tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15248343058337316932024-02-07T20:30:56.225-07:00A Time To PraiseOur family has decided to join the world of bloggers in hopes that we will be an encouragement and joy to others. This is our journey through faith of what lies ahead..
"...Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
Job 2:10Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-1055920779113010942015-01-18T17:06:00.000-07:002015-01-30T17:53:49.765-07:00Mia Is Big GirlWhat a truly amazing awesome God we have! Mia is 4 years old and stable as she can be. Her heart function is spectacular. This girl is holding her oxygen at 92! For being in the 70's for most of her life it is a joy to see those numbers!! After her 3rd surgery, the Fontan, we were anxious to see how her body handled the new flow. Although there were a few setbacks along the way, she has adjusted and is growing taller than most of her peers! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I Let it Go and Let God!</td></tr>
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Mia loves it when her sisters give her "makeovers". Mom doesn't mind but prefers it to be<em> after</em> we go to town...hint hint. Girls? Are you reading this?? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Au naturale</td></tr>
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Soon I will be posting all about our experiences at the hospital and everything in between. Stay tuned! And Let Go and Let God:) Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-37714861887868391852012-12-05T20:50:00.000-07:002012-12-05T20:50:45.091-07:00Mia update!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are enjoying our little Mia each day as she learns new things. She sure keeps us entertained. She really likes to sing and makes us say, Introducing..Iilyah Mia Hoooope! She is full of joy and has a very strong will...What a fighting spirit. I, along with the doctors, are so amazed and pleased with her growth and developement. We are hopeful that she will be ready to have her Fontan this May. It all depends on her lung pressure, collateral vessels, and her weight. She has reached 30 pounds! Yeah! That is a good sign. I am so thankful for everyone's prayers and concerns. I am sorry I do not post more, we are happily busy with life! As I write this Mia just shouted "WooHoo! I did it!" I can't wait to see what she has done:) Enjoy a short slideshow of Ms. Mia. God Bless you and your prayers!!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-78813198453544465972012-01-28T23:29:00.002-07:002012-01-28T23:50:04.295-07:00Has it been almost 2 years?This doesn't seem real! It has now been 3 Christmases since Mia came into our life. She will turn 2 this May! We found out just before Christmas that our baby to be was not healthy. But she survived the next Christmas and the one after that! Unbelievable. I shouldn't be surprised when God does something wonderful but I always am. I have been so busy keeping up with Mia and home schooling that I, can I say this! I have taken for granted at times that Mia is alive and here! She is such a "normal" baby that when life is busy and her stats are good, I don't remember to thank God that she.. is..here..still...But I am thankful for her more than I have been thankful for anything else! I am thankful for her smartness, laughter, smiles, agile body, everything! She is very much trying to be like her older siblings. Especially her sisters. She wants to brush her hair like her sisters, use the "bigger" shampoo bottles, use their toothbrushes, wear their lip gloss, wear their clothes! And now she sits at the big table with us for the most part, on a step stool that she drags out of the bathroom every time we say it is time to eat. And for schooling, a coloring book will not do, she wants her sisters work books. Or my teaching textbook...Mia! We all love her and all love when we tuck her in for the night:) Only to argue over who gets to get her out of her crib the next morning.<br />She is having an echo Feb.16<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>. Then she will have a heart <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">cath</span> sometime this Spring and her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fontan</span> Surgery this summer. We have been planning on a 3rd year surgery but the doctors want to do it this summer. A lot to plan for and pray about. But for now I am relishing in taking care of Mia and loving every minute of it. Thank you God for my baby.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-43509982632917091752011-10-19T22:35:00.002-06:002011-10-19T22:39:26.530-06:00Mia did GREAT at the cath lab! She is released to the hotel and all snuggled in for the night. Listening to her sing before falling asleep warmed my heart. She has been through so much and yet her personality is still shining through. What a sweetie! Why am I so blessed? Her cath showed narrowing of the left pa so he ballooned that and did nothing else! The doctor said he is confident she will make it to the Fontan. What a miracle. It is all surreal. Thank you for praying, God is blessing our family through your prayers. Praise be to God!!!