pictures!

First off I got word that Emma Stewart is stable, but still in need of prayer. Thank you all for your willingness to lift up our dear friends.




Well Ella is a TROOPER, She inspires me everyday with her positive attitude. She has been through so much in her two months of life, and yet she somehow always brightens my day with her sweet smile. After such a good report from the cardiologist last week we decided to go ahead with her vaccines this week. We did the first half of them today and will finish them Tuesday of next week. I knew it wasn't going to be easy to watch her get her shots, but after everything she's been through I thought maybe I would be more prepared... WRONG! It was TERRIBLE, we gave her Tylenol right before her shots and she threw up and had diarrhea. After we got her cleaned up they gave her her immunizations, that needle was HUGE just for the record! Jon was there and the nurse was holding her down giving it but somehow her eyes fixed on me with alligator sized tears and a cry so hard she was silent until she caught her breath :( My eyes filled with tears as I thought to myself, "how much pain will my baby girl have to endure?" I have forced medicine down her 7 times today and I will still have to give her medicine at least 4 more times today. Every time she kicks her leg that she got her shot in she crys, it's not fair. I was torn about whether or not I would vaccinate my children, as I learned different pieces of valuable information through the years; however, after learning of Ella's heart condition and knowing that if she gets sick it could very likely kill her taking the chances on the vaccines seemed like the way to go. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the amount of life or death decisions I have to make so often. I cry and pray and get as much information as I can, then together Jon and I make the decision that we feel is right for Ella. Being a parent is amazing, but it is so hard to be responsible for making such important decisions. One of the things the doctors wanted me to watch for is vomiting and diarrhea. Because if she is to get dehydrated then her heart will have too much strain on it. The last week she has thrown up three times and had diarrhea 3 or 4 times. So far I am not too concerned, but we are watching her closely. She has had trouble with vomiting ever since she started eating in the hospital, so it's nothing new. If she continues to vomit I will call the cardiologist. She is still gaining weight, she is 10lbs. 4oz. Praise the Lord! This is great even if it is a little hard on mommy to see her little girl growing so fast. Thank you all for the continued prayers. As the days go by the reality that we will be going through all this again, another trip to Dallas, another open heart surgery, etc. overwhelms me and brings me to tears. Ella is a cherished gift every moment, but somehow I feel that this next surgery is going to be so much harder on mommy. Hoping that it will be easier on Ella, knowing that no open heart surgery is simple... I can only pray that the Lord will continue to give Jon and I peace and wisdom on this long road. In the meantime I hope you enjoy some of the recent pics of our sunshine!

                                       My poor baby after her vaccines today :(
                                            her leg is sore.