PRAYERS PLEASE!!

I wanted to post this and ask for your prayers for our very dear friends Amy and Tyler. Amy and i have been friends since college. We were sorority sisters and lived together. Tyler and Jonathan were fraternity brothers as well. Amy is 28 weeks pregnant with sweet baby Max and this is her email. I wanted to post it so you guys could be praying for the three of them. You guys have been wonderful to pray for and encourage us. I would like to ask that instead of praying for us right now you can pray for them!

I went to my OB for a routine, 28 week appt this week and found out that my Sjogren's Syndrome is causing problems in the baby. Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that I was diagnosed with at the same time as the Rheumatoid Arthritis. There is about a 2% chance of women with Sjogren's Syndrome passing antibodies to the baby that can cause congenital heart block. Well, unfortunately, this has happened. Structurally, his heart looks ok, but the electrical system of the heart has been damaged by these antibodies. On Tuesday, Max was diagnosed with 2nd degree heart block. This means that the top part of his heart is not communicating with the bottom part of his heart effectively. They set us up with a Cardiologist appt on Friday and we just hoped for the best.

Tyler and I met with a Pediatric Cardiologist at Vanderbilt on Friday and we found out a lot more information. It's actually worse than we thought. She diagnosed Max with 3rd degree to complete heart block. This means the top part of his heart has completely stopped effectively communicating with the bottom part. His heart rate is in the 60's and 70's when it should be in the 140's. Also, the heart's rhythm is not normal.

So, the plan is... They put me on steroids to hopefully help prevent any more damage. I will be monitored closely by a high risk OBGYN once to twice per week and I will see the Cardiologist every 2 weeks. I will have frequent ultrasounds and echocardiograms in order to see if the baby's disease is progressing or if other problems are occurring. The goal is to get me to 36 weeks and then deliver by C-section. If at any time between now and then, if Max looks like he is doing worse, he will be delivered then. I will deliver at Vanderbilt and the baby will immediately go to the NICU for care. He will most likely need a pacemaker and they will evaluate at that time when would be the best time to do the surgery. We probably won't really know until that time. He will be in the NICU for at least a few weeks, but that also depends on a lot of factors.

Because of the damage that's already been done, if more damage occurs, there is a small chance that Max may need a heart transplant. Right now that's not the focus.

If all goes well, Max's quality of life should be good. He will always have a Cardiologist and will most likely have a pacemaker. He will have to be careful not to do anything to get his heart rate too high. This probably includes playing contact sports. We are hoping he will be a hell of a golfer though!

So, Tyler and I would really appreciate if everyone would pray for us and for baby Max.

Please pray specifically for...
1. A better than expected outcome. Miracles do happen and we certainly do believe that.
2. That the steroids will help prevent further damage to Max's heart instead of causing more complications.
3. That complications, in general, will be minimized.
4. That I will be able to carry him to as close to term as possible. (at least 36 weeks).
5. That when he is born, Max will be strong and recover well.
6. That God will give Tyler and me strength and peace because we are going to need it.

Now, I want to be sure and point out a lot of positive things that we are very thankful for...

1. God is giving us a baby boy and we love him so much already.
2. We have a lot of wonderful friends and family to support us.
3. We discovered this problem when we did and we were able to see a Pediatric Cardiologist within 3 days. 3 days was long enough to wait. I cannot imagine having to wait longer, which is usually the case.
4. I don't have to be admitted to a high risk OB unit.
5. We live within a few miles of Vanderbilt Medical Center and we have easy accessibility to it. I cannot imagine how much more complicated things would be if we did not live in an area with such wonderful healthcare.
6. Although this problem is extremely rare, our Pediatric Cardiologist, seemed very competent and clearly gave us a plan. We really liked her.
7. Our bosses are being very understanding and flexible with our schedules.
8. We are hopeful that Max will have good quality of life.
9. God has given us faith and we know He will not give us more than we can handle.
10. We have such faithful friends and family.
11. Tyler and I have each other to lean on; we are not doing this alone.

Love,
Amy and Tyler

Amy and her family read the blog so if you would like to comment and post some encouragemnt for her and them, they will be able to see it!

Here is a pic of me and Amy so you can put a face with the name!

Just a Peep...

...into our eggstremely busy weekend!

It all started Friday morning with a trip to take pictures with the Easter Bunny

..which did not happen.

The babies and Hudson loved the Easter bunny but not these sweet girls...

they were terrified!

Mason Bunny

eenie meenie miney moe

Friday night we had the First Annual Wingo Wabbit Egg Hunt

Another one of Ramseys most favorite things to do, push a stroller!

I think she did this for the majority of the party.

chilaxin with Lola

Poor Natalie, me and Ramsey always make her do stuff for us :)

Saturday morning we had two birthday parties.

Kamryn, who turned 2 is the niece of my families very dear friend Leigh.

Ramsey and her had the best time playing together!

Then we headed to the park for Hudsons 1st Birthday!

Someone snuck a cupcake before it was time...i think this is her uhoh i just got caught face :)

Lindsey and her sweet Bailey Kate!

Having fun at the park!

Dad of the year..

Saturday night it was game time!

The game was sold out and so much fun!!

We had seats in the nosebleeds then weaseled our way into a box. When we were leaving the box Jonathan noticed Colin Egglesfield coming out of the bathroom. We loved the new Melrose Place and he is in the new movie Something Borrowed. Jonathan talked to him for like 5 minutes, i think he has a man crush now. He was very nice but shockingly shorter then me. Why do people look so much bigger on TV? I was too embarrassed to get a picture with him...imagine that :)

Happy Easter!

