Goodbye Texas....Hello California

Just wanted to let everyone know we made it to California safely.  We arrived at the airport in plenty of time for our flight.  All our belongings made it safely through security except the oxygen concentrator.  It had to be inspected by the TSA officers.  I guess they figured we might blow up the plane with oxygen...go figure!  Our flight was overbooked so they were asking for volunteers to go later.  Needless to say, we did not volunteer for that but thankfully someone did.  Although it was a full flight, it went very smoothly.  Reagan slept for most of the flight and did great!  We ran into a little issue with our rental car but finally got it all straightened out.  Poor mom had Reagan, an oxygen concentrator, a stroller loaded to the max, and two huge suitcases waiting for over a hour at the airport while I was trying to get our rental car.  An hour and 20 min. later I finally pulled up outside baggage claim to pick them up.  We are now comfortable in our hotel room and hope to get a good night's rest.  Tomorrow, Reagan has her pre-op appt. at 1:00.  Will update later.

Reagan with all her belongings trying to call Daddy & Bubba from our hotel

Crazy last day

Well, it's almost 10:00pm Wed. night and it's been a very busy last day at home preparing for our big trip to California tomorrow.  It started as a great day, turned into a nightmare afternoon and then ended on a sweet note.
The first part of this week Nolan has been having headaches and stomachaches.  The nurse called me from school Mon. and I went and picked Nolan up. Tues. morning he stayed home but after seeing that he seemed fine I went ahead and took him into school.  After having a nice talk with his Kindergarten teacher Tues. night, both of us debating whether Nolan has a little bug or if it's just nerves with everything going on at home, we came to a nice end that hopefully it would soon pass, either way, and that she would do whatever she could to help Nolan through this if it was related to mom and sister leaving for California and that she would be praying for us.  I told her how nice it was to have a teacher that cared about Nolan so much and didn't just shove him under the rug with all this.  Anyway, I tell you this story to lead to this:  Nolan said he had a stomachache this morning but after convincing him to go ahead and try it for the morning and that I would come have lunch with him, he went on to school.  At lunch, Mrs. Sims told me how wonderful the morning had been and Nolan was acting like his old self again...no tummy complaints! Nolan and I then enjoyed a nice Chick-fil-a lunch and laughed and cut up together.  He truly seemed all better!

I then left school to meet Reagan and Aunt Kay at the nail salon for Reagan and I to get our toes done for the big trip.  Reagan was not sure what to think about the whole experience but sat in the chair like a big girl and let the lady paint her toenails her favorite color- yellow with pink dots.

After Reagan's toes dried, Aunt Kay went ahead and took her on home for a nap while I finished up.  Unfortunately, this is where my afternoon turned bad.  While finishing my pedicure, I got a call from the surgeon's office saying Tricare was denying authorization for Reagan's cath on Monday and wanted me to call the insurance company to see what I could find out.  So while tying to grocery shop for the boys, I was on the phone with insurance, dr.'s offices, etc trying to get everything cleared up.  I ended up going to Reagan's pediatrician's office to get it straightened out.  They had already submitted the referral twice to Tricare and Tricare was telling them they had never approved Reagan to go to California .  I then had to contact Reagan's case manager for Tricare and luckily she was able to straighten things out.  Apparently, enough time has gone by with Reagan not being seen by the drs. in California that her file had been placed in inactive status.  How ironic is that, seeing that although we're not in California, we're always 'actively' charging Tricare for lots of things on Reagan's behalf like meds, home medical equipments, therapy, dr. visits, etc.  Anyway, to make a long story short, our case manager reopened her file as active and was going to get her referral approved by end of business day today.  I'm laying my head down tonight praying it all works itself out because the surgeons' office already informed me that if we get there Friday for Reagan's pre-op appt and the referral is not approved, I will need to sign a financial waiver of responsibility.......HA.....NOT this mama!!!!  I've seen the bills this girl can rack up and I'm not about to sign responsibility for any of that just because of an insurance company's mess up.  Oh, and by the way, we have government insurance, so I'm sure we'll all be dealing with this kind of mess when Obamacare kicks into action.....ha!!  Not to get started on that, but let me end on the sweet note.....

Our precious friends, Warren and Lori Kostencki and their boys, Caleb and Cody, stopped by our house this evening and had a nice prayer with us for our trip, Reagan's drs, decisions, procedures, surgeries and overall recovery.  That truly meant alot and we love you guys!!

Last but not least, before Nolan went to bed, I asked if we could go ahead and pull his first tooth.  He's had a wiggly snaggle tooth for some time now and since I'm leaving tomorrow, I did not want to miss this memorable event.  He reluctantly agreed and thankfully I had it out before he even knew what happened.  Yea, what a note to end this crazy day on.

