Surgery Postponed

We went with our fingers crossed to our follow-up appointment with the pediatrician today hoping that Taryn would be well and cleared for surgery. Bad news...she is worse today than she was last week when he looked at her! At the time her ear was only a little pink with some clear fluid and now it’s bright red with cloudy, yellow (infection filled) fluid. So, that lovely antibiotic she has been on for 8 days hasn’t done anything but give her nasty diapers and a yeast infection (along w/ another Rx to clear it up)!! Unfortunately she will not be able to have surgery Monday. Any infection would go straight to her heart when they operate and could be fatal. We are now on a new and stronger antibiotic and praying that it does the trick. These heart kids have such low reserves that it’s really hard to keep them healthy, it’s like fighting a losing battle.
The soonest they can get her in for surgery at this point is April 28th. We are praying that her heart function doesn’t deteriorate too drastically in the next month while we work to get her healthy for this much needed surgery. We are really frustrated but have faith that this is for the best and that, for reasons we don’t fully understand right now, we need to wait a month for surgery. We really appreciate all the prayers offered for Tarn. Unfortunatly she continues to need them.

Surgery Date

Taryn had her sedated echo and other tests with cardiology last Thursday. Dr Saarel, the cardiologist, didn’t have the final results of the echo when she met with us after we were done in recovery but she thought the preliminary results looked good and that we could go another month or two before surgery. Unfortunately that’s not the case.

We got "the call" from the surgery department this afternoon. Dr Saarel also called to let me know the results - she just isn’t getting enough flow through her pulmonary artery and the VSD is also narrowing. They want to repair it before she gets worse and has to go on oxygen or her heart starts going into failure. They feel that her size makes her a good candidate for surgery as well. So, the verdict is to do surgery sooner rather than later. We are scheduled for March 31st and check in for pre-op on the 30th. Her case will be discussed in Cardiology Conference next week, where Dr Hawkins (her surgeon) and the team will finalize the plan for how to do the repair. Dr Saarel informed me that, if she makes it through surgery, she has a high risk for needing a pace maker once they close off the VSD, which is new information.
I mentioned that Taryn is currently sick - she came down with a cold on Sunday, thanks to Ainsley who loves to share everything - and I hoped she would be well by then. I was told to get her into the pediatrician TODAY and, if needed, get her on an antibiotic to help her get rid of the crud. One of her ears had fluid in it so the doctor is treating it as an ear infection and we should be snot free in a few days, thanks to a new Rx. She has to back on the 27th to be rechecked and "cleared" for surgery. We pray this will do the trick so that we don’t have to reschedule.

I know many of you reading this are wondering what you can do to help. I don’t really know yet as I’m still trying not to freak out that I only have 10 days to prepare! (Seriously, how am I going to get her scrapbook done by then?!) Thankfully the girls are off track from school so Ainsley and Bridget are going to Idaho Falls to have fun with their cousins (thanks Ryan & Tiff) and Michaela wanted to stay with Aunt Megan to help her with her girls. We'll figure Parker and the rest out as it comes. What we could really use are your positive thoughts and prayers for our family, Taryn and the doctors and nurses who will be caring for her. If you would like to fast in Taryn's behalf next Sunday the 30th, we would be so grateful!

Bridget's Birthday

Bridget celebrated her 7th birthday last week. She was so excited to get 3 Hannah Montana guitars - one to play, one filled with make up, and one's a purse!

We love you Bridget!

New Month, New Template, Not much else is new...

It's still winter, we still have snow, and we are still waiting for Spring to arrive.
A few things that are new...

Basketball season just finished and soccer season starts soon. (oh yea!)
Parker made the honor roll at school again this quarter!

At 21.5 lbs Taryn had outgrown the infant carrier so I had to break down and buy a car seat. We have built in car seats in the van and she is the first baby who has surpassed the 20 lb. mark before her first birthday, go figure! So I had to buy a big seat that would rear face. Hopefully we won't have any accidents in it so that we can sell it on Craig's list in two months. Taryn is speedily crawling all over the place and has become quite feisty lately. With her condition I'm glad she has a "fighting spirit" but I wish she wouldn't fight ME when it comes to eating, bed time, etc. She is just getting over an upper respiratory and ear infection and feeling much better. She has a Cardiology Appointment with a sedated echo, in addition to her other tests, on March 13th. She has started looking a little blue lately, especially when she cries and gets upset, so I'm anxious to see what the timeline for her next surgery is. I will post an update after her appointment.

Kenny and I recently completed a video for the CHD support group we are involved in - Intermountain Healing Hearts. It features Taryn and some of her "heart buddies". The quality isn't very good since the file had to be compressed to view on the website but you can view it by clicking on this link: http://www.intermountainhealinghearts.org/

Until there is more to post...
Michele

It's about time!!!

I know that’s what you said when you clicked on our blog.
I must confess, I would much rather read YOUR blog than post updates on mine. I sit down to do it, decide I’ll first catch up on how everyone is doing so I read a few blogs, and then decide that there really isn’t much to post. If I were raising some of my nephews I could entertain you with tales of toilet paper allergies and clay poop issues (thanks Ryan & Aaron), but alas, our home is female dominated. If we were a movie we would be a drama, and frankly I’m partial to comedies. (I actually prefer suspense thrillers but we don’t want to go there.) So, here is the update. Warning: If you dislike documentaries stop reading now and just scan through the photos.
Ok then, please try not to doze off...