Side note: Ramsey had several bunnies visit her this year by the names of Nana, Papa, Leigh, Michael and us. Hopefully she won't expect this every year :)

Checking out what the Easter Bunny brought her

After lunch, mom had us go on a mini kinder egg hunt.

She gets these when she goes to Germany and they are my favorite.

Happy Easter Evie, we missed you so much today but are thankful for the reminder that Jesus rose from the dead so we can be together again. We love you so much.

I cried through the whole church service, everything made me think of Evie, every song, the preaching, the prayers. In Christ Alone helps to remind me that because of Gods power i can stand each day, no matter how much it hurts.

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh

Fulness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones he came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied -

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave he rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine -

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath.

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

2 year stats

I took Ramsey for her 2 year check up today. She did really good, got one shot and cried so hard, why is that funny to me? I did feel bad for her but she was happy then had a look of sheer panic on her face and is crying so hard nothing came out, poor girl. She did love that she got to wear a banananadaid...this is not a typo, this is exactly how she says it.

She weighs 29 pounds and is 34 inches tall! According to the old wives tale of doubling your 2 year old height to see how tall you will be...she will be 5'6-5'7. I wonder if that is true?

Some other favorite words and things she does, since this is supposed to be her baby book

Thankyouwelcome

strawbababerry

computatader

good morning daddy

momma cuuute (when she sees an outfit)

1, 2, 3, 9 10

good job

baby ( she loves babies)

the utter one

right dare (right there)

hiyya papa(when she talks to my dad on the phone)

byebyeseeya

nipples...yes you do say this Ramsey and it horrifies me when you say it at target when we pass the bras...she pointed to jonathans one day and he felt the need to use the correct term...haha

puppydoggy

Evie garland (evies garden)

Chillala (chikfila)

Hold you momma or momma c (when she wants me to hold her)

momma o kaay (when i cry or seem frustrated, she will pat my back or my leg and say that)

wash ya haands

daddy fuuuny

woah keful (woah careful)

i do it

When you ask her a question she tilts her head and says yeah( long and slowly) ha we are working on yes mam :)

She has a crazy memory. We drive by something and she will say the persons name who we were with when we went there or she saw a lady chewing gum today and said Kennenadi bubble. When Kennedy was hear she was chewing gum and Ramsey wanted her to keep blowing bubbles, that was like 3 weeks ago. I didn't even remember that.

She can't get enough of her baby strollers, earrings, necklaces and her sunglasses.

She loves to swing. We will go to the playground and that is all she wants to do.

She sleeps with her blankie, arf arf, sissy arf arf and her sissy pillow

She loves singing twinkle twinkle, jesus loves the little children, jesus loves me, itsy bitsy spider, doing her God our Father prayer, row row row your boat with motions of course :)

She loves to color and play with playdough

She loves going to school and loves her debbie-shebi (her teachers) she can name every child in her class and her favorite to talk about is Emma.

She loves to name her friends and then everyone else in their family. Her favorite is saying EricaHudson and eely (hayley)

Her favorite foods are yogurt, chicken, turkey, strawberries, goldfish, bagels with cream cheese and jelly and chocolate milk.

She is hard headed and stubborn yet so sweet and loving at the same time.

She is what gets me through each day and seems to always know exactly when i need a hug or a kiss (she loves kisses) My favorite is when she hugs the back of my leg around my knee just like Evie used to do.

She has amazed me in how she has dealt with losing her best friend and constant companion, moving in with my parents, losing maddie and just adjusting. I don't know how she has done it.

Sitting hear thinking about all she is doing and writing it down makes me miss Evie so much, what would she be saying, what we she look like with piggies. Every time i change Ramseys diaper, put her in her car seat, lay her down for a nap, my heart drops and reminds me Evie isn't here. We have been without her for 4 months, how is that possible?

I hated being at the doctor without her today, the first time to take Ramsey and not have Evie. How much would she weigh, how tall would she be?

I am so very thankful for the 20 months i had with her, the best 20 months of my life and I am thankful for Ramsey and the beautiful, sweet little 2 year old she has become.

Very Hungry Caterpillar

Today was our nephew Luke's first birthday and party!

Claire did an awesome job with the decor!

Chris made this caterpillar all by himself!

We have some talented Harrison boys :)

This bounce has been the best investment yet!

Michael did some face painting!

..diva

He grabbed the lit candle :(

or maybe he didn't like our singing!

This stuff is good!

Lukes 1st bday Guest book

Then after the party he wasn't hungry anymore and he wasn't little anymore,

he was a big ONE year old!
We love you Luke!

Happy First Birthday!

momma

I'm really struggling today. My heart aches for Evie today and i thought i could look at some of her pictures and watch some videos but hearing her voice and having her look at the camera like she is looking at me, but she really isn't, breaks my heart. I miss her sweet innocent voice and looking into those sweet blue eyes. I miss hearing her say momma.

Baby Cameron

Brent and Debra are some of our dear friends and we had a great time showering them and their baby boy who will be here in June!

Our friend Emilee makes the cutest diaper cakes!

Debra found this vintage carriage at Sheffields in Collierville so i used it for the centerpiece

Cam is ready to go!

Debra's sweet family

Hostesses

We love you Cameron, Can't wait to meet you!