Heart Surgery

So we finally got to LA today to see Mia's heart surgeon. We were supposed to see him at 11 and so we left fairly early because we hate being late and never know about traffic, yet we arrived at 10 with plenty of time...that was ok though because we needed to stop by medical records and get some of Mia's stuff so we thought our timing was perfect. But at 10 they called us and said he was in a procedure and wouldn't be able to see us until 2pm. Now you can imagine how I felt...I was like, no, what are we going to do for 4 more hours! So we went to medical records and Mia got a bottle and then we decided to grab some lunch and go to a park for awhile. It was actually a really really really nice afternoon, us just enjoying ourselves and being with the baby. She was content to play with Daddy, the weather was perfect, and we were just relaxing at a nice park near UCLA.

So at 2 we arrived back at the hospital and let them know we were here, at 2:30 a nurse came to talk to us and do a mini evaluation of Mia and then Mia's heart surgeon came in to talk to us. No matter how many times someone tries to explain what they are going to do to Mia's heart, I just can't picture it and really don't understand, it is almost frustrating...but Brad told me it's because they are using a 2 dimensional drawing to explain a 3 dimensional project...anyway, we went through alot of our concerns with the surgery and got some reassuring answers. If the job is done right, this will be the only time she'll need heart surgery, so we continue to pray for that. She'll be in the hospital about a week recovering and the tentative surgery date (I say tentative because until it is actually there anything can happen...like getting sick, etc.) is Tuesday, November 25th...the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Brad said, do you really want to spend Thanksgiving down here, but realistically that is a good time for him because he gets Thursday and Friday off and he won't have to take as many personal days, so we feel like that is a good decision. In a way it is overwhelming to think that in a little less than a month she'll be undergoing another difficult operation, but we continue to rest in God's peace knowing that He is in control. So please be praying for this surgery. Pray that it would go well with no complications and pray that she wouldn't have to have another heart surgery again.

On a different note, Mia's left arm/hand is doing so well. She used to keep it fisted when she was clapping, but now she'll open it more and more...and we've noticed she's transfering alot more from her right hand to her left, which she hardly did before. Thank you God! And she knows Patta Cake (However do you spell it?) We start saying it and she starts clapping her hands...we got it on video and I'll try to put it on the blog in the next day or so...we continue to be so encouraged by these little things.

I also got good advice today from a nutritionist regarding Mia's caloric intake and we have some new things to try there, which made me very hopeful that she'll start putting on a bit more weight and even catching up a bit. So lots happening...lots of good things happening.

We saw a lady at UCLA wearing a t-shirt that said, "God is Good, All the Time". And it's so true, we are continually reminded of that.