Shocked through the Heart...

Nathan has what is called Heart Block. There are three different degrees of heart block and right now he has the third.


What is third-degree or complete heart block?

Complete heart block (complete AV block) means that the heart's electrical signal doesn't pass from the upper to the lower chambers. When this occurs, an independent pacemaker in the lower chambers takes over. The ventricles can contract and pump blood, but at a slower rate than that of the atrial pacemaker.

These impulses are called functional or ventricular scope beats. They're usually very slow and can't generate the signals needed to maintain full functioning of the heart muscle.


So the easy version is that the right and left ventricle are beating at different times and whenever they want. The surgeon came in this morning and took Nathan off the external pacemaker to see if there was any correction and there was not. They will keep him on the external pacemaker for a week, unless he starts to beat in normal rhythm, then after a week if there is no improvement he will need an internal or permanent pacemaker.

The original plan was to move Nathan out of the ICU after two days if he was stable. Due to him having the external pacemaker he will stay in the ICU.

Please pray that the damage done from the surgery heal and be reversed!

I do have some pictures and will post them when I can. Right now I am blogging from my cell so no posting of pictures at this point. We will continue to keep you up to date.

Weary!

This morning the surgery flew by and was done way earlier then expected.  The surgeon was very pleased with how it went and Nathan seemed to be doing fine.  There was however an irregularity in his heart rhythm that they were just watching.

As the afternoon continued Nathan's heart rate dropped and combined with the irregularity was not so great.  They decided to put Nathan on an external pacemaker.  Though this pacemaker is not permanent Jeremy and I can't help but feel though we are just a small step away from Nathan having to return to the OR to have an internal (permanent) pacemaker installed.

God is in the Heart business and I know deep down He is cradling Nathan in is arms.  However please keep us in pray as the enemy is trying to bring me down with lies!  I pray over my son but am feeling the lies of the enemy telling me that my prayers are useless.  "Didn't you try this with your Father and those prayers weren't answered?!"  is the thought he keeps putting in my head.  I know God is faithful and I know my God answers prayer, but I also know that I am weak right now and need you all to hold me up in prayer, just as Aaron and Hur held Moses' hands when he was were weary so I plead with you to hold us in prayer in our time of weariness!

Nathan is a little trooper and has woken up only a couple of times today, each time being as cute as ever!  His personality shows through the medication and pain!

I will keep you all updated as I can!  Love you all!

Update on Nathan's Heart Surgery!

Just wanted to let you know that Nathan has come through surgery just fine. We have spoken to the surgeon and are waiting for them to settle him and we will then get to see him. I will update on specifics as soon as I can!

Thanks for praying!

Ocean City, NJ: Vacation '09

We went to Ocean City NJ for our vacation this year as we do every year. This year was bitter sweet. Aaron's first time on the beach, Nathan's first time wave jumping without a hand to hold, Jeremy Jr.'s first time playing Army men on the beach, and the first time in Ocean City and on vacation without my Dad! Also the first Father's day, his birthday, and my parents anniversary without my father! :( Don't get me wrong though we had a great time, we did miss him though!

When Jeremy Jr. was first born, before he even crawled, my dad bought him a set of Army men hoping they would play together in the future. They did get to play a little bit but Jeremy Jr was still too young to "really" get the concept. Not this year! And so watching him on the beach with his army guys was a sad feeling. It was all I could do to stay happy and focused on the fun we were having. It was hard, and even harder for my mom. At one point specifically she got up and walked the beach because she couldn't fight back the tears. She did great though!!

Despite missing my Father we had a great vacation! Here are some pics!Jeremy Jr's Army Camp (thanks Uncle Josh)

Aaron, Nathan, Mikenzie, Jeremy Jr.
Ocean City, NJ 2009

Officially a Big Boy

Jeremy Jr. is officially a big boy! Today is the day he has his first loose tooth. It barely wiggles but for a 5 year old it counts and it counts for me too! He is so big!

A Family Day

Today was a great family day! It started off with sleeping in. We got up and headed to pick up one of our youth for a later picnic at church. He kindly watched Aaron as Jeremy and I took Jeremy Jr and Nathan to see Transformers. We had a wonderful time. We wish we knew there was a lot of language in it but I don't think the boys caught on because of all the action which was good.

We came home and did some tidying up, then headed to church for that picnic. A great time was had by all!

Today was also the first day Aaron rode in his big car seat facing forward. He loved seeing the world in a new way. My boys are getting so big so fast and they are so stinking cute I can't stand it!

I love my family!

Flyer Flies

The summer is truely here. I have been absolutely loving the fun things I have been doing with the boys. I don't know if this makes sense to anyone else but me bur I have been falling in love with my children over and over again! Each one is completely different and oh so cute and special.

Tonight was the first time we went out and tried to catch fireflies with hardly any luck. The boys are scared of the bugs and I was left to try to catch only a couple. It was so fun and so cute dispite not catching more then two. The whole time all the boys keeled yelling to me was, "Mom there's a flier fly!". Nathan, of course with his lisp, was the cutest thing saying that!

I LOVE SUMMER!