Another First

Today, we did something that brings tears to most parents eyes...and I guess it did for us too, but our tears were ones of complete joy.  We were able to drop Amelia off for her first day of kindergarten.  She didn't even look back to check on us as she walked into her classroom.  We are so proud of how much Amelia has grown and matured the last year.  Her speaking has improved substantially over the year, she knows all of her letters and can count to 20 on her own.  She also recognizes her written name, with all little bit of coercion.

With all she has been through, we are always excited for these life events and grateful that God continues to allow us to experience them with Amelia.  We pray she will learn and grow this year, that she will not struggle with the demands of school, that she will make friends and most of all, that she will have a good time and love school.

Blessing

The Moodys

PS.  Here she is heading out the door for school.

Negative Results

We received a negative Biopsy result.  Amelia is all clear for another year!  Good job Lady Bug!

Annual Biopsy Time

Amelia's annual biopsy is scheduled for in the morning.  Her clinicals and lab work has been great so no concerns for this checkup.

Pray for a clean report.

Blessings

The Moody Family

Happy Birthday

Four years have come and now gone for Amelia.  She is the coolest little girl we know!  This summer, she started Pre-Kindergarten(???) two days a week.  She has been doing amazing and her entire family looks forward to, in her words, "100 more!!!"

Happy Birthday Lady Bug!!!

Amelia is So Sad!!!

Because she wanted a sister, but she has ... another Brother (yeah that was obviously coming)!!!  Charles David was born on Feb 27th at 12:42 PM.  He was 8 lb 4 oz and 21 inches.  Mom and baby are doing well.  We will be in the hospital for a few days before discharge early next week.  I will get pics when I have a chance.

Big brother and sister have been by to visit.  Wesley can't get over him.  He wants to hold and kiss and feed him and climbs all over anyone holding Charles in order to get a better look.  Amelia on the other had is already ready for the next thing!!!  She will learn to love him (and boss him around as older sisters do)!!!

Blessings

The Moody Family - Wesley, Amelia, Kimberly and Brian...And Charles now too!!!

Recovering

Amelia did well during the biopsy.  The docs are very happy with what they saw, so after 6ish hours in recovery for the insertion site, we should be home again this evening.

Kim had to come alone this morning with Amelia because the hospital has restrictions for cold/flu/RSV.  I stayed home this morning with Wesley.  I brought him in for a short time to see Amelia and for Kim to see him.  It success he has to wait downstairs, so we will be going home for lunch shortly.

We pray for no rejection tonight and no complications from the cath.

Blessings

The Moody Family

Another Milestone

We have celebrated another 1 year hospital free for Amelia.  We were discharged from our 4 month visit on Feb 1, 2014.  We have not spent a night in the hospital in one year (excluding the stay for Colostomy reversal).  Our prayers are we will continue with no additional stay ... EVER!!!

Amelia is also scheduled for her annual Cath and Biopsy tomorrow, Feb 3rd.  It is a little early, but our cardiology team is sympathetic to our next baby and has scheduled the procedure a little early.

Blessings

The Moody Family

No Rejection and News

We heard back on the biopsy...All clear!!!  Good job Amelia!!!

And as a special note for those of you keeping track...Amelia will be a big sister again early next year!  I guess that means Wesley will be a big brother now too.

Thank you all for all your prayers for our family.  We are very grateful for each of you and thank God you spend time praying for Amelia and our family.

Blessings

The Moody Family...Wesley, Kim,  Brian and Amelia...oh yeah...and Baby Moody Number 3!!!

Out and Well

Procedure went well.  There are no concerns with her heart.  We will have results in a few days.  We should be getting discharged any time.

Blessings

The Moody Family

Up at...

Five...In the car at 5:30...hospital by 6...now Amelia is back in the cath lab.  It will be a few hours before we get report on her progress.  Praying for a good procedure and no bad news.

Blessings

The Moody Family

Biopsy Scheduled

Following Amelia's hospital stay last year, and lower medicine levels, the docs have had Amelia on, we have been planning a biopsy for the end of the year.  Well...that time has come and we are scheduled for Wednesday.  There are no worries for Amelia, just a check to make sure all is well.

