good news

In March, when I had my first echocardiogram, my heart function was 30-35%
Then, in May, after taking beta blockers to control my PAC, I had an angiogram that showed an improved heart function of 40%

Last week, I had my second echocardiogram... about/almost six months since my diagnosis of cardiomyopathy.

Good news: My heart function has not decreased.

My heart function is still at 40% which is really good news. It seems the first six months are critical, and considering that my function didn't deteriorate shows that everything is stable.

The cardiologist increased my beta blocker dosage since I'm still having PACs.

But another echocardiogram isn't considered to be necessary for another year.

Seems that 40% heart function is where I'm going to be.

Not too bad.

Better than 30%

And today I was definitely grateful for that 40% function because if it were any less, I would never have been able to carry three boxes into my car and drive them TO MY NEW OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

August 23rd, baby!! I can't wait to start my new job :)

My amazing little boy

Yesterday:

So Julius wanted to turn our house into a restaurant. So I pulled out some paper and we were all set to make the signs and menu.

Julius wanted to name it "Chef Cook." So I spelled it out for him. He immediately started with a backwards C, but corrected it when I pointed it out to him. He did the same for the C in 'cook,' but happily figured out that COOK ended with a K.

Then he went to write a second sign, and put the first sign next to him to use as a model.

This is what he wrote:

FEHC KOOC.

I looked at it, and then back at him, and I asked, "Does that look the same as the other sign?" And Julius nodded his head and read it back to me, "Chef Cook."

I find the whole way he processes words to be incredibly fascinating. Georgetown University is doing a study on reading disorders. I've contacted them to see if Julius is eligible to be part of the study. http://csl.georgetown.edu/functional_mri/

As for Julius, the way I've explained it to him is that he has an incredibly cool brain. That it's so cool he can see things in ways that most other people can't. And that having an awesome brain is going to help him when he's older, but now, since he's little, he's going to need to work extra hard in having to teach his brain to read and write and spell the way most other kids do. And that it doesn't sound fair, but it's going to help him do well in school if everyone else can understand what he writes. He seemed to accept that. He's always liked to help people, so by making it seem that his brain is just so awesome and because of his superpowers he needs to HELP others, it motivated him to write "Chef Cook" the right way.

tomorrow

Tomorrow I have my second echocardiogram. I'll find out the results next week.
Honestly, I don't know how I feel... if I've been feeling better or not.

Seriously, I am constantly tired, always. But that isn't new. Maybe I'm more tired... but is it because I'm a mother of two children who refuse to sleep through the night and I work M-F from 8 until 3:30 and then come home to job #2 as Mommy? I mean, that can make anyone exhausted.

And the shortness of breath and chest pains... well, it's been insanely hot. So it could just be because we've been living under CODE RED for awhile.

So am I feeling better? I really don't know.



I guess I'll have to wait and see what the echocardiogram says.

July weekend 2010 083.MOV

Julius has decided to be a "graphic artist." His first "job" was to make a Dr. Fate movie.

rambling cobblestone moi

Sometimes my husband can be absolutely spontaneous. I love when he gets that way... he's all happy and goofy: it makes me smile and I suddenly feel like a kid being told I can buy as much candy as I want at the candy store.

It's such a stress-free and relaxing feeling.

In any case, today was one of these days. I was chatting on the phone with him while driving to a home-visit (because I drive better when I'm multi-tasking LOL) and he surprises me by saying "Let's drive to the beach tomorrow."

I was so surprised that I missed my turn. Thankfully, we have this thing called "3-point turns", so it was all okay.

So now Josh and Julius are at the movies and I have the task of... packing.

I'm not a fan of packing, but I know that if I don't do it (and let Josh do it) he'll forget half of everything we need.

No offense to him. I just know him well enough to do all the packing myself.

So once Isabella went to sleep, I decided to set the clothing out on the bed... and then I came to a horrible realization.

Well, two horrible realizations actually.

1. I cannot find Julius' bathing trunks ANYWHERE. Now the kid has TWO trunks and both are gone. GONE! I checked the hamper, I checked the bathroom floor, I even checked the guest bathroom's tub... I checked the laundry room, under the beds, in the beds, in the closets... where did it go?

And then I came to another horrible and quite BIZARRE realization.

2. I have 3 bikini tops, one tankini top... and no bottoms. Where the hell did the bottoms go?! Again, I checked the hamper, I checked the bathroom floor, I even checked the guest bathroom's tub... I checked the laundry room, under the beds, in the beds, in the closets... where did it go?

I have Isabella's bathing suit.. two of them. I have Josh's trunks. I have extra clothing... the towels are in the washing machine...

but how can we go without all the attire?

Must we really stop by Target on the way to the beach?

Well, if you insist.

In other news this heat has been DISGUSTING. I have to catch my breath just going to my car in a parking lot. It's insane. Ugh. Of course I then remember complaining about all the snow and the cold and the snow and the snow and the snow and the snow and the snow from last winter... so maybe this is payback for all the bitching we all did?

No one said "Payback" was nice.

I heard it might rain tomorrow. Yes, I'm back on the 'beach topic,' Try to keep up, okay? And that is truly bumming me out because all of Josh's spontaneity would have been for nothing. And then what? What will we do on a rainy Saturday?

I still say we should go to Target though *GRIN*

I really like that store :)