Christmas Sunday

I'll be the first to admit that one of the hardest things for me about this whole learning/growing experience is that we've had to miss church on Christmas Sunday.  HOWEVER we have chosen to be positive and make special memories on this day. :)  Also, I'm being kind of detailed because this is really what we do every Sunday that we have to stay home and I want it recorded for my girls to remember.

We 'watched' church on byutv.org and then watched Music and the Spoken Word.  It was so beautiful! And really brought a sweet spirit to our home. We even dressed in our Sunday clothes (okay the girls didn't really want to so I convinced them to put their dresses on over their pajamas) and did our hair.

After our 'sacrament meeting', we held primary.  Tessa was in charge of the music and we sang 'Once There Was a Snowman'.

Abby found a wonderful story in the January 2011 Friend called 'Can't We Be Friends' (not yet available online).  

Our Lesson was a cute activity I found in the Friend a few years ago about Nativity Figures and Facts. We read the facts and matched them with the pictures.  Then the girls wanted to put ornaments on the scripture tree. 

Each took turns taking pictures with the camera. :) 

(Tessa took the picture of Abby's hand and baby Jesus.  Abby took the other three pictures.)

  Tessa was only making silly faces - believe me, this was the best one of the two of us together (not necessarily the best one of me).

Lastly, we closed with this months song "Our Christmas Story Tree" found in the Friend Dec. 2010.

Now we are off to make lunch and our neighbor treats - although I am not sure when we will be delivering them with all of this beautiful snow that is currently falling.  The snow makes me just a little nervous about driving out to SLC on Dec. 22 for Abby's follow up appointment - 

but I am so excited for a White Christmas!!!

a note from Abigail...

i love you  mia and all my fun friends to play with.

What a whirlwind!

Primary Children's has so many fun trees at this time of year!

This is first thing in the morning before the plethora of appts began.

I just wanted many of you to know that surgery went well, recovery even better and now

  we are home!  

Abby was discharged on Saturday.  We spent the night out there, and then traveled home on Sunday.

Bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles - there was lots of bubble blowing this week!

She is continuing to recover really quickly and is doing well emotionally.  There are  so many updates and posts that I  have started with pictures, etc.... but just didn't have time to actually finish and post.  So hopefully you'll get lots more information in the next few days.

Waking up in the CICU (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit) 

Cute blanket they chose for her, huh?

At Primary Children's, Abby was healing well, but the doctors noticed that being at the hospital was a bit stressful for her.  The anxiety was affecting her heart rate which is not what we wanted, so they decided to do everything they could to send her home as soon as possible. Once the decision was made to send her home, there was quite literally a whirlwind of activity from that point on.  I didn't even have time to get my laptop out, let alone send out an email.  I do wish we could have kept everyone better updated - so sorry!

Too cute not to share! And so excited to go on a wagon ride.

Here's what we know: (and what you will learn more about in the next few days)

- Abby is allowed to see people and welcomes visitors! You just have to be clean and not sick or have been around 'sick' people (immediate family) for at least 24 hrs. Please call first. OR we love to skype.
-Abby is on oxygen - a small amount - indefinitely - and that a 55 ft. tube that connects to a 7 ft. cannula is MORE than enough to circle the couch six times. ;)
-We have a follow up appointment on Dec. 22, then we will schedule the next phase (cardiocath) for January.
-Abby and Tessa still LOVE all things pink. :) The girls spent the day today dressing up, giving each other manicures, pedicures, and putting on play make up.  They split the work on my toes and might I just say that they turned out lovely!
-We still anticipate phase 3 (open heart surgery - Fontane) by spring.
-We love being all together as a family!!!
-We will be h.o.m.e. in order to keep germ/illness free through January - and then we will see from there.

A wagon ride over to the play center - 

she was still a little nervous that it might hurt - 

but ended up loving getting out of the room!

Here's what we don't know:

- when Abby will go back to school (prob. Jan)
- exactly when the next phases will happen
- WHEN the girls are actually going to decide WHAT to ask for from Santa! (Hope they like what was already purchased 6 mo. ago!)
- how long Abby will be on oxygen
- what the HECK we are going to name James new puppy!
- if 40 min. of sleep per night really is enough

Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude from the notes, gifts, and services that have been given on our behalf.  We love you and appreciate you very much!!! 

Thank you!

colored by abby

A Change of Date

Well, in less than a week, we will be out in SLC witnessing the miracles of modern medicine, while Abby gets her pacemaker. Her surgery has been moved up one day to Wed, Dec. 8. We just feel so blessed to live at this time of the world that makes it possible for our precious princess to have her life extended and hopefully be able to run, play, ride bikes, and dance to her hearts content.

Here are a few pictures to enjoy :)

Being dramatic... and begging for tickles ;)

How she was really feeling!

Goofing off for the camera.  This is almost the only reaction I get lately - so funny.

On Abby's birthday, we had a 'camp out' in the living room.  The girls loved it! 

So proud to be on the roof - yes, in pj's. (hee-hee)

She just has my heart!

Halloween:  Dorothy and a Musketeer (Barbie has a movie about the Three Musketeers)

I just love this girl!!!