating out. There are so many startling facts about just how much Fat, Calories, Carbs, sugar ect ect... food items from fast food to sit down places.

Prepare to never eat your favorite food again.

item instead of another one. For each The biggest thing I have noticed since keeping a daily food log, most restaurants do not provide any type of nutritional value. I found after reading through this book why. Because even the things we think are healthy, aren't. In my BodyBugg blog I gave some stats on foods, and this book does that and a whole lot more. It is a small, pocket size book to take with you. So basically, if you are gonna eat a Taco Bell, it tells you to order this particular restaurant reviewed (tons and tons are in there from Outback to Taco Bell) there are 4 bad choices and the 4 alternatives. Now, it is not to say that the recommended items are healthy, but they are definitely healthier than the others. It is just the coolest book. The worst food in America was title was given to Outback's Aussie Cheese Fries with ranch. That single item has 2,900 calories, 182 grams of fat, and 240 grams of carbs... and you haven't even had your meal yet!!!

You would be amazed how many kids meals, menu items ect contain the entire fat allowance for their whole day in one item of food. I have really made it a goal to keep my kids heart healthy and active. I especially work with Braden because I don't want to put his heart at risk later in life. Could you imagine, his cardio doc would kill us! So, check it out... it was eye opening to say the least. For example, Minute Maid Fruit Falls (kids drink) has just 5 calories and 1 gram of sugar, while Capri Suns has 100 calories and 26 grams of sugar, that is a HUGE difference!

By the way, the healthiest restaurant according to this book, is Chic-fil-A, not one of their sandwiches has over 500 calories, which is amazing for fast food...

Read excerpts here and here...

Southern Hospitality...

Well every parent thinks their child is the cutest around, so it is always nice when a stranger thinks so too... It is especially nice when that stranger is a celebrity! On Wednesday a new Sam's Club opened up in our town, near my house. Myself, Berkley, Cindi & Nana (Cindi's Mom) decided it would be fun to go on opening day to see what fun things were going on. They had a woman carving a montage of the Superbowl (which is held here in AZ this year --Go Patriots!) into a 500 pound block of cheese, a huge fresh fish display, and tons and tons and TONS of free samples (yummy!) at the end of each isle.

But the main reason we made sure to get there when it opened was because Jamie & Bobby Deen, sons of the Food Network's Paula Deen, were going to be there doing a book signing. We got there and got in line. It moved really quick and soon it was our turn. Berkley was cracking everyone around us up by wandering towards the table and peering at the men behind it. Finally, when it was our turn, we got to take pictures, have our books signed and talk with them a little bit. They were both so nice. Jaime has a son Jack, just older than Berkley, so he kept talking to him and trying to get him to go see him. Berk was being so coy, it was funny. Cindi, who is a Food Network Fanatic, not only knew Jack's name, but also mentioned that she was preparing one of their recipes at home that very day. Needless to say, by the time they had signed 2 of our 4 books, we were like BFF's with the brothers.

As Nana was getting the last book signed, Jamie asked me how to spell Berkley's name. Then he asked if he liked balls. I said, that's all he plays with and got for Christmas. So, then he says, I am gonna sign this for Berkley. He had been holding this SuperBowl Edition Wilson Football in all the photos, and he signed it and gave it to Berk! He even took the time to let Berk throw it down a few times. It was so cute! He was just smitten with Berk, and anyone who will play ball with Berk becomes an instant friend. I kinda felt bad for the people in line behind us, cause we were there for a while. But they were chatty!

After we left the table, a camera crew that was following them for their book tour, even interviewed me! (I was really wishing I had actually done my hair, but oh well). So, now I have a new yummy recipe filled book, signed to me (It says "Happy Cookin' " ) but a really cool football and cute story for Berkley when he gets older. Rusty cracked me up, trying to be super supportive and excited as I was and asked, "So, which team do they play for?" Men. But he still thinks it is a cool football.

Berkley just wants to know why he can't play with it anymore...

My BodyBugg...

Okay, finally I have time to sit and post an explanation as to the 'thing' I have been wearing on my arm since Christmas. It is actually one of my gifts from Rusty, a BodyBugg. In my never- ending quest to regain the use of the closet full of clothes that don't fit, I have tried about everything. I have to admit, at first it didn't really bother me that I couldn't lose the baby weight, but now it does. Luckily, people either wised up, or I am actually making progress, but I hardly ever get asked if I am pregnant or not anymore. Hallelujah! I did lose some pounds during our family contest, but I still have a ways to go before I reach my goal weight, which is really just my pre-pregnancy weight. So on to the Bugg...