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-20009187424798896432011-10-19T08:44:00.004-06:002011-10-19T09:35:18.859-06:00Today Mia is having a cath to get a closer look at her pulmonary branch arteries and other areas. I took her back to the cath lab with the nurses this time. I can't believe what a happy baby she is. She is so strong and amazing! She was so good on the flight last night considering that the bottle I brought for her had a hole in the nipple and wouldn't work! I didn't know it was ruined until we took off. The joys of having cats....<div>About halfway through the flight she figured out how to stand on the tray table and really enjoyed hanging over the seat in front of us..luckily there was no one sitting there! But then she saw the back of a man's head that resembled Clark and it was on. Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! What started out as laughter and joy at finding her daddy turned to despair when I wouldn't let her go to him...Dadeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Finally the plane landed and the man turned around. The look on her face was pure confusion! The whole plane got a laugh! Never a dull moment with Ms. Mia.</div><div>I will get updates every hour by phone. It is good to be back here, at our second home! Thank you for your prayers!</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-64263038714258595622011-09-15T12:41:00.001-06:002011-09-15T12:42:37.347-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV56Ng8fhcFX6pG4fpMWpYgl_eEgKiL1bdxdnwzQVK_eZgWDfQaizpXanre5jGxMqrJb80EB0Heuwn48vFhVcAPRpe9XE3PUxtqsYCboF1Z7GUJ1BlDG1bVR1fJpQhc09Ioo40eJ_usoA/s1600/152.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV56Ng8fhcFX6pG4fpMWpYgl_eEgKiL1bdxdnwzQVK_eZgWDfQaizpXanre5jGxMqrJb80EB0Heuwn48vFhVcAPRpe9XE3PUxtqsYCboF1Z7GUJ1BlDG1bVR1fJpQhc09Ioo40eJ_usoA/s320/152.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652658515762796994" /></a>Mia is a social butterfly and loves other children and babies!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-57028314985199037062011-09-15T12:30:00.004-06:002011-09-15T12:41:06.502-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnB-v7uLmok2zPCRu8MCsVLXHV-FyNbe8R-h1HSRrJEahyphenhyphenDGs1USlEyFhG_Amb_5SherFu74tHUdQ-AI55K4wLo2W_xINXTUigKBTJEH5aZTkDJV0B3cg6ztdbaUqfoFUP9Gpo9ZzE0c/s1600/156.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnB-v7uLmok2zPCRu8MCsVLXHV-FyNbe8R-h1HSRrJEahyphenhyphenDGs1USlEyFhG_Amb_5SherFu74tHUdQ-AI55K4wLo2W_xINXTUigKBTJEH5aZTkDJV0B3cg6ztdbaUqfoFUP9Gpo9ZzE0c/s320/156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652657142525602482" /></a>Mia saw the ocean for the first time. Her stats were in the high 90's!!! Since the elevation was lower her stats went up! Maybe we should move to Florida:) She loved the sand and even met a friend on the beach. She had no fear (of course) and rushed straight for the water every chance she got. Kept Mommy and Daddy and everyone else very watchful and busy! I am so thankful she was well enough to travel!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-26557397654722584302011-09-15T12:30:00.001-06:002011-09-15T12:30:53.556-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxBxoRnIMgtm3KImwAw0Ww5ZczZE-Dzw587FR3Z_6rowprrSjIx_K1wlukJRSwdRQ-4-h4LRN9Xwq5dR0c7NJx79pO-Lx56HyH8Hp_5fjY6DKHMly4vzCpstpCAi-NiB-8U5z0elY7A0/s1600/Dads+Birthday%2521+017.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxBxoRnIMgtm3KImwAw0Ww5ZczZE-Dzw587FR3Z_6rowprrSjIx_K1wlukJRSwdRQ-4-h4LRN9Xwq5dR0c7NJx79pO-Lx56HyH8Hp_5fjY6DKHMly4vzCpstpCAi-NiB-8U5z0elY7A0/s320/Dads+Birthday%2521+017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652655623641551842" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-20872502017525888762011-09-15T12:25:00.001-06:002011-09-15T12:30:09.273-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zPM5zTqrbVxiasov_ONgjxzJQomBl5U5O73GrwcoeIYmJXwe6st8qZsLDfHCqJBQxC8KjFAQLWHq3QYS7fHt7h5GYu-6qL4CM_05XnLn6co7HrPhCycGqp0v57VGcd9drHnmzRBFcLE/s1600/Dads+Birthday%2521+019.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zPM5zTqrbVxiasov_ONgjxzJQomBl5U5O73GrwcoeIYmJXwe6st8qZsLDfHCqJBQxC8KjFAQLWHq3QYS7fHt7h5GYu-6qL4CM_05XnLn6co7HrPhCycGqp0v57VGcd9drHnmzRBFcLE/s320/Dads+Birthday%2521+019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652655409519330322" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-33900695300832342072011-09-15T12:25:00.000-06:002011-09-15T12:30:08.444-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zPM5zTqrbVxiasov_ONgjxzJQomBl5U5O73GrwcoeIYmJXwe6st8qZsLDfHCqJBQxC8KjFAQLWHq3QYS7fHt7h5GYu-6qL4CM_05XnLn6co7HrPhCycGqp0v57VGcd9drHnmzRBFcLE/s1600/Dads+Birthday%2521+019.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zPM5zTqrbVxiasov_ONgjxzJQomBl5U5O73GrwcoeIYmJXwe6st8qZsLDfHCqJBQxC8KjFAQLWHq3QYS7fHt7h5GYu-6qL4CM_05XnLn6co7HrPhCycGqp0v57VGcd9drHnmzRBFcLE/s320/Dads+Birthday%2521+019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652655409519330322" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-23556807560046101872011-09-15T12:22:00.000-06:002011-09-15T12:24:43.946-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouprVppmb46ry18V_6DoeyvN27Beq6ZgPmIc4GpABltp_xLqLDElaSaFyJLtxtxnRSn1TjgNnqg-feckmQo-eKImv2JHRfLAiry7igeNFW4z2EMoQIxFKhEyzkZb0Vj9rn9jjZsYxn1g/s1600/Dads+Birthday%2521+039.