Sick & Snow (and sick of snow and sick of sickness) - throw in lots of work and a little basket ball and that pretty much sums up the last six weeks. Taryn got really sick just before Christmas and since then has either a runny nose or a cough, they just keep cycling. The other three girls got the flu a few weeks ago (so much for flu shots) and so did Kenny. Of course, I didn’t have much sympathy for him since he didn’t get a the shot, insisting that he doesn’t get sick! Speaking of Kenny...he has done some cool freelance work recently. He shot 3 or 4 episodes for HGTV’s "What’s My House Worth" and some interviews for the "Dr. Phill" show. If you have activity ideas for young men, besides shoveling snow, he would greatly appreciate them since that is the aspect of his calling that causes him the most frustration.

Parker enjoys camping just as much as I do so he wasn’t disappointed when his scout troop canceled their klondike derby. He has a few more games and a fun shot tournament before we wrap up basketball season. We are so proud of him for making the honor roll last semester at school.

Michaela enjoyed playing basketball this year too. While she was off track she made some pretty scarves with the knitting machine she got for Christmas. (Taryn is modeling the first one Michaela made.)

Bridget is having a birthday in six weeks, I know this because she recites her "what I want for my birthday" list to me EVERY day. Ainsley loves attending her new Sunbeam class and never tires of all the snow to play in.

Taryn has accomplished a few things while being in isolation this winter. She cut her first two teeth a few weeks ago and is currently working on another. She is mobile but not officially crawling on all fours yet, she’s still in that stage where she’s using her stomach to buff the floors. Speaking of floors...she is obsessed with licking the tile floors in the basement! ICK!! I’m certain it’s because she likes how cold they are, not how clean they are. I can’t keep her off of them. When we take her down there to play she crawls/scoots like crazy to get to the tile and then just lays there face down with her tongue hanging out of her mouth! I yell at her and she just laughs! I’m sure the Lysol company is thrilled that I’ve added floors to my daily regimen spraying of every knob, switch, handle, banister, faucet, baby toy, and phone in the house! I recommend buying stock. Taryn will be 9 months old on Tuesday! Hard to believe.

I have been doing a lot more business this last month and am looking forward to attending regional convention this weekend. The kids are looking forward to having Uncle Gavin and Aunt Kara come to babysit.

Well, that’s about it from here...you can wake up now...

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

We took ten photos and YES - this really was the best one!



Kingsford Family 2007
If we had to sum up this past year with one word it would be a draw between "Change" and "Challenge". We have also learned a lot.


After getting our home all fixed up before Christmas last year, we decided to start looking for a new home in February. Since the only room left to renovate was the bathroom, which we were NOT excited to do, we decided to leave that for someone else. Besides, we had long out grown our 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom house and couldn't fit a crib in any room but the dining room. We finally found an older home that needed a little work (of course) with 7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (yea!), and a garage. The move was not without its challenges (I decided if we ever did it again it would be too soon) but we feel so blessed to be in a wonderful ward where our children have good friends and could attend (and walk to) the same school.

Five weeks later, though not unpacked or ready, we welcomed the newest member of our family. Yes, another GIRL. Taryn was born on May 5th and we all fell in love with her right away. When she was 12 days old we took her to the Cardiology Clinic and Primary Children's Hospital because her Pediatrician was concerned about a heart murmur. Taryn was diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Defect, three to be specific, and was immediately admitted to the Neonatal ICU to keep her stable until they could do surgery to repair one defect and do a temporary fix on the other two.





Taryn's recovery went amazingly well and we were blessed to only have her in the hospital for two weeks. Her surgeon called her a "rock star" and figured that her next surgery would be sometime between September and February. Until then, Taryn is

doing very well and growing like crazy. With four siblings, keeping her free from illness is hard, if not impossible. We make frequent visits to PCMC for tests and evaluations. Taryn's CHD is not only rare but complex and the doctors have yet to figure out how they are going to repair it. It's emotionally challenging to love and care for a child that you're not certain will make it to their first birthday. Taryn has an amazing spirit though. She is tolerant, patient and loving. She make us laugh (especially since she found her tongue, which she thinks is the coolest thing ever)! She has taught our family to appreciate life and each other more. Michaela recently wrote in class that the one thing she wants most is "for her sister to get better". Our testimonies of faith, fasting & prayer continue to be strengthened as we share this CHD roller coaster with many heart friends who are going through similar experiences. Their faith and strength through trials has been a great example to our family. We feel so blessed to have Taryn in our family and our home and pray that she will get to be here with us next Christmas too.

As for the rest of the family...
Ainsley tries her best to run the house but she's up against Parker who also thinks he's in
charge. She has learned to be the "big sister" and that its not all about HER (at least 10% of the time).

Girls are so much fun. If I had a dime for every time someone burst into tears around here I would be able to buy, not lease, a new SUV!

Which brings us to Bridget, who has learned how to be a good friend, and good help, and how to read this year .

Michalea started piano lessons this year and is also learning to make dinner and play basketball this winter. Parker is trying to teach her how to be more aggressive and rack up fouls.

This summer Parker learned how to survive at Scout camp. He is learning better time management / study skills, how to get good grades, and is how to be an effective leader in his Deacon's Quorm.

We are blessed to have such great kids.

What have Kenny and I learned? I have learned (but not accepted) that no matter how little sleep I get, I'll never get it all done! We learned that no matter where we live we WILL have plumbing problems. We have learned to accept service, even though it is often ease ier to give it than be the recepient. And to be thankful for continued doctor visits, medical bills, and each day that we have (crazy as they may be) with our children.

We are especially thankful for the blessing of families this holiday season. We will all miss spending time with my parents, Roy and Anne, this Christmas but are grateful for their wonderful example of missionary service.

Blessings to you from our family this holiday season!
Merry Christmas!