“Six Weeks”
It’s 4:30am as I start typing. I figure it’s as good a time as any. I’m way over-due in writing this entry so I might as well knock it out while I’m up!!
We reached the six week mark past April’s surgery last Tuesday (a week and a half ago). That morning we had a follow-up appointment with our cardiologist and they did another ultra-sound to look at her heart. Unfortunately, this showed that her valve has more leakage than it did 3 weeks prior. Our cardiologist can’t really explain why, but we go back in a month to take another look. Please pray that the leak isn’t worse (better or gone would be ideal!). This isn’t horrible news; the leak is mild and nothing compared to what it was before surgery. However, it certainly wasn’t the fabulous news we had been getting since the surgery and it took away a lot of the joy of reaching the six week mark. Just a small reminder that this is a process where we need to continue to walk the road God is giving us and trust Him completely to take care of her.
Many have asked how things are going getting back into the routine. They’re going much better. Clearly not perfect or I wouldn’t be up at 4:30am updating our blog. =) But, this is the first night in many that she hasn’t slept through the night and getting her to initially fall asleep takes about half the time it used to. Oh, and I’m still driving her around to get her to fall asleep for naps – we’ll tackle that beast after vacation.
Just like her brother, April is very verbal and that continues to grow with each passing day. It’s so much fun to listen to the words, phrases and even sentences that come out of her mouth in her sweet little voice. There is no way I could include everything that she is saying right now, so I’ll just give you our favorites:
“Hold you now!” – She’s been saying “Hold you” for awhile and added the “now” in the last couple of weeks. Without fail it sends Mike and I into song – singing or at least humming the Thompson Twins “Hold Me Now.”
” ‘Cuse you!” – Said when she toots. =)
“Bless you Mommy/Daddy/Abe” – We get blessed regularly, not just when we sneeze.
“Thank you Mommy/Daddy/Abe” – This is one of my favorites because it is totally unprompted. So are the others, but typically at this age you have to prompt for please and thank you (we still have to prompt most ‘pleases’, although not all).
“My turn” or “My (insert toy)” – Expected with an older brother.
“I have it.” – Means please give it to me.
“Motorcycle” – I included this one just because it’s Mike’s favorite. We can’t think of another 4-syllable word that she says, at least not one that is so clear that anyone (not just Mom and Dad and Abe) can understand it.
“Where go?” – This started out as her hiding her fork at meal times (usually under her plate or in her lap) with a big grin on her face – her own little joke. “Where Abe?” and “Where Daddy?” and “Where doggie?” are also pretty frequent questions. I think it’s funny that she refers to Dexter as ‘doggie’ instead of by his name. Conversely, Abe around this age thought that all dogs were called “Dexter.”
I’m sure there are many others that I’m forgetting. If they’re ones I really don’t want to forget I’ll add them to the list as I remember them. She says pretty much anything and will repeat (or try to) whatever you ask her too. She also knows her shapes and we’re working on her colors. Okay, back to bed I go before everyone is up for day!