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouprVppmb46ry18V_6DoeyvN27Beq6ZgPmIc4GpABltp_xLqLDElaSaFyJLtxtxnRSn1TjgNnqg-feckmQo-eKImv2JHRfLAiry7igeNFW4z2EMoQIxFKhEyzkZb0Vj9rn9jjZsYxn1g/s320/Dads+Birthday%2521+039.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652654031784533938" /></a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-85397181470996261912011-09-15T11:57:00.002-06:002011-09-15T12:22:41.898-06:00It has been too long since I have updated Mia's blog! Sorry, we are a very busy family with a very busy daughter! Mia keeps me running all day long. She is 16 months now and copies everything we do. She likes to help me sweep, put wet clothes in the dryer and climb on anything she can,mainly the kitchen table....but she is learning to stay off of it! She shakes her head yes and no and repeats a lot of words we say. Her doctors are very pleased with her heart function and growth. She is on the higher end of the length chart and average on the weight. Which is great! The last echo showed good heart function but they couldn't see the pulmonary branch arteries. So we will be flying to Denver in about 6 weeks for a heart cath. I am planning on going alone with Mia, leaving Daddy and the 4 big kids at home. This is a first for our family and I am nervous. I guess it must be having a sick baby, I tend to think of the what ifs and the worst case scenario. I pray I can overcome my negative thoughts and turn everything over to Christ..."taking every thought captive"<div>The last 2 caths have been good so I am praying this one is good too. The procedure has it's risks and because we spent so much time at the hospital I know too many babies that have not had a good outcome:( </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So prayer warriors! Please pray for our flight and most of all the doctor and Mia's little body, that it will be strong and stable throughout the cath. Thank you! I am already anticipating the moment when the special nurses come and take her back to the cath lab...It is not easy seeing her look up into the nurses eyes, wondering where she is going....I feel the need to hug her one more time and hug the nurses and tell tell them just how special she is..It's a hard thing for a momma!</div><div>I am grateful that Mia is doing so well and we have not had any emergency trips to Denver for while. She is a joy and teaches me so much.... </div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-9735861141301281552011-04-18T09:06:00.002-06:002011-04-18T09:19:22.322-06:00Blessings AboundMia will be turning 1 very soon! She is growing and changing so fast! She has said, Dada, Ball, Baby, Bye Bye and she says MAMAMA when she wants real FOOD! She definately said Dada first! It is for those big but small things I am thankful for! And she is coasting around all the furniture and getting into everything! <br />March 21st was the day she had her heart cath and she is doing well so far. The doctor put in a stint and a ballon in each of her pulmonary branch arteries. There was not much growth on the left one but it seems to be better now with the stint. Her stats are more in the 80's rather than the 70's. She is happy and keeping us smiling all day long! We are grateful for the good prognosis at this point. Her heart cath doc said he is more optomistic this time and that we might be able to get her to her third surgery at age 3 without a transplant. So glad and thankful! We also won't have to go back to Denver for 6 months or so, praise God! We feel like we lived a lifetime with Mia and it has only been a year! We are so thankful for everyone who has prayed for us and with us. We couldn't do this without God and YOU! Happy Spring!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-38128706323865018562011-02-12T15:56:00.003-07:002011-02-12T16:08:18.348-07:00Spring is in the air!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgnMx4qnfF2mV7TxU0xAcOCJ6ClNuJDNIX988UgtDoWr208wNRgwTGgy-WyU46GkG2ExlCs5WIvTJTAy36_gbuUChTaBhb0cUyBNwvPp1MfplkuoVKaXj7sOyuiajkwO2VdpBRsrUcgQ/s1600/1001540.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgnMx4qnfF2mV7TxU0xAcOCJ6ClNuJDNIX988UgtDoWr208wNRgwTGgy-WyU46GkG2ExlCs5WIvTJTAy36_gbuUChTaBhb0cUyBNwvPp1MfplkuoVKaXj7sOyuiajkwO2VdpBRsrUcgQ/s320/1001540.