"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
--Jeremiah 29:11

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Overdue Update

February! That is the last time I posted anything on this page!!  That is too long!

Connie is doing well.  He just saw the cardiologist for a regular check up and things are looking stable.  His pacemaker shows 2.5-3.5 years of battery life left and his function and numbers all look excellent, unchanged.  The doctor is happy to hear that he is taking part in activities such as archery, golf, tennis and swimming.  He won't have to go back for a year as long as he looks and acts healthy.
this poster makes me chuckle. most patients at this office have a heart that looks NOTHING like this, lol.



Dr. Bromberg, our fav!

He was also excited to hear all about Conway going to his first sleep-away camp this summer.  Connie spent a week at Camp WeCanDu, held at Babler State Park in St. Louis County.  He went kayaking, visited the Magic House, swam, did archery, martial arts, SCUBA diving and more! He loved it.  I swear, this kid was made for camping.
first time scuba diving

Chocolate sauce water slide

after falling out of his kayak


Kelly, director of Disabled Athlete Sports Association, wrapping Connie in bubble wrap at camp

As soon as he got home from there, he attended a cub scout day camp.  Then we were off to Ann Arbor for the Congenital Heart Center Patient Reunion that is held every other year. Just like in 2012, his favorite part was dunking Dr. Bradley!
Big Bird was about the only "kid friendly" thing at the old Mott Hospital. He was moved over to the new one in 2011. 

Taking his best shot at Dr. Bradley (making a run for the target)

July was a busy month, too! We went to Destin to visit Grandma Marybelle and see the beach for the first time since before Conway was born.  He absolutely LOVED playing in the surf, and just got pounded by 

  
waves for hours.

At the end of July Conway attended Camp Rhythm for his third year of heart camp.  He is now officially going to be an overnight camper next year.  I think he is ready!



Needless to say, it has been a whirlwind of a summer.  And that was just for Connie! The other kids stayed busy too.  Mary Kathleen played tennis at least 4x/week, competed in Junior Team Tennis and earned the chance to travel to KC to play in the JTT MoValley Sectionals. She also went to sleep away camp (Camp Ondessonk) for the first time, in Ozark, IL.  Additionally, she attended several high school camps for tennis, track and volleyball. Karsten even tagged along for a week of vacation bible school with her. Karsten played t-ball this spring and summer and seemed to enjoy it.  He is signed up for PK soccer this fall so we will see how that goes.  Celeste finished out her club volleyball season in May, played spring softball and continued to work out at the gym three times/week.  Greg went whitewater rafting in Tennessee with five buddies and I got to see Las Vegas for the first time in late July when I went there for a math conference. I even won $13.65 on a penny slot machine! All in all, I feel like we packed more in this summer than ever before and we are so grateful to God for the ability to enjoy traveling and spending time together as a family, without much worry about Conway's health. Frances is growing like a weed and the sweetest baby ever.  She now says Dada, Mommy, baby, bye-bye, night-night, happy, and makes the sing songy sounds for uh-oh and thank you, but doesn't yet have those exact words. I am surprised she has any words given how we all jump whenever she motions or mumbles for something. :)

Before you know it, we will be posting back to school photos of the kids.  Karsten and Celeste start 8/13. Connie and MK start 8/20.  I go back 8/12 and am moving to 3rd grade (from Pre-K).  I am over the moon excited at this opportunity and have already been working on getting things ready for my my new students.
Thank you for the continued prayers.  We are in a very good place health wise and are not taking this for granted.  Several of Conway's heart friends from camp or that we know online are having procedures and surgeries this summer/fall and we ask that you pray for them as well, especially Hailey, Holden, Angela, Grant and Maggie.