Rusty's Aunt Alison had one a while ago and it got me curious about what it was and what it did ect. Basically, it is a band you wear on your arm, 24/7, that counts the calories you burn each day. It also counts the steps you take, and when in the day you did them. It uses sensors to measure motion, skin temperature, skin resistivity and ambient temperature. It communicates with software on your PC to calculate your calorie expenditure. There is a very easy to use website where you input your food log, and it helps you figure out how many calories you consumed that day. Essentially, it isn't a diet. They don't tell me what I can or can not eat, or how much or anything like that. They do recommend meals and snacks for me each day if I don't want to find something healthy on my own. But the logic behind it all about the numbers. Calories in vs. calories out. My goal each day is to burn at least 2250 calories and only consume 1750 cals. So I would have a defect of 500 calories a day. Every 3500 calories I have in deficit is equivalent to losing one pound. Bet you didn't realize that that also means you would have to eat an extra 3500 calories to gain a pound. (you're wondering what you ate at Christmas time aren't you?!?)

And this is NOT my graph, I have never had a surplus...yet...

The program has you wear the band to begin for 48 hours straight (except for showers, duh) so it can figure out your body's natural rhythms. Then you only have to wear it during the day. Then you answer a questionnaire about your lifestyle, food habits and preferences and it sets up a whole program for you. It has so many other features, but I haven't even learned them all yet! I love it. It won't tell me to eat fish for a meal, cause it knows I hate fish, so it usually recommends some chicken dish. So, if you see a gray band on my arm, it's not my IPod, its my BodyBugg.

I love that it is an actual physical reminder to make good food choices. I feel like it will buzz me if I get to close to a Wendy's or a Dr. Pepper, but it doesn't really... If you watch Biggest Loser on NBC, they wear the Buggs, but you usually can't see them with their long T-shirt sleeves. I can't tell you what they cost, it was a gift, but I do know you can get them at 24 Fitness or online.

Alright, prepare for me to now ruin your favorite foods by telling you how many calories are in them...

• Route 44 Strawberry Limeade from Sonic 480 cal
• A Grape Cream Slush from Sonic 430 cal (That's for you JLB)
• Large French Fry from Wendy's 540 cals (plus the ranch...that's another 160 calories)
  
• The 'Baconator' they are advertising right now has over 800 cals!
• A Large Reece's Blizzard is over 1000 cals!

Ok, enough, I don't want to ruin everyone snacks. But it has totally helped me see exactly where I want to 'spend' my calories each day and more importantly, where all the calories are hidden inside things I don't think are that bad to eat. Anyway, Just wanted to let you die hard health people out there know about something I am trying. Hopefully you will see my results this summer!

Boys being boys weekend...

(please note the long drool string- he just cut 2 molars and another tooth on the bottom, you know, for good measure...)

We had a pretty mellow weekend around here and I was super glad. Sometimes I wonder about the world of boys I live in. My boys are boy boys, dirt, bikes, quads and all things dirty. They are rowdy and rough with each other, a trend I dare say will only get worse as they get older. It has been interesting to see Berkley and how he is coming into his own and defending himself more. He is finally starting to talk. Braden was a big talker by this age and Berk has his words, but is possessive of them. He says "this" and "that" and is pointing with one finger and that gets him where he needs to go. He has started this "No" gesture that is a little brattier than a regular head nod, you also get a shoulder shrug and a look too. Gotta love it. He loves to be outside ("oow-side") and loves to swing, but he is really happiest when he is watching, more marveling really, at his big brother riding his bike, quad or motor-scooter. It's hilarious to watch. He is mesmerized... He wants to touch the wheels, and stands right in the way when Braden is coming or going. Thankfully, Braden generally, will avoid him and keep going. My biggest gripe with him right now is his grunting to indicate what he wants instead of calling it by name, which he knows, but won't use generally. Any tips? I am trying to avoid giving him anything unless he says please "pees" or ask for it by name, which is why he learned a new word this weekend..."nem nems" (M&M's)... my house is a chocolaty mess.

We had a fun family lunch date at CPK which was both yummy and fun. The boys are at a great age and will actually behave pretty well in restaurants . As long as they have something to eat they are GooD! SHOCK!


Rusty got his 'Braden time' in on Saturday with his Uncle Todd, brother Ryan, two cousins Cass & Maryn and his grandpa Bopy, when they all headed to the Motorcross, that was in town this weekend.