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572943775349185890" /></a><br />Today I woke up rejoicing. Another day, another chance to be all I can be for God. He has blessed us so much and we are grateful. Mia's heart cath is tentatively scheduled for March 21st and we pray everything goes well. I hope that by ballooning her arteries again she will make better progress. Her doctor called again and stressed how much they want to get her to the third surgery (Fontan) and will try anything. She is a bit of an anomaly, most of the time these arteries grow after the 2nd surgery. She continues to shock and amaze the doctors. Mia is growing and very active! She will eat anything and climb anything! In March before her cath a special doctor will check her development-milestone progress. I told her doctor what all she is doing and she said she sounds advanced for these heart babies. The theory is that all the time in the hospital would make a baby not reach some of their milestones on time....Mia is not letting anything hold her back! The doctor said they need to throw statisticsw out the window because often the babies are advanced~We know it is because of your prayers. Mia's doctor again told me it was because of all the great care we are giving her and that she is here because we are such great parents. So touching and so humbling. I can't thank her OR YOU for all the thoughts and prayers and encouragement. God Bless this season of our life!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-89682395576607976122011-01-08T10:38:00.002-07:002011-01-08T10:42:39.942-07:00Mia 2011This month is going well so far for Mia. She is strong, happy and teething! At the moment she has just fallen asleep leaning on her boppy pillow. So sweet...<br />On Jan. 20th she will have an echo and hopefully they get better pics than last month. Then she will have a heart cath in Denver in early March. I talked to her doctor and she told me Mia is making history...It is unknown what will happen with her but we are grateful for each day and love her so much! She has made it through Christmas and already is in 2011! Praise God! Last Christmas we were praying for a CHANCE of survival and here she is!!! Thank you all for your prayers.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-49136074055001580992010-12-06T19:01:00.001-07:002010-12-06T19:01:20.208-07:0012\06\2010 (6 photos), by Catie Rathe<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI5MTY4NzIxMDYxNSZwdD*xMjkxNjg3MjcxODU*JnA9NjUxMzIxJmQ9Jm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTEmbz*zODNmYmRmNDkxOTI*/NWExOGMyMTFjODA5YjFmNzExZSZvZj*w.gif" /><a href='http://photos.walmart.com/walmart/fbshareredirect/p=98961291687348711/l=4605524004/g=7933079/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=4583245004/a=7933079_7933079/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Walmart%20Digital%20Photo%20Center%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=6%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=walmart/'><img src='http://photos.walmart.com/walmart/getimagetnurl/AlbumID=4583245004/a=7933079_7933079/'/><br></a><a href='http://photos.walmart.com/walmart/fbshareredirect/p=98961291687348711/l=4605524004/g=7933079/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=4583245004/a=7933079_7933079/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Walmart%20Digital%20Photo%20Center%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=6%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=walmart/'>I'd like to share my Walmart Digital Photo Center photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.</a>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-19906027797314890132010-12-06T18:28:00.002-07:002010-12-06T18:52:50.411-07:00Pray for MiaI titled this blog pray for Mia in hopes that whoever comes across this will PRAY for our daughter. She had a heart cath on Nov. 29th. The doctor was able to balloon her right and left pulmonary branch arteries, her aortic arch, and coil off some collateral vessels. Her pulmonary arteries are very small and if they don't grow then she can't have her Fontan around age 3. The doctor said to pray that they will grow! Again I am amazed at the doctors God has blessed us with. They are like family after all we have been through. The other night I spoke with Dr. K for an hour about Mia. We discussed the probability of her arteries not growing and having too many collateral vessels and possibly a heart transplant. When she asked if Clark and I would be okay with a transplant I was swallowing a lump that wouldn't go down!!! I had asked the cath doctor in Denver if we need to prepare our children for the worst and he said not yet, let's see what the next cath shows. But he did say "we are not in a good place right now" I have heard bad news before, as you can read in my first few blogs, but everytime I knew God was ultimately the one who would choose her path. So far He has blessed us beyond what we imagined. We are thankful for each day with Mia and so glad she has been such a strong fighter. <br /><br />She is 7 months now and still very sweet! She has the calmest disposition! So happy and smiles at everyone! Thank you for your prayers!!!!!