Well, it's a dark-thirty call in the morning as Reagan and I have to leave Temple around 6:30 am to head to Hillsboro, pick up my mom, and then off to Dallas to the airport.  Please pray for an UNeventful day of travel and we will update later.  Night-night everyone and thanks for your support!

Hurry home Reagan!

Rea-

  Your brother and I want you home quick. We're praying for no pain and a speedy recovery because no one deserves what you’ve gone thru. You’re the toughest little girl and our little hero.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It's that time again......

I can't believe the time has come to even be discussing this again but..... two weeks from today we fly to California for Reagan's heart cath and other pre-op procedures.  One year ago, May 2009, we flew out to LPCH thinking Reagan was about to have her last of many heart surgeries and get a complete repair of her heart.  God had other plans.  After the cath, CT and bronch, the cardiac team decided it would be beneficial  to Reagan if she have more time for her lungs to get in better shape before going through with the final repair surgery.  We were told to come back in one year and they would re-evaluate her and make the decision at that time.  So, April 22, Reagan and I, along with my mom, will be flying to California for Reagan's pre-op appt, heart cath, CT and bronch.  On April 28, the cardiac team will review their findings and make a decision about whether to do Reagan's surgery now or send us back home again.
I have had mixed feelings in the past about this, not knowing whether she's ready or not but in the last several weeks, I feel like God is preparing my heart for another hospital stay.  Reagan has become much more active in the past year and it seems to be catching up with her heart.  What I mean is, she tries and wants to do so many things she sees her brother and other children doing, but her little heart can't beat fast enough to keep up.  Her work of breathing has increased and there are days she requires oxygen on and off.  I feel like this is God's way of telling me although Rod and I may not be ready to see her go through another surgery, Reagan is ready and will be better off for it.
Another reason I've had mixed feelings about the surgery is that several months ago, we found out that Rod's unit will be deploying to Afghanistan this summer for a year long deployment.  In fact, Reagan was set for surgery in June but after finding out this news, we had to call the surgeon's office and get her bumped up sooner on his schedule.  2009 proved to be a good year for us and as soon as 2010 rounded the corner I had alot in my field of view making me think it was going to be a horrible year.  Why was God making us go through two huge stressful events, back to back?  However, in reading my devotional one morning,  I came across the following and it gave me the peace I now have heading into our next trip to California.  It also caught me attention, when the verse was the same verse I have in the sidebar of Reagan's blog with her picture from a past hospital stay.

A Few More Scenes

"In this world you will have tribulation," Jesus promises, "but be of good cheer, 

I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

God has kept no secrets. He has told us that, while on this yellow brick road (of life), we will experience trouble.  Disease will afflict bodies. Divorce will break hearts. Death will make widows and devastation will destroy countries. We should not expect any less. But just because the devil shows up and cackles, we needn't panic.

Our Master speaks of an accomplished deed....."It is finished" (John 19:30).  The battle is over. Be alert. But don't be alarmed.... The manuscript has been published. The book has been bound. Satan is loosed for a season, but the season is oh-so-brief... Just a few more scenes, just a few more turns in the road, and his end will come.  

Taken from Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado

This devotional gave me the thought that yes, we do have alot on our plates in the next few months, BUT....'don't be alarmed', 'the season is oh-so-brief'.  I feel like if I look at it this way, when those long dark days come, I can remind myself that "this too shall pass" and "God is still in control through it all."

A few things to be in prayer for:

• Our travel safety- April 22
• Reagan's health (to stay well)
• All pre-op procedures to go as planned (no postponements)
• A room to open at Ronald McDonald House
• For our family as we are separated during this time.  Rod will stay back initially, until we find out if the surgery is a go or not.  If so, then he will fly out right before surgery. (With the deployment coming up, he only has 2 weeks leave to take and wants to use it at the best time)  Nolan has school until June 3 so he will stay back for that.  Pray for him as he is away from momma and sister during this time.
• ALSO, HUGE REQUEST:  Nolan does not know about the deployment yet.  Rod and I are praying about when the best time will be to tell him.  He is very sensitive and analytical so telling him too soon would give his little mind too much to think about.  Reagan having surgery is enough for him right now.  The other day he said, "How many surgeries is sister going to have to have?  I wish they could just fix her heart on the first one so she wouldn't have to have any more." O.k. God, just stick a knife in my heart and twist it, why don't you, 'cause that's about what that statement felt like!!  Like I said, pray for us as we figure out how and when to tell Nolan about Rod leaving for a year.  
• Our heart friend, Callie Carver, who is having her cath this next week to decide if she needs another surgery now. There is a link to her blog in the sidebar: Caring for Callie

Once again, thank you all again for all you do.  You do not know what your support means.  The comments you leave us are what get us through each day sometimes so keep them coming....