Family Dance Night with HopeKid

First Family Dance Night

Courtesy by: HopeKids of Arizona

What a fun night with my family at the First Family Dance Night with the HopeKids family. I think my children just had a fantastic time dancing with me and their dad. I was surprised that my boy has been very calm the whole time on the dance floor. Occasionally, he would go down on the floor, but when I asked him to get up, he follows directions without yelling at me :-). My girls on the other hand, had a blast! My eldest daughter was tired after two hours of dancing, and she made her dad danced a lot with her. My youngest one she was doing what the two years old was doing like bending and laying on the floor ha!

Well, I would like to extend my gratitude to HopeKids Arizona for all you do for all of us. Thank you for giving us the great opportunity to experience the extraordinary events that we would never experienced without you. You are such a blessing to my family! Thank you and God bless more and more!

Heart Talk 2014

As usual the Nick and Kelly Heart Fund sponsored this event at the Phoenix Zoo. We've  been going to this event for quite some time now. What I like about it is that we are able to met all the healthcare professionals that took care of my son during his tough times in the hospital. Another, my son was able to met his cardiac surgeon and exchanged greetings with each other and of course expressing our gratitude for all he had done. Also, I was able to meet new heart moms and get some answers to my questions about IEP and school. This program offered tons to the family in need and I hope they will continue to do this event every year.

After the meeting I took my kids to see the animals.

Awards Day 2-2014

 

 CHD awareness week and awards day.

So proud of him!

 

Making Sugar Cookies with Auntie

 

Swimming at the Lake 2013

We went to Lake Havazu City couple weeks ago to try a new place to go to rather than going up in Northern Arizona all the time. On the way to Lake Havazu City we saw few other state parks and one of them is the Buckskin Mountain State Park and it was beautiful!

So, today we went back there and this time we didn't just look around we stay a day and swim. My kids had a great time swimming, building sand castle, and strolling around the beach. My boy (HLHS) had a wonderful time swimming since we turn him lose and swim all he want. The water by the shore was not deep. It was as high as my waist and of course the kids can just walk in the water. Here are some of our water adventure today.

 Kids couldn't wait to get in the water this morning. It was a gloomy day and rain showers lingering above us.

 Here is my little girl trying to make the best of her life in the water.

 My girls made sand castle and brother just dosn't care  about doing fun stuff at the beach rather than swimming for almost 3 hours :-).

The it rained and lots of lots of thunder and lightning.

KC's Big 4 Well Check

Kathlyn had her 4 year old well check today. She is a healthy kid. Thanks to the Almighty God for the wonderful blessing.

My sweet little baby is growing so fast!

A Long Walk to Home

Hibernation is over! HELLO AGAIN :)

Just to update from my previous post dated last December 2012.My boy is doing really well so far. I have not seen any signs of swelling or anything which is a good thing! 

Anyway, I forgot to picked-up KC from school this afternoon before Ralph goes to work. So, I load up my boy and my youngest daughter to my good old sit-and-stand stroller to pick-up KC. It was a long walk it took me about 45 minutes one way about 1.5 miles away from home.

 3 MILE WALK

 This might not be the first and the last time to walk from home to school and from school to home , but I manage to take a camera and take few photos. 

 I teetered KC not because she is really bad when she's not contained but just to keep them all in one place and save my voice from yelling her or him to get on the side walk.

 KC was actually really good but she thinks that she can just pulled the stroller.

 When KC got so tired, it was time for kuya Gerald to share his seat :). He didn't mind to walk a little anyway.

 He was excited, but if he wasn't teetered to the stroller there was a couple times that he attempted to just run fast towards to the busy street. Yup! That is the reason why I brought that thing. To keep him safe! People can expressed their opinion and say against it, but as long as you don't know my family just keep your opinion to your self :).

 KC was patiently waited for GJ to get a little too tired so she can walk again.

I thought that they will too tired they would just to to bed when we get home. But they manage to play in the front yard until it gets darker outside.

I had a nice exercise and the kids was somewhat cooperate during this journey. Thank God!