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-76679184656296013212010-11-14T09:14:00.002-07:002010-11-14T09:52:04.184-07:00November 2010We traveled to Denver for Mia to have a heart cath only to return because she had a cold. Her cold is worse today and we are just trying to keep her comfortable. We are planning to return for the heart cath as soon as she is better. Her echo showed significant small pulmonary arteries that branch into the lungs. That is very concerning and the doctor said she is "praying" the heart cath yields better results than the echo. We are amazed at the doctors faith and love for our family. We have been so blessed by her and the team of doctors in Denver. On our drive home last night I spoke to the doctor and she filled me with encouragement and said we are doing the best for Mia and that our family is why Mia has been doing so well. She brought me to tears with her kind words! She told me of other mothers that just give up or say they can't handle a baby as sick as Mia and they terminate the pregnancy even at 20 weeks. When we found out about Mia there was no choice for us except to press on and do everything we could for our daughter. By the grace of God she is with us today. The doctor said for us to have 4 other kids, make constant trips to Denver, and to have stayed there for 2 months straight is amazing. We don't think of ourselves as heros or anything other than parents doing what we have to do, but the doctor sees so many sides of people that we don't think about. I was almost speechless because she was so compassionate and "real" and it just made me dumbfounded that she thinks so highly of me....when she has been saving my daughters life!!! I was humbled and even more aware of God's hand in our situation. She told me of marraiges that suffer and many times end in divorce during times like ours and she is glad that Clark and I are in this together and that we are best friends, etc. I am telling you, I was deeply touched by her words. I just had to share this, not to show the world my doctor thinks I'm great, ha, But to share with you just how wonderful our doctor is and all of the care from the childrens hospital in denver.<br />We have been blessed by Dr. Karrie, and we have been given the gift of Mia and we are so undeserving of such a special gift. Truly Mia is the joy of our life. She is amazing and beautiful and our lives have been changed forever by our little Mia.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-68360034818540929382010-10-12T21:29:00.002-06:002010-10-12T21:57:38.611-06:00Life latelyMia is 5 months old and just as sweet as ever. She got a nasty virus and is on oxygen for the time being. Her stats are too low with this respiratory cold. She hadn't been on oxygen for at least 2 months before this. The doctors warned us that this might happen. When her stats dropped before her Glenn surgery the first thing the docs checked was if she had a cold or something! So we are experiencing that now. But she is doing okay with it. She rubs her nose A LOT and of course the tubing comes right off...She is getting better so that's all we can ask for:)<br />She has had a couple echos that show no change in the narrowing of her aorta and pulmonary arteries. We are traveling to Denver after the cold gets better and possibly having a heart cath to see what to do about it. Doesn't seem to be affecting her, she must be compensating the docs say. But she will need something done before the Fontan. <br />We are still in awe of our little Mia..and our other kids, through this. They are doing very well considering all the upheaval in their lives this spring and summer.<br />I am very thankful for the structure of our life right now. We have been home since August 24th! Woo hoo! We have only been to Albuquerque once and that was only a 3 hour jaunt.<br />So....life is stable and God is good. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Sorry it has been so long between posts.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-76951233017172994042010-08-25T17:20:00.004-06:002010-08-25T17:27:15.550-06:00I sit holding Mia in my arms...the sweeteness of a sleeping baby! I am doing a room air challenge. She has been on oxygen since her Glenn surgery a couple weeks ago. So far her stats are in the 80's where we like them to be. But we have tried this before and after 3 hours her stats drop too low so back goes on the oxygen! But.....Mia is doing very well for being so small for her 2nd surgery. Thanks for all the prayers! Will update more later. So glad to be back home!!!!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-89449903729059642992010-07-27T17:10:00.002-06:002010-07-27T17:20:19.545-06:00My sister set up my email account a couple years ago (she's my older sis what can I say) using, therathe5...She forgot we actually had 6 in our family! My husband said well we just need to have a baby and then it can mean the rathe 5 as in 5 kids. Well that time is now...our little Mia makes 5. So thanks sis for spuring us on to have this little darling;) What a blessing she is. <br />I have been at the hospital with her since Thursday morning and so many nurses and doctors tell me how blessed we are to have her. I agree. She is amazing and stronger than I could be. On Tuesday she will have her 2nd surgery the Glenn Procedure. The docs discovered that her bt shunt is narrowing at one end and slightly in other places in her heart. Instead of doing an invasive stint or ballon they are going ahead with stage 2. We were preparing for that to be at 4-6 months and she will be 3 months on the day of. Her lung pressures look good and everything shows she should be okay doing it so early. She needs it. So we wait at the hospital for the week to pass so we can get through the next hurdle. During this hard time for our family I see so much goodness and mercy. So many kind hearted people are reaching out to us AND Mia has been a pure delight. Especially since she has started cooing and smiling at everyone that walks in the door. The nurses love her and so do we! Please keep us in your prayers. We will update soon.