Mighty Max Update

Max had his cardiology appointment yesterday. Great news: his heart function has improved! And it’s improved so much that it’s considered in the “normal” range now!! We are thrilled. He’s doing so well, and they don’t want to see us again for another four months! He still hasn’t really gained any weight, but they’re not concerned. His Mom and Dad will chat with our dietitian soon about switching over fully to the toddler formula, and that should help. It was pretty amazing to see him playing around in the play area of the hospital where Min played so many times last year while he lived upstairs in the CVICU. He’s doing really great with his g-tube feeds and oral feeds and is even starting to tolerate some bolus feeds with the toddler formula (bolus is basically how a baby would normally drink a bottle in one sitting, but via the tube - meaning, it’s like 70mL in 10 minutes, as opposed to a continuous feed of 70mLs per hour, if that makes sense). It’s basically one big step forward with his feeds and will help his stomach to know what it feels like to fill it more quickly and normally.

We are so proud of him and are so relieved to get such a good report.

These two are just so in love with each other. They are absolute besties. Precious.

Max Update

Thought I would share a little update on this little boy...I should say BIG BOY!  He had his heart doc appointment on Monday came away with glowing reports that he is thriving!  The blood clot the were watching and is completely gone!  He is down a pound to 24 pounds but that is to be expected because he is mobile now.  He crawls all over the place.  

He's testing foods a little at a time, thank goodness and is one of the happiest babies I've ever seen.

His big sister is his best friend and they just play and play and play.  I watched Min while they were in OKC at the doctor and when they came back they tried him on the Y-Bike.  OH MY...he was able to peddle his little feet all around the house, with parents behind.  It was quite amazing to see.  Next up...walking soon, and FOOD!

What a champ our little Mighty Max is.

Happy Birthday Max

One year old. One year ago today our Mighty Max was born. He brought so many challenges with him, this boy born with half a heart. He has weathered it all (along with his wonderful parents) and now we celebrate his first year of life with overwhelming joy and gratitude to all who have been on his side, his parents, his doting big sister Minerva, his loving family all around, and the medical teams that have made his precarious beginnings such a success. There is still journey left to travel but this sweet boy handles it with such a big attitude and smile. We so love him, our Mighty Max, HAPPY BIRTHDAY

(black eye from falling on a toy-typical boy, or baby)

Watercolors, Baby and Food

Just a little catch up from the past week.  I gathered up all the watercolor notecards that I've done so far and packed up the watercolors for a brief bit.  I needed to clean up the front room to ready for Christmas decor.  I'm very please with how all have turned out but my mind is still whirring with new ideas.  This weekend I may get it all out again.  

At the studio, what limited time that I've gone in, I produced these three, in oils.  I cannot get Christmas out of my head so I am just going with it.

These may be gifts...

This past week I also got to watch Mighty Max for the very first time.  It was only for a little over an hour but exciting and SCARY!  He still has a feeding tube and a heart monitor which scares the bejeeszus out of me, but we managed.  He was quite happy watching Miss Rachel until he wasn't happy.  I could see it in his eyes, sleepy.  So I picked him up, put him on the couch beside me to change his diaper.  Do you know how long it has been since I have changed a little boys diaper, probably 40-50 years!  I was very quick though because he got upset very fast and held his breath crying, setting off the monitor!  YIKES!  I finished and hoisted him on my shoulder and shooshed and hummed, patting his backside and he was asleep in seconds.  Whew!  But, my poor arms.  He is a hefty 27+ pounds and I have bursitis in my right arm, prohibiting me from lifting him or holding for long.  Just don't have the strength.  Af said I could put him in his bed but I could not stand with 27 pounds of dead weight and grab his feeding bag and monitor to get him in there so we just stayed put.  I wasn't too sad about that.  He is so sweet and cuddly.  The big guy has a mouthful of teeth and today has started cutting a molar!  He may be delayed a bit in some milestones but not in growth.  Plus he's actually eating small bits of food which is a big deal.  

The weekend we finally jetted off to the cabin and hosted Saturday evening's dinner with our little group.  I asked what The Hubby wanted to fix and he said beef tenderloins.  Okay, so off to Fresh Market to get two beautiful tenderloins and make my credit card SCREAM!  They are not cheap but usually what we do once a year for the group, our Christmas present to them.

I also needed to decorate a bit because in a couple of weeks we are one of the host cabins for the progressive cocktail party.  I've never decorated for Christmas at the cabin before.  I purchased a small tree and went through my ornaments that I thought would be great for the cabin vibe, kind of rustic.  It turned out so sweet.

The evening went FABULOUS and everyone had such a fun time.  The meal was great, the company awesome and a few gifts were even exchanged early.  

