Our Heart Hero's Half Birthday

Well, today is officially one half year with our ladybug, Maia! We weren't sure when she was diagnosed in utero last August if we would get to have this celebration, but here it is! She is 6 months old today! Hooray!

It is 6 months and NOT a year yet,...cupcakes and cake in general were out of the question. Anyone for sweet potatoes and oatmeal birthday surprise??? Hmmm???

We have had a mild rollercoaster ride compared to so many who have received the diagnosis of Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome for their child, but nonetheless it has been a rollercoaster year.

Helen, her sitter, and Maia celebrating today

6 months ago we heard the loud cries of our daughter in the labor and delivery room at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She had some major lung capacity going on and we were so very thankful. We had been praying for months to be able to hear that cry on the day she was born. It was so beautiful.

Now we hear that cry and we are still so very thankful. It might get a bit wearisome at 2 a.m. in the morning, but please Lord, please never allow us to become callous to that wonderful and beautiful cry!

Maia, today, wearing Daddy's Baseball cap OR is it balancing on her? Hee hee

The day after her birth she received her valvuloplasty, massaging her pulmonary valve open with a tiny balloon threaded from her femoral artery, the balloon, smaller than the width of a hair! Amazing! She had two transfusions that day, but that beautiful chest remained scar-free, hopefully we can keep it that way, but however the Lord sees fit. We will praise Him.

5 1/2 months ago Maia was discharged from the hospital and we made our way back to our home in New Jersey. We never expected to leave so early. We thought for sure that we would be in Philly for a good 4 to 6 weeks. That is what they had prepared us for. That was being realistically optmistic. But God's reality prevailed!

For the first month we saw the pediatric cardiologist each week. Then the next month, every two weeks. Then the next month we waited four weeks. Now we are waiting 8 weeks.

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The next procedure should be in about 6 to 18 months depending on the growth of her heart and the blood flow. Another valvuloplasty will be in order.

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Milestones she has completed since her six months on Earth...

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Laughing at and being totally mesmerized by her big brother

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Reaching for toes to suck on and chew

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Eating sweet potatoes, berries and bananas, peas, applesauce, and oatmeal

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Finding her voice. She rarely cries, instead she yells at us to get our attention. Okay, Maia!

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Sitting up, almost by herself.

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Turning over and scooting on her belly forward and backward (not really crawling right now)

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Friends and family have rallied around Maia and our family from the time of Maia's diagnosis, birth, homecoming, and the Love keeps going on! Thank you so much! I know Maia would tell you if she could!

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We have truly enjoyed our Little Ladybug these past 6 months. Thank you, Father, for this time with her. She is a little dynamo of strength and energy. Thank you how You designed her so perfectly!

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Maia, is truly our Heart Hero!