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-40771609824245151802010-06-10T19:24:00.002-06:002010-06-10T19:26:06.114-06:00June 10th, 2010 Mia is out of the hospitalJohn 17: 1-5<br />After Jesus said this he looked toward heaven and prayed, " Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may Glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."<br /><br />What a powerful passage in John. I am reminded of Jesus love and sacrifice.<br />I am also very aware that for me, my family and this little one inside me, the time has also come....to begin this next season in life. In just a few short hours or days I will be meeting our daughter who we have been anxiously planning our life around the last few months. And I wonder, am I ready to meet this trial in life? I worry about labor, the baby, my 4 kids, everything! Then I remember this passage and know that God is with me and knows my every worry and will get me through.I think I am beginning to understand the sacrifice that was made for me. <br /><br />It has been 5 weeks! since I wrote that above. We have our beautiful daughter after she decided to come 2 days before induction, May 3rd. The delivery was what we prayed about. I was so thankful not to be induced. When she was born I saw a glimpse of her before the team of doctors walked away with her. After they stabilized her I was able to hold her for 3 minutes and kiss her all over and look at her tiny feet. Then she was off to Children's Hospital, next door.<br /><br />The first 2 days of her life went smoothly, I was able to nurse and all the family got to hold her many times. On the 3rd day she started showing signs of distress and the doctor said, "She just needs her heart fixed" <br />She had surgery at 4 days old. Everything went as planned except for one thing. She had come off the heart lung machine and her oxygen levels were too low. So she had to go back on the heart lung machine and had a bigger shunt put in her tiny heart. You can imagine how we felt when we were told she was done and doing okay and then to be told wait, the surgeon is going back in for a bigger shunt. It was a day of waiting and acceptance for us. We were thankful for the many prayers said that day.<br />We were overjoyed when Mia came through the surgery and we were able to see her and pray over her fragile little body. She did very well the next week, having her chest closed, showing no signs of distress. We did have to tackle the problem of too much fluid on her lungs because of the big shunt. <br />Jumping ahead to NOW, the doctors were able to control the fluid with medicine and although she still has fluid around her lungs, she is doing well. As of Friday she has been released to the hotel we are staying at until we head back to New Mexico.<br />Next week the doctor will look at her heart and do a chest x ray to determine if we are able to leave the area. We are hopeful she will do great and we can get back to our casa in NM! On Tuesday Mia had a repeat swallow study, chest x ray, and general check up and things went wonderful. The damage to her vocal chord during surgery is doing much better and she is now able to breast feed. We are overjoyed at that news! <br /><br />We are so thankful for the people who have prayed and thought about our family during this time. I am thankful I was able to update on facebook because each time I started a new post, here, my time ran out! So I am glad I could post short updates. <br />We have been through quite a journey and are so glad we have been able to stay together as a family! Everyone has had their moments, who wouldn't living in a hotel for 2 months:) but we are stronger and forever changed for the better.<br />The 3 big sisters are enjoying changing the baby and loving on her and mama is liking the help! Big brother is in love with his baby sister and things are light hearted at the Rathe house. We will update again in a couple days on a time frame when we can leave the area. Please pray for Mia's next appointments to go well. <br />Praise God for all the blessings we have received. Especially the cards, prayers, visits, everything. We are overwhelmed by the out poring of LOVE.