Question number 5

How does Eden spend her days?

As most of you have gathered, Eden is limited a bit. However, none of her limitations have to do with her heart or transplant recovery. She is completely capable of running to her heart's content (in the spiritual sense) and spending as long as she likes at high altitudes. They even say older kids can resume contact sports at 3 months! Yikes! Unfortunately, her limits are associated with getting sick and because she is immune compromised it is much more likely. The mechanism works kinda like this: her immune system is suppressed to keep her white bloods cells at bay. She does have some in order to fight infection, but rejection occurs when those white blood cells are revved up to fight a cold and then move on throughout the body and recognize a foreign heart. It is a tricky balance... when she does get sick (which is inevitable) the hope is that she can kick it with the immunity she has and leave the heart alone. Rejection will be an issue for the rest of her life. So, it all comes back to... "just don't get sick!"



There are no hard and fast rules (unfortunately) regarding her exposure. We try hard to keep her away from crowds and busy public places. She does not generally play at indoor kids play areas like at the mall or McDonald's. I hate shopping carts, but use them out of necessity - only after a very thorough wipe down. And, of course, we limit her exposure to sick people, especially kids. This has ruled out day care or preschool for awhile.

Now, you ask again... what does she do?

Fortunately, she gets to spend two days of the week with this little guy - Zander, with whom we share a wonderful nanny - Nicole.





The other 3 days of the week are spent with Chaco and I. As you can see from the pictures... she may be getting bored with us. I am a little concerned about a long winter ahead and keeping her stimulated, socialized, and germ-free. The poor child attaches onto other young children like glue (watch out for her in the super market, she may grab your kid by the ankles and never let go!). For what it's worth, the time I have with her could not be any more entertaining (for me).



decorating Chaco's cone



sharing lunch

flashdance?

naked yoga

What do you do all day?

Question number 4

Is Eden toilet-trained?


Oooooo, how I wish I could say yes! Alas, I cannot. I am probably the worst potty-trainer ever because I don't care as much as I should. Well, that's not exactly true, but we've had a few other issues that have taken precedence lately. There is no rush to be trained for looming preschool and she seems to do well as long as I constantly remind her. But I guess she is not technically "toilet-trained" if her parents are the ones who provide the opportunity. As Amanda said to me recently, "congratulations, you are now potty-trained." And she is right. I would venture to say that Eden is pretty darn close... well, sorta close.


However, if you offer an incentive... Eden is willing to negotiate. Maybe. Edible incentives were never very enticing - toys only slightly better - and then she discovered BUBBLE GUM! This kid will do just about anything for bubble gum. Today, she was working so hard, I was worried she might loose a kidney in the pot!


Now I am in the market for one of these:


(Christopher Stott)

Hearts, Kisses, and Smiles

We started Thursday night with dinner out (what a treat!). We went to a little Peruvian restaurant with the Bogans, rose our glasses to Eden, and sat back as our children ran free in the empty restaurant. The Peruvian food was for us and seeing Colton was all Eden's pleasure. I was kicking myself for forgetting my camera as they fed each other! Watch out Zander, there is an even younger boy moving in.

Friday we had a family dinner at home. My brother, Lance, was in town and so he, Aaron, Leslie, and Zach joined us. I went a little overboard with insisting on either red or heart shaped food. On the menu were red stuffed bell peppers, almond rice pilaf, baked apples, and chocolate chip red velvet cake. Oh, and don't forget the red wine. Yummy, heart filled, and festive!

At what age do you have to stop kissing your cousin?






P.S...





Thank you, Eden, for making your parents smile this weekend... and everyday.

3 months and free!

Today marks Eden's 3 month anniversary post-transplant, otherwise known as her 3 month heart birthday! It brings tears to my eyes every time I think of it... monumental. There is no denying that it has been a tough road, but I can only feel gratitude and love today.

Gratitude to our donor family, which we hope to know one day and whom I can't help but realize are also marking an anniversary today. May they be able to accept our appreciation, hear Eden's story and feel some sense of positive connection to their loss. They gave us a gift even greater than a heart; they gave us more time.

Three months is a celebration , more than one or two and even probably four because Eden is officially free to travel. She will decrease from twice a week appointments to just one and for some transplant kids it is a milestone that allows a move back home (if they live out of town) or a return to school. Eden has been restricted from travel - outside an hour of the hospital - for 8 months (not including our hiatus to the ranch a couple of weeks ago!). Yes, I know she is just two years old and not quite the seasoned jet setter, but for two parents who met in Bolivia this freedom is significant... monumental.

In the mean time, however, I must admit that I have fallen in love. I have fallen in love with my neighbors and the kids on our block. I have fallen in love with my house and it's outlet for creativity. I have fallen in love with running, baking, writing, and the coffee shop at the end of our street. But most of all, I have fallen in love with our family and friends a million times over. You who came to our side at the hospital, who cooked and cleaned for six weeks, who have called, written, sent packages, donated, prayed, and never let us forget that we aren't alone.

Tonight we will celebrate. To the donor family, to the gifts of our surroundings, to all of you, to Eden's great will, and to more time... cheers.

Funny Halloween Story

Eden wore her monkey costume all day Friday... I mean all day, 6:30am to 10:00pm - including her nap. So she obviously got pretty warm and would periodically take off the top, revealing her "Obama Rocks" shirt underneath. She quickly learned what it said and practiced throughout the day... Obama Rocks, O B A M A, and intermittenly would throw in a Trick-or-Treat!

Well, that evening while trick-or-treating she got pretty shy. We would walk up to a house and she would just freeze. Occationally, we would hear a whispered trick-or-treat. At one of the last houses, during the stare off between she and our neighbor, I said, "Eden, you know what to say, you've been saying it all day." So she looked at me, looked at the nice lady and said "OBAMA Rocks!"

We all had a good laugh!

A monkey, a haunted house, and Obama

The Halloween Run-down:

The day started early with a visit to the Cardiac Clinic

A blood draw with Super Woman

A monkey dancing in the hallway

And a hug with her favorite Heart Transplant friend,

Miracle, the Ladybug

Showing off her democratic pride underneath her costume

Starting out the evening with a

haunted house

under our neighbors' diningroom table

(Eden loved it!)

Trick-or-Treating in the wagon

The greeting committee passing out candy

Dinner with Barack Obama at the Kirchner's

And a tired kiddo at the end of the day...

Question number 3

When does Eden get her cast off....finally?

I am happy to announce that Eden is officially cast free! We are 5 hours + and going strong. I have to admit that I was a bit anxious tonight. She even watched a movie and drank her milk on the floor before bed - as to avoid any spontaneous falls, of course. Come on, you can't blame me after her last 4 hour interlude between appendage breaks!

She did come home with a removable splint to wear while playing or being active. They actually couldn't find a splint that was small enough so the doctor rigged her old cast with mole skin and velcro. You should of seen her eyes when he pulled that "bye bye cast" out of the trash. 100% betrayal. She actually said, "no way mommy!", but soon got over it when she figured out she could even slip it off without undoing the velcro. So much for protection.

Answer to question 3b: No news yet on her bone density. We were given differing opinions by her doctors (surprise) as to it's testing necessity. However, I am way too obsessive (surprise, surprise) to "wait and see". So...we are having extra blood drawn on Friday at her regular cardiac clinic appointment. We have been told that the medication she is on would not cause bone weakness and if it did, she hasn't been taking it long enough to have an effect. Cross your fingers for good news!

I have no pictures yet of her new beautiful right arm. I guess I was afraid to jinks it. I will take some tomorrow and post. For now, here is one of the "dancing queen" pre-cast (arm and leg). Enjoy!