In the Pit before the main event

The view from their seats, Braden is wearing his Quad riding shirt (he wanted me to let ya'll know)

He really liked the races and thought it was pretty cool to see "little big kids" (8 yr olds) racing. The night was tarnished only because he dropped his new camera from Christmas into the section below him and it is lost and gone forever... He is still grieving it. Poor kid, it's like he doesn't have 50 other things to play with. But bless his heart.

The only other eventful thing to report is Berkley's first big fall. Not off his trike, or the tramp or out of the car. Nothing as exciting, he just fell walking, and went literally, FLAT on his Face... the bruise on his nose is proof. My only question is, Can a 1 yr old break their nose? Cause if so, this looks iffy.

Back to School...

Thankfully I am not driven in the scholarly way. While I did well in college, I just didn't love it and having my Associates Degree in General Studies suits me just fine. One day maybe, I will think about, thinking about the possibility of going back to school, but for now I am content just being the wife of a student.

Yes sir, after finishing a double major at the end of 2005, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Managent and Marketing...as well as a near perfect GPA--(Overachiever) Rusty has been accepted into the MBA program at University of Phoenix. I am really proud he decided to go back and I know it was in his long term plans, so why not do it now? He should finish up next year sometime, unless he goes crazy and tries to do it in under a year, pleaselet's hope not. I guess he just didn't think he could handle all that relaxing on the cruise unless he was really stressed out before it! He starts classes next week and I will lose him forever to his computer at night. Congrats, sweetie the boys and I are so proud and I know you will do fantastic! Oh, and no pressure on the straight A's this time...

None at all...

I love getting gifts...

Well, I love getting gifts. Braden likes to call them prizes. Rusty calls them "hand over the credit card" and Berk doesn't really care- unless it is round and bounces. But, I especially love when I get a gift and the occasion has nothing to do with me...
We got our passport ready and our shopping shoes on, 'cause we're going to

the Mediterranean!

Rusty's parents Russ & Cindi try to take us on a big family vacation every other year or so in addition to our annual Powell trips. In the past we have been to Disneyworld for Christmas and most recently we went to Hawaii. (Ok, so the day before I ended up not going, bags packed and everything...funny story about being 5 weeks pregers with Berk and so stinkin sick my Mom had to stay with me for the whole week cause I couldn't get up the stairs without help...) Anyhow. We always have a great time. This last week on Dec 29th they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Kelcie graduated last year and hasn't taken her senior trip yet and once the ball got rolling not only were Kelcie, Russ & Cindi going, but Ryan, Jill's Family, us and our Nana & Bopy.

This summer we are taking a 15 day trip (a 12 day cruise) throughout the Mediteranian! I have never been on a cruise, or out of the US (Mexico doesn't count). Nor have I ever been super fond of the 18 or so hour plane ride that will get me there (22 coming back). Most of our Christmas gifts were cruise oriented. That's why Braden got the IPod, I got a new camera and Rusty got this nifty thing to weigh the luggage! I am so excited! We are forgoing our annual Rasmussen trip to our condo at Snowbird and our annual long Lake Powell trip in order to save up the vacation time were gonna need!

I am so excited. I will be super curious to see how Berk does, he will be 18 months or so when we go. Braden loves flying. he slept the entire 6 hours to Oahu and then some. He is old enough to listen to music, watch the movies or sleep. Berk is gonna need some kid ambien! At least we are gonna have lots of hands to help us. Jill's hubby Bill served his mission in Italy so we can get the insiders scoop there. And we hear if you speak Spanish (Rusty & Russ) they can understand you in most places. So, here's where we are going...

Venice, Italy
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Santorini, Greece
Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Athens, Greece
Naples/Capri, Italy
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Rome, Italy
Florence, Italy
Pisa, Italy
Nice (Villefranche), France
Nice, France
Barcelona, Spain

I Know, couldn't you just die??? I never ever though I would go to Europe. I have serious flying issues but I have gotten more comfortable now that I have kids to distract me and of course the lovely prozac/dramamine effect helps too... But now I am excited at the idea. We will only be at each place a day or so, so it is a good peek into where we would like to go back and spend more time later(and without the kids). I would love to go to England someday with my parents. My Dad served his mission there and even brought a VW Bug home on the boat with him. Yes, I said boat, he is pretty old after all! Teasing Dad. So I can't wait for this adventure to start. I am already making lists and storing away things to take.

So, all you cruise pro's, what do I need to take, not need (hairdryer?) and does anyone know if they sell diapers on board(that question keeps me up at night)?!? I will hopefully have lots of fun stamps in my passport when we get back, as well as thousands of photos to remember this trip of a lifetime!
Happy Anniversary Noni & Pops!