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-78054586715329356482010-05-07T11:37:00.002-06:002010-05-07T11:49:04.501-06:00Surgery DayAt 7:15 this morning our precious daughter Iilyah Mia Hope went with several nurses and doctors to have surgery. In the moments before surgery, my wife and I were able to spend some time with our little princess. Since her birth it has been a whirlwind. When I first saw her little face all I wanted to do was hold her and give her to my wife. Standing by and watching the nurses get her breathing after her birth and then seeing them insert several tubes and IV into her just broke my heart. Still, I had to let them do their work in order for God to the work in her that he is doing now. Since little we found out about our little Mia's heart defect I have felt helpless in many ways. A Father only wants to protect His own and keep them safe from anything that might harm her. Strange as it seems the only way I can protect her now is to let her go and be cared for by strangers. <br /><br />Our Father also had to let his child go. Jesus had to be cared by strangers in order for his purpose to be fulfilled. I trust God that his purposes for my little Mia will be fulfilled. God is already performing a great work in her. Still this Daddy wants to hold and protect her. Right now the only way to protect her is to let her go so she can be helped. <br /><br />"Dear Father, Please guide the hands of the surgeons and protect my little Mia through this surgery."<br /><br />It is 11:48 and we are likely half way through the surgery. God is Good!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-26256628649086244382010-04-25T21:40:00.009-06:002010-06-10T19:19:19.630-06:00Mia HopeJohn 17: 1-5<br />After Jesus said this he looked toward heaven and prayed, " Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may Glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."<br /><br />What a powerful passage in John. I am reminded of Jesus love and sacrifice.<br />I am also very aware that for me, my family and this little one inside me, the time has also come....to begin this next season in life. In just a few short hours or days I will be meeting our daughter who we have been anxiously planning our life around the last few months. And I wonder, am I ready to meet this trial in life? I worry about labor, the baby, my 4 kids, everything! Then I remember this passage and know that God is with me and knows my every worry and will get me through.I think I am beginning to understand the sacrifice that was made for me. <br /><br />It has been 5 weeks! since I wrote that above. We have our beautiful daughter after she decided to come 2 days before induction, May 3rd. The delivery was what we prayed about. I was so thankful not to be induced. When she was born I saw a glimpse of her before the team of doctors walked away with her. After they stabilized her I was able to hold her for 3 minutes and kiss her all over and look at her tiny feet. Then she was off to Children's Hospital, next door.<br /><br />The first 2 days of her life went smoothly, I was able to nurse and all the family got to hold her many times. On the 3rd day she started showing signs of distress and the doctor said, "She just needs her heart fixed" <br />She had surgery at 4 days old. Everything went as planned except for one thing. She had come off the heart lung machine and her oxygen levels were too low. So she had to go back on the heart lung machine and had a bigger shunt put in her tiny heart. You can imagine how we felt when we were told she was done and doing okay and then to be told wait, the surgeon is going back in for a bigger shunt. It was a day of waiting and acceptance for us. We were thankful for the many prayers said that day.<br />We were overjoyed when Mia came through the surgery and we were able to see her and pray over her fragile little body. She did very well the next week, having her chest closed, showing no signs of distress. We did have to tackle the problem of too much fluid on her lungs because of the big shunt. <br />Jumping ahead to NOW, the doctors were able to control the fluid with medicine and although she still has fluid around her lungs, she is doing well. As of Friday she has been released to the hotel we are staying at until we head back to New Mexico.<br />Next week the doctor will look at her heart and do a chest x ray to determine if we are able to leave the area. We are hopeful she will do great and we can get back to our casa in NM! On Tuesday Mia had a repeat swallow study, chest x ray, and general check up and things went wonderful. The damage to her vocal chord during surgery is doing much better and she is now able to breast feed. We are overjoyed at that news! <br /><br />We are so thankful for the people who have prayed and thought about our family during this time. I am thankful I was able to update on facebook because each time I started a new post, here, my time ran out! So I am glad I could post short updates. <br />We have been through quite a journey and are so glad we have been able to stay together as a family! Everyone has had their moments, who wouldn't living in a hotel for 2 months:) but we are stronger and forever changed for the better.