Happy Monday to everyone and Have a great one!  

Happy New Year 2013

Heart Cath in December 2012

Gerald had a heart cath today. He has been swelling on and off for less than two months. His cardiologist called me before Christmas to see how is doing. At that time Gerald was still swollen. So he increased his lasix dose from two times a day to three times a day. A little change do the trick for my little man. The swelling had been down now. But Dr. N. want to make sure what is going on with Gj, so he ordered to have a heart cath. I was a little nervous for everything and most especially for Gerald to get through with all the hassle and procedures, but it is better than being sorry later.  Today, the Dr. confirmed that his heart is functioning well ( a sigh of relief). We are very fortunate that Gerald has been under with the same cardiologist Dr. Graziano every-time he have a heart cath. So, I am very trilled with his prognosis when Dr. G said that today was THE best heart picture of Gerald. We are both very grateful! No change for the medication so far and we are just gonna wait until the swelling finished it course!

Lasix and Swelling Issues

Three months ago, Gerald had his sixth month window visit with his cardiologist. Gerald had a wonderful visit and all the test ( EKG, ECHO ) were normal. So, his cardiogist decrease his lasix dose and eventually discontinue the meds. After two months we discontinue the lasix. During the weaning off process Gerald hasn't shown any swellingness or anything. Therefore, during the time for us to stop giving his lasix my husband and I was so glad that his medication is one less. However, after few days I noticed that he grow bigger around his belly and face. I ignore because I thought it was just me probably think too much. Then a week later when we visit my friend, they told us that Gerald got big so fast and not only that the little girl that help him sometimes mention specifically the belly is big. So, I told my husband that we have problem. Gerald is swollen. I took him to the peds doctor because his testicle was bulging. But it was not because he have hernia it was because the swelling was going down to his groin.
Well, to make the story short the our pediatrician called the on call cardiologist and Gerald was put back to his lasix. Not only a .5ml dose but 2ml dose for couple days and continue to have lasix 1ml every day.
He had seen his cardiologist last week and just to make sure that everything is alright he ordered blood test, stool test, ECHO, and Halter monitor. If everything still normal and he only swelled up with discontinuing the lasix his cardio said that they will level him as a lasix sensitive.

Congenital Heart Walk 2012

This time of the year there are a lots of "walk to raise awareness" and as well as fundraising events. Since my son is born with the heart defect I am more likely to raise awareness with the group of people who have the same passion as mine. Raise awareness of the CHD or Congenital Heart Disease. Every year we join the walk. I also joined the fundraising campaign towards the ACHA a few years ago.

The walk was held at the Tempe Diablo Stadium. I think this will be the third year that ACHA and other affiliates hosted this event. I think there are more people joined us this year to raise CHD awareness. I'm glad that my family (except my husband @ work) was able to go to this event this year since it was hard to control three younger children ( at least for me). So, I asked my friend Rose if she could help me with one of my kid at the walk. It was so nice of her that she could help me. My children had different agenda than mine once they saw all those inflatable bouncer. One would like to go to the slide and the other one just in the bounce and the other one love to walk around the field and expecting me to chase her. Overall, we had fun at the heart walk!

Here are some great photo at the event.

My eldest daughter

 My son (HLHS)

 My friend Rose and my kids

Achievement Award's Day and Field Trip 2012

It was so nice to spend a lone time with my boy. He never have a lone time with since the girls are more demanding than him. Once they saw me and Gerald are together they get jealous every time. So today I was able to be with Gerald at the Az State Fair. It was a school feild trip to the Fair.

But before we went to the fair the school held an achievement award day. I am so proud of him for trying to learn new things. Way to go baby G!

 He was been with Ms. Stone for couple years now and I see and she sees a big improvement in everything. Most especially the attention span before he only pay attention for less than a minute and now he can actually do his homework without forcing to do it.

 At the Az State Fair. He was able to do four rides before we head out to the lunch area.

My boy and I... just love the day we spent today baby G!

Happy Friday!