Jumping Rope to Save Hearts!

When I went to pick Joseph up after school one day last week, he came running out, grinning ear to ear, and carrying a piece of paper that was flapping around in the wind.  "Mommy," he exclaimed, "I'm going to jump rope to help people with heart problems--LIKE ZACHY!!!"  It's his school's annual "Jump Rope for Heart," an event hosted by the American Heart Association.  As I read the information, I learned that the American Heart Association helps fund research and new medicines for congenital heart defects.  Contrary to what I used to think, it's not just about acquired heart disease or the message of prevention for old farts like me.  They're helping kids like my baby Zach!  Of course, I'm ALL OVER that!  And Joseph is, too! (But it might have something to do with the prizes the kids get for earning so many dollars... he was talking an awful lot about some kind of "super ball" he saw on the flier!)  Alex and David came home with the same fundraiser, and we're taking this one seriously.  On the left sidebar of our blog we have links if you are interested in sponsoring the kids.  I know there are a lot of heart families out there who are reading this, and all of us need to learn how to take care of our heart as we grow older.  So please consider sponsoring one of our boys or another child who is jumping rope for heart!  Even $5 goes a long way (especially towards earning that "super ball.")  We have set up easy donation pages for Alex, David, and Joseph.  Thank you!

Zachy is doing well and staying healthy, thank goodness!  We're a little concerned about his development because he is still not walking and speaking very little.  It's something I may mention to his pediatrician at his checkup next month, but for now we're not too worried.  We knew that heart kids are sometimes a little delayed the first couple of years.  He has been short on oxygen, afterall!  He is learning to feed himself with silverware, and this is one milestone we're not quite ready for!  Cereal, toast, yogurt--you name it!  If it will stand still, he wants to poke it with a fork!  If we're not careful, he'll pull the spoon out of our hands while we're feeding him and dump its contents all over his front!  Here's a few pictures of his new trick eating Alex's and David's birthday cake:
 

Finally, I am so excited to introduce you to the newest member of our family--a silver Toyota Sienna!  The boys love the extra room (so does Mom) and I'm already getting the itch to break her in on a road trip!  I snapped a photo of the inside so you can see how we can pack 'em in (I even borrowed a cute loaner kid to test the eighth seat.)



Zachy loves facing forward, and we have much more space than in our Mazda!  Speaking of which... if you know anyone within driving distance from Wichita who is looking for a great family car, please point them our direction!  We loved our Mazda MPV and it's in great condition; we just needed a little more room!  They can get details at http://sites.google.com/site/2003mazdampvminivanforsale/.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Did You Know?... Samuel

Image
Zachary isn't our only baby who has been intrigued with our corner cupboard.  Many of you commented about messes similar to this that your little ones have made with pantry contents: And FYI... that wasn't flour scattered all over the floor, but cornstarch!  Have you ever tried to clean spilled cornstarch?  It's not an easy job.  But back to our story... Every child of mine has gotten into this corner cupboard.  What about baby locks? you ask.  Well, it has one.  But it doesn't catch well and the boys have always been able to pry it open, anyway.  And I usually let them.  The unorganized contents of this cupboard provide for some fairly safe and lengthy entertainment, and it usually doesn't take me long to shove everything back in once the baby gets bored.  But there are some exceptions, and one day when Sammy was just shy of a year old...  Did you know... that he got into the cooking wine?! Once again I must thank my talented mothe...
Read more

Thankful for Trouble

Image
These days, Zachary is without a doubt full of trouble!  He served his first couple of time-outs this week for smacking his older brother.  He arches his back and screams until he is blue in the face when he doesn't get his way.  He still crawls up and stands on our kitchen table and countertops, and when he is sternly corrected, he reaches to hug me and says in his sweetest, buttering-up little voice, "Mama, Mama..."  He doesn't seem to learn, after flipping and falling backwards off chairs, that they're not to be danced on.  He begs to play outside with the big boys while they ride bikes up and down the sidewalk.  And he didn't care too much when one neighbor boy accidentally ran him over.  He hops in his little Cozy Coupe, pushes off, and heads straight down the driveway towards the street.  My own heart skips a beat as I scream and run after him, just as he reaches the curb.  He won't sit patiently in the shopping cart, but stands up a...
Read more

Home Sweet Home

Image
Zachary is home again, our family is reunited, and we are loving it!  Actually, I'm already getting fed up with Sammy's whining, with the bigger boys' fighting, with the mess... but it's WONDERFUL to be dealing with normal things again. Zachary is still in some pain on and off, usually as his pain meds are wearing off.  He is not quite himself; we don't see as many smiles yet and he is very clingy.  But he will get there!  Zachary is taking Tylenol and Motrin for pain, with an occasional dose of oxycodone.  He is back on diuretics (Lasix and Aldactone) to keep fluid from building around his lungs and throughout his body, easing the workload on his heart.  Over the course of the next year he will wean off his diuretics.  The only other med he is taking is aspirin, which thins the blood to prevent clotting.  He will take aspirin for the rest of his life. Zachy is very fearful and suspicious of strangers, especially young, pretty girls, who look like...
Read more