CHD Awareness Week

CHD Awareness Week February 7-14, 2010

For those of you who don't know this is a cause near and dear to my heart. It was three short years ago that my sweet Lila Rae was diagnosed with a CHD. Unfortunately, she had a rare CHD, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, and died at 6 weeks of age.

This week I want to share with you some things about CHDs and its victims. So please check through out the week to learn something new about these defects.

Also, Cory and I will be wearing red ribbons this week to support the awareness. Please feel free to do the same!

• Sometimes during early pregnancy, a baby's heart fails to form properly, resulting in structural abnormalities known as Congenital Heart Defects. Although some defects are genetic, in many cases the cause is unknown.

• It is estimated that 40,000 babies with Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are born in the United States each year. More than 1 million American children and adults with Congenital Heart Defects and Childhood Onset Heart Disease are alive today.

• CHD is the most frequently occurring birth defect, and is the leading cause of birth-defect related deaths.

• Although some babies will be diagnosed at birth, newborns are not routinely screened for CHD. The consequences of a late diagnosis can have serious, lifelong implications, so it is important for the public to be aware of the signs and symptoms in newborns, and children.

• Some CHDs may not require treatment other than periodic visits to a Pediatric Cardiologist. Others can be treated with medications or repaired with surgery and/or procedures. Complex defects may require several surgeries and are never really "cured".
  Many cases of sudden cardiac death in young athletes are caused by undiagnosed CHDs and Childhood Onset Heart Disease.

• It is estimated that more adults than children are living with congenital heart disease, and this population is expected to grow by 5% each year. Yet, many adults with CHD are not receiving adequate ongoing care from trained specialists. ***

* American Heart Association: Statistical Update 2001
** American College of Cardiology, 32nd Bethesda Conference: Care of the Adult With Congenital Heart Disease
***Report of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group on Research in Adult Congenital Heart Disease, 2006

Pike Place Fish Market and Seattle shopping

One of the highlights of our trip to Seattle was the Pike Place Fish Market. The first day that Cory and I were there we went to this great little restaurant in the market. Some friends from Florida Farm Bureau had told us of this place, and it was GREAT! It was probably my favorite place we went too. Cory and I sat next to the window overlooking the BeAUtIFul, snow-capped mountains. The seafood was fresh and very good! It was so peaceful and enjoyable just me, my hubby, and the beautiful scene.

This is the ugliest and scariest fish I have ever seen! The workers pulled a mean joke on me and my friend, Melissa, and pulled this hideous thing and scared the daylights out of us!

Melissa, the market guy, and me

The second day we were there, Melissa and I went shopping while the guys did their convention thing. So we went back down to the market and got some of the best chocolate covered pecans, and cherries I have ever eaten. We then made our way back to the shops......Nordstrom Attic specifically! I found a pair of Ugg Boots that are gorgeous and very comfortable! They are my new favorite thing! We had a great time shopping...even if it was in the rain.



God is good...ALL the time,

Surgery went GREAT!!!

Whitman was feeling pretty good after they gave him some more meds...he was feeding everyone

Bless his heart he was ill when he came out of surgery.

Whit was shocked at all the people who came to see him!

Little man you need to drink so you can go peepee and we can go home!

Isn't he just precious!


Whitman did a great job this morning with his surgery. We are so blessed to be home with a healthy, happy baby boy! Whit's surgery went great and all is well here at our house. Well did I mention that Whit can't wear a diaper for 48 hours.......OMGoodness!!!! Please continue to keep our household in your prayers. This is going to be a trying week but God has brought us this far! I know we can make it through this.

Thanks again for everyones thoughts and prayers. We are trully blessed to have prayer warriors like you on our side.

Thank you Lord for my healthy baby boy,

Whit Goes For Surgery

Whitman playing with the bedside remote....he thought it was his phone!

Our dear preacher came to see Whitman before surgery

Daddy and Whitman watching Mickey Mouse......his little gown is so cute

Mommy and Whit hanging out with our new bear the docs gave him before his surgery

So we got to the hospital early this morning for Whit's surgery. He is back in surgery now and doing well. The nurses are coming back and forth assuring us that everything is going well. We are so blessed! Meanwhile, Whit's room is filling up with Grandparents, uncles, preachers.....this youngin' is so loved! Not to mention everyone who is praying for my little boy! Thanks to all our facebook friends too for keeping up with today's events.

Will let everyone know when he comes out of surgery. Love to you all!

God is so good ALL the time,

The Space Needle

Atop the Space Needle...freezing

Cory's expensive steak and crab legs

My expensive but yummy crab legs

The view from the restaurant atop the Space Needle

Our wonderful group of GA Farm Bureau representatives eating at the Space Needle

The views of downtown Seattle from our hotel room

Downtown Seattle

We went and visited so many local popular spots. One of our faves though was the Space Needle. The rotating restaurant was so AWESOME and different! I felt like an adult! Ha! It was just so nice to be some place different without having to order chicken nuggets and french fries. Haha! The food was out of this world! But the atmosphere is what I would go back for.

God is so good ALL the time,

Seattle Trip

Cory and I before we went to our first Young Farmer event.

My HaNDsOMe HuBBy in our hotel

Our friend and YF National Committee Member, Leighton Cooley, interviewing Cory

There is NO telling what was going on here..haha!

The first morning in Seattle we were honored at a YF's breakfast. We got to see friends we hadn't seen in awhile, network with other farmer's and their spouses, and enjoy the food that was served.

God is so good. There is no way I could have told you, 6 months ago, that Cory and I would be were we are right now. Much less have had the opportunity like Seattle! What a joy in knowing that my GOD's plans are always grander than I can fathom.

God is good.....so good....ALL the time,

Sunset to the Pacific

So after our lay over in Cincinnati we boarded our plane to the Pacific coast. I thought this was going to be a short flight....2-3 hours. So when Cory asked me if I wanted to upgrade to 1st class I said that it just wasn't worth it. Well my pleasing husband asked the stewardess what the flight looked like and just exactly what the upgrade cost. Praise the Lord he did too! Our flight to Seattle was going to be over 5 hours long....OMG!!!!

So because my husband is so FANTASTIC we got 1st class seats on our flight! Neither of us had ever flown 1st class and really didn't know what to expect or what was expected of us! IT WAS WONDERFUL and when my husband so sweetly asked the attendant what the proper "flight etiquette" was...tip or no tip?.......she thought he was the sweetest thing ever and was even more attentive to our "first 1st class experience." Haha!

These pictures are of the longest sunset we have ever seen! It was absolutely breathtaking! The way the colors hit the different horizons was amazing. God continues to amaze me with His beautiful creations.

This flight was the most beautiful one I have ever experienced. I will never forget the seats nor the views on our "first 1st class experience."

God is so good...ALL the time,