<br />The 3 big sisters are enjoying changing the baby and loving on her and mama is liking the help! Big brother is in love with his baby sister and things are light hearted at the Rathe house. We will update again in a couple days on a time frame when we can leave the area. Please pray for Mia's next appointments to go well. <br />Praise God for all the blessings we have received. Especially the cards, prayers, visits, everything. We are overwhelmed by the out poring of LOVE.Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1524834305833731693.post-34484439163818159432010-03-24T21:36:00.007-06:002010-03-29T23:07:03.075-06:00Weathering The Storm"THY MERCY, O LORD, IS IN THE HEAVENS, AND THY FAITHFULNESS REACHETH UNTO THE CLOUDS"<br />PSALM 36:5<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We had another appointment with the doctors at Children's and University. Our baby is growing right on track and doing well in the womb. She is weighing almost 5 pounds and very active. Sometimes congenital heart defects can change or worsen in the womb and so far everything looks the same. Her heart is growing right along with her body, which is great! Praise God for those important details. Everything is going as planned...she will have the surgery a couple days after birth. We have to relocate to Denver in a few days to be sure I am there when she is born. At birth, her team of pediatric doctors will administer the prostaglandin through her umbilical cord for her little heart valve to sustain her. The valve that normally closes on healthy babies, at birth, needs to stay open for to live. I will be able to hold her for a short time before they take her to the NICU. After they stabilize her, she gets transported next door to Children's-to the CICU. Clark said, "It's going to be hard to leave you after the baby is born but sorry babe, I am going to Children's to be with Mia!" You go Daddy! She needs you. There is nothing like a daddy's love.<br />It has been a whirlwind of emotions and activities in our home the past few weeks. I have been so busy making plans to relocate that I have been preoccupied. Now that we have been told to go to Denver sooner, it is sinking in. Our life is about to change drastically. Some days I think, how will I ever handle all this! Our daughter will need continuous care through the next few months. Doctors visits regularly and another surgery in a couple months...a lot to think about.<br /><br />We were met with bad weather again on our ride home from Denver. During the last appointment everyone was rushing around trying to get information on the storm coming so they could get us out in time. It was so helpful and loving. I am overwhelmed by the caring people at the hospital and so thankful. We chose to leave a day earlier to beat the storm but unfortunately we did not make it! We ran into the blizzard at nightfall..that was pretty scary. We only had 30 miles to our destination but we couldn't see anything. We thought about turning back but the storm was right behind us. I started praying with FERVOR for God to direct our path and be our guiding light. I prayed the entire hour that we drove. We came upon a truck in front of us that had a white light on the back. I prayed that it would not turn off and we could follow it. It did not turn off and we were able to make it to the town safely. I know God led us and protected us. An amazing thing happened while praying, I realized that we needed to PRAY more about our baby and the next "STORM" we are about to go through. And that if God is not at the center we will never make it! Sounds simple enough but it's easy to get stressed about things instead of leaning on God and turning to HIM. It was a wake up call to both of us that God is going to weather this storm in front of our family and we need to turn to Him and FOCUS on His faithfulness. During the most intense time on the road, my babies(5 and 7 now!) were eagerly watching and listening to me pray. Then they said, Mom, you know there are angels all around us right now. And they leaned back and put in a movie. Enough of this worry for them! Don't I wish I had faith like a child. It made me realize even more to turn my worry over to the Lord and have peace. About everything! I felt like God was telling us, He could get us through WHATEVER storm we were facing in life and to LEAN ON HIM. Isn't it amazing that even when we don't know the right words to pray, God knows us, he knows our needs. He knew what I needed, a boost in the confidence direction! Our life is just (and has already) about to get a bit more complicated. I will remember this snowy ride of faith in the future when we are weathering the next stage of life. <br />Even though it has been a long couple of months and an inconvenience to travel so far for all these appointments, I am thankful we have made it. God has prepared us in many ways on these trips to endure all that is needed for the health of our baby. We have made it this far and we are pressing on in FAITH, HOPE, and PERSEVERANCE. We will be leaving for Denver in about a week and are thankful for all the prayers on our behalf. We are praying for you too. <br /><strong></strong>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203498263908088608noreply@blogger.com2