Merry Christmas

Catching Up

Lots of weekends to chat about here.  This past weekend was a chili cookoff at the wigwam.  There were some very yummy chili's to sample and vote on.  I made a vegan version, trying to up my game in the vegan world for my kiddos.  It was very tasty but didn't win.  The Hubby even saw one of the cabiniters look at the sign "VEGAN CHILI" and sneer, he thought that was so funny, I did not.  I'm trying to be supportive, he is NOT!  

Then after a quick 40 winks of a nap I headed to a ladies only meet and greet at another cabin.  Such fun and so many ladies there.  Got to meet several new cabin owners which is always fun.  The weekend was rainy, rainy, rainy and chilly, still is.  Fall and winter are here with a vengeance.  We've not really even had a fall or a spring.  All we get lately is hot and cold, none of the lukewarm stuff we love.  The weekend before the skies were stunning.

Last weekend I had a girls weekend at the cabin with two of my oldest friends.  Actually there should have been four of us but one was not well and spent all weekend in bed.  Dang it!  Honestly we didn't do much except sit on the screened porch by a fire, watch the multitude of birds, read books, eat my first go around of vegan chili and talk and talk and talk.  It was so relaxing.

Also, a couple of weeks ago Max and family hit the big OKC to check out how he's doing off oxygen.  This boy is a tank and doing so well at 9-1/2 months and 25 pounds, that and he has sort of been released by the surgeons and just considered a cardiac patient.  

They go back today to again do an ultrasound and to fix his feeding tube he tried to pull out.

Yes, he's getting rowdy and that is such a good thing. We've had Miss Min since last night and most of today while they make the trek yet again, once a month now.  It might be a longer day because of the feeding tube thing.  

It's finally kind of getting back to normal around here.  His momma, our daughter, has been so relieved that she is now pursuing a dream of hers, to start a caroling company here in Tulsa, The Tulsa Carolers!  She has hit the ground running and is booking tons of gigs.  Yesterday she was interviewed and had a photo shoot for Tulsa People Magazine!  They found her!  So exciting.  You go girl.

Now that November is upon us that means,  Yes I know Halloween is tomorrow night but that just means Thanksgiving and very quickly Christmas!  I always do the family Thanksgiving so that needs to get planning and I've already started Christmas shopping for the grandkiddos!  I also said Yes to being one of the hosts for our annual progressive cocktail party at the cabin. We were going to last year but with the the impending birth of Max we didn't know when he might show up and I couldn't commit.  So this year I did!  We've NEVER decorated for Christmas at the cabin so I have to get that started.  I have another box of decorations in the attic I told The Hubby to get down and he was reluctant to rummage around in the multitude of boxes.  I told him that if he got all the rest of the boxes of Christmas down, plus the extra tree that is up there I would PURGE!  I need the extra stuff to take to the cabin INSTEAD of buying more!  He was quickly on board.  The attic is cooler, he can do it, I CANNOT!  I can sort of climb the ladder but standing up there is not my bag, AT ALL!  I have before but hell, I'm older and dang heavier, not a smart idea.  I may pop my head up and direct him if I need too, I think I can do that.  

This cocktail thing each host house on the progressive thing is responsible for a cocktail to serve.  I'm not much of a cocktail making person so I thought I will do prosecco and cranberry juice with floating cranberries.  It's festive and quite yummy.  I've already bought plastic champagne flutes, cinnamon scented tea lights and luminary bags to put along the walkway and the fence line.  I think the smell of cinnamon in the air will be quite fun.  Just had a thought about cocktail napkins....Oh this mind of mine.  I'll let you know if I can make happen....Later gators.

The Beauty Around Us

Good morning.  Here it is the end of September and fall is in the air but the flowers are still quite vibrant as the temps are still high.  I'm quite okay with that as I so love summer.  Fall is definitely in the air as you can see it, especially when we drive to the cabin and look off in the distance.  The hills of green are now speckled with gold, bronze, orange and yellow as the leaves of the trees are dying and will soon litter the ground.  I was sitting in the back yard yesterday afternoon and looked over at one of the pots of flowers that The Hubby planted.  This beauty is called blue plumbago and has quickly become one of my favorites.  I would love to paint it but I'm not sure I could do it justice.  The neon blue of the flowers just makes my heart sing.  

It's amazing what you see in the world when you open you eyes and really pay attention to the little things around you.

Today, and the next couple of days I'm staying put at the house and will be serenaded by the sound of roof scrapers and nail guns.  Yup, we are getting a new roof and my car will be stuck inside as I do not plan on moving my car while there will be roofing nails everywhere.  I'm sure it will be quite noisy but I have my ear buds and will listen to a book in the mornings and soaps in the afternoon.  It will be nothing as I'm used to The Hubby making all kinds of noises, either on the roof or the power washer, just whatever he chooses to occupy his time with.  

I've been in the studio a bit this week and Monday I decided to try my hand at this photo I took on Saturday afternoon before our family arrived for burgers and birthday celebrations.  

Wanted to share the most recent video of our heart warrior Mighty Max.  He is doing so very well and can't wait for his next milestone.