She had blood work this week and her white counts are a little low again.  Not a big concern, but something we have to watch a little more closely for a while.  Amelia is always keeping us on our toes.

She has been doing extremely well so far this year and we are very grateful for that.

Blessings

The Moody Family

Birthday Girl

Hard to believe it has been 3 years since Amelia became part or our family!!!  And yet here we are, celebrating her third birthday!!!  God has been so good to us.

Here is to another year of life, love and hugs and kisses from Amelia.

Happy Birthday Amelia

Love Mom, Dad and Wesley

Discharge

We are going home tonight.  Amelia was actually running the halls yesterday, so the docs figure she is good enough to go home.

Our pray is she continues to do well and we do not see any infections.

Blessings

The Moody Family

Progressing Very Well

Amelia has been doing very well!  She seems to have had very little pain - she only received 2 doses of pain meds!  Yesterday, she pretty much slept all day.  We took her off her dex (sleeping meds) this morning.  She has been up walking around and had an over all good day.

The really good news is she just had a poopy diaper!!!  This is a big accomplishment!  Actually this is what we have been waiting for from her.  We think the docs will allow her to increase her diet intake now, first to things like broth and eventually to more solid food.!!!

We removed the bandage over where her colostomy used to be and it looks very good.  There does not appear to be any fluid leaking which is a good indication there is no infection, but not a sure indication.

We pray she continues to do well with no infections and good (or at least expected) bowel movements.

Blessings

The Moody Family

Recovering

Amelia is recovering from the reversal and sleeping peacefully in the ICU.  She did very well.  We are expecting at least a week stay, but it could be less if Amelia really does extremely well.

We will be watching for infection over the next couple of days and waiting for her bowels to start working.  Because the lower part of her colon has not been working for the last six months, it will take a little time for it to "wake up" and function the way it should again.

Our prayers for the next few days will be for no infection and for her body to get back online with bowel movements.

Blessings

The Moody Family

In For Colostomy Reversal

Amelia is back for her operation.  She will be in surgery for a few hours.  She was really cranky because she was very hungry and thirsty.  We were not able to give her anything this morning and she was not happy!!!

We pray for a safe procedure and no infections in the coming days.

Blessings

The Moody Family

No rejection

We received word this morning from Amelia's Biopsy last week.  No rejection.  Great news!!!  We are looking forward to colostomy reversal on Thursday!!!  We will keep you updated.

The Moody Family

Out and Well

Amelia has been in recovery for a while.  She did well.  Initial report is positive.  Heart function and pressures are great and her heart looks good.  We will not have full results for at least 24 hours. 

Going Well So Far

After a 4:30 am morning and about a thousand gallons of caffeine, Amelia is in the cath lab and reportedly sleeping comfortably.  In pre-op, she found a bug with wheels on a string and pulled it around the unit for about 30 minutes.  Wesley (Happy Birthday by the way) also followed her around with a stand up walker!!!

Amelia should be out in a hour or two and then we have 6 plus to allow her arteries to close up before we head home tonight.  We are hoping to be home by 7.

Blessings

The Moody Family

PS...Just received another report - everything is going well.

Cath and Colostomy Reversal Next Month

Well...since today is the last day of the month, technically the title is true.  Amelia has a Cath / Biopsy scheduled for tomorrow.  Because she is on a low dose of her rejection meds, the docs want to do biopsies a little more often.  Additionally, assuming we find no signs of rejection, Amelia is scheduled to get her colostomy reversed a week from tomorrow.  Kim and I a really excited about getting her colostomy reversed.  While it is not hard to care for the colostomy, it is psychologically draining for Amelia every time the bag pops off, so we are more than ready to have the procedure done.  We will keep you updated on progress for each event.

Blessings

The Moody Family

PS:  Amelia has been doing awesome!!!  While the weather is still nice in the desert, we are taking Amelia on walks every night and really enjoys them.  She starts each walk running.  Most nights, she walks nearly a mile on her own before we have to put her in the stroller!  We are so excited to see how well she is doing!!!